Exploring Tijuana’s Best Eats
Recently, I had some regrets from a work trip to Tijuana, so I decided to go again with my wife and a close friend. We set off from LA, picked up my friend in Fullerton, and headed straight to the border.
Many people tend to go towards downtown when visiting Tijuana, but I entered through the outskirts. The reason is that it’s quicker to walk in and out that way.
Parking was very convenient as there is a LAZ parking lot right in front of the border. (On Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, the daily parking fee is $22; on weekdays, it’s $18)
When crossing into Mexico from that location, there were no immigration officers checking passports, just a bag check, and we went straight into Mexico. Just to be safe, always carry your green card and passport.
LAZ Parking Lot
We visited Mariscos el Mazateno, known for its shrimp and octopus tacos. Since it was introduced earlier, you can find more details in the following post (link).
After having breakfast with tacos, we headed straight to Zona Centro. Zona Centro is located in the heart of downtown Tijuana, where small markets and restaurants are gathered. Since many staff members are trying to lure you in front of the restaurants, it’s good to stay alert and take a look around. We entered a restaurant whose name I can’t even remember, ordered beer and cocktails, and while munching on the complimentary chips, our ordered Shrimp Ceviche arrived. I wondered why it took so long for just one dish to come out, but seeing the chef in the kitchen peeling one shrimp at a time made me understand the delay. The Shrimp Ceviche was incredibly refreshing and fresh, making it perfect as a snack.
Then we walked a bit through downtown to move to our next destination. There were art murals on the walls, and we could see many tourists as well.
We visited Caesar’s, one of the famous restaurants that comes up when you search for Tijuana, ordered beer and cocktails, and got a large Ensalada Caesars salad, which is said to be famous.
The staff prepares the sauce right in front of you, and if you have a preferred sauce, you can request them to add a bit more. The salad was tasty, but perhaps because I had high expectations, it wasn’t anything particularly special. However, considering the performance of making the sauce and the price, it’s definitely a menu worth trying. Surprisingly, the cocktail was really delicious, and since it had less rum than when I had it in LA, it felt closer to a soft drink, making it even tastier.
Av. Revolución 8190, Zona Centro, 22000 Tijuana, B.C., Mexico
Caesar’s
Even if three people order beer, cocktails, and food at a restaurant, about $50 in US dollars is sufficient. From 10 AM to 4 PM, with three taxi rides and three restaurant visits, it seems we spent about $85 per person. Receipts from restaurants or cafes also show amounts in US dollars, and even if they don’t, you can pay in US dollars, so there’s no need to worry. Having $20 bills and $1 bills can make things easier.
However, since it’s difficult to communicate in English for more than 80% of the time, it might be good to memorize some very basic Spanish. Taxis can easily take you to your destination if you just show them the address.
When walking back into the US from the Mexican border, they check your residency status, but if you have a Global Entry card, you can go through the Sentri line for a quicker interview. (In fact, the interview takes less than 10 seconds.)
Left photo (when crossing from the US to Mexico): After parking at the LAZ parking lot, walk down for about 5 minutes until you see the stairs. If you go up the stairs, you’ll come to a bridge. Follow it until you reach a fork at the end; if you look left from the front, you’ll see a metal gate, and you can enter there. The large letters saying MEXICO indicate the border towards Tijuana Downtown, so don’t be alarmed.
Right photo (when entering the US from Mexico): Show the taxi driver a picture of a restaurant and ask them to drop you off there. There’s a long road right in front, and if you walk along the green line, you can enter the US immigration inspection area. You must show your residency card, citizenship, or passport to enter. A driver’s license is not accepted. Once inside, there will be another immigration line, and after going through immigration and a simple bag check (X-ray), you can immediately re-enter US territory.
