Cozumel - Local Cheap Eats

[jctann]

Hello SB!

First, I want to thank all of the more experienced divers for sharing so much knowledge and information on this site. SB has been an incredibly valuable resource for me. This community has helped me purchase equipment, enhance my diving skills from complete beginner to Rescue Diver, and plan diving trips to Bali, Thailand, the Bahamas, and now Cozumel.

I have been to Cozumel before, but this time we are "doing it right." My fiance and I have rented an apartment for the month and will be here until the beginning of February. We are hoping to do about 20 dives each while we are here. We are in the process of finding a DM to work with for the month, but I have already read most of the posts concerning DMs and Dive Shops and there is no shortage of friendly professional DMs here. Anyway, I digress.

We are on a limited budget and most of our money goes toward diving. We rented the apartment so we would be able to save money by preparing our own food, but we would also like to experience some local cuisine every once in awhile. Does anyone have suggestions or recommendations for delicious yet affordable food? We are looking for less touristy places (probably not in the center and considering our budget, probably not on Melgar, either). We are not looking for the absolute dodgiest/cheapest restaurants on the island or anything like that, but our primary concerns are price and taste, not decor. We don't drink, so alcohol prices and size of bar are not relevant. TripAdvisor is useful, but I would prefer to hear what the SB community has to say.

I speak Spanish, so communication is not an issue.

Thank you!

Joe Tann

 

[JulieM]

We lived in Cozumel for three months January to April in 2013 and 2014. La Perlita has two for one lion fish on Thursdays. Also the theater has one day a week where they offer two for one. Enjoy your time in Cozumel.

 

[MMM]

You don't mention your location or if you have a vehicle. But pretty much any small place full of local Mexicans means good, cheap food. Lots of them along 30th and 65th. Several in the mercado and around it. If you see locals lined up (many bringing their own pots) to get take-away, you know you're at the right place.

Most stuff within the first few blocks of Melgar has gringo-tourist prices. Don't get hung up on the names of places...let your nose and eyeballs make your decisions for you.

 

[mstevens]

You can get a start with my list here.

 

[BRT]

Go to Casa Mission. When you go in the gate ignore the fancy restaurant ahead of you and go south. They have a little covered area over there with great food at cheap prices. The waiters do not carry towels and there are no candles.

 

[ggunn]

'Ohana is a great little place owned by Blue Angel DM Mateo and his wife. It's 2 or three blocks off Melgar a few blocks north of the square.

 

[DjDiverDan]

Personally, I wouldn't miss the Zermatt Bakery, on Ave 5 north of the Plaza - same block as Kinta and Burritos Gordito (which is also worth trying). You can pick up a number of pastries at Zermatt the night before, and with Coffee and OJ you have your breakfast. I also wouldn't miss at least one lunch at Pescaderia San Carlos - go on a Saturday, when they serve the Sopa Mariscos. And there are several very good loncherias, places where you get a full lunch, including chips & salsa, soup, entree with rice and beans, and aqua fresca to drink for 75-80 pesos. I used to really like Sabores, but its now closed, but I think you can get the same one price deal at Casa Cuzamil. Try La Candela and Cha Cha's Kitchen. And several very good taquerias back on 30 (I think its actually Ave 10 Avril), like El Pique, very close to the transversal. Try the Cheap Eats listing on CozumelMyCozumel.com

 

[kmurray719]

Nopales, Las Tortugas, Los Seras, Chilangos, and El Pique are all on 30th. All are basically between 11 and Juarez. Great food, great prices and usually filled with locals.

 

[gopbroek]

There is a very good lunch restaurant downtown with a full 'camita del dia' (SP?) for 65 Pesos. On the south side of Calle Dr Adolfo Rosada Salas 3/4 of a block up from Machete's between avenues 5 & 10. Per Google maps the name is LA Casita de Indio (which may or may not be correct but it is the only restaurant on the block). The food is very good with decent portions, no liquor license but if you want a Cervesa they will run down to the OXXO on the corner and get one for you.

 

[jctann]

You don't mention your location or if you have a vehicle.

Thank you for all of the informative responses. Exactly what I was looking for. We do not have a vehicle and we are located on Adolfo Rosado Salas and 25 Ave Sur. Not too far from many of the recommendations. Thanks everyone!