El Jardin

The best food in the Oriente may be found at this relaxing riverside restaurant, which is part of the lovely hotel of the same name, located 1km north of town. Sofia, the award-winning chef-owner, makes aromatic pollo ishpingo (cinnamon chicken – ishpingo is a sort of cinnamon unique to the Oriente), which awakens the palette with its sumptuous, delicate flavors.

El Jardin is a casual restaurant with a variety of delicious Southwestern/Mexican cuisine, including sizzling fajitas, grilled pork chops, and steaks with green chile. Sopapilla Rancheras, Tequila Lime Chicken, and their grilled Steak Picado are among their daily offerings. Then there's the green chile, which can be mild, medium, hot, or extra hot depending on your preference. They didn't forget about the youngsters, don't you think? Every Monday evening, children under the age of 12 eat for free from their children's menu.

If you want to take your dining experience to the next level, their full-service bar, which was recently rebuilt in 2013, has all of your favorite spirits and eight beers on tap. Every night, their bartenders shake things up with their exquisite margaritas and freshly squeezed MOJITOS. On Thursday evenings, they offer their famous 16 oz. Margaritas for only $2.99 each. On Thursday nights, they'll be serving over 300 margaritas, so get there early!

Location: Paseo Turístico, Barrio Obrero

Phone: (408) 320.2411

Google ratings: 4.0/5.0