El Mariachi Restaurant, Tulum

There are MANY restaurants on Tulum Ave. Many of them are less than busy, all that is except for El Mariachi. This place always has at least a few tables full of people enjoying their food. They have a rock filled floor so it is pretty casual, but the food makes you feel like you are eating at a much fancier place.
They have televisions playing and you can ask them to change the channel if you want. They staff is extremely friendly. They are there to make sure that you are having a good time and that you are enjoying your experience. They are so attentive, but not the annoying kind of attentive.
The food is delicious.
One of the drawbacks is that it attracts large groups and some tours. So it can get quite busy and noisy. However, it is so worth the vist.

Favorite Dish: I split the seafood dish for two. It was a mix of many different types of seafood and vegetables. The vegetables, you can tell, were frozen. I was disappointed by that. However, I noticed that the vegetables were things you most likely would find at an American establishment, like they wanted to appeal to the tourist set. In some ways that made me sad. In other ways, it made me relieved. At least I knew I was not going to get turista from the vegetables. The seafood was all fresh. It was so delicious. This place is definitely worth the visit.

A simple place that seems to entertain Mexicans as much as it does travelers. Really, it's nothing too fancy, your usual beer and margaritas and salsas and guacamole, except to say that the ingredients are as fresh as one can get and it just feels like a nice place to burn an hour or two. The waiter will roll up a napkin into a paper rose for you if he likes you.

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It's an open-air bar with a live dj (the music is pretty cheesy American/Mexican) The food was excellent, pretty traditional Mexican fare. The best part was the margaritas. They knock your socks off! One night around 11pm the marriachis actually rolled up and played a few songs. The were a bit disheveled and we had a strong suspicion that they all were pretty wasted. This made the evening only that much more hilarious!

Favorite Dish: The carnes platter for 2...best fajitas in town!

After spending the big bucks on a touristy place we love finding where the locals eat. we think we found one on 307 in tulum, just south of the ruins. el Mariachi. Really friendly people, really good tacos al pastor, good limey guacamole and great salsas. Muy Caliente!! Look out! so good!

Favorite Dish: Tacos al Pastor.

It´s not a fine restaurant (you sit outside in garden furniture), but the food is good, relatively cheap plus you can add items from their free buffet (potatoes, rice, refried beans, salad, vegetables, hot sauces,...).