Mayan Cafe

I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be waxing poetic over the supposedly humble lima bean, but here I am. I want to write a sonnet for those lima beans, but I'll spare you. Just know that while I enjoy every little thing about Mayan Cafe, from its dark, moody vibes to its extremely gracious staff (our bartender served us with a sincerely delivered, "I just love alcohol!") to the aforementioned libations (one glass of the best sangria I've ever had, possibly because it had a generous CHAMPAGNE pour...have you ever?) to my exquisite vegan entree (ask for the dietary restrictions menu)... the lima beans are what I cannot stop thinking about.And you can find this recipe online--thank you for being so generous-- but I heard that it's actually not ever going to taste as good as it does when prepared by the alchemists at work in the Mayan kitchen.The current vegan entree is the "Harvest Toss" and it's an artfully-arranged melange of quinoa, sweet potatoes, chickpeas and other vegetables on top of a delicious red pepper hummus. I appreciate this even more than veggie burritos or tacos (not that I don't love these), because it's unlike anything I've ever had before.I cannot wait to come back to Mayan Cafe every single time I'm back in town.

Of course, we had to try the lima beans--super yummy! My vegan friend was so happy with their special allergy menu and the variety of options available to her, and of course, she loved her meal. I ordered a red blend with Tempranillo that was delicious but not too bold that it overpowered my tuna tacos. The ahi tuna was seared to perfection. Sweet, slightly citrusy pineapple with cool and creamy avocado created such a nice balance. I did not heed the server's warning about the heat level of the green chipotle sauce--don't do that! It was so spicy. I loved it, but use it mindfully. The servers were great. The vibe was fun, but welcoming with a slightly dark-in-a-romantic-way dining room that set the mood. A must try in the 'ville.

It's been four years since I last reviewed Mayan Cafe, since we were in the thick of COVID. Several great meals -- and thankfully the end of the pandemic -- later, this needs to be updated.Mayan Cafe remains my favorite restaurant in Louisville.I was lucky enough to join some coworkers at Mayan Cafe last night, and it made me so happy to see how much they enjoyed this iconic spot as well.The Cochinita Pibil -- always delicious. It's my favorite entree on the menu, though the salbutes and rabbit are also great picks.And don't forget the lima beans. Even if they don't come with a dish, get them on the side if you must. They are magic, and if you don't get them, you really haven't eaten here. The sangria and desserts are also worth the extra dollars. And did you know that Mayan Cafe has an allergen menu? I didn't until last night. One of my coworkers is vegan and requested this menu, which helped her find items on the menu that she loved. Mayan Cafe has also opened up a back patio since I last wrote a review. Our servers last night were delightful, as they always are. Mayan Cafe just consistently knocks it out of the park. It's a Louisville dining icon. Five stars. Everyday.

Chris the manager and her team are awesome! She is the best host- great ambiance and the food was amazing! Chris knew had a friend who never been to Mayan before- she brought over the most mazing Lima beans. Great Ahi Tuna Ceviche, had amazing pork their signature dish. Great date night, friends- a hidden gem in Louisville.

I liked the service and the atmosphere of this restaurant. The waitress was very friendly. The food is delicious! The duck soup with pumpkin is incredibly delicious. The empanadas are delicious. But the duck with vegetables is a bit dry. As a gourmet, I know that juiciness is important in duck, but here it was overcooked and dry. I give it 4 stars because of the main course of dry duck.

We snagged a last-minute reservation online to sit outside at their bar, and it couldn't have been a more perfect-weather evening. The outdoor setup had a relaxed yet stylish vibe--ideal for dressing up a bit while keeping it relaxed.The food was phenomenal! My partner ordered the tuna tacos, which had a great heat level and incredibly fresh ingredients--simple, bold, and delicious. I went with the Chilaquile, and wow, a tortilla lasagna, delicate yet packed with layers of flavor. So unique and so well executed!The cocktails were equally impressive. I loved that they were featuring a woman-owned tequila--naturally, I had to try the Blanco, and it was a hit.We found some street parking a block or so down. This is off of a very popular strip, but we went on a weeknight. Plenty of other activities and foods to try within walking distance.

An Amazing Food Experience !!I was looking for new food adventures in the East Market District when I stumbled upon the Mayan Cafe. I have had Mayan food before, prepared by Mayan friends, and I was very curious to experience Mayan food in a restaurant. My visit took place on a Thursday and I was lucky enough to walk in and get a seat right away before the restaurant filled up. My server was friendly and walked me through some of her favourites before I placed my order. I started with the Three Sisters Salad. The 'Three Sisters' in indigenous cultures are beans, corn and squash, and the Mayan Cafe's version of the 'Three Sisters' is beans, corn and squash that are locally sourced. The salad is a light and refreshing starter made with roasted corn, pickled butternut squash, garbanzo beans, jicama, pepitas, queso panela local and lightly tossed in a house-made mint vinaigrette. The salad was absolutely pleasant to eat. For the main course after being served a side of Tok-Sel lima beans, on-the-house was one of Mayan Cafe's signature dishes, the Cochinita Pibil and from Garey Farms slow-roasted local pork with an achiote sauce and pickled onions and surrounded by tok-sel lima beans. This dish was spectacular and I highly recommend it for anyone visiting the Mayan Cafe for the first time. The slow-roasted pork was tender and had the perfect amount of spices and flavour. For dessert, I had a Chocolate Torte and Ice Cream from a local Louisville Ice Cream maker. I finished my meal with a twenty-three-year-old rum to help wash everything down. The Mayan Cafe is unique and has exceptional food and it was a great place to start my East Market food adventure.

We came here to celebrate my daughter's Doctoral Hooding Ceremony! They created a customized menu for the occasion and it was absolutely Amazing!!!

2nd time visiting and still one of my favorite places in town! The first time we came it was in the summer and we sat on the back patio which was amazing! The second visit was in the winter so we got seated indoors. The inside has a more formal vibe to it compared to the patio which feels more casual. The service has always been great here, no issues there. The first visit we ordered many appetizers including guacamole and empanadas which we enjoyed! I got the catch of the day (it was Mahi) and absolutely loved it with the black rice. My husband got the beef and did not care for it as much as the fish. My next visit I got the salmon. This was good, however, not as good as the catch of the day. I would highly recommend this place for some great fish entrees!

If the ancient Mayans could time travel, they'd probably skip building pyramids and head straight to the Mayan Cafe for dinner. The papadzules? So good, they make you question why you ever bothered with regular enchiladas. The lima beans? Absolute legends in their own right--who knew something so humble could be this life-changing? And the Mayan 75 cocktail? It's like a tropical vacation in a glass, but with better after-effects than sunburn.The service? Spot-on. The team is as warm as a sunny Yucatán afternoon. The dining area? Cozy and intimate--perfect for romantic dinners or gently elbowing your neighbor for the last lima bean. Can't wait to return when the patio's open; alfresco dining sounds like the perfect way to enjoy this gem.