Mayan Cafe

We recently hosted our wedding on the back patio at Mayan Cafe, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From start to finish, their team went above and beyond to make everything perfect. The space was beautiful, the service was outstanding, and the food was absolutely incredible—our guests are still talking about it! Mayan Cafe is more than just a restaurant; it’s an event space and caterer that genuinely cares about creating memorable moments. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue or team to help us celebrate our big day. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for an intimate event space. Truly the best caterer in Louisville!

We had originally planned on going to a "fancier" steak restaurant for the evening, but they were fully booked and we ended up going to Mayan Cafe instead, mainly because of their rating on Tripadvisor and the fact that all of their meat is sustainably raised (grass fed/pasture raised). I am so glad we went to Mayan Cafe instead of the steak restaurant because we LOVED it, and ended up booking a table for the following night as well. The food was absolutely terrific, and the prizing was really good! The flavours were so incredibly well matched and it really made for an authentic food experience. Since we went there two evenings in total, we were able to try out a lot of different courses. For entrées we had the Mole of the day (beef), the Papadzules, the Cochinita Pibil and the Tacos the Lengua. All of them were incredible, but my favourite was the Papadzules! The first night we had the Frijol Colado as a shared starter, which was incredible. For dessert we had the Mexican Tiramisu and it was just fantastic! They also had some really nice cocktails. The first night we booked a table on the patio since everything inside was fully booked, but we loved the atmosphere outside. A little secluded, some lovely lighting and artwork. The following evening the patio was fully booked, but when we arrived we were able to get a table on the patio anyways! The staff were amazing; extremely friendly, attentive and obliging, but never too much. Mayan Cafe is a must if you’re going to Louisville!

I went there with my mother, we had a fantastic night. some of the best service i’ve ever had. i wish i knew the hosts and servers name because they were so sweet and gave us complimentary lima beans.the food was. beyond amazing and totally worth the price.

I had a very pleasant dinner here after walking from downtown in the heat. The interior is a bit upscale and provides an intimate setting while not being stodgy. The staff was friendly and I was served quite quickly. It’s not often you come across Mayan cuisine in the US, so I had to try it. I decided on the papadzules, and they were packed with an assortment of different flavors. It all worked well together, and it made for a delightful meal. If I ever get back here I’ll have to try some of the other dishes, but I had no complaints at all. Excellent food and service all around.

When I told a friend from Louisville I was visiting town she said I had to go to the Mayan Cafe and order the lima beans. And I’m so glad I did ! We ended up ordering two orders of them and they were so delicious I’m still thinking about them. The pumpkin seed dip was another highlight that I just couldn’t get enough of. Our server was so kind, the atmosphere was lovely, and they were wonderful about accommodating our being vegans. I had such a delicious, memorable meal here and I can’t wait to come back.

Absolutely delicious! I want to come back as soon as possible. The Cochinita Pibil (pictured) and Sikil Pak are incredible. Pair with a glass of house sangria. I recommend coming on a Wednesday night. It is their least busy night - and the service is incredible.

I really liked the service and the atmosphere of this restaurant. The waitress was very friendly. The food is delicious! The duck soup with pumpkin is incredibly delicious. The empanadas are delicious. But the duck with vegetables is a bit dry. As a gourmet, I know that juiciness is important in duck, but here it was overcooked and dry. I give it 4 stars because of the main course of dry duck.

Mayan cafe firstly my parents were form out of town and they read about this place. They wanted to try it so bad, and they were so blown away. We got the steak, duck, and pork dish (apologies forgot the specific name of the dish) but it was all beautifully seasoned and tasted wonderfully! Make a reservation because they do fill up fast! The server we had he was so knowledgeable and so kind. The whole staff was wonderful! I recommend this place on a unique and just a great experience!

Hostess started our dinner with a bit of attitude. However, Chad, the waiter did more than make up for her. He was all smiles, super accommodating & really attentive!!! Dishes was absolutely fresh & ever so flavorful!! They offer outdoor patio seating & free parking lot. Internally, there are about 15 tables. Dimly-lit as a more romantic environment.

Mayan Cafe is spectacular every time we go. We HAVE to get the salbutes of the day they literally never miss with those. Recently i tried the mole special and that was amazing. Honestly don't think we have had a bad meal there yet. Service is always good and sitting at the back patio/deck is the perfect place to eat and enjoy yourself. Run don't walk to Mayan Cafe

In December 2012 in the Chef's notes of the incredible Chef's Menu to celebrate the turning of the largest Mayan Empire calendar cycle, which popular media has greatly latched into as well, Chef Ucán reminded those of us reading his menu that the Mayan Empire never fell, large parts of it were conquered, but that pockets and enclaves and outposts exist to this very day. I think of this story often when I dine at the Mayan Cafe. To me, it never stops being an important and delicious embassy to the peak of a once great and so I'm told Living Empire. The Cafe's cuisine is singular. I can think of no other restaurant in any city I've visited where the top suggestion is to be sure to try the Tok Sel Lima Beans, whether they come as part of your entree or you order them as a side, I find that your dinner is somehow only complete with them. I also think a Cuitlacoche sauce is rare to see in just about any sort of restaurant, so the Salmon dish, which remains a menu staple, is delicious and worth a try just for the novelty, as it is a favorite of mine and quickly a favorite of many I've introduced it to. (Cuitlacoche, I've learned, is a mushroom relative that loves growing on corn and picks up the sweetness of corn in an earthy, fascinating way.) In recent years I've found myself moving from "saving" trips to Mayan Cafe for special occasions and excuses to finding myself somewhat regular. I've grown a fondness for intimate dining inside in the coldest weather and the expanded back patio, especially its welcoming bar in good weather. (It is well covered and has good heaters and makes a great spot for much of the weather in between those extremes, too!) The somewhat regularity of the trips have only given me a deeper appreciation for the seasonal variety and fresh ingredients the Mayan Cafe plates with equal gusto. Even when I think I know what I'm in the mood for when I arrive, I always want to know what the daily specials are. I've yet to be disappointed by any Salbutes (a taco relative, presumably an ancestor) of the Day, Wild-caught Fish of the Day, or Mole of the Day that I have tried. I've been delightedly surprised by some of the fresh and extremely seasonal ones I've had. I feel privileged to have this Embassy in my neighborhood. It's a glimpse into some other world, it's a getaway trip to some other Empire, at least for my taste buds and my love of stories, as Chef Ucán can deliver wild stories in every plate even without pairing notes in the menu alongside them.

Mayan Cafe has pretty tasty food and the inside is cute. The Salabutes of the day was really good - this stood out to me from all the other dishes of our meal! We also ordered the Fish of the day, the Guacamole and Chips and the Scallop Ceviche. The servers were all nice and attentive - would dine here again!

It's been four years since I last reviewed Mayan Cafe, since we were in the thick of COVID. Several great meals -- and thankfully the end of the pandemic -- later, this needs to be updated. Mayan Cafe remains my favorite restaurant in Louisville. I was lucky enough to join some coworkers at Mayan Cafe last night, and it made me so happy to see how much they enjoyed this iconic spot as well. The Cochinita Pibil -- always delicious. It's my favorite entree on the menu, though the salbutes and rabbit are also great picks. And don't forget the lima beans. Even if they don't come with a dish, get them on the side if you must. They are magic, and if you don't get them, you really haven't eaten here. The sangria and desserts are also worth the extra dollars. And did you know that Mayan Cafe has an allergen menu? I didn't until last night. One of my coworkers is vegan and requested this menu, which helped her find items on the menu that she loved. Mayan Cafe has also opened up a back patio since I last wrote a review. Our servers last night were delightful, as they always are. Mayan Cafe just consistently knocks it out of the park. It's a Louisville dining icon. Five stars. Everyday.

Sheer perfection. From the service to the intimate dining room to the glorious food, Mayan Cafe has everything I love about dining out. The family and I had three dishes with very different flavor profiles that were all winners. My husband enjoyed the catch of the day, a tender mahi mahi. It came with a sauce I could bathe in! I enjoyed the duck papadzules. They were like the best enchiladas you've ever had with duck confit spilling out of house made tortillas. My daughter had scallop ceviche and empanadas and couldn't stop raving about either. On top of serving extraordinary food, Mayan Cafe is deeply involved in the community. Their drink menu features Black and woman-owned distilleries and they've supported justice work in Louisville. Mayan Cafe feeds the body and the soul and will always be my first stop when in town.

Of course, we had to try the lima beans--super yummy! My vegan friend was so happy with their special allergy menu and the variety of options available to her, and of course, she loved her meal. I ordered a red blend with Tempranillo that was delicious but not too bold that it overpowered my tuna tacos. The ahi tuna was seared to perfection. Sweet, slightly citrusy pineapple with cool and creamy avocado created such a nice balance. I did not heed the server's warning about the heat level of the green chipotle sauce--don't do that! It was so spicy. I loved it, but use it mindfully. The servers were great. The vibe was fun, but welcoming with a slightly dark-in-a-romantic-way dining room that set the mood. A must try in the 'ville.

Had been meaning to try this place for a while and finally stopped in on a whim! Asked to be sat on the patio and was pleasantly surprised to be led to a lovely little oasis tucked away in Nulu! We had great service, great food, and will definitely be back!

We snagged a last-minute reservation online to sit outside at their bar, and it couldn't have been a more perfect-weather evening. The outdoor setup had a relaxed yet stylish vibe--ideal for dressing up a bit while keeping it relaxed. The food was phenomenal! My partner ordered the tuna tacos, which had a great heat level and incredibly fresh ingredients--simple, bold, and delicious. I went with the Chilaquile, and wow, a tortilla lasagna, delicate yet packed with layers of flavor. So unique and so well executed! The cocktails were equally impressive. I loved that they were featuring a woman-owned tequila--naturally, I had to try the Blanco, and it was a hit. We found some street parking a block or so down. This is off of a very popular strip, but we went on a weeknight. Plenty of other activities and foods to try within walking distance.

I wish I would have taken more pictures of our food, but it was amazing. I had only had the Mayan Café food truck when I played trivia a long time ago at gravely. So this was not the kind of menu I was expecting. The food was superb. It is such a combination of flavors. My favorite things we had was guacamole and chips, bean cakes, and the lentils. The restaurant is pretty small and we had a large party for her birthday, but the service was excellent and the restaurant accommodated as well. We had all sorts of drinks and they make really good drinks too.

I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be waxing poetic over the supposedly humble lima bean, but here I am. I want to write a sonnet for those lima beans, but I'll spare you. Just know that while I enjoy every little thing about Mayan Cafe, from its dark, moody vibes to its extremely gracious staff (our bartender served us with a sincerely delivered, "I just love alcohol!") to the aforementioned libations (one glass of the best sangria I've ever had, possibly because it had a generous CHAMPAGNE pour...have you ever?) to my exquisite vegan entree (ask for the dietary restrictions menu)... the lima beans are what I cannot stop thinking about. And you can find this recipe online--thank you for being so generous-- but I heard that it's actually not ever going to taste as good as it does when prepared by the alchemists at work in the Mayan kitchen. The current vegan entree is the "Harvest Toss" and it's an artfully-arranged melange of quinoa, sweet potatoes, chickpeas and other vegetables on top of a delicious red pepper hummus. I appreciate this even more than veggie burritos or tacos (not that I don't love these), because it's unlike anything I've ever had before. I cannot wait to come back to Mayan Cafe every single time I'm back in town.

Delicious food with excellent service! My first order was the Silki Pak and Salmon Harvest Toss, which were amazing with nice portions. The salmon was tender, flaky, and moist--so much flavor. I will definitely be a repeat customer. The simple dining area had a friendly appeal.

An absolute gem in Louisville. The back cafe was so cute and welcoming. The bartender and host were next-level attentive and kind. We had an incredible dinner at Mayan Café--every dish was beautifully done and full of flavor. We started with the goat cheese and black bean empanadas, which were perfectly crisp and packed with savory depth. We could have ordered a dozen more. The scallop ceviche was bright and fresh. But the real standout? The Mexican tiramisu. It was rich without being heavy, with just the right touch of spice--easily the highlight of the night.

We had out of town guests who were vegetarians, so we took them to The Mayan Cafe in NuLu. We were not disappointed. Our server was excellent and so was the food.

Chris the manager and her team are awesome! She is the best host- great ambiance and the food was amazing! Chris knew had a friend who never been to Mayan before- she brought over the most mazing Lima beans. Great Ahi Tuna Ceviche, had amazing pork their signature dish. Great date night, friends- a hidden gem in Louisville.

After the Mega Cavern tour, we went to Mayan Cafe for dinner. When we had passed by it the previous day the menu hadn't really appealed to me, but the restaurant was highly regarded and they had gluten-free options, so I decided to try something new. We had the Tok-sel lima beans as a starter, which were delicious (bonus: they were free with a Yelp check-in!), and for our entrees, I had the burrito with chicken and without Chihuahua cheese (Mexican rice, black beans, roasted corn, peppers, squash, tomatillo sauce, sour cream, fried egg) and my sister had the Cauliflower Al Pastor (sautéed cauliflower in chili oil, quinoa, greens, pepitas, tomato frito sauce). We each had a cocktail and for dessert we shared a lavender flan. While it wasn't my favourite cuisine, the food was of excellent quality and I am glad I tried it out. [Yelp collections: Louisville/Indianapolis 2023; Louisville, KY 2023]

This place is the , worth every penny! Love their food, their service and ambiance is Melo calm, and comfortable. I don't really take pis of food. But definitely worth the try. Not cheap, but like I said worth the money.

If the ancient Mayans could time travel, they'd probably skip building pyramids and head straight to the Mayan Cafe for dinner. The papadzules? So good, they make you question why you ever bothered with regular enchiladas. The lima beans? Absolute legends in their own right--who knew something so humble could be this life-changing? And the Mayan 75 cocktail? It's like a tropical vacation in a glass, but with better after-effects than sunburn. The service? Spot-on. The team is as warm as a sunny Yucatán afternoon. The dining area? Cozy and intimate--perfect for romantic dinners or gently elbowing your neighbor for the last lima bean. Can't wait to return when the patio's open; alfresco dining sounds like the perfect way to enjoy this gem.

An Amazing Food Experience !! I was looking for new food adventures in the East Market District when I stumbled upon the Mayan Cafe. I have had Mayan food before, prepared by Mayan friends, and I was very curious to experience Mayan food in a restaurant. My visit took place on a Thursday and I was lucky enough to walk in and get a seat right away before the restaurant filled up. My server was friendly and walked me through some of her favourites before I placed my order. I started with the Three Sisters Salad. The 'Three Sisters' in indigenous cultures are beans, corn and squash, and the Mayan Cafe's version of the 'Three Sisters' is beans, corn and squash that are locally sourced. The salad is a light and refreshing starter made with roasted corn, pickled butternut squash, garbanzo beans, jicama, pepitas, queso panela local and lightly tossed in a house-made mint vinaigrette. The salad was absolutely pleasant to eat. For the main course after being served a side of Tok-Sel lima beans, on-the-house was one of Mayan Cafe's signature dishes, the Cochinita Pibil and from Garey Farms slow-roasted local pork with an achiote sauce and pickled onions and surrounded by tok-sel lima beans. This dish was spectacular and I highly recommend it for anyone visiting the Mayan Cafe for the first time. The slow-roasted pork was tender and had the perfect amount of spices and flavour. For dessert, I had a Chocolate Torte and Ice Cream from a local Louisville Ice Cream maker. I finished my meal with a twenty-three-year-old rum to help wash everything down. The Mayan Cafe is unique and has exceptional food and it was a great place to start my East Market food adventure.

We came here to celebrate my daughter's Doctoral Hooding Ceremony! They created a customized menu for the occasion and it was absolutely Amazing!!!

Came here for dinner on a Monday evening, I had a reservation but would have been fine without one. It got fairly busy while I was there, so I'd recommend going for a reservation if coming on the weekend I was really looking forward to the pumpkin seed mole on the rabbit dish for my entire trip and it absolutely lived up to the hype! It surprisingly had more of a pumpkin or more likely cinnamon like taste to me than the pure richness you might expect, but it went so well with the rabbit. The rabbit was like a much juicier chicken breast. If you're on the fence about trying rabbit I think this is a good intro dish, given the strong flavors from the mole and the fact it's deboned The service was really friendly and efficient. They gave me a side of super tasty lima beans as a free side after I mentioned it was my first time. The ambiance is very nice without feeling alienating if you want to have a casual night out. Overall I can't recommend this place enough and hope to have the opportunity to come back someday!

Great food! Had to steak mole. I ordered to go so did t experience the atmosphere but the service was wonderful and the mole was tasty!

Lovely place with a great outdoor patio. Everything was good but do not sleep on the Lima beans, I promise you won't be disappointed. (Even if you think you don't like Lima beans.)

2nd time visiting and still one of my favorite places in town! The first time we came it was in the summer and we sat on the back patio which was amazing! The second visit was in the winter so we got seated indoors. The inside has a more formal vibe to it compared to the patio which feels more casual. The service has always been great here, no issues there. The first visit we ordered many appetizers including guacamole and empanadas which we enjoyed! I got the catch of the day (it was Mahi) and absolutely loved it with the black rice. My husband got the beef and did not care for it as much as the fish. My next visit I got the salmon. This was good, however, not as good as the catch of the day. I would highly recommend this place for some great fish entrees!

One of those places you think a couple bites in...I can't wait to come back here. Atmosphere is quaint and cozy. Indoor and outdoor seating, mostly smaller tables but can push together to accommodate a group. They're only open 5p-10p, closed on Sundays, and the restaurant fills up quick--def recommend making reservations on a weekend, especially if you have 4 or more. The food is spectacular. Truly a culinary delight for all--catering to both meat lovers and vegetarians, with offerings to satisfy both those who relish simple flavors and discerning connoisseurs.

The food here is fantastic and we were so glad to stumble upon the Mayan Cafe on our first night in town on our latest bourbon pilgrimage. We started with the ahi tuni ceviche, perfectly executed. Kelly had the Papadzules- roasted pork enchiladas. For me, it was to be a Disney entree, the only question - would it be Thumper or Donald? My server recommended Donald and she wasn't wrong - duck in a mole negro sauce with fried plantains? Perfection. We did not try cocktails as we had previously had our fill but their wine list is excellent and the Borsao rose from Spain is a consistent and affordable winner.

We came here with a. Big group. While we were seated late, they offered up some free guacamole and chips that was delish. The spicy margarita then came to make the rest of the meal go down easy. Each thing I tried, I really enjoyed. The chochinita pibil was a terrific pork dish. I'm not a big Lima bean fan but these were cooked perfectly tender and I could not have enough of the sauce in this dish. I tried the tres leches dessert. It was very good but they had an ice cream sandwich special that I tried from another dinner mate that was superb. Our server was incredibly attentive and I enjoyed the interior vibe. Great place!

Nothing but praise...the greeting was warm and caring, and apologetic as they felt our table wouldn't be ready in time for our reservation...when asked to sit at the bar, we gladly accepted and they did what any good business would do...the gave us an app on the house. Although the freebie wasn't necessary, the fact that they offered spoke volumes about their establishment! The food was amazing on all accounts...fresh and well prepared, also good portions for a fancy joint...drinks were great and refreshing. The server/bartender was the highlight of the visit, she was informative and on the spot...I will say it was a pricey night, but well worth it and we will go again for sure!!!

Stellar food and presentation. This is almost like a hidden gem, but worth the visit!

I liked the service and the atmosphere of this restaurant. The waitress was very friendly. The food is delicious! The duck soup with pumpkin is incredibly delicious. The empanadas are delicious. But the duck with vegetables is a bit dry. As a gourmet, I know that juiciness is important in duck, but here it was overcooked and dry. I give it 4 stars because of the main course of dry duck.

I had the Cauliflower Al Pastor (vegan) and it was wonderful! Filled me up, tasted delicious and left me feeling great! Can it get much better? The Mayan Cafe feels like a very intimate spot because of the low lighting and cozy tables. Not to mention the service was lovely! We really enjoyed ourselves here and I can not wait to come back!

I was in Louisville for a conference and stayed the AC Hotel nearby. Upon arrival, I wanted something convenient so I wandered over to Mayan Cafe. When I walked in, I was immediately greeted and seated in an area of my preference (indoors or outdoors). While walking to my table, I noticed how quaint the restaurant looked. At my table, I had a wonderful server. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and the process. She explained to me how there is a farm nearby and she has actually went to help there. For food, I had the vegetarian burrito. When it was brought out, I was like this is huge. But it was so good and fresh, I at the entire burrito and wasn't stuffed. Also I was able to try a local bourbon and the Lima bean side while I was there. What a great experience and delicious food! I would definitely go there again!

Stopped by Louisville on the way home. Happened to pass the Mayan Cafe & thought ok, let's try this for dinner! This place did not fail to impress. It has a wonderful patio at the back, with great ambience. I ordered the rabbit with pumpkin mole & fried plantains, it was beautifully presented. The flavor was amazing, rabbit cooked to perfection. To drink I had a rum old fashioned, which again was really well done & hit the spot. The servers were very attentive & polite. Louisville, you are very lucky to have such a wonderful place to dine!

Experience was wonderful the whole time. From the second we came in the staff was super welcoming. The food was delicious and fresh and it was super cozy. On top of that our server was super accommodating and friendly.

Everyone is super friendly. The back patio is lovely. The food is EXCELLENT. We started with the salbutes of the day (today with chicken), and the flavors were dancing. I never say that. Wish I could make this at home. We also had the cochinita pibil (pork and lima beans) which was very good. It was a bit heavy though, so we asked for more of the greens (mostly shredded cabbage I think) that had been on the salbutes, and that really balanced it out. I wish there were more of the caramelized carrots; those were super good. Everything was delicious.

I like to think of myself as fairly well rounded when it comes to trying different cuisines, but Mayan food has not even been on my radar until a friend suggested we have dinner at the Mayan Cafe. My life is for the better now that I've been introduced to this fantastic place! Located in the trendy Nu-Lu district, Mayan Cafe has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It was a gorgeous June evening so my friend and I sat outside on the patio. Fortunately, the patio is covered which worked out since there was a sudden rainfall. My friend and I both had the Strawberry-Basil Spritz, which was sweet and fuzzy without being too sugary. Definitely a perfect fun summer drink. My friend highly recommended the Lima beans, which came with my entree. Lima beans are one of those foods that I could take or leave, but these were so good that I could have a meal of just them. They are a must. My main dish was the Cochinita Pibil, which is a roasted pork in a tangy sauce, accompanied by the aforementioned Lima beans and carrots. The pork was slow, roasted, and perfectly cooked so that it was almost falling apart on your fork. The sauce was very flavorful and complemented the meat very well. I had an amazing dinner at the Mayan Café and I would definitely come back to this restaurant and recommend it to anyone else that's wanting something fun and different.

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.

I've been to this restaurant several times, and I leave this restaurant disappointed every time... disappointed I can't eat here everyday. Today's mole of the day was rabbit, and it was absolutely fantastic. I don't know how they made that rabbit taste that good. The cochinita pibil is always a fantastic choice. One of the great mysteries in life will be how they make Lima Beans taste so wonderful. Service was fantastic, Ana did a great job taking care of us, and I highly recommend checking out the back patio when the weather is right. Honestly this is my choice for the best restaurant in Louisville. From the food to the service to the ambiance, you will only leave here disappointed , if like me, you wish you could eat here everyday.

Had a really great tim! Their side patio is awesome... Everything we had was delicious, including the special of the day. Drinks were great The lima beanss are deliciois! (Get some to go!) The empathyas were not bad. Going with 2 other people let us try a variety of things. The cauliflower with the quinoa was really good even though we were shocked to see almost a full head of cauliflower. We also enjoyed the ahi tuna tacos and the tres.leche dessert and chocolate chocolate dessert...can't go wrong here, highly recommended.

Met up with a favorite couple of ours at Mayan Cafe; hadn't been to Mayan for many, many years. I originally thought they were on main street when we first visited so it looked much different. I originally thought they were on Main street, but it has been years. I originally remember they used to have cheese plates with some meats thus the menu has changed so wasn't sure how I'd like it, but nothing ventured noting learned. We were kind of late to the party so only reservations we could get were outside. It was a bit cold this day and breezy, so the heaters would be handy. As we entered the inside is so nicely decorated and spaced about so patrons have room. We met our friends and were promptly seated in the ally way (not as bad as it sounds) and waited on. Our friends ordered Sikil-pak an appetizer ( pumpkin seeds | roasted tomatoes | cilantro |corn tortilla chips). It was delicious and somewhat resembled peanut butter but with a much more distinct and robust taste: definitely worth trying. We added a few drinks to our table; wine and some beers. We later ordered I had the Cochinita Pibil; (Garey Farms slow-roasted local pork | achiote sauce | pickled onions | tok-sel lima beans). My wife had Huevos Motuleños; (fried eggs | tostada chip | black beans | local chorizo | fried plantains | queso fresco | casera sauce | sour cream). Both items were very, very good. I practically liked my choice with the pork and pickled onions blended very well and the lima beans. I will actually order Tok-sel Lima Beans alone if I can the next time as a side. Our friends had Tuna Tacos; (3 handmade corn tortillas | ahi tuna | chipotle sauce | pineapple-poblano-avocado salsa | cilantro | radish | greens. She said they were great! Her spouse had the Vegetarian Burrito (Mexican rice | black beans | roasted corn | peppers | squash | Chihuahua cheese | Tomatillo sauce | sour cream | free-range, local fried eggs on top with chicken an add on) He too said his was very tasty. We finished it all off with Tres Leches for desert with we all shared with out spouses. It was light, sweet but not too sweet and tasty. It was an evening of great foods, drinks and conversation. The Mayan was on top of servicing everything is a very timely manner and with a smile. Some day hope to be back to try a few of the other items. This place is a farm to table establishment. They are an authentic Mayan restaurant and run sustainable business. If your into authenticity foods, this is a place to try.

I hadn't been to Mayan Cafe in many years and I was so pleased to have been able to come again. I remember the interior as having been very displeasing though, some kind of weird color combination that didn't fit with the theme of the place, but I was happy to see it now was redone in a soothing, warm palate of brown, black and bronze. I sampled two apps, one was the Ahi Tuna Ceviche (guajillo-coconut sauce | mango | pickled onions | cilantro oil | malanga chips). This was absolutely delicious and I had to fight my tablemates for it. The Sikil-pak (pumpkin seeds | roasted tomatoes | cilantro | corn tortilla chips) was a sumptuous, rich hummus and that did not last long either My entree was the Salmon (Verlasso salmon | cuitlacoche sauce | tok-sel lima beans). This was good, the beans and the sauce complemented the fish well, but it did pale in comparison to the apps. Two of my friends had dishes with two kinds of mole, and I think this is where the strengths are. If I come back I will definitely go this route. Service was attentive but not annoying, I really enjoyed my time there, thanks Mayan!

If I could give this place 10 stars I would!! Everything is fantastic.. The staff is phenomenal. The drinks are phenomenal. The food is phenomenal. The atmosphere is fantastic...!!!!!! Just do yourself a favor and have dinner here!! And even if you don't like lima beans, you will have missed out if you don't try these.. these are not your grandma's lima beans that you tried to feed to the dog.. they are out of this world. I have yet to have anything from here that left me disappointed. it's fantastic.

dónde está el sabor is the easiest description. Of this restaurant. I visited this restaurant today, I ordered mole of the day, and my dish was very good. the one thing I would have to say is that although the red mole was very good it competed in flavor with the pepita chile rubbed broccolini then one of the two has to go. The sauce of the pepita was so good that it really didn't need anything else added to it. My husband ordered the salmon with a cuitlacoche sauce and Lima beans. the salmon was overcooked, the cuitlacoche sauce was so minimal that when taking a bite the Lima beans overpower the sauce and left you with a floury taste in your mouth. Thank goodness wine was outstanding .

This was a while ago BUT! It is still one of one of my favorite restaurant experiences I had this year. so I am back here writing this review!! I was visiting Louisville for a few days with a couple friends. Never been here before and had no expectations for the food scene. Mayan cafe blew it out of the water - Food was amazing. I love mole and had it at cheap and expensive places. This mole was GOOD. Fresh and good ingredients. Truly well cooked and designed. Service was also great. The kitchen forgot about a side dish I ordered. They brought it out later and put it on the house. I would come back to Louisville just to eat here again!

Best meal I've had in Louisville in a long time. Service was great and the atmosphere was cozy.

Always a pleasure! I really enjoyed trying the new vegetarian options! The patio is so cute!

I went to Mayan Cafe for a girls night not really knowing what to expect, but was very happy with my experience. It is a cute little restaurant in NULU and the food was great! I tried the Papadzules and it was incredible! Loved the egg on top and all of the different flavors in the dish. Everyone at the table was pleased with their food and our time at the restaurant. Will definitely come back to try other things.

The food is okay! Not bad but too long to get the food! Good service but too long to get the dish! The ambiance is really cute but not worth coming again is you are on time crunch

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.