Asadero el Pollo — Restaurant in Playa del Carmen

I’m like Toucan Sam — I follow my nose, and that’s exactly what led me here. You can literally catch the mouthwatering aroma of this place from blocks away, depending on where you’re standing. It’s one of those spots that calls you in before you even see the sign.

This is local food at its finest — no frills, just simple, honest cooking that focuses on doing one thing really well: broiled chicken. The menu is limited, but that’s part of the charm. They stick to what they know and execute it perfectly. The chicken was juicy, tender, and full of flavor, cooked to that perfect point where the skin has a nice crisp but the meat stays moist.

The sides are pretty straightforward, but a few stood out. While I wasn’t particularly impressed with the rice, the onions were a pleasant surprise — sweet, flavorful, and a great complement to the chicken. The potatoes with cheese sauce were another highlight — rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned. And then there’s the house sauce — a serious warning here: it’s super spicy and not for the faint of heart. But if you enjoy a good kick, it’s an excellent addition that takes the flavors up a notch.

Pro tips before you go: • Best time to visit is between 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM for quicker seating and a more relaxed experience. • Parking is available behind the building, which makes things easier. • They close early — 6 PM sharp, so make sure to plan your visit accordingly. • Cash only — no cards accepted, so bring some cash and small bills.

The vibe here is very casual, more of a “come in, eat, and enjoy” kind of spot — no fancy atmosphere, just great food that locals have loved for years. If you’re looking for an authentic local experience with delicious broiled chicken and no unnecessary bells and whistles, this place is definitely...

If you are craving some delicious moist juicy chicken before you go on that excursion. This place got you covered.

Right across the main collectivo stand (bus stand) is this excellent spot where you could grab a quick meal. The best part is that it's very inexpensive and the quality is excellent. You could have a 1/2 chicken for $3.50 US (70 pesos). The meat is very tender, juicy, infused with spices and cooked to perfection over charcoal. Ours came out perfect without any special requests, but you have the option to inform the waiter on how long you want your chicken cooked if you want it well done if you have a preference. The cost of the meal included sides which was a great deal! It includes rice, salsa, pickled onions and tortillas. They also give you a salsa on the table but we didn't touch it.

There are plenty of tables and the staffs are friendly and polite. They didn't have much/any decor which is fine because we didn't come for that - strictly for the chicken. The majority of patrons were locals which is always a good sign.

There is an open sink area to wash your hands before or after your meal. There is a tip jar in the front where you pay so don't forget to tip your server.

Note: They don't serve any beer or alcoholic beverages, so if that's what you're wanting best to order the chicken to go as their selections are limited to coke products.

Ambiance/decor 3/4 Food 5/5 Price point 5/5 Location 5/5 Cleanliness 3/5 Staff attitude 5/5

Will definitely...

Myself and 2 other people I know, all buying separate days and different chickens got sick for days with some type of stomach bacteria... In my photos you can see they just stack them and I've watched them serve, some of the bottom chicken were never served as fresh ones were stacked on top. Some of the bottom ones could stay at bacteria prone temperatures for too long.... its prob luck of the draw. But 3 of us after eating there getting sick is way too coincidental for me.

Late afternoon they have hundreds of cooked chickens just sitting there warm and not monitoring which ones are sitting for wayyy too long... maybe hours if they don't sell the cooked ones in the right order of when they were cooked.

Good flavor but risky if you don't want food poisoning... early day is probably better with less chance of a cooked chicken sitting...