Expendio de Maiz
Restaurant · Centro Urbano Benito Juárez ·
Michelin-starred, no-menu dining with creative heirloom corn dishes
Michelin-starred, no-menu dining with creative heirloom corn dishes
"Awarded its first Michelin star in the latest guide (Mexico City)." - Bill Esparza
"With only four communal tables, no sign, and no menu, this cash-only, sidewalk operation in Roma Norte offers a surprising experience that prioritizes food over fuss. In place of typical creature comforts, find a bustling kitchen that cooks and cooks until diners tap out. It is anyone’s guess as to what’s coming but know that heirloom corn nixtamalized and ground in house serves as the foundation for many of the dishes. Tortillas, sopes, and huaraches alike are molded and griddled to order and then dressed in a dazzling variety of seasonal ingredients and sauces. Tableside salsas pack lightning bolts of heat and enliven every course. Be warned: Reservations are not accepted, and an on-site waitlist gets long in a hurry." - Michelin Inspector
"Mexico City's Michelin Bib Gourmand–recognized Expendio de Maíz is collaborating with LA Cha Cha Cha for a Día de los Muertos dinner, bringing its Mexico City credentials to the event." - Rebecca Roland
"Tucked between two other establishments with no visible sign, this spot invites diners to take a seat at one of four long tables arranged under the covered sidewalk. While there are no reservations, there are a number of seatings, with guests placing their name on the list for the next round. This novel concept offers no food menu; instead, each course is presented as a surprise, one-by-one, until you confirm that you have had your fill. The team sends forth a range of impressively executed plates such as a warm, tender, and crisped yellow masa huarache topped with a thin slice of braised beef along with avocado, cherry tomatoes, queso blanco, and a scattering of lightly dressed young greens. The accompanying salsa is worth slathering on any and all preparations." - The MICHELIN Guide US Editorial Team
"It must have been at Expendio de Maiz, my absolute favorite restaurant—it doesn't have a menu, and they don't take reservations, you just walk in. It's family-owned, and the woman there took care of us like we were her family. She made a taco that, still to this day, I don't understand what went into it but it was the most delicious I've ever had. And I'm a vegetarian, mind you, so this was a vegetarian taco."