Saturdays and Sundays are a special time in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Once the weekend arrives, the beaches fill up with local, Mexican families. They are having just as much fun enjoying the beaches as do the tourists who flock to the Riviera Maya for some fun in the sun. I love seeing locals enjoying the beauty of their natural surroundings as much as the tourists do.
On a recent Sunday afternoon, my young brood got hungry. We decided to follow the locals to find the best street tacos in Playa del Carmen.
We quickly learned that it's important to get off the main tourist drags if you want to get good, authentic and cheap street tacos.
Cheap Street Tacos in Playa del Carmen
And it IS possible to find cheap street tacos. We loved this little hole in the wall simply called 'Carnes Y Queso Al Carbon." Located on Ave Constituyentes and about 20 Avenida Norte, we were drawn by the al pastor meat roasting out front.
Al pastor is a dish developed in Central Mexico, likely as a result of the adoption of the Shwarma spit-grilled meat brought by Lebanese immigrants to Mexico. Whereas shawarma is usually lamb-based, tacos al pastor in Mexico are made from pork.
Available for only 8 pesos, which is the equivalent of about 50 US cents, these were certainly cheap!
Street tacos are an art form in Playa del Carmen
We watched in amazement as the experienced chef (I'm not sure what you would call him?) alternated cooking tortillas, al pastor meat and assembling complete tacos on the flat top grill located on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant.
We were the only tourists in the restaurant, which is always a good sign! Tacos were served with a trio of hot sauces, sliced radishes, and cut limes. After sampling a number of taco stands and restaurants throughout the week, we've decided these are in fact the best street tacos in Playa del Carmen.
Tacos are a tasty, inexpensive meal option, and one of the best things about staying in a town like Playa del Carmen, you can walk and find these whenever. We fed our family of 4 for about $20, including an order of guacamole and drinks for the kids.
If you're in Playa del Carmen, don't miss an opportunity to grab some authentic, cheap street tacos!
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