Pozolería El Profe

It’s not exactly convenient to Zihuatanejo and even farther from Ixtapa, but if you want to try what locals call the best pozole around, head for this Thursday-only restaurant in the town of Cuocoyul, about 15 minutes south of Zihuatanejo by car. Service is leisurely, downright slow, in fact, so don’t even think about going if you’ve got appointments afterwards or tend to get impatient. The three-room restaurant, apparently a converted house, will be jammed with patrons. Musicians roam around playing lively rancheras. Your waitress will bring a paper menu on which you tick off what kind and size of pozole you want along with which condiments, including cheese, chicharrones, and avocado. There are tamales, carnitas (tender pork bits served with fixings and tortillas), and pickled pigs’ feet, but the main show is pozole, served throughout Mexico but most famous in Guerrero state, where it originated.

City: Zihuatanejo (outside town, actually, in Cuocoyul) State: Guerrero Region: Pacific Coast Who: Pozolería El Profe What: pozole (hominy soup with chicken or pork base) Where: Take Carretera 200 east from Ixtapa or Zihuatanejo past the main Zihua bus terminal en route to the airport; look for Cuocoyul sign, and turn left onto that road. Once in Cuocoyul, turn left at the pharmacy (best to ask a local!); it’s just a block or two down this street on the left-hand side. Tel. unknown When: Thursdays only, 1:30 pm until pozole is gone (5--7 pm) Why: A traditional meal popular with guerrerenses for a long, lingering lunch with business partners, friends, or family. Thursdays only! How: Take a taxi (negates the super meal deal aspect, but oh so much easier than finding yourself) Cost: About 35 pesos (US$3.50) for pozole plus about 20 pesos each for condiments to share, such as chicharrones, avocado, and cheese.