MAYA Fine Food and Tequilas — Restaurant in Ocean Isle Beach

I know they don't explicitly advertise vegetarian or vegan options, I was quite dissapointed to find they only had salad as the sole option. To make matters worse I asked the lady at the counter if they'd be willing to modify any of the existing dishes to accommodate my dietary restrictions, I was informed that this could not be done. Given their incredibly high pricing, I decided to find another place to dine.

I definitely don't expect any restaurant to cater to vegetarians and/or offer vegetarian options, however I was quite dissapointed the staff was not willing to work with me to modify an existing dish.

• Updated 7/10/23 * After initially encountering disappointment at Maya restaurant due to their lack of accommodations for vegetarians/vegans, my girlfriend and I decided to give the establishment another chance upon the owner's outreach. With the assistance of Chef David, who took the time to understand my dietary restrictions, a custom dish was created specifically for me, showcasing the staff's willingness to go above and beyond to ensure a friendly and prompt dining experience.

I opted for the vegetarian enchiladas, and they surpassed my expectations. The enchilada sauce struck the perfect balance between bitterness and spice, reminiscent of the sauce my grandmother used to make. Many restaurants often fall short when it comes to this crucial element, but the sauce on my dish was flawlessly executed. Inside the enchiladas, a medley of vegetables was skillfully cooked to perfection—nicely sautéed and retaining a satisfying firmness. Accompanied by a side of rice, the dish was truly exceptional.

My girlfriend, on the other hand, chose the carnitas burrito, which also left a favorable impression. Topped with a Verde sauce and served with rice on the side, she couldn't help but praise the delectable flavor of the sauce, going as far as cleaning her plate to savor every last bite.

The only downside to our recent visit was the price. While the food was undeniably delicious and worth the cost, it's important to note that Maya restaurant tends to have higher prices. My enchiladas amounted to $25, and my girlfriend's burrito was approximately $17. While these prices may seem steep for a meal, the quality of the dishes reflected the higher price point.

In conclusion, our return to Maya proved to be a delightful experience, with the staff's efforts to accommodate our dietary needs and the outstanding flavors of the dishes. Although the price may be on the higher side, it is justified by the culinary excellence and attention to detail that Maya brings...

Honestly I don't know how this place has as good a reviews as it does because it was one of the most overpriced, underwhelming dining experiences I've ever had. I really wish I could give 1.5 stars, because 1 feels just a little low but 2 is too high. The only good things about this meal was our server and the flavor of the pork tacos.

My mom, husband and I came into Maya based on the positive reviews we read online. We tried the queso (not very hot, which is how you normally want queso), guac (not very ripe), corn (obviously frozen corn which was then overcooked and kind of mushy on the cob), and then split an order of the pastor tacos. I will say, the pastor tacos were delicious, but $19 for 3x tacos with NO SIDES included is highway robbery. We live in a major city where $19 tacos are not unheard of, but at least they typically include a side. On top of that, there was a $3 split plate charge, which I think is also pretty ridiculous. I understand that in fancy restaurants, but when you're at a more casual place where people are often splitting/sharing food to try different things (chips, salsa, guac etc) a split plate fee is pretty pushy, again especially when sides are not included for taco entrees.

We also ordered mezcal margaritas and there was a $4 upcharge per drink for mezcal instead of tequila, which is BS in our opinion. I would almost understand it more if they didn't have many mezcal cocktails on the menu, but they had other mezcal cocktails on the menu that were the same price as tequila ones, so why are you charging $4 per drink to swap out liquor that you're using in nearly identical drinks? And if you're using one of the more expensive mezcals (as opposed to the house mezcals used in the other cocktails), then you're either dumb or greedy because anyone who knows anything about mezcal knows you don't use good/specialty stuff in cocktails (should be consumed straight), otherwise you're just upcharging because you think the customer won't notice.

Our server (and everyone else who worked there) was incredibly nice and everyone seemed to be working really hard so I wish I could give them 4-5 stars, but I think management needs to make some changes to the menu and perhaps quality control for dishes like queso/guac etc. because apart from our nice server, this was an incredibly huge waste of...

We dined at Maya tonight. I ordered a margarita on the rocks and it was very good. The chips and salsa were delicious and fresh and there were plenty of them. Our waitress was very nice but seemed stressed due to the amount of patrons dining. The restaurant seemed understaffed.

I ordered the Mahi Al Pastor.. to which I received a cooked piece of fish (that was good), five pieces of asparagus and a side of rice. My mahi was supposed to come with a pineapple habanero pico de gillo on top which was not there. I asked our waitress for the pico on the side and she brought me pickled red onions and peppers. I told her that I ordered the Mahi Al Pastor which comes with a pineapple habanero pico and she returned to the kitchen and came out with the exact same side of pico and told me this was the pico intended for my meal.

I do realize they are a very new restaurant and need to work out some kinks with their menu and staff but I really was disappointed in not receiving what I ordered.. for $33 at that.

My mom was surprised they wouldn’t let her order a Caesar salad with dressing on the side. They said it is already tossed in dressing and couldn’t make it again without dressing.

My husband was very pleased with his fish tacos.

I did not see a single manager, and the chef came out a few times running food. I would have loved to express our concerns and also give praises to what was delicious but no manager was to be found, which I think for a brand new restaurant, the manager should be on the floor stopping by every single table throughout the night.

The kitchen was also quite slow.

We will give it another chance next visit IF...