Restaurant Don Fernando

The 25 Best Restaurants in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico | Eater

"Pescado zarandeado is like carne asada for Patas Saladas, the celebratory dish for weekends or the feast you bring to the beach. It has reached almost mythical status along the Banderas Bay, and it’s not uncommon to hear people desperately asking where to find the best take. This version, just a few miles away from Nayarit’s coast, is that “best” version. The butterflied fresh fish is painted with a savory adobo made of dried chiles, placed in a zaranda (basket), and slowly smoked for about 40 minutes. It maintains a juicy flake and is served with a bright salsa verde made from raw tomatillos. Owner Fernando Olivares perfected this fish over decades before passing the torch to his son, César. The camarones zarandeados, made roughly the same way, are just as delicious, but it’s the bean-filled tacos that practically steal the show; they’re filled with an almost custardy, hyper-seasoned mash of beans and dried chiles and crisped up over an open wood fire. You’ll have to drive about 45 minutes from Puerto Vallarta’s downtown, but it is worth it. Just make sure to reserve your fish a day ahead of time by calling the restaurant." - Paola Briseño-González