Hidden Gems of Playa del Carmen: Roti de Playa

A plight of the traveling foodie is the guilt that comes with choosing foreign cuisines over local dishes.

I’m in Mexico! Shouldn’t I be eating tacos, tortas, moles, and things I’ve never even heard of?! Capitalize on the 20mxn/$1USD tacos now! Those suckers will be $4usd a pop or more back in New York!!!!

Here’s the thing, as much as I love eating local foods and the adventures that come with it, sometimes trying ethic foods is just a culturally informative. It gives you a literal taste of what different types of cuisines the locals enjoy, and it’s interesting to see if the chef sticks to the recipe or adds in a Mexican flare. 

The most common types of ethnic cuisines I’ve encountered in Mexico are Italian (hello pasta and pizza!), American (burgers for life), and Japanese (sushi is surprisingly abundant.) Indian spots, however, are few and far between.

So when we strolled past Roti de Playa on the way to Playa Punta Esmeralda, we had to give it a try.

The Experience at Roti de Playa:

As soon as we sat down, a skinny older woman with leathery skin and smile lines asked, “Hable espanol?” I replied, “un poco!” My minimal Spanish wasn’t an issue because her English was superb, like most business owners in Playa del Carmen. The abundance of English in Quintanoo Roo makes travel a breeze, but it hasn’t boded well for my Spanish.

She asked us if we were familiar with roti, and proceeded to explain how she was the only roti spot in Playa del Carmen. “Locals aren’t familiar, but Americans and Europeans love it!” I didn’t even care whether or not the food would be good. I was just happy to supported Roti de Playa.

Although, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t skeptical about what I’d end of getting… homemade roti in Mexico? Hmmm….

The Food:

There was a “build your own” menu as well as a specialty menu. I crafted my own with chicken, mushrooms, spinach, and pumpkin. Partly because I love “build your own”, and partly because it was half the price of the specialties #frugal. 15 minutes later, a surprisingly lovely roti was set down in front of me.

I took a bite. Even better than it looked!

The roti was delightfully crispy, and she didn’t skimp on the fillings. There was an ample serving of tender chicken, chunks of sweet pumpkin, earthy mushrooms, and plenty of spinach. It was filling without being too heavy, and a mere 80mxn/$4usd.

Cheap, filling, tasty, and local. A total win!

I’ve read dozens of Playa del Carmen “top food” lists, and Roti de Playa didn’t make a single one. If you know me, you know that discovering off the beaten path spots thrills me to no end. And I can confidently save that Roti de Playa is a true hidden gem of Playa del Carmen that is well worth trying.

Hungry for more hidden gems of Playa del Carmen? Check out my review of The Lost Tiki!