I visited Expendio de Maiz with my husband and his family during our Mexico City trip. This Michelin-starred restaurants is unlike any I’ve been to: it’s cash only, walk-in only, and there’s no menu. Instead of choosing dishes, you’re served a sequence of small plates centered around corn until you’re full!
Getting a Seat
Since the restaurant doesn’t accept reservations and only has four communal tables, getting a seat was difficult. When we first visited late Saturday afternoon, it was already booked for the day. We returned the next day at 10:30AM, and put our names on the waitlist with an ETA of 4 hours. We found out later that we made it just in time, as the list was full by 11AM!
Drinks
After waiting for 4 hours, we finally received a text that our table was ready. Because the seating is communal, we were placed next to a couple who were already on dessert. Although there’s no food menu, they do hand out a small drink menu. I opted for the water of the day, which was a hibiscus drink that was refreshing and slightly sweet. My husband ordered a vermouth, but he said it was nothing special.
Food
After we got our drinks, the dishes began to arrive and alternated between vegetarian and meat.
The first dish was made from corn smut, a fungus that grows on corn. It didn’t sound or look very appetizing, but it was delicious and tasted like mushrooms.
The second dish was a pork and corn quesadilla. It had complex flavors from the herbs and chile, with a hint of sweetness.
Next came a tortilla topped with green mole made from peanuts and a squash flower. I loved the additional crunchy peanuts, which contrasted with the soft flower and the smooth mole.
By then we were getting full, so we asked for just two portions of the final dish for everyone to share. It turned out to be potato and pork chorizo on top of corn bread, a spin on chorizo torta. It wasn’t as unique like the other dishes taste-wise (reminded me of meat pasta), but still tasty.
Verdict
Overall, we had an amazing meal. The total came out to around $30 per person, which was incredible value. Even though the lack of choice felt intimidating at first, every dish was delicious and the surprise element made the experience fun. The only downside was the four-hour wait, so I would recommend visiting Expendio de Maiz right at opening, when the wait time is more reasonable.
Looking for things to do in Mexico City? Check out my top 5 favorites!
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