Mami Monchita's (Frankfort, KY)

Mami Monchita's offers Honduran cuisine in the heart of Kentucky! Stop by for delicious tortillas, pupusas, plantains, and more.

By: Alisha Trenalone

Where can you go for Central American cuisine in the state of Kentucky?

Maybe it's not a question that's come up a lot. As the years have gone by, it feels like practically every little town in the state has gotten a Mexican restaurant. Tex-Mex places abound too, like Condado and The Local Taco in Lexington.

But beyond that? Few, if any, options for other Latin American food.

And yet it's not all the same! That's why we were so intrigued when we heard that since 2017, Frankfort has had its very own place dedicated entirely to dishes from Honduras: Mami Monchita's.

It's a family-owned restaurant with close ties to Honduras, and a portion of the profits go toward a children's charity back in the hometown of the owners.

We tried this place for lunch one day, and it was excellent. Here are a few thoughts on what you can order and what to expect!

Finding Mami Monchita's

The restaurant is a bit off the main thoroughfare in Frankfort. You drive through a neighborhood to get to it, but once you arrive there's plenty of parking.

Mami Monchita's is open for lunch hours and dinner hours, with a gap in between.

When the weather is good, there's outdoor seating.

The day we visited was chilly, so we ate inside, where the atmosphere was cozy and bright. Service was really fast too!

The Menu

If you go at lunchtime, there are lots of affordable specials. They come with sides like plantains or fried yucca.

Want to see their Sunday breakfast menu or full dinner menu? Check their website, where you can also order online.

After hearing friends with Honduran connections talk about the food, I knew one of the things I wanted to try was a pupusa. It's sort of like a pancake made from corn, and it can have other fillings too.

The one I picked was made with chorizo (pork) and cheese. It was very filling and pretty tasty, although I have to say my favorite things on the plate were the plantains and the dipping sauces!

With yucca and some cabbage and pickled onions on the side, it was a fun and flavorful little plate.

The others in the group ordered enchiladas, which were served open-face, and tacos, which were served rolled.

And then we sliced off samples from each other's choices.

It was fun noting the little differences between these dishes and what we would normally expect from an enchilada or a taco at a Mexican restaurant. The cheese, the sauces, the tortillas – all tasted unique, fresh, and so savory.

Our top pick of all three options? The tacos de pollo! The marinade on the chicken was wonderful, and I would order these again in a heartbeat.

We didn't get dessert this time around, but on another visit I would be very tempted to try the tres leches cake or empanadas made with plantain dough.

I also wish I had tried a cup of coffee, which, as the menu says, comes "straight from our sister’s farm in the mountains of El Paraíso."

Mami Monchita's seems like a hidden gem that's loved by the locals in Frankfort, but it's definitely worth a trip off the interstate if you're not from there! The next time we find ourselves in that pocket of the state, we'll be making our way to more of this wonderful Honduran cuisine.