It took us all long enough, but for the past few years now the Valle de Guadalupe has finally been getting the credit it deserves as a world-class winery region. However, the fact of the matter is that the Valle de Guadalupe and the wider Baja California region deserve to be recognized for more than just vino–this is one of Mexico’s (and the planet’s) fastest growing and most exciting food and restaurant destinations as well.
Frankly, trying to sum up everything that’s going on in the Valley in terms of gastronomy in one blog post would be an exercise in futility–not to mention the fact that, by the end of the post, a few more innovative and attention-grabbing eateries would have opened up! Despite this, we’re going to try our best to share just a few of our favorite spots with you.
To begin with, no conversation on the Valle de Guadalupe’s culinary scene would be complete without a mention of Corazón de Tierra, one of only ten Mexican restaurants named among the 50 best in Latin America by the people behind Restaurant Magazine. It’s pricy (by Mexican standards at least), but most would argue that its rotating five-course tasting menu and locally-sourced cuisine is more than worth the expense.
Another one of our favorite Valle de Guadalupe restaurants is Finca Altozano, whose roots stretch back over a decade to when it was nothing more than a small tent, some wooden logs, and a grill. Nowadays it features an open-air (but permanently covered!) dining area from which you can watch the cooks do their thing preparing some of the juiciest, most mouth-watering birria and barbacoa we’ve ever had the pleasure to try. What head chef Javier Plascencia still calls his asador campestre (“country grill”) is now both that and so much more.
Next, it would be remiss of us not to mention a relatively new addition to the Valle de Guadalupe restaurant scene, the Jardín de Adobe at the Adobe Guadalupe Vineyards and Inn. Opened just last year, the Jardín is bringing to visitors an absolutely fantastic culinary experience once reserved only for guests staying at the Adobe Guadalupe. South Africa-born chef Ryan Steyn is doing some incredible things here, fusing the region’s traditional take on Mexican cuisine with international influences from Europe, his home country, and beyond. He’s also known for his plates’ highly visual flairs, which you might note from the image at the top of this post!
Finally, if you’re tired of the sit-down meals and are ready to try something a little bit more off the beaten path, the Valle de Guadalupe food truck scene is beginning to boom just like that of many cities here in Southern California. The Adobe Food Truck, also part of the Adobe Guadalupe, is open from Thursday through Monday, and even if you’re not a guest you’re still welcome here for some of the famous tapas, sandwiches, and salads served alongside the fine wines crafted on-site.
Another truck that’s recently stormed onto the Valle de Guadalupe food scene is Troika (sometimes stylized TROIKa), whose name serves as an homage to the Russian settlers that came to the Valley towards the beginning of the last century. Located on the property of La Villa del Valle, Troika is renowned for its stacked seafood tostadas and its deliciously fresh, lightly marinated pork tacos and sliders.
As extensive as this list may seem, it’s really just the tip of the iceberg as far as Valle de Guadalupe restaurants and eateries go. If you’re ready to explore the culinary offerings of the Valle de Guadalupe but don’t know where to begin, Baja Winery Tours is always here to show you the best of what Baja wine country has to offer. For more information, get in touch via our Contact page, and soon you could be chowing down on the most delicious food the Valle de Guadalupe has to offer.
