While I had heard some say Tacos Robles has the best traditional goat birria in Old Town since 1986 (and was bummed it was closed the day I went), I was not at all disappointed in Tacos de Birria Chanfay, another local favorite since 1972. In a dingy but welcoming patio off a decidedly non-touristy street, Chanfay was humble, rustic and warmed my heart with near perfect beef and goat birria tacos done “dorado”-style (fried). I fell even harder for their excellent peanut and pepitas chile oil which I poured liberally on my tacos.

A local favourite since 1972, Birria Chanfay offers the best tacos in Puerto Vallarta for beef lovers. Located at Venustiano Carranza between Aguacate and Insurgentes, Birria Chanfay features a street cart on the street and red plastic tables and chairs under a shaded awning. The street cart is where the families coveted beef birria recipe is cooked, while a griddle inside prepares the beef broth fried taco shells.

At some places, you can actually get a big bowl of birria (and I plan to do just that in Mexico City), but we tried it in taco form – juicy and meaty, surrounded by a crunchy shell. Yeah, they’re going to break all over your hand on the first bite, but they’re SO good. I could probably eat three or four of them (okay, more like five or six if pushed), but alas, I had other tacos on this particular lunchtime agenda.

I always have a long list of restaurants I plan on visiting before a trip but sometimes, a restaurant catches my eye that I can’t resist. In Puerto Vallarta, one of those places was Tacos de Birria Chanfay, a super popular street taco stand specializing in birria tacos. I was walking by one day and couldn’t help but notice the large crowd of Mexican locals gathered around this stand.

Birria is one of the regional dishes in the state of Jalisco, and a must when visiting Puerto Vallarta. It’s a type of stew made with marinated, slow-cooked meat and typically served in tacos or a consomé. At Tacos de Birria Chanfay they serve beef birria tacos, either in a crisp, fried tortilla or in a soft one.

Birria is an exquisite savory dish, full of culture and tradition. It was originally made with goat meat, but also made with beef, veal, lamb or pork. You can opt for “blanditos” (soft) or “dorados” (crunchy) , but I always prefer the texture of the dorados with the melt in your mouth meat.

Perhaps the most famous birria taco spot in all of Puerto Vallarta, Tacos de Birria Chanfay is another notable stop on any local food tour. The stand has been operating since 1972. These are no-frills, authentic birria tacos served in the heart of beautiful Zona Romantica.

Packed with savory, smoky, and sweet flavors, Birria Chanfay serves some of the best birria tacos in Puerto Vallarta. As one of the stops on the popular morning taco walking tour, you can trust the quality and taste.

Tacos de Birria Chanfay offers a street taco experience in Puerto Vallarta without actually eating on the street. It’s more of an outdoor Mexican restaurant feel.

Make sure you ask for a side of " consume", which is a cup of the juices the meat is cooked in. Add lemon and onions and you won’t regret it!