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Alcalde

Guadalajara, Mexico

Down-to-earth regional Mexican cuisine

On the Pass

Francisco Ruano

Chef Francisco ‘Paco’ Ruano’s simple, ‘frank’ Mexican cooking in a stylish, welcoming setting in Guadalajara makes diners want to return again and again. His restaurant, Alcalde, has risen quickly up Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants rankings, winning the Highest Climber Award in 2019.

Alcalde’s menu has worldwide influences but is rooted in the Jalisco region. Ruano honed his skills on cruise ships in Alaska and the Caribbean before enrolling at the Luis Irizar cooking school in Spain. He went on to work at esteemed restaurants such as Mugaritz and El Celler de Can Roca in Spain and Noma in Denmark. Local ingredients dominate the menu, with dishes such as green aguachile with prawn and apple, octopus with Japanese aubergine, habañero peppers and perilla rice. The restaurant has options for four- or seven-course tasting menus as well as a simple three-course à la carte, ending in desserts featuring local fruits.

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