15 Best Restaurants in Tulum, Mexico | The Very Best Tulum Restaurants!

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Tulum, Mexico was once a sleepy village tucked in the jungle below Mayan ruins. 

Tulum is a stand-out for several reasons – one being the general tropical chill that drives the town and its residents. It is known for its wide beaches and crescent moon shape. Its buildings are nestled into a cliffside, offering guests views of the Caribbean Sea, which at times seem endless and surreal. 

Tulum has blossomed into not only a tourist attraction but also a haven for artists, culinary enthusiasts, and beach bums alike.

Whether you’re looking for fresh seafood from simple beach-side shacks, the best authentic tacos in town, or even gluten-free burritos or tasting menus for special occasions — restaurants in Tulum and this list have you covered!

If you’re more into doing than eating delicious food, I’ve made a list of the best things to do in Tulum (spoiler: more food!)

And, if you want to be experiencing food while exploring the bay, check out my yacht guide and find a tour that fits you.

Visiting other foodie meccas in Mexico? Check out these guides:

• 6 Must-Try Dishes When You Visit Baja California Sur, Mexico
• 15 Best Merida Breakfasts
• 10 Must-Try Restaurants in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
• A Walking Food Tour of Cancun with Eat Mexico
• 11 Must Try Bars & Restaurants in Cancun
• 15 Must Try Playa Del Carmen Restaurants
• Top Things to Do In Mexico City, Mexico
• Best Guadalajara Restaurants
• 9 Amazing Things To Do In Cozumel
• 13 Must-Try Restaurants in Cancun

While in Tulum, don’t miss out on activities that will help immerse yourself with the city (hurry while they’re hot!):

• Tulum and Cenotes 5 Hour Guided Tour
• Tulum and Coba: Full-Day Archeological Tour with Lunch
• From Tulum: Sian Ka’an Half-Day Tour
• From Tulum: Chichen Itza, Cenote, and Valladolid Tour
• Tulum: Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket & Tequila Tasting

Best Restaurants in Tulum

El Asadero

Av. Satelite Nte. Mz 23 Lt.5 entre Sagitario y // 01 984 157 8998

There are a number of great places to eat in Tulum and El Asadero is one of them. You won’t be disappointed with the atmosphere, food, service, or views. It’s great for couples wanting to get away or a party of ten looking to treat themselves.

El Asadero serves a wide variety of traditional Mexican cuisine, from Puebla style mole negro to more modern interpretations of Mexican dishes like smoked duck breast with tequila and pomegranate sauce. For those who want something quick, there’s a small bar and take-out area in the front of the restaurant.

If you are in Tulum, you must eat some seafood. This is why El Asadero is so deservedly popular with seafood lovers as well as with meat lovers. The steaks are very tender, well-cooked, and seasoned to perfection. The choices on the menu also include shrimp, octopus, and squid, but if you ask for it, the chefs will be glad to prepare a lobster tail for you as well.

There’s also a good selection of wines, and their margaritas are addictive.  All this contributes to making El Asedero one of the best restaurants in Tulum. 

Burrito Amor

Av Tulum Pte Mz 3 Lote 5 Local 1 // 01 984 160 2989

For many travelers, the biggest challenge is finding Tulum restaurants with healthy food options that are also delicious. While there’s no shortage of these restaurants in Tulum, Burrito Amor has some of the best options in the area. 

Their fresh ingredients are prepared using superfoods like chia seeds and raw honey, combined with slow food techniques to ensure a good meal. 

Although located in the midst of chaos on Playa Caracol, you can’t miss Burrito Amor once you arrive.

Be sure to also check out their breakfast burritos — tortillas filled with fluffy eggs and your choice of fillings ranging from Mayan spinach to smoked pork and air-dried beef from Monterrey!

Other breakfast options include homemade cinnamon granola with coconut milk, tapioca custard with toasted coconut, and avocado toast.  Whichever meal you are ready for, you’ll love this great place to eat in Tulum. 

Sabor del Mar

Calle Júpiter Sur // 01 984 178 4510

Sabor del Mar is one of my favorite Tulum restaurants to eat in for seafood. It’s not fancy, but the seafood dishes are done well, the kitchen is very fast, and the prices are very reasonable. It’s a low-key place with English and Spanish menus.

 You choose what you want to eat from a photo menu on a clipboard; they write your order on the clipboard and then hand you a receipt to give to the waiter.

Must-try dishes include the tuna tower, ceviches, tuna tostadas, and fish tacos. 

Pro tip: Due to the popularity of the place, it’s not uncommon to be asked to wait 30-45 minutes for a table at dinner. If you’re not a fan of waiting, you can come for lunch; they open starting at noon. It’s usually not as busy as lunchtime. Also, they do not sell alcohol. 

For seafood in Tulum, this is an unbeatable match of quality and variety. 

Antojitos La Chiapaneca

Calle Acuario Nte. 3 // +52 984 112 3249

Finding great street food in Tulum is easy, but finding a great street food restaurant with an unmatched selection of Mexican fare is another story. 

That’s why I love Antojitos La Chiapaneca for its traditional street-food style Mexican cuisine prepared by the owner and his family. Order the grilled meat on soft corn tortillas for incredible tacos that cost less than 20 pesos each. 

Do not miss their pork chop in salsa verde and their pollo asado con rajas de poblano a la parrilla.

Find a table inside or perch at the bar as the waiters bring you plates of whatever you desire.  There are bowls to dress your tacos with freshly cut limes, diced onion, cilantro, and several different hot sauces. A  word to the wise, though; check the heat of the sauce before you pour it on your food; the habanero peppers are strong!

You’ll find yourself sitting alongside groups of locals and a few tourists, all enjoying the simple yet delicious food. This was easily one of the best and cheapest meals I had in a Tulum Restaurant. I even went back the next day — it was that good!

Humo

77760 Tulum, Quintana Roo // +52 98 42 35 7425

Humo is a charming rustic Mexican restaurant in the heart of Tulum’s main plaza and market. Located across from Yoga Rao and Pangea, next to Aara Spa, it’s easy to find. The building is painted light green and there’s a large wooden sign above the door with the name Humo.

One of my favorite places in Tulum to eat is Humo restaurant. The food is always fresh and delicious and the prices are very reasonable.

Humo offers generous portions of Mexican and international cuisine and attracts many visitors who then try local dishes which include mole de olla, chilaquiles, barbacoa, or machaca con huevos al gusto, pozole Verde and many more.

Kay Nah

Calle Centauro Sur 249

There are so many restaurants in Tulum, but none better than Kay Nah. I love the open-air ambiance of this restaurant. The location is perfect and the staff is super friendly.

 It’s good to know that there are a variety of vegetarian dishes available, along with Mexican and seafood specialties. I possibly ate a bit too much, but it was worth every bite!

They have an amazing variety of seafood that you can choose from (fish, octopus, shrimp, oysters, etc) and they also have a variety of Mexican food. The price of everything is very affordable which is great because all of what they offer is really fresh.

Tulum Beach Road Restaurants

Hartwood

Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila 7 

Hartwood is an open-air restaurant located on the jungle side of Tulum’s beach road. It is known to be one of the best Tulum restaurants for fine dining.

The menu at Hartwood changes daily based on what is freshly caught or harvested. All cooking is done by open fire within a hand-made wood-burning oven and grill, imparting incredible flavor into each dish. 

Examples of dishes that you can expect to find include fresh fish, octopus, and shrimp, all expertly prepared. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, Hartwood also makes excellent steaks, and they are famous for their honey-roasted ribs. 

Pro tip: This Tulum restaurant is dinner only, Wednesday to Sunday, and this is somewhere you will definitely want to make a reservation in advance. Reservations are accepted up to one month in advance by emailing reservations@hartwoodtulum.com. Hartwood only accepts cash payments. 

Villa Pescadores

Carretera Tulum Ruinas a Boca Paila Km.3 // 01 984 231 1077

Villa Pescadores is one of the best Tulum restaurants to eat in. Located on the beach with a large outdoor patio, this oceanfront restaurant has an affordable menu that features tasty fish tacos and more, not to mention fresh-brewed sangria and late-night snacks. 

This Tulum restaurant doubles as both a bar and a restaurant, making it an ideal location for a night out on the town, and its relaxed atmosphere will make you never want to leave.

Villa Pescadores certainly wins the prize for the most interesting presentation of its delicious ceviche.  

The seafood was near-perfectly fresh and served with fried tortilla chips in a modern restaurant that always seemed busy, though it never felt crowded. 

My favorite dish was the ceviche marinated in lime juice that had just a hint of house-made espresso grounds for a perfect blend of sweet and salty flavors. 

What’s even better about Villa Pescadores is that they do not charge an expensive fee for sitting on their oceanfront restaurant chairs or beds. You just have to order something. This is pretty uncommon, as most beachfront restaurants or lounge chairs have a minimum charge of around 500 pesos per person to enjoy their premium property.  Just one more reason to try this oceanfront restaurant in Tulum.

Kitchen Table

Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila km 6-km 6 // +52 98 41 88 4924

I really like Kitchen Table Restaurant. Kitchen is a restaurant serving up what can be considered the perfect breakfast in Tulum, Mexico.

The Kitchen Table is a definite must-visit. A simple, local restaurant serving up traditional Yucatecan food in an intimate space with some of the best rum cocktails anyone could ever ask for.

 I really like their seafood tacos, and their whole roasted lobster and short rib. is amazing.

They even have an excellent variety of vegetarian options which can be tough to find in Mexican and seafood places since a lot of them merely offer meat plates.

Taboo Tulum

Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila Zona Hotelera Km 7 // +52 99 86 90 0259

I really like Taboo Tulum Restaurant and like that they offer such good seafood and Mexican food. During the daytime, the restaurant gives you a very relaxed atmosphere almost like you’re on vacation again. 

But during the nighttime, this restaurant transforms into a nightclub atmosphere and has energetic dancers and violinists dancing and playing music all around you, which will surely make your heartbeat go faster!

With the tropical colors and the sounds of the ocean in the background, you feel like you’re not in Tulum anymore which is always a good thing. Great food and drinks are prepared by the attentive staff. It’s our favorite restaurant in Tulum.

I love the fried fish tacos served at lunchtime, all freshly cooked, the grilled fish and seafood as well as their roasted octopus or salmon for dinner. I feel comfortable going there because they treat you so well with a smile on their face, friendly service is always available.

Vagalume-Tulum

QROO 15, Tulum Beach // +52 98 4 217 8728

Vagalume Tulum Restaurant offers such good seafood and Mexican food. This restaurant is reasonably priced, and the environment is friendly. 

All of their wait staff are very knowledgeable about the menu and take or order promptly. 

I’ve visited this place more than once, and every time I’ve gotten exactly what I wanted.

Vagalume Tulum Restaurant offers the tastiest chips and salsa. I have tried several dishes from their menu but my favorite is their Vaca Frita Tacos with Cilantro Lime Rice and Pico de Gallo. I also like that they offer a good vegetarian selection on their menu.

I highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to try a Mexican seafood Yucatan plate restaurant.

The Mexican Experience

Hotel Manglex, Carretera Tulum-Boca Paila Km 10 // 01 984 211 4877

The Mexican Experience shows Yucatan’s vibrant dishes in an immersive and entertaining way. The food is made by a network of small family restaurants, prepared fresh, and joined together into one extraordinary evening. 

The creators behind this new interactive dining concept are director Andres Padilla and his wife, Xavier Badia.

The dinner is arranged along with a long communal table and is limited to only 21 people.

The three-hour gastronomic adventure starts with a tequila and mezcal tasting and a fun cocktail-making lesson. After drinks, the seven-course dinner commences. The tasting menu celebrates the region’s best ingredients – and there are likely some you may have never tried or even knew existed.

 My favorite dish? Hands down, the cacao mousse with mezcal-infused caramel. That melt-in-your-mouth goodness will have you begging for more!  For a unique dining experience in Tulum, make sure to have a Mexican Experience. 

Arca Tulum

Av. Boca Paila, Tulum Beach // +52 98 41 77 2231

Arca Tulum Restaurant is a restaurant located in Tulum, Mexico, that serves an impressive selection of Grilled Octopus in Recado Negro Terrine,  Grilled Deer Ribs, Fresh Chayote Salad, and many more impressive and tasty dishes. The restaurant has a very nice view, incredible food, and the best egg rolls around.

I suggest ordering the white fish fillet, it is really tasty. It looks like it has bacon inside it which for some reason doesn’t come through in taste but this fish fillet has such a beautiful crunch to the skin as well as on the outside.  

I also recommend getting the Seafood Paella, it is really spectacular and has a variety of seafood. The crispiness of their fish makes this dish.

Chamico’s Tulum

Bahia Soliman Bay, Caleta Tanka // 984-115-0260

On my recent first trip to Tulum, I stayed on the beach and enjoyed a ton of local Tulum restaurants. I was really craving some cheap and cheerful authentic food (preferably on the beach).  I assumed it was impossible until I found Chamico’s Tulum.

Situated about fifteen minutes north of Tulum town on an isolated cove, Chamico’s is probably Tulum’s best-kept secret and not the sort of place people often stumble across.

They serve beautiful fresh fish, ceviche, salads, and quesadillas, along with the best margaritas I’ve had anywhere.

Full of Mexican locals and consisting of plastic tables and chairs and hammocks along a soft sandy protected beach, spending the afternoon here was the highlight of our stay in Tulum. For your taste of authentic Mexican food, make sure to try this Tulum restaurant.

Pro tip: Chamico’s has a second location in town with the same great food, but it lacks the view and beach-side location. I recommend making your way to the beachfront location!

Líquido y Sólido

Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila Km 2.5 // +52 98 41 19 7014

Several kilometers down the road from Tulum: more precisely, 5.5 kilometers south of the town’s center, is a small yet elegant restaurant run by Canadian artist Kyle and Mexican chef Ramón.

Sitting in the middle of a small garden, dressed in brown and orange colors, Liquido y Solido Restaurant is a lovely restaurant. The terracotta bowls, the wooden bench, the colorful plates all make you feel as if you had just traveled to old Tulum, where this restaurant is located.

The food is not only delicious but also beautiful to see, served on wooden trays or terracotta bowls, in delightful presentations. Vegan and vegetarian options available. On the menu, you can also find tasty juices and frappes of all sorts.

When you visit the city of Tulum, Mexico, you’ll find an array of delicious food options. You will find typical Mexican dishes as well as gourmet specialties. And you’ll have a variety of flavors- sweet, savory, and spicy. 

So, which one of these Tulum restaurants do you choose?