When you get hungry in Guadalajara, you won't have to go far to find delectable food. The city offers an incredible array of restaurants serving not only Jalisco cuisine but more exotic fare, too. Generally, you should plan to eat lunch between 3 and 4 P.M. and dinner after 9, the way the Tapatíos do.

Local Dining Suggestions

• Guadalajara Grill: A mixture of good Mexican and American food is served in a three-level dining room decorated with old photographs of Guadalajara (Avenida Lopez Mateos Sur 3771, 33-3631-5728).

• La Destillería: Regional food is served in a simulated tequila distillery (Avenida Mexico 2916, 33-3640-3110).

• La Fonda de San Miguel: Enjoy excellent regional Mexican dishes served in the courtyard of a restored eighteenth-century convent in an atmosphere of refined elegance (Donato Guerra 25, 33-3613-0809).

• Maximino's: The city's most elegant, this restaurant is set in a two-story mansion, with individual dining rooms decorated with crystal chandeliers and antiques. Serves international and French cuisine (Lerdo de Tejada 2043, 33-3615-3435).

• Parilla Argentina: This, one of the best of Guadalajara's steak houses, serves a mixed parrillada (grilled meats) or tender steaks (Fernando Celada 176, 33-3615-7361).

Dining Precautions

Dine where the locals eat. Restaurants packed with locals are a sure bet. To be on the safe side, avoid food from street vendors. The major hotels have water purification systems, but drink bottled water everywhere else.