El Maya - why isn't it packed?

We dined with some friends at El Maya this evening. We'd there been a few months ago and loved it, but I'd forgotten how good it was. It's diagonally across from Mixteco Grill, and Mixteco seems to be the one getting the crowds. Nothing whatsoever against Mixteco, but El Maya serves absolutely gorgeous and delicious food. It arrives on the plate looking like a work of art - very similar menu and look to Chilapan.

I had shrimp with a pistachio mole. The shrimp were generous, smoky and delicious. They came with green rice, sautéed spinach and plantains. My husband had enchiladas, and our friends had the seared salmon (crispy skin, same lovely rice, spinach and plantains) and a red snapper in mole special. Everybody loved their food, and most of the entrees were under $20 - really reasonable for food this nice. Service was attentive and warm.

What I can't understand is why is this restaurant mostly empty? When we left around 7:30, there were only a couple more tables occupied. Maybe it was a mistake to open right by Mixteco. Perhaps the neighborhood can't support two gourmet Mexican restaurants. But our friends from the south side said they'd come up north just to eat here again. Anyway, I hope people will give it a try and it'll stick around, because it's really worthy.

El Maya
Address: 1522 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Phone:(773) 878-1882

jpo wrote:I had shrimp with a pistachio mole.

That in itself, warrants a visit.

Its on my short list now as well.

i've often wondered about that place. now i'll check it out.

Has anyone been to El Maya recently? I'm thinking of checking it out but thought I would check in first.

Had a lovely New Years Day brunch. I went with my sister and her girlfriend and we had bellini mixes, the huevos ahogados, benedict casero and the chilaquiles. It all looked great, tasted even better. I've had a hard time finding really good brunch places, this is definitely getting added to the rotation. So many times poached eggs are poached too hard, or the hollandaise isn't good. We had perfect runny yolks and a good lemony hollandaise on my benedict.

We spent some time talking to the owner, who served us. He said they got their liquor license and will be serving all kinds of cocktails when he and his wife return from a trip home to Ecuador. His brother will be managing the restaurant while he's gone.

I had never been here before, but will definitely be coming back, looking forward to trying out the dinner menu.

knitgirl wrote:We spent some time talking to the owner, who served us. He said they got their liquor license and will be serving all kinds of cocktails when he and his wife return from a trip home to Ecuador. His brother will be managing the restaurant while he's gone.

knitgirl, did you get any indication as to how long the owner will be gone? Is he perhaps back already, or is the trip to Ecuador more like a month-long thing, or what?

I think he said about 3 weeks.

knitgirl wrote:I think he said about 3 weeks.

Thanks.

He's back. Sounds like they are looking to get their liquor license "next month." He doesn't seem to be in super rush. He was a bartender for many years and has a good vision for good affordable wine and fun cocktails.

My husband and I had a nice lunch here on Saturday. Good cochinita pibil torta for me and chilaquiles topped with perfectly fried eggs for him -- we'll definitely come back to try dinner. The owner (I assume) said that they do have the liquor license now, but that he's still working with the distributor on the right assortment for the bar. As he said, "If I'm going to ask people to pay $10 for a glass of wine, I want it to be something special, not just whatever they decide to send me from the distributor."

Had the Timbulito De Chocolate tonight for dessert, "A chocolate corn masa tamale drizzled with a cajeta also topped with rompope ice cream." It is way up on the top of my list for best thing I've eaten this year.

Although El Maya is no longer BYOB, the food seems to keep getting better. Destination worthy Mexican.


Salmon


Shrimp Molcajete


Ceviche

Took the family here last night, and we had an excellent meal. Every speck of food was enjoyed, leaving all six of us in the clean plate club. Highlights were the Pulpo Yacateco in delicious mojo de ajo appetizer, Cochinita Pibil (served with fabulous crispy potato pieces), and the chocolate "tamale" for dessert (it has another name on the menu but isn't online). I didn't taste the other dishes, but there was much enthusiasm around the table. My Camarones Enchipotlados had a good number of fairly small but very tasty shrimp in a fairly mild, lovely chipotle sauce along with rice and fresh wilted spinach.

Good service and friendly people in addition to the fine food--we'll be back.