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!!

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.

We read good reviews so we decided to have drinks and appetizers. It's a small place off of fifth…read moreAvenue, which made it much quieter. We ordered the guacamole chips and they were below average . We've been having guacamole and chips every day and these seem to be on the lower end of the taste spectrum for all the guacamole we've had so far. The piña colada did not taste like a piña colada . The margarita tasted really good. It's a small restaurant so the menu is a little on the small side. The service was quick and we were able to get our check quickly too .

This place is very romantic and overlooks the ocean. Now it is not easy to find. When you are…read moreclose, you must take the back gate and walk up some steps. Don't give up, it is worth it. Make sure you make a reservation. We ordered the wood fired brie cheese, special ravioli (spinach) and my wife ordered the tagliatelle all Bolognese. There is no need to order a starter. The dinner meals are more than plenty. We were miserable because we finished our plates. We have spent time in Italy, and it was that good. I will never forget smelling the ocean while we ate delicious food. This is a no brainer. Give it a try. We hope you like it too.

Dined here for dinner and the service was good. There's a complimentary bread set while waiting for…read moreyour food. I ordered a half pasta with grilled chicken on the side since I'm not that hungry. It was really good and tasty. We also ordered pepperoni pizza & squid for sharing which were equally enjoyable. My husband had a spicy pasta which he really liked. At the end of dinner, they offered us free lemoncello (they have 2 different flavors to choose from).

One of our favorite Italian restaurants in Playa. Pizza is delish and the pasta is fresh and…read moreperfectly balanced. Sangria tastefully cools your palate while the flavor profiles from the pasta dishes inspires you for more. We loved the salad but also suggest considering getting a pizza as a starter.

Had dinner on 1/31/25. Service was friendly, fast and great…read more I recommend the tacos I ordered Korean style and bang bang Very tasty and at $2.50 each $50mxn a reasonable priced. I would shy away from the kung pao dish. It's a little too saucy and was just okay. However keep in mind I'm resistant to different twists to the dish so it's a personal thing. Still we finished it up . The egg rolls were good I would recommend this place for the ambience, excellent service and solid food preparation.

Wonderful Ahi Tuna Stack, Sushi Tuna, Avocado and Mango! Bang Bang Shrimp spicy but so good. Staff…read moresuper nice. Then live music that spanned generations great first night in Playa del Carmen.

Amazing service, amazing food, walk in options available, waited about 10 minutes but it was worth…read moreit. The prices are great too, our meal was $50 including tip and we got a few drinks, a salad, and 2 entrees! Definitely recommend for authentic Italian food!

Small place not a lot of seating. Service was fast and friendly. Not many options on wine. Tried…read morethe lasagna with Bolognese. The pasta was soft and tasty. I didn't care for the bolognese part of the lasagna. The vegetarian was more expensive than the meat which didn't make sense to me. I thought the lasagne was pretty pricey in general.

We were on vacation for a week in Playa and this was by far our favorite dining experience. Our…read moreserver was knowledgeable and kind, and the ambiance was super vibey. The dinner was out of this world! I also ordered a smoked mezcal cocktail which they smoked at the table; always a fun presentation! The pork belly is a Must and their grilled Caesar blew my mind. When we return to Mexico, we'll be back!

Excellent wait staff. Superb bone marrow appetizer and wonderful pork shank. Nice environment…read morenear 5th Ave l, but not on 5th Ave.

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.

Great vibes and atmosphere. True beach spot. Garden like entrance that opens to the water. Service…read morewas great. Drinks were phenomenal. Good was good. Really enjoyed the coconut shrimp. Great spot for a special dinner.

Had great experiences at yum yum last week while in playa... during my 5 nights there I went 3…read moretimes! lol To be fair my hostel was literally 2 minutes away but... this place is great. I'm going to give them 5 stars mostly because of the food... I had better, more attentive service at other places during my stay but the food here is unreal. Make sure you get the sushi and the potsticker. Wish I had a pic of the potstickers but I do of the sushi! I highly recommend this restaurant and would definitely come back! See below.

Food: We ordered yellow chicken curry, tofu pad Thai and papaya salad. Our server brought over…read moreyucca chips with a dip on the house. All the dishes were absolutely delicious! The papaya was the perfect balance of lime and the added basil along with other veggies gave it a wonderful freshness and delightful taste in our mouths. The pad Thai was perfection as well. We asked for the curry to be extra spicy and they delivered. We cleared out our plates completely. The Thai food here is wonderful and I highly recommend you stop by. Prices are American but the food is worth it. Service: All the servers were friendly and very helpful. They all helped each other out, unlike some places that leave the section to the assigned server. The service provided was wonderful. They were all very attentive. Ambiance: This establishment is decorated so cute and gives you "high end" vibes. You can elect to eat inside or outside while you observe people walking by. Stop by and treat yourself, you won't regret it.

We went to brunch at Lara & Luca. Very cute place with easy parking in the front, a guide is there…read moreto help you park, which is nice! Walking in, they're very welcoming! The restaurant is clean and very modern. The ceiling is cute! They have egg cartons as their ceiling! I was surprised that I couldn't just got hot black coffee, so I ordered a latte, wasn't disappointed! They even designed a heart at the top! We shared an almond croissant and they gave out passionfruit yogurt with a crunchy topping - these two things were my favorite of the meal. We are even talking about going back tomorrow just to get these two things! We also shared the Luca sandwich - this was delicious!! The sandwich has ham, cream cheese, mushrooms, and truffle oil, and topped with an egg. So delicious! There was a salad on the side that had some type of vinaigrette on it. The only complaint was that the vinaigrette was soaked up in the bottom piece of bread which made those bites a little busy when all in one bite. If I ever get a chance to order this again, I'd ask for the dressing on the side. We also got the chicken and waffles. This is the only thing we were disappointed with, not disappointed enough to mark the rest of the experience down though. The chicken was pretty good, but some bites were really salty. The waffle was so dry, even with adding the syrup, it didn't help with the waffle much. Overall, we loved this place! So glad we got to eat here! And the service was wonderful throughout the whole meal!

Trendy food spot near Playa Car that's worth a visit…read more Stopped by this place after seeing how good the food looked coming out of the kitchen--beautifully plated, fresh, and clearly made with care. The vibe is casual yet modern, with a trendy beach-town feel that fits the Playa Car scene perfectly. I ordered the croquette sandwich with an egg, and it absolutely delivered. The croquette was crispy on the outside, soft and savory inside, and the egg added a nice richness. What really elevated the whole dish, though, was the aioli--creamy, tangy, and packed with flavor. It tied everything together beautifully. Honestly, they should bottle that stuff. A nice surprise was the complimentary yogurt with grains that came out before the meal. It was a thoughtful touch--light, subtly sweet, and a great palate teaser before the main dish arrived. It gave the whole experience a more refined feel without being pretentious. Service-wise, it was minimal but efficient. The waitress was polite but a bit dry--no real recommendations or extra engagement--but everything arrived promptly and correctly, so no complaints there. All in all, it's a spot I'd happily return to. The food is excellent, the vibe is chill, and little touches like the complimentary yogurt show they're paying attention. Definitely a solid find near Playa Car.