Typical food of Riviera Nayarit: the best dishes

Riviera Nayarit offers a wide gastronomic offer for all tastes, with styles, atmospheres and types of food of various nationalities.

However, we recommend trying some traditional recipes, which prominently feature fresh seafood and fish. Generally, Mexicans season their dishes generously with spices, so we advise caution, especially with the levels of chili spice.

For desserts, the most popular are jericalla and cocadas, which can be found both on restaurant menus and at street stalls.

Here is a selection of must-try dishes in Riviera Nayarit:

Pescado Zarandeado: the specialty

This regional specialty is a Nahuatl delight over 500 years old. Typically made with red snapper, the fish is split in half from head to tail, marinated with lime, and grilled over mango branches and palm leaves. It's often served with Huichol sauce.

El Ceviche

Another classic dish in Riviera Nayarit is ceviche. Ceviche is made with fresh seafood, chopped onion, cucumber, tomato, jalapeños, cilantro, and lime. It's a burst of flavor, usually served on a crunchy tostada.

Aguachile

Similar to ceviche, aguachile is a coastal delight made with scallops or shrimp, citrus juice, and chilies. Garnished with cucumber, avocado, and red onion, it's a refreshing and spicy dish.

Tacos de Marlin

This dish is more than a meal; it's a gastronomic experience that reflects Riviera Nayarit's rich marine biodiversity and the culinary skills of its cooks. The marlin, known for its firm texture and intense flavor, is traditionally smoked or grilled and accompanied by delicious sauces.

Save room for dessert

Although the list of typical desserts is long, we have selected these delicacies that cannot be missing on your gastronomic trip through Riviera Nayarit:

Jericalla

A traditional dessert from Guadalajara, Jalisco, dating back to the 19th century, originally prepared at the Hospicio Cabañas. Made with eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar, it's similar to flan but lighter and topped with caramelized sugar. It is similar to flan but its consistency is lighter and is covered with burnt sugar.

Cocadas

A beloved treat in San Blas, these coconut sweets come in traditional square forms or as delicious balls, found in every corner of the center and along Matanchén Bay. They are made of coconut zest, eggs, and sugar. They are typically round and crispy.

Tamales de Elote

A Nayarit delicacy, these corn-based tamales are popular in both sweet and savory varieties. In this area, the most popular are corn tamales. This cooked corn dough stands out for its spongy texture and versatility, since it can be filled with the ingredient you prefer.

Drinks and liquor in Riviera Nayarit

Tepache de piña

Tepache is a typical fermented drink from Jalisco, Nayarit and Mexico City. It is prepared with pieces of pineapple pulp and peel, to which cinnamon and cloves are added. It ferments in a clay pot for several days, then mixed with boiled piloncillo and barley for further fermentation. Then, boiled piloncillo and barley are added and left to ferment for another two days.

Agua de Cebada

Agua de cebada is a traditional drink that stands out among Mexican sodas for its unique flavor and health benefits. Prepared from roasted barley grains, which are boiled and mixed with water and sugar, this drink not only quenches thirst, but also offers a subtle nutty flavor that makes it deliciously comforting.

Tuba

Tuba is a typical drink from the state of Colima and is prepared with the juice of various coconut palms. It is generally served cold, with fresh chopped fruit and a touch of brown sugar or honey.