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The face of young Puerto Vallarta-native Chef Salvador Carrillo is likely familiar. He is one of the most prominent names in the city’s culinary industry, having garnered significant attention and recognition with “La Tienda Grande,” his first restaurant.
From 2019 until its closing in June 2025, La Tienda Grande drew thousands of diners to the unexpected neighborhood of Ixtapa (the chef’s birthplace, located north of the city) with its outstanding proposal of reinvented Mexican dishes presented with a refined and personal perspective.
Now, following the closure of his first venture, Salvador is ready to continue his legacy at his new restaurant, “Ita: Galería de Arte Culinario” (Culinary Art Gallery), which opened its doors on October 10, 2025, at Av. Viena 159, in the Versalles neighborhood.
If La Tienda Grande was Carrillo’s homage to the family recipes that defined his passion for cooking, at Ita, the chef gives free rein to his creativity. He defines it as “a place where food becomes a living work, a universe of sensations that go beyond the unexpected.” This marks a new story and chapter in the chef’s career, his moment to unleash the creative spirit within.
The name Ita is an abbreviation of the Spanish words for Inspiration, Transcendence, and Art (Inspiración, Trascendencia, Arte). The openly gay entrepreneur found the perfect setting for Ita inside a typical Vallarta-style house built in 1992, that has been renovated while respecting its essential local elements: a red tiled roof and bricks, black metal work, ceramic floors, and warm, inviting lighting. It is a cozy venue for fine dining and drinks.
In addition to air-conditioned indoor spaces, the restaurant features a front and a back patio, adorned with beautiful planters displaying regional plants and hanging wicker lamps. It can comfortably accommodate up to 40 guests.
When asked the question, “Is this Mexican cuisine?” the chef replies, “Perhaps, but to reduce it to that label would be an injustice. Here, we don’t speak of classifications. It’s a sensorial journey that moves away from worn-out words. It is Mexican cuisine with its own soul, interpreted and recreated with love, respect, and pride.”
The dishes on the menu change regularly. To offer just some examples of the restaurant’s culinary style, the chef mentions the Veal Sweetbreads Confit with Yogurt (which has already become a highlight among early visitors), Ricotta and Oxtail Ravioli, Beef Carpaccio, Zarandeado Shrimp (or Grilled Marinated Shrimp), Duck Enmolada Wrapped in Plantain Leaf, and Cheese Croquette.
Starting Saturday, November 8 2025,, the restaurant is open in the mornings to offer breakfast service, following the same line of creative cuisine.
Ita is open Monday to Sunday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Breakfast is served only on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
For more information about the new restaurant, visit their Facebook or Instagram page. Reservations can be made via Opentable, or at WhatsApp +52 (322) 291 7717.
About Chef Salvador Carrillo
Salvador Carrillo, 36, is a native of Ixtapa, Puerto Vallarta. His passion for cooking began at a young age at home, inspired by the teachings of his grandmother, who sold antojitos mexicanos (traditional Mexican food).
Professionally, since 2008, he has worked as a chef in various establishments, including the local restaurant La Leche and internationally in Middle Eastern cities, including Dubai, Doha, and Bahrain. In 2019, after returning to Mexico, he opened his first restaurant, La Tienda Grande, which enjoyed considerable success. Ita is his second venture in Puerto Vallarta.
Esta publicación también está disponible en: English Español
