Playa del Carmen has a wide range of restaurants oriented toward international visitors — Mexican, Italian, Japanese, and generic beach-resort food lines Quinta Avenida and the streets around it. The most authentic and affordable Mexican food is on the side streets parallel to the main avenue; cochinita pibil (slow-roasted pork), fish tacos, and fresh seafood are the regional specialities. Avoid the most tourist-targeted restaurants directly on the beachfront, where quality drops and prices rise.