Expendio de Maiz is a really unique dining experience that I was super excited to try, especially…read moreafter hearing about its Michelin recognition and reputation for being one of those must-visit spots in Mexico City.
The setup is very intimate - communal outdoor seating with maybe less than 10 tables total, and you can actually look into the kitchen and watch the chefs work. It has a really cool, almost immersive energy to it.
What makes the concept interesting is that there's no menu. It's kind of like an omakase-style flow where dishes are brought out in rounds, and depending on when you arrive, you may or may not get to experience earlier dishes. After each round, the staff checks in with you to see if you'd like to continue or close out.
There was about a 2-hour wait, but honestly that gave me time to explore the city and come back, which wasn't too bad.
Going in, I had really high expectations, and while the food itself is undeniably high quality and beautifully executed, I did leave a bit underwhelmed overall. A lot of the dishes leaned very veggie and carb forward, which I'm not sure if that's just the nature of the menu or because I came later in the evening and missed some earlier rounds.
If I were vegetarian, I think I'd probably rate this an easy 5 stars. But personally, I was hoping for a bit more protein throughout the experience, and that balance just wasn't really there for me.
Still a very creative and well-executed concept, just not fully aligned with what I was expecting.