El Mexicano Isla Mujeres — Restaurant in Isla Mujeres

Hands down one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had — not just in Mexico, but anywhere in the world. From start to finish, this meal was perfection.

Let’s start with the ceviche. It was nothing short of spectacular. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the acidity of the citrus dressing was beautifully balanced. The red onions, radishes, and herbs added such a bright, clean crunch, and the avocado was sliced and presented like art. Each bite was light, refreshing, and bursting with flavor. Honestly, this was a life-changing ceviche — I’ll be dreaming about it long after this trip.

The fish tacos were equally unforgettable. Rather than being fried like most places, the fish was perfectly grilled — moist on the inside, lightly crisped on the outside, and full of natural flavor. The spicy sauce paired with it had just the right amount of heat without overpowering the fish. And the tortilla? Lightly toasted, warm, and slightly chewy — absolutely perfect. I’ve had countless fish tacos over the years, but this was on a whole different level.

Then came the grilled octopus (pulpo zarandeado). I’ve never had octopus cooked this perfectly. It was tender and juicy, not rubbery or overcooked at all — it almost melted in the mouth. The seasoning was bold yet balanced, and the greens it was served on added a wonderful freshness to every bite.

The drinks? Incredible. We ordered a Mezcalita, Piña Colada, and a Margarita, and all three were cold, refreshing, and perfectly crafted. The alcohol level was just right — you could taste the spirits, but nothing was too strong. The presentation was also beautiful, garnished with herbs, citrus, and even chili salt on the rim — every glass looked like it belonged in a cocktail magazine.

On top of that, the service was warm, attentive, and kind. The decor was charming, with tropical touches and open-air seating that made the whole experience even more relaxing and beautiful.

This place isn’t just a meal — it’s a memory. I would seriously return to Isla Mujeres just to eat here again. El Mexicano is a hidden gem that absolutely deserves all the praise. If you love food, this is a must-visit. Truly one of the most unforgettable...

Careful, check you bills and if you pay by card let them give you the receipt!! They charged me 22$ more in tips than the 10% I told them. Also make sure to pay in Mexican Pesos as their dollar conversion was off by 17$ which is basically a scam.

Apart from that the birria tacos were good, the fish tacos nothing special but the live music amazing.

It’s quite disappointing that they decided to scam me in the end because otherwise we would’ve came back.

PS: I would like to clarify a few points in response to the restaurant’s message: • I spoke Spanish throughout the entire evening and did not order anything in English. I have lived in Costa Rica since 2016, and my girlfriend is from there as well. The server appeared to be from Argentina, so there should not have been any language barrier. • Normally, customers are given the payment terminal to select the tip themselves or a receipt is handed out. In this case, I was not offered a receipt at the time of payment, which led me to check my bank statement where my suspicion was confirmed. • The internal copy he had printed was not shown to me. Only when I returned a second time and saw the staff reviewing it did I take it myself and saw that an extraordinarily high tip had been added. • When I confronted the waiter, he immediately pulled out a calculator to calculate the 10% in order to return the difference. If he had truly misunderstood me and made an honest mistake, how did he know that I had originally intended to tip 10%? • The full tip was not voluntarily offered back. Only after I specifically requested it was the amount fully refunded by the barkeeper. • The only apology I received was a brief and half-hearted “lo siento” from the barkeeper as I...

We visited El Mexicano Isla Mujeres hoping for an authentic Mexican dining experience. While the food was relatively authentic, it fell a bit short of expectations. The ceviche, for instance, was decent but felt average compared to a fresh and original version I had elsewhere the evening before.

The restaurant itself had a pleasant look, but the prices were on the higher side. While they were in line with other tourist-oriented establishments in the area, they didn’t feel entirely justified considering there are more authentic places with much more reasonable pricing.

The service was a bright spot – our waitress was friendly and cheerful, making the experience a bit more enjoyable.

However, what truly dampened our visit was the overpoweringly loud disco music. We were hoping for some Latin American ambiance, but instead, the music made it nearly impossible to have a conversation. Although the waitress kindly lowered the volume at our request, another bartender turned it back up shortly after. By the end of our meal, the noise level was unbearable again, making it hard to enjoy the evening.

Unfortunately, the loud music overshadowed the positives of the visit, leaving us with a disappointing overall impression. While I appreciated the waitress's efforts, the lack of consideration for the atmosphere led me to skip leaving a tip.

Would I return? Perhaps not, but if you're okay with loud music and tourist-level pricing, it might still be worth checking out for the service...