5 Great Playa Del Carmen Restaurants that are Not Tourist Traps

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico is popular for good reason. The area was developed for tourism when it was founded in 1937. Since then it is has become a vacation destination renown for resorts, beaches restaurants, clubs, shopping and great local eateries. Unlike Cancun and Tulum, it is much easier to walk to delicious local restaurants and cantinas from a beachside resort or hotel in town.

The national park and beaches in Tulum are pristine, but we appreciated the convenience of Playa Del Carmen. We do not enjoy overpaying for tourist trap restaurants with mediocre food. Sometimes a pristine beach location warrants shelling out extra dough for an average meal, but that’s another conversation.

We recently spent 10 days in Playa Del Carmen, in Quintana Roo, combining a vacation with some added days working remotely. This allowed us time to visit many local restaurants just off the main shopping street, 5th Avenue. While many of the restaurants on 5th Avenue look appealing, we were disappointed with the dinner we ate there, our first of the trip and sought to avoid dining on the touristy street afterward. Here are some fantastic Playa Del Carmen restaurants that tourists, like us, will greatly enjoy, alongside local diners. We certainly did!

1) Costelao Playa del Carmen (for Churrascaria Meats)

Churrascaria is an epic dining experience. Wait staff swoop by with various succulent cuts of expertly grilled flavorful cuts like tomahawk steak, filet, brisket and more, slicing cuts table-side. The experience leaves carnivores reveling in a glutenous meat feast. The included buffet salad bar features ceviche, sushi, a variety of salads, fruit, fine deli cuts and plenty more.

Costelao Playa del Carmen offers a lively and sophisticated Brazilian style steakhouse experience that is not overrun with tourists. We seemed to be among the few USA based tourists dining in the restaurant, where many were celebrating birthdays or having a special night out. We were well looked out for though, with plenty of delicious cuts arriving at our table. Costelao Playa del Carmen is great for a couples dinner or a fine meal dining amongst friends and family.

Costelao Playa del Carmen Address:

Plaza Midtown, C. 10 Nte. Local 5,6 y 7, Gonzalo Guerrero

77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico

2) Taco MX (for Diverse Mexican Tacos)

Taco MX is a quaint, well decorated restaurant with a handful of tables inside and outside. I loved the Fernando Botero painting, depicting two plump figures dancing inside. Their delicious tacos are influenced by regional flavors from all over Mexico.

Oaxaca and Puebla are among the most renown Mexican foodie destinations, featuring their own distinct mole sauces – both of which feature on the Taco MX menu. Tacos are priced individually, so we were happy to order a wide assortment of meat, seafood and vegetarian tacos.

Their Aguascalientes mushroom tacos and Michoacan hibiscus flower tacos are excellent vegetarian options. Tacos MX makes a tasty horchata with rice water, instead of milk, which can be enjoyed by those with lactose intolerance (like me) or vegans. Their Jamaican hibiscus flavored water (made with the hibuscus flower) drink is also great, which is a ubiquitous non-alcoholic drink that you should try.

We were the only tourists dining in the establishment when we visited, and we were treated warmly. Taco MX is among the great little Playa Del Carmen restaurants that both locals and tourists enjoy.

Taco MX Address: 

Avenida 10, con calle 22 y 20, Manzana 83, Centro

77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico

3) Chiltepin Marisquillos (for Seafood Dishes)

Play Del Carmen’s seaside location means there is plenty of great seafood in town and around the area. We love a delicious crunchy tostada piled high with delicious ahi tuna and other fish.

The tuna tostada at Cartoccio playa Street Seafood was one of the best dishes we ate during our 15 day trip to Playa Del Carmen and Tulum. But that restaurant only has four tables. On the night we visited, we were the only diners. But we read in reviews that the restaurant can be full, and after dining there we understood why.

Chiltepin Marisquillos is a larger seafood restaurant with ample seating. Their menu features an excellent assortment of seafood dishes including excellent fried fish tacos, seafood tostadas and a wonderful seafood molcajete that includes a whole crab, at a very reasonable price. Their octopus (pulpo) dishes that we saw other diners order, looked incredible. If someone in your party does not enjoy seafood, the restaurant also serves steak, chicken and pork dishes.

Chiltepin Marisquillos Address:

Calle 34 esq Av 20 Norte Mz 99 Lote 21 Fraccionamiento, Tohoku, Centro

77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico

4) ARCANA (for Vegetarian Dishes)

We’re in our mid 40’s, and try to eat healthy – at least sometimes. So for several meals we sought out vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Playa Del Carmen has several good options that cater to vegetarians, vegans and those looking for healthy meals and fresh juices.

I loved the vegetarian burrito at BIO-Natural Suc. Constituyentes. The green flour tortilla was perfectly grilled and tasted much better than a typical flour tortilla from a package. But their meatless tacos were topped with too much vegan cheese – so that dish tasted too processed.

So for a healthier vegetarian or vegan meal with whole foods, ARCANA is probably a better choice. They serve a variety of healthy dishes and juices, including a nutritious Acai Bowl. This is the most touristy restaurant on this list, but it is worth including as it not overpriced so some Mexican tourists would eat there too.

ARCANA address:

Calle 38 Nte Mz 200-Lt 3, entre calle 1ra y calle flamingos, Gonzalo Guerrero

77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico

5) Bait Lajam Tacos Arabes (Casual Local Meal/Fast Food)

There are some excellent casual and fast-food restaurants in Playa del Carmen. One of Bell and I’s favorite meals of our trip was the rotisserie chicken meal at El Pechugan, which is a Mexican rotisserie chicken chain. The chickens are cooked over roast potatoes, flavoring them with succulent chicken drippings. The chicken is so flavorful, tender, inexpensive and the taquitos the meal comes with are alsocruncy and tasty. But there is not much seating, so many might prefer taking the food to go.

For a tasty and inexpensive local meal, where you can sit outside, go to Bait Lajam Tacos Arabes. Tacos arabes are basically a cross between tacos and gyros, with the tender and flavorful meat sliced off a spit. There are a few ways to enjoy the meat, including in quesadillas, topped with a generous portion of melted cheese, as well as nachos and even Hawaiian-style tacos with pineapple. Being Mexico, a good choice of hot sauces feature on the table, as well as a generous bowl of fresh sliced limes.

Bait Lajam Tacos Arabes Address:

Calle 32, Paseo Xaman – Ha 32

77710 Playa del Carmen, Q.R., Mexico

Playa Del Carmen Restaurants Recap

Playa Del Carmen is a popular tourist destination for many great reasons. Visitors can enjoy warm tropical weather along the beach year round. The country also offers fantastic and diverse cuisine, that we previously enjoyed in these 7 great locations in central Mexico.

If you are staying in Playa Del Carmen, do not eat all your meals at the touristy restaurants along the pedestrian only shopping street, 5th Avenue. Go a block or two off the beaten path and enjoy some excellent local restaurants and casual eateries highlighted above!