Poc Chuk "Las Mestizas"

The 24 Best Restaurants in Tulum, Mexico | Eater

"Not far from the tourist-trod stretch of Avenida Tulum, this modest restaurant made of tree branches, covered with a rusted aluminum roof, serves diners the best, classic Yucatán cuisine in Tulum. Born and raised in Valladolid, owner Paulino May created the space in 2023 for traditional Mayan cooks to roast tender, smoky poc chuc (marinated pork) over a wood fire, served with tortillas de chaya and spicy salsa habanera. For breakfast, try huevos encamisados — split tortillas filled with egg, cooked on a comal, and paired with salsa de chiltomate (tomato-habanero) — or huevos motuleños, a dish from Motul of fried tortillas topped with fried eggs, peas, ham, fried plantains, and spicy tomato sauce. Afternoons are for escabeche — barbecued chicken and elbow pasta in a clear broth accented by bitter orange and chiles en vinagre on the side — or chilmole, a chicken or turkey soup painted black by smoky achiote paste. May’s restaurant is so popular with locals and tour buses that he opened a second branch on Avenida Coba." - Bill Esparza