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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Food was amazing and staff is very friendly. The mercado has a positive ambiance but very busy. Definitely recommend.

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

I know they're known for their bomb ass conchinita pibil, but a cool move when you want something lighter but don't feel like waiting 45 minutes in line for Holbox is to get the tikin-xic here. They're owned by the same people, and the fish is cooked absolutely perfectly. I know basa isn't fancy, damn if it isn't the best bass I've ever had. By far. So good! read more

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Actually came to this food factory for Holbox, but the line was out the door and into the parking lot. I love me some Holbox, but no way I was going to wait an hour for my food. Decided to walk a few feet down to this establishment, which I was told is run by the same chef at Holbox. Can't go wrong with that and I've never really had Yucatan region food. So it was nice to try something new. The menu has tortas, tacos and full plates with various sides. I was a bit hungry so I asked the guy at the register what he recommended. I had my eye on the Bistec a la Yucateca plate already, and that's what he suggested. Bistec a la Yucateca plate - 8/10: Delicious meal that was super filling. The steak was seasoned and grilled well with lots of flavor. Looked like it was going to be a bit tough, but it wasn't. Loved the creamy black bean side, along with the plantains. Potatoes were pretty plain and underseasoned I thought, and the rice was a bit overcooked and meh. Accompanying tortillas were quality and hand made for sure. Went really well with the steak. Horchata - 8/10: Really well crafted, smooth and silky. Not gritty like some other horchatas that I've had. Just well blended and nice tasting. My only gripe is that I got 3 tortillas. Wish they gave 4, so I went back and asked if I could have one more. They said no. Oh well. Anyway, the menu is varied enough that I'd definitely want to come back. read more

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

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We rolled up thinking we might be able to get our first Holbox experience. But after peeping the line, we quickly settled on this spot. So many delicious looking items on the menu, but the fish tacos were quite possibly the best I've had in LA. The shredded turkey panuchos were also delicious. Ask for the extra spicy hot sauce! read more

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

Located in the Mercado La Paloma really close to their sister restaurant, Holbox. This place specializes in Mexican dishes from the state of Yucatan like cochinita pibil, papadzul, and banana leaf-wrapped tamales. The Mercado is a food hall so the ordering process is going to the counter and putting in the order. The service is really great in that they are very helpful and they make sure they explain to you the items after they bring you your food. It was pretty early in the day, so it wasn't super crowded and the vibe was pretty chill. I was in the area visiting USC campus and I literally just came back from that region of Mexico the day before so I was already looking for some food to bring me back to my fun trip, haha. I ordered a tamal colado and some cochinita pibil tacos, which came with the habanero sauce on the side. After a couple bites, it really did bring me back to some fond memories of my short trip in Mexico. The food was super delicious and really reasonably priced. Definitely a great restaurant that's really accessible. There's a good amount of parking in the lot and along the street close by. But this place in general can get pretty busy. read more

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Chichen Itza is one of my all time favorite restaurants. My friend and I have tried everything on the menu, and everything has been absolutely delicious! And the portions are extremely generous! Everyone that I've ever interacted with has been extremely nice and always willing to help and give suggestions. My personal favorite is the tikin-xin, the bass dish. There is such an amazing depth of flavor in this dish. This is actually tied for my favorite dish that I've ever eaten. If I could give a dish 15/10, I would! The fish itself is expertly cooked, and the sauce is absolutely delectable. This is such a special dish. The cochinita pibil and the poc chuc are also standouts for me. They do a beautiful job of balancing acidity with the dishes to cut through the rich flavors. Both dishes are really expertly crafted. I LOVE the panuchos and kibis and the tamales colado! They're all great starters, you can't go wrong. Their juices are also fantastic!! I personally prefer the agua de chaya - it's a very earthy green juice with a unique flavor. The agua de guanabana is also delicious. Their tortillas are also truly special. These might be my favorite tortillas I've ever had, truly. I've always seen the employees of Holbox and Chichen Itza going over to each other's restaurants, but it wasn't until very recently that I learned how the two restaurants are related. Holbox is truly fantastic and deserves all the recognition it receives. But don't miss out on the beautiful flavors of Chichen Itza! This is another great showcase of Chef Gilbert Cetina's skills. It truly is a beautiful ode to Yucatán food, and Chef Centina's family traditions. read more

Chichen Itza is a family-owned Yucatán restaurant (they also own Holbox) in Mercado La Paloma. The service is always friendly and fast. Mercado La Paloma is a casual spot filled with many great dining options that please all palates, so you can mix and match if your heart desires. During our most recent visit, we all were craving Chichen Itza. DRINKS - LA's finest tap water FOOD - HABENERO HOT SAUCE - We always grab a bottle of hot sauce to enjoy with everything. It's citrusy and spicy, but not over the top. It adds a great kick that complimented everything we ordered during our most recent visit. -WHITE FISH CEVICHE - It's no surprise that Chichen Itza makes great ceviche, especially as it's the sister restaurant to Holobox. Each bite is bright, but not too acidic, and perfectly seasoned. The accompanying tortilla chips are fresh and some of my favorites in town. We love getting this every time we visit as it's a great way to start the meal. -TAMAL COLADO - My sister is obsessed with the Tamal Colado because it reminds her of the sopa seca de natas from Restaurante Nicos in CDMX. I have to agree with her - it's delicious and is the closest dish we've found stateside that has a similar flavor profile to that sopa seca. The tamal comes wrapped in a banana leaf and is pillowy soft and filled with a delicious stewed chicken filling. Try this! - POLLO ASADO PLATE - The portion sizes at Chichen Itza are incredibly generous and are certainly shareable. The pollo asado plate comes with grilled pollo asado topped with chopped red marinated onions, black beans, rice, a cabbage slaw, fried sweet plantains, and fresh corn tortillas. Each bite is bursting with umami flavor and the components are tasty on their own or combined. -COCHINITA PIBIL - This is one of their most popular dishes, and for good reason - it's delicious. The slow-roasted pork is rich, succulent, has a nice punch of acidity from the achiote-sour orange juice marinade, and is flavorful from the spices they use. The dish comes with rice, beans, and tortillas, so don't worry about leaving hungry. - POLLO PIBIL - The pollo pibil is prepared the same way as the cochinita pibil. The chicken is always super tasty and moist. -TACOS DE POLLO ASADO - If you're in a taco mood, this dish that comes with 2 tacos is a great option. Overall, we all really enjoyed our dinner at Chichen Itza and will definitely return. read more

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I ordered the fish tacos and tacos de poc chuc. Fish tacos were INCREDIBLE. I'm craving them the day after (for breakfast!!) The poc chuc was flavorful but the fish tacos were the start of the show. The service was good (food came out pretty soon after ordering). I have no complaints! Maybe add some flavorful salsa on the poc chuc because it needed a little something but otherwise excellent food. read more

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

Monday evening the place is somewhat quiet but still busy for a Monday! The tixin xic dish with grilled fish over a flavorful sauce is wonderful. The side salad with jicama and oranges was a refreshing palate cleanser. Good service; they come by with silverware and sauce. Check it out! read more

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truly outstanding! we've been visiting Chichen Itza for a decade now. always been our go to when visiting the museums. amazingly delicious and comforting food that the whole family loves. also shout out to the whole Mercado. not surprised they received best restaurant in Los Angeles by the LA Times as every stand is superb. read more

It was juicy and tender. They give you rice and beans with side of tortillas. Make sure to get the chili sauce. read more

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

My friends and I visited on a Saturday evening and the food hall was packed. We originally planned to grab some small plates from Holbox but the line was out the door and their online ordering was estimated to be 45+ minutes, so we decided to take a lap to see the other food options. We chose Chichen Itza and opted for their chicken and fish tacos, which were a great quick bite option. Great service in a shared dining area. Would recommend if in a hurry. read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Chicken and fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It's located inside the la Paloma Mercado. The sister restaurant Holbox is my other go to but taxing I was craving papadzules and panuchos. Papadzules are pre Hispanic egg enchiladas with a pumpkin seed sauce accompanied with a tomato sauce. Lots of sauces but it works. It's very rare to find this anywhere else so treat yourself. As for the panuchos, it's a thin tortilla stuffed with black beans topped with turkey, lettuce avocado and pickled onions. Did not have it today, but the Cochinita pibil is delicious! Give yourself a little time because they prepare it to order, adding to the freshness, Loud ambience since it is in a food court but enjoyable! read more

Panuchos and tamal colado were both excellent! The panucho was really cool the shell itself is stuffed/fried w black beans inside then topped. Food comes out super fast, it's delicioso and the staff is super friendly. This little food hall is so cool...grand central market meets Mexico. Plenty of lot-parking available too. read more

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

My friend and I planned to eat at Holbox, but with an hour-long wait just to order, we didn't have the time. Thankfully, we discovered Chichen Itza right in the same Mercado complex--and while it's not at the level of Holbox, it's still a solid choice for delicious food without the wait. I ordered the Pollo Asado, a flavorful boneless chicken grilled over mesquite charcoal and marinated with achiote and sour orange juice. It came with perfectly cooked fried plantains (crispy on the outside, soft and sweet inside--so good!), roasted red onions, rice, and black beans. My friend chose the Cochinita Pibil, which was tender, juicy pork marinated in achiote and sour orange juice, cooked in banana leaves, and topped with pickled red onions. It came with rice, black beans, and warm tortillas. We also shared a large Ceviche, which was fresh and zesty. Overall, the food was tasty and well-prepared, with good portions. The ambiance is casual and unpretentious, perfect for a quick, satisfying meal. The Mercado itself has a bustling, lively vibe, which adds to the experience. The big win here? No wait and quick service! Plus, we found street parking right out front, which was super convenient. If you don't have the time to line up for Holbox, Chichen Itza is a great alternative. read more

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Stopped by for lunch with friends and colleagues during my visit to LA. Really loved this place. Get here as fast as possible! Here are my thoughts: Environment This is a great local establishment in South LA near USC. It's located in a midsize food court with plenty of great vendors to choose from. The space is ran by a local non profit that caters to local businesses in the area. During the time we were there it was just getting busy. It's an active busy but not too busy space. Service As I mentioned earlier, there are a few food stalls to choose from throughout the food court. Once I landed on Chichen, you go up to the counter order your food they give you a number that you can take to your table and they will bring you your food. Food and drinks I ended up ordering chickens tacos and beans and rice. I learned that Chichen and Holbox are ran by the same family - the father runs Holbox and the son runs Chichon. EVERYTHING was delicious. Plenty of flavor and delicious. I would recommend trying both places. I will definitely go back. Overall Loved the food, the price and the atmosphere. Definitely a highlight of my trip. read more

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Stoped by my fav place today. Weekends are usually busy. They offer indoor and out door seating, pretty chill place to have a bite. Here are a few pictures of my favorite plates to eat at Chichen Itza . read more

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I was really pleased with my meal here, even though I read a some negative reviews on here about the food quality. Definite 5 stars from me, and I have been to holbox many many times. BEST DISH I ordered was the tikin-xic. I had this in mind when going to order, but I usually ask for recommended dishes and this was mentioned. Did not go wrong with this order!!! The flavors of the achiote sauce/marinade was so delicious - it was light and complemented the fish filets really well. The tortillas that came with the order came out fresh and are the exact same ones you get with the holbox tacos. Also ordered the tamal colado. It was a smaller dish, kind of an appetizer, that I was glad I tried. Not very exciting, but still worth a try. I would love to go back and reorder the tikin-xic and try the ceviche and fish tacos!! read more

I had the Pollo Pibil and so delicious!!! Portions were perfect. The rice and beans were perfect and I absolutely loved the plantains. I want to try more of their menu but I am impressed for my first time! read more

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Food has been phenomenal for over 10 years, love this place! Seating and service are very easy, parking can be a problem but park outside on the street to avoid paying $8 read more

Switched it up this time from my usual tikin-xic. Opted for pollo tacos and ceviche. Amazing tacos full of flavor! Top 3 for sure. Ceviche was good. Service is always quick and friendly, late lunch minimal crowds and plenty of table to choose from. Chichen Itza always coming through with quality and value. read more

The food was great with good portions. Food took a little longer than expected to receive but it was worth the wait. Will definitely comeback read more

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Spectacular tacos de pac chuc. Cochinita pibil is alright could use a little more flavor butting adding some of the habanero salsa does the trick. Taco de longaniza is perfect if your into that type of thing. Finish it off with a perfectly cooked platano but the crema could use some work. Definitely recommend and will be back. read more

I love Chichén Itzá because it's a Mexican restaurant that tries to incorporate authentic foods from areas of Mexico that are underrepresented by most local Mexican restaurants. Namely, Yucatán food. I've not spent any time in Yucatán itself, though I've had some exposure to Central American dishes, which bear more of a resemblance to Yucatán (or Yucatán fusion) than the usual northern Mexican fare found locally. The dishes here are refreshingly different and nicely reflect a Yucatán flavor. My favorite item is the Tikin-xic. It includes a piece of Basa white fish (a species of catfish) prepared with an achiote marinade (a mix of annatoo seeds, cumin, pepper, coriander, oregano, cloves, and garlic), on top of white rice, and a citrus-achiote sauce. Accompanying the main dish is a small portion of Jicama Salad (jicama, oranges, lettuce), which is surprisingly refreshing. The item that seems most authentic to Yucatan tastes is the Bistec a la Yucateca. Composed of a flattened New York strip steak, onions, rice, black beans, pico de gallo, plantains, and fried potato. A Mexican dish, refreshingly not like all the others. Another winner is the tacos, which are available with several different fillings. Spiced up a bit with the provided habanero hot sauce, makes any of them a tasty meal. I've made my way through the entire menu, and not a single item has been a disappointment. Some of the items, like the Tamal Colado which seemed a little dry, were different than what I might have expected, but just about every item was something I would happily order again. Also, don't miss the agua fresca drinks, chaya, guanabana, horchata, or Jamaica. All a welcome departure of more blank American drinks. You can order takeout, or if you want to eat in, order at the counter, take a number on a pole and place that on one of the many tables in the Mercado la Paloma complex. Your order will shortly be delivered to you. read more

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Service was friendly. I got the Cochinita Pibil. Very tender and the marinade was very tasty. read more

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

Fantastic! We ordered some enchiladas filled with egg. It came in a sauce that was truly amazing. The whole marketplace is fun and full of tasty things. read more

Nah cause why are the Panuchos expensive here? They're good buttt idk if $15 with tax for just 2 is worth it :/ wish they had better pricing read more

Chichen Itza Restaurant - Panuchos (order Of 2)-Really good but expensive!! I don't know if I'll come again due to the prices - Mexican Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Food was so good, very authentic if you know the region. A must if you love Mayan culture.

Ordered cochinita pibil and bistec. Excellent in taste and portion. Highly recommend. Also fish tacos were amazing as well. Everything is so fresh and authentic. read more

Chichen Itza has become part of the tradition anytime I'm heading to a USC basketball game, it's the perfect pre-game ritual. The food never disappoints, and the atmosphere always feels like you're stepping into something special. Their fish tacos are easily some of the best in LA--perfectly seasoned, tender, and served with just the right amount of crunch and flavor. They're light enough to enjoy before a game but still packed with flavor that makes them memorable. I've tried a good chunk of the menu, and everything has that home-cooked, authentic Yucatán vibe, but the fish tacos always bring me back. It's close, it's quick, and the staff is always friendly and efficient, even when it gets busy. Whether you're a local or just in the area for a game, Chichen Itza is a must-stop. Bonus points if you make it part of your USC game day routine. read more

I revisited Chichen Itza, Holbox's sister restaurant in the Mercado La Paloma. I ordered the rockfish special which came with a salad of orange and jicama, and served on a bed of rice with a citrusy sauce that tempted me to lick my plate :) On another day the pollo asado, marinated in achiote and sour orange juice for $14.95 served with black beans, cabbage, rice, tortillas, and fried plantains was such a generous serving that I made 2 meals out of it! Their habanero sauce is addictive, but thankfully they sell bottles of it so you can take some home until your next visit. read more

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Amazing food from the Yucatan! Really enjoyed eating the food here. We liked the chickens tenderness and pibil sauce. I really liked the black beans and the red onions were tasty. Would order everything again for sure! It's a walk up, order, then sit service. The food is brought to your table. Food is served quickly and hot! It's a shared space with many other restaurants. The tables are open seating. It could be decorated a bit better, but still a nice place. The food is expensive but I thought it was worth it considering it's hard to find this type of food. read more

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DELICIOUS! This was a 10/10. The food came quick and that curry on the fish was so flavorful. We came here because the line for Holbox was way too long and we get served within 10 minutes of ordering and there was no line. The food is spectacular I wish they got more hype for this place! The dining area is communal and shared between all restaurants. Not too hard finding seating though. read more

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Great food, super fast, super tasty! I usually order online and pick up in store, food is packaged great and I am usually in and out of the shopping center in about 5 min. ***PARKING SUCKS**** I would recommend going from 11-11:45 or after 1. But they do have street parking and an additional lot on the other side of the building. ****CATERING SERVICES***** Their catering service is AMAZING!!! I have booked with them several times and fed up to 250 people. The cochinito pibil is my favorite! :) read more

The menu came from hands-on experience, and they write a lover-letter to food through their cooking. This is my love-letter to them. Spanning multi-generations, Chef and owner Gilberto Cetina, learned how to cook while working at Chichen Itza and they've truly perfected some of the finest dishes you can find in LA. Cetina's accolades has been recognized as one of the top Latino chefs in the country by GQ and Hispanic Magazine and while Holbox is getting a lot of recognition you must check out Chichen Itza, the "original". The lines were longer and on the day we went it seemed like the entire LAPD workforce in south-central was getting their lunch here. Tikin-Xic: Two 4 oz. center-cut basa filets marinated with lime juice and achiote served on top of rice with a citrus jicama salad on the side. A full hearty meal for under $15, my oldest will normally not like new dishes the first time he tries it but he hungrily jumped in and ate half of the fish and rice himself. He now keeps talking about it and comparing it to all other foods we eat, "this is good, but not as good as that fish". My wife and I loved it and it was one of the finest meals we ever had, not just Mexican/Yucatan. Tacos De Poc Chuc: Marinated slices of pork, black bean puree, lettuce, charred red onions, and chunky fire roasted tomato sauce served on steamy tortillas. It had a pleasant and mild smokiness that is best enjoyed when fresh. House made tortilla was excellent. read more

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There's something vacant about this food stall. No, it's not empty. It is occupied. Employees punch the clock. Cooking elements are hot. Food is served and the card reader is ready for payment. But the presence of the sister stall Holbox, down the aisle, has muddied Chichen Itza's luster. The Holbox menu contains the bounty of the sea. Exotica in the way of live Santa Barbara sea urchin, Baja California chocolate clams, and house smoked kanpachi spangle the menu. The winsome clientele line the bar around display cases of seafood. Just beyond the glitz, a few paces away, unnoticed and dim, sits Chicen Itza. Although it may play Leah to Holbox's Rachel, you want to go to Chichen Itza. You want to order the tacos de cochinita pibil. You want to sink your teeth into the crowned dish of the Yucatan Peninsula. This can be your most immediate connection to ancient Mayan culture. So you place an order for cochinita pibil. Your number is called, you retrieve your tacos... You are disappointed to find the pork so dry, so void of bold flavor. You notice the absence of sour orange, the traditional acidifier in this dish. All things considered, you understand why the owners are doting on the prom queen that is Holbox, but you also wish they would give more care to the food stall that brought them to the dance. read more

On of my favorite places to eat! Love Mercado La Paloma. Very accessible to community. Although paid parking might be tough for some. Try the cochinita pibil! Amazing! The people are also very kind! read more