For anyone looking for an authentic Mexican dining experience, Playa del Carmen is the perfect destination.
With its unique blend of influences from regional cuisine, this beachy town offers tantalizing traditional dishes like tacos al pastor, tortas ahogadas, cochinita pibil, and many more.
Whether you prefer traditional fare or modern twists on old favorites, Playa del Carmen is sure to have something that your taste buds won’t forget!
If you’re looking to get your fill of delicious Mexican cuisine when visiting Playa del Carmen, then check out our list of 16 authentic dishes you must try!
1. Tacos de Carnitas
Tacos de carnitas are a traditional Mexican street food that feature slow-cooked, shredded pork wrapped in homemade corn tortillas and then topped with a variety of fresh vegetables, salsas, and sauces. Carnitas tacos have a distinct flavor due to the traditional marinade used for the pork before cooking. This dish is popular in tourist destinations like Playa del Carmen for its unique taste and convenience.
2. Barbacoa
Barbacoa is a Mexican-style dish of slow-cooked meats, usually beef, that have been traditionally cooked over an open fire or in a covered pit and covered with moist, fragrant maguey leaves for a smoky flavor. The barbacoa can be pulled apart into small pieces and served as tacos or piled onto tostadas topped with salsa and shredded lettuce.
3. Quesadillas de Carnitas
Quesadillas de carnitas offer another convenient option for those looking for an easy-to-eat snack or light meal in Playa del Carmen’s thriving restaurant scene. Quesadillas are made with soft corn tortillas that are filled with melted cheese and strips of seasoned pork. They are then lightly grilled until golden brown and served with salsa or guacamole on the side.
4. Tortas Ahogadas de Carne
Tortas ahogadas de carnitas is one of the most indulgent dishes on any Playa Del Carmen menu, featuring thickly sliced buns piled high with braised pulled pork drenched in a spicy red sauce known as “salsa brava” or “chipotle sauce.” This messy but very tasty sandwich can be found at many Mexican food stands all over the city. It gives visitors an authentic tasting experience they won’t soon forget.
5. Pambazos de Carnitas
A pambazo is one of the simplest but most satisfying sandwiches you will find in all of Mexico, using soft, crusty rolls oozing with chorizo oil slathered over thinly sliced onions, cilantro leaves, and tender chunks of slow-cooked pork carnitas wedged between two halves of bread that create a wonderfully delicious combination!
These tantalizing open-face sandwiches have become increasingly popular among tourists visiting Playa Del Carmen, thanks to their unique flavor profile that everyone loves!
6. Burritos de Carnitas
Burritos also make great snack options throughout the city! Soft, warm flour tortillas are filled generously with your choice of shredded beef, tender chunks, or pulled pork nestled within rice beans and diced tomato salsa mixed together for added flavor and texture, ending up as small bundles full of these interesting ingredients!
Burritos constructed from carnitas meat are easily one of Playa Del Carmen’s favorite treats within Mexican dishes due to their appealing simplicity yet major flavor.
7. Chicken Tamales
If you’re looking for an original Mexican dish to try in Playa del Carmen, look no further than chicken tamales! A classic handheld snack, chicken tamales are both tasty and nutritious. The masa is made with corn flour and other ingredients like lard and seasonings.
The interior of the corn husk contains chicken pieces covered with a flavorful salsa sauce. Chicken tamales are popular in the region, so be sure to give them a try when you visit Playa del Carmen!
8. Taquitos
Taquitos, also known as flautas, are a traditional Mexican snack that is popular in Playa del Carmen. They are made with corn or flour tortillas, which are filled with meat, cheese, or vegetables and then deep-fried until golden and crispy.
9. Chilaquiles
Chilaquiles are a traditional Mexican breakfast dish that is popular all over Mexico, but especially in the Playa Del Carmen area. It is typically made from crispy fried corn tortilla chips simmered in a spicy tomato sauce and topped with cheese, onion, shredded cabbage, and sour cream. It is perfect for sipping a bit at a time from the bowl and satisfying your cravings for everyday Mexican breakfast meals!
10. Enchiladas
Enchiladas are one of the most popular staples at Mexican restaurants all over Playa del Carmen. Most of the time, these dishes are made with soft corn or flour tortillas filled with chicken or beef and covered in a variety of cheesy sauces. They are then served with sides like rice and beans to make a flavor combination that is hard to forget.
11. Tacos al Pastor
Tacos al pastor are arguably one of the most iconic dishes from Mexico and have become a mainstay on menus all over Playa del Carmen—it’s easy to see why! They’re simple tacos stuffed with pork marinated in chiles and pineapple and grilled on a vertical spit like gyros are in Greece or shawarma is across the Middle East—delicious for any type of hunger!
12. Elote
Elote means “roasted corn,” but there’s much more to this classic street food than just charred kernels straight off the cob. At elote carts in Playa del Carmen, you can get bowls of boiled fresh sweet corn covered in mayonnaise, lime juice, chili powder (or tajin), crumbled queso fresco cheese, cilantro, and salt. This makes for a salty, sweet, smoky treat that is hard to resist!
13. Pozole
Pozole is one of those dishes that you must try once you arrive in Playa Del Carmen because this hearty stew has been a part of Mexico’s culinary fabric since pre-Hispanic times when sacrificial meats were thrown into simmering pots for feasts—thankfully, many restaurants serve pozole that is packed with flavor but not violence!
It’s traditionally made from hominy simmered with pork shoulder broth, chiles, garlic, spices, herbs, onions, limes, and avocado radishes. If you make it far enough, it comes together like one delicious bite, making its way around your taste buds!
14. Molcajete
The Molcajete is one of Playa del Carmen’s all-time favorites! This traditional pre-Hispanic Mexican dish consists of a variety of goodies decently grilled over a hot volcanic stone known as a “molcajete,” which gives this dish its name, ranging from plump grilled shrimp to steak cubes.
Typically served atop nopales ribbons, onion cactus strips, and every type of bell pepper available, they are dipped in homemade guacamole and a variety of sauces, such as salsa verde or habanero, making for an unforgettable meal.
15. Sopes de Carne Asada
It’s possible that sope de carne asada (steak sope) did not originate in Yucatán. But if you go to PDC, chances are you can find them almost anywhere, especially around the beach area, where they have become a crowd favorite.
Although they lack authenticity, they certainly make up for it in flavor thanks to their wide variety of toppings, including onion-cilantro mix, butter beans, pico de gallo cheese, and ranchero sauce.
16. Pescado Tikin Xic
Pescado tikin xic is one of the more iconic dishes offered around Playa del Carmen seaside restaurants; this fish specialty consists of snapper marinated in annatto paste, accompanied by some exotic herbs and spices. Cooking over a wood fire is a Mayan tradition that provides an exquisite smoky flavor that pairs well with crunchies like mashed black beans.
Finished with flaky chunks of steamed coconut milk, nearby clumps of moist land, and traditional brown tamales wrapped in banana leaves and seasoned with nutmeg, pork lardon caviar, and pickled onions, given that freshly caught seafood is a staple diet, we could say fish tacos have reached new heights in terms of flavor.
Local dessert offerings include favorites like xcaret crushed cookies, chocolate lava cake, fusion panna cotta chocolate ice cream, and regional specialties like corn and peanut soup, caramelized ripe plantains, and fresh honeycomb, to name a few suggestions.
Take a culinary journey through Playa del Carmen with the best 16 traditional Mexican dishes. Don’t miss out on these amazing foods!
Additional Resources and Information
Here is a list of website link resources related to authentic Mexican food in Playa del Carmen:
- Yelp – THE BEST 10 Mexican Restaurants in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico – Last Updated July 2023 – Yelp | Link
- The Culture Trip – Top 10 Traditional Mexican Restaurants in Playa del Carmen | Link
- TripAdvisor – THE 10 BEST Mexican Restaurants in Playa del Carmen (2023) | Link
- A Piece of Travel – 10 AMAZING Mexican Restaurants in Playa del Carmen – A Piece of Travel | Link
- Everything Playa del Carmen – Best Mexican Restaurants in Playa Del Carmen | Link
- Playa del Carmen – Mexican Restaurants in Playa del Carmen | Link
- TripAdvisor – THE 15 BEST Playa Del Carmen Restaurants | July 2023 Guide | Link
- TripAdvisor – Authentic tacos and Mexican food (where the locals eat) – Playa del Carmen Forum | Link
- TripAdvisor – best authentic mexican restaurant – Playa del Carmen Forum | Link
- TripAdvisor – Authentic Mexican food – Playa del Carmen Forum | Link
These resources provide information on the best Mexican restaurants, local favorites, and recommendations for authentic Mexican food in Playa del Carmen. Enjoy exploring the vibrant culinary scene in Playa del Carmen!
