El Fogón — Restaurant in Playa del Carmen

BEWARE OF THE WAITERS WHEN YOURE PAYING. We went to this place today with my foreign friends and family. Everything was going great, very good food, expensive prices but big portions. Until the bill came… because we asked separately bills the waiter proceeded the payment, my mother in law pay by card, he didn’t say anything to her at all but to put her nip, I realised he didn’t asked for any kind of tip, which is weird in an area like this, innit? Then I checked the recipe and what a surprise! Our bill was originally 1,050 pesos (£42) and there was a tip of 200 pesos (£8) so without even asking he charged a 20% tip to the bill. And obviously we don’t care about the money, we wanted to give tip, but it is the action of him not asking for it and charging you 20%, insane tbh. Then he said he just put it because is what “our friends gave as tip as well” so he was getting DOBLE tip from the same table. Then we called the supervisor because what he did upset it me, my mother in law doesn’t speak Spanish or English so he realised and he did that on purpose. We explained to my friends the situation and they told us he asked them if they wanted to add tip, they tried to pay and they said to add 15% tip of the bill which was 2,020 pesos (£83) but the card was declined so they tried another one, and then we realised HE DID THE SAME TO THEM, in the second payment process he charged them 404 pesos (£16) 20%!!!! When they clearly said 15!! So in total from the table we were he was charging us 600 pesos tip!! (£24) he did it when you tip your NIP and takes the terminal back so you’re not looking what he is doing after. And again, it is not about the money, my friends literally gave 15%, why would he change it to 20%? To my mother in law didn’t even got the bother of asking, he just put 20% as well. Such a shame, because the food was amazing, the environment was great, the service was also great, but why try to cheat us like that? I don’t need to lie about this, the supervisor checked and apologise for the incident, he said tips are not mandatory and is only if you want to give, he gave us the tip refund, he was actually very understanding and helpful, very kind man. So I definitely recommend the food and the restaurant in general, but BEWARE OF THE WAITERS AND PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR...

El Fagon in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, offers a culinary experience that delights the senses with its authentic flavors and vibrant atmosphere. The star of the menu in our opinion, the Parrillada Normal platter, showcases a mouthwatering selection of various meats, including succulent beef (both hangar and ribeye), flavorful chorizo, and we switched out the chicken for al pastor pork grilled to perfection alongside an array of fresh vegetables and indulgent queso fundido. This delectable feast is perfect for sharing among friends or family, allowing diners to savor the rich textures and bold flavors of traditional Mexican cuisine.

For a hearty and comforting starter, the bean and pork soup at El Fagon is a standout dish that captivates with its robust flavor and soul-warming appeal. Made with tender pork, hearty beans, and aromatic spices, this soup offers a satisfying blend of savory goodness that is sure to leave diners craving more. The broth of this soup was a real pleasure with an excellent depth of flavor. Whether enjoyed as a prelude to the main course or as a comforting meal on its own, this dish exemplifies authentic Mexican flavors with every bite.

To top off the dining experience, El Fagon offers a selection of refreshing frozen fruit desserts that provide the perfect sweet ending to any meal. From tangy mango sorbet to creamy coconut ice cream, these delightful treats are bursting with tropical flavor and provide a refreshing respite from the heat of the day. With their vibrant colors and irresistible taste, these frozen fruit desserts are the perfect way to conclude a memorable dining experience at El Fagon, leaving guests eagerly anticipating their next visit to this culinary gem in Playa Del Carmen.

Finish that off with attentive service that was as good as humanly possible while battling language barriers. El Fagon -...

"Authentic Mexican food at its finest"

Although this is not right on 5th Avenue, (it's located near Walmart in Playa del Carmen), it's worth walking going the extra few blocks to find this gem of a restaurant. You know the food is good when there are more locals then tourists eating there. El Fogón is known for their pork tacos or tacos el pastor. We met up with friends and ate their for lunch. We loved everything about this place. From the time we got seated, to the moment we left, it was an enjoyable experience. Our server was friendly and gave us great service. The food was fresh and came out quickly. For appetizers we ordered a side of guacamole and an order of los queso fundidos natural for the table to share.

For entree's our group ordered orden quesadilla pollo, los queso fundidos natural, fajitas de arrachera, tacos al pastor, and las ordenes carne asada arrachera.

At every table they give you three cups of different types of salsa. While normally pico de Gallo is not spicy, in Mexico it can be really spicy. So if you don't like a lot of spice, you might want to keep in mind that their pico de gallo has diced jalapeño peppers in it. We love spicy food, so it wasn't an issue for us, but a couple two tables away got quite the shock after taking a bite of it.

My Favorite - Orden quesadilla pollo

Location 5/5 Flavor - 4/5 Ambiance -4/5 Staff attitude - 5/5 Cleanliness - 4/5

Our party of four had a great experience and would definitely go back if in the area. While this is not the cheapest restaurant in Playa del Carmen, it is still very reasonable and you get plenty of food and value...