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So hungry? Stop at El Capitan for more than you can eat on your own! My friend and I each ordered ceviche, and it was so much food that we were sharing with the resident cat who pretended nonchalance. We enjoyed our meal, and I absolutely loved the chips. They have an air-conditioned segment of their restaurant or you can eat on the back patio away from the cars and street noise.
After a long morning spent at the Cenotes, I needed to refuel with some deliciousness. I found myself at El Capitàn and was drawn in by the aromas. I was greeted by warm and kind customer service, and I placed an order for Calamari and Shrimp Nachos. The order came out quickly, and the portions were so generous!!! Add good prices to that as well! The shrimp nachos were so delicious!!! The elements of flavors were out of this world! With the layering of black beans, cheese, and fresh cilantro. I was in paradise! The calamari was delicious, and I loved that it came with a side of rice and fresh veggies. The sauce that came with the calamari matched perfectly with it as well. All in all, I left this restaurant satisfied, and I will definitely return again to try more dishes when i'm in Tulum again.
Finally a place with spice in Tulum!! Service was great vibes we were all there with the music and laughs .. we were seated right away despite the long line . Service was fast, while we waited for our food we received a great selection of salsa and sauces and a nice pitcher of horchata!! Definitely a perfect wait snack . Our aguachiles Roja was perfectly spicy.. my lips plumped and the nose drip was great .. thanks for a great experience.
Overall I feel El Capitan is a three and a half stars joint. Food was good, but just needed something. We went with a mariscada and my friends went with pescado ala diabla. My brother went with I believe was tacos al pirata. If anything that is what I highly recommend. That dish was very flavorful. Overall the food was not bad. Presentation was excellent, huge portions and customer service was on point. Very friendly people, beach hut set up and dining was comfortable. Also it is located right on the main road. Yes they offer parking and accept c/c's.
This place is a hit or miss. They have two locations, and I've been to both. First off, they only bring you chips and habanero salsa. No other salsas. The food is cheaply done. I went in once asking for fresh seafood and they told me all of it was frozen!!! They finally said the whole fish was fresh BUT it definitely tasted frozen!!! I've also gone and had fish tacos that were OK the second time and some octopus plate that was pretty good. Food just varies and it's not a place I would generally enter.
A biking distance from Kore Resort to the restaurant that was recommended by several taxi drivers. --If you're looking for a good taxi driver by the way, there's a guy named Ulises and is always on call! +5219841695530 He has really good English and recommends places to go or eat! Too bad we found him by the end of our trip. There's bike parking to the left of the restaurant by the bushes. We were greeted by Santos which was also our server, super nice and great waiter! He also knew some English which was easy and great for us. The atmosphere here really puts you in a Mexico vibe. The hut looks like it was built with grass straws, plenty of fans to help the heat since its an outdoor restaurant, but great feels! As for the food I thought it was phenomenal! We were just going for a snack before going to dinner and ended up eating a whole meal! --4 Tacos (5/5) - Unfortunately you can't choose one one meat per taco. (If thay makes sense) You have choose 2 of the same meats or 4. I ordered 2 battered fish and 2 battered shrimp. I think these were the best seafood tacos I've ever had, very fresh. Fish - It was not soggy, very flakey where you could tell they were fresh. Shrimp - Crunchy, fresh, definitely not frozen. They were all lightly battered, but really crispy. Make sure you eat them fast because all of the pico and cabbage will make it soggy if you wait. fresh! They have 4 different sauces and all of them we're so good. I put all 4 sauces in one taco. Superb! --Seafood Soup (4/5) - Reddish/Brown soup that had lots of flavor. Comes in a big bowl with shrimp, squid, fish, onions and cilantro to top it off. A slight fish-y taste that's why I would give it a 4. --Tostada Ceviche (3/5) - The ceviche was fresh, cooler than other ceviches I have had in Mexico, but not my for my palate. It taste like a Vietnamese salad called "goi" and I can usually pass on that. --Guacamole Dip (4/5) - The chips are a bit thicker, guac had good flavor, mixed in well with ingredients rather than just avocado like some places. Everything was 555 pesos! 30 bucks, not too bad and also two drinks. I enjoyed the tacos way too much! Won me over to give them a 5!
what a wonderful meal! we were so hungry after a day of cenotes and ordered everything! we sat outside and there were some mosquitos so just be sure to spray yourself fish tacos - not the best i've ever had but these were still very tasty! definitely recommend fried fish - this was my favorite dish. the fish was so fresh and tasty ceviche - this was delicious and a great portion for the price!! seafood rice - this was underwhelming. i don't know what i was expecting but the rice was way overcooked as well as the seafood. i'd skip this dish overall the food was magnificent and the service was great! def recommend to anyone that's having a seafood craving
El Capitan did not disappoint! They had great seafood options that me and my fiancée enjoyed. My fiancée and I were on a seafood diet, and found it to be a bit of a struggle to find taco options in Tulum Centro that offered fish. We were fortunate to come across El Capitan. We had fish tacos and shrimp tacos, which were delicious. Great portion sizes as well -- we were stuffed after our meal. Denis, our waiter was amazing also -- Courteous, gracious, friendly, and attentive. Fully recommend this place!
This restaurant was recommended to us by our Airbnb host and we came a couple of times during our visit to Tulum. A perk was that our waiter spoke English and kindly gave us recommendations off the menu. The restaurant is very open and you can see out into the street to monitor your bike/cars. There are also a couple of swings at the bar that you can take an Instagram worthy pic, which I totally took advantage of :P There was also a very pregnant pup laying around and that was begging for food, but we didn't mind :P Onto the food! We did ask our waiter what he recommended and he was very honest about the menu. We ordered the medio combination tradicional ceviche, fish tacos, shrimp tacos, and beef fajitas. The most notable items were the ceviche, shrimp tacos, and the beef fajitas. I wouldn't recommend the fried batter fish tacos. The waiter didn't recommend them either, we should have listened lol The ceviche was not spicy, but tart (tons of lemon/lime sprayed all over), and was generously portioned - so def get this! The person I ate with had an upset stomach after eating the ceviche, so I wouldn't eat here if you have a sensitive stomach. I didn't have any stomach issues, but just something to note if you do.
Flow in from Miami to go stay at Tulum and saw this place on the way and we stop to eat some tacos we got there it was super dead like about 6 people the service was not as good took forever to serve us we all got tacos 2 beef and 2 chicken and to be honest they didn't taste like nothing ugh .we order the guacamole it was okay and a flan it was soo much chocolate on it wasn't as good the piña drink was so water down no good we got a coke to see if it taste good it was amazing.
Came here because Chula a block away was closed. The creamy salsa that came with the chips was very good but my grilled fish was way too salty. It was smothered with salt yet lacked flavor. They claim they take credit card but then tell you later the machine is broken. I ended up getting charged way more to pay in USD. Otherwise the service was very attentive and friendly.
2 years ago
Large open air restaurant off the Main Street in Tulum. Serving Mexican food, I split an order of ceviche with my friend. The medium sized order is enough to split in my opinion. Served with house made tortilla chips, the ceviche was made with grilled onions and wasn't overly citrusy. I don't recall the price, but it was run of the mill. Make sure you have cash. read more
There are no pretensions at El Capitan. No tasting menus. No molecular foams or curated playlists. Just a thatched roof, plastic chairs, the smell of salt and citrus, and plates of seafood so massive they could capsize a canoe. This is the kind of place you stumble into half-sunburned and salt-crusted, not looking for a culinary revelation -- and yet, it finds you anyway. You sit down, order the mixed ceviche, and suddenly you're wondering why anyone bothers with fine dining at all. Bright, briny, and unapologetically fresh, the ceviche arrives on a platter fit for Poseidon himself -- octopus, shrimp, fish, maybe a few things you don't ask too many questions about. All of it kissed with lime, chili, and a generosity that's almost suspicious. They serve food here like someone's abuela is worried you haven't eaten in days. You think, "Surely this isn't all for me." Oh, but it is. Cash only. Of course. Because the best places always are. Bring pesos, not plastic. And the cats -- oh, the cats. They don't beg. They know better. They own the place. Stray royalty lounging in the shade, slinking between tables, giving side-eye to tourists who haven't earned their stripes yet. They're part of the charm, part of the rhythm of a place. El Capitan isn't trying to be cool. It just is. read more
Stumbled upon this place while staying in Tulum for the week. Seating is outside but shaded. Cats running around, which I love! Staff was very welcoming and attentive too. My server even told me to switch out a few things because she knew it would be too much food for me, which was sweet! I got the shrimp tostada, and the grilled shrimp plate with rice and veggies. The veggies had no seasoning but the shrimp had plenty so it balanced out. I also got a passion fruit margarita... 10/10! This place was in walking distance from our hotel and it was nor as pricey as some of the other spots on the strip. Id recommend! read more
3 years ago
So hungry? Stop at El Capitan for more than you can eat on your own! My friend and I each ordered ceviche, and it was so much food that we were sharing with the resident cat who pretended nonchalance. We enjoyed our meal, and I absolutely loved the chips. They have an air-conditioned segment of their restaurant or you can eat on the back patio away from the cars and street noise. read more
2 years ago
Food wasn't good no seasoning at all .. rice was so cold and hard drink some I ordered the grilled fish read more
After a long morning spent at the Cenotes, I needed to refuel with some deliciousness. I found myself at El Capitàn and was drawn in by the aromas. I was greeted by warm and kind customer service, and I placed an order for Calamari and Shrimp Nachos. The order came out quickly, and the portions were so generous!!! Add good prices to that as well! The shrimp nachos were so delicious!!! The elements of flavors were out of this world! With the layering of black beans, cheese, and fresh cilantro. I was in paradise! The calamari was delicious, and I loved that it came with a side of rice and fresh veggies. The sauce that came with the calamari matched perfectly with it as well. All in all, I left this restaurant satisfied, and I will definitely return again to try more dishes when i'm in Tulum again. read more
2 years ago
Finally a place with spice in Tulum!! Service was great vibes we were all there with the music and laughs .. we were seated right away despite the long line . Service was fast, while we waited for our food we received a great selection of salsa and sauces and a nice pitcher of horchata!! Definitely a perfect wait snack . Our aguachiles Roja was perfectly spicy.. my lips plumped and the nose drip was great .. thanks for a great experience. read more
1 year ago
Overall I feel El Capitan is a three and a half stars joint. Food was good, but just needed something. We went with a mariscada and my friends went with pescado ala diabla. My brother went with I believe was tacos al pirata. If anything that is what I highly recommend. That dish was very flavorful. Overall the food was not bad. Presentation was excellent, huge portions and customer service was on point. Very friendly people, beach hut set up and dining was comfortable. Also it is located right on the main road. Yes they offer parking and accept c/c's. read more
4 years ago
This place is a hit or miss. They have two locations, and I've been to both. First off, they only bring you chips and habanero salsa. No other salsas. The food is cheaply done. I went in once asking for fresh seafood and they told me all of it was frozen!!! They finally said the whole fish was fresh BUT it definitely tasted frozen!!! I've also gone and had fish tacos that were OK the second time and some octopus plate that was pretty good. Food just varies and it's not a place I would generally enter. read more
7 years ago
A biking distance from Kore Resort to the restaurant that was recommended by several taxi drivers. --If you're looking for a good taxi driver by the way, there's a guy named Ulises and is always on call! +5219841695530 He has really good English and recommends places to go or eat! Too bad we found him by the end of our trip. There's bike parking to the left of the restaurant by the bushes. We were greeted by Santos which was also our server, super nice and great waiter! He also knew some English which was easy and great for us. The atmosphere here really puts you in a Mexico vibe. The hut looks like it was built with grass straws, plenty of fans to help the heat since its an outdoor restaurant, but great feels! As for the food I thought it was phenomenal! We were just going for a snack before going to dinner and ended up eating a whole meal! --4 Tacos (5/5) - Unfortunately you can't choose one one meat per taco. (If thay makes sense) You have choose 2 of the same meats or 4. I ordered 2 battered fish and 2 battered shrimp. I think these were the best seafood tacos I've ever had, very fresh. Fish - It was not soggy, very flakey where you could tell they were fresh. Shrimp - Crunchy, fresh, definitely not frozen. They were all lightly battered, but really crispy. Make sure you eat them fast because all of the pico and cabbage will make it soggy if you wait. fresh! They have 4 different sauces and all of them we're so good. I put all 4 sauces in one taco. Superb! --Seafood Soup (4/5) - Reddish/Brown soup that had lots of flavor. Comes in a big bowl with shrimp, squid, fish, onions and cilantro to top it off. A slight fish-y taste that's why I would give it a 4. --Tostada Ceviche (3/5) - The ceviche was fresh, cooler than other ceviches I have had in Mexico, but not my for my palate. It taste like a Vietnamese salad called "goi" and I can usually pass on that. --Guacamole Dip (4/5) - The chips are a bit thicker, guac had good flavor, mixed in well with ingredients rather than just avocado like some places. Everything was 555 pesos! 30 bucks, not too bad and also two drinks. I enjoyed the tacos way too much! Won me over to give them a 5! read more
2 years ago
what a wonderful meal! we were so hungry after a day of cenotes and ordered everything! we sat outside and there were some mosquitos so just be sure to spray yourself fish tacos - not the best i've ever had but these were still very tasty! definitely recommend fried fish - this was my favorite dish. the fish was so fresh and tasty ceviche - this was delicious and a great portion for the price!! seafood rice - this was underwhelming. i don't know what i was expecting but the rice was way overcooked as well as the seafood. i'd skip this dish overall the food was magnificent and the service was great! def recommend to anyone that's having a seafood craving read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
6 years ago
El Capitan did not disappoint! They had great seafood options that me and my fiancée enjoyed. My fiancée and I were on a seafood diet, and found it to be a bit of a struggle to find taco options in Tulum Centro that offered fish. We were fortunate to come across El Capitan. We had fish tacos and shrimp tacos, which were delicious. Great portion sizes as well -- we were stuffed after our meal. Denis, our waiter was amazing also -- Courteous, gracious, friendly, and attentive. Fully recommend this place! read more
8 years ago
This restaurant was recommended to us by our Airbnb host and we came a couple of times during our visit to Tulum. A perk was that our waiter spoke English and kindly gave us recommendations off the menu. The restaurant is very open and you can see out into the street to monitor your bike/cars. There are also a couple of swings at the bar that you can take an Instagram worthy pic, which I totally took advantage of :P There was also a very pregnant pup laying around and that was begging for food, but we didn't mind :P Onto the food! We did ask our waiter what he recommended and he was very honest about the menu. We ordered the medio combination tradicional ceviche, fish tacos, shrimp tacos, and beef fajitas. The most notable items were the ceviche, shrimp tacos, and the beef fajitas. I wouldn't recommend the fried batter fish tacos. The waiter didn't recommend them either, we should have listened lol The ceviche was not spicy, but tart (tons of lemon/lime sprayed all over), and was generously portioned - so def get this! The person I ate with had an upset stomach after eating the ceviche, so I wouldn't eat here if you have a sensitive stomach. I didn't have any stomach issues, but just something to note if you do. read more
2 years ago
Flow in from Miami to go stay at Tulum and saw this place on the way and we stop to eat some tacos we got there it was super dead like about 6 people the service was not as good took forever to serve us we all got tacos 2 beef and 2 chicken and to be honest they didn't taste like nothing ugh .we order the guacamole it was okay and a flan it was soo much chocolate on it wasn't as good the piña drink was so water down no good we got a coke to see if it taste good it was amazing. read more
6 years ago
Came here because Chula a block away was closed. The creamy salsa that came with the chips was very good but my grilled fish was way too salty. It was smothered with salt yet lacked flavor. They claim they take credit card but then tell you later the machine is broken. I ended up getting charged way more to pay in USD. Otherwise the service was very attentive and friendly. read more
Fantastic ceviche! We started with a reliable guacamole but quickly progressed to the Ceviche Mixto, a great combo of succulent shrimp, tender octopus, and fish. All of it tastes fresh-caught, and same goes for the Coctel Mixto. I don't even like tomato, but this sauce is so sweet and refreshing I could drink it! It's less than a block from Agua Clara Diving so definitely eat here after you dive. Otherwise it's worth a separate trip as well. Best ceviche in town! read more
4 years ago
This restaurant (and many others) was recommended by our hotel concierge. Every time we went by, there were customers. So we decided on dinner here. Upon entry we were greeted. We were allowed to choose our table. We sat under the fan to keep cool and potentially keep the flies away. The gal gave us the menus and some time to peruse. Our waiter was over fairly quickly to take our drink order. I asked for the mezcal on the menu and my brother asked for a Paloma. Unfortunately, they did not have sprite to make a Paloma. So he went with beer. They also didn't have the mezcal I wanted to try. I wanted the Espadin. Instead, our waiter brought me two bottles of mezcal and let me take a sip of each! The 8 year aged madre cuixte was smoother than the 20 year aged Tepextate. So I went with it, not knowing the price (in the end it was 100 pesos, which is what the espadin would have been). We asked for chips and salsa and ordered a side of guacamole and ceviche. The ceviche has two styles, the traditional and a spicy version. You can also specify what you want in it- fish, shrimp, octopus or mixed (all three)! So we got the traditional mixed ceviche. We went with the medium order but should've had the small. We eat a lot and we were so full after dinner we could not finish it. For dinner, I had the Branzino. I was craving it and it was so freakin good. We shared my dish because I could not finish the whole fish. Instead of rice, I asked for veggies. They complied at no extra charge. The veggies weren't cheap either. It was broccoli, cauliflower, some carrots and sliced broccoli stalks. Fantastic. The side salad wasn't skimpy either. They had a lot of tomato, cucumber, two types of carrot shreds- regular and purple, and lots of lettuce and cabbage mixed. There is no dressing so I just used salt and lime. The fish was huge and was already so full but the two of us finished it. We were torn between the pirate tacos (shrimp, white garlic cream sauce, onion) and their version of paella. The waiter recommended the tacos. Wow they were good. I had the smallest one since I was so full. My brother demolished the other three. We couldn't finish the ceviche or the guacamole. Lol. And we can eat! So be careful, portions are good here. You won't leave hungry. Service was fantastic. We did not feel rushed like in the USA, and we did not feel forgotten, as one might encounter here in Mexico. It was spot on. While we were eating, a mariachi band stopped by and took requests from surrounding tables. We declined when they asked if we wanted a romantic song. Lol. We are siblings! ("¡Somos hermanos!) All in all, a great spot. Prices were good. Food is tasty and plentiful. Would come back here again. read more
9 years ago
Nice place to have great seafood close to Tulum. We loved it here because of several factors: - our server (who is originally from Veracruz) was very helpful and funny. He made us laugh and enjoy our time here - the fish was delicious, very tender and fresh - beers were so cold I enjoyed them very much! - fries were fantastic. Right to its point. - the Agua de Horchata was also very good, and - free wi-fi; great for those of us who don't have an international data plan and are always on the look for free satellites The ceviche we tried wasn't the best, but was good. The camarones al ajillo weren't the greatest either, but was a big dish with plenty of them. I did not like the vegetables as a side; I would have preferred cole slaw or something fresh. If we are back in the area, I would definitely try it again! read more
6 years ago
We were lucky to stay next door to El Capitan in the Wish Tulum hotel, but we were blown away at how good the food here was. They are a seafood restaurant, so we ordered the fish and shrimp tacos and were blown away. The fish is so fresh and the shrimp is so flavorful. They are very kind, friendly, and fast service. They are not located near the beach, but rather more in the pueblo. The nachos were amazing as well, but you must get the fish tacos! The restaurant has good energy, and staff is really nice. I will definitely come back. Their guacamole is fresh and has good portions. We absolutely loved this spot and it's a must for inexpensive but fresh food! Note: they accept credit card. read more
5 years ago
5 years ago
We got the grilled whole fish, chicken tacos, beef tacos, and guacamole. The tacos were pretty bland and the meat was a bit tough. The guacamole was fine, but the grilled fish was better than expected. We enjoyed our meal enough, but there's a ton of better food in the area. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
If you want some good food at a great price this place is hands down the place to be in tulum. I will definitely be back and eat here every time I'm in tulum. read more
7 years ago
One of our group's favorite restaurants during our stay in Tulum. The food and ambiance here was amazing. They had live music, an excellent seafood menu, and hammock swings! We had ceviche, fish and shrimp tacos, and whole fish. Everything was absolutely delicious! The white sauce was also a bonus. The drinks are very VERY strong so beware. Wouldn't order shots at the bar though because they might rip you off... So stick with ordering at your table and your server. The band was very lively and talented. Had us dancing and laughing the whole night. All in all would recommend to anyone looking for a fun and chill seafood dinner. read more
8 years ago
This restaurant is known for its great seafood! So i had to try the ceviche while I was there. I got the smallest size and was still able to share with my boyfriend AND take home some! The ceviche was seasoned very well and I just added some more lime juice from the limes that were brought to the table. My boyfriend got a burger which he loved himself. We also bought a margarita which was pretty good, not the best I've had but definitely did the job and a shot of mezcal. It was my first time ever trying that kind of tequila and let me tell you it's way stronger than any kind I've ever had lol. The waitress was super nice and greeted us with a smile and was very attentive to our needs. She even ran after us with my boyfriends credit card that had fallen out of his pocket. Most people would have kept it but she was very nice to give it back to us! This is definitely a place to go if you want good seafood and great service! read more
5 years ago
This place was one of the very few restaurant open after a city lockdown from a potential hurricane, we got the ceviche and aguachile to start off, never have I had a ceviche that has grilled onions in it- it doesn't go and it was not a good dish, aguachile was not spicy nor tasted fresh. The whole experience was just meh, not a cute place, not fresh seafood nor great customer service. A lot better places to check out in Tulum read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
Everything we had was delicious. From the tacos, ceviche, fish and drinks. Excellent customer service as well read more
8 years ago
Our first meal in Tulum did not disappoint. The shrimp and fish tacos were soft, juicy and fresh! I may have gone overboard with the variety of sauces there (which you can totally buy some last minute at the airport to bring home the spiciness back with ya). They have swings by the bar so totally a good instagram moment if you like that only thing that we realized is that they don't do credit cards anymore. Yelp currently says that they do take them. read more
5 years ago
Tacos are amazing!!!! Shrimp tacos, fish tacos We're so good i went three times in one trip read more
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7 years ago
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