Alex P.
Yelp
Maybe, one of the worst things about dining, is the feeling being legitimately scammed. It does not happen often and especially since the pandemic, having empathy towards restaurant owners is important. Nobody generally goes into this business to scam anyone. But, Kin Toh is another level of absurd and let's talk about that. Calling it a scam might be an overstatement, at the same time, it may be an understatement.
We are talking about x15 retail price up charge on wine relative to retail. Yes, $9 bottles run for $150 USD and those are the cheapest options on the menu. That is absurd to a level of shock and misunderstanding. When 3 Michelin star restaurants all over the world are able to upcharge 2-3x retail, why does a place in Tulum get to pull this off? We are not on a remote island and even hotels in Maldives generally have a x3 to x5 multiple, easily explainable by delivering bottles to a Muslim country and a private island. So, on that front, Kin Toh starts to feel borderline scammy.
Let's get to the food. The empanada appetizer, described as being served with "beluga caviar" was served with cheap Tobiko. The dish itself is incredibly simple, just an empanada over black beans and with sliced avocado. It was not creative Mexican food by any means. Cocktail is pleasant, although minimal on liquor as expected in Mexico. The dishes are incredibly expensive for no reason as well, with entrees running into $100+ range and appetizers only slightly less.
So, why in the world visit an establishment as such? Well, if appreciating the architecture of this beautiful bamboo house is a must, coming for a couple cocktails is probably the way to go. The design is visually gorgeous, but there is a lack of AC or a breeze, so in 93 degree heat, the vibe that one is supposedly paying for gets very uncomfortable, very quickly, even in the evening. Certain times of the year are probably better on that front, but May is a scorcher.