Review Mayan Cafe - Louisville

Peace! Came here 10 years ago to celebrate our anniversary. Ten years later visited this same spot again and really enjoyed our time. Peace to the staff. Well worth it. *also why Mayan and not Maya cafe? We are still alive* (the chef will understand this) ☝️

Stopped by this place after it was recommended by another server at a nearby restaurant. While the food was perfect, the friendly staff was even better. The Lima beans, just make sure you try them when you go. They didn't come with my entree but Margo brought me a bowl and I am glad she did. I usually don't get dessert but well worth the calories and the splurge!

So glad we finally got to try this little gem We made reservations and even though traffic made us late, the staff were so kind and there were no issues. Parking in this popular stretch is hard to come by, but if you check one block behind the restaurant parking is fairly easy to find, with just a block to walk. The interior is small, warm, and inviting, with great lower lighting for ambiance. The noise level of voices did get high, but it felt like a Saturday night on the town. If you want less noise, ask for the courtyard area, which seemed very low key and charming. We definitely recommend trying their cocktails. The “Spicy Mango Margarita” was a terrific option, as was my wife’s “Don’t Worry, Brough” They also offer a bourbon flight and dessert bourbon (we got the dessert one to-go and it was delicious). We aren’t usually huge fans of scallops, but after reading so many great remarks about the scallops ceviche, we had to try it and it was fresh, bright, and amazing. The chips were so good! For entrees my wife got the Cochinita Pibil (slow roasted pork) and I got the Duck with fried plantains and a very rich dark mole. Although i’ve tried duck elsewhere a couple of times in the past and thought it wasn’t for me, this version was slow roasted, tender, and so flavorful without a gamy taste. My wife’s pork dish was probably still my favorite of the two dishes. We each had half of our meals to take home. For dessert we got the Chocolate on chocolate. The sauce was close to a southern chocolate gravy (a rich loose pudding) and although the menu reads that it has chili in the sauce, we couldn’t detect any spice/heat. It was still very good. We will definitely be back to try other dishes and cocktails!

Loved our experience at Mayan cafe! Inside dining area is small and cozy, with warm tones all over. The decor is gorgeous. Our food was impeccable. Our table got two drinks, the don’t worry borough..the chips and guacamole, the empanadas, mayan burger and the flat iron steaks and my goodness. The only thing left on the table was a tiny bit of guacamole. Will be back for seconds!

delicious, beautiful food. A great choice for a special occasion or a nice night out. This most recent time my white fish was slightly undercooked, but everything was still delicious

Great experience at Mayan Cafe. We sat outside, which was really nice given how dense it is inside the restaurant. Food was good, nothing spectacular. Everything was really beautiful and service was good as well. I will say that the food was pretty, but didn’t taste as great as it looked visually. Chips were amazing and the most unique “dish” we tried. The appetizers were a bit small for the prices. The entrees were decent. Overall, we might return, but there are better places to be had in Louisville honestly.

Had a nice dinner here. The noise was a bit loud inside so was a bit hard to hear the person sitting next to you but it’s a cozy spot. The hibiscus 🌺 tea is to die for. The duck is excellent as well.

Legitimately one of my favorite restaurants I've ever been to. Don't skip on the Ahi Tuna Ceviche. Great drinks, food, and dessert.

Emaculate!! Duck mole, hibiscus-mint tea, and lavender flan 💜 it was mouth-watering! Make the reservation and eat, well not regret!

This is a magical place, the attention was exceptional, the education, the friendliness of the staff from the moment you enter until you leave the place, they treat you as if you were a VIP, the food OMG At the first bite of the ceviche I had goosebumps even in my neck! It was a great experience, I chose to eat duck, it was delicious, but the plantain took the crown! Super recommended! We will back!

This restaurant lived up to the hype. I was suggested by locals to check this place out and it was amazing. I had the guacamole and chips to start and it was so flavorful. For my entree I got the Huevos Motuleños with the Lima beans. It was all so good! I left there stuffed! Highly recommend!

The Mayan Cafe never disappoints. Truly. Any dish, any waiter. Top quality and talent. It's my anniversary, birthday, any-other-reason favorite spot in town for a good meal and a relaxing night. If they have ceviches... Order all the ceviches and thank me later.

I ate here the other evening and it was superb. I was surprised to find a Mayan restaurant in Kentucky but so glad I tried it. I ordered the empanadas as an appetizer. For an entree I had the rabbit which was delicious and the perfect size portion. Lastly, I ordered the lavender flan which didn't have a strong lavender flavor but was a very good flan. I will defeat here again next time I am in the area. I had made reservations for 5 (when they open) and I'm glad I did because it was Saturday evening and they filled up very quickly.

Great experience at this Louisville favorite! Drinks were refreshing, service was good, and food was amazing. The actual restaurant is small so make sure to make reservations ahead of time. I would recommend the guac and chips, scallop ceviche, and pumpkin seed hummus/paste and chips for appetizer, and the cochinita pibil for dinner. Really authentic flavors and big portions. Would come again next time I visit

I went on a Monday night without a reservation. The restaurant was not busy and we were seated quickly. We shared 2 appetizers, scallop ceviche and the kibis. The flavors were fantastic. The ceviche was fresh and the chips were crunchy. The kiris was piping hot and packed with flavor. If you go you must try the rabbit. The rabbit was tender and the mole sauce gave it a warm comforting flavor. Everything was incredible and bursting with flavor. If you are in the area you need to give Mayan food a try.

We had the best dining experience at Mayan Cafe. We had a reservation that we had to push back and we ended up late anyhow, but the person at the front put us at ease. The service was attentive but not pretentious. The alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks were on-point. The apps (ceviches and a salad for us) were just the perfect combo of flavors. Our kid’s review: simple ingredients that taste amazing together. The mains (whitefish, cauliflower, steak, burger and burrito) were all delicious. Desserts were great as well.

Amazing food and wonderful service. Highly recommended. Located in the "NuLu" district. One of my guests said that the rabbit was the best they ever had. The dining room is fairly small though, the one part we didn't love.

Loved the food! It was really crowded, which gave a really good ambiance.

We were driving in from Cincinnati and they were very accommodating with a few last minute reservation changes. Everyone we encounter was welcoming and friendly. Our server, Tyler (I hope I got that right) was fantastic! I cannot rave about the food enough. I had the Mayan Burger as my entree and it was full of flavor and the burger was really lean and cooked to perfection! The side of fried plantains were beautifully prepared. A friend recommended I try the Tok-Sel Lima Beans and they did not disappoint! The Guacamole was delicious! But now for the star of the show..... The Scallop Ceviche! WOW! I was a little hesitant when I first went to try it, but the flavor is so clean and bright, really a perfectly executed dish! This dinner really enhanced a special evening! Thank you for a great dinner! I can't wait to travel back and try some of the other menu items!