Manzanillo Colima Seafood

🇲🇽 COLIMA, MÉXICO / HISTORICAL: The distinct style of mariscos colimenses have been enjoyed from this seafood shack since 1975.

🇲🇽 MÉXICO (Colima)
📍 701 E. Washington Blvd.,
South Central, South Los Angeles
🅿️ A couple private spaces
💲 Cash Only
🥤 No Alcohol

📸 All photos by Jared Cohee
for Eat the World Los Angeles

HISTORICAL ARTICLES are brought over from eattheworldla.com to make sure our Substack content is constantly growing and as full of depth as possible. These will never be behind the paywall.
📆 Original Article 10 January 2021

Puerto Vallarta is just a bit up the coast to the north in Jalisco. Acapulco to the southeast in Guerrero is a bit further away. These two homes of most of the Pacific coast of México's tourist resorts are very well known, but anyone that has also been to Manzanillo in Colima will either tell you what you are missing or keep the "secret" to themselves.

While you may spot plenty of cargo ships heading in and out of the large port, this too is a tropical paradise with beautiful beaches, a more relaxed atmosphere, and some wonderful seafood. The intersection of Washington Blvd. and San Pedro Street at the start of Historic South Central may be a far cry from a tropical beach, but this bright blue shack selling cocteles and ceviche since 1975 is welcome respite on hot days.

Stepping inside and ignoring the sounds of cars and trucks outside, focus instead on the breeze that runs through the doors and windows, the corrugated metal ceiling, and the blue and white paint on every surface that make this feel like walking into a local favorite a block or two from the beach.

Before dining in was disallowed, ordering a Coke and a cup of ceviche to enjoy at the counter on a hot summer day almost felt like a vacation.

Small cups of campechana ($4, above left) and fish ceviche ($4.25, above right) come with napkin-wrapped shares of Saltines and tostadas, respectively. The tostadas they use are of high quality and very tasty, probably made with lard. For this reason an extra order of them does cost a little, but is well worth it if you require more.

They describe their campechana simply as "combination cocktail," but this seems to be the favorite order if you come a few times and watch your fellow patrons. Inside this tomato-based concoction are shrimp, octopus, clam, and oysters, all as fresh as from off the fishing boats in Manzanillo.

Colima-style ceviche never has excess liquid left over from the Mexican key limes used to marinate the fish and usually contains chopped up carrots, although those were not in the cup ordered on this day. The fish comes in a more ground form than chopped, making a soft and delicious mixture with onions, tomatoes, and cilantro.

The hot sauce given is in the tart, vinegary style of Tapatío but better and pairs perfectly with the ceviche. You can also order most items prepared on a tostada or as part of a salad. A dozen oysters are served for $14. Eat all you can before stepping back out into reality.

🇲🇽 🇲🇽 🇲🇽