Shrimp Factory in Mazatlan - Tourist Trap!

Matt143 · November 4, 2006

Hello all,

Unfortunately due to the storm when we got to the Gold Zone, streets were flooded and we found ourselves stranded at the Shrimp Factory in Mazatlan...

The food was so overpriced and just so-so...not only that but when we ordered a beer each, we were given two each and when we inquired the owner told us, it's happy hour , 2 for 1...great we thought...until we saw the bill and we were overcharged. When we called our waiter over he went to talk to the owner, who sent him back to us with the message that since it's two for 1, we got charged for a more expensive beer...B...s.....I thought, and told him that since we never ASKED for two beers, we're certainly not paying more for the ones we ordered...needless to say, our formerly friendly owner never came back to our table to say Thanks or Goodbye although the bill was adjusted.

Sorry folks, but maybe because I've been raised in New York my entire life, I can't stand a tourist trap for me or anyone else...we had a far superior and authentic meal at the 2nd floor food stalls in the Mercado in Old Town cooked by a mother and daughter...

gottago2mexico · November 12, 2006

All the Shrimp Factory's are tourist traps, as are all of the rest of the chain restaurants like them, such as Hooters, Hard Rock Cafe, Carlos & Charlie's, etc. The food is always overpriced and of poor quality, it's just the way it is, just like chain restaurants in the States. However, there must be a secret to their success because they wouldn't be tourist traps if tourists didn't like them.

If you want authentic Mexican food (Mazatlan is famous for it's amazing seafood), you'll just have to look a little harder - it's definitely there! :) Mazatlan, and especially Puerto Vallarta, are filled with amazing places to eat - international chain restaurants are never among them.

Good advice about the 2x1 - it's always happy hour in Mexico, and the tourist places are usually 2x1. Make sure to ask what that means before you order it, though. Some places 2x1 means $2.00 for 2 beers, others it means $6.00 for 2 beers.