Fiesta en Guadalajara is one of the most fun and most aptly named restaurants in the city. Nearly every night, especially on the weekends, it does seem like a fiesta, if not in Guadalajara, at least somewhere in Mexico. Though it is very popular with its neighbors in the near north side, it is somewhat neglected by folks from other areas. This is a shame, because Fiesta en Guadalajara is always a very enjoyable and interesting stop for anyone with even a passing interest in Mexican food. The restaurant offers more than just a meal. Mariachi bands play every night, and a second band wielding guitars, keyboards and amplifiers plays at fairly high volume on Friday and Saturday nights in the other half of the restaurant. Peddlers might be moving from table to table trying to sell flowers, cheap gifts, and the like. There might even be a clown entertaining the children among the breaks in the meal. Because of this atmosphere, and some often very good food, Fiesta en Guadalajara is packed on weekend nights. In the large parking lot, which is in view of the skyscrapers a couple miles to the south, it can be tough to find a space at peak times.
The large, rambling menu at Fiesta en Guadalajara has continued to evolve in recent years and probably now appeals to a larger audience than ever before. It lists over fifty Mexican and Tex-Mex plates. Though the entrées are hearty, there are several interesting appetizers that will work as starters, or for sustenance with the after work drinks. There are well-prepared nachos, quesadillas, a couple queso flameado preparations, and two more unusual, but appealing dishes. The Jalapos are large jumbo shrimp stuffed with jalapeño slices and cheese, marinated, then breaded and deep-fried. Another great companion for cold beer is the Papa Nachos, a choice of beef or chicken fajitas served over slices of deep-fried potatoes that are covered with gravy and cheeses. For entrées, there are fajitas, Mexican-style steaks, chicken breast dishes, quail, tacos, shrimp preparations, a number of different enchiladas, flautas, gorditas, pork chops, and several mixed grills, and Tex-Mex-style combination plates. The star of the entrées is the Camarón Brocheta, four jumbo shrimp that have each been stuffed with Monterey Jack cheese and a jalapeño slice, wrapped in an impossibly long slice of bacon and then cooked. It is one of the best shrimp dishes in the city. Unfortunately, the several other entrées featuring shrimp have not been nearly as successful in the past, though the restaurant has recently introduced some new ones. The steak dishes can be very good, fitting for a city that loves beef. The Tampiqueña, especially, can be excellent. It is an 8-ounce cut of fajita steak that has been marinated, then grilled. It comes with a cheese enchilada, plus rice, beans and guacamole and pico de gallo, which accompany all of the steak dishes. The Carne Asada is a 10-ounce skirt steak that has been grilled then covered with Monterey Jack cheese. There is also a 12-ounce T-Bone that is broiled and topped with a choice of sauces. The enchiladas are generally quite good, especially the Enchiladas Verdes and the Enchiladas Mexicanas. The molé dishes, enchiladas and one with a chicken quarter, can be good, but have been inconsistent. Sometimes the molé is balanced and quite flavorful, other times it is too sweet and lacking the complexity that the better ones around town have. For the biggest appetites, there are a couple of mixed grill platters, parillas, for two or four people. These generous orders can include beef, chicken, quail, bacon, poblano peppers, and shrimp.
The restaurant is divided into two wings and has a stated capacity of 220. The wing to the left of the entrance is where the bar is located and has a couple of dining rooms. The area to the right of the entrance is the larger dining room, and is more popular with Hispanic families. This one is generally more spacious and comfortable than the other wing, but it can get quite loud when a band is playing on the small stage in this room at night. Also, the waitstaff is more apt to speak only Spanish on this side. Wherever you sit, the food will be good and the atmosphere lively. There is also a small patio by the entrance that is nice place to sit during those temperate evenings.
Drinks, especially the margaritas, are usually a part of the dining experience at Fiesta en Guadalajara. Given its proximity to downtown and that it these are an especially great value during happy hour, the restaurant is a first stopping point for some attorneys and other office workers who have cut the work day short. Their basic frozen margarita is surprisingly good, better than what you usually find, and quite inexpensive. And, unless specified otherwise, the margarita is served in a good-sized goblet making it a great value. These are easy to drink, and whose volume will help lead you into a more festive mood in case you have not already picked up that vibe, which pulsates throughout the restaurant most evenings.
3522 Irvington (south of Patton)
(713) 227-1800