La Boquita - EL NARANJO

If you want an authentic Mexican restaurant experience in Manzanillo, look no farther than the group of Ramadas on La Boquita beach. Our favorite is Ramada Marildo. To get there you will drive through Club Santiago (a gated community), tell the guard at the entrance you are going to La Boquita, if they ask.The road through Club Santiago is cobblestone (which is only charming the first time you drive on cobblestone); the road to La Boquita is dirt/gravel. As you enter the complex of different Ramadas, hawkers will try to get you to pull into their restaurant, resist and continue to Ramada Marildo, near the end. The restaurants all have Palapas for their roof, tables and chairs are positioned below on the sand. If you want to experience beachfront; there are a couple of possible detractions. 1)The beach vendors are continually walking through the restaurants selling all types of wares including sweet breads, fruits, ice cream, shells etc.; if you are not local, they will zone in on your table (be firm with your no if you are not interested). 2) At high tide, water may reach your table, so plant your belongings on a chair or on the table. 3) Restrooms are primitive but cleanThe restaurants have menus, but I recommend asking for the fresh catch. A few weeks ago I took a friend, who was heading back to the states and had never tried eating at La Boquita. That day they had fresh Snapper ( Huachinango), and Snook ( Robalo ). My friend got very enthusiastic when he heard they had Snook. I had never tried it so we had them grill the fish they brought us. The fish was treated with a special rub they perfected, then grilled over a bed of mesquite. We also shared a plate of fresh clams (they squirm when you drop lime juice on them), they were superb. We asked to have the Snook cut steak size, rather than filleted. When the platter came out, we both looked at it and said, that the leftovers would be dinner. But we were wrong, once we started eating, we couldn't stop; it was so good! The total for the Snook was 280 pesos ( last week we were in Costco and I was passing the seafood aisle and I saw Robalo, it was selling for 890 pesos a kilo ( which was less than what we ate).My wife and I went with friends 2 nights ago and ordered off the menu as the Ladies wanted shrimp quesadillas. So we had guacamole, salsas, bean tacos, shrimp quesadillas, and a shrimp and octopus dish. Remember my warning about the tide, we were sitting and talking and a large wave came in and swamped the front row of tables.If you want you can bring you own tequila, as long as you order a meal you have an umbrella on the beach so you can enjoy a nice afternoon beachside.

La Boquita is actually a grouping of restaurants at the end of Miramar beach. All of them specialize in seafood dishes. This area is a favorite of local Mexican people. Get there in the early afternoon. Most of La Boquita shuts down at dark. The food is all prepared fresh but is mostly average in taste. There is usually music being played by roving musicians. All in it is a fun place to visit.

Went there for New Years Eve and had a great time. Tried it later for dinner and were disappointed. My mahi mahi was very salty and overcooked. Mostly seafood not a lot of other options. We would not go back for dinner.

Isolated restaurant on the north side of the lagoon, but well worth the effort to find it. Located at the resort of Las Palmas on a dead-end road, the food is excellent, and while the service is slow, remember that you are in Mexico and enjoy the expansive view over Santiago Bay. We return here every year.

We try to get out to boquita a couples of times, this year only made it once. As previously noted this is not one restaurant but a series of restaurants. We usually eat at Marildos and did again this year. Had two shrimp dishes (diabla and rellenos) both of which were good. Prices are a tad high but worth it for the quality. The places are frequented primarily by locals but not exclusively. Waiters tend to have some English. The freshness of the seafood is the key and make it worth the visit.