Hotel Zone Restaurants (Budget)

[FloridaFun]

Hi all, Staying in Hotel Zone km 9 area (party central) in December, renting 2 condos..looking for inexpensive places for lunch and dinner...family of 4 plus 2 other cpls....NO major American "chain" restaurants though, I can have that here in Florida...I heard about the Taco Factory, any other small no-frills places we can try? Thanks.

[SamCancun]

There is a very cheap place that does lovely burritos in the HZ, last time we went they were 40-45 pesos and includes rice and beans, it's right behind Sweet club, basically walk past Terrasta Bar as if you were heading in the direction of Senor Frogs, then go right and there's a little path that goes behind the market, it's your first restaurant on the left as you get to the other side, beers are only 15 pesos too!

[FloridaFun]

Thanks...I wonder if that's the Taco Factory I mentioned? I heard it was in an alley between Dady O (is that Sweet now?) and the Dos Equis Bar....I will check it out either way.

[SamCancun]

That's another place, that's further down and a LOT more expensive, probably 30 pesos a small taco and 50 pesos a beer, whereas the other place is a full meal for 45 pesos! Dady O is still there, Sweet is where Dady Rock used to be, so basically if your facing Senor Frogs direction, walk past Dady O, past Sweet, past Terrasta bar, past Shines Bar then right, down a smaller alley, with all those shops where the guys shout at you to come in and pay over the odds for trinkets to your left, if you was to carry on walking you would end up on the other side of the main road but with the cards heading towards Senor Frogs/Pat O'Briens etc.

[Razor]

Is this in the Coral Negro Market? We'll be there again in October and I'd like to try it.

[SamCancun]

Yeah that's the name, it's right in the corner.

[FloridaFun]

Oh ok, I've been to Coral Negro (a few yrs ago) , I have an idea where it is..Thanks SO much, we will definately go there a couple times!

[CancunCanuck]

I think the place being referred to is called "Xtabentun". They're open super late night, great for after-disco food. A lot of waiters and bar staff go there after their shifts, good prices. I would also check out the Surfin' Burrito, across the street from Señor Frogs. Not quite as cheap, but still not a luxury restaurant, the burritos are AWESOME.

[CancunCanuck]

I also recommend hopping on a bus and heading down to Fish Fritanga. It's between Plaza la Isla and Plaza Kukulkan, on the lagoon side (across from the police station). Their little garden on the lagoon is a gorgeous setting, good seafood and not outrageously priced. I think you can still get pescadillas for 10 or 12 pesos, seafood cocktails around 100 pesos. Play area for the kids too. It's a fave of ours.

[FloridaFun]

Originally Posted by CancunCanuck

I also recommend hopping on a bus and heading down to Fish Fritanga. It's between Plaza la Isla and Plaza Kukulkan, on the lagoon side (across from the police station). Their little garden on the lagoon is a gorgeous setting, good seafood and not outrageously priced. I think you can still get pescadillas for 10 or 12 pesos, seafood cocktails around 100 pesos. Play area for the kids too. It's a fave of ours.

Thanks! i will add this one and the other suggestion you posted to my "list"...this sounds like a great place to go and I've actually never been on this side of the hotel zone, I want to check out Plaza La Isla too for sure...sounds like we got a different place to go for each night as it will be a short trip.

[T.J.]

I also vote for Fish Fritanga. It is right at km 12. After Plaza la Isla you will see a big liquor store called La Europea. Jump off the bus there as after it there is a Domino's. Walk to the right of Domino's and down the stairs. IMHO the best waiter is Eduardo. I have had others who were not so hot. But it is a great little place as Canuck points out and it is a bargain place to eat and drink by HZ standards. If you sit in the bar area, go to the far end and you can get fans aimed right at you. The play area is not large but adequate for a handful of kiddos.

The kids can also get a handful of the chips and to part way out on the dock, and feed the tiny fish. But watch out for the cocodrilos.

[CancunCanuck]

Went to the Surfin' Burrito again tonight, so yummy. Thought I'd share a pic of the place with you....

[FloridaFun]

Awesome, thanks for the pic, I will look for it!
BTW, the "kids" will be 20 yo, so they will most likely be more interested in booze and girls

[T.J.]

Then try Sr. Frogs. Across the street from Surfin' Burrito, or is it the other way around?

[FloridaFun]

Originally Posted by T.J.

Then try Sr. Frogs. Across the street from Surfin' Burrito, or is it the other way around?

OK thanks! I was planning on going there at night for drinks, not necessarily w/ the boys as they will be on their own most of the time...I've been to Cancun 6 times and have never even been to Frogs yet...I'm sure the boys will LOVE it...maybe we will go there for lunch too...

[BC ready for fun couple]

I have all the restaurants cool ones marked down that are all within the hotel zone: here ya go!

1. Senior Frogs
2. Bubba Gump * highly recommend it; we loved it
3. Hard Rock Cafe
4. Houlihans
5. Outback Steakhouse
6. Planet Hollywood
7. Margaritaville
8. Carlos and Charlies
9. Pat O Briens
10. Fat Tuesdays
11. Ruth Chris Steakhouse
12. Mango Tango
13. Daddy's O's
14. Rainforest Cafe

[ToriB]

No more....
Pat O'Briens
Rainforest Cafe

Never saw a....
Houlihans, but that is not to say it isn't here anymore

And, does Dady O's really serve food?

The only one on this list I find it worth going to just for atmosphere is Bubba Gump and MAYBE Carlos & Charlies. But these all all chain resturants that can get a lil pricey.

Originally Posted by BC ready for fun couple

I have all the restaurants cool ones marked down that are all within the hotel zone: here ya go!

1. Senior Frogs
2. Bubba Gump * highly recommend it; we loved it
3. Hard Rock Cafe
4. Houlihans
5. Outback Steakhouse
6. Planet Hollywood
7. Margaritaville
8. Carlos and Charlies
9. Pat O Briens
10. Fat Tuesdays
11. Ruth Chris Steakhouse
12. Mango Tango
13. Daddy's O's
14. Rainforest Cafe

[Susan in Cancun]

Mango Tango closed years ago.

I recommend that your try Splash! also. It's located right in front of Basic disco. You go downstairs and sit on the water. Very pretty, laid-back and not expensive. Well, there are some pricier items but the best things I found were their pescadillas (deep-fried fish tacos), and the fish tacos with battered/deep-fried fish. Delicious!! And, the pescadillas are 10 pesos each, I think. Sometimes they are on special for only 7 pesos. You can't beat it. And, I also love Xtabentun, Surfin' Burrito, and Taco Factory. YUMMM! It IS possible to find inexpensive food in the hotel zone. :-)

[T.J.]

Surfin Burrito is open 24 / 7. I don't think Cory has a key to lock up so they just stay open. Have some interesting things available like spinach tortillas and some yummy Chipotle Sauce. Great flavors.

[ibizasue]

No more....
Pat O'Briens
Rainforest Cafe

Never saw a....
Houlihans, but that is not to say it isn't here anymore

And, does Dady O's really serve food?

The only one on this list I find it worth going to just for atmosphere is Bubba Gump and MAYBE Carlos & Charlies. But these all all chain resturants that can get a lil pricey.[/QUOTE]

so are rainforest and pat o'briens closed for good?

I also like magaritasville for atmosphere and reasonable priced food.. and you should def head downtown for some great inexpensive typical mexican restaurants .

[ToriB]

Yes, they are a now a part of Cancun's past. I was very upset about Pat O's

[backs13]

I always liked sitting at slices too for a few drinks and watch the world go by

[JMD]

Another vote for Fish Fritanga. We ate there last week and the food was very good and reasonably priced. The Shrimp Tacos ans ceviche were great, and awesome atmosphere.

[Mobaldonado]

Pericos and Senior Frogs are both great places and everyone there likes to have a great time PLUS great food!!!

[212eric]

There are several restaurants with low prices in the Hotel Zone, and of course in Centro (Downtown) as well. To add to your list of Hotel Zone options:

Casa Tequila
Calenda Oaxaca
Calypso's
El Fish Fritanga
Splash
Santos Mariscos
Taco Grill-at La Isla Shopping Village
La Linda

In Centro (Downtown) you should certainly stroll around the Palapas Park neighborhood, between Av. Tulum and Av. Yaxchilan, south of Av. Uxmal. Some of my favorites include, but are not limited to:

Roots Jazz Club
Gory Tacos
El Poblano
El Porton

For a more special dining experience, you may want to try something you absolutely cannot find in the US. I highly recommend the Mayan inspired fare at Labna. I can go on for several more paragraphs, as Cancun is home to literally hundreds of restaurants, in all price ranges and cuisine types. I hope this list is a good starting point, along with the others that are listed above.
.
212eric-Author

[ibizasue]

perichos was my favourite downtown restaurant for the entertainment and food.. but it has been closed down for about 18 monthes I think. unless it has reopened...does anybody know??

[NicHamburg]

So what happend to Pat O Briens?

Will there be another Restaurant Club in the same spot or are they tearing down the whole building?

[Dougout2424]

We will miss the "old" Pat O's which was a fun place where we would always go for our first night dinner (that or Cenacolo). In 09 though the place was dead and the menu had been cut by about 80%. We were done then as it looked like they were actually getting ready to do something different

Does anyone know the name of a seafood place downtown that had the old name of the city of Vera Cruz? I went there in 2001 and can't remember the name????

[212eric]

Pericos is open again, and when I walked by in June, it looked like they were doing a pretty good amount of business.

I do not know the name right off the bat of the seafood place, where/what street was it located in Downtown?

212eric (Author)

[GONZO]

Wasnt Pescadors was it?