Lunch At El Brujo

The Mysterious Chinese Woman and I decided to go to one of our favorite out-of-the-way places for lunch a few days ago. We go there a few times each year and were happy to find that it hadn't changed much. It is on a busy street right where cars come out of a tunnel and head into downtown Puerto Vallarta, or at least into the part called the Romantic Zone.

El Brujo


The prices here are very reasonable and the portions are quite large. Everytime we come here we say we will order just one dish and split it but, for some reason, we seldom do. Perhaps it is because we like different things.

The Mysterious Chinese Woman And Shrimp Tortillas


You get a large, and I do mean large, sizzling plate of shrimp and peppers and onions all cooked up together and your choice of either corn or flour tortillas to wrap it in. Most delicious and after she was done there was plenty to take home for another meal the next day.

I, on the other hand, am partial to their seafood cervice. Again, a large, more than you can eat, serving of shrimp, octopus, and fish marinated in lime juice with carrots and peppers and cilantro and other delicious spices.

Bar Man And Cervice


The beers here are cold and fairly cheap as well, 18 pesos which is, I guess, about $2. With the American dollar tanking everywhere and the booming economy here in Puerto Vallarta things aren't as cheap as they once were, but still a lot cheaper than in New York so it still feels like a bargain here. It is funny though to see that the Canadian dollar buys more pesos than the American dollar now. I have never seen that before although I am old enough to remember way back in the days when the Canadian dollar used to be worth more than the American dollar. Must have been back in the 50's and 60's though.

It was the day after Valentines Day and there were still a few heart-shaped balloons hanging about. There is usually something depressing about partially deflated balloons, but this one kind of reminded me of a sunburnt Dolly Parton.

Dolly Parton With A Sun Burn


The Mysterious Chinese Woman wasn't too happy when I pointed this out to her.

For those of you who are adventurous eaters, this little place right across the street from El Brujo was doing a brisk business.

Street Food At Its Finest


I am a big fan of eating at these taco stands. The food is quite good and they are really kind of fun places to eat. In the evening they are little neighborhood gathering places while during the day it is where a lot of Mexican workers take their lunch break. And you can't get better value for your money. I am always surprised when people ask me how I can eat at these and if I am not afraid of getting sick. I have never had a problem and the food is delicious.

I also find it funny that the same people who worry about these taco stands seem to have no problem eating a hotdog from a street vendor back home. Guess it is just what you feel comfortable with.

By the way, on Valentines Day I did take the Mysterious Chinese Woman out for lunch at another nice place, Daiquiri Dick's. But damn, I forgot my camera. It was a pity too because as we were eating lunch a couple of whales were hanging out just a couple of hundred of yards off-shore. This is a big calving ground for them as well as for porpoises, but it is just about the end of the season for them and soon they will be moving on.

Until tomorrow, hasta luego, or something.