Maya Mexican Restaurant has many loyal local regulars and has been a favorite for Mexican food in Scotts Valley since owner Ricardo Magana purchased it back in 2003.
Family owned and operated, they are open seven days a week for lunch and dinner from 11am-9pm, and are currently offering outdoor dining and takeout. GT recently caught up with Magana, who talked about the food that makes Maya stand out and his thoughts on the pandemic.
What sets your food apart, and where do the recipes come from?
RICARDO MAGANA: We serve quality and consistent food. All of our ingredients are fresh. We try to use the freshest produce and meats we can find, and most of our food is freshly made to order. Our recipes come from Mexico, from the state of Aguascalientes. They are original family recipes that are very authentic and have been passed down throughout multiple family generations.
What are a couple of your house specialty dishes?
Our fajitas: They come with chicken, beef, shrimp, or a combination, and have onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes that are sautéed and served on sizzling plates. They are unique because everything is completely fresh and made to order, and we add secret family recipe ingredients that make them very flavorful. They come with rice, beans, and choice of tortilla. And our Chile Colorado is just the best. It has tender chunks of pork, with a house-made Colorado red sauce that’s simmered for hours to integrate all the spices and flavors. It also comes with rice, beans, and choice of tortilla. We have traditional refried beans as well as ranchero beans, which are whole beans cooked with tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and olive oil.
How has the restaurant been doing amid the pandemic?
We’ve been getting by during this past difficult year thanks to the support of the local Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley communities. We are very appreciative of all their support—we wouldn’t have been able to make it without them. We really look forward to continuing serving these local communities, and with on-site dining returning, also look forward to serving more of our best-in-town margaritas. We have over 100 different kinds of tequila and always use fresh ingredients. Our sweet and sour mix is locally and freshly made, and we always make a strong drink.
3115 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley. 831-438-7004, mayasv.com.
