Day trip to Mexico - food in Tijuana and Popotla fishing village

Despite being close to the border, I have never been to Mexico. This summer, I finally took the plunge for a foodie day trip led by Scott Koenig, frequent traveler and author of A Gringo in Mexico. After picking up two friends in Mission Valley, my assistant navigators directed me to to the last highway exit before Mexico. The border parking lot had cheaper rates on weekdays, $8 instead of $15 for up to 12 hours, and payment was secured by credit card. Scott picked us up and away we went! The border gate delay was short going into Mexico, which mostly consisted of being asked purpose and length of time for our trip.

jars of sauces at Mariscos Ruben truck in Tijuana, B.C., Mexico

Mirtha Rodriguez of Mariscos Ruben truck in Tijuana, B.C., Mexico

fresh scallops from Mariscos Ruben truck in Tijuana, B.C., Mexico

Tijuana was our first stop. Mariscos Ruben's, one of the top 50 street vendors per Scott, had an extensive salsa bar with over 15 flavors to spice up your meal! Mirtha Rodriguez ran the show and prepared our order of aguachile callo de acha. These scallops were so fresh and in a sauce that reminded me of tajin with that strong lime and spice. It was so delicious!

al pastor pit at Taco Nazo in Tijuana, B.C., Mexico

taco at El Taconazo in Tijuana, B.C., Mexico

Down the street, tacos at El Taconazo were next on our list. Inspired by a roasting spit, the juicy adobada taco was delightful with light toppings. The newest taste for me was suadero, a light colored meat that reminded me of pork meat with a bacon-y savoriness. Everything was presented in fresh hand pressed corn tortillas. It was said this establishment also had the cleanest bathrooms in the area. A quick stop was made before we continued our journey south.

Jesus Christ of the Sacred Heart landmark in Rosarito, B.C., Mexico

We passed a huge Jesus on the highway! This is the Christ of the Sacred Heart, a 75-foot tall statue viewable from the road! During this trip, the toll roads were 1.85 USD or 30 pesos and I believe we only passed two going each way.

painted mural of side wall at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

Taking the highway exit, we drove by this pretty sea themed artwork to Popotla fishing village. The general parking lot was to the left. Staff of nearby restaurants waved you toward their establishments, stating that you could get free parking if you ate there. Otherwise, the main lot was approximately $3 for parking. We unloaded from the vehicle and headed toward the beaches.

seaside view of fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

fishing boat on the beach of the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

I was surprised to see vehicles parked and driven within close reach of gently rolling waves. Many fishing boats were nearby, eagerly awaited their owners to begin the next sea adventure. Beware the rogue waves, which more than once caught me by surprise, my jeans soaking the ocean sweat. Next time I'll wear shorts!

fresh fish at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

fresh clams at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

sea urchin at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

 This place was exactly as described, a fishing village, with the perks of fresh seafood for those who waited! We walked around, admiring them, and talking to the vendors.

oysters from Mariscos Reyna at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

clams from Mariscos Reyna at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

grilled fish from Mariscos Reyna at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

Our final eating spot was Mariscos Reyna with a clear view of the sea. Here we sucked down some fresh briny Hurache oysters (named because they are long and resemble a shoe). The prepared Pata de Mula clams, also called "mule's foot" or "black clams," were a little bit on the chewier side so I only ate a few. The best item of the day was the rock fish prepared in the "Zarandeado" style, butterflied and grilled in a basket turned several times. Ahh, the enjoyment of that light seasoning atop soft and silky fish flesh. Scott also showed us a great way to debone the fish in order to get every last possible piece of meat out.

micheladas from Mariscos Reyna at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

Cheers with a mexican bloody mary kind followed, cup rims dripping with a thick tajin-laced paste. This reddish edge I sampled, pleasantly surprised on how much I enjoyed it. That beer was ALL for them though!

ice cream vendor at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico textile vendor at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

candy vendor at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

Beachside vendors walked the sandy stretches. Stacked hats were balanced with ease plus other souvenirs were offered from one man while we marveled at an ice cream man with the best cart ever - bull horns style. The candy guy enticed us with colorful sweets while swatting away beach bugs with a stringy whip.

jackfruit sorbet at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

With full bellies, we waddled back up toward the main village area. To our right was a vendor with really awesome jackfruit ice cream-like stuff which my friends managed to find room for anyway. Then it was time to head home with a half hour drive to the Mexican border.

street merchants at the Mexico border entrance

On a weekday around 4pm, we waited an hour, which was still a third of the time you'd expect on a weekend. To amuse myself, I surveyed the action in this sea of cars... One eyecatcher was a little girl, sitting on the shoulders of her father (or other male company), as she juggling 3 balls with her best efforts. Scott also warned us about the agressive window wipers, who try to 'wash' your windshields for tips. Be assertive if you don't want a particular service during your extended wait. One service we did utilize was purchasing some agua fresca. Best decision of all since the sun was searingly hot and a cool drink was the perfect defense.

colorful wall art at the Mexico border entrance

Murals under the bridges on the road by the border crossing. This was the last picture I took before we reached the border crossing. We're not supposed to take pictures in the security areas so I stopped short just in case! We dutifully showed our passports to the guards and were ushered on our way. Once back over the border, life was the same as always, yet I was happy to finally have dipped my toes into Mexico. Return I will, to explore more...

A Gringo in Mexico, Joann of Cardamon Cafe and Baron's BBQ Beat at the fishing village of Popotla, B.C., Mexico

Here are my fabulous companions of the day (left to right): Scott from A Gringo in Mexico, Joanne of Cardamom Cafe & Bakery, and Mercy from Baron's BBQ Beat. Stay tuned for more adventures this summer!

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Comments

Fran @ G'day Souffle''s picture
Submitted by Fran @ G'day So... (not verified) on Mon, 08/07/2017 - 10:50pm

Lynn, I'm glad you enjoyed your food adventure in Mexico! Next, you'll have to go to Valle de Guadalupe. 'Club Tengo Hambre' and 'Turista Libre' also run trips into Baja and we've enjoyed them both- so much so, that we now have the Sentri Cards that allow you to walk back (or drive back) into the US with only a short waiting time.

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 10:52am

next time valle de guadalupe will be my destination! i may consider the sentri card but it's quite a long wait to get one!

Mary's picture
Submitted by Mary (not verified) on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 9:11am

Yay, you finally went to Mexico! Next time you cross that border try and get some of the freshly made churros. They are THE BEST. I also love the fresh corn tamales for $1 in the fishing village. The only thing I don't like is everyone constantly talking to you and trying to convince you to come into their shop haha. But the food is awesome and so cheap, so that makes up for it. Great post!!

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 10:55am

churros is on the list for next time! we did see fresh tamales at the fishing village but forgot to pick some up before we left. in general, i just stuck with my group who did the talking for what we needed. :)

Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table's picture
Submitted by Laura @ Sprint ... (not verified) on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 10:42am

I'm so jealous! I haven't been down there since we moved here 2.5 years ago. Evie thinks we'll get killed or something. LOL! I almost have her convinced to go to Valle de Guadalupe though. *Almost*

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 11:04am

i have a feeling my next trip down WILL be to Valle de Guadalupe! you guys should try on a weekday after you're all healed up!

Faye's picture
Submitted by Faye (not verified) on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 1:19pm

Was it a paid tour? Looked like a lot of fun! I went to Mexico some years ago and it took 4+ hours to get back to the states (waiting at border). I actually ate ceviche and churros while sitting in the van. Everyone was shocked I didn't get sick from the raw ceviche :) The adobada looks amazing! Beautiful pics -

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 11:03am

usually scott charges for being a private guide but this was a special trip for this group. i was somewhat antsy with the one hour border wait but four hours would make me stir-crazy! did you get the ceviche from the street vendors or was it leftover from wherever you ate earlier?

Darren's picture
Submitted by Darren (not verified) on Tue, 08/08/2017 - 4:18pm

Great post! Looks like you had quite a trip down South. I'll be watching out for your next adventure!

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 10:58am

yes! it will be good recaps of fun times i had!

Soo@hungryones.com's picture
Submitted by Soo@hungryones.com (not verified) on Wed, 08/09/2017 - 3:30pm

Awesome road trip!

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 10:57am

i need to do more of them! =D

Jennifer's picture
Submitted by Jennifer (not verified) on Mon, 08/14/2017 - 12:19am

Looks like a fun trip! And you couldn't have chosen a better guide than Scott for your first time!

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Fri, 08/18/2017 - 10:57am

He's quite a generous guy! Surprisingly, Joanne spoke more fluent spanish so she was also great to have along the trip! i wish i knew a second language!

Kristin's Peppermints and Cherries 's picture
Submitted by Kristin's Peppe... (not verified) on Sat, 05/26/2018 - 6:52am

It's always fun to visit new places and see the wonders of God's creation! You can never lose by visiting a beautiful beach! So peaceful!

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Sun, 05/27/2018 - 8:53pm

I hope to do more adventuring! I get bored with the same day to day work life and really need to stop to smell the roses (or walk along the beach, etc).

Noel's picture
Submitted by Noel (not verified) on Sat, 05/26/2018 - 7:01am

All of the food looks so fresh and delicious! Your pictures are amazing!

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Sun, 05/27/2018 - 8:54pm

Our guide took us to some excellent spots! It made the trip so much easier to enjoy and eat well! :)

Nicolette's picture
Submitted by Nicolette (not verified) on Sat, 05/26/2018 - 9:31pm

The only thing I ever remember eating in Tijuana is a soda that I shared with my Dad when I was a kid. Looks like you had some great stuff!

lynn's picture
Submitted by lynn on Sun, 05/27/2018 - 8:55pm

It's so much closer to travel to Mexico than when I lived in Texas so I really should explore a little more of Baja in the future. I love re-living this small adventure through my blog post! :)

Kayla's picture
Submitted by Kayla (not verified) on Sun, 05/27/2018 - 9:07pm

This looks like it was so much fun! I would love the sightseeing and my husband would love the food. He will try anything once! My palette is not so brave.

Edel's picture
Submitted by Edel (not verified) on Mon, 05/28/2018 - 7:06am

Wow an adventure! Eating “real” Mexican food is quite an experience for the taste buds. Being able to go the for a day is so cool!

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