Eating

We point you at zones rather than specific restaurants, on purpose: places open, close and change hands faster than a guide can be updated, and we'd rather not send you to a locked door.

Carnitas exist around the region too, though the lakeside isn't as famous for them as other parts of western Mexico.

Ask us for a current recommendation when you arrive — we know what's good this month and what has closed.

You'll see charales — small lake fish, fried whole — on menus and at the tianguis. They're a real part of the local kitchen. The pescado blanco that the lake was historically famous for is now extremely scarce, and most kitchens no longer serve it for conservation reasons rather than fashion.

The full picture, so you can decide for yourself: studies have found mercury in fish from this lake. The evidence isn't conclusive in either direction — it doesn't say "don't eat it", it says eat it knowing, and with more caution if you're pregnant.

Away from the water, the region eats a great deal of birria and grilled meat. You don't have to solve dinner with fish.

Local Ajijic supermarket for everyday groceries — fruit, vegetables, pantry staples and household basics.