If there’s one thing you can find in Tulum, it’s good food. If you are like us, you’ll be on the hunt for the best tacos in Tulum. Because everyone loves tacos!
You can’t go far without seeing a restaurant, a taco stand, or a smoothie joint. Modern Mexican cuisine is a delectable combination of fresh, regional produce and traditional meats, and there are more tacos than anything else. There are also dairy-free and gluten-free options available.
Tulum used to be a sleepy town, virtually unknown to outsiders. But thanks to technology, modern travel, and Instagram, the city has grown into a bustling hotspot that travelers from all over love to visit. Because of this, it’s getting easier and easier for travelers to find foreign cuisine that meets their dietary restrictions.
Our first visit to Tulum was more than 15 years ago. Tulum is a much different town than it was then. Traveling there is easier. Make sure to read our how-to get from the airport in Cancun to Tulum for all your options and our favorite company.
No visit to Tulum is complete without visiting some of the best restaurants in Tulum. These taco shacks and sit-down eateries are popular with both Mexican locals and tourists visiting Tulum, and we hope you’ll be able to visit at least a couple of them to try them out for yourself.
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1. Antojitos La Chiapaneca – The best tacos in Tulum
This is one of downtown Tulum’s most loved taco joints. They have a pretty casual opening schedule (dinnertime only). Due to its popularity, you can expect it to be packed with hungry locals and travelers looking for some of the best tacos in Tulum.
Like most traditional taco joints, the menu is simple. Choose from their famous al pastor (pork roasting all day on a spit), beef, or chicken. They also make empanadas with Oaxacan cheese and various hot sauces and toppings.
If you are looking for an authentic Mexican taco experience at a low cost and without the frills of tourist restaurants, make sure to try Antojitos La Chiapaneca on your next visit to Tulum.
If you are looking for a similar taco experience in Playa del Carmen, head to El Fogon, they serve up the best tacos in Playa del Carmen.
- Address: Calle Acuario Nte. 3
2. El Asadero – The Best Steak Tacos in Tulum
A Mexican steakhouse might not be two words you thought you’d ever see together, but El Asadero is an extremely popular restaurant in Tulum for locals. Because it’s located outside the main Tulum hotel strip, the prices are slightly more affordable than in the touristy city center.
This is hands down our favorite restaurant in Tulum. No joke, we plan our visits to Tulum around when they’ll be open to ensure we have dinner here. We have brought all our friends & family here when they travel to Mexico with us.
The restaurant is famous for grilling its steaks on an open flame out front of the restaurant. Some of their most popular dishes are the melt-in-your-mouth arrachera steak (available in tacos or fajitas). Check out their drink menu, where a huge variety of tequilas and mezcals are available to sample.
- Address: Av. Satelite Nte. Mz 23 Lt.5 entre Sagitario y, Calle 2 Ote
3. Burrito Amor
This isn’t your typical local taco joint, and it’s a newcomer to the Tulum restaurant scene. However, we love burritos, and they serve up some great food in Tulum.
This is a popular burrito joint in the heart of Tulum. We will love the setup of Burrito Amor. It is an open-air restaurant decorated in a quintessential Tulum style. We typically stop here for a late breakfast/early lunch before hitting up some of the best cenotes in Tulum.
The menu has a lot of options, including an all-day breakfast, a smoothie and juice menu, a dessert menu, and even beer and cocktails. They have vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options for anyone with dietary restrictions.
The burritos are the star of their menu. They have lots of variety, from simple egg burritos to more complex deluxe burritos with meat filling like ribeye steak, shrimp, and smoked pork.
- Address: Av. Tulum Mz 05-Lote 03
Don’t Forget to Tip – Tipping in Mexico Guide
4. Taqueria Honorio
Taqueria Honorio is a very simple, unassuming taco stand in Tulum that’s always packed with locals, so you know it’s authentic good food. Tacos are often eaten as a breakfast food in Mexico, so Honorio opens early and closes after lunch.
You’ll often see Taqueria Honorio packed at 7 am. That’s because they serve one of the best breakfasts in Tulum.
They are famous for their slow-roasted pork. You can either order a taco or a sandwich (you’ll be asked when you approach the stand). Both options come with pork and pickled onions, and the tables are stuffed full of additional toppings you can add yourself, like pico de gallo, guacamole, and tomatillo.
Their roasted pork, called cochinita pibil, can also be purchased by the pound.
- Address: Satélite Sur Sm10 lote 3
5. La Taqueria
La Taqueria is located outside of downtown Tulum on Tulum beach. This is a newcomer to the taco scene in Tulum. It’s a trendy fancy taco place, but they serve legit tacos!
Their menu is simple, with only three types of food: tacos, burritos, and nachos. All are available with your choice of shrimp, fish, beef, or pork (even the nachos). They also have vegetarian and vegan options for those with food allergies or who have chosen to follow a plant-based diet. The burritos and nachos are grilled to perfection with a slight outer crisp.
The outdoor dining area is welcoming and easygoing, with swings and light strings in the evening. Overall this is a great spot to relax with some good food near the beach.
- Address: Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila Km. 8.2
6. El Camello Jr
El Camello Jr is located on the outskirts of Tulum’s downtown core, but it’s one of the best taco restaurants in Tulum. It’s extremely popular with Mexican locals and has a reputation for having the freshest seafood. It’s always packed, so be prepared for a wait.
We have walked by this restaurant a dozen times and always saw it packed no matter what time of day. Finally, we decided we had to try it out and see how their tacos stacked up.
Despite its small size, the menu is pretty varied. They do entire platters of shrimp, octopus, fish, and even snails. If you are on the hunt for the best ceviche in Tulum, this is the spot. Their ceviche and shrimp are one of the most popular dishes, and you get lots of seafood for a great price. Everything comes with generous servings of rice, beans, and plantain bananas.
Their fish tacos are incredibly popular, so grab a few of them if you can.
- Address: Carretera Chetumal-Cancun Locales 1 y 2 Lte 3 Mza 40
7. Taqueria la Eufemia – Permanently Closed (thanks Covid…)
Just outside of downtown on Tulum Beach, Taqueria la Eufemia is a popular taco shack right on Tulum Beach. The seating area has tables and chairs right on the sand or beanbags for extra comfy dining.
If you are looking for fish tacos in Tulum, this is the spot. La Eufemia isn’t as fancy as some of the other Tulum beach bars, but it has a great atmosphere that is bohemian and laid back.
Like most taco places in Tulum, the menu is very simple. They have al pastor or beef tacos with fresh toppings, quesadillas, shrimp & fish tacos, and even tacos with unique fillings like nopales (cactus). Finish off your taco dinner with a serving of banana hotcakes and one of their whole coconuts to sip fresh coconut juice.
- Address: Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila 7.5