We had a fantastic meal at El Fogón in Playa del Carmen! The atmosphere was fun, lively, and felt…read morevery authentic. The service was outstanding, and everyone made us feel welcome. My wife and I shared the chicken fajitas, which were excellent. My friend ordered the al pastor fajitas, and his wife had the pork chops--everyone agreed the food was delicious. The guacamole was fresh and amazing, and every dish was flavorful and generously portioned. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food with excellent service and a great atmosphere, I highly recommend El Fogón. We would definitely come back!

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.

Excelente comida.. gran selección de platos con base de camarón, pulpo en cebiches y otras…read morepresentaciones. No tienen pescado entero pero tienen algunos cortes en filete. Un servicio muy bueno por Daniel!... muy atento y servicial. Un ambiente familiar con música en vivo con corte cubano. Yo regresaría con gusto cada vez que esté en playa. No es un restaurante fancy pero un lugar que amerita su vista. Los felicito y recomiendo.. sigan con el buen trabajo

I ordered ceviche but didn't realize it had crispy onion (there was no picture and other items had…read morespecified "crispy"). I can't have gluten. Jesus asked them to remake it. The first time it came back, there were still onion pieces under some of the fish, Jesus personally watched them remake it again in a new bowl. The ceviche was delicious and the drinks my friends got were LITERS of margaritas. Huge. They loved their aquachiles

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.

This little gem sits off 5th Avenue. We almost walked past and glad we came up this little street…read more The Mayan lobster flambé is made table side. This is amazing!!!!!!! The aroma of fresh garlic, onion and peppers filled the air immediately. I was over joyed with the flavors and medley of the dish coming together. Fresh ingredients, bold mix of flavors and amazing staff!! I love this place

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.

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.

This place is amazing from the food to the staff! We came in with our 2 year old who was asleep…read morethey accommodated her and my wife to make her comfortable while she slept and the service was above and beyond and the food was the best food I have eaten while here definitely recommend!

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.

First, this restaurant had the best ambiance! I loved how they incorporated the natural trees and…read morenature into their architecture. It was adorable and I felt like I was in another world. It's very crowded so you may experience a wait but it's worth it. Lots of food options with decent pricing. Fast staff and delicious food!

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.

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!

This is the best restaurant in Playa. Every time I am in Playa I run here. The food is outstanding,…read morethe place is super nice and the wait staff and the cooks are all really really nice.

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.

January 26/2026: Lunch w Tony Kelly…read more This was absolutely delicious! We started with the guacamole & chips with their house made hot sauces. The mild sauce had almost zero taste but the hot one was delicious. I mixed it with the house made guacamole & it made the guac even more delicious! My main was the chicken tacos. They were fantastic too! Came with refried beans & rice. Once all components were mixed together the just blended & were delicious. The owner came to our table & mentioned that they have a 5 hour pork which we will go back to try. I don't take pics but I should have. Total cost for all was $1,000.00 Pesos Such a casual ambiance, sitting midday & have an amazing lunch with a delightful server & ice cold beer! This is a 100% do over for sure.

Awesome delicious food! They have a 149 peso deal that includes an appetizer, entree and drink…read more Menu changes daily and each day they have several options at that price. Very attentive staff and very delicious. I highly recommend.