La Pacena - Guadalajara

La Pacena is one of my favorite restaurants because the menu is so interesting and diversified. The food is always fresh and delicious and the atmospheres and service are also very pleasant.

West Ajijic La Paceña a winner! We went today to the appreciated version of the restaurant located on the Carretera a few locals down from the small market in the outside strip mall. I actually prefer this location to the main one, however it is smaller and has limited seating. However, the emphasis is on the reduced menu and the entire process is abbreviated compared to the main restaurant in San Antonio. In other words one sits, orders food and eats. There is only wine and beer currently, no hard liquor. We ordered our favorites the tuna on jicama and the cucumber wrapped rolls with tuna and crab..... Great service, great food and another west Ajijic option which is highly appreciated.

Sorry to rain on the parade, however. We were nicely greeted at the door and got to sit at a table of our choice up front. A nice waitress came brought us the special’s blackboard and menus. She also brought us a couple of samples of the Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. I lived in Ensenada for years and had been to Valle de Guadalupe many times. Until you had $50 a bottle I don’t find many of the whites very attractive. Things went downhill from there. We were brought out a couple of salad plates, (one of them chipped) in order to rest our chips and salsa on. The chips were standard out of the bag chillquiles. Three salsa were pico de gallo which was okay. The middle was a yellow thin something with no flavor and no taste. Salt, pepper and a shot of hot sauce fixed that. The third was simply diced pineapple with no seasoning and no taste other than diced pineapple. We figured we would start small and test waters. I ordered a Baja shrimp taco and the Admiral a Baja fish taco. I got a glass of wine and the Admiral got a Negro Modelo with a chipped and cracked glass. We asked for a new glass and the waitress took the glass and proceeded to disappear for the night. The fish taco and shrimp taco we’re OK, but something I’ve had a 1000 times before. No one ever came to check on us or our table with the waitress still out of sight. We finally fkagged someone down and received a new glass and ordered the octopus and bone marrow taco for myself and the Marlon barbacoa taco for the Admiral. I liked the octopus and bone marrow taco, The Admiral did not like her Marlon taco but I found it acceptable, although it was an acquired taste. The waitress reappeared after we were done, asking if everything was okay? I replied no it was not “where have you been for the whole meal? She was casually apologetic, and I asked for the check. I received the check and as we were sitting there finishing our drinks she asked to be paid. How rude. On the way out, sitting next to the entrance at a four top, a lady said, “thank you” The owner? I cannot get used to open air restaurants that sit on the Carretara. The traffic noise is just too loud, but that has nothing to do with this review of the food and the service. We previously had dinner at another restaurant where everything was great except for the food which I found overly seasoned. I liked it enough to return, and to ask the kitchen to go light on the spices. Would I return here? No chance, no way.

Stopped here for the first time on the recommendation of others. I tried the Vuelve a la Vida (Come to Life). A refreshing cold 'soup ' with shrimp, oysters, and octopus with diced tomatoes and avocados. I was leery of the octopus, but if you 're going to have it, have it here. The octopus was so tender and all the ingredients melded together well. It is supposed to be a lively, refreshing 'cocktail ' and it was just that. My husband had the shrimp quesadilla and it also was very flavorful with grilled shrimp. We 'll be back to try other items.

Have had lunch twice so far this winter...Visits are far apart..with Lockdowns quarantining,, Everything was perfect..from the COVID measures taken by the staff the well distance outside seating..Topped off by delicious meals on both our visits... My husband immensely savoured his generous portion of Fish n’ Chips... both visits Light crunchy batter perfectly cooked fish..accompanied by a bowl of crispy fries... I enjoyed tuna Ceviche the first time..Perfectly seasoned..Second visit, had grilled Mahi Mahi Salad..so good....cooked to flaky deliciousness...