IX CAT IK Tradicional Cocina Maya

IX CAT IK Tradicional Cocina Maya was hands down the best restaurant I visited in Mexico. The setting is beautiful and authentic, with an open kitchen and garden seating that adds to the experience. The Cochinita Pibil was incredibly tender, the chaya empanadas were full of flavor, and the shrimp in creamy ixcatik chili sauce was unforgettable. Fresh tortillas cooked over an open flame and warm, welcoming staff made it even more special. If you're in Valladolid, this place is an absolute must.

Exquisite and authentic Mayan cuisine in a very nice setting, a bit off the center so best to have a car. Service is top notch with some traditional tomato and pumpkin seed spread freshly ground at your table, and hand made tortillas. Highly recommended.

By far the best food I had so far in México. Very authentic Yucatán dishes. First you get an amazing starter called Sikil P'ak which is a dip made out of pumpkin seeds and tomatoes. I had the Sopa de Lima as a starter and it was very delicious. Main dish was the Kaax Píibil which was also incredibly tender and flavorful. Add a Tamarinde Drink or a Horchata and your traditional food experience is complete. Service was also proactive and super friendly. I can definitely recommend.

Made a special trip to eat here and was well worth it. Our server was Irene, and she helped us as our Spanish is an embarrassment currently. The place is unassuming, but the drinks, dishes and desserts were all top notch. You can tell the establishment is run with a lot of pride for the culture and cuisine and would definitely recommend a visit to try something new. We now see pumpkin seeds in a new light, not just a Halloween rarity or addition to a salad.

We came here to try the famous Mayan Cochinita Pibil and it was a delight. The restaurant has great vibes and they have displays celebrating the traditional ingredients and approach to cooking, all keeping the Mayan culture alive. The pibil is also served with the delicious hand made tortillas by the local ladies, shout out to their hard work! We also got a shrimp dish which blew us away with it's subtle and sweet black sauce. One of the best shrimp dishes I've had in a while and would highly recommend.

We absolutely loved our dinner here! The food was great, amazing margaritas but the service was perfect. The guy that served us was extremely friendly and super attentive with everything. Highly recommend!

Yum! The whole experience was top notch. Outstanding food, delicious cocktails, great service, interesting decor. The vegetarian options were delicious and interesting. If you are looking for a nice dinner in Valladolid this is the place.

Smoke swifts through the air from the fire outside where the tortillas are made and cooked by hand. The spices, flavors, and options were outstanding. Great for vegetarians.

Tucked away in the heart of Valladolid, amidst the vibrant streets and colonial architecture, lies a culinary gem that promises not just a meal, but a journey through the rich Mayan heritage. Upon stepping into Ix Cat Ik, one is immediately enveloped in an atmosphere of authenticity and warmth. The rustic décor, adorned with traditional Mayan motifs and artifacts, transports diners to a bygone era. Natural open-air lighting and indigenous music further enhance the experience, creating a serene setting perfect for savoring the flavors of Yucatecan cuisine. The service at Ix Cat Ik is exemplary, characterized by genuine hospitality and a deep reverence for Mayan traditions. The staff, some adorned in traditional attire, exude a sense of pride in showcasing their cultural heritage. The ladies making the fresh tortillas were so welcoming, showing me the techniques and providing me with a sample while I waited for our food. Throughout the meal, servers offer insightful explanations of each dish, providing diners with a deeper understanding of the ingredients and culinary techniques employed. At the heart of Ix Cat Ik lies its exquisite menu, curated to showcase the diverse flavors and ingredients of Mayan cuisine. Drawing inspiration from age-old recipes passed down through generations, each dish is a celebration of local produce and culinary craftsmanship. From succulent cochinita pibil, slow-cooked to perfection in banana leaves, to the fiery flavors of sikil pak, a traditional pumpkin seed dip, every bite tells a story of tradition and innovation. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available, ensuring that every palate is catered to with equal care and attention. Among the standout dishes at Ix Cat Ik is the Kay Tikin Xik, a tender grilled fish dish marinated in sour orange and achiote, wrapped in a banana leaf, bursting with tangy and smoky flavors. The Pook Chuuk, a fragrant grilled chicken breast infused with sour orange, local spices and served with a salad and beans, is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to using the freshest local ingredients. Ix Cat Ik stands as a testament to the legacy of Mayan culture and cuisine. Through its commitment to authenticity, impeccable service, and unparalleled flavors, it offers diners a truly immersive experience that transcends mere dining. For those seeking to explore the culinary heritage of Yucatán, Ix Cat Ik is a must-visit destination that promises an unforgettable journey of the senses. Excellent experience, parking available outside of the restaurant and reservations recommended.

Wonderful in every way. Pricey but worth it. The food was delicious. And it's a lovely atmosphere. Highly recommend.

This was one of the best dining experiences of our Mexico trip. They serve authentic Mayan food in a beautiful garden. Our server went into great detail explaining the dishes on the menu as it was all new to us. We got the pumpkin dip, sopa de Lima and pilbil. All the dishes were presented so well and flavorful. After our lunch, our server gave us a tour of the garden and showed us how they make chocolates and spices. It's a little away from the main Valladolid street but totally worth going out of your way f

This gem is just slightly off the main town center but very easy walk. Highly recommend the restaurant . It is such a beautiful experience . The building & the garden are amazing. The service was exceptional. Irene was so attentive & explained all of the local ingredients & flavors in each dish. Privé was very fair for the high quality food & experience.

Good place to try traditional Mayan food in Valladolid. The restaurant is a bit far from the main square, but my friend and I felt totally safe making the ~20 min walk over. It looked like a very popular restaurant, but since we came during low season in May, we were able to walk in for Saturday dinner around 7:30. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. I recommend going for the outdoor seating in their courtyard since it looks pretty nice with all the trees and greenery. We each started off with a margarita. I got the Ya'ax Che margarita (105 pesos) and my friend got the Margarita Tamarindo (95 pesos). My margarita was made with chaya, a local plant, and cucumber, but the cucumber taste was so overpowering I could only taste that. My friend enjoyed his tamarind margarita though. To our surprise, they brought us some chaya and lemon water to try along with our margaritas. This was amazing and was super light and refreshing on a hot day. Our server was really nice and introduced the menu to us, since we were completely new to Mayan food. We started with the chaya empanada (95 pesos). I went with the k'eek'en pibil (pork dish cooked in banana leaf) for 345 pesos and my friend ordered the kaax pibil (chicken cooked in banana leaf) for 315 pesos. The chaya empanada was amazing. I was sad we were splitting one small empanada, but it was one of the best things we ate on the whole trip. Our server also brought us a complimentary appetizer on the house, some kind of pumpkin seed dip with chips. This was also amazing and the pumpkin seed flavor really came through. Then the entrees came out, and they're MASSIVE here. Especially after the two appetizers, I really struggled to finish my pork dish. It's a giant mound of shredded pork served on top of thick tortilla of some kind and also with additional tortillas on the side. I thought it was okay, but after trying cochinita pibil and then this, I've realized this kind of shredded pork dish isn't my thing. I personally find the pork dry, even after it's soaked up the sauce. They accept credit card here, which is good for us as we were running a little low on pesos.

We had an amazing lunch here. The staff were all very friendly and talkative and were quite at tentative. Also, a bit of an elevated service with clearing plates and tableware between courses, resetting the table. The restaurant is decorated very nice, with outdoor seating lots of fans to keep things cool. The food was beyond expectations and we were very happy with everything. I'll admit, though, that all the dishes we had were unique Mayan dishes so I have no comparing points -- but everything was seasoned well and flavorful! Here is the digital menu; https://www.ixcatik.mx/menu-comida-maya

Superb Mayan experience at this restaurant. You walk in and sit in the hut in the yard. Roberto is a very gracious host! Treated us to Chaya juice that was very refreshing. Took us to the little hut where the locals were making tortillas. Gave us an opportunity to watch and try making our own! Served the best cocktails. Traditional Mayan food is so delicious and healthy. Lots of vegan and vegetarian items on the menu that we enjoyed trying. The whole lunch is so relaxing, you can plan to spend up to three hours. When we were done eating, he brought out the Mayan crowns for us to wear and take pictures in. Highly recommend eating here on your way back from Chichen Itza!

Ix Cat Ik is a favorite of ours. Wonderful food and service, and they will give you a tour of their garden with local plants/herbs and demonstrations of traditional Mayan cooking methods. Just a wonderful experience and I highly recommend them if you are in town.

The food here was so HEARTY, and delicious....the cocktails were great as well. Adrianna and the staff were so friendly with my 5 yr old daughter, and provided excellent customer service overall. She had fun seeing them cook in the earth and make fresh tortillas....highly recommend!

The most amazing and authentic Mayan food ever. Loved every bite of the food. It's incredible experience, MUST try

We stopped in on our way back from visiting the Chitzen-Itzá Food was really good and unique

Do not miss this traditional Mayan restaurant if you are in Valladolid. We were passing through on the way to Tulum from Chichen Itzá, and it was a highlight of our day.

This is THE BEST authentic restaurant I've been in Mexico! The food is AMAZING. The service is spectacular! The waitress that serves us (I think his name is Irvan?) was so nice, informative, and spoke great English! and also taught us a couple of traditional Mayan words!! We got Chaya drink on the house, also traditional Mayan appetizer on the house. We ordered the empanadas as a starter and four main courses we ordered there shrimp dish and also the chicken dish which is cooked under ground in the traditional way. Everything was delicious, wrapped in an amazing atmosphere! I highly recommend on this restaurant, everything is absolutely worth the price of this experience.

This restaurant was a highlight of our vacation. Not only was the food absolutely delicious our service was phenomenal. The front of the restaurant doesn't represent the amazing experience waiting for you inside! Our server Adrean went above and beyond to ensure a great experience. Her heart is truly all in and she is does a fantastic job not only serving us but also teaching us about the food, seasonings and more. We ordered four different meals so that we could try as much as possible and each one of them was Simone's favorite. My favorite however was the shrimp with the cream sauce, but you simply can't go wrong with any of their dishes and I HIGHLY recommend finishing your meal off with their chocolate desert with a little liquor pore over. Just amazing! Thank you Adrean for the truly wonderful experience! Sorry no pics of our food, we dove in too fast

Visited Valladolid about a month ago and we had a very nice dinner here. We were seated near the pib and got to watch it being uncovered and the treasures lifted out. We ordered an appetizer, but I cannot recall the name. There was also an included pepita appetizer and complementary chaya drink. For mains we ordered cochinita and pollo. It was a nice meal, highly recommend.

Amazing authentic Mexican Mayan food, me and my girlfriend enjoyed every single bite, We are definitely going back there.

This has probably the most excellent meal I have had since arriving in Mexico. Everything from the food to the service is fantastic. When you walk in you'll see the restaurant garden where they grow a lot of herbs used in the drinks and dishes. Our host was kind enough to show us the different kinds of plants and let us sample the different basils. The food is very affordable and everything in the menu is delicious as it looks in the pictures. The complementary pumpkin salsa was some of the best I've ever had. We got a sample of the chaya drink and ended up ordering refill after refill. Hope to come back to this shop next time I'm back here

Wonderful and unique small plates. Each worth a taste. The outdoor garden area is a perfect location to eat. Extremely attentive service.

This restaurant is worth your time. Full stop. That being said, allow me to expand. The food is superb, the service is too. They have an actual pit outside for the pibil (slow roasted pig) which is amazing. We were a party of four and all left there chattering about how great what we each had was - a very good sign. Mayan food is so good, with lots of lime and orange, and green chiles, pumpkin seeds, cabbage - beautiful and earthy and bright taste! Try it out!

Amazing service, very kind and kid friendly staff! The food was absolutely delicious, and the prices were very reasonable, especially compared to places on the plaza. Its a little out of the way, but absolutely worth it. Very atmospheric and a lovely experience.

This is the best THE BEST restaurant I've ever been to. The Service, The Ambiance, The Food, The People & The Owners/Operators...I was lucky to meet & speak with the owner Jose tonight, he told me all about how his mother founded the restaurant & showed me a video of how the food is prepared. They're offering online cooking courses so I'll def be posting that when I get back home...this place makes me so happy & I had to tell Jose and also to share with his mom that the 2 dinners I had here made me so happy it brought tears to my eyes...they're doing everything right here...I Love you IX CAT IK I'll be back

This place is delicious. Try every single dish. We tried three in their delicious. Thank you. You're so good. Adriana is the best server. She explained everything very well.

Absolutely delicious food, beautiful restaurant with amazing ambience, and the most warm and welcoming staff. Vicente was the best server and so kind with our young kids. Every single dish our whole party of 7 had was amazing. Highly highly recommend this restaurant for everyone, including families with young kids! EXCELLENT VEGAN OPTIONS!!!!!!

Very immersive!!! Felt surrounded by Mayan culture this was a great respite after Chichén Itzá would go again!! Staff very friendly and attentive.

One of my favorite meals during our trip to Tulum! If you've decided to make a trip to Chichen Itza, I highly recommend making a detour here for an authentic meal where pork is cooked in a pit underground. The pork entree is a must try! I would skip the chicken as it was very dry. Francisco was our server and I wish I could take him back to the US with me. He was personable, friendly, and remembered our names! He walked us through a tour of the restaurant where he explained and demonstrated the use of all ingredients used in their dishes. I had no idea this was a farm-to-table restaurant, but it certainly was! They grow their own peppers and herbs in house and even roll their own tortillas in its own separate hut! Very impressive and definitely the hallmark of our meal. I loved every second of our meal. Highly recommend this restaurant. Fives stars in every aspect. It deserves way more recognition! Let's get it there!

Definitely a must if you happen to be traveling near the area. The food and service were great and made with fresh ingredients, including the herbs, which they grow on site. Our hostes Irene did a great job at making sure we were properly attended to and provided us with a small tour on how they prepare some of the merinades and other ingredients they use. Would highly recommended. My wife was initially hesitant to try Maya food though all the entrées and main courses picked by our group were good to great l. My personal favorite was Kaax Piipil.

Really enjoyed my time here. The restaurant had a very interesting open layout that displayed the different crops used as well as the various tools used to cook the dishes. It was a very neat way of viewing the unique techniques for cooking the dishes. The food and drink itself were absolutely delicious. Service was also really good. Our waitress was extremely patient and actually wanted to make sure we had the understanding we needed.

We had one of our best meals while visiting the Yucatán peninsula at this lovely restaurant in Valladolid. Their food is traditional Mayan, not just in terms of flavors but also they retain the traditional cooking techniques. We were coming back from Chichen Itzá on our way to Ek Balam so we decided to make a stop here for lunch. If you google the restaurant you'll get directions that will take you to the block where the restaurant is but not exactly point to it; just keep driving around the corner and you'll find it. We were greeted with a complimentary drink made of chaya and a pumpkin type dip with chips. Their chips were outstanding, the corn flavor was so rich and they were not oily as I'm pretty sure they grill them instead of frying them. We started off with the panucho de cochinita pibil, essentially the most delicious and tender shredded pork on a small tortilla topped with some pickled onions. We later discovered that they actually cook the pork underground in a pit, the traditional way of cooking cochinita pibil (the word pibil means underground), on site. It's no wonder then why the pork was so moist and flavorful. We also had a chaya empanada, crispy with a rich corn flavor and a mild but flavorful tomato sauce. For our main entrée we had the shrimp Ix Cat Ik, grilled shrimp on top of sautéed veggies like chaya and a creamy white ixcatik sauce. The shrimp were delicious, tasted more like langostines and the sauce had a mild spicy kick. The dish was accompanied by some freshly made tortillas, literally pressed by hand on the spot and cooked in traditional fashion. These have to be the most delicious tortillas I've ever had. Not only was the corn flavor impressive but also the texture was like no other. For drinks we had some refreshing margaritas and agua de tamarindo. Neither were overtly sweet. The prices are high for Mexican standards but the quality of the food justifies it. There's free parking at the entrance of the restaurant. Our server Francisco was fantastic, so helpful in describing the dishes and giving us recommendations. He gave us a little tour of the restaurant, proudly showed us the behind the scenes of what goes on in the process of making this amazing food. Definitely visit this restaurant if you're in the area and if you're only passing by Valladolid it's worth going out of your way for what I consider a truly memorable meal.

A must when visiting Yucatán! A traditional Mayan menu with some of the best Lima soup I've ever had! Everything is made fresh!!! After your done eating your waiter will show you how they grind up cocoa beans add vanilla, cinnamon and make some of the best chocolate you'll ever have.

My husband and I ate there earlier this week. It was FANTASTIC!!! One street over from the main road, but do not let that detour you. The restaurant ambiance is stunning. Our waiter, Vicente, was professional, nice and truly enjoyed his job. My shrimp and black bean sauce dish for lunch was exceptional. My husband thoroughly enjoyed a local vegetarian dish. This is truly a 5 star Mayan restaurant.

Amazing food...try as much as you can...prices are low and flavor is high...you will be happy

Best place to eat in town, the food is traditional. I recommend getting the shrimp. Don't miss out on this wonderful place.

We absolutely loved this restaurant! We had lunch here in our last day in Valladolid and wished we had come sooner. The food is really delicious and the cocktails are the best I've had in Mexico. Our waiter Vicente was excellent. He taught us a lot about the food and the region. Do not miss IX CAT IK!

My wife and I had been wanting to come here for a long time so when we were passing thought Valladolid we stopped here for lunch. To begin we were brought complimentary chaya drinks and a Sikil P'aak with fried tortilla as an appetizer. My wife had a chicken pibil and I had a cochinita pibil - both dishes were delicious and I washed mine down with a few of their homemade craft beers - IPA and a brown ale. Food was a little pricey - both our entrees, 2 beers, and one cocktail was $970 pesos before tip but the delicious food and excellent service made it worthwhile

We stubbled upon this place after Chichen Itza. The staff is incredibly nice and friendly, even if you only speak English. The food was outstanding from the appetizers to the main entrees. Main dishes that were incredible: - Pook Chuuk with Chicken - Sausage from Valldodid - Shrimp Ix Cat Ik - Kaax Piibil They only take cash (Pesos, USD, Euro) but it's definitely worth the stop!

Awesome food! Great service. Little gem serving the best Yucatan fares at very reasonable prices and portions.

Once we realized we were kind of leaving the city center to get to this restaurant, we began to worry about what kind of a place we'd find. We were so pleasantly surprised! We sat in a lovely outdoor garden section. The site self is very charming and the food outstandingly delicious!

Amazing authentic Mayan food! Found this place after a long day of cenotes and ruins. Loved the authentic vibe online so we decided to give it a try. 100% worth it! They even have their own parking space which is a luxury in Mexico! We had a hard time deciding what to try, considering everything on the menu looks SO tasty. Check out my photos for the goods. Everything was amazing and service by Angel and Francisco was so attentive :) Give this place a try, you will thank me later!

We visited Valladolid in July and ate lunch at IX CAT IK. They seated us quickly and the service was super friendly and helpful. We had never tried traditional Mayan food before so our server helped with our selections. Everything we tried was AMAZING!!! Highly recommend stopping by for a bite if you're in Valladolid.

This place is really cool. We ate right next to the pit where they had buried a cochinita for the pibil dish, and then after our meal, we met the lady who made our tortillas on an open fire comal. The food is traditional yucatecan, and your taste may vary, but it is worth eating here for the experience alone.

It's so unique that it's difficult to describe in terms we use for average restaurants. The restaurant feels more like it's out in the countryside than in an urban neighborhood. In the outdoor seating area (recommended) parts of the floor are just dirt with rock paths. There's an open fire where a woman sits making handmade tortillas. There's primitive, unfinished wood and hammocks. The food is amazing! Yes it's simple. But it's obviously crafted by a skilled chef, who turns these simple ingredients into delicious, nutritious dishes. The ingredients are so flavorful! This isn't genetically cloned corn from some corporate farm in Iowa, bred for extended shelf life in a supermarket. This isn't chicken raised in a stadium-sized quonset hut in Georgia. This is REAL FOOD, raised locally, from stock that's been there for ages. And you can taste it in every bite. This is the real meaning of comfort food, wholesome, earthy, unmodified, satisfying down to your core. Your ancestors ate like this, and your genes still remember that. While they prepared our food, and we had drinks, we were invited on a short tour to learn about the food, and even tried our hand at grinding grain on a stone pestle. The staff was professional, very friendly, and took pride in sharing their Mayan heritage. If you want an unique dining experience don't miss this hidden gem!

Absolutely lovely and surprising restaurant. Our server, Francisco, was informative and kind- and perfectly attentive...and every dish was subtle and complex. I travel quite a bit, and it is rare to find such an authentic and interesting place. Highly recommended!

Amazing food, great service. Mayan Chaya drink really cools you off after a long day. The tortillas were freshly made in front of your eyes by a nice lady

One of the best dining experiences I have ever had! The food is picked and made fresh. Everything needed to cook the dishes is grown in the restaurant or produced locally. If you are visiting the area, I would put this on the bucket list. Must try!!!

Incredible, you never thought from it's location and store front this place would be this good, but IT IS. The traditional Yucatan cuisine is really amazing. Home made corn tortilla, great soup and grilled fish. Even the drinks are amazing. I am just really happy to have discovered this little gem! If you are the kind of diner that like to venture away from your usual fare and explore the local culture and cuisine, you should be here.

WOW. Everything hear was AMAZING. I cannot stress how great this place is. The service was some of the best service I've had ever had and all of the food was PERFECT. We also ordered drinks and mezcal shots and they were so good! I highly recommend everything on the menu.

Phenomenal authentic local spot. A bit off the beaten path but well worth the $2 cab ride. The staff is very helpful and friendly and you feel the cultural pride. If you're visiting Valladolid and want to experience hand made local fare - this is the place!

Wow, from the moment you walk inside, it is an amazing place filled with great people and amazing food. It wasn't just a restaurant, it was an experience. We were taught about the local ingredients and they grow many items in the garden outside. My husband was shown how to make a tortilla by a sweet woman making them all day, it was amazing. The food was some of the best food we have had in our 8 days of vacation. We had the shrimp and it was phenomenal. My husband had the pork and it was just as great. Our waiter, Francisco was the ABSOLUTE BEST we have ever had. Great recommendations and so attentive to all your needs. Warm heart and warm place to grab amazing food. You will not be disappointed!!!

One of the best meals I've had period, in either Yucatán or Quintana Roo states. Absolutely impeccable preparation of Mayan food, served with contemporary tastefulness - really exquisitely balanced. Everything was explained, if you had an interest, to the point of showing you the ingredients and how they're used. The tortillas are so fresh, they have someone on site that doesn't cook them until you've ordered, and in a traditional way where you can watch. Incredible service too L Francisco was articulate and incredibly hospitable, taking time to expound on dishes, ingredients and other dimensions of the experience. An absolute must if in the area - I would have traveled here just for the meal.

What a phenomenal experience! The traditional food is very interesting and delicious, especially the raw cacao dessert. But the main draw is going in the evening to watch them cover the next day's cochinita pibil with banana leaves and bury it on top of red hot coals. Well worth the 10 minute trip outside the main tourist area.