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La Bamba Jarocha

4.2 (43 reviews)
ModerateSeafood, Mexican

La Bamba Jarocha Photos

LA BAMBA JAROCHA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Reviews With Photos

La Bamba Jarocha 05/29/21
Michael U.

Surrounded by bamboo curtains, with murals of fisherman decorating the walls, La Bamba Jarocha will not find its way onto most tourist agendas, but for those visiting Playa Del Carmen to experience its culinary scene the Restaurant at Calle 30 Norte offers tremendous value and exemplary customer service for some of the best Seafood in town. Well known amongst locals, and routinely packed from 10am until 10pm daily, it was after a quick temperature check that three diners were sat at room's center, the laminated menu consisting of seven pages featuring everything from Ceviche and Tostadas to Soups and whole Fish. Lined with televisions and Mexican music overhead, a family-friendly atmosphere undoubtedly part of the open-air space's appeal, it was while weighing options that Chips and Salsa were offered, the "spicy" frankly hot but everything else well-suited to freshly made Guacamole plus an abundant portion of tender Octopus Ceviche. Dissuaded from Soup by Playa Del Carmen's heat and humidity, but unwilling to forgo what a waitress described as the house special in Spanish, course two consisted of scored and fried Snapper alongside Mashed Potatoes, plus a hemisected Pineapple hollowed out and filled with plump Shrimp, stretchy Cheese and plenty of Butter plus Garlic. Saying yes to soft Bread for sopping up Sauces, and barely a drop left behind, Dessert consisted of Fried Bananas with thickened Cream, Flan topped in bitter Caramel Sauce and moist Tres Leches featuring a ribbon of Pecan Cream between the layers of springy sponge towards the bottom.

Outdoor sign
Alicia B.

We were staying at an all inclusive resort that had horrible food and we ventured out to find some authentic Mexican food. This place came recommended from a local and we were not disappointed! We ordered two orders of octopus, ceviche, crab, tacos, and drinks for 5 people we our bill was barely over $100. The food was incredible. Service was quick and friendly. We will definitely come back if we're in PDC again!

Seafood Platter for four
Michael P.

Hands down the best seafood platter in the Riviera Maya! The place has been around for years. They offer a large variety of seafood but if you have a group of 4 or more the seafood platter is a winner. Just check out our pictures.

Seafood soup
Shami L.

Off the touristy path, this Mexican gem is as authentic as it gets. Was a 10 min/ $150 cab ride from our playa del Carmen hotel. Our waiter Rene was pleasant and helpful and though he spoke little English, he ensured we were well informed on all the menu choices. The ambiance, decor and music is local to the culture and no frills. The food was delicious. We ordered the grilled lobster which came with a side of rice, salad and mash potatoes. The seafood soup which came out steaming hot, and included mussels, shrimp, squid, crab etc. We also ordered a side of guacamole and sweet plantains. Everything was well flavored and seemed to be made with a lot of heart. The food however is on the pricier side. We paid $1299 altogether. We appreciated the authenticity and would suggest you give it a try!

Paella
Angela B.

The paella was the best we've had in the area The service wasn't that good We ordered a sangria and they gave us a drink with vodka lemon and some juice NOT AT ALL the traditional sangria They lied saying that's how they serve it in the area but we've ordered sangria twice from around here so that's not true We also couldn't return the drinks after I told them that's now what we ordered and that's not how you make a sangria

Seafood at it's best

Pure deliciousness . On 30 and 34 Norte. Good prices great seafood exactly what we were looking for

lobster 800 grams each
Kal C.

Sopa da Mariscos was cash money Service was as good as you could ask for on planet earth Lobster tails as big as your face

Jonathan A.

Came here during lunch time and the place was pretty much empty. I ordered sea food soup and one spiny lobster for my self which was really big and could only eat half. Soup was ok but the lobster with garlic sauce was yummy. Total came to $60 usd. I would definitely come back for their seafood selection.

Logo outside
Carmen G.

Worst service ever, locals come here and recommend but we were served a spoiled fish that was rancid and stinky. Terrible experience!

Vasken D.

This is a serious eatery . I've been here over 10 times .. if you love fish and sea food , especially Caribbean style AND affordable , this is the place to be in the greater area of playa del Carmen. You will not regret this place .. and you will keep coming back .. I just Love the food here . Fresh fish or they tell you "we're out" .. if you are difficult to please and want something outside their menu , they will go the distance with You .. highly recommend this restaurant . One of my great finds ..

2 person grilled seafood
Desi R.

Amazing! The seafood tasted super fresh and was cooked perfectly. The 2 person grilled seafood dish was definitely enough or even more than enough for 2 people. The waitress we had checked up on us a bunch and was super friendly. The prices aren't terrible either.

Half pineapple with seafood and cheese gratin
Sebastian H.

Do not discard this place because of it's look!! The seafood is the best I ever tried. They have huge portions for a really decent price. The menu has a lot of options and the taste is beyond comparisons. Is not in the center but still not far away. Is just 3 or 4 blocks from the 5th avenue. You won't get this kind of food in 5th avenue where most of the places are a scam for tourists

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

Great food loved there fried Seabass my whole family really enjoyed this local seafood spot.

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6 years ago

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7 years ago

The seafood soup & ceviche was amazing flavors would definitely come back n highly recommend

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7 years ago

Food was fantastic, authentic, cooked fresh and service was great! Definitely a must when in Playa for true authentic delicious food.

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La Bamba Jarocha Reviews in Other Languages

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El Fogón

El Fogón

4.6(1.3k reviews)
1.2 kmCentro
$

Great food! Here for a spring break trip. Saw this wasn't too far from our hotel and off the beaten…read morepath. Reviews are right. This place is great. My husband got sirloin tacos off the rotisserie. I got a pollo plate. So good! We also added on guac, chips and a potato taco. Everything was great. Will come again. Sorry forgot to take a pic before we dug in.

We loved El Fogón so much we came back twice during our trip and that says everything. For a spot…read morethat's Michelin Guide-recognized, it still feels authentic, unpretentious, and very local. No gimmicks, just seriously good tacos. The tacos were packed with flavor, perfectly seasoned, and served hot and fresh every time. You can taste the quality and the technique especially in the way the meat is cooked and carved. Everything felt simple but done right, which honestly is what makes a taco stand out. The atmosphere is lively and busy (for good reason), but service moves quickly and efficiently. It feels like the kind of place locals actually eat at, not just a tourist trap with hype. We fully intended to try different taco spots around Playa del Carmen... but after our first visit, we couldn't resist coming back. When a place makes you change your food itinerary, you know it's worth it. If you're in Playa and debating whether it lives up to the hype it does!!

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

Axiote - Course 5 of tasting menu - beef tongue

Axiote

4.4(280 reviews)
0.5 kmGonzalo Guerrero
$$

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!

Okay, where do I start…read more I made a reservation about a month before our trip, they were already pretty booked so I made a 4:45pm. I somehow missed that the coursed meal doesn't start until 6...and we didn't realize until same day. They couldn't rebook us until 9PM but told us to swing by early to see if they could get us in AND THEY DID. It was a Christmas miracle. And I'm glad they did because the whole experience was about 2.5 hours from start to finish. The place isn't very big, but is beautiful inside. They have an awesome bar and and open kitchen so you can see everything. It's a really neat place. We were seated pretty quick once they got the table cleaned, and then were greeted by our waitress. When we told her we were there for the 8 course meal, they switched waiters on us, and then the upselling started. Right off the bat they tried to talk us into a cocktail...when we were doing a pairing with our meal. It took them a little time to get the meal going, and then between courses was a little hit or miss. Sometimes it was free flowing and sometimes it took 10-15 minutes to get our next dish. The food. We were a little nervous we would leave still a little hungry but I assure you, you will not. For ~$100USD each, you get so much food, and a drink with every course. It was fantastic and so worth it. Here were the courses and pairings (that I can remember lol): 1. We started with the dips - a bean dip with cheese sauce and guacamole with crickets. Very classic, very well done. The crickets added a nice, nutty flavor. I was a huge fan of the beans with their blue corn tostadas, so much flavor. They also had a third dip that was pumpkin seed based, it was good but not as memorable. Their hot sauces came out with this course. It was paired with a house mezcal (with salts, cucumber, and orange) that was incredible and smooth. 2. Shrimp ceviche which was super refreshing and flavorful. They paired this with sparkling wine. 3. Sea bass with a cream sauce and grapefruit. I'm not a huge fishy flavor person - my first bite had all three compnents and I thought it was delicious. My husband just had fish as his first bite and thought it a little fishy, but once we added everything else he agreed it was great. Three small pieces, so it was a nice course. Paired with a sauv blanc. 4. Roasted tomatoes in a mole sauce. A nice veggie course. I thought they were cooked well, nothing super fancy. Paired with a Chardonnay. 5. Cooked shrimp with potatoes. My husband called this a "filler" course - there wasn't much to it. The sauce had some greens in it but it was just something light and easy to serve. Can't remember the pairing here. 6. THE CARROTS. MY FAV THING. OMG. Literally so fresh, the perfect texture, and the sauces. I could have eated a whole bowl with this one. Paired it with a red blend. 7. Cow tongue. I forgot a photo. I was starting to get drunk, I'm sorry. Paired with a red wine. This was tender, the sauce was delicious. If you're not used to beef tongue, please don't let it scare you. It was amazing. 8. Dessert. Also amazing. I think it was paired with a sweet red but....a little drunk here...we got a cheesecake which was more on the savory side, super unique, and so delicious. I was a huge fan. We also got a passion fruit custard and I'm a SUCKER for passion fruit. This was phenomenal. The food was INCREDIBLE. And such an amazing experience. And now the loss of a star. I hit on the service a little, but there was also some upselling which we don't love, especially at what is supposed to be michelin recognized. We often try Michelin recognized when we travel and the upselling was unexpected, I undertsand the culture down here, but still. ALSO we LOVED the house mezcal so much we asked for another shot ($280 pesos/shot). When we got the bill, the waiter upcharged to one of the most expensive mezcals on their menu ($520 pesos/shot) and refused to change it. We spent $60 on two shots after paying for our 8-course meal. It honestly was SUCH a dissapointing end to our meal and felt so icky. Be very careful with the service here.

Photos
Axiote - Inside

Inside

Axiote - Mezcal tasting pairing

Mezcal tasting pairing

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

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

Carboncitos - Shrimp Ceviche

Carboncitos

4.3(251 reviews)
1.5 kmCentro
$$

Carboncitos was a really enjoyable experience overall. The food was genuinely delicious. I started…read morewith the chicken soup, which had great flavor, but the portion was pretty small. For my entrée, I had the skirt steak, and it was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The sweet potato with honey and cinnamon was absolutely delicious. My only real complaint is the portion sizes on a couple of items. The salad was very small, and I would have loved a more generous serving. I also ordered an amaretto sour. It was a little weak at first, so I asked for more amaretto, which made it better, but it still wasn't quite as strong as I prefer. The service was phenomenal. The staff was attentive, kind, and genuinely friendly throughout the entire experience. I felt well taken care of and truly enjoyed myself. I would definitely return.

*** They accept credit card !!!!…read more This is the boyfriend of the Yelp account owner but I had to write a review at how dope this place truly is. My girlfriend takes food very seriously so it's hard to find good spots and this place really impressed her. We came back two days in a row to try different plates and they all slapped. (Chile Rellenos, quesadillas, salsa wheel, tacos, ceviche). The drinks were amazing as well. (Pina Colada, margarita - they have happy hour 4pm- 6pm) All of the above would be enough in itself but the staff was really friendly and accommodating without doing too much. I.e They don't come across as fake. Anyways, if you are looking for a spot to try in Playa Del Carmen, eat here at least once and see what's up.

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Carboncitos - Inside

Inside

Carboncitos - Surf and Turf

Surf and Turf

Carboncitos - Strawberry Herradura Margarita

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Strawberry Herradura Margarita

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

La Perla Pixan & La Carbonería

4.3(183 reviews)
0.7 kmGonzalo Guerrero
$$

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.

Nice place for a dinner with a live (but not too loud) music and good service. They have very…read morespacious patio so there's no need to book a table. I liked the grilled octopus with baby potatoes and chile relleno was very flavorful. The kids menu was a real hit for my daughter too! We got a chicken with cheese plate which had a side of guacamole and corn on the cob- she ate it all.

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

HUAUZONTLE WEATHERED

La Perla Pixan & La Carbonería - Dulce de leche

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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(489 reviews)
0.7 kmGonzalo Guerrero
$$

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.

Adorable location with attentive staff and great food! We…read moreeven sampled some Mezcal at the suggestion of our waiter and found some new favorites. The seating is comfortable. We look forward to a return trip.

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

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Restaurant entrance

Porfirio's Playa del Carmen - 2 big steaks

Porfirio's Playa del Carmen

4.1(218 reviews)
1.1 kmCentro

Saw this had great OpenTable reviews but didn't want to commit to a reservation, so we checked it…read moreout while exploring. We were also considering a steakhouse nearby...but when in Mexico, right? Glad we did--this ended up being the best meal we had all week (even compared to our resort). Food: great. Service: standout. Amii and Santi were the perfect balance--attentive without hovering, quick, and clearly in sync. They made everything easy. Highlights: - Hot stone seared New York strip -- fun, interactive, and really flavorful - Street-style al pastor for two -- fall-off-the-bone and worth it - Marinades + salsas were so good we asked for more - Drinks were a surprise win--especially the curated cocktails We walked in, but I'd recommend a reservation for busy season, we didn't have to wait but they had a lot of patrons in comparison. The vibe was awesome - from the modern cantina style to the liver performers that weren't cheesy and 1000% on point. We stayed all week at a private resort, if it were closer, we'd have gone back again. Would absolutely recommend

We came here for my birthday dinner, and it was such a fun spot to celebrate. Honestly, we were…read moreexpecting it to be a lot more expensive based on the vibe and presentation but it was surprisingly affordable for what you get. We ordered the steak (medium) because that's always our go-to and it was really good. Cooked properly with a nice sear on the outside and still juicy inside. Solid, reliable choice. We also tried the charred octopus, and this one was a bit of a miss for us. It leaned more on the soft side and felt slightly overcooked. We were hoping for more of that tender-with-a-slight-char texture contrast. You can never go wrong with French fries crispy, well-seasoned, and perfect for the table. For dessert, we got the chocolate cake, and wow !! the slice was huge. Definitely shareable. It was rich, moist, and indulgent. We couldn't even finish it, which says a lot because we tried. Overall, it was a great birthday dinner spot lively atmosphere, good food, and better value than we expected. I'd definitely come back, especially for another celebration.

Photos
Porfirio's Playa del Carmen - Churros

Churros

Porfirio's Playa del Carmen - Chocolate cake

Chocolate cake

Porfirio's Playa del Carmen - World Cup

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World Cup

La Bamba Jarocha - seafood - Updated May 2026

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