MAÍZ Mexican Cantina

Atmosphere in this local Mexican joint is everything you should love about Ypsilanti. The people and staff were a blast to chat with. Scenery is vibrant and the chips/salsa were appetizing. The bathrooms were clean, and no heavy doors to fumble with. Very accessible for someone handicapped. The happy hour special is a huge bonus! Our food was cheap and delicious. Staff was amazing. Also be careful WARNING if you're allergic to bees the patio is full of flowers. I'm a huge nerd and love the pollinators but I'm also allergic so I'd sit inside if you don't wanna risk it.

Visited with a friend’s family and had a great time. The place has a cool, funky ambiance that makes it instantly inviting. The complimentary tri-colored chips were fresh and addictive, and the sweet potato appetizer quickly became my favorite. The staff was warm, attentive, and made the experience even better. Definitely a spot I’d recommend for good vibes and tasty bites. Street parking Free parking near frog park and close by

I tried the à la carte enchilada and taco at Mia’z Mexican. The food was good, but I’ve had better. The flavors were nice, just not outstanding. Overall, a decent meal and friendly service.

This was the worst service that I've experienced at this place since it moved from Washtenaw Ave to Depot Town . We decided to sit at the bar which was huge mistake b/c of bartender(Emily). She never offer us menus(food/drinks) or chips/salsa. We were sitting down for 10 minutes before she even ask what we were drinking. I mentioned to her that we will be ordering some food still didn't offer a menu. She was more into cleaning up at 10 pm instead of focusing on her customer. It took her another 15-20 minutes before she came back to see if we wanted another drink or water. By this time I was over the bad service & just wanted to leave. It's sad b/c usually the staff & service is great. If this was my first time patronize this place & I had to rate it. It be my 1st & last b/c of terrible service that I experienced tonight.

We walked in and it was really busy for 4pm on a Saturday. Later I realized it was in the midst of happy hour... happy hour on a Saturday is rare imo (that's good!). There were people waiting for tables, but we found two seats at the bar. The service was great, food was real quick for as busy as it was. Chips were fresh, salsa was addicting. Loved the variety on the menu; fried avocado tacos were so good The only thing that really, really sucked was the parking situation.

What a find. We are slowly expanding our concentric circles exploring the surrounding area. This place is great, food was fresh and fast. Burritos are huge. We have two picky eater type kids and both finished their plates. We went during happy hour and the margaritas were half price. Service was great, atmosphere OK but would return for sure.

We landed back at DTW and our shuttle driver recommended this spot so once we got to our car, we headed straight there. It was not a disappointment! We sat at the bar and got amazing service. Margaritas were a bit too sweet but the food was on point. It came out quickly and was tasty. The chips were thin and properly salted. We judge our Mexican restaurants by their chips and this spot passes the test!

I love that this place has an outdoor seating area. I chose to sit at the bar with this order. It was a custom burrito and three different styles of salsa with a cold glass of coke

I've been going here a couple times a month since last summer and I just love it here. My favorite days to go are the taco Tuesdays. The happy hours are everyday 2-5 and 9-12 for appetizers and grande margaritas and tacos on Tuesdays are about $2.50 each with complimentary chips of course. Food comes out so quick and hot, the service is quite good. We do have problems here and there but since we come in the busiest days it is almost expected with how many people they deal with. If you were to come to Ypsi, Maiz is the perfect choice for a late night dinner with drinks!

I ordered Spicy Pan-Seared Tilapia. This was just amazing! It's been a while since I've had good fish in the US. The fish was seared perfectly with the skin nicely fried and crispy, and the middle so soft that it would just break apart. The mango salsa and the cilantro aioli complemented the fish so well. The rice, the beans and everything else were seasoned to perfection. Even though the fish was not spicy, I thoroughly enjoyed eating this dish. I felt like I was sitting by the beach devouring this amazing dish. The service was really great too!

Let me first start by saying how GREAT our server Justin was!!! He was personable, friendly, and engaging. He also helped answer a few questions we had about some of the menu items. The margaritas were delicious and the chips and salsa were on point. Nice colorful chips. The tacos, beans, all of the things were rather tasty. I'd definitely visit this place again. Also they have great happy hour options in case you just want to meet for a drink.

Excellent service, food, drinks and vibe. Impromptu trip to depot town for Maiz in a Friday night. Love the Yelp check in to get in line for a table is so helpful. Idk that we'd even try it without this feature. The place is popular and will have a long wait for weekend dinner time. The street corn is addictive. The margs are top notch and watch out for their spicy strawberry mango with spicy rim. It's not for someone that cannot handle spicy. Great date night!

Adorning the walls are vibrant murals, creating a visually appealing atmosphere. With an emphasis on fresh ingredients and a pleasant ambiance, this spot distinguishes itself as a notable choice for Mexican cuisine in town. Its consistent busyness attests to its popularity. On a Sunday evening, my friends and I gathered to unwind and enjoy each other's company. Our decision to dine there was influenced by my previous experience, even though some items, including cocktails, were unavailable that day. The chips and salsa served as starters were delightful, with just the right level of spices--a perfect beginning to our meal. The cocktails were good. The fajita, while satisfactory, lacked the sizzling heat they typically serve. Opting for Pollo Milanese, it didn't quite match up to my previous experience. Our server was attentive, consistently checking if we needed anything. The food was decent, and the taste was good. The restaurant's outdoor tables, accompanied by a charming light setup, would be a delightful experience in the summer. However, during our visit, the area was completely covered in snow. Overall, it was a positive experience, complemented by convenient parking at the rear.

Reviewing mainly based on service. On this visit, we seated right away, but it took quite some time for our waiter to come to our table. He was pretty quick bringing our water and chips and salsa. But his follow up wasn't great and we asked for more salsa and he never brought it to us. The restaurant wasn't busy either but he could have had a few tables. We decided we weren't that hungry so we shared nachos with pork. They were good, nothing spectacular, but plenty for two. We were seated near window which is nice so I could watch what's going on outside. Of course, we will visit here again. It's just not our number one choice.

So I've been hearing great things about this restaurant from coworkers, and I had the opportunity to indulge in all the goodness Friday night! It's definitely a place to go with family, friends, coworkers, or anything else in between. They don't take reservations, but you can join their waiting list online before you arrive. There's free parking in a lot across the street from the restaurant unless you luck up and find street parking. We joined the waiting list and got the text once our table was ready. And of course we ordered margaritas, that's a must!. Be aware: the only margaritas that can be frozen are the HOUSE, CORONarita, and PRICKLY PEAR. All other margaritas are on the rocks. The margaritas are yummy, and you'll taste the added liquor. And they go perfect with the chips and salsa. We ordered tacos and a burrito. It was all just so good ! No complaints, just a great time with great tasting food. I see why this is the place to be. I can feel myself being a regular here.

Pretty good Mexican food. Love the chips and salsa, taste super fresh. Gets pretty busy so be prepared for a wait most nights.

Best happy hour deals in town, rivaling Sidetrack a short walk down the street. Half off appetizers and grande margaritas. Great place to go with friends or solo for good eats and drinks. Also, $2 tacos on Tuesdays! Needless to say they can get busy Solid vegetarian options. The avocado appetizer with Muenster cheese is a personal favorite of many folks, me included. Docking a star since they hype up their loyalty/points system, but in my experience they don't (or forget??) to give loyalty points for dine in orders ... you write your phone number on the receipt and I think staff just ignores it :(

MAIZ is my favorite place to go to for taco Tuesday! They have the most amazing avocado tacos that are a must try, but everything on their menu is good. Margaritas are strong, prickly pear is the best! Restaurant itself is cute, but not very big. Tuesday's are definitely busy, and there's usually a wait- but its worth it and you can go to the bar area to get a drink in the mean time.

Food ok service good, would I go back ? Maybe if Taco Bell was closed! For the price i expect more the hostess rude and doing us favor by taking our reservation!

Great menu service and location! Highly recommended for good American Mexican. Can't wait to come back! **Great Iced tea!

Our party of five enjoyed another fine meal at Maiz this past Monday. All the entrees were perfectly prepared and our server (wish I had recalled his name) was excellent. It's clear that the staff at Maiz enjoy their jobs and it shows in their positive attitude and treatment of their customers. Food portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable. On this particular visit (at 5 PM on a Monday) the place wasn't too busy so the noise level was quite acceptable. We've been here during busier ties and the place can be quite lively so keep that in mind if you prefer a low-volume dining experience.

Unique food options! We got a baked avocado appetizer that was unforgettable. The food didn't stand out too much but I do remember the unique appetizer. I would go back! It's more of a bar type place and pretty loud and rowdy inside but we brought our sleeping baby inside and she stayed asleep lol

Came here in a Wednesday evening. At 7 pm it was not very crowded. Ordered one of their margaritas. It was good. We split a quesadilla. It was pretty good! The filling was moist and flavorful.

Vegetarian options are on point. The chips are made fresh, and the salsa is tasty, not sweet like other places. I like the avocado tacos with black beans and rice. Veg heads! Refried beans are NOT veg friendly, but the black beans are. If you are vegan, ask for no cheese on the beans. They have a combo option so you can try three different tacos.

Oh wow, I sure am glad I tried the avocado tacos! Unreal combination of intense flavors. Three big tacos too, not little street tacos. This place does them right. Fun atmosphere right in town, excellent chips and salsa, and the wife's sugar rimmed Prickly Pear Margarita really brought it all together. Fabulous dinner!

Maiz has THE BEST CHIPS of any restaurant. The food is so tasty! We have been here 4 times and I often get the chicken fajitas and have enough for 3 meals.

Great food, great service and ambience! Love it We come as often as we can and everytime is amazing

The food and services are great. The restaurant has a nice ambiance. The staff is friendly and very attentive. The food is fresh and hot when it comes to the table. Drinks are good as well. The servers offer suggestions and all have been great.

Maiz Cantina food is prepared with locally sourced food and really good service. The salsa is really refreshing and pairs well with the chicken tacos! Great guacamole.

OMG, the best tex-mix joint in town. Best Happy hour margaritas & appetisers specials. Kids meals & outdoor seating on sunny days.

I hope it's not going down hill! I brought my friends that have never been there before and it was bad service. The waiter took everyone's order but mine and walked away I had to ask to order food. When the food came out my friends order was never put in! So by the time she got her food we were almost done eating! Me and her split a pitcher of margaritas and we didn't even have a buzz I'm pretty sure they forgot to put the tequila in it and spilt some of it on my fiancée. It was very disappointing!

Maiz is one of my favorite restaurants in Depot Town and one of the best Mexican restaurants in the Ann Arbor/Ypsi area. Hit up Sidetracks for burgers and Maiz for mexican. Pro tip: if you are coming for dinner, I highly recommend using the Yelp waitlist feature to snag a spot in line, otherwise you might find yourself waiting 1hr+. Service 4/5: I've come here probably a dozen times, and every time, the hostesses and waitstaff are working hard. Nothing over the top, but not bad either. They use tablets to take your order and send it to the kitchen, which is really efficient. Atmosphere 4/5: Depot town is a cute area in general and Maiz fits in perfectly. The interior is Americanized Mexican decor, casual enough for a friends night out and formal enough to meet up with work colleagues for lunch. During the summer, they have outdoor seating which is really nice. Cleanliness 3/4: The tables are clean but the bathrooms have always been so/so. Not a dealbreaker but just noting. Food 5/5: the food is the star of the show. First, the complimentary chips and salsa are thebombdotcom. The chips are thin and crispy. The salsa is a great blend of flavors. Not too spicy. I usually go for taco Tuesday where they offer 2 tiers of tacos. Some are $2.25 and others are $2.75 (as of Dec 2022). 3-4 tacos is plenty for me which is a great value. I like the fish, carne asada, and pork tacos but you really can't go wrong with any of the 10 options. Plenty to choose from even if you are vegetarian. I've come on days other than Tuesday and the food off the main menu is really good, too. You might spend a few bucks more, but honestly, it's a great value, too. They have some authentic Mexican dishes along with the Americanized staples. Value 4.5/5: it seems like there is always a deal, happy hour, taco Tuesday, etc. All of them seem pretty fair. They are counting on you getting a margarita to make up for the cheap tacos. Their margs are really good, so twist my arm. If I could give them a 4.5, I think I would. They are up there with some of the best tacos I've had in the area outside of Mexican town in Detroit. Give Maiz a try! I hear that they offer reasonable catering, too.

Pro: One of my fav places in metro Detroit for tacos. The house made salsas are very tasty. Cons: Frequently, when ordering non-gringo tacos with corn tortillas they often fall apart. I wish they came with two corn tortillas. The street corn does not feel like a premium side worthy of an upcharge. It is half and ear of corn. Would appreciate a full ear of corn. The margaritas despite being a long list do not suit my tastes. Find them too sweet in general.

Food is always good! Very busy place though. I never go on taco Tuesdays. I love when they do trivia nights! They usually post when they will have those on their website :-)

What a fantastic Mexican restaurant! Good food, good portions and timely service!! Plus the margaritas are well priced and good! The place is very casual and I would suggest making reservations.

This unique Mexican restaurant is a must when wanting quality food and good service. Both times I've been to this location the service was quick and the food was delicious. The street corn is a must try for 1st timers. The ambience makes you feel like you have a personal area to eat your food along with seeing Mexican artifacts posted around the restaurant. Overall this is a great place when looking for food in depot town. The bill ran about $40 after a tip, 3 starters, and margs during happy hour

The service was quick she said 20-30 minute wait but it felt way shorter than that. The place was pretty big, indoor and outdoor seating available, sitting at the bar is an option as well. I was somewhat disappointed in my food because the tacos weren't what I expected and the corn shells were TRASH. They fell/were falling apart before I even could enjoy the taco, and it looked half cooked/half not. It wasn't the corn shell that I'm usually use to seeing. I ordered the Chicken, Fish and I think a pork taco. The fish taco was okay, the chicken taco fell apart before I could even eat it and I had to take everything out the corn shell and put it in the flour shell to even enjoy the last taco. But my friends steak fajita burrito was really good. We also ordered a pitcher of blood orange hibiscus margarita and it was very sweet and very good

Me and my son just went here a few hrs ago! It was my first time but he's been here b4!! First and foremost, we got to sit outside since it was nice outside and they even said it was ok to have my son's dog ( a plus) even gave her water since it was hot outside!!! We ordered our drinks which was the Melon Margarita and the Prickly Pear both with spicy rim, both were really good and tasty! The chips n salsa was good as well with different colored chips!! Then we ordered burritos, I have the vegetable burrito ( which had spinach, rice, onion, zucchini, ) it was HUGE and beyond filling and really good. My son ordered the Spicy Steak Burrito which he truly enjoyed!! Didn't get the chance to check out the inside but outside was great, friendly people, great waiter and the food came out quickly n hot!! Will definitely be back especially during happy hour which we missed by like 20 min! I believe it's from 2-5pm!! Great place

The food is so yummy. The ambience is very energetic. The staff is very helpful and attentive. Clean and inviting restaurant. Definitely would recommend to everyone.

Right in the heart of downtown Depot Town, MAIZ is my go to when I am in the mood for tacos. This neighborhood is a really cool spot. Cultivate closed which breaks my heart, but there have been some new additions like Thompson & Co and the whiskey bar next door. Back to tacos. Unfortunately, there are not too many authentic Mexican spots that offer veggie tacos. In walks MAIZ. It's modern Tex Mex and pretty solid. MAIZ offers a fried cauliflower taco that is pretty good and usually my go to. This time, I tried the fish taco which is really good as well (pictured here). Lightly battered cod, with mango sals, spicy slaw, Chipotle cream. Visit the website for more reviews! www.thebite2night.com

First of all the service and margaritas were great! However the food isn't so good. The makes nacho that I ordered was REALLY dry. They baked them and the chips were scorched on it and the cheese isn't the traditional queso but Muenster so it all pulls off, not the cheese pull type of pull off. The baked avocados were amazing though!

Great food, kids menu, good service. We've liked takeout from here and finally getting to eat in was even better.

A true Ypsilanti gem! This place isn't much to look at, but the food is wonderful. They have great outdoor seating in the warmer months as well. Tacos here are great. Burritos are great too. But my two favorite things on the menu are from the appetizers section--the queso fundido and the baked avocados; always accompanied by their chips and salsa. These are all incredible and I have a really difficult time not ordering them everytime I go! Bring friends and family because you'll definitely need help eating all of the fundido--it's huge! Lively, casual atmosphere with great service. An excellent place to meet with people after work too to unwind.

I sat at the bar with a friend. Staff was semi attentive. No silverware, never given complimentary Chips. Overall taco salad was ok. Not much sour cream. Not much salsa on the salad. I asked for sour cream and it was runny. Not great service today.

Absolutely delicious food! Lots to choose from. Definitely recommend going there if you're in town.

Came here because we love love love their homemade tortilla chips- they are nice and thin, crispy and you end up eating a ton of it, especially when drinking one of their margaritas! We also ordered the baked avocados and that was delicious. Then we decide to have their tacos... like the combo one where you get to pick three tacos. The fish is always good. Then the pork and next the beef. We had the Fiesta Chipotle Salmon salad and that was yummy!!! It tasted great the next day too (too much chips so couldn't finish the salad - LOL!) The truth is that you really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. We pretty much enjoyed all their food each time we come. We're very picky and we feel that this is one of the better finds at a reasonable price so we like it. We've been coming for about 3 years. Like to stop by when in town.

This have been a long favorite place of mine ever since it opened. I've always had great service and great food. I love the variety of tacos and used to frequent on taco Tuesday's when I lived in the area. There's a great variety of really good vegetarian tacos as well for non-meat eaters!

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants. Great margaritas and great food. Love the fajitas and enchiladas.

Went here recently with a group of my sorority sisters. Maiz has always been a great place to grab a margarita during happy hour and the food has always been amazing. I tried the elote or the "Mexican street corn" and it was so good and flavorful I gotta get some every time I go. This place is always busy but service is typically timely. This was always be a good option for late night Mexican fare and drinks.

My family's favorite place to eat. I always get the fajitas. Staff are amazing. Chips and salsa are always a crowd favorite

Maiz's food is fairly standard compared to other Mexican restaurants, however, their chips and salsa are next level- elite if you will. They also have pretty good drink specials! If I were to make a recommendation, I would say to go for an appetizer and drinks while getting the complimentary chips and salsa.

This was an amazing meal!! 5 star experience - the server, Austin, was great and very engaging with our table. They were also accommodating for allergies such as gluten free. We got fajitas, enchiladas and more! The restaurant has free chips and salsa when you get there too. The place was packed on a normal Wednesday which led to a good ambiance. Also, it was reasonably priced!

Very yummy! I had the Tacos de Papas, and the roasted veg hash was great. (Note: There was a small extra charge of $1 for getting a mix of tortilla shells.) The only thing I didn't love were the refried beans (on the side). They were a touch dry for my taste. Next time I'll try adding a bit of salsa to them. Will definitely be back!

Great food, service and reasonably priced. Please do not a change a thing. We've eaten here before they moved to Depot Town.

Favorite place to eat! Great service, indoor & outdoor seating. I've never had a bad experienced here! Everyone is kind & service is fast!

This place has some of the best Mexican food! Everything is so fresh and made from scratch. You can see and taste the high-quality! They start out by giving you homemade very thin tortilla chips with salsa. These are so delicious and addicting, you keep wanting more. Our party of three all had chili rellenos, we were very impressed. They were quite sizable, the batter was crispy and the filling all-around good. You can order things à la carte if you don't want the full meal, so we also got to taco salad Cortana enchilada à la cart, oh delicious and meaty. The service was excellent, our server was very friendly. I would definitely come back! The food was so delicious that after the tortilla chip appetizers, I forgot to take pictures LOL.

Had heard great things about this restaurant and yet I found this to be mediocre at best. Servers were reluctant to bring to menu since they wanted you to use the QR code even though cell service was not the best. Wi-Fi was a pain that required us to ask for password and server seemed troubled to provide which took a fews times due not knowing the capitalization of "tacos4life". Chimichanga was okay but corn deep was a big disappointment and apparently seemed to watered down. Prices were fair and service was quick.

Maiz has great food at reasonable prices. They give you a reasonable portion - I took home 1/2 a burrito, my husband ate all his dinner. Speciality drinks are a little on the higher side - not completely out of reach, about $16 each. Our server was very polite and I felt she was there when we needed her and gave us time to look over the menus without rushing us to order. Parking can be a bit tricky - there is some street parking, a couple smaller lots behind the restaurant, and another couple lots behind the buildings on the north side of Cross (near Frog Park and the old train depot). Go, take your time, and enjoy a night or lunch out. I think you'll enjoy Maiz, too.