Introduction to Mayahuel
Mayahuel, a new restaurant in Autry Park, has launched with a menu rooted in tradition and masa, along with an agave bar and an engaging coffee experience. The restaurant is the brainchild of Netflix star and Mexico City chef Luis Robledo Richards, who previously closed his taqueria Comalito in Houston’s Farmers Market on Airline Drive.
The Concept and Vision
Richards originally dreamed of opening an agave bar, despite not being a drinker himself. He wanted to create a project that was rooted in tradition but also modern and contemporary. The vision eventually evolved into a full-service Mexican restaurant that would serve a wide range of plant-based dishes. Richards partnered with Omar Khan of Culinary Khancepts, a Houston-based hospitality group, to bring his dream to life.
Menu Highlights
The menu at Mayahuel offers a range of dishes, including a refreshing aguachile made with cucumber, fennel, mint, pickled onions, and Atlantic salmon simmered in citrusy broth. Other highlights include Mayahuel’s take on guacamole, a rich, hearty dip made with avocado and Sikil P’aak, a traditional Yucatan peninsula paste made from pepitas, tomatoes, and chiles. The Tacos y Masa menu keeps it simple yet flavorful, with dishes like mushroom pastor tacos, duck tamales, and pork belly tacos with mole verde.
Emphasis on Mexican Heirloom Corn and Flavors
Richards emphasizes the use of Mexican heirloom corn and flavors from his home region in the menu. The restaurant makes its own brioche buns and English muffins with local ingredients. Entrées offer bold Texas-size portions, from sea bass served with boulangère potatoes and salsa Veracruzana to filet mignon with mole negro, hazelnut puree, and date gastrique.
Plant-Based Options
While Richards knew that his original vision of a plant-based menu wouldn’t win the hearts of meat-loving Texans, he still offers a range of dynamic plant-based dishes. These include fideo seco, which combines vermicelli pasta, seasonal mushrooms, vegetarian chicharrón, queso fresco, and avocado, along with the arroz verde cremoso, a rice dish made with market greens, organic egg, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Agave Spirits and Coffee Program
The restaurant boasts an extensive selection of additive-free agaves, including G4 Tequila, Weber Ranch Agave Vodka, and Derrumbes mezcal. The drinks menu also features original cocktails divided into two sections: the Moon menu and the Sun section. Mayahuel’s coffee program offers espressos, cappuccinos, and Americanos, with beans sourced from Chiapas, a southern state in Mexico. Diners can opt for the “pullover program,” which provides a front-row seat to the coffee grinding, filtering, and brewing process.
Open Kitchen Concept
The real star of the show is the open kitchen, which Richards says is inspired by gatherings in friends’ kitchens in the US. The kitchen is strategically placed in the heart of the dining room to make diners feel at home. The open kitchen concept creates a sense of transparency and community, allowing diners to walk up to the counter and watch the chefs at work.
Conclusion
Mayahuel is a unique and exciting addition to the Houston dining scene. With its emphasis on Mexican heirloom corn and flavors, dynamic plant-based options, and extensive selection of agave spirits, the restaurant offers something for everyone. The open kitchen concept and engaging coffee program add to the restaurant’s charm, making it a must-visit destination for foodies and coffee lovers alike. Whether you’re in the mood for traditional Mexican dishes or something new and innovative, Mayahuel is sure to deliver.
