Comida economica is a wonderful thing. Full breakfast meal: tropical fruits, your choice of a whole list of egg dishes, usually served with beans and tortillas, coffee or juice, all for somewhere in the neighborhood of 18 pesos. There are also usually a whole array of other dishes to choose from for only slightly more, omelets, pancakes and traditional Mexican dishes.
Chilaquiles (Chee-la-key-lays) are a favorite Mexican breakfast dish and are also said to be a great cure for hangovers. They are soggy tortilla chips or pieces of tortillas smothered in a spicy ranchero sauce sprinkled with cheese, served as a side dish or a main entrée. “Huevos al gusto” means, eggs any way you want them, but usually just means scrambled or fried. There are several spots in central Zihua up and down Nicolas Bravo, Ejido and in the cross streets between, but you can find these wonderful little “cafés” on just about every street in town.
Nueva Zelanda*, on Cuauhtemoc between Ejido and Nicolas Bravo, and Las Brasas*, on the pedestrian walk in front of the movie theater, at the corner of Cuauhtemoc and Nicolas Bravo, are both favorite spots for locals and tourists alike. Both have a wide array of tasty breakfast fare but if you’re a coffee connoisseur, you better stick with Nueva Zelanda. They have espresso and cappuccino, most other places will only have Nescafe, but with all the milk and sugar you could need. (Editor’s note: Nueva Zelanda and Las Brasa are no longer open) La Sirena Gorda, although not in the comida economica range does have incredible breakfasts and about the only place I’ve found with French toast– and it’s delicious.
For smoothies and other healthy sounding drinks, try 100%Y* on Plaza Kioto, they also have a full breakfast menu. (Editor’s note: 100%Y is no longer open) And you can get smoothie type concoctions from just about any of the juice stands around town. Licuados, sort of like milk shakes but without the ice cream are a refreshing drink for breakfast or any time. They come in every possible tropical fruit flavor as well as the standard vanilla, chocolate, strawberry. The big restaurant/juice stand on the corner about two blocks up from Electra heading towards Pollo Feliz has amazing juices and licuados. The banana licuado I had there was truly divine. It came in a huge goblet and it took everything I had to keep from ordering 2 or 3 more. Breakfast is always a great meal in Zihuatanejo, the air is cool, the streets are quiet and the food is always cheap and good.
-January 2000
