Restaurante Alcalde

In terms of fine dining experiences this was fantastic. Some creative dishes that pushed new flavors and combos that were fun to try and then some very well executed classics as well. Experience and service were top notch and a fun crowd. If we are being super super nit picky for a place that's top 30 in the world. There could have been some more powerful and lasting flavors in their dishes. Nothing was negative everything was great but nothing really lasted with me after the meal. Food I'd give an 8/10 relative to the level they compete at. Overall absolutely recommend and incredible value for the price.

We had a great experience. The food was fantastic and the waitress was very kind and professional. The staff made us feel welcomed and comfortable.We had the tasting menu with it's recommended pairings.

Embarking on a culinary odyssey at Alcalde, Guadalajara has been a long-awaited affair, fueled by the tantalizing prowess of Chef Paco Ruano showcased on Netflix's Iron Chef Mexico 2022. Suffice to say, the anticipation was met with sheer culinary brilliance!

Ranked #32 on World 50 Best Restaurants - Latin America, Alcalde remains a humble treasure that stays deeply rooted in its culinary heritage. Yet, what truly steals the show is the remarkable team exuding unparalleled hospitality, embracing us with genuine warmth. Special commendation goes to Emi, our exceptional server, whose expert guidance transformed our dining experience into a regal feast. Opting for Alcalde's specials proved a stroke of genius; each dish, from the zesty tlayuda with kimchi to the succulent suckling pig, delivered an ecstasy of flavors. And let's not forget Emi's bold claim about the rice pudding – it undeniably lived up to its title as the world's finest!

The birthday cake was out of the world, Alcalde made a brownie with ice cream and banana topped with mole negra sheet (yes, 60 ingredients of mole negra in sweet format) - brilliant!

One of the best meals of my life. The food, the presentation, the service, the place all came together to delight the senses. A must try when in Guadalajara!

Get the 12 course tasting menu. We paired it with cocktails created by our waiter. Best meal of my life so far.

Guadalajara Eats 2024 #10, Mexican #9, Tasting Menu #1, "Nice" #6: I had been on the fence about eating here the last two times I was in Guadalajara. As the prices of Pujol and Quintonil continue to soar, I decided Alcalde's tasting menu actually seemed like a comparative "steal".

tl;dr: I am _so_ glad we ate here!

Upon arrival, the vibe was a lot more fun and playful and less stuffy than I had expected. The cocktail menu was similarly fun and quite expansive (compared to Xokol's). My favorite cocktail was the Posca Allende (mezcal, Lillet, guava shrub) $240. While other favorites at our table included the Clover Club and Gallardo (bourbon, mezcal, amaro averna, lemon) $240.

I honestly don't think there were any or many misses throughout the tasting menu.

Standouts: coco, leche de tigre ikura; kanpachi tlayuda, wagyu, chocolate pastrami tartlet, & tuétano buñuelo. The progressionw as especially great, and I enjoyed starting and ending high a la "bookends".

Sadly, 2-3 courses were swapped out last minute. One was well-explained while the other was quite confusing and took a little follow-up.

The only other odd thing was how empty the restaurant was for a Saturday night. Considering the quality of food and ambiance, I can only imagine there isn't a massive demand for food at this price point.

Our group felt this was our best meal in Guadalajara with Xokol being #2. While this was our favorite, we didn't feel like it was 4x better than Xokol (as it cost 4x what we paid there). However, if I compare it to Pujol it costs half as much and is probably better IMO (10+ courses vs ~4-5).

Outstanding modern cuisine incorporating traditional Mexican flavors. We all did the tasting menu and loved every course.

This place is phenomenal! A very well balanced menu with such amazing dishes. My favorites were the macadamia nut tart as part of the amuse bouche as well as the tyaluda and the ikura dish with caviar/uni. Sam as my server had great recommendations for cocktails. Honestly this place is one of if not the best restaurant in Latin America. Can’t wait to return soon

Beautifully executed fine dining experience! Cuisine, service and hospitality on par with a Michelin Star. This is a must visit when in Guadalajara.

Absolutely sensational! They deserve a Michelin Star this year in the guide. Our female server was just amazing - friendly and knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble.
We loved watching the kitchen from the chefs table preparing our tasting menu.
The masala curry tacos were an absolute delight!
Wine and spirit pairing was perfect too.
We had a very special evening at Alcalde - thanks to the whole team.

We did the tasting menu and it was absolutely spectacular. Everything was unique and presented beautifully, a brilliant fusion of flavors from across Mexico- and something for everyone in our party. My absolute favorite dish was the coconut ceviche, which was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Service was excellent too. Highly recommend the cocktail with basil and lime- not sure what all else was in it but it was a knockout. Would absolutely return here.

Came here for the 10 course tasting menu. We were quite impressed. All the dishes were strong, with a few outstanding (particularly the truffle dessert). The flavors were bold and a bit unconventional at times - make sure you are OK eating some insects.

Overall, a great and worthy experience. Would definitely recommend.

Our server Elizabeth was incredible. Amazing service. Incredible food. Gorgeous plating. Very approachable and welcoming setting. The menu is the perfect balance of comfort and adventure. Highly highly reccomend.

Amazing food and service!
Highly recommended 10 course menu!
Love the open kitchen concept!

Very good food. Went as a business meal and was very impressed with the simple, straight forward menu.

Not a ton of vegan options but the chef made a couple selections that were great. Enjoyed the local craft beer too. Would definitely return and try more appetizers.

Kitchen was clean and wide open. Loved that. Wait staff spoke perfect English. Very helpful.

Eating here was a lovely experience on a beautiful day. The squash root appetizer, lechon and rice pudding were the standouts. Beautifully plated, well composed dishes with excellent flavours. Everything was just really well cooked, fresh and hearty. The sangria cocktails were beautiful. Service was attentive. Absolutely wonderful meal at reasonable prices.

Absolutely unreal. Cannot recommend enough. Expensive but 1000% worth it.

Great experience, we ordered the tasting menu and it was just fantastic. High level of creativity, surprising ingredients but you still have this fantastic Mexican flavor. Waiters have a very good knowledge of the menu and pairing. Highly recommended.

Delicious!! Great food, atmosphere and service.

I had the tasting menu at Alcalde with high expectations and it did deliver and more. Highly inventive dishes using local heritage produce. In particular I loved the desserts.