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If fresh fish & seafood are your thing…there’s not much more to say other than great staff, preparation done with love ….and cold drinks! Enjoy & Have Fun
Relaxing vibe and delicious meal for visitors and locals alike. I waited very patiently for my whole snapper for lunch when the fire just started and it was delicious. I appreciated the quiet and friendly vibe and quiet (at least during lunch) The octopus tostata…was perfect as an appetizer, and so was the hibiscus water. The nice, attentive, friendly service from staff and owner was a memorable easygoing local meal experience. Bring cash.More
The Red Snapper was delicious as was the Octopus in Diablo Sauce. The service was excellent. We would definitely eat here again
Really fun little restaurant right on the river. We had both the fish and the octopus ~~ both were perfect. Will definitely return.
I have this place three starts and this is why, it’s out in the open which is ok but the street is very noisy, the place is clean and tables are just ok. The fish were good but above average price , about 300 pesos…for one. The cuatomer service from the girls was acceptable but the owner seems to be in a rush and had a face like we were bothering him by being there. The owner seemed to prefer to mingle with regulars than visitors, the lobster was prices at 800 pesos the like which is about 40 us when at other places is regularly between 400 and 450 pesos so he was hallucinating if he thought we were going to pay that much. No complaints of the food just that someone told us wonderful things about this place but in my extensive traveler experience it is just another average place with average food and high prices. Not able to recommend at this time.More
This is a hidden gem of Vallarta. It’s off of the beaten path and definitely worth the trip. No timeshare sales, no vendors, no distractions. Just good people, good food, and a lovely, peaceful meal. Balam and his staff are kind and friendly and the…food was reasonably priced and most importantly it was delicious! BTW Balam has lived all over the US and Canada so his English is excellent. He has many great stories of his time as a free diver for oysters back in the day. The biggest surprise of our afternoon visit was the feeding of the resident snowy Egret and iguanas that live in the neighborhood. It was truly dinner with a show finished with a complimentary shot of smooth tequila. Thank you Balam and staff for a highlight meal of our stay in PV.More
We’ve been here five or six times over the years, and it’s always amazing. The freshest barbecued fish you’ve ever had in your life, cooked by an expert. Pron tacos to die for, same with the fish tacos. Freshly made salsas, and they make the…guacamole just for you. Absolutely wonderful, and ridiculously inexpensive. This restaurant doesn’t even have walls, they have plastic patio tables and chairs, but none of that matters when you meet the wonderful people and have the amazing food. No wine, but he’d let you bring your won, I’m sure. Please tip generously at this place, I mean 50% or more. They deserve it. Miss this place greatly during Covid, I hope they’re doing OK! Hi from Vancouver, Canada!More
What could be better, sitting next to the river’s edge as iguanas protect their territory, sipping a variety of great drinks and dining on some of the best ceviche we’ve ever tasted. Having returned several times we’ve experienced nearly every item on the menu, always…more than satisfied. The owner and staff are fun and provide great service. Looking forward to our next visit!More
Such a nice lunch, good food, pretty atmosphere, and great staff. Balam Balam was recommended to us on a food tour. Great place. We’ll be back on our next trip.
Set in a beautiful location alongside the river, the seafood here was delicious. Highlights were the marlin and shrimp tacos, as well as the guacamole. Highly recommended for seafood lovers.
People must be reading all the great reviews because everytime we go there are more customers. On this visit, a large celebration was about to take place, leaving only a few spots for gringos. Always worth the walk! The tacos are as fresh as they…can be, both the fish and the shrimp. If you are looking for red snapper, Antonio usually has a few being cooked over hot coals right in front of you. Suggest you share the snapper as it is a lot for one person. We ordered Agua Fresca, a great, cold fresh fruit flavoured drink. Recommended after the hot walk.More
Balam Balam is off the main drag but the Taxi and Bus Drivers know the location and if you are driving there is parking. Monday is an off day and the cook was off and Tony did not get oysters today. But fresh Maui Maui…almost two inches tick. He said this is usually cooked over an open pit on the stick. This is a small open air restaurant and like everybody else we arrived for lunch just two of twelve..We both choose the Fillet with Al Ajo Diable with chili garlic sauce. The portion of fish and steamed veggies left us without room for dessert.More
This is a small outdoor space by the Rivera Cuale that surprised us with the delicious food. Breaded fish with great refried beans and vegetables, and the lobster was huge I enjoyed every bite!
We went here twice. It is a great setting on the river, watching the birds. We had the red snapper on the bbq, best ever, plenty of meat on each fish. Great service and good prices. My only gripe would be no wine……
My friend and I were in PV in August. After reading the good reviews about Balam Balam, especially the grilled red snapper on the stick, we decided to give it a try. It was a hot humid Thursday afternoon and we walked a long way….The cold refreshing hibisco drink was a big welcome. We ordered a seafood salad and a grilled red snapper. The salad was the freshest we had in PV. There were shrimp, octopus and fish, and the octopus was perfectly cooked, tender and tasty. We didn’t realize that they only grill the seafood on weekends, but when Antonio, the owner, learned that we came all the way from Conchas Chinas for his red snapper, he built a fire just for us! The fish was also the freshest, caught on the same day. He made special sauce for the fish and made it taste even better! It was our best meal in PV. Thank you very much Antonio! This is a small place that has only three or four tables. We came in the slow season and in the afternoon, but if you come at the high season, be prepared to wait for a long time. The most fun part – we saw a huge iguana in the tree! We will definitely come again in the future. Highly recommend Balam Balam.More