By Paige Newman
There may not be as many fully vegan restaurants in coastal Puerto Vallarta as in Guadalajara, the closest major city also in the state of Jalisco. But there are many places vegans, vegetarians, and other curious eaters can go in Puerto Vallarta and the nearby state of Nayarit.
Ginger Veggie in the 5 de Diciembre neighborhood is one of Puerto Vallarta’s most beloved fully vegan restaurants. And it is only a 10-minute walk from the popular Playa Camarones beach. Puerto Vallarta locals Rosa Perez Santos and her son Fernando Gonzalez Perez run the delicious restaurant. Their adjacent store is filled with quality products, roughly 90% vegan.
Rosa is a vegetarian and does not eat animals as part of her compassionate spiritual practice. In 2018, she and Fernando were inspired to create the store so she would have a place to eat. They offered fast vegan food and added special Christmas and other holiday meals along with daily fresh-baked bread.
After a few years of planning, they opened a restaurant in 2024. Fernando had studied to be a chef in Guadalajara and worked at the renowned Cafe Des Artistes and a few smaller restaurants in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. His tasty food receives many rave reviews.
With only one other employee helping, this mother-son duo deserves plenty of credit for the amazing service they are offering the health-conscious community of locals and travelers. More than 60% of Ginger Veggie’s customers are from Mexico, while approximately 35% are from the U.S. and Canada, and 5% are from other areas.
Communicating the importance of healthy eating to people can be challenging, and some information online is confusing. About 40% of Ginger Veggie’s customers are vegan, and the owners meet plenty of vegetarians and people who follow other dietary paths. Fernando and Rosa value respect and tolerance above everything. They enjoy providing food with great flavor to anyone dining there and possibly heading in a vegan direction.
Each day has a set menu. Some of the meals repeat weekly, but other specials appear at times. One of the top-selling meals is lasagna with garlic bread, pear salad, and creamy tomato soup. Another creative combination customers love includes the taco arabe (pastor-style tofu), hummus and pita bread, tabouleh, and avocado salsa.
Ginger Veggie’s store has numerous products, from natural soaps to soymilk and gluten-free pastries. Some of the most popular items include vegan cheese and sausages, and kombucha, a trendy fermented drink. More than half of the products are local from Puerto Vallarta or Jalisco.
Ginger Veggie also supports about 10 to 15 other local businesses by selling their products, ranging from pre-packaged jackfruit meals to samosas and desserts. Fernando and Rosa also sell goods to restaurants, hotels, villas, and other establishments.
Future plans include expanding the menu and restaurant space. The restaurant will have its own name and offer pop-up events with chefs coming in from Guadalajara and other areas to prepare meals.
In general, consumers are eating fewer processed foods (such as substitute meats, gluten, and soy) and more fresh fruits and vegetables. Ginger Veggie plans to start selling local produce in the store, which is sure to bring happiness to many people looking for one-stop shopping.
