Nina on the Moon

Chili’s Mexico in Puerto Vallarta

We don’t have Chili’s here in Vancouver, so whenever my husband and I are in the USA or Mexico, we make sure to always hit it up at least once! On our most recent trip to Puerto Vallarta, we were dying for some yummy burgers, so it was obvious where we had to go!

I am a loyal chicken burger eater, so I ordered the Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich. The Ranch sauce is smothered on the buns and the chicken breast usually comes drenched in Frank’s hot sauce , but I like to ask for both sauces on the side so the buns don’t get soggy. This way I can administer how much sauce goes on 🙂

Personally, I love Chili’s Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich, it’s my favorite! My husband loves anything with bacon, so he ordered the Bacon Burger, which was a hit! And my father-in-law ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger! Hi five’s all’round, we were all very happy with our burgers!

Plus the view from this Chili’s in Puerto Vallarta is stunning. You can see the cruise ship arrive and depart from the Bay right before your eyes while enjoying the yummy food. Not only that, but if you are in Chili’s in the evening you can witness  BREATHTAKING sunsets!

The service at this location is fine, nothing outstanding, but not the worst. Food arrived within 15 minutes. 
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Coleguita in Puerto Vallarta

En nuestro último viaje a Puerto Vallarta mis papas insistieron demasiado en que fuéramos a comer todos a Mariscos El Coleguita. La descripción que hacían de los platillos era  de una manera casi exagerada, decían que la atención al cliente era excelente y sobre todo hicieron mucho énfasis en los tequilas que te ofrecen al llegar y durante tu estancia, por cortesia de la casa.. al final nos convencieron.. 

Cuando llegamos al lugar, no habían pasado ni 2 minutos cuando nuestro mesero ya estaba presentándose con nosotros, ofreciéndonos caballitos de tequila para abrir el apetito mientras disfrutábamos de una rica brisa, música de trio y Mariachis. Inmediatamente otro mesero se nos acercó ofreciéndonos un caldo de camarón preparado por ellos mismos, haciendo una mancuerna perfecta con los tequiliux. 

Al poco tiempo llegaron nuestros platillos, su presentación era totalmente colorida con porciones grandes, bien servidas y siempre con un toque de frescura al incluir ensalada o verduras frescas en tu platillo. Entre los cuatro platillos que pedimos en esa ocasión, había una combinación de pescado fresco, camarón y pulpo, en diferentes presentaciones como empanizados, a la diabla, al ajo y natural. Solo puedo decir una cosa.. Mis papas no estaban mintiendo ni mucho menos exagerando!  Los platillos eran enormes y sobre todo deliciosos! Y eso no es todo..  al terminar nuestros platos fuertes arribaron los postres! El Coleguita te regala platanitos fritos con Leche condensada (lechera) acompañado de un caballito de licor de café para rematar y cerrar la experiencia con broche de oro. 

Definitivamente mariscos El Coleguita es un ‘must go‘ en tu estancia por Puerto Vallarta, cuentan con tres diferentes locaciones muy bien distribuidas pues se encuentran en la entrada, en la salida y en el corazón de Puerto Vallarta, haciendo este lugar uno de nuestros preferidos! Thanks to mis jefes! Thumbs up pa’ los coleguitas!

Nota: Todos los platillos incluyen un Caballito de Tequila, un Caldito de Camarón y de postre, Platanito Frito y Licor de Café.
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Pollo Feliz in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

My in-laws pretty much know all of the DELICIOUS restaurants in Puerto Vallarta, so it came as no surprise, when they took us to Pollo Feliz.

Pollo Feliz is a Mexican chain restaurant that got its start in Sinaloa in 1975. Pollo Feliz specializes in pollo asado al carbon, or grilled chicken in English.   Like many Mexican restaurants, Pollo Feliz serves a botana (totopos and salsa) when you are seated, to pick at while waiting for your food, yumm! Pollo Feliz is inexpensive, definitely get a bang for your buck, or in this case pesos.

The menu at Pollo Feliz also consists of GIANT quesadillas, french fries, salads, and a few desserts. To drink, you can grab a soda, flavoured water or even a beer.

So what did we order?
For four, we ordered a whole pollo asado al carbon, which came with grilled jalapenos, fresh handmade tortillas and salsa on the side and 2 quesadillas GIGANTES. Yes, they are actually giant quesadillas, they measure 30cm!

How to eat Pollo Feliz? 
You can eat el Pollo Feliz in many ways; you can grab the pollo asado al carbon with your fingers and eat away, or you can pull apart the pollo and place it on a tortilla and roll into a taquito! Oh, and don’t forget to add some  of that fresh salsa. You can also pull the chicken apart and place it into  the  quesadilla. And if you want a little kick, take a small bite of the jalapeno before biting into your quesadilla…

Location?
We visited the Pollo Feliz sucursal in Downtown Puerto Vallarta. It is small, but spacious and clean. They have restrooms and sinks to freshen up. Staff is friendly.

Pollo Feliz Downtown Puerto Vallarta
Honduras 171
5 de Diciembre, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

Pollo Feliz!
The GIANT 30cm quesadilla
My pollo asado al carbon and quesadilla
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Tortalajara in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Part One: Torta Ahogada y Michelada)

Amigas, denle una bienvenida a mi esposo Gabriel, quien hace su primer colaboración escrita aquí en Nina on the Moon! 🙂 

En la vida existen muchos tipos de placeres, pero sin lugar a dudas una torta ahogada con una michelada están on the top 5 of my list. La torta ahogada es un platillo típico de la comida Mexicana, especificamente de la ciudad de Guadalajara, que debido a su altura, clima y sus hornos rústicos de piedra hacen posible cocinar este pan (bolillo) el cual es clave para crear la torta perfecta. 

Preparar una torta ahogada es muy fácil, solo abres el pan por mitad, le pones un poquito de frijoles, cortas la carne en cuadritos (puede ser cerdo que es la mas común y original o puede ser pollo o camarones) On the top of the carne pones un poquito de cebollitas cortadas en rodajas y unas gotas de limón. La torta ahogada original se “ahoga” literalmente en salsa de chile picante y después se baña en salsa de tomate, pero la verdad conozco muy pocas personas que ahogan su torta en chile ya que se necesita tener un estomago de acero y mucho pepto bismol.

Para complementar este manjar y cumplir con la tradición como lo dictan las leyes Mexicanas, este platillo debe ser consumido en compañía de una cerveza helada o mejor aún con una super michelada preparada con jugo de limón, sal, jugo magui y unas gotitas de tabasco, haciendo el combo perfecto y una experiencia inolvidable en tu próximo viaje a México.

Si viajas a Puerto Vallarta, no te olvides de pasar a Tortalajara, un pequeño lugar que descubrimos recientemente, en donde sirven deliciosos tacos dorados (leer post aqui) y tortas ahogadas originales, ya que traen el pan directamente de Guadalajara, haciendo este lugar único en la ciudad.

Se te antojó una torta ahogada?
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Tortalajara in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (Part Two: Tacos Dorados)

Gabriel and I love to eat, eat, and eat when we are in Mexico. When we were in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico we discovered a new little spot, Tortalajara, that served some of our favorite Mexican food, tortas ahogadas and tacos dorados.
My usual order would consist of 1 torta ahogada and 1 taco dorado! Mmmm…
So what’s a taco dorado? 
A taco dorado is a deep fried taco. It can be filled with anything, but the most popular fillings are frijoles (beans), papa (potato), requezon (cheese) or meat.

It is very common to put several topping on taco dorados. In order, you would put shredded cabbage, sliced onions, tomato sauce, hot sauce, and lemon!

Tacos Dorados are very affordable and filling at Tortalajara, just 6 Mexican Pesos each.

What to drink when eating a taco dorado? Well I’d recommend getting a delicious michelada (alcoholic), they are 1Litre at Tortalajara and only cost 45 Mexican Pesos. If want a non-alcoholic beverage, a Coke-a-Cola would be refreshing.

Have you tried tacos dorados before?

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Marisma Fish Taco in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Just looking at this picture of Marisma’s “Camaron Capeado” Taco is making my mouth water, seriously! These tacos capeados are the house specialty.

Now let me tell you a little bit about Marisma Fish Taco, they are the bomb.com! Marisma Fish Taco started as a little puestito in 1990, and have grown to three buzzing locations. Their menu consists of much more than just tacos capeados de camaron (shrimp) and pescado ; they serve guisados, burritas, quesadillas and hamburgers.

Marisma’s tacos capeados de camaron and pescado are my favorite. I love that they fry the shrimp together as one, so they aren’t falling out of the taco while you take each bite. 

One of the perks about getting tacos at Marisma Fish Taco is that the tortillas are FRESHLY hand made right before your eyes. They also provide a variety of fresh salsas/dressings: avocado, pico de gallo, and some spicy ones! 

If you are ever in Puerto Vallarta, I highly recommend you get Marisma’s tacos capeados de camaron (shrimp) and pescado (fish), you will not be disappointed! 
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Visiting the Children’s Home [Puerto Vallarta, Mexico]

When my husband and I travel, we like to spend time with children who are in care of the government/non profit organization. During our visit to Puerto Vallarta, we visited a facility that housed a wide variety of children; newborns/babies, toddler, even school aged kids (5+). 


The older kids were all at school, so Gabriel and I got to hang out and play with the toddlers. We even got to hold a few of the babies for a bit. It’s amazing how children can welcome strangers with open arms and load them with hugs and kisses. We were lucky enough to spend a couple of hours with the kids in the playroom, moments that will always be with me.


Kids need to be loved, they need to know that someone out here cares about them. They need to hear those three words, I love you. They don’t care about toys, as long as they have our undivided attention and some hugs! It is so important to NURTURE these children, they are the future.

Have you ever thought about visiting an children’s home? It is an amazing feeling to know that you can bring a smile to a child’s face by just visiting and playing with them. Try it.

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SONORA AL SUR in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico

After hearing great reviews about Sonora Al Sur from our family in Nayarit and Jalisco, we were very eager to finally try this Nuevo Vallarta hotspot. 

Sonora Al Sur is different from other restaurants; before taking a seat, you are asked to go into the “butcher” to select your choice of meat. You also have to decided on how big or small you want your piece, which is great because you can get a piece that you will finish! Then you move along to the cashier, where you tell her how you want your meat to be cooked (medium, rare, etc), pick out any of your sides (quesadilla, queso fundido, baked potato, salad, etc.), choose a  beverage and pay!
When you get back to your table, the server has put out three fresh handmade salsas to accompany your cortes finos. Their complimentary appetizer, frijoles de la olla have also been served. Did I mention that they are bottomless and SO DELICIOUS. Yes, you can get refills of these yummy beans for when your carnita arrives. 
Their fresh hand made tortillas are also complimentary, and made right before your eyes.
The meat and sides like baked potato and onions are cooked on this huge grill in the middle of the restaurant. 
Just writing this post is making my mouth water! Everything about Sonora Al Sur is great; the food, the service, the price, and the environment. I can’t wait to go back to Nuevo Vallarta and eat at Sonora Al Sur: Boutique de Cortes Finos again!! If you are ever in Puerto Vallarta/Nuevo Vallarta I HIGHLY reccomend you visit Sonora Al Sur.

Below is my plate the first time around: Frijoles de olla, a side of salad and a juicy piece of arrachera!! QUE RICO! The next week I tried Vacio, queso fundido and a quesadilla which was also very delicious!
Sonara Al Sur: Boutique de Cortes Finos
Blvd Nuevo Vallarta No.64 (Frente a la UT Nuevo Vallarta)
Open: Everyday 1pm-10pm

For complete menu visit their Facebook page.
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Road tripping in a Volkswagen

Road trips were a huge part of my childhood and adolescence; my parents would haul from Vancouver- Honduras, Vancouver-New Orleans (USA), Vancouver-Tennessee (USA), and Vancouver- Houston (USA). It’s always important to be travelling in a roomy and comfortable vehicle.


The Volkswagen van pictured above happens to be my dream car. In the near future, I see my husband, our kids and I travelling throughout North and South America with one of these bad boys. 


I’m positive we’ll find our Volkswagen in Mexico, when we decide to shift South. These retro Volkswagen’s look amazing in any color and have enough room for our future clan. Since I have such amazing memories from road trips with my parents, and three siblings, I can’t wait to start this tradition with my husband and our future kids.


Have you been on any road trips? Si: What was the route? No: Where would you like to take a road trip to?

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Nayarit, where dreams are born

“So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!”
–Peter Pan

 Buenas tardes (boo-eh-nas tar-dez. good afternoon)!
These photos are from the day we arrived to Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico!
Like the Peter Pan quote above, this is my Never Never Land. It is definitely where many of my dreams are born, and come true! It is my “happy place.” Whenever I am feeling blue, this is where I go to, in my mind. I can’t help but feel all warm and smile, when I think of think of being there.

Never Never Land, it’s your dream paradise, where everything makes you merry!
Everyone should have their own Never Never Land, it’ll make you happy, always.
Where is your Never Never Land?
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