Before we dig into this post about ‘Emat Restaurante, we just want to say that we are loving bringing you all of this content about Mexico’s Valle de Guadalupe wine region. There is so much culinary and viticulture creative energy here that it is just a joy to visit. 

On that note, our list of the best restaurants in Baja to visit when you go to Valle de Guadalupe for your wine tasting adventure continues to expand. This week, we are excited to introduce you to ‘Emat Restaurante, helmed by chef Edward Salgado. 

What you need to know about ‘Emat Restaurante

‘Emat Restaurante serves French and Japanese influenced food with a Baja twist in the heart of Baja, California. Executive Chef Eduardo Salgado has an impeccable resume, and his talent is evident in every dish that is presented to you when you dine here.

If you have been reading along with our food and wine experiences, then you know we have visited our fair share of Michelin-level restaurants. Having said that, it is a rare feat to find a chef of this caliber in Baja.

Executive Chef Edward Salgado

Eduardo’s passion for food and wine began at the age of 18. After completing his studies at college, the world outside of school began to open up for him. The number of chefs that can say they started their careers working at one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants are few and far between, and Eduardo is one of the lucky few. 

The restaurant that launched his career just happens to be Chef Pablo Salas’ Amaranta Restaurant, which serves ultra-elevated, contemporary Mexican food in Toluca. Working at Amaranta inspired Eduardo to enroll in the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. He attended the school in New York City, and graduated in 2017.

From there, it was off to Barcelona, one of the culinary world’s most respected food cities. In Barcelona, he further honed his skills at the city’s iconic Via Veneto, which also happened to be Salvador Dali’s favorite restaurant. As if his resume wasn’t impressive enough, before he landed at ‘Emat, he also worked for Chef David Chang at the world famous Momofuku Noodle Bar, and Kappo Masa, headed by Chef Masa Takayama.

Eduardo is a rising star in the culinary world, and we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he continues opening restaurants in this region, particularly as Baja aims to attract more and more luxury travelers.

The Ambiance & Location: What to Expect

‘Emat Restaurante is located at the Hilo Negro Winery (which translates to Black Thread), and the restaurant’s location, high above the winery, all the way at the top of the property overlooking the vineyard, means that ‘Emat has some of the best views in Valle de Guadalupe. Take a look at our pictures and you will see what we mean.

The decor and ambiance in the dining room almost makes you feel like you’re dining in the wing of an art museum. Think clean concrete lines, high ceilings, a sparkling wall of floor-to-ceiling glass, and vineyard views that go on for days.

The patio here is just amazing. If you’re given the option, sit outdoors for a complete sensory experience.

The Menu: What Style of Cuisine Does ‘Emat Restaurante Serve?

Chef Eduardo describes the menu at ‘Emat Restaurante as “international cuisine with a focus on French and Japanese, with a Baja Twist”. The tasting menu is seasonal, but to give you a sense of the style, we enjoyed items like: 

• Oysters with Cantaloupe Granita and Habanero Powder 
• Octopus Tartar with Chili Oil
• A Catch-of-the-Day with Duck Prosciutto 
• Duck Terrine with Plum Sauce

A few more details about the tasting menu

Expect to sit down and enjoy seven courses when you reserve a tasting menu experience at ‘Emat. All of the dishes are paired with the winery’s own Hilo Negro wines, or craft cocktails. In fact, two of the platings on the night we dined were served with a Gin Fizz with dill syrup, and the ever-popular Espresso Martini.

The menu is priced at 1350 pesos, which is about $77 per person. If you add the wine and spirits’ pairing, the cost is 2200 pesos, or $125 per person. This is an unbelievable deal when you consider the cost of a tasting menu at a similarly-tiered restaurant in California wine country.

For more context, our experience at Justin Winery’s Michelin-star restaurant in Paso Robles was $225 per person. 

Corkage at ‘Emat

Bringing your own bottle to ‘Emat? The corkage fee is a reasonable $20 per bottle. The wines from Hilo Negro Winery are good, but if you’ve got something special you want to crack open, you’re welcome to bring that too.

Final Thoughts About Our Experience

One look at the platings presented by the team at ‘Emat and you can see that every dish was spectacular. This is true Michelin star quality food in Baja California. Add to that a staff that was incredibly welcoming, excellent service, and jaw-dropping views, and you’ve got a real gem of a restaurant here.

One last tip: we recommend you plan your dinner reservations around sunset. We did, and it made an already wonderful meal even more memorable.