If you walk into the Mercado and see a line long enough to require a snack for the wait, don't panic. Most of those people are actually queuing up for one of the other hot spots in the plaza. Bypass the crowd, keep your head high, and march straight to Chichen Itza. It is a casual, unpretentious sanctuary of Mayan flavors where the vibe is bustling,and lively. ​I ordered the Pollo Asado. It's boneless, grilled to perfection, and marinated in an achiote and sour orange juice combo that makes standard grilled chicken look like a sad, flavorless mistake. It came with rice, black beans, and red onions, but the real supporting actors were the fried plantains. They were the holy trinity of texture. They were crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and sweet enough to make me consider ordering a second plate just for dessert. The plate only comes with 3 bites of the plantains.i really wanted a mountain of them. ​My coworkers opted for the Cochinita Pibil sandwiches, and while I was busy having a moment with my plantains, I couldn't help but notice how tender and juicy that pork looked. The portions are solid, the food is incredibly well-prepared.It's easily one of the most satisfying meals you can find. If you want authentic, flavorful food this is your spot. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The restaurant is located within the Mercado LA Paloma, straight ahead from the main entrance, at the back wall. (If there is a line coming out of the building, you don't have to stand in it, because it is for another restaurant. So simply bypass the line to enter the market and the food court.) My friend who is Mexican American chose this place for us for lunch because it is a bit different from the Mexican food that most Americans are used to. It is food from the Yucatan area of Mexico and therefore uses a different spice profile and has a lot of pork based and root vegetable dishes. Everything was delicious. I wanted to try a lot more things on the menu, but my stomach can only hold so much. Looking for another opportunity to visit and order different items on a future trip to Los Angeles. read more

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This place is inside the Mercado La Paloma, containing James Beard-nominated Michelin starred food stalls. It's an L.A. art center and culinary adventure dining here. The Mercado is in an industrial area on the other side of the 110 Freeway in the shadow of The California Scuence Center, BMO Stadium, and USC. HINT #1: After 5 pm. Park in the free DMV overflow parking lot,...entrance is thru the main parking in front of the Mercado, drive to the righthand corner to enter thru an open wire gate/fence.. HINT #2: Enjoy the huge wall mural painted by E.E. King. Too bad there's no freestanding legend to help you identify the famous faces and the not-so-famous faces depicted hete. Half the fun...also would be nice to know a bit about the artist and creation of the mural...but it's impressive... mysterious and whimsical. Now for the good . I got the cochinita pibil meal, carnitas Yucatan style, with black beans and rice . also container of hot corn tortillas that are thick and chewy. Had the feel of homemade, and handpressed, not the packaged storebought kind. My dish is beautfully presented on a banana leaf....This is subjective but I thought the pork was too salty, my companion tasted it and agreed it was salty but in a good way. Still I couldn't eat much because of the salt. (3) I enjoyed the pickled onions on the pulled pork, as well as the fluffy white rice, the black beans and the corn tortillas...tortillas were so nice, thick and chewy (5)....my friend ordered two sets of different tacos, a la carte, four in total....he loved them, cleaned his plate. (5) And mine too. Service...friendly servers deliver the hot food fast. If you need anything, you fetch it yourself. It's a food stall...they give you a number on a metal stand, the food finds you. Seating is colorful and the turnover is good so I've always found a table nearby. By the way the Agua fresca (jamaica) was perfect and delicious delicious delicious. (5) I borrowed a lime from my friends fish tacos and squeezed it into the Jamaica, try it, loved the way it cut the sweetness...Jamaica can be too sweet, but that's what is yum about the drink. Double yum with lime. Add it if you get Jamaica. This was my friends first time here, next day he told some clients about his taco experience, so I'm glad he enjoyed and decided to spread the word. Yay!! read more

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Was kinda and quick ordering food came out quick even though it was a super packed and busy day. Food was great! I really enjoyed my tacos and fried plantains! We sat outside which was nice and sunny with a light breeze. read more

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Solid pollo asado tacos x2 & plantains for less than $15. Friendly service. Good vibes -- inside a market. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Tacos De Pollo Asado (order Of 2)- - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I have been going to Chichen Itza for years when I was working at USC. Now it is only when I am in the area so it is now considered a treat. I ordered Poc Chuc which is grilled pork shoulder served with their homemade longaniza chorizo, pickled red onions, avocado, puréed black beans, shredded cabbage, and corn tortillas. The pork is very flavorful from the seasonings and the charring from a wood fire. The pickled red onions were a good accompaniment as the mild vinegar tartness balanced the richness of the grilled meat. I also ordered an Agua de Chaya which was refreshing and citrusy from all the fruit juices. Parking was difficult this time in the small lot due to the popularity of Holbox, their sister restaurant, but I managed to get a spot after the fifth drive around. The food court was very busy on the Friday I was there so finding an available table was also difficult. I would recommend either going earlier or after the noontime lunch crowd. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Agua de Chaya and bottle of Habanero salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We came here for Holbox but the line was crazy, so we decided to give this place a try. Glad we did. The dishes were different from your typical mexican restaurant. We enjoyed everything we ordered except for the tamales. It's not bad but it's not the typical tamales at other mexican restaurants (which I like better). The communal tables were okay. It seems like a somebody spilt drinks and nobody came to clean it up so there was a puddle of liquid under the table. Service was great. They made and brought the food to our table in no time. read more

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I stopped by for Holbox but the line was wayyy too long so wanted to look around the food hall to see what else was there. Chichen Itza caught my eye immediately and to my surprise, I found out the chef who founded Holbox used to actually work there with his father! The food was all delicious and I really enjoyed every bite. The ceviche was fresh, and the bistec dish was so juicy and not dry at all. I like the beans and onions that came with it too. Would be an amazing touch if they also had avocado! My favorite item was the fish taco. The fish was so flaky but also had a lot of meat inside. The toppings paired perfectly too. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Ceviche De Pescado- Bistec a la Yucateca- Tacos De Pescado (order Of 2)- - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

From the chef behind Holbox, this restaurant is where everything started and was handed down from his father. Delicious food and affordble prices. The coffee was good as well. Tamal de colado was great with the smooth masa. The fish tacos were good too. Different from the fish tacos at holbox. Free street parking. Pay to park in the lot. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Tamal de colado - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Don't let this food court fool you. The food is amazing! The flavors are spot on dare I say authentic? Like what your abuelita would cook at home. The service is fast. Yet the everything tasters fresh. You do have to bring your patience because there will be a long line, but once you place your order you won't have to wait too long. Pro tip have a friend scout a table for your while you order. Tables are first serve. So if you are up for the hustle and bustle of a lively of a food court with delicious food this will be a great dinning experience and great ambiance! read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Cochinita Pibil- - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I dream about this place! Unfortunately, I don't live that close and driving on the 110 can mean a quick 10 minute drive turns into 30+. But you know what, I'll take the drive to get the chicharron tacos and their fried plantains. Chichen Itza is located inside Mercado la Paloma. The mercado is always busy even when it's slow so if you come during peak eating hours expect to wait, and that's okay. Ordering is super easy. Just walk up to the counter or wait in line to order. You'll be given a table number to take with you. Since the mercado is used by several other shops the seating is "first come, first serve" so don't be surprised if you sit family style with other people, it's fine and kinda expected. Once I sat at the table a server came and dropped off a bottle of the restaurant's habanero sauce. The sauce is perfect, equal parts heat and savory! I'm a creature of habit so I always get the same thing, tacos de chicharron! There's something so damn delicious about how crunchy, perfectly salty, every bite is. A salsa of avocado, tomato, and onion lightly garnishes the taco. It's so well balanced. Once I was done I cleared my own table and took my plates back to the counter and dropped off the salsa. This place deserves all the love for serving up quality comfort food! read more

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Took a chance on this gem when looking for food after visiting museums at the expo center. It was a 12-minute walk away under the highway. Worth the journey. It's a counter within a Mexican Mercado, Mercado La Paloma, with other vendors including the Michelin restaurant, Holbox. We ordered the fish and chicharron tacos, Poc Chuc pork, black beans and plantain. Everything was very authentically Yucatecan, giving me some nostalgia from my recent trip. I'd definitely go again and try some of their other main dishes. read more

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Yum!! So good, especially the pollo asado plate. I ordered it two days in a row because, well, I deserve delicious things. I also tried a tamale and fish tacos. I'd rank the tamale in 2nd place overall and the fish tacos third. I recommend either the soursop or hibiscus juice, as both were very refreshing. The service is pleasant and efficient, but note that the line can indeed get very long during peak lunch hours. Worth the wait though. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of the best fish ceviches I've ever had, but fish tacos and longanisa taco missed the mark in flavor. Good texture on fish taco but needed more flavor/acid, and pretty good flavor for sausage but needed better texture, sausage was a little chalky. Their in house hot sauce was great with vinegar base and strong punch from the habanero Ate outside at the picnic tables, was very busy but servers found us and were quite nice Would go again just for the ceviche read more

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Located inside Mercado La Paloma (a food court with other food places). Parking was a bit of a struggle but that's typical for LA. You can take your food to go but there's plenty of tables to sit. We went in the evening but it was packed. I got the fish taco and it was AMAZING !! large portions and flavorful. The hot sauce has a great kick. read more

Delicious chicken tacos and Yucutan style food. Really enjoyed the homemade, healthy, and delicious food. There wasn't a ton of seasoning for the tacos, but they brought out mango habanero salsa (very spicy) and it paired well. Good service and clean seating! In the Paloma Market. Open seating, and the restaurant brings food to you (number service)! Self serve water and to go boxes/utensils. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Tacos De Pollo Asado (order Of 2)- - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Mercado La Paloma is located in South Los Angeles near USC, an area that has historically faced disinvestment. This space is an intentional reinvestment into the community and has grown into a vibrant destination for dining and shopping. Holbox, which earned Michelin recognition, was closed, so we went to its sister restaurant, Chichen Itza, also owned by Chef Gilberto Cetina. There, we enjoyed cochinita, fish tacos, rice and beans, and carne asada tacos. Very good! read more

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tl;dr the signature cochinita pibil is a dense and delicious foray into traditional Yucatan eats Chichen Itza, named for the ancient Mayan city in the present-day Yucatan Peninsula, is the fast-casual Mexican venture from the mind of acclaimed contemporary Mexican chef Gilberto Cetina Jr. The menu focuses on Yucatan dishes, with perhaps none as well-known as cochinita pibil (traditional spiced-and-stewed pork). Like its sister restaurant, Holbox, Chichen Itza is located within Mercado la Paloma, itself a bustling South Figeroa Corridor warehouse-turned-marketplace devoted to local shops and restaurants. The Mercado's concrete floors are tastefully polished, and the HVAC is left exposed. Deep tones, Mayan-inspired patterns, and an accent-lit sign decorate Chichen Itza's indoor stall. You'll find it straight forward against the back wall, but don't be surprised to see a queue extending nearly all the way to the Mercado's entrance. My partner and I visited the Mercado to try both of Cetina's restaurants, and at Chichen Itza we opted for the signature Cochinita Pibil platter. The rounded bowl made me wildly underestimate the softball-sized portion of tender, marinated pork. We burned our hands on the large, perfectly textured corn tortillas, and we sipped the rich, fragrant broth to the very last drop. Only the sides of black beans and rice were forgettable. Meanwhile, the moderately large Horchata was crafted with a distinctive almond taste, which somewhat overpowered the cinnamon. At $20 for our meal, Chichen Itza no doubt lies on the premium end of the counter-service spectrum. And, admittedly, the food is outmatched by its seafood-centric sister just a few stalls over. Nonetheless, if you're hungering for more "turf" than "surf", the cochinita pibil is certain to satisfy. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Cochinita Pibil - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Chichen Itza has been on my list forever, and it absolutely lived up to the hype! Located inside Mercado La Paloma, this spot delivers bold, authentic Yucatecan flavors that make the trip completely worth it. We ordered a spread to share, and every dish was a hit. The bistec a la yucateca was tender and packed with that smoky, citrusy seasoning Yucatán is known for. The tikin xic was another standout--perfectly cooked fish with rich, vibrant achiote flavor. The tacos de cochinita were melt-in-your-mouth good, with that deep, savory punch of slow-braised pork. And the tacos de poc chuc had the perfect balance of char, acidity, and tenderness. The atmosphere inside Mercado La Paloma adds to the whole experience--vibrant, casual, and full of amazing smells from all the vendors. Service was fast and friendly, and everything came out fresh and hot. If you're craving authentic Yucatecan cuisine, this is the place. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes! read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Bistec a la Yucateca- - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Delicious fish tacos and jicama salad. I've been here a few times and each visit has been great. You must try their habanero hot sauce. It is so good! The service is great and although the tables are shared with the other businesses, I always find a table. Parking is available as they do have a parking lot and also plenty of street parking. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've been here a few times over the years, always for the Ceviche de Pescado tostada. It's a standout favorite dish of mine, beautifully presented and packed with so much flavor that I'd regard it as sacrilege to use the always-provided own-brand Habanero hot sauce. Worth braving the chaos of lunchtime in the food court location... rumor has it there was once a car park space available outside, but I don't believe it as I l've never seen one. The DMV parking lot next door has signage that it's solely for their customers, but we parked there and got away with it. Use at own risk. Expect chaos, plenty of noise and bustle, and toilets with broken door locks (which are outside the restaurant's control), but the ceviche will make it all worthwhile. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Tostada Ceviche De Pescado - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

What can I say I been coming for more than 10 years so yes this is a bit biased but a very well maintained food quality restaurant. Sisters to Holbox, both from the same owner, people usually over look this place but little do they know this is where it all started. Yeah Holbox has a Michelin star and people wait huge lines for it (essentially ruining the marketplace/foodcourt) but Chichén itza still stands proudly and tastes exactly the same way the first time I fell in love with it. This place is somewhat like a foodcourt. You get in line, order food, get a number, go find a table (if you can now since it's so busy) and they bring your food. I always always always get the turkey soup with a side a panuchos and a Chaya drink but if its your first time I definitely recommend the cochinita pibil (although portions have gotten significantly smaller) great place, great ambiance, however it is getting way too gentrified. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Agua de chaya - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Stopped here for a quick bite before a game at BMO. I really enjoy the food hall/market environment. The servers bring the food to you when it's ready and you can choose anywhere to sit. I thought that the food was just okay. I might have ordered the wrong item to try. The pork was good but I feel like the price doesn't justify it. Tortillas were good but nothing stood out to me read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Been here and had food delivery. And I like 'em. I prefer all meals freshly cooked but will admit, the delivery wasn't bad either. Some foods just aren't the same when not eaten right after its served. So, I'll start with parking. There' a small lot. Street parking. And someone mentioned that the DMV parking lot is available when the DMV is closed. You'll want to verify that or risk a ticket or a tow. No meters. At least I didn't see any. I also didn't look for signage for restrictions. It's LA though. Check. Always check. It's a food hall. Walk in, straight to the back. Place your order at the counter then go find a table. If it's busy, be patient. I've never had an issue finding seating but I also make it a point to not be there during peak times. Or if you go, go with people who can find seating while you order. It can get loud too. So don't go hoping to have deep, quiet conversations. As for the food - I've enjoyed each of my meals. Wish the salsa was hotter, but if you know me, you know that means hot for you, but not for me. Not that it's needed to make up for taste - but timing just happened that I was craving really hot both times I've had them. I enjoy their corn tortillas and the flavors of the meat offerings. Meat is tender and if you take a look at the pics, decent portion sizes. Menu has variety to choose from and I've only had what you see in my pics. It's close to work so know I'll be adding to the pic collection over time. read more

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I recommend trying the cochinita pibil! The chicharon tacos are different very crunchy cut into smaller sizes than usual but full of flavor. The habanero sauce could be spicer in my opinion but make everything better. read more

This place was pretty good. My husband got Holbox and I'm not a seafood eater so I decided to walk down to this restaurant and try it out. I got the bistec plate and the meat was tender with decent flavor but a bit on the dry side. Also got the chicken tacos and they were good as well! This place is located in a food hall Paid parking out front could be hard to find during busy hours read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Bistec a la Yucateca- - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Love this place . Never disappointed. No where else can I find tacos de chicharrones like they do , there potato salad is delicious. read more

As a Trojan with Southern roots and a very picky palate, I have to say: I highly recommend trying Chichen itza . I originally found it while visiting the very popular Hol Box--which I quickly got tired of--and I'm SO glad I wandered over here instead. The first dish I ever tried was the fish entrée called TIKIN-XIC. So flavorful, so tender, and absolutely something you should add to your "must-try" list. But let me tell you about the dish that stole my whole heart. I recently returned after a little break, walked in, and immediately spotted a man eating something that looked incredible--a beautifully cooked chicken thigh and leg in a rich broth with marinated onions and what looked like a deep, savory roux. As a Southern girl, it reminded me instantly of my comfort dish from home: turkey neck with green beans and potatoes. I asked him what it was (I already knew it came from Chicken Itza because I saw their iconic, gourmet habanero hot sauce sitting right next to him). He told me it was Pollo en Escabeche. It's not on the menu yet, but they let me order it--and oh. my. God. AMAZING. I'll probably be back at least three times a week for the next three weeks, no exaggeration. If you love onions (not raw--these are stewed, marinated, and perfect) and garlic, this dish is an absolute dream. Just find a place to sit and you're all set Hope you enjoy Chichen itza as much as I do! read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Pollo en Escabeche - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Delicious Mexican food located in a food hall near USC! Got the Bistec a la Yucateca and all the components were delicious. The steak and onions were nicely cooked and were pretty similar to the Filipino version of this. The star for me were the tortillas which seems freshly made in house. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Bistec a la Yucateca- - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Update, the parking lot charges now it looks like. The tables have been changed to almost all long shared tables. If going on weekend, might be good to have one person hold a table while the other orders food and trade. You'll see a crazy long line for the building and that's holbox, so just go around it. There are less other restaurants now as well. Typical Mercado feel, might sit with randoms depending on how crowded. Pollo asado is still great, plantains were a bit mushy. Rice and beans were good. read more

I typically wait until my 2nd visit sometimes to leave a review, but there are sometimes when one is warranted on the 1st go! I went to the food hall this past weekend with some peeps, but I had Thai. It can get busy on weekends and during lunch, but it's a nice size food hall to enjoy. Last night, with like 25 minutes to spare I went to the food hall again. I tried this place instead. They were still okay with me dining in, and while I was there for Togo I did appreciate that! My order came out fast, and was piping hot even when I got home. I ordered the pollo asado, and a Jamaica drink. OMG!?! The chicken was soooo juicy and tender! The black beans were great and the rice was cooked perfectly. I like the red onions on top! Enough to have for lunch today, too. This is definitely my new favorite place in the city. - The Jamaica was a little too bitter for my liking, but they have other flavors to try. read more

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I was grabbing ceviche at Holbox and an employee recommended I try the Cochinita Pibil taco here. I love the idea of ordering different items from the various vendors in this food hall. The best part is your food is brought to you by staff so all you have to do is find a seat! The pork was super tender, simple and delicious! I love the simplicity of this taco and the pickled onions and habanero salsa add the perfect finishing touches to the dish. I absolutely recommend ordering a taco or two! read more

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I been coming to this restaurant for years and it never disappoints, their food it's consistently delicious and you can't find many other places that serve delicious Yucatán food Ambience it's very family oriented, very chill read more

Loved this place!! I got the pork and chicken tacos both meats grilled and they were so good! The grilled meats had a nice charcoal flavor and the toppings were simple but somehow better than other tacos. Black bean paste, salsa that was smashed up, avocado, sooo good! And I ordered the sour sop drink which was fruity and delicious. I would say a little pricier side since it was $22 for 4 tacos and a drink but it was well worth it! The place was in a Mexican food court with a bunch of Restaurants! read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Excellent. My friend was telling me about this seafood Mexican place in a Mercado. Turns out it's Holbox, which had a line about an hour long so I had this one also in my yelp "to try" list. Yay! I loved their ceviche. It was fresh, crisp and just a perfect balance with the citrus. Plenty of chips too. We had 2 plates: read more

Fish tacos have never failed me in SoCal, so here we are again! The Line for Chichen Itza is so much more reasonable than Holbox (fun fact: they're owned by the same people!) and I like how different they are. The price is pretty solid -- cheaper than Holbox -- and usually I am not a corn tortilla girlie but I like the thickness of these. The fish was crispy but I would've liked a little more of it and a little less batter. I wasn't super hungry that day, but I'd love to come try out their plates! Seating is kind of a pain (especially on the weekend) but I guess that's for good reason. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Tacos De Pescado (order Of 2)- - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Food is delicious but the only thing that we didn't like was the bread for the tortas of Puc Chuc that we ordered bread didn't taste like before it was hard just disappointed with it read more

I was in the downtown LA area and looking for take-out, as I rarely venture downtown. Chicken Itza was highly recommended, and had a take-out option. It's located in a very cute food hall with a lot of Latin American food vendors. I was momentarily thrown off by the line in front of the entrance to the food hall, but realized that it was for Holbox. No wait at all for the rest of the vendors/restaurants. It is food hall style/cafeteria style where you order at the counter and then seat yourself. I was able to order the food online and it was ready for pick up when I arrived. I ordered the chicharron tacos and the cochinita pibil. They were generous with the chicharron filling in the tacos and seems like the garnishes (veggies/onions) are mixed in with the chicharron. The chicharron is perfectly crunchy !The pork in the cochinita pibil was incredibly flavorful and tender! The hot sauce is very hot! Very good - the tangy but spicy! I would love to try this fresh. read more

Love the pollo asado plate here. The pollo asado is super flavorful and tender. The accompanying slaw and pickled onions go well with the chicken. I also like ordering the orange side salad. Highly recommend the pollo asado! read more

Very delicious ceviche and tacos de cochinita pibil. The ceviche was fresh with a lovely and light citrusy juice. The fish was fresh and not fishy at all. The tacos de pibil were so tender and succulent. I loved the chopped, pickled onion on top, that was a generous amount. The corn tortillas were soft with good flavor. I really liked their habanero salsa. I poured it all over my food. I appreciate the fresh, good quality made food. Thank you. read more

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