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Recommended Reviews - El Camello Jr.
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The food was delish fresh, seasoned & cooked to perfection. Authentic Pina Colada made with all fresh ingredients. The shrimp service plate was a small & the juice was so good we ate it with chips. Chicken tacos was delicious. This is true Authentic Mexican food that the locals eat at. They have an outside covered patio area. Street parking is available. The prices are very reasonable. Friendly & courteous staff. Definitely recommended and will return the next time I visit PDC. 5
In Tulum with the fam and was hankering for some seafood. This place highly recommended by a local gentleman. The restaurant is bright and clean and we were seated quickly as there were not many patrons There was no air conditioning but we were seated by some great fans that cooled us down but blew every napkin around. We had then noticed the cash only sign so my husband had to walk to the bank on the corner to obtain some cash while we waited. They placed chips and bean dip on the table which was great. The beans were flavorful. We ordered a big platter that came with lobster, crab, octopus salad, shrimp, fried fish fillet, fried snapper, calamari, and rice and beans. The presentation was very nice but besides that, it fell short in a big way. Everything was very overcooked and rubbery and it all came out lukewarm. Had they paid closer attention to cooking time and served it right when it was done, I am sure it would have been better. My son got steak tacos and he said they were nothing to rave about either. My daughter ordered nachos with no meat but you had to still pay for the meat so we got it in on the side. Our server was attentive and tried his best.
I have come to El Camello twice and it is a neighborhood staple. You get a huge plate of food for a decent price with chips and all the sides. I got the octopus al diablo, the other flavors are also good, and this is a known local hangout. Great low key tulum town vibe and quick service.
The shrimp cocktail was terrible- I'm pretty sure they just boiled the shrimp and then added some sort of tomato juice mix- would definitely not recommend. It hardly had anything else and it was served in a talk glass, so it was very hard to mix. If you look closely, you can see that it wasn't even mixed together completely.The grilled shrimp was ok and so was the Paloma I ordered, nothing special.
I've been wanting to try this seafood place but never get to it when I'm visiting. Located on the main strip in La Veleta, this is a nice local vibe. I had the mixto ceviche (small) which was enough for 2-3 people as an appetizer. I had the grilled garlic fish for main dish. Everything was fresh and tasty. Service was good and quick. I recommend for a simple and inexpensive seafood meal in Tulum.
Now this is a spot all the locals frequent! We heard by word-of-mouth that this spot was truly authentic, and had some of the best, flavorful food in all of Tulum. We went to order a couple of drinks, but the main star of the show was that ceviche I ordered. They have different sizes and options for your ceviche; I chose the medium-sized fish because we had previously eaten out earlier in the night. I was blown away by the portion size and how tasty it was. The fish tasted fresh and not fishy if that makes sense. We had the leftovers wrapped up in a taco box, and the waiter was kind enough to include fresh chips for the journey home. The inside was decorated with a lot of murals and was a super cool look. There are tables both inside and outside. This place is cash only and almost all of the bus boys, waiters, and bartenders only speak Spanish, so be prepared. I already can't wait to go back maybe even tonight!
The portion sizes are insane here. They give you chips and salsa as part of your meal, so probably don't need another dish with chips (the nachos were good though). The garlic on the fish was too much. We were all burping all night. However, the food was delicious. The ceviche was the best in the area. A ton of locals and tourists alike. Cash only. ATM right next door, but always a line.
Food is fresh and delicious. Server was warm and friendly. It's a nice local spot with charm. I appreciated how they keep it about the food and service not like the tourist traps in the area with terrible food and service but it's okay because they have photo ops ::eye roll:: El Camello Jr was a breath of fresh air and one of the places that gave me hope that not all of Tulum has been ruined.
After watching numerous YouTube videos and going through Yelp - this place stood out!! I love trying locals favorite spots! My husband and I ordered the breaded shrimp tacos, this platter of seafood (tilapia, fish filet, lobster, crab, calmari, octopus, shrimp with rice and veggies) and a small ceviche. Even before the food came out they give you a plate piles high with tortilla chips and various salsas and a bowl of beans. Food was delicious and very flavorful! Would totally come back the next time in Tulum. Btw they accept cash only - and will convert USD & Euros for a small fee.
This was my favorite meal of my trip and I was in Mexico for 11 days. There were more locals than tourists in the restaurant which speaks to how good it is. We ordered a large ceviche platter, grilled seafood platter and drinks for the 4 of us and our bill was under $80 total. The same meal in the US would have been over $200. We honestly loved all of it and if it was closer to where we were staying then I would have gone back
If you're looking for the freshest ceviche in Tulum, this is the place to be! I have never had ceviche this good and the serving for a small order was good for 3-4 people. The price is very, very affordable as well. We also ordered fish and shrimp tacos which both were equally as good. The sauces on the table is a must with your tacos. Also have to mention how good their bean dip is which was complimentary when they serve you the tortilla chips. Service and ambiance is what you would expect from a local restaurant - warm and accommodating to your needs.
This place was located a half block away from my hotel during my recent Tulum trip. Anytime you walk by after 12pm the place has a line out the door and down the sidewalk. I decided I wold check it out on my 2nd day for lunch since the crowd wasn't so bad. Grabbed a seat at the front in the outside area and was welcomed with chips and very good salsa. I. had to stop or I was gonna be too full for my lunch entree. I wound up getting the mixed seafood ceviche which included lobster, shrimp and grilled octopus...very tasty! I killed the entire plate lol! Washed it down with a nice mai tai. This place is cash only so make sure you hitup the ATM before heading over. Servers are nice as well as the guys that appear to be the owner/mgr.
3 years ago
5 years ago
Great seafood spot, and it's where the locals go. We went for an early lunch and had the tacos (grilled fish, battered shrimp, octopus al guajillo), shrimp ceviche (a small portion was still a decent size), papas fritas, and seafood soup. The aguas frescas are large. We had some delicious mango ones. They check your temperature and have you sanitize your hands at the front, which is comforting. Cash only. read more
2 years ago
If want to eat perfectly fried fresh snapper with the locals, this is your place. The restaurant is adjacent to its open kitchen and you can ask the server to take you to the kitchen so you can choose the fish you want. The kitchen is very hot because they have a few giant pots of boiling oil cooking fish and tortilla chips. The fish is stored in an ice cold cooler. I picked the biggest snapper fish they had. At our table they brought freshly fried tortilla chips and refried beans. We ordered guacamole and two Pacificos. I was blown away when the fish plate came. Fried to perfection, seasoned well, and served with fresh pico de gallo, lime, a spicy lemon juice, rice and grilled veggies. This plate was divine and everything tasted great. I highly recommend this spot for lunch when in the area. The entire meal was under $500 pesos! read more
It is casual and clean. There is "indoor" and outdoor dining. However, there are no walls to separate the 2. We came during pandemic so if airflow is a concern then sit outside. The restaurants served the locals so prices are reasonable. We were serves a bowl of chips with green salsa and a cup of retried beans with cheese on top before our meal. The green salsa got some heat to it. If you like spicy food then you will love the salsa. The beans were good too. There were 6 of us and we all order different dishes to share. They don't skimp on the shrimps on the ceviche. That's for sure. All dishes were good. Service was attentive. Our waiter speaks a little English so not a problem if you don't speak Spanish. I would come back if we are in the area. read more
7 years ago
We read some of the reviews, before going to El Camello Jr. The ceviche is an immediate foodgasm. We ordered a medium Mix Ceviche as starter, and it's more than enough for two. My husband had a Garlic fish fillet & I had the Garlic Octopus. Both DELISH! It doesn't look like much, but open to an amazing yummy experience Great service and Food. We will probably repeat this while here!! read more
We came here for lunch during our two-day stay in Tulum. Wonderful seafood with generous portions at affordable prices. We had the fish ceviche, the seafood soup (sopa de mariscos), and grilled squid with garlic. Complimentary chips were served with salsa and bean dip. Both the seafood soup and grilled squid were incredibly tasty, and you could tell the seafood was quite fresh. The ceviche was a little bizarre, as the fish didn't seem completely raw. Not sure if this was a different way of preparing, but it caught us a little off guard. Still delicious, however. If you order the ceviche, order on the small side! We originally ordered a medium and had to ask for it to be changed to a small. More than enough for 2-4 people if you're ordering other dishes as well. The service was great, parking was easy, and it was great to see there were a bunch of locals here as well. read more
8 years ago
7 years ago
My BF and I got into town kinda late and found this place near our airbnb. So glad we did. Service and food were so on point, thank I'm still thinking about it. It was about 9 pm and the restaurant was about 3/4ths full with people still coming in. I ordered the camarones con aji (garlic shirmp) which came with rice and beans. I was supposed to share w my BF, but they were so buttery and garlicy like I like em, sorry bro... I could only let him have 2 skrimps. Lol. Not to mention the portions were big. I think i got about 8 shrimps. Lol. I know, hella rude. My BF ordered a small order of the camarones y piscado ceviche, which was more than enough for one. So fresh and citrusy, was hard to stop eating. We did end up taking it home and eating for a snack after some cenote swimming action the next day, It was just as delicious as when we ordered it. They also serve alcohol so enjoy w an ice cold cerveza or tequila. Would definitely go back just to order the garlic shrimp again!! read more
8 years ago
The octopus platter in garlic butter sauce is life changing guys. I can't even explain. Mustttt be eaten, by anyone! Portions are big, friendly staff, random artists will drop by to serenade your ears while eating. Ceviches are super fresh and they are definitely not cheap on the seafood in these plates. I was licking the bean dip they serve with chips for every table.. we asked for a second, kinda embarrassing but it was that good. Came back twice during our 4 days stay!! read more
**CEVICHE PARADISE** ABOUT ======= Super popular with locals, this casual eatery guarantees fresh fish and seafood. You don't even need to look at the menu - it's all about the ceviches. LOCATION ========= At the end of town on the left-hand side of Tulum Avenue it is easy to locate, just look for a place full of cars and people eating outside. AMBIANCE ========= Sat outside in the cool breeze. A lot of locals, sprinkle of young tourists. FOOD ===== SHRIMP CEVICHE (SMALL order) OMG, their portions are HUGE and we ordered a small. Delicious and flavorful. Squeeze some lime, boom. RATING: 5/5 GRILLED GARLIC PRAWNS Good, but not the best I've had. Beans, rice, and vegetables were OK. RATING: 3.75/5 FLAN Authentic and wonderful. Not overly sweet and just right. RATING: 4/5 BEVERAGE ========= MARGARITA Tasty and refreshing. For $3 USD, not bad. RATING: 4/5 PRO TIPS ======== Order a Michelada or a cocktail while waiting. OVERALL ======== Good and affordable, not going to complain. They have music on some nights, too. Will return when in Tulum. RECOMMEND for a solid fresh and affordable seafood dinner. read more
8 years ago
11 years ago
Holy crap. I wanted to eat everything off of everyone's plates and the menu and the ones that were left on the table after everyone left. Everything here is fresh and it's very popular from locals to tourists. Expect a line but the wait is worth it! We got a mango margarita and it was delicious. As much as we wanted to order a ceviche we didn't as we already had one at Pik Nik in Cancun though I think we missed out. The small ceviche could feed 2-4 people. The chips are also so crispy. The salsas were great too. Thing is they serve a fish salsa which is so unexpected. Our dish was a garlic fish and wow. Probably one of the best dishes we had in our trip. It was so juicy, moist and flaky and had a bite to it. There are definitely a lot of places up and down the main street in Tulum. I don't think you can go wrong here. Just be hungry so that you can partake in various dishes. read more
Definitely recommend this restaurant when visiting Tulum and would hands down return. Best meal I've had yet: authentic, full of flavor and incredibly fresh. I knew I wanted to check out El Camello after seeing them unloading crates of fresh fish early one morning. We returned for dinner about 5pm during the workweek and were seated immediately (party of five) right in front of the fish prepping room. Whether you're in the mood for ceviche, grilled seafood or another protein, they have a diverse menu and wide selection of drinks. You won't find the same quality of tequila i. The margaritas here that you find on the beach, but if you're not looking for quality the price is definitely cheaper. Complementary chips, salsa and bean dip are provided while you wait to order/for entrees. We ordered fish ceviche, grilled fish in garlic and grilled lobster with garlic. The ceviche would have fed 2-3 people easily while the others are nice portions with you're very hungry but would be perfect for sharing. Out of the three, my favorite was definitely the grilled fish with garlic, it was full of flavor and oh so fresh. This place gets crowded and it's an open restaurant right on the highway. Service might lag but if you're got the patience it's well worth he wait. I did see some families joining other tables, so I assume "family style" tables is acceptable here. read more
7 years ago
A mom-and-pop local joint with generous portions of seafood. The grande ceviches will feed four. The seafood soup was well-received, and the octopus entree "a la diabla" was tasty, but perhaps overly salty. The vegetables sides seemed straight out of a frozen microwaveable bag, though. Would return when in the area. Cash only. read more
I'll echo what just about everyone else does when dining at El Camello Jr - get the ceviche. There are a few different versions you can order, but I went with the mixto. A heaping plate of sea-based delights that will be almost impossible for you to finish solo. Share with a friend, shell out a modest amount of Mexican currency, and you'll be eating like a king. They have a bunch of other great menu items as well, but if you get one thing, make sure it's that ceviche. read more
I've hit the major tourist spots to try as much fish as I can: Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum. This place was my favorite by a landslide. My friend and I walked here for dinner, put our names on the wait list, and waited 20 minutes to get a table. If you're a tourist like us, make sure you put on some bug spray while waiting haha. When seated, we got a generous portion of complimentary chips and THE BEST BEAN DIP I have ever tasted! I was totally fine if the kitchen ran out of seafood because I could eat those chips all day. But we did order the Pescado Frito (fried fish) to share. The price varies depending on the weight, but in total we paid no more than 200 Pesos (~$11 USD). The whole fish was delicious, fresh, and filling. It was just fantastic. I wouldn't mind coming here for every meal in Tulum - friendly towards us, friendly towards our budget, and friendly towards our stomachs. El Camello has won my heart! read more
6 years ago
If you're craving mariscos LOOK NO FURTHER. They have a platter option with all the seafood your heart could desire. Awesome outdoor seating. And as per usual, so affordable. Super glad we came. read more
4 years ago
8 years ago
If you're ever in Tulum you must try this place. The first time I came I got shrimp with rice and vegetables. While we were eating a man recommended their seafood soup, so the second night I came in to give it a try and I can honestly say that I love their food, each dish I got was $120 pesos which translates into $6 USD, I mean that's dirt cheap! read more
5 years ago
this place has banginnn seafood. I got the shrimp ceviche which was tasty & authentic and then the octopus al guajillo which was bursting with flavor from this red sauce. My home boy got the shrimp la guajillo...I tried a bite and had a foodgasm in my mouth. Both meals were solid but if I went there again, i'd pick the shrimp la guajillo read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
9 years ago
I agree ceviche paradise! The fish ceviche is so fresh and delicious, and the dish is huge!!! Even better is the price is super cheap. They are always crowded. we arrived at 2pm, but the room was full. We gotta share table with some other guests. We also tried the seafood soup, spicy, good for a rainy day. But I think the soup is too fishy to drink. And the grilled fish does not have much flavor. So overall, if you like ceviche, this is the place to go. read more
6 years ago
We were over for twice in a week for both lunch and dinner. Service was wonderful, food are amazing (both dine-in and to-go) and price is reasonable as well. If you want good ceviche and fish done right by the locals you must go here. read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
Just say yes to El Camello Jr. We've had Ceviche at just about every meal during our trip, and this place tops the list as one of the best. A medium plate of Ceviche is enough for 4 people at least (if you plan on getting other items on the menu). We also got the fried fish (500gr) and the seafood soup. Out of all of the things that we tried, the seafood soup was the best. Would recommend if you are feeling a little adventurous. read more
In the mood for delicious seafood that doesn't take all of your vacation money? We found this spot on wikitravel and were not disappointed. Got the medium sized mixto ceviche, which was way more than enough for 3 girls, the calamari in a spicy sauce, and their shrimp daily special. The sauce that the shrimp was cooked in had what looked like bell peppers, onions, and was overall delicious, especially mixed with my beans and rice. The spicy sauce of the calamari was not that spicy, and I wasn't super impressed with the quality of the squid (mildly chewy), but given the prices I wasn't going to complain. If you're like me and like to get the biggest bang for your buck, check this place out. read more
9 years ago
We traveled here from our all-inclusive resort so we could have a taste of the local flavor.. best decision we made for the entire trip. We had a large group and although there was a wait when we arrived, they promptly sat us within 20 minutes. The food came quickly after ordering and it was all amazing! The seafood was certainly fresh and the flavor was fantastic. Also - with almost 20 people eating, the bill was so reasonable! I will be back the next time I am in Tulum!! read more
5 years ago
COVID: Face mask required to enter. They require you to hand sanitizer and step on this cleaning mat before entering. All employees were wearing face masks. Open faced-restaurant with some outdoor seating. A very popular restaurant that is filled with both locals and tourists. Servers are very attentive and enjoyed the slight background music. Food: 1. Complimentary chips with salsa, refried beans with cheese on top, and wedges of lime. The salsa was very tasty! 2. Cerviche Mixed - We ordered the small and it was still a little too much for two people to finish. I really liked the super limey sauce. All the seafood felt fresh. 3. We both got the fried fish platter that was a snapper fish. It came with white rice with some veggies in it, steamed mixed veggies on the side, and more refried beans with cheese on top. I wish there was some type of sauce served with the fish. It was fried really nicely and didn't feel oily. However, nothing special that would make me want to order it again. 4. I ordered the Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea). Would definitely recommend it! It tasted very natural and I liked how it wasn't super sweet. A nice cold thirst quencher. One of the better ones I got out of all the restaurants I ate at during my trip. I really wanted to like this place, but find that it was underwhelming, and also I had the worst stomach after eating the food. My friend didn't feel sick after eating, so maybe I just got unlucky with a piece of seafood. Overall, I would still recommend it as a place to try for a more local eatery vibe and judge for yourself. It is very inexpensive so there isn't much to lose. read more
9 years ago
Me and my wife had been going to Mexico almost once every year. We started by going to all-inclusive hotels then started visiting boutique hotels. This time, we charted Tulum / Akumal areas. Renting a car and having the freedom to go anywhere is awesome. My review for restaurant El Camello Jr... It is a good find because -- - Prices are cheap compared to the Tulum "Hotel Zone" strip. Basically, half the price when in Pueblo (town) - It feels authentic and local. Obviously, there are tourists that eat there, but you can tell that there are as much as locals that go there as well, to have their lunches and dinners - Being with the locals is great. As opposed to, being with the tourist flock - Food portions are abundant. A good example is their ceviche. The small order of ceviche is actually good enough for 2. If you order the medium or large -- be ready for "take-out" or not being able to finish it all. - A local fisherman delivered a crate of fresh fish and other seafood, as we were waiting for our food. Hence, seafood is definitely fresh all day as evidenced by the high customer turn-over - Every table (no matter if you are one or many), automatically gets the tortilla chips with frijoles (beans), pico de gallo (tomatoes, onions & cilantro) and Picante poblano peppers (hot peppers) salsa and a bowl of limes. The frijoles (beans) are very flavourful and delicious --It's my wife's favorite - (and she's not even a "bean" person). - My wife found that the Pulpo (octopus), is not as tender as we hoped but it is flavorful We ate at El Camello Jr. twice and the servers are very friendly. After discovering this restaurant and it's very affordable prices, good food, and local environment, we would look forward to returning someday. Food & Drinks we ordered: Agua del Dia (Drink of the day - Giant refreshing pina, mint and lime) Pescado Frito - Pargo (Fried Red Snapper) Pulpo al mojo de ajo (Octopus in Garlic w/ beans, veggies & beans) Ceviche Mixto Chico (Mixed Seafood Ceviche Small) Sopa de Mariscos (Seafood Soup) read more
6 years ago
9 years ago
Freshest seafood that you could ever get with a touch of Mexican flavor! Started off with complimentary chips and special bean dip. This special bean dip is BOMB. The texture is really smooth with slight chunks of beans and cheese pairs so nicely with the deeply fried chips. Next, the shrimp ceviche- boatloads of lime juice marinated into the chunky pieces of shrimp. Each bite is as savory as you can imagine it. Moving onto the fried fish- deeply fried to perfection. When you think of extra crispy fish and soft fish meat, you have to get this fried fish here. Dip it with the black beans and that will just make your meal totally worth it. The lobster was NOT GOOD! Overcooked and super dry and chewy. Fair warning, please don't get the lobster. I would love to check out the place again and try more of their seafood. Their portions are a little bit on the larger side, so keep that in mind. read more
7 years ago
6 years ago
Cash only. No frills. Great ceviche (generous portion!!) and delicious whole fish. Skip all the touristy places and go to this one! read more
I came here because it was recommended to my wife. The restaurant was crowded but we were seated in less than ten minutes. I like the fact that the place had a good mixture of locals and tourists. The dishes were plentiful and they tasted good. We shared the ceviche mixto. I had the whole fried fish while she had the catch of the day a la veracruzana. I do recommend the place. Just be mindful that the portions are enormous. read more
7 years ago
This place is perfect. Their service, speed, and the flavor of the food. We had caldo de mariscos which was perfectly spiced, fried fish which was fresh, perfectly baked and delicious, and ceviche. The portions were big and the prices were more than reasonable. I'll certainly go there again and definitely recommend! read more
More info about El Camello Jr.
Av. Tulum S/N
77780 Tulum, Quintana Roo
Mexico
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