***Expert Tip*** We parked at Walmart and walked across the street to El Doctorcito. Otherwise, parking is just impossible.. So we walked in and were told there was vacancy upstairs. There was also a band playing live (big points) and I LOVE live music! I wanted to come here because the food at my resort was just meh.. I was craving a chelada (Clamato Preparado). It was good, so I had another. We ordered a couple things and the food was great! I would just recommend some fresh salsa with the chips they brought. It was VERY hot inside. It was about 90 degrees outside and very little ventilation. On top of that, they had a large grill on upstairs. The food 5/5, service 5/5, facility 3/5, overall 4/5. read more

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Warm, fresh, clean, authentic Hands down the best restaurant in Playa del Carmen. Everything here is authentic, incredibly fresh, and made with so much care. The staff is abundant, attentive, and genuinely welcoming--you feel taken care of the moment you walk in. The menu is extensive and thoughtfully crafted; I could honestly eat here every single day and never order the same thing twice. Every dish is exceptional. This place is something special. read more

El Doctorcito - Tacos! - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

This review is for the location on Avenue 1A in Playa. I guess this restaurant is a chain in Playa. The restaurant serves mainly seafood. The prices are very reasonable. We went here for dinner on a very rainy night, choosing it mainly because it is close to our condo and we did not want to walk too far in the heavy rain. We started with shrimp cocktail and it was a very generous portion of shrimp. We had to add hot sauce because it was not spicy, but it was good nonetheless. The wife had a fish taco and said it had not fishy taste or smell. She liked it. I had a shrimp tostado and it was very similar to the shrimp cocktail. I liked it. We both had a Modelo Negra and some shots. I had Don Julio and the wife had Mezcal. It was a lot of fun doing shots in the rain in Playa del Carmen. They charged for limes, which I thought was odd. For dessert we had lemon pie and it was excellent. Service was friendly and helpful. No language barriers. Overall, it was fun experience and the food and ambience were great. read more

12/27/23 My fiancé, his sister-in-law and his brother and I stopped by El Doctorcito for some lunch before heading back to the resort. The restaurant wasn't busy and being inside with the fans blowing was a minor relief from the heat. The waiter initially gave us menus in spanish but when he realized we were Americans he quickly switched the menus to english ones and asked another waiter to take care of us. Here's what we got: - the governor - 1 shrimp taco - 1 fish taco - 3 shrimp quesadillas We shared it all and everything tasted great! The seafood tasted so fresh; the shrimps were big and the fish was fried perfectly. There was the perfect amount of cheese also; these were probably the best tacos I've ever had. read more

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If you love raw fish, ceviche, grilled octopus, fish tacos... you will love this hip, bustling spot. The salsas are also fantastic. read more

always amazingly fresh seafood. the ahi tacos are my go to. fresh tortilla chips and immediate drink orders as soon as you sit down. i've gotten the fresh clams outta the tank and they did not disappoint. i'm always happy to go there. very reasonable prices for very fresh food. read more

El Doctorcito - seafood - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

(If there were zero stars, this would be it) El Doctorcito Restaurant - 12 Ave Playa del Carmen, Oct. 9, 2025 We've been to Riviera Maya six times--always staying at a 5-Diamond all-inclusive resort, where service is genuinely warm and professional. Once a week, we like to step outside the gates for a little shopping and a taste of "authentic" Playa del Carmen. This time, our butler--who we trust--recommended El Doctorcito, a supposed local favorite. If this is what locals love, I'm guessing it's for the comedy value, not the cuisine. We arrived around noon on a rainy Thursday, expecting friendly service and fresh seafood. Instead, we were greeted by a waitress who looked as if we'd personally ruined her day just by showing up. Her body language, tone, and overall demeanor screamed "I don't want to be here." She radiated attitude, not hospitality. When asked simple questions about the menu, and when she cannot explain - she huffed, dropped her iPad on the table, and walked off without a word. Even our friend from El Salvador--who speaks fluent Spanish--couldn't get through to her. Later, when we raised our concern to another staff member, the same waitress came back (uninvited) to defend herself, claiming there was a language barrier. Let that sink in: she was rude to a fluent Spanish speaker... and then blamed the language. The irony was almost impressive. She was physically beautiful, yes--but her attitude was the kind of ugly that no filter could fix. I told her flat-out that I didn't want to speak to her and to send someone else. By then, the experience was beyond saving. We paid for our drinks, skipped the meal, and walked out! Too bad--I had 5,000 pesos set aside for lunch and was ready to spend more on a card. Their loss. When we got back to our resort, we told one of the managers (a friend) about what happened. She just laughed and said, "Let me guess--Argentinian?" Apparently, that kind of rude-but-good-looking server has become a running inside joke among locals in Cancun. Sure enough, our Spanish-speaking friends confirmed the accent. Final Diagnosis: If El Doctorcito is supposed to cure hunger, it should start by curing arrogance. The fish may be fresh--but the attitude? Rotten beyond repair. read more

Food was fresh and delicious. Service was good. Lively music! Off the beaten path and worth it!

Looking for a locals spot in Playa Del Carmen that has good seafood- look no further!! We were trying to eat light so we only ordered two things. We ordered the shrimp quesadilla & a fish taco. Both were really delicious & I had a hard time picking which I liked better. On hot days this place can be a little hot because it's covered outdoor seating. There's really a lot of entrees to choose from & saw a lot of people ordering a octopus dish. They bring you chips and salsa which were good, they have multiple salsas- the one we liked the best was a very dark salsa, it was unique & good. We really liked this spot & we were glad we came- recommended! Happy eating!! read more

El Doctorcito - Bloody Mary - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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Food was good and service was quick. waiter did a great job checking on us! Place is cute and breezy. I like the vibe food and people . read more

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Walking down 5th ave and asked a sales guy on the street any suggestions of where to eat and where he would go himself, he said El Doctorcito, 4 blocks away from where we were. We walked over and went inside and proceeded to have an amazing lunch (dinner really cause we were so full). It looked like a cool little locals place, we ate upstairs and they came out right away with chips and a bunch of different sauces. We placed our orders and they came out super fast. Each one was better than the next - we got some tacos, the burger, tostadas and a couple drinks. All in it was about 45 American bucks which is dirt cheap for around here. The only bummer was they were sold out of men's shirts. I would have loved to get one before I left. Will def recommend to anyone going, 5th ave has some good places to eat but don't be afraid to stray a little. Will be back next time we come this way read more

We went to the de la primera one and it was so good. We went with a big group and people got steak. Mostly everyone got mariscos/seafood dishes the steak and mariscos were delicious. The steak and mariscos were delicious, it's definitely worth the block off the strip. Javier was a great server read more

Fui 3 días seguidos y si hubiera sido posible me llevaba comida para llevar! Tacos gobernador son lo mejor! Y las miches con victoria son de ley! El servicio y ambiente es super bueno. Los alguachiles son lo máximo. Cuando estes en playa es visita OBLIGADA. read more

This place is definitely where the locals go. It's a short walk from 5th Avenue and would recommend to anyone visiting. The prices are super cheap and their menu is huge. However, it's all in Spanish just a FYI. We ordered one of the ceviche and a shrimp taco, both were delicious. I would say they have the best Michelada out of all the place we visited. read more

El Doctorcito - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

I ordered them for takeout. I got the ceviche Doctorcito Mixto. The seafood in the ceviche was fresh and very creamy on the bite whilst remaining robust. The acidity of the ceviche was able to be well balanced with the chips and various sauces they provided with the delivery. Overall I was impressed with the quality of execution on this ceviche and will be visiting their physical location soon. read more

We ordered the: tuna sashimi, crispy jaiba, beer and a coke. Walking in, it's super packed and the vibes are good, the cushioned chairs upstairs are really dusty so be careful about that. Service was fine! The food on the other hand.. It was okay but not as good as we had hoped with the other reviews we saw. Perhaps we ordered the wrong things but the crispy jaiba was mediocre. The tuna was really marinated so hard to tell if it was fresh. The drinks were okay and you were given free basket of chips after ordering. It's definitely an average seafood experience. Its unfortunate since we were expecting more. read more

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Great tacos gobernador. Great aguachiles. Delicious micheladas. I also loved the music. read more

El Doctorcito - Aguachiles verdes and michelada - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

Delicious Michelada's. The margaritas were good but not great. The pescado al mojo de ajo was delicious. My wife has some shrimp, I forgot exactly how they were prepared but she loved them. I will go back. read more

Amazing seafood, decent prices. The aguachile tostadas and fish tacos are the best. Only thing our waitress assumed we'd tip her whatever percentage she wanted without asking. Music a bit too loud in there but would go back for the food. read more

The food and atmosphere was amazing!!! Service was quick! They are busy but definitely worth the wait!! The ceviche was definitely delicious!! read more

The tacos were good but otherwise it was a bit lacking. The seafood cocktail i had was sketchy as about half the fish in it was cooked and half not - and no, it wasn't cerviche, it was just raw fish. The drinks were a bit lacking as well but the prices are good. I'd go back for tacos and beer but wouldn't venture outside of that. read more

El Doctorcito - Dead Awaker - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

I never would have found this gem if I hadn't asked a local for food recommendations. The restaurant does not have an obvious sign outside, but just look for the super packed restaurant restaurant just down the street from Coco Bongo. We tried the ceviche mixto, aguachiles with raw shrimp, and micheladas. Our meal was served with some fresh chips as well. Everything was DELICIOUS. The servings were huge, and we probably could have shared one dish between 2 people. At first, I was a little worried about eating raw seafood from an establishment that appeared a little grungy. However, I felt a lot better about eating here once I noticed the small TripAdvisor logo on their menu. I took it as a sign that enough tourists had eaten here without getting sick. (For the record, neither one of us got sick from our meal here.) The menu is completely in Spanish, and I was able to figure out most of the menu using my limited knowledge of the language. The servers were helpful as well and made some great recommendations for what to order. I would definitely come back here on my next trip to Playa del Carmen. read more

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We walked by a few days ago and knew we had to visit Doctorcito before we left. We loved the food, drinks, vibe, and service. Everything sounded good and ended up ordering too much food. Favorites include quesadilla de camaron, ceviche negro tostada, and ceviche mixto del Doctorcito. The ceviches included raw shrimp which we were wary of at first but soon realized how fresh, creamy and delicious they were. When you sit, they serve tortilla chips which were good alone or with ceviche. Ojo rojo is a michelada type drink which was refreshing and tasty. Highly recommend. We also tried pulpo tacos which was a stewed octopus in a tomato sauce with rice. We didn't like this one as much as we couldn't taste the octopus but it was tender. If we go back, we would order shrimp tacos (which we haven't tried yet but were deep fried and looked delicious), ceviche negro tostada, ceviche mixto del Doctorcito, quesadilla de camaron, and ojo rojo. read more

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This place is awesome. It specializes in seafood ceviches and coctels. The micheladas are amazing, my boyfriend loved it. The shrimp tacos are amazing. Highly recommended. read more

El Doctorcito - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

Best ceviche we have ever had!! We went earlier than dinner time and later a line began; you can tell this place is popular for its quality and service; mostly locals and not tourists were there. Service is excellent! read more

El Doctorcito - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

The shrimp tacos were amazing!!! Atmosphere and location was perfect. We enjoyed it so much, we ate here more than once on our 5 day trip.

Everything was perfect, the drinks were really good, the bartenders and servers were really nice. The dj played really good music and the lighting created a nice atmosphere. Everything was perfect with our meal, the shrimp are like lobsters, and the tacos are amazing. They're generous with their portions also. Thank you for the best experience we have had here read more

Yes by far the coolest spot in playa , great music choices, good food and great staff. I was there in playa for over a month and myself and my girlfriends adored this place. Yes the location is off but that is what makes it so cool. The get some fish and some grilled veggies and enjoy read more

We came to this restaurant 3 days in a row and their food quality was consistent. The restaurant specializes in ceviche and aquechil. You can't go wrong shrimp cerviche- they are always fresh and flavorful. They also serve typical mexican tacos with simple ingredients. My favorite was fish tacos- fresh and crispy. They also serve free tortillas chips which was nice. Our server speaks English and was attentive which made food ordering a lot easier. read more

Came here three times in one week. Excellent aqua chile and ceviche. My favorite seafood place in Playa.

Meh. Worst guacamole I have ever had in Mexico- tasted like it came from a plastic tube at the bottom of a refrigerator at ShopRite. The beer glasses tasted like soap. The ceviche was just OK but the shrimp tacos were great. Service and atmosphere good. Nothing special - you have 1 million dining options- this should not be on your list. read more

Best micheladas in town and awesome food. My girlfriend and i ate here right when it opened and the tocos were delicious. She got a shrimp taco and the gobernador taco which i had never heard of but glad I ordered. The michelada was huge and also the best I've ever tasted. The ceviche and aguachiles were very similar in favor and wont disappoint read more

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Good service and fun atmosphere. We were there with kids who loved the freshly made (not overly sweet) lemonade. The sautéed shrimp and steak tacos were very good. The fried fish is good and very flavorful but can be hit or miss, with some pieces being over breaded and not fried long enough, so the consistency of the breading wasn't always quite right. read more

Awesome foods great service and a must when your in Playa del Carmen . I will definitely come back !

One of the best seafood places in Playa del Carmen! I always look forward to the grilled octopus and grilled catch of the day! The ceviches are totally amazing, I like to add a little more cilantro and fresh cut onions, it causes an explosion of flavor! Thank you guys for an amazing variety of drinks as well! This is a must visit if you are in Playa del Carmen! I look forward to my next visit to get spoiled with most amazing food! read more

I wanted to try this place because it was located directly across from my hotel (One hotel). Everyday I walked by it is super packed!! It looks ghetto but dont let that surprise you. The menu was small. A lot of stuff had seafood. But the prices was cheap. There's a bar inside and music. I read bad reviews about the service and have to slightly agree. I felt that if I hadn't approached staff then no one would assist me or even after I sat down I had to pull someone aside to take my order. After I ordered the food came out delicious and fast. Just be aggressive in putting your order out there. I would definitely come here again. read more

Very hip! Food was amazing. Had the ceviche trio with fish, octopus and shrimp. The sauce was mouthwatering. Grande is enough for 2 people to share. Have a few cervezas and your in less than $15USD. read more

Hands down best ceviche I've tried in Playa! Just the right amount of lime flavor, not too over"cooked" and not too raw. I ordered the mixto ceviche and every morsel was "cooked" to perfection. Price was very reasonable for a large plate that can be shared between 2-4 people. I came here on a Sunday afternoon and they had a love Techno DJ. Such a fun environment. Definitely do not miss this spot if you love seafood. read more

El Doctorcito - Ceviche mixto con pulpo y pescado y camarón. Best ceviche in town! - Seafood Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

They serve a great shrimp cocktail! Chairs were uncomfortable but I'd go back for another. Wish they would have spoken better English, but what can I say? I'm in Mexico! read more