Mayan Kitchen Is Filled with Delicious Surprises

Pastel de chocolate at Mayan Kitchen, 507 Broad St. (Photo by Mark Gilliland)

From its spot on the corner of Broad and Fifth streets, Mayan Kitchen appears cozy-chic. But its gray-brick facade doesn’t tell the whole story.

Inside, the restaurant is surprisingly spacious and elegant, with high ceilings and intimate lighting. Flowering planters divide the long dining hall. More than a hundred different tequila bottles sparkle from behind the bar.

The menu offers more delicious surprises. First, the prices do not reflect the upscale nature of its offerings. Second, the dishes are one-of-a-kind.

“We specialize in authentic Latin food, dressed up for the audience,” said co-owner Benjamin Lemos. “It’s a different take on Latin American cuisine.”

Serving brunch, lunch and dinner, the menu includes “tortillas de huevo” (omelettes), “bisteks” (steaks), “cerdo” (pork) and “pollo” (chicken). It features sandwiches and wraps as well as fajitas, tacos, enchiladas and more.

“We want to make sure there is still food on our menu that people are familiar and comfortable with,” said Benjamin.

But ultimately, he plans to introduce even more authentic flavors, starting with specialty sauces such as the labor-intensive “recaeo” sauce. The goal is to get diners more familiar with authentic Latin American cuisine, by first earning their trust with good, scratch-made food.

And if the flavors can’t get diners to open up to new cultural cuisines? A tequila flight from Mayan Kitchen’s classy, inviting bar may result in a new favorite way to imbibe.