The 12 best spots for chicken in Playa del Carmen

This is a excellent spot for breakfast, beautiful outdoor courtyard and we really enjoyed our breakfast here. The food and drinks and service is very good. The fresh passion fruit juice is phenomenal and we will definitely be back for another great experience!

Absolutely stunning Chilequiles! And with fantastic warm and friendly service this place should not be overlooked! I highly recommend it! Great food amazing service and has a bit of a rain forest vibe! Lots of healthy menu options too!

Hands down the best restaurant!! I LOVED my enchiladas!! Everyone loved their food and they were very accommodating! I loved the is that really what they said juice of the day, which was banana, guava and orange juice.

Food and service was amazing for a brunch on a sunday morning. Place can get pretty busy but we were seated within 30minutes. We ordered chilaquiles and huevos rancheros, the Xcatic chilaquiles leaned more towards acidic and sour. Food is average but they offer a few salsas to add more depth to the food if you wish. La Cueva del Chango is clean and well ventilated with fans and lots of open space. I highly recommend the freshly pressed juices they have in the menu!

Amazing restaurant offering both local and Western dishes, set in a beautiful jungle atmosphere. The food is delicious, the staff are outstanding, and the prices are very reasonable compared to nearby options

Me and my friends were there for dinner on a Saturday night. The location is amazing and the atmosphere is very jungly. There were animals hoping on the trees around. My friends loved the food, my dish was not amazing, the meat was dry and the salad was nothing special either. I would definitely try another time.

Great place, didn't have to wait to be seated. Breakfast was great, and came in quick. Waitress very attentive.

This is a hidden gem in PDC. We loved it so much we went 3 times during our week stay. The food and service was fantastic. The roasted chicken is not only tender and delicious but so reasonably priced also. That sauce is killer, spicy but very flavorful not just heat. Its like French/Mexican fusion which was awesome. I also had the pasta one night and it was so creamy and tasty. Each time we ate there our bill never surpassed 500pesos. Best service I experienced all week while I was in Mexico. Fabian the owner is from Paris and he was attentive and just "gets" customer service. There is a reason people line up to eat here. We will definitely be back next time we are in Playa. Merci Fabian!

Great food. Owner was fun to talk to. Off the beaten path if you like that (I do!) No air conditioning so know that going in. I highly recommend. My favorite in Playa del Carmen.

We had a lovely dinner with wine, one appetizer, 2 entrees, and dessert for a bargain $77 US including tip. Service was wonderful. Food was amazing. Definitely would go back.

Absolutely amazing spot. We decided to try in playa del Carmen. We just had the simple rotisserie chicken and some drinks and it was so good. Whatever they put on that chicken, is magical. There are also great waiters here.

If this place was on 5th they could charge 4× what they charge here. I had the French onion soup and ribeye, with pepper sauce and it was by far one of the best meals I have had in Playa del Carmen. My wife had the quarter chicken with rice and we shared a chocolate mousse and we got out of there for around $50. Great value.

Arguably the best restaurant in Playa. The owner is from France so you know it's authentic. The chicken is the best I've ever had anywhere and the prices are super affordable. Highly recommend going if you are in Playa

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I’m so happy we decided to come here compared to the rest of places on the strip. BEST FOOD IVE HAD SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE THE WHOLE WEEK! Seasoned deliciously and service is top tier. Drinks are large and not watered down a ten/ten must recommend

For a date stop or to fix your chicken craving, these guys, do a quality job. Service was impeccable for what feels like a faster food dining experience, it wasn't that at all. Attentive and considerate staff. The coleslaw, was actually decent. Not too sweet, like it tends to be here in Mexico. I took my meal to go. Super tasty. The outside dining is clean, inviting and open air, right on 10th Ave, great for people watching. Shout out to this crew for nailing customer service and food quality at very reasonable prices!

The food was delicious. I was pretty surprised to find this spot and I ordered a few dishes as I was not expecting much however the food was flavorful and a very pleasant surprise in Mexico. I ordered rice and peas, curry chicken, jerk chicken and jerk ribs. Based on how good the food was, I eat to my heart's desire and still couldn't eat everything. I really enjoyed the jerk ribs, that was my favorite dish but and everything was so good. I could taste the coconut milk in the rice plus the meats were juicy and tender. I really enjoyed the food. The photo only shows the curry chicken as I was too busy eating to take pictures until the end.

Authentic enough! I’ve passed this place dozens of times and finally decided to try it and I’m so happy I did. It’s the closest thing to a home cooked Caribbean meal you can find in Playa. There’s a constant flow of people in and out. Those who know, know. The servers are very polite but can be a little slow when it gets very busy. The food here is great and it’s a good value for your dollar. We had the Jerk Chicken for two with coleslaw, rice and beans, and Mac and cheese. Zero complaints. The only constructive criticism I have is that they should have authentic Caribbean pepper sauce instead of the liquidy local stuff. Even if they just offered a habanero sauce that would make a difference but I’m guessing there aren’t many people from the islands around here so for most it doesn’t matter. If you want a change from all the fancy plates, and decor and just want a good home cooked Caribbean meal, check this place out.

The food was good but it was just not enough for the amount it cost. It also didn’t really taste like anything special. I got the jerk chicken platter for two and in total with tip it was 469. We got the sides of elote and fries. The fries were just plain French fries. The elote was good but again, it wasn’t anything it wasn’t anything special. They did have an air conditioned area which was nice, and the service was good.

Very casual comfort food spot. Good food. Reasonable prices. Friendly staff (service is slow but that’s playa). Basic yet laid back vibe. You come here for food, not for the decor lol I really like the jerk chicken, and pretty much all the sides. I tried the ribs a long time ago so can’t recall. Can’t wait to try the Rasta pasta next time.

My weekly go to for authentic carribean flavors! The jerk chicken is amazing with flavor down to the bone. The fried chicken and curry chicken also proved to be great selections as well. Always outstanding and attentive service from Juan Luis and Jaco. You won't be disappointed.

Visiting playa as a Jamaican i was very excited to see a Jamaican restaurant so we all decided to go check them out. We ordered jerk chicken to be safe food was Very good. My recommendations try thr jerk ribs and the jerk chicken. We also met the owner and had a one and one talk with him, very humble and cool

Gorgeous restaurant and amazing food! Ate here on my birthday while visiting Playa del Carmen and was so magical and delicious! I have celiac (gluten allergy) and the team was incredibly accommodating and knowledgeable on allergies - Highly recommend the tuna steak - it was so delicious! And the restaurant is actually built around a cenote - super cool experience and some of the best food I ate in Mexico!

My first day in Playa 3 years ago this was the first place I ate and loved it! Fast forward 3 years and my last day in Playa I ate here at the bar and loved it. The food here is authentic, very traditional Mexican food raised a couple of notches. I love the atmosphere, you can sit outside under a natural canopy or go towards the inside, btw, this place a lot bigger than it looks, seating goes way back. Service has always been great. Will I return? Absolutely. Its one of the best restaurants on 38th.

Brilliant little spot in Playa del Carmen, really close to the beach, located in between a little river and gorgeous tall trees. Very green and relaxing. Our starters selection was the main highlight of the visit. Mains and desserts were great too. Attentive and friendly service. Highly recommend to visit - 5*! 😊

Amazing experience and delicious food! Staff was so kind and they have an entire vegan menu which has been hard for my girlfriend to find here (bonus: queer friendly!). Our waiter spoke very good English and had the best recommendations. We came back with friends a few days later for lunch and our taxi’s card reader wasn’t working. We didn’t have cash and all the ATMs were down. The restaurant was so kind and gave us cash and added the expense to our ticket. 10/10 recommend!

top place to try traditional mexican cuisine. Cochinita pibil (with tortilla, marinated onion and salsas) - the best (and not super greasy). Salads and just cooked fish - also lovely and healthy. Ask servers for recommendations

Excellent restaurant off 5th Avenue. Chill vibe, with Cenotes and stream in the garden...with a few fish and a racoon! The beef tenderloin was excellent, as was the accompanying chip & dips. Dessert for me was a Mescal tasting with some history from Fernando. Enjoyed all service and very friendly welcome from staff, including recommendations. Hope to return again soon.

The good was great, just as other reviews described. I had the fish dinner entree and it was smothered with caramelized onions and peppers, tomato and avocado. I highly recommend. Manny people rave about their tuna steak, but my wife and I didn't like that as much as the pescado estilo tikin xic (fish dish). The atmosphere was rustic and open, as of in the jungle. The live music from across the street was great but loud and drowned out what little music this restaurant had.

Out on one of our adventures shopping and mingling. My wife got a whiff of something being open roasted and insisted we follow her nose about the neighborhood to find what she smelled. Sure enough, off the strip was this open roasted chicken joint that satisfied our hunger for delicious fresh made food. I’d go back anytime again as the chicken was juicy, hot and fresh along with pickled onions, rice, salsa and fresh tortillas. Thumbs up!

I’m like Toucan Sam — I follow my nose, and that’s exactly what led me here. You can literally catch the mouthwatering aroma of this place from blocks away, depending on where you’re standing. It’s one of those spots that calls you in before you even see the sign. This is local food at its finest — no frills, just simple, honest cooking that focuses on doing one thing really well: broiled chicken. The menu is limited, but that’s part of the charm. They stick to what they know and execute it perfectly. The chicken was juicy, tender, and full of flavor, cooked to that perfect point where the skin has a nice crisp but the meat stays moist. The sides are pretty straightforward, but a few stood out. While I wasn’t particularly impressed with the rice, the onions were a pleasant surprise — sweet, flavorful, and a great complement to the chicken. The potatoes with cheese sauce were another highlight — rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. And then there’s the house sauce — a serious warning here: it’s super spicy and not for the faint of heart. But if you enjoy a good kick, it’s an excellent addition that takes the flavors up a notch. Pro tips before you go: • Best time to visit is between 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM for quicker seating and a more relaxed experience. • Parking is available behind the building, which makes things easier. • They close early — 6 PM sharp, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly. • Cash only — no cards accepted, so bring some cash and small bills. The vibe here is very casual, more of a “come in, eat, and enjoy” kind of spot — no fancy atmosphere, just great food that locals have loved for years. If you’re looking for an authentic local experience with delicious broiled chicken and no unnecessary bells and whistles, this place is definitely worth a stop.

Great experience and fantastic chicken. The place is a no frills joint that does chicken and they do it well at an amazing price. We had the 1/2 chicken dinner and it was more than enough for the 2 of us and for 90 pesos one of the best deals in Playa. The service wasn't the friendliest around.

I wanted something local and not turista! I stumbled upon this place and let’s just say I came back the next day because the grilled chicken was so good! The tortillas are fresh, the salsa is delicious and the pink rice is so yummy! Best grilled chicken in PDC

Great price for value, love the slightly charred taste of the grilled chicken. Quick service and food also comes with rice onions and salsa.

Yummy. Great healthy meal for a most reasonable price! Staff was extra patient with our Spanish!! 😎 It was pouring rain and they had no issue with us waiting it out🥰

Great place if you're after economic friendly option that's not too far from the main street. The chicken, rice, sauce and onion is a perfect combo. All for 120 MXN. You get served very quickly and the portions are really big. Half chicken is enough for 1 person. Price: Whole chicken 150 MXN. Half chicken 120 MXN.

we were looking to try tacos and local cuisine and many reviews said to try Don Sirloin so we decided to check it out. we ordered the nachos, guacamole and beef tacos. the tacos came with the meat grilled on one side and tortillas on the side. the tortillas were good, the meat plentiful, and the taste decent. the guacamole was good but the nachos were a bit of a let down. the previous day we had gone to a more local restaurant nearby and had a similar menu and their nachos were better overall nice ambiance and decent food with good serving size and good flavor

Food was ok. They mixed up our order and gave us something we hadn’t ordered (sirloin instead of al pastor), which probably affected how much we enjoyed it. We did, however, get to try a taco al pastor, and it was delicious! I honestly think if we had received what we originally ordered, it would’ve been excellent. We also tried costras de pollo — not really our thing, but to be fair, it was our first time trying that dish. Overall: nice spot, moderate noise, and no wait time. The tacos al pastor are definitely the highlight.

It is a shame that being in Mexico we have only this kind of options. If you are looking for a good tacos unfortunately won't be here. The pastor and sirloin that they have on the "trompo" have an strong artificial flavor...meaning don't feel like fresh meat plus to much condiment. Is not bad but could be way better. The prices are ok! The ambient is nice. They are couple blocks away from 5th Ave and Av. Constituyentes.

This place has some of the best pastor tacos in town! We decided to give this place a shot after leaving El Fogon underwhelmed. Don Sirloin was so much better - more flavor and juicier!

The arrachera tacos were really good but the place is too hot so you can't enjoy your food.

I tried my first burrito here. It was very large and delicious. The waiters were friendly, the service was good. The only thing was the music was a little annoying. But overall, everything went well. Thank you.

Wonderful service and incredible steak, pastor, and chorizo tacos! Our server took great care of our vegetarian friend creating custom fajitas for her. Their pineapple salsa is to die for!

My family and I had a fantastic experience experience here. The atmosphere was comfortable and service was excellent. We shared the guacamole to start and then I ordered a avocado stuffed with ceviche. It was all delicious and I could see us going back before the end of our trip.

With so many choices around 5th Ave this place stands out by nailing the basics: great food, great service and a great atmosphere. Friendly staff will laugh with you and have fun like bringing out big sombreros for you to take a picture in. My whole family loved it. If you aren’t full after some lights out tacos, try the flambé mango or banana - heaven. Stop in and grab a bite, you will not be disappointed!

I have to say this is by far the BEST experience at a restaurant I’ve had in playa ! My family and I are from Montreal and it’s our second time in playa del Carmen and this beats any restaurant. From the food the atmosphere and the waiters made our night. We will be back and recommend this place to friends and family. Thank you Aberham and the rest of the team

My family and I had the best time here at Carboncitos. The food was amazing and it was followed by even better service. Miguel and Abraham were our servers and they carried our margaritas out to our tables on their heads! We were a group of 6 people and there was no wait for a table and the food came out quickly! After we ate they let us walk to the roof, which had an amazing view of PDC. Definitely recommend!

I visted this restaurant recently as the beach location and the high re-views. I was a bit disappointed leaving this place. The service and location is great just the food wasnt. The flavours weren't giving for me. I came here for a traditional "Mexican meal".I ordered char grill chicken tarco and wasnt the biggest fan, no char gill to be seen. The octopus how ever was great! Loved that! Might have been my poor ordered to. I'm not trying to be rude only here for constructive feedback xoxo.

Enjoyed an amazing meal with fantastic service with our family of 5. Had a mix of Mexican and Mayan style foods including mixed seafood ceviche, tacos, stuffed poblano pepper, stuffed chicken breast, quesadilla, and flambéed jumbo shrimp and it was delicious 😋. The margaritas are super large and yummy too 😁. Big kudos to the staff who were all attentive and very friendly. Highly recommend this place 👌🏼

This was an amazing experience, just off the main walking street. Good food, great service. Entertainment was a bonus, a really fun night. Try the crepes!

Our server Damian was beyond exceptional. Everything we ordered from the salad, to the carpaccio to our filet & ribeye had insane flavors. The atmosphere was quite & romantic, the best dinner we had during our entire stay. My husband & I are huge fans of this place, we highly recommend. We will definitely be back.

We really enjoyed this restaurant overall. We had a great bottle of wine, filet minion and a t-bone. The service was excellent and the staff friendly and helpful. The steaks were very tasty, my filet was cooked perfectly, I like it medium, pink in the middle with no blood. The steak was a little chewy. I had hoped for a melt in your mouth experience but despite that I enjoyed the flavor. My husband's t-bone was a little thin but flavor wise again, very good and not chewy at all. The veggies were very al dente, rosemary potatoes lovely. Overall we enjoyed this restaurant. Have paid a lot more for steaks that weren't as flavorful. The restaurant itself is in the courtyard of the San Pedro hotel. Most of the seating was outdoors and the staff made sure we had fans on us to help cool us.

Such an amazing spot!! My partner & I love the food here. The steak was so soft, vegetables & potatoes seasoned perfectly - one of our favourite spots in playa! Our server tonight was also great. They also have a deal for September; 2 can dine for $999 which includes two meals and two glasses of wine🍷🙂

CELIAC FRIENDLY. Best service and very knowledgeable on celiac disease. I eat here everything I visit and I have never had issues with cross contamination. The food is so amazing. I always have the prime rib. This last time I added the shrimp. It was so yummy.

I love that this place is in the middle of everything but still a little hidden and not noisy so you can enjoy a nice meal and a conversation. I don’t eat meat so I had ambulate salad and a seafood soup, both were great! Prices are great for such a location. Stuff is always friendly too. Thank you!

This is our 2nd time visiting this outstanding restaurant in Playa del Carmen on 5th Avenue. My sister and I ate there on Friday, October 24th. As usual, the waiter was outstanding and attentive as well as very friendly. The food is absolutely 💯 delicious. Their cocktails 🍸 are just as outstanding. I enjoyed a delicious lemon 🍋 drop martini. My sister enjoyed the sangria. I enjoyed the grilled shrimp and she had the shrimp scampi. The cabrese salad was also delicious and we loved the fresh Italian bread. We also appreciate the location, as it is just steps back from the main thoroughfare which can be noisy. This way you can still see people passing by from a short distance, but have some privacy to enjoy your meal. We will be back again next year!!!

GREAT SERVICE- Below Average Steaks. The meat quality is lacking. They charge 500+ pesos for a steak yet its of low quality. Don Sirloin, the Taco spot, literally has higher quality beef. I'm from Texas, I know a good steak and the meat quality is just simply sub par. That said, the service and environment is good. But if you want a good steak, and you know what good steak tastes like, you won't find it here.

Our favorite spot at Rosewood! Ambience is perfect- dim, amazing music, sexy candles. Drinks and presentations were fabulous. Waiter was incredibly attentive. Greek dips and apps were 5 ⭐️.

Our family of 4 went and had a great experience. Food was increíble but the waiters knowledge was impeccable when it came to accommodating my gluten allergy and my daughters lactose and intolerance. I would return - and think the price is very fair for the quality of food/service.

Excellent meal! Our second time there. Fransisco is excellent at his job. We had our heart set on returning to Agave Azul and it was fantastic- just like the first time we were there 1.5 years ago.

Japanese/Asian dishes integrated with Mexican flavors of lime, chilies, and sweet fruit. Excellent place to eat outside. Jessica, our server, was friendly and amazing!

Quiet cozy modern and tucked away in the jungle of The Mayakoba Rosewood Hotel Resort near Cancun, Mexico. Fantastic service and delicious Asian cuisine. Low lit atmosphere adds to the experience. I had Rockshrimp and Pad Thai. Excellent! Don't forget the Tequilla. Vast selection of Mexico's finest Agave Tequillas!

Our group loved our waiter Angel at Agave Azul! Drinks and food are delicious! Love the spicy shrimp sushi!

Crispy rice was best we’ve ever had!! And amazing service. Such a nice evening.

2024 - Great service, clean, and nice place that shows how Carnitas are really cooked. The food however was a bit bland and the carnitas were very clean wgite meat, however were dry and didn't have flavor. Overall result was 3 stars. 2025 - very good service and clean place. The consume de borrego was excellent as were the tacos de barbacoa. Increased to 4 stars with this visit.

I like the food and the water of horchata is delicious the service is very good because when i go to silao I saw a bug in my carnitas and give me a resolution and give me a an apology and some new carnitas and the carnitas is 100% natural I saw since they prepare them in a hole and put leaves from the banana tree on them, it is highly recommended and very cheap

The food is delicious! Just one thing, if you order, try to order everything once the waitress is in your table cause she will never go back to you 😅 my husband tried to order more food and that was imposible, it was like she could see us.

I have to give credit to Playitaexpress for delivering 2 lbs of barbacoa and 3 of ribs. All of it deliciously bbq. Also the lamb consume was clean not greasy filtered to remove the fat and impurities. All were muttony but not in an overwhelming way without have to use salsa or onions cilantro to hide it. Only downside not too many sides or alternative menu options.

Perfect place to have a mouthwatering Mexican food. Explore the all the Mexican flavors and have a very good time with your family and friends. Special place to have a brunch or late breakfast. Remember be patient because sometimes you need to do a line, once you get table enjoy your food and a cold beer.

I love this place. Because is not close to the turist area usually only locals eat here. I have been eating very often for months and never gotten sick. The Barbacoa is the best, it is made from goat. Be there early or they will run out of certain things. Prices are very reasonable. They have good ice creamos deserts and café de olla. I highly recommend this place.

Carnitas y Barbacoa Silao in Playa del Carmen is a true taste of Mexico! The vibrant and authentic atmosphere adds to the charm. The carnitas tacos were pretty good; a definite go-to spot for a delicious local Mexican culinary experience!

A nice tapas bar in Playa de Carmen with good food and great entertainment. We really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, we had to pay three times the price of the meal when we invited the waiter for a tequila and he then charged us around $19 per shot. We didn't think that was right.

It is a bright and lively restaurant on 5th avenue which adds the element of people watching on the street. The band was good, volume perfect so we could listen to the music and easily talk. We ordered queso fundido as shown in photo. The cheese was not great at all. I had enchiladas with red sauce and rice, not great. There is no kids menu. 2 adults, 4 kids, 3 margaritas total for 4000 pesos. The band adds to the experience but doesn’t make up for the price compared to other restaurants in Playa del Carmen.

Fresh guac was perfect!! Nachos, not so much. Wouldn't get them again. Drinks were tasty and fun - we really enjoyed the swings and the staff was excellent. Band was also really good!

We had a good blast at this place accompanied by live music and delicious food! Willy was fantastic at catering all our needs and Alejandro was handing out sombreros for extra fun :)

We visited twice during our stay and absolutely loved it both times. The food was excellent, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. The staff were friendly, funny, and really made us feel at home. A special touch was the owner personally coming over to thank us for visiting, having a genuine conversation about our family, and even taking a group photo with us. It truly felt like a family-run restaurant that cares about its guests. Definitely a 5-star experience all around—highly recommend!

This is a solo or family oriented restaurant/bar. Entertainment starts as soon as you walk in with staff. Balloons for the kids, comedy for everyone and live music. We were laughing and smiling from start to finish. Menu is Mexican and Italian. We enjoyed ourselves!

Food was delicious and Willy took great care of us. We came back here twice during our week long stay. Definitely get the guacamole, shrimp ceviche and quesadillas! We’ll be back ☺️

As usual Great. Cheap and Juicy Fat Chicken

Great and cheap

All the food is great

Re

Excellent food!

In one word: PHENOMENAL

Yummi yummi.!