CHACABAR: A CASUAL TULUM RESTAURANT WITH AN ECLECTIC MENU
The Cost - $20 per person
The Atmosphere – Chacabar’s interior is nothing that’s going to take your breath away, but it is a nice space and you can definitely come dressed casually. As with most restaurants in Tulum, it offers both indoor and outdoor dining.
When I was in Tulum, I stayed in the Aldea Zama neighborhood and wanted a place I could go to for a lunch or dinner without having to get a cab down to the main beach area. Chacabar, a casual Italian restaurant, ended up being a couple of blocks from my hotel and seemed to have good reviews so I gave it a try.
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The Order - Watermelon Juice, Guacamole, Caesar Salad, Eggplant Parmigiana, and Salmon and Risotto.
The Great - The Caesar Salad, surprisingly, was the best dish that we ordered. The portion was huge and the chicken breast and the pizza oven croutons were stand out ingredients. Good salads are not easy to find in a lot of places in Mexico but this one is a winner.
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The Good - The watermelon juice, guacamole and salmon and risotto were all good choices but nothing out of the ordinary. The watermelon juice is fresh but they do add water to it. I ordered it unsweetened but you can get it with sugar. The guacamole was very mild and had no spiciness to it at all but they were able to provide a spicy salsa to add in that did give it a kick. The pomegranate seeds on top were a nice touch but it would have been nice if they added a jalapeño or habanero pepper to the recipe. The salmon over risotto was a nice dish. The salmon was baked with herbs and lemon butter and the dish also came with asparagus spears. The risotto was a pesto risotto but I thought it needed more pesto.
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The Not So Good - The eggplant parmigiana was a miss. The cheese on top didn’t taste fresh and the dish was bland. That is one entrée to avoid.
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The Verdict - If you pick the right dishes, Chacabar is one of the best value meals in Tulum, with an entrée, appetizer and a soft drink or juice costing about $20 per person. The food isn’t going to blow you away but in a town full of overpriced restaurants catered to American tourists, this place is a gem.