Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Cantina Los Mayas in San Francisco

4.9 (82) 431 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94118, United States

Categories

Mexican restaurant
Fine dining restaurant
Wine bar

Location on the map

San Francisco, City and County of San Francisco, California, US

Phone: +1 415-571-8027
Site: https://cantinalosmayas.com/

Opening hours

Monday:Closed
Tuesday:Closed
Wednesday:5–9 PM
Thursday:5–9 PM
Friday:5–10 PM
Saturday:10 AM–2 PM
Sunday:10 AM–2 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.9

82 Reviews for Cantina Los Mayas 2024:

Review №1

2023-08-13 21:05:37

Absolutely stunning place. Not busy or loud on a Friday night. Every Mexican wine was excellent and we tried 3 different bottles. And they let us try a taste of each before we decided. Every dish we ordered was perfect and service was also astounding. No complaints. Salsa was also excellent. Cant wait to return. Overall reasonably priced too!

Review №2

2023-07-22 15:22:44

Absolute GEM! Highly recommend! The atmosphere, food and staff were wonderful. We got two tacos and the quesadilla along with sangria and it was all delicious. As someone with a food allergy too, they were very aware and helpful! Will be coming back soon and have recommended to all my friends as well! Great work guys!

Review №3

2023-09-25 17:42:15

I’ve been for both dinner and recently for brunch, and really enjoyed my meal both times! Their food is fantastic - I’m obsessed with their mole. The service and atmosphere is also great. I’ll definitely be coming back.

Review №4

2023-09-10 20:46:09

Everything is exceedingly delicious and thoughtfully well balanced. Service was friendly and genuine. The wine selection is impressive too. I would highly recommend the crab panuchos, jicama tacos, mole, and queso.

Review №5

2023-11-05 19:50:18

I decided to check out the new brunch spot in my neighborhood today. I’ve had dinner here several times and the food is amazing. I expected nothing less from the brunch. Just delicious 😋 They start you off with home cooked chips and 3 handmade salsas. My favorite is the smokey chipotle one with cacao mixed in. For my main I chose chilaquiles and had a festive michelada to accompany it. The chilaquiles were so scrumptious. The sauce was fresh and made in house and everything in the dish really complimented each other. I will definitely be back and I highly recommend checking this place out for brunch and dinner!

Review №6

2023-07-11 14:03:17

Amazing Mexican restaurant. And this is a lot for me to say. The manager Juventino makes sure everything is perfect. Great service and food very delicately and carefully prepared plus an amazing selection of Mexican wines. I have traveled to many places in Mexico and I had never seen so many Mexican wines in one place many of them definitely rare finds.

Review №7

2023-09-12 22:32:26

Food was so-so but the wine was on point. Come here for the wine. Eat only to fill your stomach so youre not drinking on an empty stomach. Highlight is definitely the wine list. Lots of organic wine selection. Bichi, naked wine. Even randomly picking wine from the wine list didnt disappoint. Staff was very helpful with wine selection.

Review №8

2023-05-29 09:35:21

This has become our favorite restaurant! The food is excellent and they have exceptional Mexican wines. Really good atmosphere and service. We have been here three times and we are working our way through the menu! We love everything so far. I highly recommend this restaurant!

Review №9

2022-11-20 19:21:38

A great dinning experience! Make sure you make a reservation because it gets busy and it’s a bit tricky to find parking. The appetizers are not too big so they are great to share. I enjoyed the selection of Mexican wines and highly recommend trying the Bruma wines available. Incredible flavors that celebrate Mexican cuisine.Great service, but they do get busy so keep that in mind. Definitely coming back!

Review №10

2023-10-17 16:15:04

Classy place with super tasty food. The service was friendly and quite professional. Dishes were fairly expensive but the portions were generous. This place definitely gets a star on my map.

Review №11

2023-05-14 03:57:12

Loved the different house made salsas. Chips were fresh. Pozole was good. They have a great selection of wines. It was really exciting to see all the wines from different parts of Mexico. Mole was too Smokey for my friend. Lamb chops were cooked well. Churros we’re okay.

Review №12

2023-02-12 04:55:36

Authentic, thoughtful, DELICIOUS food! COME!!! The service with Jessica was excellent! She even let us try multiple wines until we found the right one. The exclusive Mexican wine list was not only comprehensive and kindly priced, but they also took the time to provide some history/context to the Mexican wine scene. Which I appreciated. Despite it being very busy the entire team found ways to make us feel special and cared after. Vibe was soooo good! Welcoming ambiance, very fair prices and BEST MAYAN FOOD IN SF/USA????? can’t say enough good things! Exceptional experience. Go!

Review №13

2023-11-12 23:36:51

A group of us had dinner here on Friday and it was absolutely delicious. Everything was flavorful and beautifully prepared. We love wines from Mexico and we’re excited to try some new winemakers. Service was immaculate. I can’t wait to go back!

Review №14

2022-09-30 04:20:03

My friend and I sat at the bar. The bartender was very friendly and he was very knowledgeable about the wine. He let us try different wines before we chose which one we wanted to drink. The food was absolutely delicious! I asked them for a spicy salsa and they made a salsa right in front of me just for me!!! I definitely will return. this place was a gem of a find.

Review №15

2023-05-05 03:40:22

Terrific, authentic food. Its a big menu and I want to come back for round 2 because every single thing was delicious. Highly recommend the lamb chops and molcajete. The traditional dip is great too. The service is great - ask for recommendations. Wish this was in my neighborhood. 🤤

Review №16

2023-12-05 02:03:38

We are becoming regulars at this amazing spot. Super service by Juve and his team, incredible wine (Juve always seems to know exactly what I want), and food that is outstanding and authentic. We like to sit at the bar so we can chat with the staff more and make a night of it!

Review №17

2023-12-06 03:10:22

Fantastic! The wine, the food and the vibe is truly 10 out of 10! It’s nothing short of a treat to come here and enjoy tasty regional specialties from the Yucatan, tasty platos pequenos, deliciously, complex entrees and the churros, oh, the churros!Did I mention the wine? If I’m not mistaken, Cantina Los Mayas offers only wines from Mexico (though they will be offering up specialty, Southern Mexican cocktails in early 2024). Juve, one of the owners, is so cool, incredibly hard working and super knowledgeable about our lesser known wine producer to the south. He knows his Mexican wines (and wine in general) and his support for and pride in small wine producers and farms in Mexico is admirable.In a town that features Mexican food around every corner, Cantina Los Mayas is a breath of fresh air! There are cheaper options but if you are looking for a truly authentic, unpretentious experience, this place is impossible to beat!

Review №18

2023-01-07 16:07:04

Took my wife to Cantina Los Mayas last night for our date night and the experience was perfect! Great ambiance with traditional music from different regions of México. Service was excellent. We went to sample the exceptional variety of wines from Mexico which paired very well with the delicious traditional foods from Yucatán. Juventino knows what he’s doing! We will be back for some more soon!

Review №19

2022-12-23 02:44:24

This place deserves more than 5 starts for once after 10 years in USA I eat real traditional and tasty Mexican food.The presentation, flavor, services is just more than amazing.We tried Cochinita Sopes, shrimp empanadas, molcajete and Chamorro lamb.I tried cochinita in Merida 10 years ago and this is the same flavor than what they served me in Mexico. This is a must stop and eat place for future trips.

Review №20

2023-12-02 02:41:03

Soooo goood! Authentic and creative Latin cuisine, great for families or a date night. HIGHLY recommend the lamb chops, crab tostones and vegan jicama tacos, especially if you like tajin! Servers treat you like family. Wish I could eat here everyday.

Review №21

2023-09-23 06:44:26

Think Taco Tuesday but upscale and absolutely fantastic. They serve the best Mexican wine and Mexican food and their servers are all so happy and generous - they frequently give complementary alcohol desserts etc.. it’s only a matter of time before this hidden gem is no longer hidden and everyone knows about it. Get a reservation while it’s still easy to do so.

Review №22

2022-07-25 07:51:42

Absolutely incredible food and countless delicious wines! This is the only restaurant to serve wines from grapes grown exclusively in Mexico! Pair that with Yucatán cuisine and you are in for a fantastic culinary experience.

Review №23

2023-11-21 04:44:23

The 5 times I’ve been here were all a delight. The starters (get the guac), entrees, and cocktails are excellent but where they really shine is the desserts. The cream filled churros are my favorite but I also like the pobre caballero (kinda like French toast) with a scoop of Mamey ice cream on top. The flan is a bit heavy on the liqueur flavor for me but I’m guessing it’s to others’ liking

Review №24

2023-08-01 21:12:46

Food is absolutely delicious! Our favorites were the queso fundido and quesadilla with cochinita pibil, SO GOOD!The wines are great and the micheladas taste just like home. 5 stars from me and my Mexican family! Service was friendly. Can’t wait to come back :-)

Review №25

2023-06-29 18:27:45

This was my third visit to Cantina Los Mayas and it just keeps getting better. My party of 3 had a wonderful meal. The panuchos with cochinita pibil, ceviche crudo, chuletas de cordero were highlights for our meal. The best part was the wine and the knowledge of the staff. We were treated to an exploration of delicious Mexican wines and this enhanced our experience. This place has it all and is not to be missed.

Review №26

2023-02-11 23:12:11

Excellent food, wine and service. My wife and I each ordered a glass of wine and our waiter gave us samples from two bottles to help in our decision and after the meal was over he gave us a sample from another bottle.

Review №27

2023-10-23 04:41:13

Highly recommend. Juve made sure the sauces and spices were customized to each person dining. Ill definitely be back.

Review №28

2022-07-15 17:02:30

A great selection of Mexican wines paired with Yucatecan cuisine. If you can’t make it down to the Valle de Guadalupe, this is a great spot to get your fix of great food and drinks in SF.

Review №29

2023-05-20 04:55:29

We enjoyed a wonderful meal here for my husband’s birthday. Every dish had incredible flavour and spice, the salsas were amazing and the service was spot on. We were also so impressed with the wine. 100% recommend and we’ll be back. This place is a GEM.

Review №30

2023-11-01 03:48:46

Amazing place bringing authentic Mayan cuisine to San Francisco. Their wine list brings new varieties not commonly found in the US

Review №31

2023-10-19 03:01:17

Solid casual, counter-service Mexican fare with a Yucatán influence. Salsa bar, tap-beer and margaritas with tacos, empanadas, burritos and panuchos Yucatán. Highly recommend.

Review №32

2022-08-06 04:16:35

Absolutely delicious. The ambiance was great, the staff was very attentive and the waitress was friendly. I ordered the Tacos De Maya with chicharron…probably the best taco I’ve ever had. I ordered another one mid meal because it was so good. The chef/owner was walking around and seemed to go to every table for a friendly chat. The wine was great, many options and they serve half glasses, we’ll be back for a wine tasting of our own making soon. Felt very welcomed and as someone who is Mexican and loves wine, this place was absolutely the perfect combination of delicious food and wine!

Review №33

2023-03-17 16:59:22

Not to be confused with their Taqueria Los Mayas on Clement. I really enjoyed their selections of Mexican wines. Their list of outlier and interesting wines was a pleasure to sample. Great service and flavorful, well-plated dishes. Neighborhood vibe meets finer dining. What more could you ask for?

Review №34

2023-01-23 04:13:22

Surprisingly great food. Solid high-end interpretation of mexican food. Great flavors, and wonderful execution. Also they have a solid array of mexican wines and are happy to recommend something that goes well with the meal.Great service and wonderful staff. Were already looking forward to coming back!

Review №35

2023-09-05 20:53:24

Been here 2 times and each time its been excellent. Very friendly staff, delicious food, and beautiful atmosphere. Ordering to go was super easy as well.

Review №36

2022-10-10 03:21:05

Cant say enough about Cantina Los Mayas! Such great food, great cocktails, great wine selection. The chef actually came out and talked to us about the wines! Great space, I especially loved the smaller plates. The ceviche is a must try. Also the stuff tacos are amazing. Had the pork shank it was a great portion and definitely filling. I highly recommend it if you like pork shank! Looking forward to going back and trying more items.

Review №37

2023-03-25 22:50:58

The love of Mexico shines through the food and wine! Well be back again to enjoy with our friends

Review №38

2023-05-05 02:36:31

This place is wonderful. Everything we had was delicious, and the service was great. The chef came over to explain the menu and make recommendations - we felt like we were at his house. We will be back often.

Review №39

2022-12-14 00:51:09

Came here on a rainy night thinking there was going to be no problem getting in early for our reservation. Boy were we wrong. This place was super packed and groups waiting to be seated, so reservations are HIGHLY recommended.There were many food options to choose from so that was great to see. Chips and salsa were very good, same as the ceviche. Got my taco and wondered where the second one was, never came, but only one I got was jam packed full of stuff. The lamb chops left us wanting more since we only got 3, and the lamb shank came out a tad too dry missing the tortillas. We did get chips and salsa as well as guacamole which really made up for things, but we later found out that was not intentional and more so an error sent to our table.The staff is very welcoming and frequently checked in on us. So perhaps the faults in the orders were just that the many many groups inside got the best of them. We’d give them another shot because they really are all very friendly people that care for the people coming in to eat.

Review №40

2023-01-23 03:18:44

Beautiful sit-down Mexican restaurant serving flavorful, inventive dishes in a warm, dimly lit, beautiful decorated environment. A unique wine list featuring only Mexican wines, the varieties of which will be familiar to a California wine drinker. Suitable for friends or a date, you should definitely go.

Review №41

2023-01-22 06:39:25

The ceviche was pretty good, nice flavor, but the fish was a bit too firm and also it came as a very small portion. The carnitas soft taco was amazing, would go again just for that. Good chips and salsa. Also the wine selection was great!

Review №42

2022-12-17 06:26:29

Great spot for a date night. Wine was delicious, as were their salsas and ceviche. The only thing I would change is the lighting, feels too bright and a more moody setting would really elevate the atmosphere. I’m looking forward to coming back!

Review №43

2023-03-04 17:07:16

If you thought you liked Mexican cuisine, take a seat, bc you’re about to be schooled. Wow, simply dumbfounded is how we felt as we slipt into our Uber after dinner.The beautiful presentation made me hesitant to dig-in, but once the first bite hit my mouth it was game on! The sauces, accompanying the authentic food, stand up perfectly to the already balanced dishes. We ordered a variety of food, all just as tasty as the next (including several vegetarian options), but our favorite was the Molcajete mixto served in a large, warm, mortar bowl-which gets better the further you dive-in.The most unexpected joy for me came from the selection of Mexican wines. I didn’t even know it was a thing, but I have a feeling it’s gonna be the next big thing! I love a full-bodied red and the Pozo de Luna syrah hit the mark. We even bought one to take home bc we knew we wouldn’t find it elsewhere. There are several yummy whites, too! The Bodegas Rosé was refreshing and also a table favorite, but the wine list selections allow for a variety of tasting options which I look forward to revisiting next time.What a find and what a fantastic culinary ride through the Yucatán. Oh, and don’t pass on the cream-filled churros, because, damn!

Review №44

2022-11-20 05:09:02

I normally dont leave reviews, but the food and experience at Cantina Los Mayas absolutely blew me and my girlfriend away, so we had to sing their praises to everyone. This is one of the best restaurants weve ever been to.We walked in on a Saturday night without reservation and were promptly seated at the bar. We ordered the passionfruit margarita, panuchos with cochinita pibil, cevice crudo Maya, and the molcajete mixto, which was more than enough for the both of us. My girlfriend enjoyed her margarita and also liked the sample of strawberry margarita she was graciously given.The panuchos had good flavor and a nice crunchy tortilla. The ceviche was unlike any other ceviche we had tried before thanks to the passionfruit puree used. The sweetness of the passionfruit really complemented the flavors of the shrimp, scallops, and red onions.The star of the meal was the molcajete mixto, which is easily large enough for two people to share as an entree. Aside from the beautiful presentation of this dish (and all the other dishes), every single ingredient in the molcajete was cooked to perfection. All the distinct flavor profiles and textures worked so well together, from the soft scallops to the crispy chicharron.The restaurant has a classy ambiance, service was quick, and all the staff were extremely friendly. We cannot wait to come back, especially since we live in the neighborhood 😊 Thank you Cantina Los Mayas!

Review №45

2022-11-14 04:02:13

Truly amazing food. In style, kinda like a worthy successor to Cala, though more Yucatan than seafood themed. Check the prices on the menu, but well worth the money. Really bright and fruity ceviche and amazing sauces and caballero dessert deal. Kinda chilly in the front room tho.

Review №46

2022-08-28 00:46:49

Wow, this place is incredible! I dare say the best Mexican in SF right now. Such a creative menu with items you wont find at many other restaurants. Everything I ordered was so fresh and delicious and the service was impeccable. Complex sauces and salsas unlike anything Ive ever tasted. I cant wait to return and try more of the menu!

Review №47

2023-06-05 19:41:26

Great Service and amazing food. They have plenty of vegetarian options. I enjoyed my vegetarian enchiladas. Definitely going back to this place.

Review №48

2023-02-25 04:15:42

The first Mexican wine bar in the US - transporting you into new wine regions with distinctive flavors. Incredible sit down food with excellent service!

Review №49

2022-11-04 11:47:24

House made, authentic beautiful Mayan cuisine with an extensive Mexican wine list. Complex flavors are bursting along fresh ingredients. Really impressive. This is a San Francisco treasure!

Review №50

2022-07-24 00:37:21

This place is great! they gave us a complementary glass of bubbles while we ordered. we had the bichi pet mex which was so good if you like natural wine. the guacamole was amazing and huge portion. great chips and quesadillas. will definitely be coming back!

Review №51

2022-08-26 04:34:36

The food and wine were great! As a vegetarian, I recommend the squash and sweet potato. It was a busy night, and our waitress may have had too many tables.

Review №52

2023-05-31 16:48:05

Not only was the food delicious, but the service was really top-notch. Very knowledgeable about the wines, too.

Review №53

2022-08-15 13:28:23

The owners had a great attitude and made us feel very special. We ordered lamb shank that was soft and tender. The churro was fantastic.

Review №54

2023-01-16 05:20:12

Went on a first date and the service and food were outstanding. The sound level was workable with a loud adjacent table. Get the ceviche & tacos with cochinita pibil.

Review №55

2023-05-20 13:05:35

Food was delicious and their customer service is excellent! Definitely worth dining here. Prices are moderate.

Review №56

2022-07-23 16:34:25

Excellent, creative dishes and an extensive selection of Mexican wine with glasses and 1/2 glasses available. Great vibe. We’ll be back!

Review №57

2023-03-25 04:33:51

Incredible. This place is fantastic - excellent food, wines, and cocktails! 10/10 will be coming here all the time.

Review №58

2022-12-14 01:12:53

Great mexican restaurant, not your typical taqueria. They serve Yucatan food which is delicious, very good arthmosfe and excellent, excellent service. Super recommended. 👌

Review №59

2022-12-04 04:18:31

Juventinto was an amazing host! Food and wine was great. Will definitely recommend and will be coming back

Review №60

2023-03-02 08:28:52

You’ll find great varietals and impossibly tender lamb shank among other delicious things. The hospitality we encountered was above and beyond.

Review №61

2022-07-23 21:51:14

Real Mexican food, this food originally from the Yucatán peninsula.This not your classic Mexican-American foodExperience de original food that Mayas just to eat !

Review №62

2022-10-21 03:38:25

An excellent culinary experience. Juven and Juan gave us an evening never to be forgotten and hopefully to be repeated.Thank you!Rich and Nikki

Review №63

2022-09-05 05:45:37

Best Mexican food I ever had in San Francisco! Amazing food, this is for sure authentic Mexican food and the service is outstanding.

Review №64

2022-07-16 03:27:48

Happy and thoughtful staff. Unique menu busting with flavor. The wine list is unique with something for everyone.

Review №65

2023-04-03 01:39:26

Amazing ambiance and food was delicious. I think you could order pretty much anything and be happy!

Review №66

2022-07-17 04:04:56

Delicious food, excellent selection of Mexican wines, friendly service. Can’t wait to come back and try more!

Review №67

2023-09-16 05:02:06

Amazing authentic Mexican food and wines.

Review №68

2023-03-11 14:38:57

Amazing Food and Wine. A bit outside fowntown but worth taking the time to enjoy this wonderful find

Review №69

2022-08-21 04:04:59

We had a terrific time at this new neighborhood gem. The food was very good and the service welcoming.

Review №70

2022-08-15 22:21:31

Great new mexican spot! Very delicious food and great service. Highly recommend checking out.

Review №71

2023-03-25 04:31:57

The food delicious, service incredible, vibes immaculate. I’ll be back very soon.

Review №72

2022-09-11 18:40:25

Great food. Excellent staff. Interesting wines.

Review №73

2022-07-31 03:25:42

Loved the ambience, the food is great, you have to come.

Review №74

2022-10-24 00:45:30

Wonderful restaurant, great service, and authentic food.

Review №75

2023-04-01 00:31:12

Best mexican food Ive ever had

Review №76

2023-04-08 03:00:20

Wonderful service and amazing food!

Review №77

2023-02-04 02:04:48

Love this place, its my new local spot.

Review №78

2023-03-25 04:43:30

Superb

Review №79

2023-04-09 02:38:13

A great choice

Review №80

2022-07-31 05:40:04

Amazing Food

Review №81

2023-12-12 19:58:11

Went for the first time and will absolutely be back! We asked for a wine tasting (2 people) and we shared a flight of whites and a flight of reds - they even chose the wines to suite our preferences. We also got the sopes for a snacks and they were incredible. Highly recommend!

Review №82

2023-03-07 07:31:26

The place is very good and the cuisine is very authentic