We walked by La Bamba Jarocha several times. It’s that restaurant in Playa Del Carmen, always packed, with the 70’s bamboo curtains surrounding the exterior.
It’s one of those places that we promised ourselves that we’d try at some point.
After getting the best recommendation ever from someone standing behind us in line at an obscure seafood taco stand who rolled her eyes when she talked about this place, we knew it was time to cross the bamboo curtain and give it a try.
And after the first bite, we wondered what had taken us so long.
Locals Seafood Restaurant in Playa Del Carmen
Crossing the bamboo curtain at La Bamba Jarocha
The interior of the seafood restaurant is light and bright with colorful murals of fishing villages.
Colorful murals inside the restaurant
Authentic Fresh Seafood in Playa del Carmen
We started with a shrimp tostada. Wonderful large plump shrimp on a fried tortilla over a slightly and surprising sweet sauce.
Shrimp Tostada loaded with plump sweet shrimp
But what we were really after was the cazuela de camarones – translated to shrimp casserole, but, like so many things with language, the name in translation does not truly capture the dish.
Cazuela de Camarones
A garlicky bowl of shrimp served in a stone dish straight out of the oven. The broth tasted like a briny shrimp bisque with ham combined with an astonishing amount of large fresh shrimp and topped with cheese and avocado.
heaping with shrimp
And it comes to the table still bubbling from the oven.
The presentation speaks for itself and the flavor delivers. We had a 1/2 order of the cazuela and barely finished it.
There are several other seafood dishes on the menu, but looking around the restaurant, this one seemed to be the favorite.
And no secret as I mentioned because this place is always jammed with locals every time we go by. But luckily enough with plenty of room for us – and we’ll be back to claim a spot.
Located on 30th Ave and Calle 36 in Playa Del Carmen, Quintana Roo, MX
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Megsy
Monday 20th of April 2015
OMG prawns with cheese and avocado - that's like my foodie dream. Noms! I love it when you find gems of places like this while travelling, makes you want to keep them a secret so it's your special food place lol
Madaline
Tuesday 31st of March 2015
Today must be food day or something! Everyone's posts keep tempting me with the most delicious food I've ever seen. I can literally imagine eating this beautiful seafood!
dannielle
Tuesday 31st of March 2015
I love seafood, this looks delicious!
Elena
Friday 27th of March 2015
The cazuela looks mouthwatering! After 5 months in South America, I developed craving for these delicious concoctions. They differ from country to country, from savory to almost too sweet with strong coconut flavor, but all are so tasty.
Justin Velthoen
Thursday 26th of March 2015
Wow! Love the new site design and those pictures look scrumptious! Makes the leftover lunch I had pale in comparison.