Sayulita’s line-up of great taco joints just keeps expanding, and this one—El Itacate–definitely makes the list. For those who love their tacos on the meaty side, this is the best place to get ‘em, in the downtown zone near the plaza. Located on the stretch of Revolucion (the street is also called Jose Mariscal on this back side of the plaza) leading out of town, El Itacate, which loosely translates as “the doggy bag” or “food to go”, dishes either corn or flour tortillas heaped with generous servings of high quality rib eye, arrachera, sirloin, and other beefy delights, as well as a great selection of vegetarian, fish, pork and chicken tacos. This block of Revolucion features at least a dozen excellent restaurants, and while all of them have specialties, and most serve abundant fare at reasonable prices, El Itacate is a stand-out for the quality, variety, and quantity of the meat tacos on the menu. This is a mecca for carnivores.
El Itacate is owned and operated by Jorge Armando Lopez, who moved down from Mexico City and opened the restaurant about 4 years ago. As you can see from the photos, the restaurant features a lot of bright, cartoony graphics, three tables on the street and three stools at the counter, and the usual, stripped-to-the-basics set-up: three salsas ranging from mild to hot, a couple of vegetable condiments, beans in a bowl and cooked onions on the side. Cold drinks and aguas frescas are on hand, but you have to bring your own beer or other booze, which can be found around the corner.
Don’t let the emphasis on meat scare you off if you tend to the vegetarian or non-meat-eating persuasion. The vegetarian options are wonderful, including such standouts as the spicy mushroom and garlic taco. There is something for everyone. Prices range from 20-30 pesos per taco, a little more than the usual buck a taco you expect to spend at places like this, but the servings are more than generous—to the point where one taco is a meal, two tacos is a feast, and three tacos is…well, an exercise in gluttony.
El Itacate is open 7 days a week from 11 am to midnight. You can reach them by cell at 322-107-0827.
