maya riviera (akumal, tulum) - help me find good local food

[hgray14]

I am heading to the Maya Riviera for some diving and ruin's touring in early February. I love foods of all kind but on trips like this would rather hit the places where the locals eat than the tourists.

Any recommendations for great little places off the beaten path? I don't mind eating in the pueblos instead of the tourist zones if that is what it takes. (I see Tulum Pueblo listed seperately than "Tulum" which leads me to believe that is where the locals live, no?) Do any places down there make fresh donuts for breakfast or is it churros or nothing? Any micro-breweries? I see that there is a farmer's market in Akumal on Wed & Sat...are there any others in the area? I can't imagine that there aren't street vendors selling all sorts of food but can't seem to find anything online. Heck, I used to get great tomales on the corner of 24th & Mission when I lived in S.F.. A little latin lady would be standing at the top of the BART stairs repeating "tomales, tomales, tomales...f..l..o..r..e..s, ...f..l..o..r..e..s, ...f..l..o..r..e..s," over and over again. I never bought her flowers but her $1 tomales (sold out of a white bucket she brought from home) were great. THAT is the kind of eating I like to do when I travel.

Any suggestions?

[Veggo]

In Akumal, Cueva del Pescador is one of my favorites in the Yucatan. It has a relationship with a local fisherman who provides all its daily catch. Fried boquinette with crunchy garlic sauce, and conch ceviche, are very good. The Tulum scene changes so often I'm not up to speed, but there are posts you can check. Puerto Aventuras has the dolphins and manatees, but street vendors are not allowed.
Ruins: you can still climb the pyramid at Coba. Tulum is now no-touch, as is the pyramid at Chichen Itza.
Diving: mainland diving is ok but unremarkable. Shallow reefs, and an occasional school of tarpon in mangrove areas. The Palancar reef off Cozumel is the best diving. Three fun places on Cozumel on the windward side are Bob's Marley Bar, Playa Bonita, and Coconuts.
There are no microbreweries. Try a chilada - a beer with lime juice, ice, and a salt-rimmed glass.

[coloradowanderer]

My favorite local place in Tulum pueblo is El Tacoqueto. No menus, no English we went into the kitchen and picked our meals out of pots. Awesome food and 2 cokes for 80 pesos total.

There are also street vendors starting at 6am and several taco stands. I have read about roasted pig early mornings on the weekends, but I have never made it early enough.

Have a great time and Happy Eating!

[AimeeD]

There is a taco stand on the highway just as you drive into Tulum Pueblo that is delicious. We went there almost every day for lunch. I don't remember the name, but it's between the gas station and the fish taco place.