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El Pirata

4.3 (188 reviews)
Closed 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

El Pirata Photos

EL PIRATA ATMOSPHERE

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

Recommended Reviews - El Pirata

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Reviews With Photos

Sara A.

Este es el mejor lugar de México para comer pescado frito. Es local. Es económico. Es limpio. Es fresco. La gente es amable y la sonrisa es de oreja a oreja.

Ceviche camarones.
Jennifer J.

OMG...best ceviche ever! This classic, hole-in-the-wall looking joint was right around the corner from our Airbnb in what I'm officially calling the best foodie neighborhood in Playa. We grabbed a table outside and soon were sipping a couple of cold beers and eating some of the freshest guacamole EVER. Then, the main course arrived: ceviche! We opted for the camarone ceviche, though there were several other varieties (including snail, which is only available seasonally). For a very fair price we got a plate literally HEAPING with fresher-than-fresh shrimp. Try as we might, we could only eat about half of it - luckily they gave us the rest in a to go box, which we transformed into quesadillas for the following day's lunch. I would consider this a must-do when in PDC. Pretty much everyone offers ceviche there, but the freshness of this one could not be rivaled. They also have an on-site fish market, too, if you want to grab something to cook up for dinner while in town.

Pescado Frito

Great service and attentive staff. Food was excellent and very flavorful! Definitely recommend for anyone looking for authentic local mariscos

Ann N.

And since we are right next to the beach, we have to get some seafood. We found this restaurant. It's attended by so many visitors but also locals. You know it must be good. There was a line but the wait staff made sure to sit everyone as soon as possible. We were sat and helped with the order and menu. We had the garlic shrimp and one full fried fish plus 2 michaladas. It was an amazing dinner. So many wonderful flavors. Food came out pretty fast. Restaurant seems to have been there for a long time. It's not the cleanest but the food is above par so order and enjoy. You won't regret it.

Garlic shrimp
Monica V.

Este lugar esta en playa del carmen al final de 5th ave Lugar un poco mas local pero muy rico te sientan te traen las opciones de pescado "crudo" enfrente de ti lugo ustedes ban y pagan por el pescado que escojieron a la ventanilla donde lo frien... y su mesa ellos le dan un menú completo por separado de muchas opciones de mariscos son rapido pero muy rico definitivamente regresaría sin dudarlo

Christy A.

CASH ONLY! Good service, food is prepared fresh and superbly. The whole fish is ahhhhazing; fried, well seasoned and plentiful. Seriously, 4 people can share just get additional sides. The fried shrimp are also large & delicious. Last but not least try the mixto seafood ceviche. Price point is a real draw. Outdoor as well as indoor dining available. Disfrutar de ~Christy

Fried Blue Crab
Jack M.

This review is purely based on the deep fried blue crab In ordered. They fry the whole crab with the shell. The meat inside didn't hold up that well to the frying. It became a bit mushy. However the garlic flavor and little crispy bits of batter surrounding the crabs were good. I just don't think this is a great way to serve crab. Some people online mentioned soft shell crab. This was not that. This was a normal hard shell blue crab that had been deep fried. I learned that the hard way.

Diabla fillet (185 pesos)
Tuli S.

Amazing food!! We were walking up a side street and spotted this restaurant. It was pumping out seafood so we knew we had to try it. We both had the fish fillet (185 pesos). Garlic fish is one of my favorite dishes, regardless of location! Service was prompt but you have to muscle your way into a table. They don't have a waitlist and they definitely don't keep track of who is waiting. We ordered and received more fish than expected. Everyone around us had plates of ceviche and huge fried red snappers. Highly recommend and we most likely will visit again during our time in playa.

Chips
Elsa C.

The Hubs and I got there on a Friday evening. The servers and waiters are super friendly and eager to please. If you ask for the whole fish, they will bring some catches to your table to choose from. You can either pick from them or ask them to bring other fishes to choose. The whole fish prices depends on type and weight so they will let you know how much the fish will cost once you pick it. We got a snaper for about $500mxp, Pirata Paradise cocktail ($140mxp), and a small mixto ceviche ($210mxp). Chips are unlimited and we kept eating it on its own and the waiter refilled our chips when the ceviche arrived. The cocktail was strong and mixed with vodka, tequila and rum. The ceviche (octopus, shrimp, fish) was simple and good - not too salty, good lime base, and fresh ingredients. The whole fish - what's there not to like when deep fried? The fish when brought over, you can see how fresh it is by the glaze on the eyes. It was quite fresh and the fish was not over-fried. Comes with some beans, rice, veggies. Overall, enjoyed our meal and will likely come back.

Mahsa A.

This place is a must-go if you are in Playa. Order the whole finish for sure. They will bring you a few fresh options at the table but don't think you are limited to those. You can ask them for smaller fishes or just say you want to go to the back (side store) to look and pick. WARNING: When they brought the bill, they had overcharged us. When my husband added up the charges, it was a different number and they add "service" without asking you. You need to know that it is customary in Mexico to tip 10% but it is not required and they should definitely single out the charge and not just roll it in.

Robert O.

Just amazing food. Went here twice on our trip, get ceviche and the whole fish fried.

Octopus
Viri L.

Only restaurant we ate at twice in our trip. We wanted real authentic Mexican aguachiles and ceviche. And this place did not let us down. My boyfriend said, it was the best aguachiles he's ever had. But be careful, they carry a kick to them. I had the ceviche with a side of avocado and it was beyond delicous! We also order the lobster in garlic, fried whole fish, and blue crab with garlic. The lobster was overcooked, we did not end up eating it. The fish could have been a more fried, as we love a really crispy skin. But the highlight of all the dishes, was the garlic soft crab. Crab so was delicious, sad part is, that the second time we came, they had ran :( Service was good and prices are reasonable for the amount of food they give you. I highly recommend this place to everyone if you're near the area.

Shrimp cocktail

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1 year ago

Estaba deliciosa la comida, en especial los tacos dorados de blue crab y el pescado dorado clásico

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2 years ago

Wish they had offered fish other than snapper for whole fried fish. Very tasty however

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2 years ago

You're able to pick out your own whole fish and they'll prepare it your way, it was delicious.

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El Pirata Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - El Pirata

The guacamole was fresh, the ceviche had a nice flavor to it, and the fried fish was also flavored very nicely.

Mentioned in 45 reviews

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El Pescado Ciego - Tacos- pescado, camaron

El Pescado Ciego

4.6(26 reviews)
63.6 kmSupermanzana 3
$$

Okay, so the food was unironically delicious, with some amazing seafood options that you can't…read moremiss. It's definitely on the more upscale side of things and most of the menu is in Spanish and service was all in Spanish but you should be able to get what you want. The ambiance is a slightly dimly lit bar and the food prices are definitely higher than most places here but it's worth it. Tostada de atun (Tuna Tostada): 10/10 Very good fish. Has a very steak-like texturre and delicious. Quesadilla langosta (Lobster Quesadilla): 10/10 Lovely! My friend ordered it and it was fantastic. Price is fairly high since it's more upscale but was creamy and meaty. Raviolli Langosta (Lobster Ravioli): My friend ordered 4 Tacos but since most of them had shrimp and I'm allergic I didn't have those, but it was good according to them. Overall, lovely place, food was good and highly recommended!

Delicious food. Enjoyed for 2 nights during our vacation. Fresh seafood, beautifully prepared. Pina…read morecolada was wonderful, cinnamon and dried pineapple slice garnish was a thoughtful touch. Dishes ordered: empanada (not pictured), ceviche mixto tostada, pescado y camaron tacos, salbutes de camaron (especiales), tostada de aguachile negro, fettuccine con artem. Has indoor and outdoor patio seating, chill vibes inside, great relaxed place to dine. Servers are kind and patient, they have both Spanish and English menus.

Photos
El Pescado Ciego
El Pescado Ciego
El Pescado Ciego

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Marbella - Marbella sunrise

Marbella

3.9(61 reviews)
73.5 kmIsla Mujeres
$$$

Wow! The biggest ripoff in the island. Overpriced and undervalued. The service started great but…read morethey were not busy, as soon as more guest came, the service became slow and forgetful. Missing items we requested and having to ask a few times. The place looks nice and open with two levels. They are supposedly a "market" but it's a restaurant and a pier stop. People with their boast can come in. They have showers as well. We order the grouper (fish) and 1 dozen of oysters on the half shell. The fish came with the choice of rice, pasta or steamed vegetables. We decided to do the whole fish and get one filet out. I'm originally from an island so eating a whole fish is normal so I wanted to experience it again because back home where we live we don't have it. The fish was ok. It needed more flavor. Rice was hard and cold and not really tasty. The oysters were harder than usual. We ordered two of their Marbella sunrise (drinks) and they were good. Overall the food was NOT good or fresh. It made me sick! I got food poisoning. At the end of our trip in the island I got so sick I was puking on the beach and then walking the streets like a drunk person puking my guts out and not even with a buzz?! No thanks! My final advice? AVOID at all cost because what you will be missing here is your money from your wallet. Nothing special. Save your money and go somewhere else.

Awful. Definitely not worth $221.00. The stone crab was so tuff you couldn't eat it. My husband…read moresent it back and they still charged him $21 for the 1 piece he tried to eat. The other 2 items we Ordered were sub-par fried rice and 6 shrimp. Not worth it at all! Very disappointed in this place.

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Marbella - They have a big fan to help with the heat.

They have a big fan to help with the heat.

Marbella - "Fresh" oysters

"Fresh" oysters

Marbella - Food

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Food

El Pirata - seafood - Updated May 2026

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