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Kinta Mexican Bistro

4.8 (96 reviews)
ModerateMexican
Closed • 5:30 pm - 11:00 PM

Kinta Mexican Bistro Photos

KINTA MEXICAN BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Classy
Trendy
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Kinta Mexican Bistro

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Reviews With Photos

Octopus appetizer
Toyin D.

This is the first place we came to eat when we came to Cozumel and it set the bar very high. We wanted to dine somewhere off the main street. This was a couple blocks away, and it wasn't crowded. This is a relatively small restaurant with a handful of tables in the back. There's lots of greenery and low light. Because we were sitting outside they offered bug spray so that we wouldn't get bitten too much. We started off with the roasted octopus appetizer - delicious. Perfect texture and flavoring. I was clearly on an octopus kick that evening because I decided to get the octopus risotto. A little less flavor than the appetizer, but still pretty good nonetheless. I tried some of my friend's red snapper which was tasted good. For a nightcap, I chose the Oaxaca mule, which is a lot like your average mule, but with a nice smoky aftertaste. Overall a nice, affordable place to grab dinner in Cozumel!

Cameron Adoboda (shrimp, achiote sauce, pineapple pico, cilantro pesto)
Melody K.

It's been quite a few years since we've been back to Kinta, and as they say I could kick myself in the bootie for that one. Drinks, food, and service we amazing. I couldn't ask for better from Kristopher. Honestly, now that my kids are older and their taste in exploring new flavors have grown, there were dishes for everyone. I had made reservations and requested to dine in Air Conditioning and was pleasantly surprise that our one and only table was set in the air conditioned room. We all started off with cocktails... amazing Margaritas, Kinta Mojito and White Sangria. Kristopher set us up with some appetizer goodies and a Flat Bread with Tomato, Cheese and Cilantro Pesto. Entrees were Cameron Adoboda (shrimp, achiote sauce, pineapple pico, cilantro pesto), Black Risotto (roasted octopus, focaccia, ricotta, parsley, huitiacoche), Midnight Pork Ribs (jamaica-agave glaze, rosemary potatoes, yucatan salad), Papas (roasted potatoes, garlic, pickled jalapeno aioli) with a side order of Elotes (corn). The food was prepared and presented perfectly and tasted fantastic. Thank you Kristopher for making our evening amazing!

Ben D.

This place was incredible! My family and I arrived without a reservation on a Thursday night and they said there would be a wait. It took a bit, but the manager was always checking on us and even comped the drinks for my sister and her boyfriend. Everything on the menu looked great, so everyone tried something different. Their corn cobb starters were some of the best I have ever had. If you go to Cozumel, make sure you go!

Tasting menu
Darrelle G.

Somebody give Daniel a raise! What a fantastic waiter! We loved the whole staff, extremely attentive. All the staff also had a lovely sense of humor and you can tell they love their job, a huge plus! We had a late lunch and were not super hungry so we ordered a flat bread as an appetizer (delicious- many of the items are cooked in the wood oven pizza! Wonderful!) We found the restaurant through Condesa who also owns this one, we received free drink coupons and it brought us here-- we are SO glad it did! I recommend the ribs and the salad. Wonderful and perfectly cooked! We will be back!

Ronny C.

This was our last night in Cozumel and we had a fun time looking for somewhere creative and fun with good food. Being with someone who is a chef, as well as fluent in Spanish is so much fun. He gives me a couple options of places to choose from, I pick, and the. I trust him to order everything. The risotto was our favorite, we must have tried at least 6 things and all were delicious. I was in love with your wood burning stove area, as well as the lighting in your garden area. Looked just like try moonlight.

Vegetable Skewer
Kyndall B.

Nice sophisticated dining spot! All of the dishes I saw were works of art. I had the vegetable skewers, which were delicious. We dined at night in the backyard. Very nice atmosphere with low lighting and fairy lights.

Front
Joseph B.

03/14/2019. Server was Antonio. Atmosphere was a bit dark. The tables were elevated on flooring above a narrow walkway. A little dangerous for someone with a walking issue. Short ribs were very tender. They had a corn that was prepared well and topped with local and special spices.

Miriam A.

This place is fire!!!! Amazing food and really nice staff. Honestly best meal I've had in mexico and I've been here for a week. Cozumel is filled with laid back people that are very nice and super chill and this place makes you feel it for sure! Get the Tuna tostadas and the wood oven grilled fish. But also the corn, potatoes and octopus. So so good can't get over it and if we come back to Cozumel this will be at the top of my list for sure!

Smoked pork tacos
Nannaphat S.

This place feels overhyped. Looking at past reviews I was expecting something super amazing. Service of course was very good and ambience was very nice with the outdoor seating. Food however I thought was good but nothing super special. I got the smoked pork tacos and midnight ribs. The tacos at best was just average, the pork meat was kind of dry. The midnight ribs was indeed tender but I didn't like it as much because most of it was very fatty and I'm not a fan of the sauce they use to marinate it (but this is just my taste) which is on the sweeter side. I also got the mojito which was solid. The price is very reasonable for good quality food but this place isn't outstanding as I thought it would be. Would not come back here again but at the same time I don't necessarily regret stopping by.

David J.

Cozy ambiance with the warmest service we've experienced so far in Cozumel. Tasty food in a central location. Highly recommended!

Local octopus and tuna tostadas
Damien E.

We've been coming to Cozumel for over 20 years and Kinta is one of the best restaurants we've ever been to on the island. Gourmet Mexican food with a strong tie to local flavors, traditions, and ingredients is the best description I can give. The chefs prepare the food with a love and care not often seen in tourist destinations, although you do have to go slightly off the beaten path to find Kinta. The drinks are exceptional as well, especially the Kozumel margarita (a margarita made with Jamaica) and the local craft beer Shamanes. Go to Kinta. You won't be disappointed. Pro tip - if you go at the right time the little chocolate shop next door might be open (Chocolateria Isla Bella) - check them out too. Fantastic handmade truffles.

Cherry bombs

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Kinta Mexican Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Kinta Mexican Bistro

“We ate at both Kinta and its joint restaurant Kondesa during our time in Cozumel and both are spectacular.”

Mentioned in 11 reviews

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Pancho's Backyard - Quesadillas

Pancho's Backyard

4.3(73 reviews)
0.3 km
•$$$

Pancho's is a great spot to hang out and get a meal. It served as a festive and cool reprieve from…read morethe heat with extremely friendly servers, fun drinks, and delicious food. It also boasts spotless bathrooms, which warrants a special shoutout. The food was solid, albeit on the pricier side. I had the mole enchiladas and my wife got the carne asada, and we had the fun coqueta, which is basically a margarita. Pancho's real stand out are its marimba players. We were the only diners at 6 on a Saturday night (presumably post-cruise crowds) but the marimba players gave us, essentially, an hour long private concert. This absolutely thrilled my one-year old son, who could not stop dancing. The marimba players even invited him behind the board and let him hold one of their mallets (which my son tried to steal. He's got a lot of his mama in him). So yes, the food and atmosphere are really good. But it's the supremely friendly staff who made our experience great--and certainly the highlight of the trip for my son.

Stopped by Pancho's Backyard while in Cozumel and it ended up being one of the best meals of the…read moretrip. The chicken mole enchiladas were outstanding -- the mole was a rich chocolate mole with the perfect amount of spice. You could really taste the depth of the sauce, not too sweet, not too spicy, just perfectly balanced and incredibly flavorful. We also tried the shrimp alioli, and that was just as impressive. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and the garlic alioli sauce was rich without being too heavy. Everything tasted fresh and made to order. The atmosphere is beautiful -- lush garden setting, relaxing, and it really feels like you're dining somewhere special rather than just another tourist spot. Service was attentive and friendly the whole time. If you're in Cozumel, this place is absolutely worth a visit. I would go back just for the mole alone.

Photos
Pancho's Backyard
Pancho's Backyard - Quesadilla

Quesadilla

Pancho's Backyard - Steak tacos

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Steak tacos

El Palomar

El Palomar

4.3(58 reviews)
0.4 km
•$

I saved my 1,200th milestone review for the best Mexican food I ever had which is located in…read moreCozumel Mexico! Which is an extreme contrast of the Mexican restaurant which was my first review! This restaurant is located in the oldest home on the island dating back to 1903. Definitely a find to come here and I share this secret place with my fellow Yelpers. The food is nothing short of amazing. I strongly suggest to follow all the suggestions on what to eat. The highly skilled chef will have you leaving here wondering when you can come back. My favorites were the fresh fish, avocado(aka native to Mexico) as well as all the special and spicy ingredients. It was so relaxing to have a business meeting here while looking outdoors on the beautiful gardens. After lunch we had drinks out front while looking at the beautiful ocean. Definitely the hidden jewel on the entire island.

This review is for dinner . We have been to Cozumel 7 times . Always enjoyed most of the local…read moreoptions. Visited El Palomar for dinner on this trip after a recommendation from some local friends. El Palomar is located a little north of the ferry dock on the main drag. Directly across from the Jaques Cousteau statue. The building is a charming renovated 100 year old building (very well done). We had drinks on the veranda overlooking the sea at sunset. Margarita was the best I have had in Cozumel and the view of the sunset from the veranda was great. We retired into the main restaurant for dinner . The food was on point. My wife had the grilled Mahi And I had the skirt steak. Both cooked just right and served with a side of salad,mixed veggies and potato. The service was professional and unhurried. Wine selection also very good. Price was very reasonable for this nice of a place. This was probably the best experience at a restaurant that we have had in Cozumel.

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El Palomar - Sunset view at the bar

Sunset view at the bar

El Palomar
El Palomar

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Cielito Lindo - Molcajete de Piedra Caliente Parrillada (regional dish; basically a mixed grill in a stew with tortillas?)

Cielito Lindo

4.5(95 reviews)
0.5 km
•$$

The service was outstanding! Both the server and the bartender were great and friendly. The chef…read morewasn't visible but the food was delicious! The Fajitas were amazing and everything was fresh, and my small group included two vegans. The restaurant staff did their best and created delicious vegan meals. The Spicy passion fruit Margaritas were Amazing! We only had one day in Cozumel since we were coming from a cruise ship and it was raining that day. So we got off the beaten path and enjoyed the food and drinks at this restaurant. It was only $2.50 pp to take a taxi from the cruise port. Be sure to negotiate your taxi fare. The music was good too and nobody seemed to mind that I got up to dance for a few minutes! Overall the experience was amazing! I definitely recommend the fajitas and the guacamole appetizers and the drinks!

Terrific food, intimate vibes, just a couple of blocks off the main touristy beach road. It's not a…read morelarge restaurant, maybe 5-7 tables total, along with some outdoor seating if weather allows. That said, they weren't that busy when we arrived, and we were immediately seated. They have a couple of great regional Yucatan dishes here, like the Molcajete and the Cochinita. San Miguel de Cozumel is admittedly not the most beautiful or interesting Mexican city to do touristy stuff in, so it was a treat to find some great regional cuisine to try. I was with a group, so we ordered the Molcajete (basically, mixed grilled meats in a stew), ceviche, and cochinita (stewed pulled pork), along with tortillas. All of it was great. The sauces, from the salsa to the stew broths to the ceviche sauce, were all terrific. There was mention that they dishes were spicy, but in the end, none of the stuff was super-spicy. Furthermore, the spicy stuff was often a salsa served on the side, or a whole roasted pepper that wasn't integrated into the dish, so you could calibrate your spiciness to your taste. Bathrooms: Basic, but clean and functional.

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Cielito Lindo - Cielito Mexican cuisine

Cielito Mexican cuisine

Cielito Lindo - Fajitas with beef, red and yellow peppers!

Fajitas with beef, red and yellow peppers!

Cielito Lindo - Spicy Passionfruit Margaritas

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Spicy Passionfruit Margaritas

Kinta Mexican Bistro - mexican - Updated October 2026

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