I came here cause I heard from so many it was good. I must admit I was highly disappointed. I appreciate the restaurant for sourcing their foods from local and black farmers. But the menu wasn't that big and most of the food items had pork. Which was a bit disappointing for someone who doesn't eat pork. I order the sikil-pak and it was okay at best. Wasn't very flavorful. I also got the empanadas. They were the only item I had that was worthwhile. I also ordered the black rice and it was very plain. The ambiance was dark and small restaurant. Good for friends or a date night. read more

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Located in a super cool part of town, Mayan Cafe unabashedly represents the area and its Mexican Roots. Bold, authentic, and courageous, their menu doesn't shy away from a presentation of colors and flavors while still remaining faithful to their origins. A burrito with 2 eggs over easy on top? Sign me up! it was exactly what I was expecting, a perfect combination of texture and flavor that left me satisfied and ready for the dessert. The bread pudding tops my list as one of the best I have ever had. When in Louisville, this is a must visit, hands down. read more

Mayan Cafe - Menu - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Service was impeccable. Check in and you get a free bean apps which we enjoyed. I also enjoyed their scallops ceviche eventhough it was a bit salty. My son did not enjoy his burger and my other son said his pork dish was OK. I was disappointed with my ahi tuna tacos. A solid 3.5 but .5 is not an option. Ambiance was good. read more

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Beautiful restaurant & delicious food. Comfortable spot, great for a date night, quiet place to enjoy the evening. Wait staff was great, informative on first timers and patient. read more

I had the pork dish, wife had the duck confit. We came here for the first time and didn't have any expectations. Probably one of the worst meals I've had in a long time; basically everything in both our dishes was subpar. The pork was dry and lacking in flavor; actually, it tasted not very fresh. The duck was even drier and flavorless. I've had better shredded turkey from a grocery deli. She had a cocktail and I had a mocktail. The cocktail was fine; the mocktail was not. I think they may have accidentally dumped the whole bottle of simple syrup in it! (8$ mocktail by the way). All in all we spent well over $110 at this place for a horrible experience. Definitely never coming back. Please, if you like good food, go somewhere else. read more

Wonderful space, delicious food, great service. Yummy vegetarian options - not just the Lima beans, though those are legendary!

My wife and I have been coming here for years and it never disappoints. Great food, great service and great atmosphere. Cheers to another amazing date night! read more

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The food is probably the best I've eaten in Louisville! So many unique and delicious flavors really made this place somewhere I will keep going back to. The duck was tender and covered in mole, and the tres leches was the perfect amount of sweet to finish. The servers were friendly and attentive. We sat outside on the side patio, which is covered and pretty private. Overall, a great place for a date night or to celebrate a life occasion with a small group! read more

Mayan Cafe - Tres leches - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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An amazing place in the heart of Louisville! I certainly didn't expect this. The service, food and beverages are excellent. Definitely try the lima beans (Sikil-Pak) and I highly suggest the rabbit, even if you've never had it before. It was a perfect cold-weather meal with excellent mole. I also got the Three Sisters Salad and their winter sangria. The flavors and ingredients were delicious and every meal was so harmonious. I only wish the sangria were warm. I look forward to coming back next time I am in the area. read more

This was actually the first restaurant I had dinner at when we moved to Louisville. Great then and even better now. Flavors are fresh and smoky. Seasoning spot on. Beautiful eye candy. Can be a little loud at times but sort of depends on the crowd. Outdoor patio is a nice, private addition. Love the menu variety. Excellent drinks. read more

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Debating going to Mayan cafe? Stop right now and make a reservation on the back patio. The food here was phenomenal. Absolutely delicious. We got the guacamole, the plantains, chilaquile, and the Cochinita Pibil. My vegetarian friend said the chilaquile was one of the most unique complex meals she's had in a very long time. My Cochinita Pibil was suburb. This place was worth every penny. read more

This is one of best restaurants in Louisville IMO. I've been here at least 3-4 times, and every time it is consistently excellent. Their cocktails are really good, and I've especially enjoyed their specialty margaritas. The Sikil pak, I order every time. It's a unique dip made with pumpkin seeds, and it's delicious: savory and hearty. Entrees I've had include their mole, fish of the day, salmon, and harvest bowl, which have all been excellent. They are famous for their Lima beans, which are also amazing! I don't ever eat Lima beans, but I eat these because they are garlicky and just addicting. Their desserts are also excellent if you have room, which often I don't. Their new outside patio is a cool new space too for the summer. read more

We started with the Sikil-pak, a uniquely delicious pumpkin seed dip. We were also pleasantly surprised to receive a free order of Tok-sel Lima Beans by checking in. Both delicious! We were almost full from these alone... For dinner, we ordered the Tuna Tacos and Salmon entree. The tacos had a little spicy kick from the poblano peppers in them, but just enough to taste the meal delightfully. The salmon is on a bed of Lima beans and was my favorite! This is not your typical Mexican restaurant. Chef Ucán really brought together indigenous Mayan ingredients in a way I've never tasted creating a unique, and very memorable dining experience for my birthday. The seasonal local ice cream of the day for dessert was a plus!!! read more

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Amazing delicious food that uses seasonal ingredients so their menu constantly updates. I never had a bad meal here. Everything tastes fresh and full of innovative flavors. Our group was contemplating between two sides, and the waitress offered one of them on the house so we had both dishes to try! I'm always a returning customer whenever I'm in the area. Make sure to make reservations! read more

Unique traditional dishes friendly staff and wonderful energy. Vegan options were delicious!!

Awesome service. Awesome food. Awesome experience. We arrived on 12/4 without a reservation. Grace and the staff went out of their way to rearrange the tables so we could be seated. The food was superb. We have been there before and always enjoyed the food. However tonight's was the best ever. read more

I made reservations a week in advance and made a small comment on my reservation about going specifically to try the toksel Lima beans again (I had them 10 years ago, same restaurant) and wanted my wife to try them. They took notice as they welcomed us with a small appetizer bowl of Lima beans before we made our order. That allow me to have their rabbit plate which was incredibly delicious! And my old favorite the Cochinita Pibil! We had their ice cream dessert mostly for the kids but adults partook of it as well, and decided to also order their tres leches! All in all, we had a great time! Would definitely recommend the Tok-Sel Lima beans! read more

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Mayan Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in Louisville. We even had then cater for my brother rehearsal dinner. Everything I have ordered has been delicious, and I highly recommend the Lima beans. The restaurant is on the smaller side so can be hard to get a table walk in. The service has always been amazing everytime I have been there! read more

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This is one of our favorite go-to places for a nice dinner out. Mayan Cafe offers an incredible fresh cornucopia of seasonal foods with staples that are a reason to come back over and over and may I say "HELLO Lima Beans!!" Who knew that LIMA BEANS could be so delicious that this is why so many people crave Mayan Cafe? Another incredibly delicious and another reason to return is the Sikil Pak - a dip, which also can be used as an ingredient in tacos or tostadas, that is made out of roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds). Oh yes! How about that Hibiscus tea?? Again, so many reasons to return. I would love to point out that not only is their food fresh and delicious, but they are also Vegan-friendly and allergy aware, and accommodating. For me, this is a win-win!! If you can, sit outside on the patio, it is such a cozy treat. read more

Great food, service and experience! The food was very flavorful and came in good proportions. We had our dog along with us and they accommodated us with an outdoor table. read more

My wife and I had a phenomenal dinner with family at Mayan Café on a recent trip to Louisville. Before I looked at the menu, I checked in using the Yelp app and received a free side of Tok-sel Lima Beans. To be honest, I can't even remember the last time I had lima beans. Apparently, Mayan Café is know for these and they were crazy good and a must try. The beans were perfectly prepared and mixed with a flavorful combination of cilantro, scallions, and spices. I also had the Ahi Tuna Ceviche as an appetizer. The fish was melt in your mouth tender, covered in a tangy vinaigrette, and paired with crisp onion and cucumber. Finally, I had the Rabbit as an entrée. Nicely smoky, gamey and tender meat was covered in a rich flavorful mole sauce and paired with sweet plantains. Overall, Mayan Café is a must visit when in Louisville. read more

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We came here for the Boss Brunch series and had a great time! The food was pretty good, but the mission behind the brunch series was even greater. They partnered with a local social justice organization to highlight up and coming chefs. The highlighted chef got to take over the kitchen, create their own menu, and have a great educational experience for serving a brunch. The crab cakes were the showstopper from Chef Tann. The weekend before I came here with a friend for dinner but forgot to take pictures. We ordered from their typical menu and it was amazing! The Papadzules and Cochinita Pibil were delicious. My sister is vegan, so I'm going to bring her to try the Cactus Stir Fry when she is in town. read more

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This place was AMAZING-- I had the cauliflower al pastor, which was fantastic. The service was okay-- we had to flag someone down to get water and to greet us, then again for water later, but they were super nice and even helped us get inside to a table when it cleared out because it was very chilly outside in spite of the heaters. The food is outstanding. HIGHLY recommend. read more

Mayan Cafe - Cauliflower al pastor - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This is my second time coming to Mayan Cafe! Celebrating a girlfriend's birthday. Food and cocktails were delicious and service was good. Romantic ambiance and friendly atmosphere! I will be coming back :) I ordered the cauliflower steak and grapefruit mojito! The mojito was soooo good. 5/5 for that! read more

Mayan Cafe - Cauliflower Steak - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Mayan cafe is a wonderful place to dine! Everyone here is so kind & helpful. To start I got the salmon seviche & the guac both very nice! My favorite was the wild-caught fish main dish, which is rotating, it was flounder when I went and it was fucking amazing & then I couldn't stop myself so then I ordered the duck entree and WOW!! So so good. Lima bean rave lives up to the hype & tres leches is what I concluded my meal with. It's a lovely space and lovely people, you should 100% try this place out. read more

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Definitely top 10 restaurants in Louisville. Service is great and food is experimental, always going here to find myself trying something new. It's always clean eats and most of the dishes are light and refreshing. I'd highly recommend read more

My first time at the restaurant, it was a pleasant experience. We had a reservation and were immediately seated. We started with guacamole and I had the vegetarian burrito. It was ok, I was expecting a little more flavor. read more

Mayan Cafe - Vegetarian Burrito - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This is one of rare ones. It's not just that the food is outstanding, it's also that they have unique dishes not found at many (if any) other restaurants. A must try! read more

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Probably the best food in Louisville. I slept on the place for years and am disappointed in myself. The flavors are so unique. The duck blew my mind. Service was quick and the cocktails were on point. 10/10 read more

Highly recommend the guac, empanadas, strawberry-basil spritz, and Tok-sel lima beans!! My son had the tuna tacos and my husband had the flat iron steak--they both loved them as well! read more

Mayan Cafe - New Kids on The Block: whiskey & bourbon flight - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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If you're looking for good food, yasssss. Here is your answer. I'd definitely recommend making reservations; thankfully, we did. The servers were friends but not in your face. There wasn't loud music (maybe at times to quiet; I felt like the whole restaurant could hear me walk in). I had the blood orange margarita, which was good but maybe too sweet for my liking. Served in a highball glass. We had salmon salbutes which I highly recommend. They have salbutes of the day! I'm assuming rotating daily. For entrees we split the rabbit and chilaquiles. I haven't had rabbit before so I can not compare but I would certainly get again here at Mayan Cafe. The chilaquiles can come with chorizo. All the vegetables are locally grown. Again, big fan of places supporting local! In summary, I can't wait to try more of their entrees and I will be back. read more

Mayan Cafe - Rabbit - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Over the years Mayan cafe has consistently delivered and maintained status as one of the community's stand out dining experience, certainly worthy the national recognition. So no surprise, as grateful even during this moment, same culinary can be enjoyed at home. That said, I've recently RE familiarized myself with their burrito. The well proportioned locally sourced meats accompanied with seasoned veggies make a noticeable difference. Topped with an egg, this is hands down one of (if not the BEST) burritos in town. And don't sleep on their food truck version at Gravely, same quality ingredients but slightly differing portions. No wonder the patio stays packed, can't wait til dining resumes! read more

I went to try the Mayan cafe with high expectations. As a lover of Mexican cuisine, I expected a simple take on that... what I got was an inspired true to form Mexican meal. From the spicy cocktails to the molé dip to the delicious duck with beats and plantains main course, the Mayan cafe is a fantastic experience. Great staff, great food, and a great ambiance. A must visit for anyone in Louisville read more

Mayan Cafe - Duck was fantastic - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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So ordered delivery because of COVID. It got here ahead of promised time which is a good start. We shared the Empanadas and they were creamy delicious on the inside with a tangy dip which really complimented them. For diner I got the Rabbit dish and my wife got the Duck. The Rabbit was awesome., nice and tender with a great sauce. My wife said the Duck had a spicy tangy side sauce that was really tasty. I will definitely get the Rabbit again. The fried plantains were so good and we got extra. For dessert we got the bread pudding which wasn't overly sweet with a chocolate drizzle and pineapple gelato. So Full read more

I had been meaning to check out Mayan Cafe for a long time but never got the chance. I came on a Tuesday for lunch and it was busy! Not packed, but people were coming in and out almost constantly. At about a little past 1:20, we likely missed most of the lunch rush. The inside is a bit small. It's a bit dark due to the wall color but it made for a much more intimate atmosphere. Loved the light fixtures and art work on the walls! My friend had already ordered a mocha, which is Red Hot Roasters coffee. It was delicious! My friend ordered empanadas from the appetizers. She doesn't eat much. She loved them! They were placed on top of a mixture of vegetables. It was really good! The empanadas were small but again, her appetite is not large. I got the salbutes. It's $10 for 3. I got one with cactus, one with pork, and another with rabbit. They all had cabbage and sunflower sprouts on them with a jalapeño sauce on the side. The cactus one also had cheese one it. It was delicious! Presented well on top of small, fried corn tortillas. They gave it to me without telling me which was which though...kinda didn't know which was the rabbit or the pork. I was a little hungry afterward though. But I understand that the ingredients are likely pricey. It all tasted good though. My other friend got the same thing as me except instead of pork, she got chorizo. She thought they were all good. Most people in there were older than me. Middle age folks and people around my grandparents age. No issue to me but looks like that's the demographic the food and portion size tailors most to. Service was good though! Our waitress came and checked on us quite a bit although I wish she had smiled at least once. She offered us the dessert menu. A few options: chocolate cake, lavender flan, churros. She said they ran out of the churros. Well, rats! That's what I would've wanted! We didn't order any dessert but I wouldn't mind coming back to get them or to order other stuff from the menu. read more

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One of the best restaurants in Louisville. One of the best in the world. Seriously. This place just always blows me away. Every damn time. And it blew me away extra as I just came back from a 1 year trip around the world and, once again, I was amazed by the food. My favorites are everything. You just can't go wrong here. read more

To The Mayan Café for amazing Latin American farm-to-table cuisine. Chef Bruce Ucan, a Mayan Indian from Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, has been cooking on Market Street in Nulu for over 20 years. We start with the Salbutes of the Day For my entrée: Oven-roasted rabbit, pipian rojo, pim tortilla filled with beans & cheese and grilled cactus. You gotta try cactus, right? My dining partner goes with their favorite, the Salmon, with cuitlacoche cream sauce. For sides, I try the Tok-sel lima beans, which are considered a signature. They didn't push my button tonight, but maybe I need a second try. The Black beans & chips hit the spot. For dessert, the yummy Bread Pudding with chocolate chile sauce. Time for an after dinner drink, so I try the Kalani Mayan Coconut Liquor. I heard a wide spectrum of opinion on this restaurant, from raving fans to those who find it just okay. After my first meal, I'm certainly siding with the ravers. read more

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If someone asks where I want to go to eat when I'm downtown I'll almost always say the Mayan Cafe. I really love the Ahi Tuna Ceviche and whatever type of salbutes they have that day (never didn't like the variation). I really never order anything else because this combination is just **chef's kiss**. Staff is friendly and the seasonal drinks are great! I like the side patio seating best, but I do like the live plants inside and the coziness of it when it's cold. I have also had some of their catering and their empanadas are so good! read more

Mayan Cafe - Ahi Tuna Ceviche - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Mayan Cafe was awesome from start to finish. I had the juice of the day (beets, etc) for $8 to start. Their soup special was a super creamy coconut milk/ squash/ shrimp bisque for $10 that didn't disappoint. Everyone who recommended Mayan Cafe told me to get the Lima beans which were the side for the incredible cochinita pibil ($26.00) . The Lima beans and the pork both were extremely flavorful. I can't wait to go back to try more of the menu! read more

Mayan Cafe - Coconut milk shrimp bisque - $10 - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Absolutely delightful service! The food is also fantastic... we tried the Cochinita Pibil, Chicken, and Dip Trio. All super yummy!!! The management was incredibly accommodating when we showed up without a reservation. It also did not go unnoticed that they prepared food (at no cost) for an older gentleman in need. Great place all around. read more

Mayan Cafe - Cochinita Pibil - Latin American Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky