DineSpin

Best What's Hot in Guadalajara

Find the best what's hot restaurants in Guadalajara, JAL. Scored on what actually matters.

By DineSpin Team·Updated February 2026·10 spots

Guadalajara's food scene right now feels like watching a city remember it knows how to cook. You've got weekend menudo institutions that have been perfect for thirty years, brunch spots where owners read every review, and a seafood restaurant that looks like an art installation—which matters when the ceviche doesn't always live up to the architecture. Here's what's actually worth your time.

Recommended:

Best What's Hot in Guadalajara

1.

Bruna

88/100

Bruna offers an excellent fine dining experience in Guadalajara, celebrated for its exquisite ambiance, artistic decor, and outstanding Mexican cuisine. While generally providing outstanding service, occasional minor delays or inconsistencies have been.

Pro tip: An first-rate dining experience with stunning ambiance and delicious, artfully presented food.

🍽️Food92

The food is well-regarded for its top-notch quality, rich flavors, and artistic presentation, with many dishes described as outstanding or divine.

Absolutely outstanding

👋Service78

Service is generally described as top-notch, attentive, and knowledgeable, though some diners note inconsistencies, occasional slowness, or a need for refinement.

Top-notch service

Vibe98

The atmosphere is universally lauded as stunning, unique, and beautiful, often compared to a museum or art gallery with lush gardens.

Atmosphere is breathtaking

💰Value75

While considered pricey by some, many diners feel the quality of food, experience, and ambiance justify the cost.

Prices are not cheap

📍 C. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada 2418, Lafayette, 44150 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
4.5$$$LafayetteMexican
Ideal for
Special occasionsFood enthusiastsThose seeking a unique ambiance
2.

Entretempo

95/100

Pancake tacos sound like a gimmick until you eat them at Entretempo, where the owner responds to every single review and the kitchen treats a simple chilaquiles plate like it matters. The space is quiet enough that you can actually work there, which is the opposite of what most brunch spots offer. People don't just return; they're regulars in a way that suggests the place nailed something basic that everyone else gets wrong.

Pro tip: Arrive mid-morning on a weekday if you want the peaceful version. Once word spreads about the pancake tacos, the seating capacity becomes the real conversation.

🍽️Food95

The food is well-regarded for being delicious, with many dishes highlighted for their flavor, presentation, and quality. Specific items like pancake tacos, chilaquiles, and desserts frequently receive commendations.

The food is delicious

👋Service98

Service is overwhelmingly described as excellent, friendly, attentive, and fast, contributing significantly to the positive dining experience.

Outstanding service

Vibe95

The atmosphere is frequently noted as pleasant, cozy, quiet, comfortable, and welcoming, making it suitable for various occasions.

Very pleasant atmosphere

💰Value90

Diners find the prices to be fair and affordable, especially considering the quality and generous portion sizes.

Fair price

📍 C. Mexicaltzingo 1890-Local 1, Col Americana, Americana, 44150 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
5$$Col AmericanaAmerican
Ideal for
Casual dining with friendsWorking remotelyRelaxed breakfast or lunch
3.

El Pilón de Los Arrieros

92/100

El Pilón de Los Arrieros is celebrated for its excellent traditional Mexican cuisine, particularly its birria and mole, set within a stunningly beautiful and historic atmosphere. While service is generally outstanding, occasional slow waits and minor issues like a bug in a drink have been noted.

Pro tip: Definitely one of the best experiences in dining. The place has atmosphere and a welcoming staff.

🍽️Food95

The food is well-regarded for its authentic flavors, particularly the birria, mole, and chamorro. Ingredients are noted as fresh and dishes are well-prepared.

The food was fantastic

👋Service88

Service is generally described as friendly, attentive, and welcoming, with bilingual staff available. However, there are isolated reports of slow service and one instance of rudeness.

Servers were attentive without being overbearing

Vibe95

The atmosphere is a major highlight, consistently described as beautiful, rustic, charming, and authentic, often evoking a sense of history and tradition.

Such a beautiful space

💰Value75

While most diners find the food and experience worth the price, a few mention that portions could be larger or that prices are a bit high for what is served.

Plates were overpriced

📍 C/ Galeana 388, Zona Centro, 44100 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
4.6$$Zona CentroMexican
Ideal for
Experiencing authentic Jalisco cuisineRomantic dinnersDiners seeking a historic ambiance
4.

Back to the Bit Guadalajara

92/100

This is a 90s arcade bar where the nostalgia is genuine—original machines, working Sega cabinets, a retro interior that doesn't feel ironic. The burgers and tacos are actually good, which matters because you're going to be here for a while playing games. The space is small enough that weekends fill up fast, and the owner's installing AC because people kept complaining about the upstairs being unlivable. It's a place that understands its own concept and keeps tightening it.

Pro tip: Reservation is not optional on Friday or Saturday nights. The $130 pesos game access fee stacks with food and drinks—budget $400-800 pesos for a full evening with a partner. One owner interaction went badly enough to leave a mark in the reviews; if you're walking in without a reservation, you're gambling.

🍽️Food90

The food is well-regarded for being delicious, with burgers, fries, and wings frequently highlighted. Quality is noted as good, with no taste of burnt oil.

The food was delicious

👋Service95

Service is overwhelmingly described as excellent, attentive, friendly, and personalized, with staff often going above and beyond.

The service was always attentive and friendly

Vibe95

The retro arcade theme is a major draw, creating a nostalgic and fun atmosphere that transports visitors back to the 80s and 90s.

A great gaming atmosphere

💰Value75

While many find the experience and food worth the price, some diners note that the cost for unlimited game time, especially when combined with food, can be high.

The prices are quite affordable

📍 Av. Plan de San Luis 1728-L33, San Bernardo, 44620 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
4.8$$San BernardoAmerican
Ideal for
Nostalgia seekersGamersCasual outings with friends
5.

EL Huerto Fonda Y Jardin

92/100

El Huerto Fonda y Jardin is a highly recommended restaurant celebrated for its delicious, homemade-style food, excellent service, and tranquil, garden-like atmosphere. It offers outstanding value with affordable prices and generous portions, making it a favorite for both daily meals and special occasions.

Pro tip: Incredible place, hidden but accessible, the prices are very affordable for the tremendous quality of the food, 100% recommended

🍽️Food95

The food is well-regarded for its delicious, homemade, and well-seasoned flavors, with many highlighting the use of fresh ingredients from their garden.

The ingredients are fresh and natural

👋Service90

Service is frequently described as first-rate, friendly, attentive, and warm, contributing to a welcoming dining experience.

The attention and customer service are 10/10

Vibe95

The atmosphere is consistently lauded as pleasant, warm, homey, quiet, and relaxing, often enhanced by the abundant greenery and rustic decor.

A pleasant atmosphere

💰Value90

The restaurant is widely considered to offer top-notch value, with affordable prices for generous portions and high-quality food.

Super affordable price

📍 C. Río Bravo 1154, Quinta Velarde, 44430 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
4.8$$Quinta VelardeMexican
Ideal for
Casual lunches and breakfastsDiners seeking a peaceful atmosphereThose looking for good value meals
6.

TAN TAN Mui Oriental

88/100

TAN Mui Oriental is a highly-regarded restaurant in Guadalajara known for its excellent service, captivating atmosphere, and generally delicious food. While most diners have a fantastic experience, occasional comments on specific dish quality, price, and music volume are noted.

Pro tip: Outstanding service, delicious food, and a captivating ambiance make this a highly recommended spot.

🍽️Food80

The food is generally well-received, with many dishes known for their flavor and presentation, though some specific items like tteokbokki, Peking duck, and certain ramen dishes have received mixed reception.

Everything was delicious!

👋Service95

Service is consistently highlighted as a major strength, with numerous mentions of attentive, friendly, and helpful staff, particularly singling out servers like Karen, Francisco, and Fernando.

The service was very friendly

Vibe95

The restaurant's atmosphere, decor, and ambiance are well-regarded as amazing, cool, pleasant, and visually appealing, making it ideal for various occasions.

Atmosphere is amazing

💰Value75

While many find the food and experience worth the price, some diners note that prices are a bit high or that certain dishes do not fully justify the cost.

The prices are a bit high

📍 Av. de las Américas 1254-P1-A4, El, Country Club, 44610 Guadalajara, Jal.
4.7$$$GuadalajaraMixed/Fusion
Ideal for
Date nights and romantic dinnersCelebrations and special occasionsGroups looking for a vibrant atmosphere
7.

Octo Restaurante

88/100

The building is genuinely stunning—an art gallery that happens to serve ceviche and oysters. Fresh seafood shines when it shows up (the technique is there), but dishes swing wildly between balanced and oversalted, and portions are small for the price you're paying. It's the rare restaurant where the main complaint isn't the food or service—it's that you feel charged premium prices for good food in an excellent room, which is a specific kind of disappoint that only matters if you were expecting outstanding food.

Pro tip: Go for a special occasion where the atmosphere is the point, not the meal. Bring wine knowledge or lean on the sommelier, who actually knows what they're doing. Reservations don't always hold the table—call ahead to confirm.

🍽️Food85

The food is generally known for its fresh ingredients, creative dishes, and first-rate preparation, particularly seafood. Some dishes, however, have been noted as overly salty, dry, or lacking balanced flavors.

Interesting dishes with powerful flavors

👋Service80

Service is frequently described as attentive, friendly, and top-notch, with staff going out of their way for guests. However, a few instances of slow, confused, or inattentive service have been noted.

Service was attentive and the staff were very friendly

Vibe95

The atmosphere, architecture, and interior design are consistently lauded as top-notch, stunning, and a major highlight of the dining experience.

Atmosphere and aesthetic when you arrive are incredible

💰Value65

The restaurant is considered pricey, with some diners feeling the portions are small and the cost does not always align with the flavor or execution of the dishes.

Overpriced and overrated!

📍 C. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada 2420, Lafayette, 44150 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
4.5$$$LafayetteSeafood
Ideal for
Special occasions and celebrationsDiners prioritizing ambiance and designSeafood enthusiasts
8.

Hooligans Food, Brothers and Beer

88/100

Hooligans Food, Brothers and Beer is a popular spot known for its lively atmosphere, driven by live music and karaoke. While food is generally well-received, particularly wings, service can be inconsistent.

Pro tip: Excellent place, fantastic atmosphere, great bands! The nachos with arrachera are delicious!

🍽️Food85

The food is generally well-regarded, with wings and nachos frequently highlighted as delicious. Some dishes, like tenders, have been described as tough.

The food is delicious

👋Service75

Service is mostly described as attentive and good, though there are isolated reports of waiters being inattentive or slow, particularly when understaffed.

The staff are very attentive

Vibe95

The atmosphere is well-regarded as outstanding, largely due to live music, karaoke, and a generally fun and relaxed environment.

Fantastic atmosphere, great bands

💰Value85

Prices are considered reasonable and affordable, with good value perceived for the quality and experience offered.

The prices are reasonable

📍 Av. Adolf Bernard Horn Junior 3513-L-2, Fraccionamiento Real del Valle, 45653 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
4.4$$Fraccionamiento Real del ValleBar/Pub Food
Ideal for
Live music enthusiastsCasual drinks with friendsKaraoke nights
9.

El Sacromonte

88/100

El Sacromonte offers a refined take on traditional Mexican cuisine in a beautiful, upscale setting, often enhanced by live piano music. While the food and ambiance are frequently lauded, some diners find it expensive and occasionally experience slow service.

Pro tip: Exquisite gourmet Mexican cuisine. The ambiance here is wonderful and there was a piano player performing.

🍽️Food90

The restaurant offers gourmet and traditional Mexican cuisine, with many dishes known for their flavor and quality, particularly the chile en nogada and quesadillas.

Mexican cuisine at its finest

👋Service80

Service is generally described as friendly, polite, and professional, though some diners mention slow service or less attentive staff.

Great service and excellent

Vibe95

The ambiance is well-regarded as beautiful, charming, and upscale, often enhanced by live piano music.

Extremely wonderful place. Loved it.

💰Value65

While many find the prices reasonable for the quality, a notable number of diners consider the restaurant expensive for what is offered.

Very expensive for what you get

📍 C. Pedro Moreno 1398, Col Americana, Americana, 44600 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
4.6$$$Col AmericanaMexican
Ideal for
Romantic dinners — intimate ambiance and live musicSpecial occasions — upscale dining experienceExploring gourmet Mexican cuisine — unique dishes
10.

Boku Restaurant

88/100

Boku offers an authentic and energetic Japanese street-food experience in Guadalajara, with well-regarded food and a vibrant atmosphere. While service is generally good, occasional issues with rudeness and wait times have been noted, and some find the value proposition lacking due to small portions.

Pro tip: Authentic Japanese street food with an amazing vibe and delicious dishes.

🍽️Food92

The food is well-regarded for its authenticity and deliciousness, with many dishes, particularly takoyaki and okonomiyaki, highlighted as excellent.

The takoyaki is delicious, the okonomiyaki is amazing

👋Service75

Service is generally described as outstanding, friendly, and attentive, though isolated incidents of rudeness and being ignored have been reported.

First-rate and attentive service.

Vibe95

The restaurant is celebrated for its authentic, fun, and energetic Japanese street-food atmosphere, enhanced by music and decor.

Super fun, energetic, and authentic

💰Value65

While the food is well-regarded, some diners find the portions small for the price, leading to a perception of being expensive.

The portions are tiny for the price

📍 Juan Manuel 1579, Ladrón de Guevara, Americana, 44160 Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
4.8$$$Ladrón de GuevaraJapanese
Ideal for
Diners seeking authentic Japanese street foodThose looking for a lively and fun atmosphereGroups wanting to share a variety of small plates

Can’t decide?

Let DineSpin pick a restaurant for you based on your mood.

Try DineSpin →

More in Guadalajara

No paid placements. Independent restaurant rankings.