San Miguel Taste: Sayil, Where Yucatán Heats Up San Miguel

By Amy G. Rothlin

Mexican gastronomy has a thousand traditional recipes recognized by UNESCO; it isn’t just food, it’s culture, history, and art. Among the most distinctive and beloved traditions is the Yucatecan cuisine, with its smoky aromas and deep Maya roots.

Like in the Yucatán peninsula, the heat in San Miguel has been especially persistent lately,  the kind of heat that makes you crave something with spice, soul, and depth. That craving recently led me to Sayil, a new restaurant located on Umarán where the former Momma restaurant used to be, a few steps from the Jardín.

Opened just two months ago, Sayil offers a heartfelt tribute to the culinary traditions of Peto, Yucatán, the hometown of one of the owners. They feature a rich and diverse menu with lovingly preserved recipes, creating dishes that resonate with the comforting feeling of the peninsula. The soul of Sayil’s kitchen lies in its smoky, earthy flavors, achieved through traditional underground cooking methods and wood-fired techniques.

Firewood is not just part of the process, it’s a key ingredient. The man behind the magic is Antonio from Chiapas, their expert maestro enterrador, who slow-cooks their Cochinita Pibil for 13 hours underground. It's a must-try, served in tacos or tortas with a perfectly paired side of broth and the pickled onions we love so much. Other popular Yucatecan classics offered at Sayil include Queso Relleno (Edam cheese stuffed with pork, olives, capers, and raisins in a creamy chicken broth-based sauce and tomato salsa), Poc Chuc (grilled pork marinated in sour orange), and Tamal Colado filled with pibil-style chicken.

To try a bit of everything, we ordered the antojitos platter, featuring salbutes, panuchos, empanadas, cochinita taco and torta, plus a Lechón taco. But the absolute standout and our recommendation this month are the Tacos Poc Chuc: tangy, tender, perfectly grilled over charcoal pork meat, with pickled onions, can’t wait to go back and try them again!

Named after the Maya word for "Place of the Leafcutter Ants," Sayil delivers an authentic Yucatecan food experience. Open from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., (closed Tuesdays), with plans for live music on weekends.

It’s a delicious escape you have to try.

If you wish to invite the San Miguel Taste Insiders Team to visit your place, please contact Amy: amy.grothlin@gmail.com and follow on Instagram @sanmigueltaste