...and that's the absolute truth!  Folks come to Mazatlan for a variety of reasons, but tops on most lists is the FOOD.  There are so many outstanding places to eat in Mazatlan that you would need most of a year to try them all.  For starters, try the ones on the typical tourist lists only if you want to be fed and treated like a tourist.  Otherwise, look around and see where the locals are dining, whether it's inside or out.  On our first visit to Mazatlan, we grabbed a taxi and asked the driver to just take us to his own family's favorite place.  We were delighted with our meal at the original Doney's, which has been replaced by the Doney's in the Golden Zone. Good rule of thumb: ask and you shall be told. You can  get lists from other web sites, so I'm going to resist the urge to print everything I know about Mazatlan's culinary delights. Instead, let's just cut right to the chase:  there are certain places you won't find on any tourist list I've ever seen, and they are great!

One is the Panama Bakery chain with four locations. You will not find more friendly or attentive waiters anywhere, the food is excellent and the places are immaculate. No matter what you order, you'll be happy, from breakfast through dinner and dessert. The prices are reasonable almost to the point of being embarrassing! (how about a full rack of bbq'd baby backs for 42 pesos. Can't get that at home, can we?) I'm not going to tell you, "Be sure to try" at Panama because I'd have to print the entire menu… just do yourself a favor and try it once.  You'll be back!

Then there's Los Canoas, and I can't describe the menu for you there because we got only as far as the Camarones (shrimp) platter for two! We have eaten there in the past, and have always been happy, but this one meal was something out of a picture book, to begin with, and absolutely the best we had the whole trip!  We were the only gringos in the place on a Saturday night, and were treated to a wonderful floor show after dinner.  Well worth mentioning, you won't want to miss this one on the Golden Zone.

Are we talking 'local flavor'?  The aroma from our favorite after-dark open-air "Taco Factory" is enough to get your attention.  Family-owned and operated by Nena & Javier Peraza and her brother, Luis Romero, the Taco Factory is open only during the evening hours.  Located directly behind the Tropicana Hotel, look for it at #315 Ave. Camaron Sabalo.  Here, you'll enjoy the friendly, casual atmosphere while watching Javier take slices from the leg of pork being roasted to perfection on a vertical spit.  Looking around, you'll notice no nonsense, no frills: the emphasis here is on the tacos, Nena tells us most gringos (my word, not her's: she's too much a lady!) want the bbq'd pork taken from the spit and finished up on the grill, but why mess with perfection?  Come on, give it a try, have a couple of tacos (order "dos tacos, al pastor, por favor") then a couple more if you're still hungry!  If you're really lucky, Stephanie, who is nearly nine years old, will be your hostess for the evening. She is just delightful!  When you've had your fill of tacos from the Taco Factory, head about three or four blocks north along Ave. Sabalo to Bing's for an after-dinner ice cream cone.  Enjoy!