Several months ago I was driving by the Asbury Apartments and noticed a charming new restaurant fronting, of all places, MacArthur Park. With its nice sidewalk tables and catchy name Chichen Itza, my first thought was that it seemed out of place in the neighborhood.

I was reluctant to visit until a few Downtowners this weekend raved about its delicious Yucatecan food. Following the recommendation, the angelenic team and company traversed the infamous park to have dinner there last night. Yes, the Yucatan is part of Mexico, but don’t go here expecting tacos, burritos and guacamole. As the waiter carefully explained to us, the dishes are unique to the southeastern region of Mexico and have been reinvented with a gourmet twist by owner and chef Gilberto Cetina. I decided to try the Huevos Motulenos:

“Two fried eggs perched on a crispy corn tortilla spread with black bean puree, a scattering of diced ham, Cheddar cheese and peas served with a sweet pumpkin sauce and fried plantains. Pure heaven.”

And it was, especially considering the restaurant’s reasonable prices. I can’t wait to go back for more. This place is a diamond in the rough, spread the word.

Address: 2501 W. 6th Street (on the ground level of the Asbury Apartments)
Tel: 213.380.0051
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 11:30am-9pm & Fri-Sun: 11:30am-11pm
Online menu available here.