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    Don Cafeto

    4.3 (166 reviews)
    ModerateMexican

    Don Cafeto Photos

    DON CAFETO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Don Cafeto

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    Reviews With Photos

    Dianna H.

    Stopped by Don Cafeto for second dinner as we weren't quite full from our first one. It was pretty empty when my friend and I dropped by on a Monday evening evening around 9:15 pm. The restaurant is a no frills spot popular with tourists and locals alike. We walked by many times through the course of our trip and it was always full of customers. The menu is your standard Mexican fare - soups, quesadillas, burritos, tacos, enchiladas, steak, various seafood dishes, etc. It's definitely not veggie friendly so don't come here if there's a vegetarian in your group. Since neither of us were that hungry, we shared the pollo a la parrilla, i.e. grilled chicken, for 210 pesos. To start, each table gets a huge bowl of nachos with some incredibly spicy salsa and spicy pickled veggies on the side. Both were too spicy for me so I didn't go anywhere near either. The grilled chicken was okay, but I didn't realize it'd be breast meat. Found it a bit on the dry side. It only came with a small scoop of rice, so it's good that this wasn't our main meal. I would recommend this spot for folks looking for a more authentic feel rather than some of the overpriced touristy restaurants in Tulum.

    Menu
    Nandini M.

    Might be the best food we had in Tulum! It was our final meal, and we went hunting for enchiladas. These were amazing! I went out on a limb and got the mole enchilada and my husband got the roja one. This is the best mole I've ever had - it seemed to have a peanut base and was well rounded - no bitterness from over toasted spices or coffee, no over sweetness from chocolate, just flavorful nutty deliciousness. The roja was also great, it tasted much more like freshly made sautéed tomatoes. The pickled blistered veggies and salsa and chips that come with each order was also so delicious, we chomped down on seranos, nibbled habaneros, and added the potatoes, carrots, and onions to our dishes. The drinks tasted fresh and light, we got a pina colada and tequila sunrise. There was live music but not intrusive, and was a generally jolly place to be! Highly recommend coming here!

    Piña Colada
    Collin M.

    Came here for the enchiladas and wasn't disappointed. They make a really great mole. Not too sweet but still super rich. Absolutely loved the chips and dip they brought in for the table. The pico was a bit spicier than your normal fair + I think they said they used habanero. The pickled veggies were great and included a lot of garlic, onions, carrots, potatoes and serranos. Staff was great and got us our drinks super quickly. They had some love music which was at a nice level for a lunch - not too loud like some other places. A big fan of this place

    Tampiqueña
    Christine A.

    I was so hesitant to go to this restaurant. Although it appeared on all the lists of "Places to eat in Tulum," I thought it would be touristy, which in my mind meant meh. In fact the only reason I ended up going to this restuarant is because I ended up having a late dinner on my last night in Tulum, and the other places I was thinking about going already closed their kitchen for the evening.. After dining there and having a lovely experience, I know I was very wrong. In fact, had I eaten there earlier in the trip, I most likely would have dined there multiple times. Unline some of the other restaurants in tulum (and in Riveria Maya in general), the food at Don Cafeto was really tasty, not overcooked, and had soul -- tasted like yummy home cooking. I had a chicken soup - awesome, flavorful, bright, and hearty just like it should be and chicken with mole - not as great as in Oaxaca proper, but better than most others I've tried! I also tried some of the Carne Asada and that was also really good and the meat was not tough or rubbery. They also had live music at least for part of the time we were there. Always appreciate that added level of ambiance. Don't be like me and have any doubts about this place. just go!

    Enchiladas with green tomato sauce.  Yummy
    John N.

    I tried this place since I love enchiladas and saw a recent review so I tried it out. The enchiladas was as good as the reviewer said it was!! The only complaint that I would have is that they were out of sugar Coke. Without my favorite Coke I was going to downgrade it but it wouldn't be fair for them. A solid place at a very good price in Tulum Mexico

    Grace C.

    Rode our bikes out to tulum centro and stopped by here. Looked at reviews and glad we went and tried it out. We ordered Plato the Mexicano. Big plate to share for two people. It has pretty much everything In there. So good. So flavorful. Taquitos were crunchy. The chili rellenos made of sweet pepper and sauce was amazing. I had to dip my quesadilla on that sauce. Margarita amazing and mint lemonade was nice and refreshing. Suri was sooooo nice. So friendly and just made things happened with seating us and everybody else who were waiting. Great great cheap find this place.

    Isabel E.

    We came at a time of day were there was a lot of open seating and some live music. The food was good, I thought the Marinara pasta was missing a bit more of seafood for what the price is but it tasted good. The other plate we ordered was the Tampiqueña, and that was a very good steak dish that came with some rice, plantains, enchiladas and a two tostadas, one with beans and another with guacamole. The price is a lot for what you get, this is why I wasn't 100% sold on this place

    Menu, outside, enchiladas
    Kevin P.

    This is a must stop when in Tulum. I stumbled on this place 3 yrs ago and eat here every time I'm here. I got the mole enchiladas and the favor was out of this world. My wife got fish tacos and she said the fish tasted fresh and perfect light breading on them. The other couple in our group got the seafood platter for two, which is wife's favorite but I wanted to try something different this time. The shrimp in the platter were huge. They give marinated carrots, garlic, and others vegetables with the chips, everyone loved but I skipped for the pico de gallo which has fresh jalapeños and is spicy. The girls got the chayagra drink which I guess they are famous for. Must have been good as they both ordered another one. Great authentic Mexican food. Great Service!

    Ribeye with veggies and rice
    BK W.

    Absolutely loved coming to don cafeto while in tulum. Came across this place walking down the street and we decided to walk inside. Being from Miami, I am a queso fondito expert and this place hands down had the absolute best tasting queso fondito I've ever had. Perfectly melted cheese with bacon and mushrooms . I then got the ribeye which was a giant chunk of meat to have after stuffing my face with melted cheese The servers were very attentive to us and the price is very reasonable for the quality and amount of food you get. At the end of the day I will be back to don cafeto to have their queso fondito. You will not be disappointed here.

    Motul eggs
    Melissa G.

    Don Cafeto is on the main Tulum downtown area on the main commercial street. We came as a group of six and were able to sit fairly fast during the main rush hour. There was live music for the breakfast time which was a guy on a keyboard playing Mexican music classics to add to the ambiance. The breakfast selection is huge and they have all the staples. I ordered the huevos motuleños which are pretty much fried eggs in a tostada smothered in salsa but they were delicious and came out super fast from the kitchen. The coffee was standard American coffee (no espresso drinks available) and I topped it off with a fresh fruit smoothie (licuado) which was really good. The prices were excellent and would definitely come back and recommend it to other people visiting the area.

    Chorizo queso
    Tina C.

    Came here for lunch after visiting the cenote so you can bet we were hungry! There wasn't a wait when we got here and we were able to sit at a table outside. They took your temperature and gave you hand sanitizer before you get seated. They bring out fresh pico de gallo and pickled veggies (carrots, potatoes, peppers, garlic) for each table. We asked for the pico to be extra spicy so they added in some spicy habaneros, which was so good! The pickled veggies were also delicious! For appetizers, we decided to order chorizo queso, mixed ceviche, and sopa azteca to start off. The queso had plenty of chorizo bits in it but the cheese congealed super quick to where it became one lump of cheese so I wasn't a fan. The ceviche was pretty good but it definitely could've been seasoned a little bit more. The sopa azteca is their tomato broth with fried tortilla but it was super bland and flavorless. Definitely would not recommend that. For our entrees, we ordered the steak tacos, garlic shrimp, and mole enchiladas. The tacos were pretty good and there was a generous portion of meat that came with it plus cilantro, onions, and limes. I did ask if they had some spicy salsa or sauce but they didn't have anything besides their pico. The garlic shrimp was very delicious and had a great buttery garlic flavor and the veggies that accommpanied it was also buttery and tasted amazing! The mole enchiladas were pretty tasty, if you like mole. I'm not a huge fan of mole myself so I did not eat too much of this dish but I will say, it is probably one of the best mole enchiladas I have tried. Overall, this place has a wide selection of food to choose from so everyone will find something they can enjoy here. Definitely check it out if you're in Tulum and want a quick and casual meal.

    Aztec breakfast
    Kew R.

    Fueling up with a hearty breakfast before exploring the Mayan ruins was the perfect start to our adventure. The spread offered a delicious mix of freshly squeezed juices, tropical fruits and savory local dishes. With the right balance of nutrients and flavor, we were energized and ready to explore the fascinating ruins with enthusiasm and vitality.

    The lovely cafe
    Jason C.

    Amazing quality tacos and very cold beers Cheers. The service with a smile and tender care was well received. Tell them the Massage man sent you. I highly recommend this place to eat tacos and beers

    Ensalada verde

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    El Asadero - house special

    El Asadero

    4.3(135 reviews)
    0.3 km
    $$

    This place is amazing!! We had the best food - everything was cooked to perfection! We had the New…read moreYork steak, the lamb rack, and the stuffed potato with chorizo. The micheladas were the best ones I've ever tried (and I've tried a lot, haha). The restaurant has a very fancy feel, even though the food/drinks were reasonably priced. The ambiance was beautiful - gorgeous paintings of jaguars everywhere and dim lighting to set the mood. The service was outstanding. Our waiters, Guillermo & Martín, made sure we were taken care of throughout the whole night. They even brought my friends and me a mini coat rack to hang our purses next to our table.

    Can you say yum!? We originally had dinner reservations for another restaurant but those plans…read moreunfortunately fell through, and we were lucky enough to stumble upon this place. The food here is phenomenal. Everything was delicious. The chips, the drinks, the entrees all just delicious! We started with fresh chips and salsa, for the salsa you get about 5-6 different salsa options. The pica- de callio and the green sauce are to die for, really incredible. For my entree I ordered the lamb lollipops and omg they were heavenly. I wish they lasted forever. It came with this delicious gravy on top and a side salad. The lamb was nice and tender, my mouth is watering just thinking about them yum! Great service, great food, great atmosphere. If you're in the area it would be a mistake NOT to come here. 10/10.

    Photos
    El Asadero - Open kitchen in lobby

    Open kitchen in lobby

    El Asadero - Filet kabobs, chicken fajitas.

    Filet kabobs, chicken fajitas.

    El Asadero - Outside the restaurant

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    Outside the restaurant

    NÜ Tulum

    NÜ Tulum

    4.4(91 reviews)
    7.9 km

    Was a bit underwhelmed by this spot to be honest. The aesthetics were on point, open air concept…read morewith widely spaced tables, candles, decent music. They start you off with a complimentary piece of toast with some vegetable chunks. Each of us got a quarter of a piece of dry white bread that I would pass on in the future but the vegetables paired with it had decent flavor. I got the passion fire as my drink and very much enjoyed it. It was sweet and refreshing with just the right amount of heat. 9/10. For appetizers my group split the duck tartlet with pink mole, the sweet potato agrodolce, and the hamachi tiradito. The duck was well cooked and tender but lacking in flavor. The pink mole wasn't adding much to the dish other than creaminess. The tart shell was awful. It was thick and dry and reminiscent of a premade store bought tart shell. 5/10. The sweet potato agrodolce was good, the sweet potato and squash ribbons had a nice firm texture and snap but all of the flavor came from the yogurt sauce that they were sitting on. 7/10. The hamachi tiradito was my favorite of the apps. The fish was fresh and light, the flavors were interesting with the combination of the sweet banana vinaigrette, the salty umami ponzu, and the sweet tangy mango, chili, cucumber salsa. This dish was the best of the night, 8/10. For mains we split the catch of the day, which was red snapper, and the broken beet. The fish was underwhelming, being a bit overcooked and dry. The sauce it was drenched in helped with the dryness but didn't lend much flavor. The yuca chips were a nice addition, adding a nice crunch to contrast the soft textures of the fish and sauce but again, not lending much in flavor. Chips could have been salted. 6/10. The beets were cooked well, they were soft and tender and paired nicely with the sour cream, turmeric oil, and salad. The turmeric oil added acidity, the salad added freshness and also acidity from the dressing it had, and the sour cream added a nice creaminess and tangy. These flavors offset the richness of the beets nicely. My second favorite dish, 8/10. For dessert we went with the "corn," which was a cake shaped like a corn cob with a chopped nut center and what I think was real corn kernels across the exterior, paired with a corn ice cream. Overall a solid dessert, the chopped nuts added a nice crunch however the cake as a whole was a bit dry. The ice cream added some needed moisture and paired nicely with the cake, though the texture was a bit icy, more like a corn sorbet than a corn ice cream. 6/10. Overall a good experience but with its high prices and small portions I wouldn't go back. The apps were on average between $20-$30 usd, with mains being between $25-$50 usd, and dessert $20 usd.

    This is an unusual find in Tulum (or maybe fine dining is becoming more common there these days?)…read more Top notch service. We arrived on a rainy night and they improvised a valet device for us. We were seated in a lovely indoor/outdoor room, tables spaced well apart from other diners. Our waiter explained both the drinks and the food. In fact, when I wanted to order a glass of wine, he offered to have us taste all the reds they had available (since he didn't have faith in the one I had my eye on). The food was on the fancy side and very very good. One dish didn't succeed, but the rest did. It was a lovely night and we ate well!

    Photos
    NÜ Tulum
    NÜ Tulum
    NÜ Tulum

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    Don Cafeto - mexican - Updated May 2026

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