Pancho's is a great spot to hang out and get a meal. It served as a festive and cool reprieve from the heat with extremely friendly servers, fun drinks, and delicious food. It also boasts spotless bathrooms, which warrants a special shoutout. The food was solid, albeit on the pricier side. I had the mole enchiladas and my wife got the carne asada, and we had the fun coqueta, which is basically a margarita. Pancho's real stand out are its marimba players. We were the only diners at 6 on a Saturday night (presumably post-cruise crowds) but the marimba players gave us, essentially, an hour long private concert. This absolutely thrilled my one-year old son, who could not stop dancing. The marimba players even invited him behind the board and let him hold one of their mallets (which my son tried to steal. He's got a lot of his mama in him). So yes, the food and atmosphere are really good. But it's the supremely friendly staff who made our experience great--and certainly the highlight of the trip for my son. read more

Stopped by Pancho's Backyard while in Cozumel and it ended up being one of the best meals of the trip. The chicken mole enchiladas were outstanding -- the mole was a rich chocolate mole with the perfect amount of spice. You could really taste the depth of the sauce, not too sweet, not too spicy, just perfectly balanced and incredibly flavorful. We also tried the shrimp alioli, and that was just as impressive. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and the garlic alioli sauce was rich without being too heavy. Everything tasted fresh and made to order. The atmosphere is beautiful -- lush garden setting, relaxing, and it really feels like you're dining somewhere special rather than just another tourist spot. Service was attentive and friendly the whole time. If you're in Cozumel, this place is absolutely worth a visit. I would go back just for the mole alone. read more

Pancho's Backyard - Family! - Mexican Near Me - San Miguel de Cozumel, ROO

My goodness everything was so good and fresh down to flowers outside the door! The service was warm and welcoming and everyone was very beautiful and friendly! Would definitely recommend and if ever I'm back I will be back! read more

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We went for the New Year's Eve special menu and it was unbelievably disappointing. The vegetarian "New Year's special" listed as Vegetable Cannelloni was not cannelloni at all--no pasta, nothing baked, nothing cooked. It was basically raw cucumber filled with half-cooked white onion and (maybe) spinach, smothered in a white cream sauce. I took one bite and couldn't eat another. Honestly one of the nastiest things I've ever been served at a restaurant. My boyfriend ordered the tortilla soup and it came out cold. The other "courses" were minimal: about three bites of pineapple icee, plus a few pear slices with candied nuts and goat cheese (that part was fine, but nowhere near enough to feel like a real meal). We had one drink, one bottle of water, and with tip the total was around $100. For that price, this was a complete waste of money. 0/10 recommend--very disappointing and we won't be back. Too bad- beautiful building and good service. The food was just gross. read more

I can't really stand by my very old glowing review. I finally went back, after many years, and the prices have skyrocketed (even taking inflation and the growth of Cozumel into consideration). It is basically a complete tourist trap now (it was always tourist-friendly, but had some grounding in the real world). The menu is very different, in terms of selection, too -- another concerning sign. Considering that it is comically expensive, I reluctantly left and ate elsewhere, and a nice place on a side street further away. I won't give less than 3 stars, since I'll charitably assume that food is still pretty decent, at least. And the staff was friendly. If you're a tourist willing to be gauged, this is probably a fine choice. read more

We stopped by here after hearing rave reviews from a couple we met on our cruise. They stop here every time they come to Cozumel. We had to see if it lived up to the hype. OMG, it absolutely did! The restaurant has outdoor seating that has beautiful plants around and there was live music playing. I got a margarita and it was truly the best and strongest one I've ever had. It me was definitely enough for me since I still had to walk back the cruise ship. We enjoyed a burrito and some tacos. They paired nicely with the fantastic margaritas. The server was friendly and attentive. We will definitely make a point of coming back the next time we are in Cozumel. read more

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In Cozumel with family and friends and decided to check out Pancho's ,ambiance is beautiful,food was great and service was impeccable ,after tasting food I was very impressed read more

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The original location of Pancho's Backyard used to be packed every time we visited. Since less tourists seem to walk the entire strip of Downtown Cozumel it is a bit less busy but still just as charming. Its indoor/outdoor atmosphere fits the location perfectly and you will always have great service and lovely music. The food is good as well, if generally a bit touristy but it doesn't matter because Pancho's always makes you feel like you've come home. read more

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We took a day trip to Cozumel during our trip to Playa Del Carmen and decided to stop here for lunch. It's not too far up the street from the Ferry port (a little farther from the cruise port, but still walkable). The place is beautiful, there were two women playing a xylophone, for ambiance. Our server was friendly and took great care of us... and all that was just bonus as the food was just delicious! We had taquitos with fresh guac for an appetizer, my husband had the tamales and I had the camerones de ajo (shrimp in garlic sauce) for our mains and the he had the sopapillas and I had the coffee flan for dessert. Every single item was wonderful! Highly recommend if you are visiting Cozumel! read more

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Excellent, fresh food with fantastic service. We stumbled upon Poncho's by luck and it was the best meal of our vacation. The fish tacos were phenomenal. My partner had the carne asada tacos and even though there were 4 tacos, he ate them in about 10 minutes. The fresh guacamole, fresh chips, pico de gallo and house made hot sauce were out of this world. And the drinks? So good! I will definitely return the next time I am in Cozumel. read more

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Amazing!!! We love this place!!! We have been to this restaurant many times .. ( like over 10) and service & food is always to notch! Must try if you're in Cozumel Mexico. read more

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Great food, drinks, and service. This was my second visit to Cozumel and Pancho's. I have ordered, margaritas, fajitas, sampler, and guacamole. I enjoyed all except the fajitas. They lacked flavor, but came out sizzling and smelled really good. The guacamole was good, basic ingredients, nothing fancy, but satisfying. Margaritas are good and the staff is always nice and helpful when asking questions about the menu. Be prepared to see an iguana or two.. (I forgot about them so I could not warm my mom prior) and my mom bout had a come apart. They did not bother us, they just wanted some of the sun and went on about their way. Next time you are in Cozumel, stop by and have a drink or two! read more

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Awesome atmosphere!!! You do have to walk through a gift shop to get to it but it's well worth it!! Immediately greeted and seated and it was beautiful. I wish I knew this place existed before. Reminds me of the first time I went to Guidos. Just had queso and chorizo but it also was outstanding!! The margaritas were also great but the ambiance definitely takes the cake. Can't wait to go back and have dinner because everything that I saw go by, looked amazing!!! read more

For our first ever visit to Mexico, friends suggested visiting this restaurant. Mexican food is not the same as TexMex. So keep that in mind as you read my review. First of all, everyone in Cozumel who works there is looking to sell you SOMETHING. This is normal. Panchos backyard is a little different. They show their customers nothing but the highest courtesy and do not beg or market. We did start off with some salsa, chips and guacamole, which was quality but basic. All is made from scratch but where Panchos is different from what Americans are used to is much lower sodium content. We also had their coal roasted mahi mahi (delicate, fresh and delicious). We also asked for bottled water and it was brought out fast. Panchos is NOT air conditioned, but they do have fans and an appealing interior. Also they had two people playing the xylophones. One item was that their exchange rate calculated was in THEIR favor. Be sure to check this yourself. Finally when we were ready to leave, the server flagged down a taxi for us. He was well compensated for his assistance! As I understand it this may be some of the best Cozumel had to offer! read more

Went here recently during a recent trip to Cancun. A friend had recommended it. You literally have to go through a store to their back porch and what a great experience you get once you are there. There are fountains and birds and live music. Then the margaritas start flowing and the food. I got shrimp tacos and the wife got a burrito. We also had salsa and chips for an appetizer. Everything was good and we ate it but my only complaint was my taco shells were a little dry. Otherwise our experience was fun and relaxing and we would totally go back next time we are in Cancun. read more

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Excellent ambiance, service and food. Highly recommended. On the night we visited, there was a fun xylophone duo.

Random location for this restaurant as entrance is buried inside of a gift shop store but it's worth stopping by for their food. Guacamole was good and so was the fish tacos. Lobster tacos were a bit overhyped- you only get a little bit of it in the tortillas. I'd say you can skip that one. Frozen margaritas were a nice treat on a hot day. Though be warned: it's outdoor seating so might be a bit rough on a really hot day. read more

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Ambiance is amazing, we went in Sunday and the service was so good, fast and above any other places we ate on the island. Fajitas were the best I have ever had! I dropped my fork and before it hit the ground a waiter had brought me a new one! We also had queso, chips, quesadillas, margaritas. All so amazing! We will be back for sure! We want to come for breakfast! Our waiter was so amazing! Mauricio was our server! He was super accommodating! read more

Pancho's Backyard - Mexican Near Me - San Miguel de Cozumel, ROO

Food was average and cost was way too high for meals served. To add, I've been eating Mexican food for over 50 years and never paid for chips and salsa. I do not recommend this place. read more

This place is a traditional Mexican restaurant that cruise ships tend to steer you towards. The good news is that the food here is of good quality, the service is top notch, and the margaritas are excellent. You will have no trouble here with regards to water, they purify everything. What truly sets this place apart though is the general atmosphere. It is an outdoor restaurant (with fans blowing strong). You get the genuine feel of being Cozumel, with a store connected to it to shop in (that isn't overloaded with tourist junk). The big thing for me here is the feeling of being valued. They like to keep track of your visits, and will bring a sign over to celebrate repeat visits, as well as offer up a shot of tequila to celebrate the occasion. We have now been five times, and consistency is the key here. There are the same musicians playing the xylophone year over year. We have tracked pictures of our son from age 3 to age 14 now, and that is just tons of fun. We will be back, as it has just become a tradition. read more

Pancho's Backyard: sadly to say, my friend and I have been coming to this landmark establishment for 30+ years. Skipping the last 2 years because of COVID, the restaurant has totally gone down hill since our last visit. Servers, that have been working there forever recognized us with welcome arms and service is still excellent, but the food was a miss. New management? Menu is QR code. The menu item for choices were dramatically decreased. We ordered the Three Hummus for Two, Cream of Cilantro Soup, Sopa de Tortilla, Chicken Fajitas, Shrimp Alioli and Beef and Shrimp Empanadas, . When the food was served, the Hummus Trio was so bad I returned it (the consistency was like saw dust with no flavor). My once favorite Cilantro soup was filled in the center with mash potatoes, to fill volume? Who knows! The Sopa de Tortilla was bland. The bland Chicken Fajitas was more veggie fillers than chicken. My friend said the shrimp tasted good but were mini shrimps. My party of 3 did all agree that the Empanadas were very good, too bad we would have to had ordered 5 each to be full (1 small empanada, cut in half). Such a disappointment, the food used to be so good here. Atmosphere: always the same, beautiful patio. Service: excellent. Food: poor read more

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Such an awesome place. They kids were entertained by the xylophone ladies (they let the kids play along). Made memories!! The food was awesome and the setting is always so lovely. The service is quick and attentive as well. read more

The ambiance is so pretty. Great date night in Cozumel. Margaritas are delicious. Best tortilla soup I've had! the Mai Mai 2 ways & was excellent! We come here every single time we visit Cozumel. The garden setting is my favorite! read more

Pancho's Backyard - Mai Mai - Mexican Near Me - San Miguel de Cozumel, ROO

The food is always top notch. The service is great. The view of the water is wonderful. We always eat there when we are in Cozumel.

Lovely place for a quiet relaxed dinner. My friends had shrimp bruschet and I had beef fajitas. Both were delicious. We each had a piña colada. Very nice. read more

We had great service and food. The restaurant is in the back of a store so it wasn't very crowded which is a shame because it was delicious. The restaurant is a tropical patio and two women were playing the xylophone. We had mole enchiladas and steak fajitas. Delicious. read more

What a lovely experience! The service here was very good! The host greeted me, and proceeded to serve me as well. I mentioned to the server that I was interested in shrimp tacos. He got excited and showed me the special of the day, shrimp tacos for $12 (I think). Four tacos, a serving of rice and Pico with chips for only $12! For the tourist area, the price was pretty inexpensive compared to others. The shrimp tacos were very delicious! The shrimp is tempura battered and fried. They came with cabbage and a sauce. I added the pico to give it extra flavor and substance.The rice was pretty tasty too! After eating, you can go shopping in the liquor shop connected to the store, convenient! So I went in, sampled some of the tequila and bought a couple of small bottles as gifts. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to travelers! read more

Pancho's Backyard - Mexican Near Me - San Miguel de Cozumel, ROO

We have visited every time we are in Cozumel since 2001. It is a hidden gem! Food is great, margaritas are authentic, and the music makes the whole experience. Serene setting with cool breezes and always great and friendly service. A must stop! read more

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Was good last year. Fantastic in fact. We returned same day (wife's birthday) this yea 1 year later. But this time drinks menu gone and food dropped a level. Marimba guys are still here and dutifully played the obligatory tune. I suspect it changed hands and the new owner is not focused on what made this place a destination. Margaritas are ok but before it was the best. My beef burrito was a disappointment and the wife's chimichanga was actually 3 enchiladas. So yeah what's up with that. I waited patiently for hot sauce which took 20 minutes but was fresh and amazingly hot but was perfection. Omg so frustrating. Outdoor patio with marimba players is a great place to chill. read more

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We had lunch at this charming restaurant. There are tourist shops attached but we didn't have time: maybe next year! There is a great local atmosphere and decor and everything we had was good. I had a deep fried chicken roll: very crunchy and tasty. Drinks and service were very good. read more

Very good reliable American/Mexican food. has been in business for over 40 years and they have a warm inviting atmosphere. Adjacent to the Cinco soles shopping store. Panchos provides a wide array of Mexican American standards, but they are very well prepared and presented. They generally have background live music as well. The service is attentive. Best time to go if you are staying in town is at night when it is charming at lunch quieter than during the day when it is crowded with hoards of cruise ship passengers. read more

My to go to restuarant when visiting Cozumel. Outstanding food and strong drinks. My to go place when visiting downtown Cozumel. Give it a try . You won't regret it. read more

Our second visit in two years and just as nice as the first time, with the marimba playing our favorite song, Una Polama Blanca while we sip margaritas and cocktails on the beautiful courtyard. Their guacamole and fresh chips are the best, and I've eaten guac and chips from Cabo to Playa del Carmen (and daily in California where I live). Service is friendly and the waiter made sure I avoided food containing my various annoying food allergies. Cheese Quesadillas were a good choice. Follow the sign on the sidewalk and walk through the upscale souvenir/glassware shop to Poncho and indulge in a giant cocktail-life is good. It is worth the walk along the waterfront past the ferry dock. read more

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Not sure about all the great reviews either. Got all excited about enjoying a great lunch here and made a reservation in advance on opentable for 2pm. Four of us took a $8 taxi from the international cruise terminal to Pancho's Backyard so you will pass through downtown on your way. Margarita is overly sour and has very little tequila. We ordered the chips with Guac and "salsa" which is pico de Gallo. Asked for fresh chilies or jalapeños and got the canned pickled jalapeño. Guacamole is mashed avocado with no salt and some queso blanco. Disappointing. The rest of the meal was slow. The chicken quesadilla is bland. The garlic shrimp has no garlic. Mahi was a little over cooked and firm. The waiter has a terrible attitude and made faces at us when we were figuring out their "tip" system using our credit card. You have let him know how much to tip when you give him your card. He seems impatient and was very unhappy with what we tipped. Made faces and did kinda a "horse-like" grunt at his dissatisfaction at us. read more

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Fish tacos were very good, Service was good atmosphere was really good! Overall Very Good!! I always enjoy this place when I come on a ship. read more

The restaurant is so beautifully decorated. I could hear water running and it was so tranquil. The food is delicious. We will visit again.

Tried the shrimp empanadas -- they were average at best Also had the carne asada (sooo tasty 5/5! Honestly saving grace for this review!) Beef fajitas were OK. Would not get again Margaritas were notttt good Also tried the garlic shrimp, was OK Service and ambiance were excellent though read more

We stopped in to the attached gift shop and were told by a few that Pancho's had fantastic margaritas. They weren't kidding. They were good and strong. A few in our group got quite the buzz while walking the streets on our tour for the next t few hours. I'd love to go back for more drinks and perhaps some food next time too. read more

We ate at Pancho's twice because we loved the decor and ambiance. The food was impressive and beautiful to look at and taste!live marimba music was subtle and a nice background. We fell into a great dining experience read more

Oh my, we've eaten here over 12 times. Authentic Mexican. Love the Marachi band. The margaritas are incredible. And, the service divine.