If you’re visiting Cancun or simply want to try something different, go for the first time to a seafood restaurant in Cancun can be a delightful experience… but also a bit confusing. The menu tends to be full of options such as ceviches, cocktails, toasts, aguachiles, shrimp and octopus, and if you’ve never eaten this type of dishes, it’s normal not to know where to start.
The good news is that you don’t need to be an expert in seafood to enjoy a great meal. You just need to know what to ask for in a seafood restaurant in Cancun if it’s your first time, what dishes are softer, which are more intense and which are ideal if you prefer something cooked or less spicy.
In this guide we will explain to you, in a simple way, what to eat in a seafood restaurant, what are the best dishes for beginners and how to choose the best option according to your tastes.
What is a seafood restaurant and why they are so popular in Cancun?
A seafood restaurant is a restaurant specializing in seafood and fish. In coastal locations such as Cancun, these restaurants are popular because they offer fresh ingredients, local flavors and a great variety of preparations.
How special of a seafood restaurant in Cancun is that it combines:
- Fresh seafood
- Recipes mexican traditional
- Flavors of the Caribbean
- Options hot and cold
- Dishes ideal for sharing
In addition, many people visit this kind of restaurants because they want to try something more authentic than the fast food or the international typical of the tourist areas.
If you are looking for a dining experience more local, visit a seafood restaurant in Cancun is an excellent idea.
What you need to know before you order seafood for the first time
Before you ask, there is something important that you need to be clear: not all seafood taste the same, nor are served the same way.
Some dishes are:
- Cold and fresh
- Cooked and hot
- Soft
- Spicy
- Light
- More abundant
That is why, before choosing, you should think about these questions:
Do you prefer something hot or cold?
If you like fresh flavors and citrus fruits, you probably enjoy a ceviche or a cocktail.
If you want something a little more cooked and family, you can start with garlic shrimp or a fish fillet.
Do you like spicy, or prefer something mild?
In many seafood restaurants there are options with chile, lemon, and sauces intense. If you don’t like a lot of spicy, it’s better to ask before.
Do you dare to try something local, or you want to go to the safe?
A good strategy for your first time is to ask for a dish well-known and one more typical. So enjoy the experience without leaving too much of your comfort zone.
The best dishes to order if it is your first time at a seafood restaurant in Cancun
Here comes the most important: what to order at a seafood restaurant if you’ve never gone. These are the best options for you to start.
Ceviche: the classic that it is almost always a good idea
If you think about seafood in Cancun, probably the ceviche is of the first dishes that come to mind. And with good reason: it is fresh, light, tasty and very popular for locals and tourists alike.
The ceviche is usually prepared with fish, shrimp, octopus, or a mixture of seafood. Is marinated with lemon and tends to take the ingredients as:
- Onion
- Tomato
- Cilantro
- Cucumber
- Chile (in some versions)
Why is it a good option for beginners?
Because it has a fresh taste and pleasant, especially if you visit Cancun on a hot day. In addition, it is often served with toast or crackers, which makes it more easy to enjoy.
Ideal for you if…
- Want to try something typical
- You like citrus flavors
- You’re looking for a dish to cool and lightweight
Tip: if this is your first time, ask for a shrimp ceviche or a mixed one soft.
Cocktail shrimp: a safe option and very easy to enjoy
If you want something delicious but without risking too much, the cocktail shrimp is one of the best answers to the question what to order at a seafood restaurant in Cancun if it’s your first time.
This dish is usually served cold in a glass or large glass and combines shrimp with a salsa-type tomato with lemon, sometimes with onion, cilantro, avocado and smooth sauces.
How does it taste?
It has a fresh flavor, slightly tart, a little sweet, and very pleasant to almost any palate.
Why is it ideal to start?
Because it is one of the seafood, more “friendly” for those who are not used to eating fish or seafood, more intense.
Ideal for you if…
- You don’t want something too strong
- I love the fresh flavors
- Do you prefer a popular option and easy to order
Toasted seafood: perfect if you want to try several things
The toast seafood are an excellent option for those who want to experiment without committing to a single dish, great.
A toast usually have a base of crunchy and top seafood prepared in different ways. Some of the most common in Cancun are:
- Shrimp toast
- Tostada de ceviche
- Roasted octopus
- Roasted mixed
- Toasted tuna
Why are good for your first time?
Because you can order more and try different flavors. They are ideal if you’re going with a partner or in a group and want to share.
Ideal for you if…
- You’re undecided
- You want to try more than one option
- Do you prefer small portions at the beginning
Aguachile: for those who want a more intense experience
The aguachile is one of the dishes most famous in many seafood restaurants mexican, but here you have to be honest: it is not always the best option for all on the first visit.
It is prepared usually with shrimp, lemon, chile, onion, and cucumber. A difference of ceviche, its flavor is often stronger, more sour and a lot more spicy.
Is it worth a try?
Yes, especially if you like spicy and you want to experience a more daring.
But eye…
If you do not tolerate well the chile or prefer mild flavors, it may be appropriate to leave it for your second visit.
Ideal for you if…
- You love the spicy
- I love the intense flavors
- Want to try something very mexican
Tip: you can ask if they prepare it less spicy.
Garlic shrimp: perfect if you prefer something cooked
Not everything in a seafood restaurant have to be cold or style ceviche. If you are a person that prefers hot food and cooked, the garlic shrimp are one of the best choices.
They are cooked with garlic, butter, or oil, and sometimes with a touch of mild chili. The result is a dish tasty, aromatic and easy to enjoy.
Why is it ideal for beginners?
Because it has a taste more familiar and less “challenging” than other seafood, raw or marinated.
Ideal for you if…
- You do not like a lot of the dishes cold
- Prefer something cooked
- You want a safe choice, and delicious
Camarones a la diabla: if you want something cooked but spicy
If you like shrimp, but you also want a little more intensity, the camarones a la diabla may be a great option.
It is served boiled and dipped in a red sauce spicy. They are very popular in many seafood restaurants and combine very well with rice, salad and tortillas.
Ideal for you if…
- You like the chile
- You want something hot
- You don’t want to ask for ceviche or aguachile
Important: this dish can itch a lot, so it is helpful to ask before.
Fish fillet: the easiest option to go to the safe
If you really do not know what to ask and want something that almost never fails, the fish fillet is probably the simplest option, and comfortable.
Can be served in different ways:
- To the plate
- Garlic
- Breaded
- In sauce
- With vegetables or rice
Why it works so well for a first time?
Because it has a milder taste and a texture that is more familiar than other seafood such as octopus or some mixed seafood.
Ideal for you if…
- You’re not used to seafood
- You want something simple
- You are going with children or people of most classical tastes
Octopus with garlic or bbq: for something a more typical
If you want to get out a little from the ordinary and try something more representative of a seafood restaurant, the octopus can be a great choice.
Many people hesitate to ask for the texture, but when it is well prepared it can be very tasty and tender.
What is recommended for beginners?
Yes, if you like to try new things and want to experience a more local.
Ideal for you if…
- You want something different
- As you feel more open to trying new flavors
- You are looking for a more authentic experience in Cancun
Seafood platter, or plato mixed: the best option if you have
If you’re in a couple, with friends or family, with a seafood platter or plato mixed can be one of the best decisions.
These dishes usually include a combination of:
- Shrimp
- Fish
- Octopus
- Ceviche
- Oysters or clams (by location)
- Side dishes
Why is it ideal?
Because it allows you to try a little of everything without having to choose only one thing.
Ideal for you if…
- Can’t decide
- Want to share
- You are looking for a more complete experience
What to ask if you do not like seafood raw
Many people believe that if they don’t like the ceviche or seafood cold, then they are not going to enjoy a seafood restaurant. But that is not true.
If you prefer to options cooked, these are very good choices:
- Garlic shrimp
- Camarones a la diabla
- Fish fillet
- Breaded fish
- Cooked octopus
- Rice with seafood
- Fish Tacos
What to ask for if you like spicy
If you are someone who enjoys chili peppers and bold flavors, in a seafood restaurant in Cancun you have very good options.
Dishes recommended if you like spicy:
- Aguachile
- Camarones a la diabla
- Ceviche spicy
- Toast with house sauce
- Seafood enchilados
Yes, remember that the level of spiciness can vary a lot depending on the place. You can always ask:
- Do you itch so much?
- What can make it less spicy?
- How strong is the sauce?
What to ask for if you’re going with a partner or in a group
If you visit a seafood restaurant in Cancún with more people, the best is not always that each one may ask for a single dish great. Many times it is worth to share to try more.
An ideal combination to share would be:
- 1 ceviche or cocktail
- 1 order of toast
- 1 dish hot as shrimp or fish
- 1 fresh drink to accompany
What dishes work best to share?
- Seafood
- Ceviche large
- Toast assorted
- Cocktails are great
- Entries mixed
Drinks that combine well with seafood
A good meal of seafood improved even more with the suitable drink. Some options that are very common and refreshing are:
- Lemonade
- Mineral water and lemon
- Fresh water
- Soft drinks
- Cold beer
- Micheladas
If you’re in Cancun, it is also common to find tropical drinks that combine very well with the fresh flavors of the sea.
How to order like a local at a seafood restaurant in Cancun
If you are a tourist or you’re just not familiar with this type of restaurants, here are some useful phrases that can help you a lot:
- What I recommend if it is my first time?
- What is the dish most requested?
- What is cooler today?
- Do you itch so much?
- Is it to share?
- Do you have cooked?
Tips to enjoy your first visit to a seafood restaurant
Here are some simple tips but very useful:
1. Don’t try to test everything in a single visit
It is best to ask well that too much to ask.
2. Start with something that will give you confidence
A cocktail shrimp or a fish fillet are always good options to start with.
3. Share if you can
So more tests dishes without risking so much.
4. Question for the level of spicy
Especially if you’re thinking of ordering aguachile or camarones a la diabla.
5. Dare to try at least one local option
Even if you go to the safe with a dish, you try to order a piece of toast, ceviche or something more typical for better living experience.
So, what should you ask on your first time?
If you want a quick answer, here’s an easy guide:
If you want something fresh
Calls for ceviche or cocktail shrimp.
If you want something safe to
Ask for fish fillet.
If you do not like seafood, crude oil
Calls for garlic shrimp.
If you like spicy
Ask for aguachile or camarones a la diabla.
If you’re in a group,
Ask for a seafood platter or several toast-stocked.
As simple as that.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dish for someone who has never tasted seafood?
The cocktail shrimp, fish fillet and a ceviche soft tend to be the most easy to get started.
What seafood are typical in Cancun?
In Cancún are very common shrimp, fish, octopus, ceviche, cocktails and toasted seafood.
How is better to order something hot or cold for the first time?
Depends on your tastes. If you want something fresh and typical test ceviche or cocktail. If you prefer something more familiar, better calls for shrimp or cooked fish.
What seafood in Cancun always itch?
No. Many dishes can be prepared with little hot or chile, but it is always best to ask before.
Can I share the dishes in a seafood restaurant?
Yes, in fact many dishes are ideal for sharing, especially tostadas, ceviches and seafood.
Conclusion
Now that you know what to ask for in a seafood restaurant in Cancun if it’s your first time, choose it will be much easier. The key is to start with options that will suit your taste: something cool if you want to try the typical, something cooked if you prefer to go to the safe or something spicy if you’re looking for a more intense experience.
It’s best to visit a seafood restaurant in Cancún is that not only are you going to eat well, but also you will enjoy a very authentic, local cuisine.
If this is your first time, don’t complicate too much: starts with a good ceviche, a cocktail shrimp or a roasted seafood… and let the taste do the rest.
