Destination Playa del Carmen: Two Maya Restaurants
July 7, 2008
Filed under Destinations
Playa del Carmen, less than an hour south of Cancun, is on the Yucatan Peninsula, where the Mayan people have made their home for centuries. When you visit the Riviera Maya (which stretches from Puerto Morelos to Tulum along the Caribbean coast), you can visit ancient Maya ruins, and also dine at restaurants where Mayan cuisine is featured.
Consider checking these two upbeat eateries while you’re on your Playa del Carmen timeshare resort vacation. Both are located in the heart of Playa del Carmen’s shopping district, just off the famous 5th Avenue pedestrian thoroughfare.
Yaxche (pronounced jag-shey) Maya Cuisine Restaurant has a beautiful, open-air garden dining area-perfect for a quiet lunch or a romantic dinner. The fountains, frescos and facade are reminiscent of the ancient Maya ruins at Tulum. If it’s too steamy to eat outdoors, relax in the air-conditioned dining room, or just try a Chaya Maya drink, made of a bright green, leafy Yucatan plant, mixed with vodka and fruit juice and served in a tall glass. It might look funny, but it’s refreshing!
Some of the Maya dishes at Yaxche are cooked in the traditional ways, others are Maya with a twist, like shrimp in relleno negro, a spicy black sauce traditionally served with turkey. Or Yaxche’s version of the chile relleno: a banana pepper stuffed with cochinita pibil, a tangy pork, instead of a poblano pepper filled with cheese. Since the ancient Maya were generally vegetarians (main staples in their diet were maize, squash, beans, and chile pepper), there are dozens of veggie dishes on the menu.
It’s all about fabulous food and having fun at Ajua Maya (ah-who-ah ma-ya), dubbed a “tequila bar, grill house and Latin club.” Every night, a live jazz and dance band brings a festive atmosphere to the restaurant, which specializes in fresh wild lobster and seafood, Angus steaks and authentic Maya and Mexican cuisine.
Every Wednesday, at lunchtime, learn about Maya cuisine with a cooking demonstration and plentiful lunch menu with samples of Maya dishes, such as roasted tomatoes with pumpkin seed sauce, chicken and key lime soup, Cornish game hen and Ta’as Flambe (otherwise known as Bananas Foster). Reservations required for the cooking demo and lunch.
Ajua is an expansive restaurant, with seating in an indoor cantina setting, lush tropical garden and under open-air palapas. Ajua opens daily at 11 a.m. and closes at 1 a.m. Free wireless Internet is available.
