Maizal

Latin American restaurant · Ashton Heights

Maizal

Latin American restaurant · Ashton Heights

2

4238 Wilson Blvd, Virginia Square, VA 22203

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Highlights

Located in Ballston Quarter, this Latin American spot serves made-to-order arepas, empanadas, and bowls bursting with flavor, perfect for quick bites.  

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4238 Wilson Blvd, Virginia Square, VA 22203 Get directions

maizalgrill.com
@maizalstreetfood

$10–20 · Menu

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4238 Wilson Blvd, Virginia Square, VA 22203 Get directions

+1 571 396 6500
maizalgrill.com
@maizalstreetfood

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Mar 6, 2025

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@eater

"Maizal, a fledgling arepa stand, will also be part of the new dining scene at Ballston Quarter." - Tierney Plumb

Oprah-Approved True Food Kitchen Is Coming to Ballston - Eater DC
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"BALLSTON—It’s opening day for Maizal, Ballston Quarter mall’s latest food option with Latin American flair." - Eater Staff

Butter Chicken Co. Brings Its Fast-Moving Indian Combo Trays to H Street NE - Eater DC
View Postcard for maizal

Taylor Sloane

Google
Portion sizes have dramatically shrunk and they fill bowls halfway. I complained and they said my bowl was properly filled (see photo). Maizal used to be my go to place, but this new policy to skimp on portions means I won't be going back. It's a shame.

Vishal Shah

Google
This used to be my go to place for bowls but now the quality and quantity of the bowl has just gone south! I ordered a veggie bowl and all they gave me was salad and some fajita veggies! No quinoa bites, no beans, no rice!! The quantity has been very less too. I mean I get the inflation aspect but you can’t compromise with the food quality. Charge a couple dollars more if you need but I’m not eating here ever again!

Benjamin Brown

Google
A solid choice for some good tasty hot food! There's tons of choices, I was drawn in though by the array of arepa coffee, and I was not disappointed. I got the "La Inka" and "Buenos Aires," and let me tell you, both were delicious, and the aioli on the "La Inka" stuck with me all day in a good way

jhalitza pimentel

Google
This is at the food court. Ordered through their kiosk so didn’t interact with any of the workers. Was so excited for the chaufa rice, but as a Peruvian I was so disappointed with it 😭 it had a mix of green peas and carrots in it. Whoever is making it does NOT know what Chaufa is lol or what it tastes like But other than that I thought the food was good. I was starving so idk if that had anything to do with it. Also got the yuca fries 0/10 recommend. Don’t get it. Tastes like water 😭 like how could you ruin yuca.. anyways. The churros were good with the chocolate. I’d probably go again and try the quesadilla.

Claudia Gualteros

Google
THIS IS NOT CHIPOTLE.. if you are looking to taste flavors of different Latin América Countries, this is the place. 1-Arepas 100%Recommended. 2-Make your own bowl: Be aware that this is not CHIPOTLE, so do not expect the same flavors or quantities. But it tastes delicious. 3-Empanadas and Yucas 80% recommended. Do not forget that this food is not industrial, so it looks like it is made at home. 😊

Andre A

Google
This place was so good about one and a half years ago. I’ve been giving it so many chances and I only honestly go back because the food actually taste good. I get that there’s inflation but they’re extremely stingy now on how much food they give you, we’re talking half a scoop for everything so if you’re coming here hungry don’t expect to leave full because they’ll fill more than half of the bowl with rice making it seem like it’s full but if you take the rice out, it’s probably just a few pieces of food. It’s unfortunate, but I give up with this place.

Cody Simmons

Google
Pretty great Chipotle alternative with a greater variety of options. I personally prefer it as the prices are similar and you seem to get way more food for your money. The ordering system is awkward but I've never had any issues with the food.

Ryan W

Google
Food was cold, wet. The man behind the counter let the person infringe off me get what he wanted and wouldn’t serve me what I wanted using the same currency card. Told him he just got what he wanted and he said yeah, can I get what I want, he said no. Not good people. I don’t even want to say this food. Don’t go here.

Aman A.

Yelp
This place has tasty ingredients and a good variety, but the portions are the definition of skimp. It starts with the fact that they use tiny tongs, but also the worker didn't seem to have any empathy about it or even look at the portion the tongs were providing. I don't know if this is a small business where he's got some stock in the company, but that's what it seemed like. If you're a hungry boi like me, you can get double chicken for only like $14 total which isn't that bad, just don't be afraid to ask for extra cheese, corn, everything free -- because they will happily short you. I even got chips and salsa, and he filled the salsa container up half way. It was like the portion they give you at chipotle when you ask for it on the side when you're NOT paying for it. Good thing I had no problem asking for more. I'm writing this as I eat my bowl, and it's actually quite good. But the service was poor and I had to pay/force my way to decent portions, so 3 stars. Probably won't be coming back even though it's in my neighborout of principle.

Chris K.

Yelp
It wasn't busy in Ballston Quarter, which is unlike any other time I've been there. Many of the restaurants are also gone..... but back to Maizal: I got the picante bowl. The food tastes fresh and I loved the crispy jalapeños; nice touch. It was spicy, hence the name. They also have arepas, tacos, nachos, empanadas, etc. I've have the street corn before and it was good! Definitely worth a try. Seating is all around the food hall and it was pretty quiet and casual.

Becca H.

Yelp
Quick spot for lunch. Lots of options to add to your bowl lot burrito. Guac is extra and they don't give you very much. I think it's a little better than Chipotle. Though I wish they gave you a small bread of some sort how Cava gives a pita upon request. I've had their arepas before though and they're delicious and good value. Overall a fine place for a quick lunch. I got the bowl with mixed greens, rice and brisket with a bunch of toppings. Also got a soda and tipped. It was $17-$18 in total.

Simer C.

Yelp
Ambiance: (5/5) Great store front in the Ballston food court. There is so much seating all around. Price: (5/5) I got the spicy chicken tinga arepa for about $4. It was filling too. Food: (5/5) The sauce they used for the arepa was really good. I asked for pico and they added that on as well and I think it really pulled it together. Chicken was tender and they had enough of the filling for me to eat it as a meal. Service: (5/5) Food comes out fast and staff is nice. In conclusion, I will be coming back here!

Jassman B.

Yelp
I recently visited Maizal for lunch with friends, and I have to say I left extremely disappointed. I ordered a bowl for $14, expecting a decent portion for the price. However, what I received was laughable--it looked more like a kids' meal than a full lunch. My friends even joked about whether I'd accidentally ordered from a children's menu. For a restaurant at this price point, I would expect the portions to be more generous, or at least fair. While the food itself was decent, it definitely wasn't worth the cost for the tiny serving size. Unfortunately, I won't be returning unless there are some major improvements in portion sizes.

Will K.

Yelp
Food was awful. Portions tiny. Fries cold. Coke was actually Coke Zero. Never coming back

Isaiah V.

Yelp
Excellent spot. The arreppas are absolutely top tier. Affordable price too and very worth the price. $5.50 for one and it's pretty filling. It was in a food hall type of of vibe and they have other options as well. I'd def recommend coming here!

Andre A.

Yelp
This place was so good about one and a half years ago. I've been giving it so many chances and I only honestly go back because the food actually taste good. I get that there's inflation but they're extremely stingy now on how much food they give you, we're talking half a scoop for everything so if you're coming here hungry don't expect to leave full because they'll fill more than half of the bowl with rice making it seem like it's full but if you take the rice out, it's probably just a few pieces of food. It's unfortunate, but I give up with this place.

Sixtormn34 ..

Yelp
The Pollo Bowl, I think it might be better than Chipotle's meals. Yep, it is better. Service was friendly and fast. I look forward to trying another meal soon.

James H.

Yelp
Solid option for South American food in the Ballston Quarter food court. The service is quick serve so you can either create your own meal step-by-step or pre order one of their many options from the kiosks. I ordered a chicken burrito and it was filled with flavors and wrapped to perfection (no spills). I've also gotten bowls in the past which are consistent with the amount and price of other nearby quick serve options (Chipotle, CAVA, etc.) Give this place a try!

Michael C.

Yelp
Decent place for the mall area to try if you have to be at the mall to take care of errands. The place seems to be a mix of Chipotle and Qdoba, but doesn't quite live up to either in terms of food quality or protein quantity. The bowl I had was one of the menu pre-made ones and definitely tasted good. I wish it had more steak though. Some of the ingredients were also unique and tasted very fresh. Overall ok place given the prices of this area. Just wanted more protein.

Chelle K.

Yelp
The food here is fine but nothing noteworthy, particularly compared to other options in the food hall. Arepas are crumbly and lacking in terms of fillings and flavor - don't expect a ton of protein or cheese on your arepa, as toppings are pretty scarce. Yucca fries are also decent but a bit on the stringy side and not super crispy. Maybe opt for Hot Lola's or Bollywood Bistro if you're looking for a tastier bite in the food hall, or Oh K Dog for something new and different (with Korean fare like battered hot dogs and egg toasts.)

Aarti B.

Yelp
Go with the bowl, the arepa is really messy! Maizal is among the few places in the DMV area that has arepas, so I was so excited to try it. Agree with fellow Yelpers, the toppings are tasty, but the icy service really left me with a sour taste. The bowl is the way to go and can properly secure all the toppings without the mess! There's a galore of toppings to choose from and quite impressive healthy options - greens, rice, quinoa, lentils, sweet potato, corn, quinoa balls, guac, pico de gallo, cucumber, mozzarella cheese, grilled veggies, meats, etc. The plantains are hands-down my favorite topping closely followed by sweet potato and that finger lickin' garlic aioli sauce! Some of the toppings change up, the quinoa balls were really salty and didn't see the lentils the last time. The small piece of bread was brittle and stale. The corn flour arepa is like a delicate mini pita pocket overloaded with toppings and sadly fell apart. The heaping portions and quantity of toppings is too much for the little brittle arepa to handle. As soon as I unwrapped the arepa, it was over stuffed and toppings were spilling out. It created a doozy mess as the toppings were eagerly trying to escape the arepa and the foil became a landing pad for them. Note the guac $1.50 upcharge - the staff will skip the friendly reminder when you're ordering. Loaded with toppings, the bowl is so flavorful especially topped with garlic aioli sauce that you won't miss the guac. I LOVE guac and rather than elevating the flavor, it took away from the toppings. The fried mushroom and spinach empanada was okay. While the empanada was crispy with fresh veggies, it wasn't particularly memorable. Note the hours posted on Google and on its website are incorrect as Maizal closes at 7pm on Sun-Thurs and promptly at 8pm on Fri & Sat. While Maizal has lots of potential and great DIY concept, it really falls short on service. One time I got here at 7:58pm a couple of min before closing on Fri night, the guy started preemptively cleaning up and shooed me away with a devilish sly grin. I've ordered here twice and shooed away twice - now I'm ready to throw in the towel.

Cassandra S.

Yelp
I came on an unassuming Wednesday night just looking for a quick bite at the Ballston food court. Happened upon Maizal and ordered the Chef's burrito and was pleasantly surprised with the best burrito I've ever had. It is MASSIVE so be prepared to have some for later! Looking forward to trying some other menu items in the future.

Maria-Elena T.

Yelp
We were encouraged to order on the pad. However, there was no way to order the cheese quesadilla . My niece wanted only cheese. You could order the vegetable and add things but not subtract. The guy was on his phone and not helpful. We left to get my food at another vender. Afterward we returned. Now there were several people and we had to wait. I ordered from the guy verbally for my niece. It came in a box. I tasted it and thought it was delicious. She also liked it. It wasn't greasy or soggy. The tortilla part was firm and the cheese was perfectly melted. It came with salsa and sour cream on the side.

M S.

Yelp
I would have put a five star but I always order the el Cameron tacos. It's full of flavor and also has a hint of sweetness! I have ordered 3 of them today. I don't know if it was the same cook but all my 3 tacos were tasting blend not as tasty as usual. I am disappointed because I was looking forward to enjoy my tacos after a long day of work.

Lea G.

Yelp
What a wonderful place! Maizal gets flavor super right. I loved the braised chicken (warning: it's a bit spicy) on my curated bowl. Other favorite toppings include plantains (must get), street corn, and pickled onions. The prices are also decent compared to similar build-your-own bowl style places. Can't wait to go back!

Rebecca A.

Yelp
I've never had arepas before and also wanted to try the empanadas. We ordered a bunch of things to try and here is my take: the crazy nachos are amazing! They're best fresh but even if you eat them later (the portion is very generous and you'll have leftovers) it's still delicious, though the textures will suffer. The tacos were full of flavor and tender meat. The thinly sliced radishes lended a nice crunch to each bite. The bowl is full of whatever goodness you'd like to add, the chimmichuri is almost drinkable, it's so good. Empanada flavors are diverse and I couldn't pick my favorite but I liked the chorizo and kale flavors. Each empanada is stuffed full! Surprisingly the arepa was my least favorite item. The filling was flavorful and lovely however the corn-based bread became soggy from the filling. I like maizal because the ingredients are high quality and well seasoned. Eating here is also a good value. While I had a little bit of an issue communicating (masks, sneeze guards and ambient noise), the service was good. I just wish there was a location closer to me!

Harpreet K.

Yelp
One of my Latino friends from college recommended this place, so we went to check it out. We tried their rice bowls, crazy nachos, arepas and few desserts. The food was really good, I had the arepas for the first time. It was different but delicious. It had more of a thick texture, as compared to pita bread..but I liked it. The nachos were the winner!! So YUMMY!! Loaded with meat & cheese, just how I like it! We ordered nutella balls for the dessert, which came without nutella, LOL!! It was little disappointing for me! I would've given 5-star rating just for the nutella balls. But yeah, to my disappointment, I had to had only cheese balls, which I liked it apparently. But it would be the star of the dish if it had come with the nutella. #nutellaloverforlife I would definitely like to visit them again. It's nice to have the taste of South America at your local restaurants. AMAZING!!

Ornella S.

Yelp
3 stars Maizal is an South American spot in Ballston quarter. I had the Caraquena arepa with pork. The meal was ok not great. The green sauce was layered too much and without much flavor. The guava drink was meh. Issa pass for me.

Ashley H.

Yelp
Decent option for south american cuisine in the ballston quarter! I think their bowls are pretty flavorful and consistent, the service is always very fast too which I appreciate. The arepas also have a decent flavor but is messy just as other reviews have noted, definitely not the best arepa I've had but it can hit the spot if you're craving it. The yucca fries and the plantains are good sides to get!

Josh C.

Yelp
As a customer who used to visit 1-2 times a week, writing this review is disappointing. There was a clear shift in the management at Maizal. The menu shrunk significantly removing some of my favorites like the enchiladas and tacos dorados. At the same time the portions got smaller and more expensive. Service for online orders is almost always delayed from the time they tell you at checkout. As for the positives, they still charge a reasonable price for some items on the menu and they are decently quick if you order in person. Building your own bowl is the best bet as they do have some nice variety of additions for bowls.

Araba N.

Yelp
Ok, but disappointing given what it could be! I got the chicken empanadas and a chicken bowl. The empanadas were good, with and without the sauce. The chicken bowl was really lacking in flavor. It had all of the components of a really good meal, especially with the plantains, but there was minimal spice and flavor. To get through the bowl, I ended up having to add the leftover empanada sauce to the bowl, but even that wasn't enough. My friend got a burrito and it was like 80% rice with similar flavor issues. I would be happy to return if they made the food taste better. It's a nice location, they have a good ordering system, and the menu has a large variety of options.

Chad H.

Yelp
I want to like Maizal, but it is just mediocre at best. The last time I went, I told them what sauce I wanted and they just saturated my bowl with it. That's just ridiculous. How many people on this planet want their bowl saturated with sauce?!? Some other establishments ask if you want your sauce/dressing light, medium, or heavy. I suggest that Maizal do the same. In addition, it felt like some of the ingredients may have not been the freshest. Who knows how long the food was sitting out. Maybe that's why they put so much sauce on it, to cover the fact that the ingredients aren't that great. Chicken tasted like something was off. Luckily, I did not get sick. I have to mention that what bugs me is the promotion of their app that they do not honor. At their checkout screen, they advertise the Maizal app to get rewards and earn reward points. But when you ask them about it, they know nothing. Stop advertising the app if you are not going to honor it. Maizal, step up your game. With so many dining options in the Ballston neighborhood, I can't see myself coming back anytime soon.

Khanh-Chau M.

Yelp
Came here for dinner and wanted the empanadas here. $3.50 each which wasn't bad, and I ate four and they were filling. My favourite one was the lamb - tasted so good with the combination of the seasonings and flaky crust! The chicken one was okay in my opinion. I was surprised with the shrimp one - tasted pretty fresh with the seafood. I don't remember what I chose for the fourth one, maybe it was chorizo? Lamb was still the winner for me. Staff here were accommodating, even though they messed up one of my friend's order. The water machine here also seems to hate me whenever I try to get water.

Monica T.

Yelp
Ordered chicken enchiladas off the menu. Served 4 small enchiladas with a good amount of moist shredded chicken. Sour cream & pickled onions were a great topping. It was on the spicy side; salsa inside was on the side, like medium/medium-hot. Perfect for me, but if you don't like spicy, it may be too much. The tiny side of rice was kind of random without beans and it could have used something fresh like a pico or salsa verde. Great portion size for the price. I appreciated being able to get lunch for under $12 in Ballston Quarter. The bowl bar wasn't super appealing to me & I love a good bowl, but it just didn't look that exciting. They have tacos, empanadas & arepas. Looking forward to trying more!

A O.

Yelp
First order was unbelievably fresh, delicious & fantastic. Each item had an itemized receipt, the churros came with a sumptuous chocolate cup to dunk the very crunchy churros, that sweet & tart maracuyá cup was filled to the brim & chilly too. Soooooooo good & made us look forward for a second order... Then we got that second order & reality set in; delivery driver not following request, no chocolate cup with the churros, wrong rice, no crema with the plátanos, cutlery not ordered but thrown in anyway, quinoa bites "tasting old," & so on... Alas, too good to be true.

Keisha L.

Yelp
As my food quest of the Quarter continues, it was time to give Maizal a try and overall it was just okay. Not horrible, not mind blowing, just okay. When in doubt, bowl it out and that is exactly what I did. The bowl gives you the option to pick your rice from a selection of three/four, decide if you want some greens and then all the toppings to your hearts desire. If a bowl is not your thing, they have arepas too that you can customize to your liking. My bowl was just okay, the rice was touch and go, as some bites tasted like they protected themselves from the process and it had no flavor to it at all. All the toppings tasted as expected so there was no real disappointment there. I did find that the portions of toppings were not a generous as you might expect so if it is a topping you really like, go ahead and ask for another scoop. Service was basic as they just moved you through the line to get you to the end. Overall, if the service was a better and the portion sizes had a universal distribution as you progress through the line, they could be onto something but for now, I think this visit was enough for me.

Mischa J.

Yelp
Cute little eatery with some very good empanadas. I had the chicken curry empanada, a steak empanada, and the shrimp empanada. I also had the guava juice. The only problem is that they gave me one of the wrong empanadas (chicken curry instead of chorizo, which was my original order), and they were almost going to not give me a napkin and fork (until I asked). Other than that, the food was very good and the staff were nice and meant well. I would come back again to try the rest of their empanadas.

Grace W.

Yelp
Arepa wasn't warm at all and fell part, couldn't really taste any chimichurri, the brisket was really chewy, the yucca fires weren't crispy and flavorless. My friend got the corn amd couldn't eat it all- some weird red sauce on top of the cheese that grossed her out and the queso was gluey and barely warm.

Brianna C.

Yelp
Great decision at the mall food court! The pollo bowl was so flavorful and a great/filling size. I had plenty for leftovers. The fish taco was fine. I was surprised by the amount of potatoes in the empanadas - the filling was mostly potatoes rather than the shrimp. There was also a very small amount of meat in the chorizo empanada. Otherwise, it was a great lunch time meal!

Tonia K.

Yelp
I'll just begin with saying the experience was overall fine. Not the greatest, not the worst...somewhere in the middle. The true definition of 3 stars. I was in Ballston and was hungry. My guest wasn't feeling like a sit down restaurant and isn't the most adventurous eater. Surprisingly, they were intrigued by Maizal. As other reviews have noted, the concept is very much like Cava or Chipotle in that you can create a bowl (grain, greens, toppings, etc.) They also sell arepas if you are not feeling the bowl route. SERVICE: Being new to both Maizal and the type of cuisine, we did have a few questions. The menu of everything is listed on an overhead marquee however if you are unfamiliar, it won't be 100% clear what everything is based on it being right in front of you. Even though our service was fine, I can completely see what fellow reviews mean when describing it as not the friendliest. FOOD VERDICT: As for the food itself, it was just okay in my opinion. My guest really enjoyed their bowl. I give props that everything appeared fresh and was a quick takeout experience. All in all, not a bad choice when dining in Ballston Quarter.

Orlando L.

Yelp
This review is actually for the Alabama Ave. se DC location. The food is really good first of all. But the service is where they lack. Not customer service, but food prep is the problem. I just walked in at 4:00 pm and all the meat looked old and dry, a service worker was coughing behind the counter as she was bringing new food out. The eggs weren't apatising at all. And the fried rice was overcooked also the quinoa balls were burnt. The first time I came here it was the total opposite. If this place closes or loses customers it's because of that which is a combination of work ethic, sanitization, and cooking, and bottom line ( selling old food). That's going to be the death of them, right now it's hit or miss with them. Disappointed...I want them to do better.

Jessica H.

Yelp
Service, 3/5: The service was okay, but it seemed like no one there really understood English. We were trying to switch one of the meats from pork to chicken and we repeated it about 3 times and the cashier said he understood. But when we got our food, it was still pork. Aesthetic/Atmosphere, 3/5: It's a nice place inside Ballston Market. But it does give a little bit of a Chipotle vibe. Food/Drink, 1.5/5: Personally, I don't think I'd be back. With the mistakes with our food and the amount of oil in the tacos, it was just a lot. There was decent flavor, but not enough for me to come back. They do have a lot of different options that you could choose from. Pricing, 4/5: Price wise this place was pretty good. It was about $3.50 for the tacos and the other stuff was roughly around the same price. Overall Experience, 2.5/5: Maybe, if we get some different from the menu, this review might have been different, but for right now, I did not have a good experience.

Rachel B.

Yelp
Good mix between Cava and Chipotle. Super quick and easy to order from. The food was delicious! Would go back!

Josie V.

Yelp
My place to go to at lunch, the manager is super friendly and always serving fresh foods. My favorite is the bowl filled with veggies. Their drinks are super tasty my favorite is papaya. If your work, live or are simply visiting make sureño stop by and have a bowl you'll love.

Saria I.

Yelp
I have ordered from Maizal for every event we have hosted at our house this year because I and my family and friends love the empanadas so much! Lorenna is so kind and accommodating and creates whatever order we asked for in good time and it's always DELICIOUS! I stop by on a regular basis to pick up an order of empanadas to take to friends who are sick and stuck at home, who are mourning a loss, or who are just stressed and need a pick-me-upper because the food just makes you feel warm and loved! I recommend Maizal!

Sophie G.

Yelp
great when they get my order right, but unfortunately that's only about half of the time

Tanj C.

Yelp
South American Street Food is the perfect grab and go bite, so I decided to try Maizal ! I love a good Arepa ! I decided to try the La Cerda as it seemed like it'd be a yummy bite full of various flavors. It was very delicious ! However, I didn't quite taste the pineapple sauce that the menu mentioned. Maybe they didn't have any or put very little pineapple sauce on. I'm not sure, but that was a slight disappointment. My boyfriend got the Buenos Aires Arepa, which was pretty good too. The Buenos Aires Arepa seemed like the perfect breakfast arepa. The portion size is great. I think it is a great value. I must share that the menu lists Arepas for $4 each but, we were charged $5 each with no explanation. That was quite annoying that the staff didn't mention a price increase, up-charge, or anything. If reasoning was shared I'd feel more respected as a customer. Is the arepa worth $5 ? -yes. Should businesses properly list the price of their products before charging customers?- yes. That's the reason I took a way a star. Albeit, if you like Arepas, Maizal makes tasty ones.

Sarah P.

Yelp
The arepa cheeseballs alone earned them 5 stars! So good. You can build your own tacos, burritos, etc or choose their pre curated ones.

Saeed M.

Yelp
The food is great but the customer service is beyond horrible ! everytime i order they get my order wrong ! Once I ordered online and went to pick it up at the store. They gave someone else's order to me! I had to go all the way back to get my order, called their customer service and they didn't pick up! Left a message they never got back to me! Today i order again and they put beef instead of chicken on my plate! Absolutely disgusting! Will never order pick up from here again!

Jay B.

Yelp
Get an Arepa!!! Absolutely delicious, great flavors. I got the vegetarian and it was sooooo good! Shrimp tacos were decent and the yuca & plantains are yummy!

Paul R.

Yelp
I can only speak on the empanadas I ordered. Usually when I haven't eaten all day, ANYTHING tastes amazing. Not today. I wish I had taken photos of these. I was excited to try these. $4.50 each for the brisket ones. $3.50 for the "curry" chicken ones. I ordered two of each. Both types were bland. When I tell you there was no flavor, even my grandmother who eats bland puréed food was complaining. The brisket ones were a joke. There was maybe one or two strands of meat in there. I thought it was a hair. These should be accurately called "vegan potato empanadas". The chicken curry ones were dry, flavorless. Both types of empanadas had a lot of flour residue on them. The service was suspiciously quick. There was no ambiance. This was in the mall. Judging by what I ordered today, no way I'm returning to this place.

VyVy V.

Yelp
Think Chipotle, Cava, Mezeh.... and any other place that makes bowls in front of you! This place was an interesting twist on the typical bowls that I'm used to so I was intrigued! It's located towards the back wall of the Ballston Quarter food court next to the Noodle Bar. I got a bowl and it was pretty filling! They have a bunch of different options to be added. I would recommend staying away from the yuca - we got an order to share and it was super dry and hard - not like how it usually is from Peruvian chicken joints.

Pavina S.

Yelp
3.5 stars. I once sampled their arepas at a Yelp event and I was amazed by them and had been wanting to try their actual shop. We ordered la cerda arepa, la inka arepa, and the shrimp empanada as well as a side of plantains and yuca fries. The flavors in the arepas were as good as I remembered. However, I wished the bread itself was warm. The plantains in la cerda arepa were cold too. I'm not sure if it's always like this or if it was because we came an hour before closing. But I think if it the whole thing was warm, it would've been better because the flavors were there. The shrimp empanada was really good, a bit bigger than expected and filled with a yummy filling. The plantains and yuca fries were freshly made so they were good too., though I think it would've been nice to have a sauce with the yuca. I think the food was almost there for me, but maybe it was just poor timing. I would want to come again to see if the arepas will taste more fresh.

David K.

Yelp
Maizal needs a Venezuelan or maybe even a Colombian to teach their staff to make arepas. To cite one example, the arepas need to have a crust so that the filling can be held inside like a hamburger and not have the entire arepa fall apart when the customer tries to take a bite. I look forward to updating this review in the future.

April P.

Yelp
I visited today around 3!. I was undecided as always due to the plentiful options that they give you. Soooooo I didn't know to do the Nachos or to try a Bowl, anytime I'm out I'm always seeing people over there and walking away with things. Today at the time I came there was no line so I'm deciding all the while the jeopardy music is playing in my head and waiting for my answer so I can tell the Line lady. Then Boom I decided to get the Bowl!!!! They have 3 maybe 4 different kinds of rice which I thought was awesome because you have picky ppl as well as ppl with certain types of allergens. So I got the white rice with cilantro mixed with fried rice, Pico mix, roasted corn, pickled onions, some lentils, peppers and squash blend and finally some tender cooked to perfection grilled chicken with cheese on top. chipotle dressing. Got home finally heated up my food and it tasted as authentic as it looked the chicken was tender as ever all of the wonderful flavors you can taste everything!! for 10 dollars it's most definitely worth it!! I'd definitely get it again it's rare you find great food especially if you don't eat it right then and it cooks or eaten the next day it's not the same this place!! No worries at all

Tristen A.

Yelp
I NEEED more people to know about Maizal! Such a great option right inside Ballston Quarter (lower level food court). Maizal is just like Chipotle/Mezeh/Cava (build-your-own style) but with South American street food vibes. You can build a bowl, arepas, tacos, or even nachos and LOOOAADD it up with all your fav toppings (they have so many to choose from). You'll see from my pics I loooove adding plantains and grilled pineapple every time I think this place is seriously so underrated - the flavor is fantastic, the portions are big, the price is more than fair, and there are endless ways you can customize to make it truly your own (like adding grilled fruit if that's your thing like me)

Andrea C.

Yelp
Pretty good portions! Not too much to say, but I enjoyed my food here after shopping. Not super great, but gets the job done for a Hispanic food craving. Overall worth a try.