Best Restaurants Cancun

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15 Best Restaurants in Cancun Mexico : 2023 Guide

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Looking for the best Restaurants in Cancun?

Truth is that Cancun has something to offer to everyone. If you love catching some sun, the city’s famed beaches or majestic cenotes will help you get plenty of it. For history buffs, a trip to the Chichen Itza Ruins, Tulum Ruins is a must. Nature lovers would do well to take a 3 ½ hour drive from the city to visit the pink lakes park.   

Or, if you’re a foodie like me, Cancun’s restaurants won’t disappoint. Whether you like seafood, are into Mexican cuisine, or want the dish served to have a mix of local and international influence, Cancun has such a diverse culinary scene that all of your edible needs will be met. 

Here are the 15 best restaurants in Cancun, Mexico:  

Puerto Madero Cancun
Puerto Madero Cancun

1. Puerto Madero

  • Price: $$$$
  • Specializes in: Argentinian Cuisine
  • Must-have dishes: Steak with chimichurri; tuna sashimi
  • AddressClick here

A seafront view? Check. Indoor and outdoor seating? Yup. Dishes that will delight your taste buds? Absolutely. Small wonder, then, that Pureto Madero is one of the priciest restaurants in the city. If money is no issue and you want to fill your mouth with tasteful joy, give this restaurant a try. 

Best Restaurants in Cancun : Puerto Madero Cancun
Best Restaurants in Cancun : Puerto Madero Cancun

On my most recent visit to the lagoon side (which is where this restaurant is located), I ordered grilled meat and lobsters, the restaurant’s most popular dishes. However, Puerto Madero‘s vegetarian cuisine is just as good if you’re a non-meat eater like one of the people at my table.

Divina Carne Cancun
Divina Carne Cancun

2. Divina Carne

  • Price: $$$
  • Specializes in: Brazilian meat
  • Must-have dishes: Brisket tacos, steak tacos, 
  • AddressClick here

Think Puerto Madero is too far from the city center? Want something in the heart of Cancun? If so, visit Divina Carne. Located in the middle of the city, this restaurant specializes in everything Brazilian meat, including the above dishes, as well as burritos, quesadillas, guacamole, and more. 

Apart from the freshness and rich taste of its cuisine, one of the things I like the most about this restaurant is its uber-energetic staff. It is as if everyone working at Divina Carne wants to give you a taste of the carnival spirit that defines the Brazilian nation. You won’t get bored while you’re there. 

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Thai & Elefanta

 3. Thai & Elefanta

  • Price: $$$$
  • Specializes in: Thai cuisine
  • Must-have dishes: KHAO SOI, Wheel 
  • AddressClick here

Thai was not on my list during my most recent visit to the city. I only visited it because a friend of my has only amazing things to say about this place. And she was absolutely spot on. Located in La Isla Shopping Village, this restaurant amazes you with not only the excellent taste of its dishes, but also the placement of the tables. The dining area features scattered tables facing the Nichupte lagoon, giving a perfect backdrop to the place’s romantic ambiance. 

Romantic Dinner : Thai & Elefanta
Romantic Dinner : Thai & Elefanta

One visit to this beautiful restaurant in Cancun’s hotel zone made me question why I had never visited an Indian restaurant before. In fact, had this place not been located just beside the above Thai restaurant, there’s an excellent chance I would have missed out on it. 

Which would have been a massive shame for a spicy food lover like me. Although my bank account would have looked much healthier if I hadn’t visited Elefanta, I’d still recommend anyone who’s visiting Cancun and is a fan of Indian cuisine to give this upscale restaurant a try…. just remember …. safety first so make sure you know how spicy the dish you order is…

KAI Cancun
KAI Cancun

4. KAI

  • Price: $$
  • Specializes in: Japanese fusion cuisine
  • Must-have dishes: Sushi, Tempura Red Snapper 
  • AddressClick here

Everyone should try Japanese fusion cuisine at least once in their life. Whether you like savory flavors, spicy dishes, or a mix of the two, this cuisine won’t disappoint you. That is because its fusion style has what it takes to appeal to all preferences and tastes.

That said, if you like testing the chef’s specialty in every restaurant you visit, give this place’s sushi a try. Doing this will let you realize (I’m saying this from experience) what fresh sushi tastes like. Each piece will be so tender that it would literally melt in your mouth. 

Harry's Steakhouse
Harry’s Steakhouse

5. Harry’s Prime Steakhouse & Raw Bar

  • Price: $$$
  • Specializes in: Everything meat
  • Must-have dishes: The steak! 
  • AddressClick here

I’d always remember Harry’s for three things. Meat so well-cooked you’d enjoy every bite. A wine list so big you’d have to visit the place 365 days a year to sample each type. And an outdoor patio so beautiful you’d forget your main purpose of visiting the steakhouse. 

Its relaxed atmosphere leaves no doubt that Harry’s is a place where you bring your date to impress them. That said, Harry’s is also a must-visit if you want to enjoy a night out with friends at a place that would convince you to sit for hours and take in its beautiful ambiance. 

Sunset at TORA Cancun
Sunset at TORA Cancun

6. Tora Cancun 

  • Price: $$$
  • Specializes in: Contemporary Japanese cuisine
  • Must-have dishes: Ora King Salmon, U2 tiger shrimp
  • AddressClick here

I can guess what you might be thinking: this guy loves Japanese food. Normally, I’d try to argue with you (I’m not the type of person who likes trying out the same dish no matter wherever in the world he happens to be). But when it comes to Japanese cuisine, true, I’m biased. 

A visit to Tora Cancun will let you know why. Even if you skip its mouth-watering sushi, the fresh and sublime Ora King Salmon will make you a believer. And if you want to take your experience to the next level, do not leave the table before trying out the “Over The Top Sundae.” 

Porfirios Cancun
Porfirios Cancun

7. Porfirio’s Cancún  

  • Price: $$
  • Specializes in: Best of Mexican cuisine
  • Must-have dishes: Crispy Pork Rings, Pulled Pork Sandwich
  • AddressClick here

If you could somehow get the CCTV footage of the place, chances are you’d see a guy stuffing his face somewhere in the middle of December last year. As you might guess, the guy was me. And the dish that forced me to go head over heels was the Crispy Pork Rings.

Porfirios Cancun at night
Porfirios Cancun at night

My girlfriend decided to order the Pulled Pork Sandwich and didn’t regret the choice. As someone who doesn’t usually like spicy dishes, the sandwich’s delicious taste forced her to make an exception. Which was just as good for me as I like my food to be flavorful. 

8. Thai $$$$

Step into a romantic paradise when you dine at the top-rated Thai restaurant in Cancun. With tables situated facing the picturesque Nichupte’ lagoon, it is perfect for an intimate meal with your special someone or a night out with friends. Located within La Isla Shopping Village, this unique spot serves up delicious dishes in its charming overwater palapas.

Bacoli Tratoria Cancun
Bacoli Tratoria Cancun

9. Bacoli Trattoria

  • Price: $$
  • Specializes in: Mediterranean, Italian
  • Must-have dishes: Cannelloni, Seafood Pasta
  • AddressClick here

Italian food lovers will find plenty to like about Bacoli Trattoria. From the food (pizzas, pasta, lasagna, etc.) to the color of the tablecloths (unquestionably Italian red and white), everything about this restaurant makes you forget that you’re sitting in the Hotel Zone of Cancun. 

Bacoli Tratoria Pizza
Bacoli Tratoria Pizza

 A friend who had recommended this place to me suggested trying out cannelloni. May god bless him for the recommendation! Not only was the dish extremely tender, but its flavor was also extremely balanced, with the sauce complementing the filings. Though the seafood pasta wasn’t bad either. 

Metreme Cancun
Metreme Cancun

10. Mextreme

  • Price: $$
  • Specializes in: Traditional Mexican cuisine
  • Must-have dishes: Black Mole, Aztec Soup
  • AddressClick here

Come for the Aztec soup and stay for the traditional black mole! This happened to me on my first (and to date only) trip to Mextreme. An emerging powerhouse on the Mexican restaurant scene, this place gave me a taste of what authentic Mexican food is all about.

Don’t forget to order the black mole if you want an idea of what a staple in Mexican cuisine tastes like. A combination of sweet, savory, and spicy elements, Mextreme’s black mole will delight you with its depth of flavor and an oddly satisfying taste. Not to be missed!

Lorenzillo's Cancun
Lorenzillo’s Cancun

11. Lorenzillo’s

  • Price: $$
  • Specializes in: Caribbean, Soups, Seafood
  • Must-have dishes: Lobster with Coconut Milk Sauce
  • AddressClick here

How many restaurants in the world can claim to be around since the 17th century? That too with a décor that makes you feel as if a pirate is just around the corner. Given its pirate-inspired theme, it shouldn’t be surprising to note that this place is famous for its seafood. 

My girlfriend and I ordered two dishes for our mains. She went with the “Lobster in Coconut Milk Sauce,” and the spice lover in me convinced me to opt for “Lobster with a spicy Chipotle.” In the end, each of us washed down our meals with the Rum beverage. Excellent choices all around!

En Nicoletta Cancun
En Nicoletta Cancun

12. Nicoletta Modern Italian

  • Price: $$$$
  • Specializes in: Italian
  • Must-have dishes: Classic Bruschettas, Carajilo
  • AddressClick here

Like some of the best restaurants in the world, Nicolettas’s excellent reputation is dwarfed by that of its celebrity chef. 

Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed. A dish comprising seasoned cherry tomatoes over crispy garlic bread (they call it classic bruschettas over there) sent my taste buds into a tizzy. 

La Habichuela
La Habichuela

13. La Habichuela

  • Price: $$$$
  • Specializes in: Traditional Mexican
  • Must-have dishes: Poco Chuc, Ranch Style Steak
  • AddressClick here

Want to get the feeling of how locals live in Cancun? Then a trip to La Habichuela should be on top of your priority list. Sandwiched between resident buildings and streets filled with the energy that defines this city, a walk to this restaurant will make you feel like you’re a Mexican. 

Once inside, you’d be blown away by the place’s romantic touch. I was particularly impressed with the picturesque lighting on the trees bordering the tables. As for the food, the Poco Chuc (pork served on small corn tortilla and seasoned with pickled onions and lemons) delighted my taste buds. That said, the place could still do with adding a few items to its main course. 

Chambao Cancun
Chambao Cancun

14. Chambao Cancun

  • Price: $$$
  • Specializes in: Seafood and Mexican cuisine
  • Must-have dishes: Ceviche de Pescado (Fish Ceviche), Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Sauce
  • AddressClick here

Fresh and flavorful dishes. Use of local ingredients. A fun and relaxed atmosphere. There aren’t many restaurants out there that could offer all three features. The fact that Chambao Cancun does should be enough to convince you to visit this place at least once. 

Chambao Cancun

Why only once? Because if you’re like me, a single visit will turn you into a regular customer. Especially if you ordered what I did: Ceviche de Pescado (Fish Ceviche) and Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Sauce. Try the amazing selection of local Mexican beer.

Ilios Greek Restaurant Cancun
Ilios Greek Restaurant Cancun

15. Ilios Greek Estiatorio Cancun

  • Price: $$$
  • Specializes in: Seafood and Mexican cuisine
  • Must-have dishes: Souvlaki, Feta Cheese, Dolmades
  • AddressClick here

There are many restaurants whose indoor atmosphere cannot make you guess the type of cuisine they specialize in. Ilios Greek Estiatorio Cancun isn’t one of those. From its color scheme to tableware and décor to furniture, everything about this restaurant is unquestionably Greek. 

Ilios Greek Restaurant Cancun

The same could be said about its dishes, which place a heavy emphasis on natural ingredients. The place’s Soulvaki (small pieces of marinated meat grilled on a skewer) and Feta Cheese (a salty cheese made from sheep’s milk) indicate why Greek cuisine is famous the world over.