Los Mayas is Hamilton’s outstanding new Mexican restaurant
- Michael Kras
- Posted 1 week ago
The trappings of the dearly missed Italian spot La Piazza Allegra on James South have been given new life by a recently-opened Mexican restaurant that’s already earning praise.
Los Mayas is now open at 180 James St S, its vibrant decor playing host to a thoughtful menu of traditional Mexican fare and – uniquely – some pre-Hispanic Mayan dishes, giving a taste of this cuisine’s history and how it has evolved in the modern age.
“Mexican food is completely influenced by pre-Hispanic cultures,” says Rigo Angel, owner of Los Mayas. “Most of our recipes have been in our family for generations.”
That family tradition makes the food at Los Mayas stand out, from the wide variety of bright, flavourful tacos to the fresh salads and meals with various regional influences like tamales, enchiladas, chimichangas, fajitas, carne asada, and much more.
All of it is made using authentic, quality ingredients and techniques that are true to the recipes Rigo and his brother – who serves as the restaurant’s chef – grew up with back home.
“We want people who come to our restaurant to really feel like they are visiting a part of Mexico,” Rigo adds.
One of the highlights of the menu at Los Mayas is the birria. With its origins in the Mexican state of Jalisco, this traditional dish has taken on a modern popularity in Canada, with many non-authentic Mexican spots offering up their take on the dish.
Los Mayas keeps it traditional, using the precise recipe originally created in Jalisco: beef is slow-cooked in a stew with intensely flavourful spices, then eaten as-is with accompaniments or on tacos.
When asked what excites Los Mayas most about being a new part of Hamilton’s food scene, Rigo has an easy answer.
“My favorite part of having a business in Hamilton is being able to show people a little of the pre-Hispanic culture through our food,” says Rigo, adding that local emergency workers like police officers, firefighters, and medical professionals get a 10 per cent discount on food.
Hamilton’s small-but-mighty Mexican food scene just got even richer with the addition of Los Mayas: a restaurant that manages to do the classics excellently while offering something unique.
Visit Los Mayas at 180 James St S, and see more on their social media.
Images courtesy of Los Mayas
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