Cancel

Open app

Search

EL CURANDERO

4.5 (24 reviews)
ModerateSeafood, Mexican
Open • 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

EL CURANDERO Photos

EL CURANDERO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Good for kids
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - EL CURANDERO

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Molly M.

Excellent seafood and service. Be sure to watch for it-you could walk right by and miss it!

Guajillo Tostada
Jack M.

I ordered the Guajillo tostada and another ceviche one I don't recall the name of Both come piled high with fresh seafood and vegetables. The Guajillo had excellent shrimp and octopus with a creamy mayo based sauce underneath the toppings. The vegetables were grilled to great doneness. The other tostada I got tasted like aguachile on a tostada. It was far too liquidy and acidic to enjoy as a tostada. And it don't understand the appeal of raw onions and cucumbers in the dish. The sauces they offer are the typical mexican fish salsas along with a chipotle mayo.

Tostada guajillo
Alexandra S.

This place has amazing tostadas and the kids loved there tacos. It's a few minutes walk from la 5ta Avenida but it's totally worth it. Large eating area and great hospitality.

Fried Plantains. So good
Norma V.

Best seafood we had in a while, we enjoyed a Ponedura aguachile, Vuelve a la vida seafood soup ( Awesome for a hangover or just to get your streng backl We also had very fresh oysters, Bloody Mary Drink, Maracuya water(Passion fruit) and for dessert some fried plantains, Yelp recommended us the place next door called aguachiles but we noticed didn't had any local eating there, also this one felt cozy.. I surely will come back, customer service is great the guy at the front door even helped us paying the parking so we won't get a ticket.

Scott M.

Visited this place during my last stop in Playa and the menu has been tweeked since then. The manager was nice enough to prepare some of our favs that had been removed (poke atun). Food prepared with care and nicely plated. Service was quick and attentive.

Tostadas, ceviche and cocktel.
Jacqueline A.

Food and service was great! We had tostadas, ceviche, cocktel de camarón and arracherra, everything tasted fresh and flavorful. (Ceviche needed a bit more lime but that's an easy fix.) Live music was awesome. Would recommend 100%

Guajillo recommended by the waiter. So good! Shrimp octopus cooked with butter guajilla Chile and grilled onion.
Helene T.

This place is legit! The food is delicious, the atmosphere fun, and the staff are friendly and informative. We just touched today from the states and are so happy we found this place. We'll be coming back for more. I'll let you know how the other items taste as I work my way through the menu during our stay. Cheers!

Just had the best meal and closed the place down!
Laura L.

We came here on recommendation of our tour guide for the day in Tulum. It's all fish, and very delicious. I had tacos with breaded fish, and a tostada with fried tuna. It sounds like a lot of fried, but perfectly done and not heavy at all. The cucumber marguarita was amazing. The guacamole is superb! Don't miss it. My daughter reports the fries are excellent, and she is a connoisseur.

Want to try Mexican Food Beyond Al Pastor Tacos....... Mexican + Seafood + Tostadas/ Tacos @ Gourmet ++. All I can say is come and try it for yourself Your taste buds won't regret it .... Our Waiter Julio 2 Thumbs Up for service and food knowledge! Thank You Julio!

This has got to be one of the best Restaurant in the area. We had the seafood Tower and seafood Ceviche, Curricanes , Tuna avocado, grilled octopus was amazing. Juan was our server and did a amazing job.

Chips and salsa

I read about this place in a Playa website. If you like seafood, you have to come here. Great menu, but hard to choose what to order! The chips and salsa (5 different choices) - very tasty. A complimentary cup of shrimp broth was a nice touch. The frozen cucumber margarita was absolutely fantastic. The star of my dinner was the seafood tower. Basically, a composed tower of raw and cooked seafood - tuna, shrimp, crab, octopus, cucumber and red onion. Definitely enough for two people to share. And on top of all that, great service!

Camerones tacos

Absolutely amazing, The best Mariscos I have ever tried! Our hotel recommended this place and we fell in love! We are definitely coming back before we leave! Everything is so flavorful and fresh! I had tacos de camarones and my husband had fresh moharra! We recommend you try this ASAP!

Chilequiles

See all

4 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Txx U.
82
28
32

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Molly M.
174
1850
16145

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jack M.
744
1421
1499

6 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 4
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Alexandra S.
10
152
352

4 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Norma V.
14
54
38

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Julian B.
388
31
12

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Esme V.
2
62
39

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 years ago

Order the Sriracha tostada, you can thank me later. Best Mexican seafood in Mexico, and I'm Mexican

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

EL CURANDERO Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - EL CURANDERO

“Basically, a composed tower of raw and cooked seafood - tuna, shrimp, crab, octopus, cucumber and red onion.”

Mentioned in 4 reviews

Read more highlights

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

El Fogón

El Fogón

4.6(1.3k reviews)
1.1 km•Centro
•$

After visiting all three El Fogón locations in Playa del Carmen, I can confidently say they're all…read morefantastic. The service is quick, the prices are incredibly reasonable, and the food is consistently delicious. Before your meal even arrives, you're served a plate of fresh radishes, cucumber, and lime wedges, plus a selection of toppings including tomatoes, onions, and both a green and red salsa. Unfortunately this location didn't give us the cactus like the other locations did. The red salsa was my favourite, it paired perfectly with the tacos and had just the right amount of heat and flavour. The standout for me was the al pastor taco. The meat was incredibly flavourful with crispy edges, a smoky char, and the perfect balance of savoury spice and sweet pineapple. It was easily one of the best al pastor tacos I had in Playa del Carmen. I also tried the sirloin taco and the chicken breast plate, both of which were excellent. The portions were generous, everything tasted fresh, and the quality was impressive, especially for the price. El Fogón absolutely lived up to the hype. If you're looking for authentic, delicious tacos and grilled meats that won't break the bank, this is a must visit. I loved it so much that I ended up eating at all three locations and every visit was just as good as the last.

We had a fantastic meal at El Fogón in Playa del Carmen! The atmosphere was fun, lively, and felt…read morevery authentic. The service was outstanding, and everyone made us feel welcome. My wife and I shared the chicken fajitas, which were excellent. My friend ordered the al pastor fajitas, and his wife had the pork chops--everyone agreed the food was delicious. The guacamole was fresh and amazing, and every dish was flavorful and generously portioned. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food with excellent service and a great atmosphere, I highly recommend El Fogón. We would definitely come back!

Photos
El Fogón - View from interior towards the corner intersection.

View from interior towards the corner intersection.

El Fogón - Nopales

Nopales

El Fogón - Strawberries smoothie

See all

Strawberries smoothie

Axiote - Mezcal tasting pairing

Axiote

4.4(280 reviews)
0.5 km•Gonzalo Guerrero
•$$

Axiote Cocina de México was an incredible, beautiful restaurant, and one of the highlights of our…read moretrip--a perfect reminder to get out of the hotel and experience the local fare. The space is warm and completely unpretentious--wood, simple tables, an open kitchen and a palapa-style roof. Nothing about it screams "fine dining," and that's part of the charm. The perfectly prepared food does all the work. We chose the tasting experience, and bite for bite it was outstanding. The fried mushrooms were perfect, the fish ceviche was awesome, and the beef tongue was cooked beautifully. And don't be afraid of the grasshoppers--seriously. Yummy. Even ingredients I normally don't gravitate toward, like black beans, were used so thoughtfully that I enjoyed them. The drink pairings were equally impressive--tequila, beer, wine and espresso--and each one genuinely complemented the course it accompanied. We were basically the only guests that evening, and our waiter turned that into a wonderfully personal experience. He patiently answered every one of our many "American questions" about the ingredients, preparation and pairings, never making us feel rushed or out of place. A sincere thank-you to him, the cooks--who my partner and I gave a standing ovation to--and the entire team for making the evening so memorable. My one tiny suggestion? Cloth napkins. With that many courses, sauces and textures, the paper ones felt a little out of step with the quality of the food. But when the napkin is your biggest criticism, they're doing something right. And then there's the value. For an experience of this quality, the price was remarkable. Our total was about $320 including tip for the full tasting experience and pairings for two. We have spent more than twice that on comparable special-occasion dinners at home, so Axiote felt not just exceptional, but genuinely budget-friendly for what you receive. Axiote is relaxed, confident, welcoming and absolutely worth leaving the resort for. Go hungry, ask questions, trust the kitchen--and yes, eat the grasshoppers.

Great experience last Friday night at this Michinlin Bib restaurant. So glad I stopped by this…read moreplace is bomb and super not pretentious! Wish I got the tasting menu but I opted for 3 of the specialties instead and they were delicious... Tasting menu is best value tho! I got the raw trout sashimi thing and it was by far the best plate of the meal (first dish/appetizer) , then got the shrimp flautas (good not amazing) then I got the trout loin for the entree (good not amazing) Skinny marg was perfect and so was the waitress! Would recommend and go back but like I said I would for sure do with the 6 or 8 course tasting menu!

Photos
Axiote - Inside

Inside

Axiote - Course 5 of tasting menu - beef tongue

Course 5 of tasting menu - beef tongue

Axiote - Tomate - mezcal, cucumber, parsley, tomatillo, worm salt

See all

Tomate - mezcal, cucumber, parsley, tomatillo, worm salt

La Perla Pixan & La Carbonería - CRICKETS, don't hesitate!!

La Perla Pixan & La Carbonería

4.3(184 reviews)
0.7 km•Gonzalo Guerrero
•$$

This place is amazing from the food to the staff! We came in with our 2 year old who was asleep…read morethey accommodated her and my wife to make her comfortable while she slept and the service was above and beyond and the food was the best food I have eaten while here definitely recommend!

We were wanting a "smaller" lunch and I had read that this place was awesome, so we decided to give…read moreit a try. It helped that it was pouring rain and most of the restaurant was under cover, unlike a lot of spots, so it was perfect. We were seated quickly and helped shortly after. Service was...interesting. Felt like we had the hardest experience with communication here, which is fine, as Americans that is our fault. Things like they have a porn star martini ( my fav) as a mocktail so I asked if it was possible to add a shot of vodka. They initially recommended the espresso martini which I did not want so I was just opting for water and he pushed the original option on me then charged be $20 for it, which was insane. They also pushed sales hard here, it felt a little off...like we just wanted to enjoy a meal and at the end we're hounded to try their mezcals. BUT food came quick and effeciently so no major complaints there, just be aware. As for the food, it was incredible. Again with the communication, we pointed and asked for the beet carpaccio....they brought out beef carpaccio WHICH thankfully we both eat meat because honestly, it was freaking incredible. We didn't even say anything about the mix up because it was a highlight. They brought it out under a glass smoker, it had a cream sauce, and rosemary, lime, cheese, it was just perfect. We also had the corn which was super unique, the tuna appetizer which had SO MUCH FLAVOR, and the fundito which was on par with everywhere else in the area. It ended up being more food than we planned but it was incredible in flavor, whoever the cook is does a great job of marrying flavors because it was an incredible meal. Be ready for the communication gap, but know you won't eat anything bad here.

Photos
La Perla Pixan & La Carbonería
La Perla Pixan & La Carbonería - HUAUZONTLE WEATHERED

HUAUZONTLE WEATHERED

La Perla Pixan & La Carbonería - Dulce de leche

See all

Dulce de leche

La Cueva del Chango - Huevos motuleños con jamón de pavo, chícharos y salsa de jitomate, 
 acompañados de plátano macho frito

La Cueva del Chango

4.4(491 reviews)
0.6 km•Gonzalo Guerrero
•$$

I'm still sitting here eating. This soup oh my God. It's so good. Very flavorful and so fresh. It's…read morethe chicken broth soup with veggies. We also got chicken enchiladas and chilaquiles. Our server fakoundo is wonderful. Everyone here is great and the ambiance is perfect. I love it here. This is my 4th time in Playa and I've never been here but I will always come back!

Okay this place is so adorable. We were staying at an AirBnb around the corner and I had made a…read moreshort list of places to try if we were hungry, this somehow popped up on my Tik Tok one day and was glad I had written it down. We walked up for brunch timeframe and were told it would be 10-15 minutes, they had plenty of seating to wait BUT it was really only 3-4 minutes which was perfect. They have an open air concept, and we sat in back which was like a little magical garden area with a creek running through it. It was so adorable, and so tropical. Their drink menu was tasty, we got a couple of their mezcal drinks which low key were probably the best in all of Playa. Unique, fresh, and delicious. The food was incredible. My husband got a shrimp dish, it came with some very unique and creamy potatoes and a sauce that was so flavorful. I got a classic Chilaquiles dish that had so much flavor, but all the ingredients tasted so fresh and amazing. And almost a whole avocado on top which was insane. Such a great experience. We weren't rushed, taken care of, fantastic food and drink. I can see why it's highly rated.

Photos
La Cueva del Chango - Fresh flowers

Fresh flowers

La Cueva del Chango - Empanadas con frijoles de la olla y pico de gallo. A escoger con: queso Oaxaca, chaya, champiñones, nopales.

Empanadas con frijoles de la olla y pico de gallo. A escoger con: queso Oaxaca, chaya, champiñones, nopales.

La Cueva del Chango - Restaurant entrance

See all

Restaurant entrance

EL CURANDERO - seafood - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...