Mayan Cafe

This is elevated mexican food for sure with impactful flavors and careful execution. I loved the mini taco type dish as well as the lima beans. The cocktails are great and we loved the fresh juice. We left feeling happy, full and healthy. Can’t beat it.

In my opinion, The Mayan Café is one of the best restaurants in Louisville. Their ingredients are always fresh and seasonal, and the service is exceptional. I am a pescetarian, and they have so many delicious vegetarian and fish options on the menu.

I visited Mayan café with my wife and brother in law (they are from Louisville). The place was great. I want to go back again.

The best quality food for your money.
This is THE place in Louisville to have a fancy meal that won’t completely break your bank. The lima beans are the best (I hate lima beans typically, but these aren’t your «typical» bean). We collectively ate the Pork, lamb and rabbit — rave reviews all around the table.
Such a lovely evening that I’d love to reproduce again and again.

Always prompt, kind service and the food is always perfect. No matter the price of the meal I always walk away feeling it was worth it. I also love that they have plenty of lower costs options if someone can’t afford a pricy meal, but still wants a nice dinner. I got the entrée special and it was awesome, my friend got the spaghetti squash toss and loved it. No matter what I order I can never go wrong here.

I was in Louisville on business and was trying to find something different for dinner. Talking to the concierge she suggested the Mayan Café. Well let me say, this is all its cracked up to be and more. it lives up to everything people say about it.
it’s a colorful place tucked away in NuLu. I had the chance to meet the chef and he’s a great guy.
I started with a seasonal salad just for the month of June. It had strawberry’s, grapefruit, French feta, and peptia brittle with a jalapeño blueberry vinaigrette. OMG, it was oh so good. Excuse me, can I have another?
For the entrée I had one of their signature dishes, the Cochinita Pibil which consists of slow roasted pork, achiote sauce, pickled onions, and tok-​sep lima beans. Add to this a bravo de reina Yucatec tamale. It was heaven to the taste buds. The presentation of every dish is an artwork and I had to admire how all the color worked across the plate.
To wash this down I had a nice tequila anejo which was smooth as silk. Hey if you’re going to do it right, why not go all the way.
The Mayan Café is one great place and if «chef» ever wants to bankroll a new place just let me know. I crisscross the country on business and get to try a lot of places. This one is the best I’ve been to in years bar none. If you get the opportunity, to the Mayan and experience what good food is all about.

Not cheap… but WOW! Super fresh, amazing taste. You pay for fresh quality ingredients and it’s so worth it! We will be back for sure.

The Mayan Café sounded great from all the previous reviews, and I was not disappoint! The epenadas were small, but super tasty. I had their famous Lima beans which were also very good, but not as flavourful as the epenadas. Finally, I had the lamb mole with plantains. I love plaint aims that are sweet and gooey. These were great and even got better in the mole sauce. The sauce was light, for a mole, and also went well with the tender lamb. Pickled onions added sparkle to the overall flavour. Erin was really great and described the menu very well. Next time I’m in KY, I’ll drop by for more epenadas!

Went here yesterday for dinner. Colleague suggested it and I was skeptical. If you want tasty food with the best ceviche, here’s your spot.
We had the pumpkin deep and ceviche as starters at the recommendation of the waiter. My main was the snapper and another member of my part had the pulled pork and tamale dish.
They were all very tasty and I will definitely return soon.

Original beers.
Order pork or rabbit or snappers for entrée
The churros are good. Don’t go for chocolate on chocolate.
The waiters were average, a little better than average

Fresh ingredients and a pleasant presentation. Started with guacamole, excellent. For dinner my wife and I got the snapper and pork. The snapper was about perfect! The tradional pork dinner seemed bland to me. It might supposed to be that way traditionally, I don’t know? But still I didn’t like it. I would rate this place a solid 3.5 stars.

The hype is real, y’all. Mayan Café is pretty darn magical.
I was trying to figure out how to describe this awesomeness when I finally gave up and ripped this from their website: «indigenously-​inspired farm-​to-​table.» I swear it’s not as hipster as it sounds.
Some friends and I stopped for lunch, and I guarantee we were *those* people who everyone hated. We asked a gazillion questions, ordered one of everything, awkwardly took a million food photos, and had loud inappropriate conversations. The staff at Mayan was absolutely lovely and put up with all our nonsense.
Yes, the staff is awesome and helpful. Yes, the interior is dark and pretty. But let’s jump into what really matters — the food. Our table ordered: tacos of the day, salbutes (like tostadas on a puffy tortilla), Mayan salad, scallop ceviche. and lima beans — those damn lima beans. Everything was perfect. We’re talking the kind of delicious where my friends and I inhaled everything so fast and didn’t leave a scrap. As a quasi-​related side note: they don’t put cilantro on everything, which I was incredibly thankful. I hate that vile weed. Also, they have loads of gluten-​free and veg options!
When we were stuffed and ready to go, the final surprise was the bill. Four of us ate so much food for about $ 60!
If you’re in Louisville, coming to Mayan Café is a no brainer. This is seriously the best meal I’ve ever had in Lou, and I’m totally bummed that we don’t have anything even remotely similar in Columbus.

Mayan Café is always a special dining experience. It is a staple in my NuLu neighborhood for fresh and inventive cuisine. Chef Bruce and crew make sure every meal whether a light lunch or full course dinner is a memorable experience. They offer a fresh juice everyday which is a light meal in itself. Chef Bruce also offers cooking classes for those interested in learning more about Mayan culture and food preparation. He is a frontrunner in using local ingredients in new and healthy dishes.

I heard so many great things about Mayan Café that I chose this restaurant for my birthday dinner. I was not disappointed! The food, atmosphere, and staff were amazing. This restaurant offers unique food that you won’t be able to find anywhere else around Louisville.
Our waiter was friendly, upbeat, and very knowledgeable about the food and drink menus. He recommended a Mezcal Mule (my new favorite) and it was amazing!
Can’t wait to return!
p. s. The lima beans really are all that

After years of wanting to try Mayan Café and multiple experiences with their delicious lima beans at various events (including Unilocal’s Art in Action), I finally visited for my recent birthday. The best part is it lived up to the hype.
Mayan Café is situated in NuLu along Market Street. There’s plenty of nearby street parking, including right in front of the building. It’s somewhat unsuspecting, and when you walk in, you realize what a small place it actually is. I would HIGHLY recommend a reservation. As a matter of fact, the first time I tried to go for my birthday a couple years ago, I was unable to get a reservation, so plan in advance. Conveniently, you can make a reservation right here through Unilocal.
During my visit, the staff was extremely attentive. We were quickly seated and received water. Our appetizer (salbutes) was delicious, and I quickly realized how much attention is paid toward the mixing of flavors on the menu. It is pretty flawless how well everything pairs together.
We enjoyed some tasty drinks. My mom was initially upset Coors Light wasn’t available, but she was happy with her craft beer, suggested by an employee named Bridget (who also set up our reservation! Thanks!). My sister enjoyed the blood orange margarita, and I found the «Don’t Worry About It» bourbon cocktail to be the best way to celebrate my birthday via liquid!
It didn’t take too long for dinner to arrive. I ordered the Cochinita Pibil and was very happy with it. I also found the portion size to be perfect. It wasn’t so small that I left hungry, but it also wasn’t so large that I was rolling out of there. Again, the flavors went together perfectly, ANDDDD… this dish comes with their famous LIMA BEANS!!! I’m telling you guys… Idk how they make them, but their lima beans are AMAZING. Like… SO. GOOD. If your dish doesn’t come with them, you MUST order a side of them. My mom and sister also enjoyed their dishes, though I’ve forgotten what they had.
We wrapped up dinner with a birthday surprise of churros – which were «fancy», if you will – and, again, SO tasty. Perfect bite of sweetness to end a perfect birthday dinner!
Mayan Café is definitely a Louisville restaurant worth a visit! Just make sure you make a reservation… and get the lima beans!

Chef and owner, Bruce Ucan, blends his locavore philosophy with inventive takes on dishes from Mexico & Latin America. His farm-​to-​fork approach not only guarantees the freshest ingredients, but also supports local farmers and producers. The staff comes up with some of the most imaginative events that I’ve seen offered by a Louisville restaurant of this size. Salbute + Sangria Mondays? Wow!!!
Tok-​sel. If you order nothing else, get the lima beans. You may scoff, but they can convert even the most hard-​core, legume hater. They are an explosion of garlicky goodness unlike anything else you’ve ever tasted. I never thought an unusual side vegetable could make me weak in the knees — this one does.
My favorite meal here is lunch because of the salbutes. You can still order the pork version for an appetizer at dinner, but I adore the black bean and goat cheese version. Get them at lunch, people! Incredible flavors and textures.
At lunch this week, I started with the juice of the day. It was a delicious and healthy blend of pineapple, grapefruit, apple, and kale. So glad I tried it out! I then had my favorite dishes, predictable but so tasty. You can mix and match your order of three salbutes. My friend selected three different ones including the roasted pork, a black bean, and a version with lima beans. We both loved our meals and appreciated the friendly and conscientious service. Another great experience at Mayan.

I love Mayan Café. There is a reason they are one of Unilocal top 100 restaurants across the US! They have great service and the food is to die for. I always like to get their specials and to try something new every time I go. I have never been anything, but blown away. The Spaghetti Squash Toss was an amazing surprise. There are so many flavors that explode in your mouth. I am going to try to make a similar concoction, but I am sure it will not be as tasty.
The specials are always wonderful. Tonight we had the Monday night special (braised rabbit Salbutes) and the monthly special (butternut squash fritters). Both were incredible. I think the sauces are what make the dishes so great, and the fresh ingredients.
This is the first time I have had room for (or, at least squeezed in) dessert, and I was not sorry. The Churros were heavenly. Like sapopillas, with a delicious filling and more great sauce AND pineapple gelato and fruit! Also the drink specials are well worth it. Great sangria.

I’ve been debating between 3 stars and 4 stars about Mayan café. We had really high expectations for dinner because the food looked awesome on the menu and the pictures looked fantastic as well. Upon walking in, we were so excited. It’s a super cute, kind of small restaurant. It’s bright inside and just nice.
We debated between four different appetizers (black bean cakes, pumpkin dip, Mayan salad, and the empanadas) and two different meals (chilaquiles and vegetarian burrito). We ended up getting the pumpkin dip and empanadas and the vegetarian burrito with the free Lima beans.
While everything was good, the flavors just weren’t there. The pumpkin dip was watery when we thought it would be thicker and the empanadas were plain, but still good. I think the burrito would have been better if the veggies were seasoned more? The added pork was good though. The presentation was really, really nice for everything.
And how could I forget… We got the churros for dessert too, which were fantastic! Don’t pass them up. The flavors of the dulce de leche and pineapple were great.

After a reservation mix-​up at another local restaurant, my date and I found ourselves walking to Mayan Café for a meal. I expected it to be tasty, but it exceeded all expectations.
The atmosphere is nice. Whether you’re under or overdressed, this is a welcoming place. The staff is friendly and prompt. The patrons are also interesting. It’s a nice mix between people on dates, groups enjoying wine, families, or a group of friends grabbing dinner. There were a few times where a nearby table was a little noisy (courtesy of a tipsy person being loud), but overall it wasn’t torture.
We opted for water. I’ve learned one important thing from eating at a lot of places. It’s almost always better to drink water and not fill yourself up with soda as you wait for the food. If the food is tasty… it’s definitely worth saving yourself.
For the appetizer, we went with Scallop Ceviche. This dish consists of wild caught scallops, poblano vinaigrette, avocado, pomegranate, and pico de gallo. I’ve tried Ceviche before and this ranks up there with some of the best. I always tell myself I need to try making this stuff at home, but I always find myself at restaurants that will make it for me!
On to the entrees! Both were tasty and perfect! I’d have no problem ordering both of these dishes again.
My dish: Cochinita Pibil — Slow roasted pork, achiote sauce, pickled onions, tok-​sel lima beans, brazo de reina
Her dish: Chilaquile — Tortilla lasagna: potatoes, grilled cactus, chayote squash, mozzarella, tomato casera sauce
Sides:
Tok-​sel lima beans — Yeah Yeah Yeah. I know. My entrée already had these, but let’s ask ourselves one thing. Can you ever have too many tok-​sel lima beans? Seriously!
Fried plantains — My lady loves these! While I’ll probably never be served better plantains than what she makes at home, these were still tasty treats.
If you want a nice meal, make Mayan Café one of your stops while in Louisville.

Once again, I made the mistake of trying to have a familiar Mexican dish outside of the southwest. It didn’t work when I ate a torta in Chicago, huevos rancheros in NYC, and it was a total failure when I got chilaquiles at this Louisville restaurant. When will I ever learn?! The nopales, shiitakes and squash on the chilaquiles weren’t interesting, just weird, and the dish was served lukewarm.
As for the rest of the meal, we got the pepita dip starter which was delicious. The lima beans were as uh-​mahzing as all the other reviews have promised. My husband liked his rabbit, and my friend was also satisfied with her chicken mole. I had an ok Chilean wine off their small list. My friend got a margarita while my husband got a whiskey cocktail. Neither were particularly remarkable.
Service was fine, and the ambiance was nice. There are a lot of restaurants in this area, and this is one you could definitely skip.