El Fogón — Restaurant in Playa del Carmen

We arrived around 6:15 pm on a Sunday night and got in right away, but about 20 minutes later they were busy with a line around the corner. However, they have fast and great service. We ordered the full order of guacamole, steak quesadillas, tacos loco (mixto), smoked pork (ahumada) platter, and another plate of mixed meats with cheese (forgot the name, but it was steak and chorizo).

Everything was delicious, and their salsas are a bit more spicy than elsewhere we've been. We've noticed a lot of Mexican restaurants here serve the jalapeno salsa (salsa verde) and a salsa roja that is spicier; however, the salsas here at El Fogon are more spicy than at the other places we've been. We still asked for the hottest salsa (as always) which was literally them slicing a couple green habeneros and serving them in a liquid (lime juice maybe?), the exact same thing the previous restaurant did. While it wasn't the "liquid-oozing from every pore and orifice" spicy that we were expecting based on reviews (granted the reviews were 8 years ago from fellow gringos that love spicy), it was still good.

My friend loves bacon, and he said the smoked pork was amazing and that the chorizo was good (he doesn't like chorizo!). The steak quesadillas are nothing like what you would get in the U.S. because they are loaded with steak similar to fajita meat and barely had any cheese. The steak was remarkable because it melted in your mouth, and it wasn't even the arrachera!

The tacos locos (plato) was also just as amazing because it's several chopped meats mixed with slices of bacon on top and covered in queso fundido. I had the plate with steak and chorizo, jalapeño slices covered in queso fundido, and a potato with crema. A lot of the dishes come with guacamole and grilled onions (cebollas asadas).

The entire meal (tacos locos, steak quesadillas, smoked pork, my plate, plus 4 waters, a soda, and 3 beers) all came out to around $65 US (~$1300 MXN). Again, service was quick and amazing. Everywhere else we've been we have spent about 1.5 hours in the restaurant because service was slow, but not this place. It's the locals' go-to for gpod food. We were attracted because of the supposed spiciness, but were amazed by the food itself! And our server couldn't have been better.

I was an overcast/rainy day, but that allowed us to stay cool inside. I would highly recommend this place, and if you want to try a variety of meats, get the...

Best of the best!

I've been to Playa a half dozen times in the last 25 years and El Fogon is always the place I go for classic El Pastor tacos!

BTW: It's no secret with all the Instagram and TikTok influencers these days, so expect to wait if you're going for dinner. We waited about 15 mins and the line moved fast. We enjoyed the street musician playing his bongos while we waited.

Once seated the service was fast! Our waiter couldn't have been in a better mood and happy to serve us. Sets such a great vibe for our traditional Mexican meal. 🥳

We ordered two El Pastor tacos, steak quesadilla and I went rogue with the Taco Loco, really a burrito with a mix of all their delicious char grilled meats and queso, topped with a big piece of bacon which had a great smoky flavor! If you're hungry go for the flavor bomb that is the Taco Loco!! 🌮🤪

Doubt you can go wrong with whatever you order, but you should def try a couple of El Pastor tacos! The arrachera meat (skirt steak) in the quesadilla was tender and seasoned well.

Cost was $26 USD with two beers. We had our leftovers for lunch the next day! So great value.

Never had a bad meal here and love coming back...

El Fogón in Playa del Carmen is hands-down one of our absolute favorite spots to grab an unforgettable meal. We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve been here, and every visit delivers the same quick, friendly, and consistently delicious experience.

Some of our go-to dishes include the pastor gringas, packed with perfectly seasoned, juicy meat, melty cheese, and served in warm tortillas that hit the spot every single time. The choriqueso is another must-try—rich, indulgent, and the perfect combination of savory chorizo and gooey cheese. And the sirloin tacos? Tender, flavorful, and simply addictive.

Part of what makes El Fogón stand out is not just the food, but the incredible selection of fresh, flavorful sauces that take every bite to the next level. From smoky to spicy, they give you plenty of ways to customize your meal to your taste.

Service here is impressively fast, even when the restaurant is packed, and the staff is always warm and welcoming. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, they make you feel right at home.

If you’re in Playa del Carmen and craving authentic, mouthwatering tacos in a lively, no-frills setting, El Fogón is an...