Mayahuel - Sacramento (CA)

5 /5 Christian Martinez: Mayahuel is one of my wife’s and my favorite spots in Sacramento. Great food, great cocktails, great service, and an amazing atmosphere—it checks every box. You do pay a little more than other places, but it’s absolutely worth it. We started with chips, salsa, and guacamole—all fresh, flavorful, and perfectly mild. Feeling boozy, we tried a tequila flight (blanco, reposado, and añejo). The pours are small, so unless you’re a big tequila fan, I’d stick with cocktails. The drinks here are excellent—try the Paloma, Mayahuel Fresca, or La Flor if you like a little spice. We shared the brochetas de chorizo (great bites) and the carne con chile entrée, which I highly recommend. Warm, rich, and comforting—perfect for a cold, windy day. The asada tacos are also excellent if you want something lighter. The ambiance is beautiful, especially in October with their Día de los Muertos display. Parking can be tight, but there’s a garage right next door. Pro tip: the IMAX theater is a 30-second walk away—perfect for a dinner-and-a-movie date. Make a reservation if you’re going on a weekend or during lunch/dinner hours—Mayahuel fills up fast!

5 /5 Jay: I placed a reservation with a group of friends before heading over to a book signing. The ambience was very nice. The restaurant had put up Dias los Mueros decorations up which made the atmosphere so much better. I have the steak tacos, and it was amazing. The drink I had was also good and refreshing! Definitely want to come back to try more of their foods. Especially their seafood

3 /5 Corey Strock: We had some issues at Mayahuel. But Ill start with the good: Menu was great, lots of options which looked quite good. And what we had did taste good. Beer options were solid for a Mexican place Chips & Salsa were quite nice. OK, the bad: Service wasnt good. Took ~15 minutes to place our order (of any kind). I had to go to the bar and get the drinks myself since they were sitting up there so long> They had to scramble to find the Plant Based Menu, and then they were "possibly" out of the Lentil Soup, and asked if Carrot was OK in that case. (They were out, we got carrot, but we only found out once it arrived) They were also out of Carnitas (Note, we went at 11AM on a Sunday, so they had just opened) Food was not particularly hot when it came out, which I find unusual for a Mexican restuarant. Ordered an Appetizer and was asked if I wanted it first... I did. It arrived after mains, and even then I think only because I asked about it.

3 /5 Bunny Pi: Not sure how this has an award. When you have to ask for silverware after your food comes, then have to ask for a napkin. Of course, when the other diners finally received their food and the fork arrived + the food was cold. I thought I would try something different. Oops. The description was well written and fooled me into thinking it would be delicious, not so much. Looks impressive, but lackluster and bland. I sent the flour tortillas back as they had a rancid oil flavor. The other diners ordered some pretty standard dishes (meatball soup, tacos and pozole) and said it was good. The drinks looked good. Overall, I was not impressed. The prices seem high for the quality. I will not be back.

5 /5 Trish Campbell: Easy walking distance from the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento. The sign outside was not lit, but we found it anyway. Decorated nicely for Christmas. Lively atmosphere. Friendly and attentive customer service. Delicious and interesting dishes. Alot on the menu to choose from if youve never been here before. We had two of the Coastal Dishes: the Camarones Moctazuma al Tequila and the Salmon en Huictlacoche. I had the shrimp (Camarones) sauteed "al mojo de ajo", with mushrooms, jalapeno chili strips, parsley, and a splash of tequila, severd with cilantro infused rice. So delicious, perfectly cooked, layers of flavor. The rice was not your average rice, so flavorful and delicious. The jalapeno strips gave just the right amount of heat. The mushrooms were fresh and cooked tenderly, the shrimp were large and juicy, and the sauce brought it all together. Their chips and salsa were also good, which can make or break a Mexican restaurant. The salmon was flaky and tender, cooked perfectly. It was served atop a bed of rice and sauteed veggies. "Salmon grilled and baked to perfection on a bed of Huictlacoche sauce, corn, on top of a bed of white rice." My sister was really enjoying the dish but as she got about halfway through and got to the bottom of the dish her mouth started tingling and itching like a food allergy. There was a dark thick sauce underneath the rice. I tasted several bites of her dish, including the sauce, and did not have the same reaction. I looked up the dish to see if any of the ingredients were unusual or new to her. The Huictlacoche sauce in translation means, corn smut or Mexican truffle. Its a fungus that grows on corn, a delicacy in Mexico. It had an earthy, smoky and slightly sweet flavor. She chose not to eat anymore, but since it was so delicious she brought it home to give to a family member to enjoy. They did not have a reaction to the sauce either. The Cadillac Margaritas were also delicious with a dehydrated orange slice on top adding a subtle flavor and nice appearance. Overall a great experience and I would definitely recommend it if you are in the area. If having drinks, expect to spend $30 to $50 per person. If you come just to dine, there is ACE parking just across the way for $6 and hour, max of $30.