While in Mexico you would expect to find good Mexican food but the Cancun area also offers Mayan food and a variety of multicultural food ranging from American to Italian.
Most of our time was spent in Playa del Carmen, so I got a taste of some of the best restaurants in that town. Our favorite restaurants were small locally owned places with delicious, inexpensive food. The food is good, but the service is slow compared to what we were used to in the states. It might take a while to get your check so just stand up and act like you are leaving, and they will speed it up.
Dr. Taco
This restaurant is described as a “hip new addition” and we found it delicious. The restaurant features an incredible salsa bar with 8 different salsas, be careful some of them are really hot. The shrimp tacos are incredible as is the other food such as burritos and burgers. At night they have music playing from funk to reggae.
The owners Dr. Carlo and his wife Cecelia opened the restaurant after Dr. Carlo decided to leave his medical clinic in Guadalajara. They gained their culinary experience while traveling around Mexico and sampling flavors from many regions.
The restaurant is quite inexpensive and two people could fill up for about $10 including the tip. The restaurant is located on 10th Ave between 8th and 10th Streets.
El Fogon
This is an authentic Mexican restaurant off the beaten tourist path and frequented mostly by locals. The food is incredible. One site listed it as the best authentic Mexican food in Playa del Carmen and we have to agree. After the first time we ate there again.
The waitresses don’t speak much English, so just point to the menu and show them what you want. The menu is in Spanish, with a little English, but everything is good.
The tacos are small but inexpensive. Two people can fill up for less than $10 including the tip. Our favorite was a taco with pork (carne de cerdo), cheese (queso), and pineapple (piña). The green salsa is really hot, so try it first before adding it to your food. The restaurant is located on the corner of 30th Ave. and 26th Street.
Super Panaderia
Super Panaderia is a small French bakery. The pastries were delicious. My parents, having lived in France for a few years, said they weren’t quite as good as you can get in France, but we were in Mexico.
For the best selection get there early while the pastries are fresh. Try the pain au chocolat – it’s our favorite. The bakery is on 5th Ave between 2nd and 4th Street.
Yaxche Maya Cuisine
Although we didn’t get a chance to visit this restaurant I have heard that the food is delicious. The restaurant serves traditional Mayan food. The service is excellent and the surroundings beautiful.
Throughout the year the restaurant hosts special events and theme dinners that revolve around traditional festivals and rituals of the Mayan people. The locations is on 8th Street, between 5th and 10th Ave.