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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

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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

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8 years ago

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

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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

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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

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Strawberries smoothie

Ictio - Oysters

Ictio

4.6(65 reviews)
0.4 km•Paraíso del Carmen

On a local's recommendation, I stopped in for lunch at ICTIO Fish House and it instantly became one…read moreof my favorite dining experiences here. Then came the whole fried fish -- crispy, golden, incredibly fresh, and topped with fresh onions, cilantro, jalapeños, and a charred lime on the side. It was so delicious I could barely put my fork down! The owner himself came out to check on us -- so kind, humble, and genuinely passionate about his food. Everything is made with the freshest local ingredients, and it shows in every bite. The flavors are bright, authentic, and unforgettable. ICTIO is an absolute must. This is the kind of meal you'll remember and tell everyone about.

Came here on a Wednesday night and they were packed. Thankfully, we managed to snag a table even…read morewithout a reservation but the service was pretty slow the whole night. I guess they weren't prepared for it to be this busy on a Wednesday night. The food was all really good, except for the fish. It was grilled well but tasted a bit dry. Only the top of the fish that was covered in sauce had flavor but it didn't seep through to the bottom of the fish. I recommend getting the Seafood Ceviche because they make it with coconut milk, which was different from all the other ceviches we had on our trip. Other than the slow service, this was a good experience. Seafood Ceviche 9/10 Crispy Jumbo Shrimps 9/10 Soft Shell Crab Taco 9/10 Fresh Catch of the Day (half garlic butter, half ictio) 7/10

Photos
Ictio
Ictio - Charales

Charales

Ictio - Live music.. They were pretty good. Restaurant filled up by the time we started to eat.

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Live music.. They were pretty good. Restaurant filled up by the time we started to eat.

Lido - Margaritaaaa

Lido

4.4(85 reviews)
1.1 km•Centro
•$

A bit of a challenge to find, tucked in front of a beach side hotel…read more Customized a frozen drink that did not disappoint. Service was attentive but not intrusive- would return

Location 5/5, Service 5/5, Food 4/5, Drinks 5/5, Clientele…read more2/5 *more on that below* This spot has one of the best beachside settings in Playa del Carmen. The entire restaurant, including the bar, is literally set in the sand, with tables right on the water just a few feet from the ocean. It's barefoot, toes in the sand dining done right, and the atmosphere alone makes it worth the visit. We did have one hiccup in the evening due to a rowdy group from a drone company that was extremely intoxicated and invasive of our space. Their belongings kept ending up on our table, and there were drunk men taking their shirts off and doing shots just a few feet away. Not sure if they didn't have enough tables or what, but we had made a reservation to celebrate a special event months in advanced, so it was a bit irritating. The servers eventually handled it and intervened multiple times, but at no point were they asked to move or relocate. Once that group settled down, the night became a much more enjoyable experience. We were a party of 12, and every single person raved about both their food and drinks. For drinks we had: Prickly Pear: Made with Orange Blossom Condesa Gin, St Germain, fresh lemon juice, rosemary syrup, mint, and strawberry. Bright and refreshing, though it came with more foam on top than expected. Coco Loco: A fresh whole coconut with Patrón Silver tequila, vodka, rum, gin, pineapple juice, and coconut cream. A true showstopper. Don't be intimidated by the mix of liquor, it is smooth, refreshing, and dangerously easy to drink. No hangovers were had. Espresso Martini: Simple and clean with a light foam. Well executed, but not a signature cocktail compared to the others. For food we had: We were surprised with an amuse bouche of huitlacoche, often called Mexican truffle. It's a corn fungus with a rich, earthy flavor and this small bite was outstanding and set the tone for the meal. Queso Fundido: Oaxaca cheese with chorizo and flour tortillas. Great flavor, but very thick, making it a bit messy and difficult to serve. Guacamole: Prepared with tomato, onion, cilantro, and cotija cheese. Perfectly seasoned, fresh, and especially enjoyable paired with the queso fundido. Brisket: Served in chileatole sauce with huitlacoche truffle, carrots, and cotija cheese. Comforting, rich, and deeply flavorful. Robalo Guayaba: Guava sea bass served in guava sauce with chiltepín chili. Beautifully cooked with just a little too much sweetness and citrus. It would have benefited from a little bit of heat, or a vegetable or side to pair it with, as it is not served with anything other than a cooked slices of lemon. Creme Brulee Mexicano: A rice pudding infused crème brûlée with caramel and vanilla ice cream. A thoughtful twist on the classic, with the rice pudding adding depth and warmth to the dessert. Knocked down to 4 stars due to the rowdiness of some surrounding guests. We were seated on the sand and needed to walk through the entirety of the restaurant, but people without tables or reservations were standing in the middle of walkways and sitting on the steps down to the beach, many too intoxicated to stand up. I'm hopeful this is not the usual clientele, and I would return for the quality of the food, drinks, and the gorgeous setting.

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Lido - Beach table view (from someone whose back is facing the ocean)

Beach table view (from someone whose back is facing the ocean)

Lido - Pura Vida (Passion fruit, mango, orange juice and coconut water) frozen with Tequila

Pura Vida (Passion fruit, mango, orange juice and coconut water) frozen with Tequila

Lido - Gorgeous table view

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Gorgeous table view

EL CURANDERO - seafood - Updated October 2026

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