Which is Tulum Best Mexican Restaurant?

Taco dishes in Mexico’s culture are referred to as antojitos, which translates to snacks. These tasty bites are a hand-sized tortilla topped with your choice of meat, usually beef or chicken, with salad. If you are more of a seafood type, don’t worry: these delish are usually served with fresh ceviche all along Riviera Maya!

In Tulum, the tacos are usually served with chicken, beef, cheese, beans, fish, and shrimps. Not only does the sauce taste delicious, but they are very affordable. Usually costs 1 dollar per taco, it’s more of a meal for us! 

But, our favorite is the Taco de asador – grilled meat (chicken or beef) garnished with guacamole and habanero sauce, and Taco de Pescado – grilled fish with veggies. You can always ask for a side dish of pico de gallo, rice or black beans: this is a very common and cheap Mexican dish and it’s one of the things you should really try during your time in Mexico!

Ceviches is a famous dish made from fresh raw fish, shrimp, or octopus. They are a widely popular menu across the beaches and hotel restaurants of Riviera Maya, from Cancun to Playa del Carmen and Tulum. In the islands you will find particular versions of ceviche, so check it out in Holbox and Cozumel. The thing that makes ceviche special is how the sour flavor and texture refreshes our bodies!

This is the perfect dish when you spend a hot day at the beach or after diving in the Caribbean ocean.

Our favorite salsa and a great alternative to guacamole, you will be able to find it in restaurants all over Mexico, not only in Yucatan. Pico de Gallo is served mainly with diced tomatoes, onion, lime, and cilantro. It tastes like ceviches, but you pair it with corn chips (totopos) or over your taco instead. That’s the perfect vegan alternative and they are wonderful for snacking!

A simple Yucatan breakfast served with toasted taco tortillas soaked with hot sauce. To enhance the dish, you can add chicken, beef, or eggs on top. Lastly, the cheese, coriander, beans, and onion are sprinkled as toppings and served hot!

It’s basically the most loved breakfast in Yucatan and definitely worth trying during your visit to Mexico!

The term Aguas Frescas means fresh water. This is a non-alcoholic drink that is served from mixed fruits, sweeteners, and water. They are heavenly to drink on a hot beach day, and it goes well with any other Mexican meals you eat! You will find them between the street food stands as well as in restaurants. Our favorite? Horchata! 

The Yucatan peninsula, home to ancient Maya ruins and cenotes, boasts its own traditional Mayan dishes! 

But don’t worry about mixing the Mexican and Yucatan dishes up. Below we will show our favorite Yucatan dishes that are more affordable in town, unlike the restaurants in the hotel zone. You will try the best of Mayan cuisine in Yucatan’s inland, but there are some great Mayan restaurants in Tulum as well.

So, let’s travel and explore the popular Yucatan dishes below!

An original Mayan roasted pork dish from the Yucatan! It’s mainly pork stew marinated with achiote sauce and wrapped with banana leaves, and left to to cook slowly. Once ready, open the leaves and enjoy the tender pork stew. You can also add your favorite side dish, for us that will be either tortillas, rice and sometimes beans topped with cheese. In fact, during your day trip to Yucatan you can’t miss a taco with cochinita pibil!

A signature Mayan dish combines two essential Yucatan ingredients: pork & sour orange. Unlike Cochinita Pibil, this juicy pork dish is grilled and topped with habanero sauce. It will let all the flavor blend with the meat nicely. At last, poc chuc is commonly enjoyed with rice and refried beans and it’s easy to find it in many restaurants in Yucatan.

Similar to tacos, Salbutes y Panuchos has its tortilla stuffed with refried beans, sealed, and fried. Then, they are topped with tomatoes, chicken, beef, onion, and avocado. They are ideal for a quick bite and a short lunch break before going on the go.

We all know how beautiful Tulum’s nature can be. From the enchanting Mayan jungle, underwater cenotes, and spectacular Caribbean view, the Yucatan dishes are something you should try out. There are a lot of restaurants to visit!

The things that make it better is their affordability and great taste in local restaurants. You don’t have to spend your money on restaurants and hotels in the beach zone.

Out of the cities in Riviera Maya, from Isla Mujeres, Cancun, and Playa del Carmen, Tulum has the tastiest Mexican and Mayan dishes around! So, don’t travel out of Tulum yet before taking a visit to these restaurants!

• Best for grilled and stew pork, fresh fruit water, and habanero sauce

Best local taco in Tulum! Taqueria Honorio is famous for its grilled pork dishes, especially the poc chuc. For just a price of 24 pesos per piece, you will enjoy every inch of the juicy flavors and texture of the grilled pork. To enhance the taste, add hot sauce and cheese, and buen provecho! 

Note: We highly recommend you visit right before or after lunch time to avoid the hungry crowds.

• Best for Tacos, salad, and toppings (chicken, beef, and cheese)

Another popular taqueria in Tulum is known for its flavorful meat (beef, chicken, and pork) and customizable dishes! For my vegan foodies, the guacamole is also great to pair with the tostadas.

Note: If you want more amazing taco restaurants in Tulum, visit our top list of taquerias! Take note of all the affordable and delicious tacos around!

• Best for grilled meat (chicken, beef, pork), burrito, and tacos

The grilled dishes here are some of the best in Tulum! Delight in the juicy and savory tacos, meats, and seafood! 

Nestled north of the hotel zone and before Playa Paraiso. Has a beautiful spot above the Mayan jungle with a great view of the Caribbean horizon and the surrounding nature. Now, to get the most out of this restaurant, the best time to come is in the afternoon to view the beautiful sunset, and stay till night to listen to live music!

Note: try out their grilled beef burrito, super recommended!

• Best for: Ceviches, rice, pico de gallo, beans, and guacamole

Although almost all hotel zone restaurants serve seafood dishes, El Camello is the only restaurant that serves the best ceviches in town! 

This is our go-to restaurant for ceviches. The ceviches’ flavor sits perfectly in our mouths out of all the others! As a side dish, try their rice, which is surprisingly flavorful than at other restaurants.

After taking your order, they will serve you traditional black beans topped with cheese that you can dip in. Tortillas. But, if you prefer another appetizer, we recommend ordering the guacamole or the pico de gallo! They are delicious, and you will love them.

• Best for Grilled meat burrito, taco, salad, and refreshing fruit water

La Zebra is one of the luxurious hotels across the hotel zone. This one stands out because of its savory Mexican cuisine, gastronomy, and live music that we love so much. So, do yourself a favor and enjoy their scrumptious shrimp tacos, salads, and refreshing fruit water!

You can arrange a private candle dinner just by the beach with La Zebra for special occasions. Highly recommend it for couples to enjoy an intimate space and the tropical Caribbean scenery together.