GUADALAJARA - Plaza Andares isn’t just the newest destination for upscale shopping in Guadalajara, it’s also a hot new place for dining. In fact, if you go there on a Friday night around 10 p.m. without a reservation, you may be out of luck.
One of the most talked about new restaurants is Moshi Moshi, a Japanese chain that got its start in Mexico City. The new addition in Andares is the first outside of the capital. The restaurant’s most notable feature is a moving conveyor belt that lets you grab the sushi you want, when you want it. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, or crave something other than sushi, you can order directly from your waiter. Our waiter recommended #24, the “Baiko,” a breaded sushi that was served hot and contained banana, shrimp, shiitake mushroom and cucumber. Good call. We also gave thumbs up to #22, the “Pucca,” containing crab, salmon, spinach, avocado, green onions and spicy chiles. If you want to be really adventurous, then order shabu-shabu and you’ll be able to cook it yourself on a special stove built into your table. In addition to an extensive menu of traditional Japanese food, Moshi Moshi also offers a wide variety of beverages including iced green tea (recommended), beer, wine, cocktails, juices (including litchi) and, of course, sake. For a refreshing and light dessert, try the green tea ice cream.
Keeping with the Asian theme is the recently inaugurated Duh Thai restaurant, right next door. From the outside it looks quite elegant, but inside the low lighting, predominantly black and white color scheme, lack of décor, and concrete walls and ceiling give the place a cold, warehouse feel. The menu looks promising, with an ample selection of traditional Thai appetizers, soups and main dishes, but the food itself is inconsistent. The appetizer sampler, for example, had four or five different items that were all very tasty, but the Pad Thai I ordered as a main course was disappointing. Too much fish sauce, maybe. The morose ambience and so-so service notwithstanding, I will give it a second chance, because I love Thai food.
Another recently opened restaurant at Andares — and the only one in Jalisco— is the California Pizza Kitchen. Being a fan of the chain, I couldn’t wait to go. There weren’t any big surprises with the décor or menu: pretty much the same as what you find in the States. I decided to forgo my usual Thai Chicken Pizza and instead opted for a Mexican theme: Sonora egg rolls (highly recommended), avocado egg rolls and arrachera pizza. Overall the food and service were very good. The only things that detracted from my experience were the loud music and the glass of Merlot served chilled.
Another new kid on the block is El Almacen del Bife, which offers Italian and Argentine fare, including a decent selection of beef dishes and an extensive wine list. Not being a big meat eater, I opted for a pizza. It was fine, as were the service and ambience. Nothing exceptional in my opinion, but not a bad choice, especially if you’re a wine or meat lover.
Two more newcomers to Guadalajara are the Palacio de Hierro’s bistro-style restaurant and the (mostly Italian) restaurant Gino’s on the mall’s upper level. The rest of the full-service restaurants in Andares can also be found in other parts of the city: Outback, Chili’s, La Moresca, the Sushi Factory.
For fast-food options, head to the upstairs food court where you’ll see a couple of pizza and burger joints, Chinese food, Japanese food, tacos, gyros, baguettes and salads. There are also a couple of ice cream outlets if you need a quick sugar fix. Krispy Kreme donuts, on the lower level, can also take care of that. A French crepe stand that just opened in front of Liverpool also looks like it might do the trick. Did I mention Krispy Kreme?
If you still haven’t figured out how to navigate your way out of the confusing underground parking garage at Andares, avoid the hassle and use the new valet parking service for 35 pesos. The booth is located along the main drive on the mall’s west side, just before Moshi Moshi.
Plaza Andares is located near the corner of Avenida Patria and Acueducto. The entrance is from Patria and is well signposted.
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