The most interesting restaurant discovery on my recent trip to Mexico was Pachuco in Guadalajara. Located in a lively neighborhood dotted with popular bars and restaurants, Pachuco is a casual spot, but with very serious food.

The menu is wide-ranging, with something to fit any mood at any time of the day, and I wish I had spent more time in the city to try more of their interesting dishes.

At first, I was just pleased that the pretty waitress was paying attention to me, but then I realized she was giving me a detailed explanation of the 3 salsas she had just delivered to my table. That’s when I realized I was in a special place.

These were the 3 best salsas I have ever had.

The green salsa was sweet and oniony, made with serrano peppers and all raw ingredients.

The orange one tasted sweet at first, but the heat built up quickly. The chiltepín chiles and apple puree were responsible for that.

The red salsa was served warm, and had the smoky heat of morita chiles, and the ingredients were roasted on a wood fire.

I had a wonderful torta ahogada as a main course, and two of the most creative ice cream flavors I’ve ever had, but I’ll tell you about those another time.

Here’s the address: Calle Morelos 1743, Guadalajara, Jal., Mexico
Phone:+52 33 3615 6191