Humaya Restaurante — Restaurant in Panajachel

I don't usually write reviews, but I felt compelled to share my experience after dining at this restaurant, especially since it was the positive reviews that led me to try it on a Sunday night. Unfortunately, I left feeling quite confused and disappointed.

We called around 6:30 PM to make a 7:30 PM reservation for four. My friend politely greeted the person who answered the phone, but the response was cold and unwelcoming. It could have been a busy time or a poor connection, so we didn't think much of it.

When we arrived, we were seated and the menu was explained to us. However, when we tried to order, we discovered that half the menu wasn't even available. This was disappointing, especially since the hostess could have informed us of this when she first explained the menu.

We were excited to try the Mayan/Guatemalan cuisine, but that excitement quickly faded. It took two hours for our appetizers to arrive, and even then, one dish was missing. We had to remind the waitress about it.

The food itself was another letdown. I ordered a chicken soup that was described on the menu as having shredded chicken, but what I received was cut-up chicken breast in a broth that tasted like instant soup. I also ordered mushrooms, which came out super greasy and my stomach instantly felt upset when I tried one. My friend ordered a chicken dish with chimichurri sauce but was served a bland, grilled chicken instead. The portions were mediocre, especially considering the price.

Maybe it was a short staff night or some behind the scenes issues needed to be resolved, but it was such a shame this happened to be our experience.

I appreciate the attempt to offer authentic cuisine, but this restaurant missed the mark. My friends and I left wishing we had gone to the BBQ spot nearby, which seemed to be more popular...

Excellent innovative Guatemalan cuisine

14.741291°, -91.158101° On Calle 14 de Febrero, this restaurant opens through a small alley into the tranquil garden of Casa Cakchiquel cultural centre, with hanging plants and a gallery of photos of old Panajachel, and offers a relaxed and elegant dining atmosphere. Formerly chef Mihoko’s Japanese sushi and tempura restaurant Hana, the restaurant now offers innovative Guatemalan dishes with a modern twist, using fresh local ingredients. The placemat menu offers starters, chef’s specials, main courses and desserts. Dishes such as the Atitlan wraps with Churrasco Chapín and the Mayan burger are particularly popular. The friendly staff explain the menu and take into account dietary preferences, including vegan and gluten-free options.

In December 2024, we ordered tacos mestizos, corn tortillas, cheese crust, guacamole, chirmol, pepitoria & sweet corn (GTQ80) as an appetiser. The tacos tasted very good. For main course, we ordered the suban ik fusion with mushroom & tofu inspired by the ceremonial Mayan Cakchiquetes, a mix of proteins cocked inside a Mayan leaf with rice, corn, salad and tortillas (GTQ100). The main course tasted excellent, with nice flavours and good textures. We really enjoyed this high-quality dish.

Humaya Restaurante is known for its innovative cuisine, welcoming service and serene ambiance, making it a must-visit dining destination in Panajachel. Highly...

The best meal we had in Guatemala was at Humaya. We stumbled upon the historic building while looking for a manicure salon. Humaya shared space with a beautiful photography museum, a radio station and a spa.

The restaurant offered a creative twist on Guatemalan cuisine. We had a hard time picking our meal from the menu because everything sounds delicious. The waiter spoke English and gave us recommendations. The highlights of our meal were the oyster mushrooms, pumpkin purée and skirt steaks. But every little thing was amazing, plaintain chips, homemade bread, beets pickle, corn tortilla in beautiful presentation. If you are vegetarian or just want to have a more balanced meal, Humaya won’t disappoint.

We were so happy to find this place, got a delicious meal and our nails done! The building was built by a Swedish countess named Aimee and my friend is also named Aimee… so it must be fate that we encountered this...