Tulum is a dream destination—not just for its beaches and ruins, but for its incredible food scene. From authentic tacos to fresh seafood and mezcal cocktails, every meal was a flavour-packed experience. We explored the town by foot and bike, stopping at local markets, grocery stores, and taquerias, always on the lookout for the best bites.
Table of Contents:
- Key to understanding the foods of Mexico:
- Sunday: Late arrival but hungry
- Monday: Tacos & Cold Brew
- Tuesday: Seafood & Tequila Tastings
- Wednesday: A Taste of Valladolid & Mezcal Nights
- Thursday: Ruins, Markets & Mojitos
- Friday: Beachside Eats & More Tacos
- Saturday: Tacos to End the Trip
- Final Thoughts & Foodie Tips
Key to understanding the foods of Mexico:
Pollo (Chicken) – Grilled or marinated chicken, often seasoned with Mexican spices and sometimes citrus for extra flavour.
Bistec (Beef Steak) – Thinly sliced or chopped grilled beef, typically seasoned with salt, pepper, and sometimes lime juice.
Arrachera (Skirt Steak) – A flavourful, marinated cut of beef known for its tenderness and juiciness, often used in tacos and fajitas.
Tacos al Pastor (Marinated Pork) – A popular Mexican taco made with thinly sliced pork marinated in achiote, pineapple juice, and spices, then cooked on a vertical spit (similar to shawarma). Often served with pineapple, onion, and cilantro.
Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding) – A sweet, creamy dessert made with rice, milk, cinnamon, and sugar, sometimes with raisins or condensed milk for extra richness.
Panuchos and salbutes are traditional Yucatán dishes, both made with corn tortillas, but they have key differences:
- Panuchos – A crispy, fried corn tortilla that is stuffed with refried black beans, then topped with shredded turkey or chicken, avocado, pickled red onions, and sometimes tomatoes or cabbage. The stuffed beans give it extra flavour and texture.
- Salbutes – A lightly fried, puffed-up corn tortilla, topped with shredded chicken or turkey, avocado, lettuce, pickled red onions, and sometimes tomato. Unlike panuchos, salbutes are not stuffed with beans, making them a bit softer and airier.
Both are delicious and commonly found in street food stalls and markets throughout the Yucatán Peninsula! 🌮😋
Here’s a full breakdown of our food journey, plus some insider tips!
Sunday: Late arrival but hungry
- Quick run to the grocery store to pick up some wine and bites to tide us over for the night.
- We also got some goodies for Monday’s breakfast.
Monday: Tacos & Cold Brew
- Campanella Cremerie – Started the day with a cold brew to go, perfect for the heat.
- Tulum Tacos Aldea Zama – Lunch was a feast of pollo, bistec, and arrachera tacos, with arroz con leche for a sweet finish.
- Matcha Mama – A refreshing matcha spirulina smoothie was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.
- Los Bros Tacos – Dinner was unreal: tacos al pastor, pollo, beef cheek, and a cheesy chorizo quesadilla.
Tuesday: Seafood & Tequila Tastings
- Viva Zapata Tequila Store – Sampled various tequilas and mezcals, learning about their flavours and production. We bought a specialty mezcal and were able to haggle down the price. Tulum is very touristy, so the prices can be higher. If you are traveling to Valladolid, that is a good place to buy mezcal and souvenirs at more affordable prices.
- El Camelo Jr – One of the best meals of the trip! A seafood platter with crab, lobster, calamari, shrimp, grilled snapper, and warm octopus salad—absolutely unforgettable. The octopus salad was unlike anything we’ve ever tried. The cooked octopus was paired with tomatoes and green peppers in a delicious sauce that warmed the taste buds.
Wednesday: A Taste of Valladolid & Mezcal Nights
- Antojitos Lo Que Sea (Valladolid) – A quick food stop where we tried panuchos and salbutes, two Yucatán specialties with crispy tortillas and tasty toppings.
- Safari Comedor Zama – Dinner included fish and shrimp tacos, plus nopal (cactus) and mushroom tacos—so fresh and flavourful.
- Mamazul Mezcaleria – Ended the night with a mezcal tasting, sampling smoky and floral varieties.
Thursday: Ruins, Markets & Mojitos
- Restaurante El Mexicano (near Coba Ruins) – A delicious breakfast of huevos motuleños (a traditional Mayan omelette specialty), huevos con longaniza (eggs with fried chorizo), fresh papaya juice, and café.
- Encanto – One of our favourite restaurants because of the Octopus tacos and cochinita pibil quesadillas (Yucatan style barbecued pork). The mezcalitos (mezcal margaritas) were quite tasty as well—a must-visit.
- Parque Dos Aguas Crepe Stand – Had to try a marquesita, a crispy rolled crepe filled with Nutella, peanut butter, and queso de bola (a salty Mexican cheese). The mix of sweet and salty was the chef’s kiss!
- Batey Tulum (Mojito Bar) – A live music spot with handcrafted mojitos, where they press the sugarcane fresh right in front of you—such a cool experience! We drank passion fruit mojitos! YUM!
Friday: Beachside Eats & More Tacos
- Leif’s – Started the morning with iced café espuma, a dreamy coconut milk and espresso drink that was light and fluffy.
- El Paraíso (Tulum National Park Beach) – Lunch on the beach: seafood ceviche with octopus, shrimp, and fish, plus a pineapple tequila cocktail and muchas cervezas—pure paradise.
- Los Bros Tacos (again!) – We just had to order from here one more time! Cheesy chorizo and pollo quesadillas were so good. We were so tired on our last night that we decided to order in. We downloaded the Tomato.mx app and ordered Los Bros tacos and had them delivered to our condo building. This is such a handy thing to have on a vacation, especially if you don’t want to go out every night.
Saturday: Tacos to End the Trip
- Tropi Tacos – Wrapped up our food adventure with al pastor tacos and a mixto torta, a sandwich stuffed with meats and cheeses.
Final Thoughts & Foodie Tips
Everything we ate in Tulum was beyond delicious—especially the tacos and seafood. Staying in Aldea Zama made it super easy to bike or walk everywhere.
Some of our favorite food experiences:
✅ Drinking jugo de Jamaica (hibiscus tea) almost every day—so refreshing and hydrating!
✅ Exploring local markets for fresh fruit, eggs, and spices.
✅ Cooking in our Airbnb with local groceries for an authentic experience.
✅ Ordering Los Bros Tacos because that quesadilla was just too good.
When we travel, we always seek out authentic, local eats—whether it’s street food, market finds, or unique grocery store snacks. Food is one of the best ways to experience a new place, and Tulum did not disappoint!
If you’re heading to Tulum, eat where the locals eat—you won’t regret it!
