Carboncitos Playa del Carmen

If you are looking for a traditional meal of indigenous Mexican cuisine, head to Carboncitos in Playa del Carmen. The restaurant is located in Hotel Cielo. The hotel and the restaurant are both over twenty years old. I had heard from a friend how good the food was.They offer authentic Mayan dishes as well as options from other parts of Mexico. It’s very close to Parque de Fundadores just off the bustling 5th avenue.

Chef Abrahm welcomed us and immediately made me laugh. He was quite the character. It was obvious he is proud of his heritage and has a genuine passion for cooking. I told him that whenever I visit a new destination, I loved to eat authentic local cuisine. So I would need his help in choosing a traditional Mayan dish. He immediately started talking about Mayan cooking and his favorite spices.

Carboncitos In Playa del Carmen

Carboncitos Playa del Carmen — Chef Abrahm creates a Masterpiece at Carboncitos

A small group of people walked in and obviously knew Chef Abrahm. They were seated right next to us. Apparently the Canadian visitors frequent Playa del Carmen 3-4 times a year. They have made it a ritual to stop and visit Chef Abrahm to dine at Carbonicitos. See the ETG Instagram to view a video of Chef Abrahm cooking tableside.

Mayan Cuisine

Carboncitos In Playa del Carmen — *Relleno Negro Stuffed Chicken Breast; Photo by Richard Bilow*

For my dish Chef Abrahm suggested Relleno Negro Stuffed Chicken Breast (Chicken stuffed with pork, cooked in a black burnt chile sauce with onions, garlic, tomatoes and aromatic herbs, served with Mexican rice). It was exquisite with layers of subtle flavors. In addition to all those incredible ingredients listed above, hard boiled eggs were also included (stuffed into the chicken) not listed on the menu. This took the meal to the next level for me. The combo of flavors with the black rich sauce was all so scrumptious.

My husband, who tends to be a more conservative eater, chose the Surf and Turf Fajitas with Shrimp and Arrachera steak. This was also excellent. Chef Abrahm Rosado explained, that he loves to cook with the flavor of the Mayan. He marinated the meat in sour orange, achiote paste (also known as a annatto). Rich and I are both fans of the spice annatto, and I also personally cook with it in my home kitchen in LA. While I hoped Rich would select a more exotic dish, these fajitas were like none I had tasted before.

Tres Leches Cake

For dessert Chef Abrahm surprised us with a slice of Tres Leches Cake. It was so moist and delicious. It made for a exceptional finish to a perfect meal. So, on your next trip to Playa del Carmen, stop by Carboncitos for a traditional Mayan meal. Carboncitos, Calle 4 NTE S/N, Centro, Playa del Carmen, 77710; https://carboncitosplaya.com.mx/