La Salsa — Restaurant in Oaxaca

La Salsa Restaurante 📍 Calle Tercera Pte. 400, Colonia Hidalgo, 71980 Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca

Located just a few blocks from the coastline, La Salsa offers a casual yet inviting setting for those craving fresh coastal Mexican cuisine. During my recent visit, I sampled a few of their signature items and walked away impressed by the flavors, though the overall experience left room for refinement.

Aguachile

A standout starter, the aguachile was vibrant and refreshing. The shrimp were fresh, perfectly marinated, and infused with the tangy brightness of lime and a well-balanced heat from the chili. Fresh cucumber and onion added a crisp contrast, while the herbal aroma brought everything together beautifully. Rating: 8/10

Tacos de Camarón

The shrimp tacos were a highlight of the meal. Generously filled and seasoned with precision, the shrimp were tender and flavorful, enhanced by well-paired garnishes and a lightly toasted tortilla. Each bite delivered a satisfying blend of texture and taste. Rating: 9/10

Service

While the food spoke volumes, the service was less remarkable. Staff were courteous, but the overall experience felt a bit detached. There was minimal engagement or follow-up, and the lack of attentiveness detracted slightly from the overall atmosphere. Rating: 6/10

Ambiance

The ambiance is simple but pleasant. The space is clean and well-lit, offering a laid-back, no-frills environment ideal for a casual lunch or dinner. While it may not stand out visually, it provides a comfortable setting that suits the local vibe. Rating: 8/10

Price

La Salsa offers excellent value for the quality of food. Prices are reasonable, especially considering the freshness of the seafood and the portion sizes.

Verdict

La Salsa delivers solid, flavorful dishes that showcase the region’s culinary strengths, especially when it comes to seafood. While the service could be more polished, the quality of the food makes it worth a visit. I look forward to returning and trying more of...

We went here on our 2nd last night in Puerto Escondido based on all the fabulous reviews and we were excited for the fish and seafood.

Firstly the staff are amazingly friendly and I did enjoy the atmosphere at this restaurant, it has a festive but calm feel to it.

I ordered the fish fillet with garlic and the octopus cocktail, meanwhile my partner ordered the prawns. The prawns were nice, however the fish fillet was very average and not especially tasty. Additionally, the octopus was very much overcooked and quite chewy, I also didn't think the tomato sauce was tasty nor worked well with the octopus.

Later that night, I unfortunately acquired food poisoning, which thankfully only lasted the night and the next day, however this was not a pleasant experience as we can all imagine.

One can never be 100% sure of where food poisoning comes from but I am quite positive it was from this meal. I mention this in my review, in the hope that this will not happen again. Overall the food was quite average, however the atmosphere is nice and could be a nice spot for a drink and some salsa.

This restaurant seems to receive great reviews which most likely means that my experience was an anomaly, so by all means give it a shot...

Amazing spot in Puerto to grab some fresh seafood. The staff is super friendly, the seafood is fresh and delicious, and the prices are very reasonable. We ate here on our first night in Puerto and liked it so much we came back twice during our week-long stay. I cannot recommend the tuna sashimi highly enough. It is paper thin, it melts in your mouth, and comes in epically large proportions. Get a full order to share or a half-order to mix and match with their excellent aguachile (but be warned it is very spicy). The best part of the restaurant however is the staff. They are super attentive, friendly, and make you feel at home from the minute you sit down. Do yourself a favor and add this to your list... and if you're feeling saucy add a giant margarita (1L) to your meal for...