This restaurant isn’t located exactly in Playa, it’s about 20 or so minutes south of Playa on a beach called Xpu Ha. I go there every now and then to enjoy the calm cove and the wonderful service at the beach club. An extra plus is that the food is always good. So, I figured I should review it, since I love it!

When we got there this weekend we were starving, so we grabbed a couple lounge chairs under an umbrella and took a look at the menu. In the past I have had the ceviche mixto, a salad made of raw fish, shrimp and octopus that has been cured with lime juice and mixed with cilantro, tomatoes and onions. I love ceviche and they make some of the best. This time I was hungry for something a little heavier. Most of the items on the menu are Mexican dishes, but they did have some nice-sounding seafood options and more international-style foods as well.

I opted for the grilled fish tacos. My friend ordered the fried shrimp tacos and we each traded one. I was so hungry I dug in right away and then remembered to take a photo, so please note that they come three to an order, not two! The fish tacos were tasty. The fish was grilled with a flavorful, but not spicy, rub and then cubed. I got three tacos in corn tortillas (a new favorite of mine over flour ones). They were served with a side of refried black beans and guacamole. They also came with a tomato salsa on the side and some hot sauce.

The shrimp tacos came with a beautiful presentation. Each taco had three medium-sized lightly fried shrimp, a slice of avocado, some tomato salsa and a swirl of mayonnaise. They were good except for the mayonnaise being a little weird. They would have been perfect if they had used media crema or something with less mayonnaise flavor! Of course, we didn’t let a little mayo stand in the way of lunch.

We stayed on the beach long enough to be impressed with the service. Xpu Ha isn’t the most crowded beach (even on Sundays) and you’re pretty much guaranteed a spot with some shade and an attentive waiter. I sampled a Piña Colada, which was very weak. The flavor was good, even though I couldn’t taste any rum. I recommend ordering them stiff.

Later, Hans joined us after a dive and he was hungry for lunch. He ordered a cheeseburger and some guacamole. He reported that the cheeseburger was good. It came with shoestring french fries. The guacamole was delicious and highly recommended.

To get to La Playa Xpu Ha, head south on the Carretera Federal. On the left side of the road you will see a big sign for Bahía Divers. This is where you will turn in. You’ll need to make the u-turn at the Pemex station to get to the turn in. They charge you $25 pesos per person entry fee, but it’s refunded if you spend more than $100 pesos per person, just show them your food bill when you leave.