Birrieria Ayutlan - SAN PATRICIO

Set in the middle of the city's public market, this family-run restaurant is more than just a snack stall. Clear plastic tablecloths reveal retro photos of the city that made Jalisco's tasty goat stew (birrieria de chivo famous. (A beef version is also available. On our visit, the stew had clearly been simmering for three or four hours. The meat was fork-tender, the broth succulent. Side dishes of chopped onion, fresh cilantro, lime and salsa allowed us to make our medium-sized serving (more than enough for two as spicy as we wanted. Just-made tortillas allowed us to sop up every drop. Had we been planning a party, $90 would have paid for enough birrieria, tortillas and all the trimmings for a crowd of 45, packaged to go.

Set in the middle of the city's public market, this family-run restaurant is more than just a snack stall. Clear plastic tablecloths reveal retro photos of the city that made Jalisco's tasty goat stew (birrieria de chivo) famous. (A beef version is also available.) On our visit, the stew had clearly been simmering for three or four hours. The meat was fork-tender, the broth succulent. Side dishes of chopped onion, fresh cilantro, lime and salsa allowed us to make our medium-sized serving (more than enough for two) as spicy as we wanted. Just-made tortillas allowed us to sop up every drop. Had we been planning a party, $90 would have paid for enough birrieria, tortillas and all the trimmings for a crowd of 45, packaged to go.