This place is something very special. We spent a magical evening here under some light rain and had…read morean amazing night. Anna (Ana?) was our server and took great care of us. We had a variety of dishes which were all great but the mole was the star of the show. Beautifully done. Bonus- there's a bookstore also ran by the owners of the restaurant above the main dining room. You can't miss this place on your next visit to Merida EDIT: We loved this place so much we decided to come back again on our last night. As before, the service was amazing and I was able to pick up some great art and architecture books as well.

I was there during my vacation in Merida. My wife is vegan and they gave her so many options for…read moreher to eat. They made food for her that wasn't even on menu. Everyone and everything at this place is great. We went to eat twice during our stay. Will go back. I would highly recommend to anyone.

Great service! Food was delicious and hot. Cute setting and ambiance. Eduardo our server was super…read morefriendly and helpful! This will be my go to spot next time I am in town.

CHILA-KILLING IT - These folks freaking kill chilaquiles. We came twice, the service is fast and…read morefriendly, and the prices are supremely fair. And while small, it seats quite a few and is very well decorated inside. All my life I thought maybe you needed egg for the perfect chilaquiles but truth be told we got theirs with and without egg and the way these folks melt the cheese, it gives it this amazing texture not unlike a perfectly runny omelette. The egg is not in fact required. The flavors are rich, the chips are perfectly crunchy and crispy yet still drenched in salsa, and the meats and toppings just sing. Definitely by far the best chilaquiles we've ever had, and it's not even close. If you don't try Chilakiller's, don't bother ordering chilaquiles anywhere ever again because if you cared about chilaquiles, you'd have them here. Eat here, you won't regret it! Happy eating! -John Seeto

I love Apoala, and not just because it's one of the first time I've eaten crickets! The food is…read moreOaxaca's rather than Yucatecan, so it's a good way to explore other Mexican cuisines in Mérida. The drinks are well-made as well. We always have a great time eating here and sitting outside to look out on the square--very romantic!

My husband and I had dinner at Apoala last night - our last dinner in Merida! We really enjoyed…read moreourselves! The menu spans Yucatecan and Oaxacan dishes - which was great since we love both! We shared: the ceviche de camarón, maíz y calabaza asada; the pesca del dia (that came with Mexican herb gnocchi and a tartar sauce); the memelitas; and a dessert (panna cotta with passionfruit sauce). We also had a few cocktails each (all of them were great). No complaints about the menu, food, or drinks! The location is wonderful! The restaurant is one of several that overlook the Parque de Santa Lucia. Great outdoor/al fresco dining. There was live music while we enjoyed our meal, and it just had a great ambiance overall! The service was also great - very friendly and helpful! Definitely a great place for dinner out in Merida! I'd be happy to repeat it!

The bistec tacos are soooo good! The portion is quite ample. The order comes with two tacos and…read morefour tortillas. I had to eat some bistec before I could double up on the tortillas to actually pick it up. I actually tried the habanero salsa which is common for this area. Just a bit will add amazing flavor; just don't overdo it!!! We also ordered a side of beans which came with tortilla chips. Since the beans had chorizo I couldn't eat them. Hubby said they were amazing! Also amazing is the service. Our order came out very quickly and our waiter was fantastic. This is a relaxed restaurant that is quite clean. You can eat inside or outside.

Esta restaurante estate muy comodo para groupos largos or pequeños. Tambien los tacos estan…read moreriqisimos. Es un sitio donde comer los locales. La brisa afuera es encantadora, al igual que los artistas callejeros. Es un gran lugar para observar a la gente. Nuestro servicio fue fantástico.

Once you're done having a grand time at La Negrita, you should come to Pipiripau, as this place…read moregets poppin' at night. Similar to the style of La Negrita, this place looks small from the outside, but as you walk in, you'll see it leads to an outdoor area with a small dance floor and a live band! Drinks are cheap here (e.g. 180 pesos for a bucket of beer). The place is adorable with tons of artwork and a wonderful open-air vibe. I'm not sure if they serve food here, as I didn't see any food on the menu, but I also came late.

I can't speak for any of the food, but this is a super cool spot to hang out for drinks and live…read moremusic. Picnic bench style seating, and plenty of it. There's a very small "dance floor" between the live band setup and the bench seating. Lots of beer and cocktail options. Definitely a younger crowd. Service isn't bad, but be patient. This place gets busy.

The food was OK. I think it's more hyped up than it needs to be. The restaurant is beautiful but…read morethe food was better at the local taqueria That being said, there were many large groups so I think it's good for that. They have a very large selection of food so there's something for everyone. Prices are OK, what you'd expect for a touristy spot. Recommend having a reservation for dinner as there was a wait.

I am of somewhat mixed mind about Chaya Maya…read more On the one hand, if you are in Merida for just a few days, and you don't have the time and energy to research things, Chaya Maya is in a great location and the menu has virtually ALL of the Yucatecan dishes you may want to try. It's pretty much all here, which is a big plus. The staff is very tourist friendly, and can speak and understand English well. They even asked in advance if anyone had allergies. So, for the less adventurous, it's an 'easy' experience. We ordered a variety of dishes...Lomitos, Pipian de Pavo, Pan de Cazon and more. All tasted fine, though we've had better on our tour of the region and at lower cost. The Chaya de Pina was fantastic. I'd recommend that for your agua fresca option. Service was attentive. High marks there, and it's clear they expend a lot of effort on the front of house experience, though the tortilla maker sitting in the room making tortillas by hand felt a touch gimmicky to us. In essence, if you want an expansive menu, easy for the English-speaking tourist, this is a good place to go, or perhaps to start your journey. You might lose some authenticity and pay a bit extra as a tradeoff. Chaya Maya does execute well, even if it has a bit more of a polished, corporate feel to it.

I like to come here and sit at the bar and enjoy their 20 peso drinks and snacks. The mini torta…read morepibil and panuchos are some of my favorites. I've never had a sit down meal here but the the main dining area is very nice and there is another section that is open to the sky. Customers are a combination of locals and visitors. Bathrooms are clean and service is good.

The secret upstairs bar under the open skies makes this restaurant extra special. Its a platform…read morepatio built into shade trees with a thatched roof. It's enchanting at night watching the lighted towers of the old cathedral standing watch over the Merida night sky...sitting at a candle lit table with cool Yucatan breezes blowing. It's a far remove from the hustle and bustle of the narrow, crowded downtown streets and the lively plaza. I ordered a pumpkin seed-based salsa which was prepared table side in a stone vessel. My friend ordered the grilled fish with rice, pickled carrots, onions and sauces. Both were delicious. We also had nice drinks, red wine sangria, and beer. What was perhaps the best feature of the place is the excellent waitstaff who are bilingual, who are helpful with making you feel comfortable, who provide charming conversation and tips, and who are generally well trained in hospitality. Such a far cry from the dour and arrogant wait staff typically found in Washington DC restaurants. This is a good place for a quiet escape from the plaza crowd.

I was not happy with anything. It took almost an hour to get my food and the place wasn't that…read morecrowded. I had to ask for water 3 times. When the food arrived it was totally unappealing.

Delicious food in a beautiful setting. Everything is fresh and prepared to order. We enjoy being…read morethere every time we visit.

Looking for a place that just serves fresh, well-prepared seafood, at the best cost you'll find?…read more This is the place. WYSIWYG, so seating is limited, service is functional, and the ambience is what it is. But, if you want a memorable Shrimp Fajita dish that doesn't break the bank, you'll find none better. It's a dish of ~16 goodly-sized shrimp and onions, paired with guacamole, Pico de gallo, and sauces, along with the ever-present corn tortillas. I'm leading with this, because we got it twice, and it was hard to forget. They also have fish, octopus, and more, in a number of preparations (cocktails, soups, fillet, ceviche). So, a fair bit of variety. Just don't miss the Fajita option. Cash Only!

you won't be disappointed as you won't write home about .. great value for money . fish is fresh …read more I took 3 different cocktails [ oyster , shrimp , octopus ] medium size great taste all fresh .. then i had the "sol" filet as main dish . i would go back anytime . Service is great too , nice staff .. I have been here about 8 times .. i learned how to order my food .. some dishes are spicy , make sure you ask .. 2 more points : ---- they don't take cards .. it's cash only .. ---- no AC , it's an open store front .. with some ceiling fans I do recommend this place for early lunch ..