It’s time for Dine Downtown Sacramento! The 14th annual event runs from January 11th to January 21st and gives foodies the chance to try some of the best dishes by the best area restaurants.
I’ve been enjoying Dine Downtown for years now, but this year marks my first time participating in the festivities while eating as a vegan.
At first, I was a little worried there wouldn’t be a lot of offerings for vegans. I always pride myself on being able to ‘eat anywhere,’ but generally speaking, I have the whole menu to work with to cobble something together. Admittedly, I wondered how many restaurants participating in Dine Downtown would actually feature vegan items on their pre-set menus.
But when I checked out the Dine Downtown website and looked at the restaurants’ menus, I was pleased to see quite a few restaurants with vegan options.
And while many places offer at least a few choices for vegans, I was blown away by how Mayahuel went above and beyond for vegans.
First, they have two Dine Downtown menus, one of which is completely plant-based (yes, vegan). I got to experience it on Friday night and it was absolutely amazing! I mean, even my non-vegan husband was blown away by the flavors and numerous offerings!
First, we started off with the Verde Sweet Mexico. It’s a “shot” of spinach, pineapple, mango, and nectar de agave topped with a cucumber slice and a pinch of salt and spices.
The rim of the glass also comes lined with rock salt, balancing out an amazing blend of sweet and a little tart from the rest of the shot. And no worries for booze-free friends, there is no alcohol here, either. It’s just a clean, yummy drink that goes with any New Year’s resolution.
Next up was the Hongada. It’s a blue mini corn tostada with a black bean paste, olive–oil–sautéed mushrooms, cactus, chalets, and garlic.
The dish is topped with chipotle salsa and cilantro. Although this dish falls into the “starter” course category, it’s a good size serving that has a fresh and very flavorful taste.
Next up was the Spiced Vegan Lentil Soup. This soup had just the right amount of kick. Not too much (I’m not a big fan of something super spicy), but it had that flavorful kind of heat that makes this soup something special.
For the main course, we had the Pistachio Spicy Mole Sauce. Seriously amazing!
The entree included portabella mushrooms sauteed in pistachio mole sauce with fresh serrano pepper spice, vegan white rice, and served with warm corn tortillas.
And let me tell you, this pistachio mole sauce was next level. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever had, in the best of ways. It was rich and flavorful but balanced perfectly with the portabella mushrooms. I mixed the rice and sauce together, which made for even more interesting taste and texture. The dish was such a generous size I had plenty of mushrooms, mole, and rice to make mini soft tacos with the tortillas.
And did I mention that the rice even came in a pyramid shape?
That’s the thing about Mayahuel. It doesn’t just have amazing food, it’s a whole experience.
The food is delicious and beautifully presented. The service is top notch and so friendly. And the vibe of the whole restaurant just makes you want to be there – from the beautiful and colorful art that adorns the walls to the buzz that comes from a restaurant filled with people having a good time and enjoying amazing food.
And speaking of amazing food, you know no meal is complete without dessert! And here, once again, Mayahuel hooked the vegans up! Dessert was a Mexican Hot Chocolate made with almond milk and a slice of their Vegan Chocolate Cake. It was the perfect way to round out an amazing meal.
The owner of Mayahuel is Ernesto Delgado. He not only owns Mayahuel but also La Cosecha by Mayahuel in Cesar Chavez Plaza in Sacramento (on 9th Street, between I and J Streets) and Mesa Mercado in Carmichael.
I had the opportunity to speak with Ernesto when I was at Mayahuel. He clearly cares about offering amazing vegan dishes to complement his regular menu. It’s not just special for Sacramento Dine Downtown- Mayahuel has a full vegan menu throughout the year. And in case you are wondering, there are vegan offerings at all three of his restaurants, and I plan to visit them all.
So, if your vegan, plant-based, or just trying out a little less meat and dairy to start off 2019, you don’t have to skip Sacramento Dine Downtown.
And if you haven’t already, add Mayahuel to your list of best vegan restaurants in Sacramento. It has amazing food for non-vegans, while also being a vegan foodie’s dream. The ultimate combination!
