Iconic Places in Mexico / Restaurant “El Porvenir”: A Century-Old Cantina in Tampico
El Porvenir restaurant in Tampico, Tamaulipas, is a symbol and a lasting memory of the city, reflected in a menu offering over 140 dishes.
By: Editorial Team / Photos: IG El Porvenir
Here, history and the identity of being a “jaibo” with a leather jacket and a fifth blend with tradition. This is one of those old restaurants (celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1923) from the era when women were not allowed in cantinas.
Tampico is a port with a rich history. It has witnessed the most bizarre anecdotes and is guarded by an extraterrestrial base off its coast, at Playa de Miramar. Aliens have supposedly prevented any hurricanes from entering. Or so people believe. It was once raided by the legendary pirate Lorencillo and is the birthplace of Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta, also known as “El Tigre,” founder of Mexico’s largest television empire.
At the beginning of the 20th century, during the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution, various immigrants arrived in the country in search of a better life. It was in this Mexico that Don Jesús arrived in 1908. Every beginning is small, and in 1916, he decided to open a grocery store and general store in Tampico, which became a cantina by 1923.
In 1948, the famous phrase and current slogan of the place “Aquí se está mejor que enfrente” (Here it’s better than across the street) emerged. The story goes that Don Luis was with his friend Don Gumersindo, who, upon seeing a funeral procession, uttered these words, which became forever etched in the memory of the place. Later, the cemetery’s ghosts decided to place the following epitaph on a tombstone: “Here I am for having been across the street.”
At El Porvenir, stuffed crabs are a must-try dish that should invade every diner’s table. Try the crab a la Frank, a dish invented by chef José Ángel García, heir to the restaurant's legacy: crab meat mixed with a cream cheese sauce. Here, the only problem you'll have is indecision; their menu is infinite: fish, seafood, steaks, cocktails, calamari…
- Address: Miguel Hidalgo 1403, Trueba, Tampico, Tamaulipas
- Phone: 8332130568
- Hours and Days of Operation: Monday to Saturday from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Sunday from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Ideal For: Lunch and Dinner
- Payment: Cash and Cards
- Accessibility: Yes
- Parking: No
- Reservations: Available by phone
- Pet Friendly: No
- Suitable for Children: Yes
- Vegan Options: No
