When in the Byward Market, there is certainly no shortage of places to eat. We decided to give Corazon De Maiz a try, and we are so glad we did! Everything was delicious - top notch - but the horchata was exceptional! The best I've ever had. The service was fast and friendly, too. read more

Corazon De Maiz - Three chicken tacos, and the best horchata ever! - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Nice little spot in the Byward market, got some pork nachos and horchata which was absolutely delicious. Friendly staff and a great place for a bite to eat. Was recommended this place by someone at the hostel I was staying at and am grateful for the recommendation! read more

Corazon De Maiz - Nachos with pork - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

This was so hard to find it's in a market in Ottawa we had to only stay here for less than two minutes cuz our boat was gonna leave I told the owner she rushed it we got the tacos and a beef burrito, with mild hot sauce, I have tos at this is one of the best Mexican food I have ever tasted so far, it's a small place there's a juice place beside it, but the burrito was so tasty the Meat pulls apart very flavourful and it had slice with the hot sauce not too hot though lol I don't want to sleep in the washroom all night. I could eat ten of these burritos, but I'll get so fat, I could come to Ottawa just for this food amazing read more

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I was visiting Ottawa for sightseeing. I came to Byward and this was a typical tourist area. There are restaurants, but everywhere is expensive. Corazón de Maíz is not cheap, but they gave us portion enough and quality of foods were good. They cooked well and Salsa was very very good. read more

Corazon De Maiz - the entrance to a restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

While stopping off for food, we decided to order from this place. It's a cute little restaurant that seems family owned and authentic. We ordered a beef burrito and a chicken burrito. The hot sauces came on the side, which we really liked because we could control how much we wanted to add. Definitely worth going just for the hot sauces as they were so flavorful. The server was really kind and really informed on the menu. read more

I got the small beef burrito and man was it filling. I forgot to get pictures of the tacos, and quesadilla's my hubby and sister got, but they were just as tasty. The prices are not bad at all for the amount of food that you get. The service is always top notch! It is a very small seating area so you might have to wait to sit if they're full but the food is worth it. I'll definitely be eating here again when I'm in the market! read more

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Don't be fooled by the casual appearance- this some of the finest Mexican street food to be found anywhere! Beware - their hottest sauces will burn the uninitiated! read more

It's one of the small restaurant stalls inside of Byward Market. They provide quick and kind service. I had the taco and quesadilla that were both delicious! The guacamole they provide is fresh and they offer a selection of great homemade sauces to add extra flavour (or extra heat!) read more

Corazon De Maiz - Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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This place is fantastic! We had their delicious beef burrito and I love their hot sauce. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is fun. It is right in the middle of the market, which makes it a fun date night. I would go back again! read more

Corazon De Maiz - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

It's hot out And slow inside (Hilarious!) Tacos average Only thing left was BEEF, not great I guess come early read more

Corazon De Maiz - It's hot out And slow inside (Hilarious!) Tacos average Only thing left was BEEF, not great I guess come early - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

They serve such goood food!! I'm from Toronto but whenever I fly to Ottawa, I always make sure that I eat here! The staff are so kind and nice as well! And I always buy 2 burritos, one to have for lunch and one to bring back to Toronto. And it's still good after that 1 hour of flight, a bit soggy but it's worth it! It gets pretty busy especially during lunch time and there's not a lot of tables in the restaurant, so I always take it to go and find somewhere else to sit at. Overall, I love this place! I've recommended this place to my friends who are visiting Ottawa. read more

Corazon De Maiz - Menu (May 2018) - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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The tostadas were fantastic!!!! Tacos were great too. Horchata was ok, will probably not be getting that again but definitely will be getting more tostadas!!! Although a little pricey :/ read more

Corazon De Maiz - Tostadas, tacos, and horchata - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I wasn't in the best of moods when I got there, but I'm very happy to say that the service genuinely made me a lot better and was extremely welcoming! They made sure to ask everything I could've possibly wanted while also being patient with me, as I tend to be anxious when I first visit new places. I had their large nachos, and they were absolutely delicious! The portions & the toppings were so generous, I had to share half of them with a friend to be able to eat it all. They also came with guacamole & sour cream too. I ordered them as takeout, but I honestly suggest eating them while still close to the Byward Market to be able to enjoy them while they're still warm since the place is generally very small and there are very few tables. Overall, I would absolutely come back whenever I crave nachos & I'd definitely be down to trying out their burritos & tacos as well! read more

Yum! Went on a food tour and discovered this little gem inside the Byward Market! The beef tacos with the verde sauce were just excellent - it was a perfect mouthful of flavours and well seasoned beef, not too empowering, just right. Would definitely come back for more tacos! read more

This is a small restaurant located in the ByWard Market. Ordering can be kinda confusing depending on where you enter the restaurant. You need to place your order first, with the cook, then tell the cashier what you ordered to pay for it. We made the mistake of not ordering with the cook and went straight to the cashier. As a result, our food was never made. I had to tell the cashier before they made the meal for us. We ordered the beef tacos, and the pulled pork tostadas. Both dishes were good, but the tacos stood out the most. I really enjoyed the guacamole and the jalapeño garlic sauce because was delicious. All the sauces complimented the food well, but that one stood out. The tostadas were good too, but I felt it was a little too salty for my liking. The pork, and the feta cheese overpowered the whole dish. There are very few seats, probably 10 or so I would recommend taking the tacos to go. read more

Corazon De Maiz - A variety of sauces for you to put on your tacos. - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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I felt teleported to Mexico! The friendly staff, the music, the food... Many Spanish speaking customers, which says a lot about the authenticity. Mexican imported products for sale. Great experience! read more

I've always walked by here, and I have always been intimidated to stop in, until the hubby raved to me about how great the tacos were here. We decided to make a trip out here yesterday for a quick bite. I had a veggie taco and the hubby had a chicken and beef taco. The veggie came with a small side of guac. Everything was bursting with flavor. Guacamole was perfectly seasoned. The hot sauces/salsas are phenomenal. The green ones were milder and went great on the veggie taco. I wish I could bottle it up and bring it home. They should really consider selling those hot sauces in shop, I think they would be a hit! Customer service was amazing. We were greeted with a smile and they explained what went on the tacos. They brought our tacos to the table when it was ready. I could not ask for better customer service. There were two tables to eat at, and one long one (bar style) near the condiments. If you are shy when you eat, you should take it to go, because everyone who was walking by stopped to look at our tacos. Yes, they looked that good! If you are in the area, and love authentic tacos, you have to check this place out. I'll be back to try the nachos out next. read more

The food at Corazon De Maiz is outstanding, and possibly the most delicious Mexican food I have tasted to date! We had the chicken burrito, the chicken quesadilla, a steak taco, and a few of their delicious sauces. The price range was very reasonable at approximately $12-13 for a burrito or quesadilla, and $7 per individual taco. We visited on a Saturday evening in February and we were able to find seating in the restaurant and our food was served within about 10 minutes. We attempted to return the following evening, but were disappointed that the restaurant had closed about 20-30 minutes early that night. We will definitely be dining at Corazon De Maiz on our next trip to Ottawa! read more

My favourite Mexican restaurant in Ottawa (and my 2 kids, my sister etc.). Another family run restaurant that we have been going to for quite a few years. The staff and owners are such lovely people, I really enjoy coming here for Mexican food! There tacos are so damn good. There burrito's are so damn good (get the burrito either in a bowl or in a wrap). I love there soup of the day, I have never had one I didn't like!! They of course make there own hot sauces, which are super delicious, and I think they make the best Guacamole in Ottawa!! I have NEVER had a meal that I did not like or an order that was incorrect! I have pretty well have had everything on there menu! Visit them you won't regret it! read more

Cute little place in Byward Market. I had the chicken burrito. They have 2 sizes, medium and large. The people in front of me took the large and it looked sooo big i went with the medium, which i dont regret since the medium was also pretty big. The burrito was filled with Mexican rice , beans, guacamole and more. The chicken was in cube and not shredded, which i didn't mind. You can also choose between brown or white pita. I had the brown pita and it was so good and satisfying. Other people around me had the nachos and it looked sooo delicious! They also have tons of salsa for you to choose from. They put stars for the level of spicyness. I had the salsa verde and another one which i don't remember but it seemed to have grilled peppers in oil. It was so tasty!! The only downside is that there's not many places to sit but since it's in the middle of the market you can always find a place outside. I will definitely come back. read more

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Holy Hot Sauce!! Firstly, this is the best burrito Ive had in Ottawa hand down. Everything was super fresh, clean and healthy.... and also awesome to have biodegradable take-out wears. What I really want to get to is their selection of amazing home made hot sauces. I am picky when it comes to hot sauce flavour....I can rarely seem to find one I like. I often buy locally made hot sauces....these outstand them all. Seriously. Even if the burrito wasn't good, it would just be a carrier for their incredible sauces....yummm. They have them all available to buy a jar to go home with. I bought a jar of their hottest sauce which is also surprisingly flavourful for an extra-hot hot sauce. However, I would have bought several more if they weren't out. The garlic and jalapeño is divine. I cant wait to come back and buy the entire collection for my fridge. Thank you for this discovery :) read more

I can't believe that I walk by this place all the time, but never noticed it. One of my co-workers told me about it and I said "there isn't a Mexican place in 'the Markety thing' (a.k.a. Byward Market Square)". Well, I'll be darned, there is, and it is great! I went here recently for lunch with my usual dining companion (my husband). It was my first time there. I had 3 soft tacos (one beef, one pork and one chicken) - $8.50. They were topped with black beans, the meat and some salsa and came with a side of guacamole. My husband had 3 tostadas (one beef, one pork and one chicken) - $9.00. They were topped with black beans, the meat, lettuce, cheese and sour cream and came with a side of salsa. I love the fact that you don't have to get the same meat on all the tacos/tostadas. The chicken was grilled chicken cubes. The pork was pulled pork in a BBQ-like sauce. The beef was pulled beef also in a BBQ-like sauce. They are not stingy with the meat or the toppings - my taco runneth over - but not that I'm complaining. The tacos were delicious. Everything tasted really fresh. The guacamole was nice and creamy. They also have a selection of sauces that you can add. I tried the Sweet Chipotle (which I really loved) and the Garlic Jalapeno (which was not as good in my opinion). Can't wait to try the others. The people who work there are so friendly and nice. Since the place is in the actual Byward Market Square building, there is very little seating, maybe enough room for 15 people or so. We went for a late lunch so managed to snag a table. Otherwise, I think takeout is the way to go. I'm sad that I didn't know about this place earlier, but am super happy that I know about it now. I will definitely be back. read more

We did takeout instead of dining in since at the time we were not allowed to dine in, nor did we want to. As a result, I cannot discuss the atmosphere. I don't know anything about burritos. I ordered a beef burrito. I liked the tenderness of the beef! The rice and beans made the already large burrito really filling and I liked the guac which didn't make it too dry. We were given a complimentary sauce, so I got the habanero ranch. It wouldn't have been a problem if I had water on me, but alas. I enjoyed it nonetheless. I will recommend this place to my friends when we decide to dine at Byward once it's safe. read more

The tacos are better than last time!!! I had to break my one a day review to update my review of CDM because I want more people to go. This time around I had a chance to try the beef tacos and try some other hot sauces. Solid flavours. The taco shells are still the weakest part of the taco, I hope they eventually make their own and I guarantee I'd bump my rating up another star. This place has the best tacos in Ottawa. I do prefer burritos at other places but I'd definitely come here for tacos. The owners are always friendly, funny and super awesome. Sit at the counter and chat with them about food! read more

Corazon De Maiz - Here's the deal! - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

4.5 STARS Dropped by this shop in Byward Market on recommendations from internet reviews. My partner and I each ordered a set of 3 tacos. He had one of each of the meats, and I had 3 vegetarian tacos. We both through they were yummy and tastes authentic. Would give this review 5 stars if they were a little cheaper. Otherwise, great place for Mexican food! read more

Corazon De Maiz - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

I don't know why it's taken me so long to write a review, given this is a staple value pick for mexican in Ottawa! I tried their nachos, and added beef. For $15 including tax, it was a very hearty and flavorful meal, with tons of cheese, toppings, and tender/tasty beef. I didn't feel as though they skimped on the toppings. The best part was the huge variety of sauces you could add. I tried every single one of them (there were maybe around 6)? And each sauce had a different spice level, so it added tons of flavour to the nachos. Imagine biting into a nacho with meat, cheese, veggies, sour cream, guac, AND more sauce! The only thing that would make it better is if they had a condiment bar like Ahora, which has jalapenos, tomatoes, onions, cilantro...I love piling on more fresh toppings. But I guess you can't have everything! Service Is friendly, and it's fun to sit near the windows and people-watch. read more

Corazon De Maiz - Menu as of March 2019 - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

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A favourite spot in the market. Best burrito I've had in Ottawa. Got the pork and chicken mixed! The bright green sauce/salsa is to die for. Make sure to buy a jar of it at the counter before you go home. The staff is patient and kind. They had great suggestions when we asked (mixing the 2 meats) and gave us tons of extra sauces for take out. It's great during COVID that the store is still very generous in portions and add-ons. I ate half the burrito for lunch and half for dinner because it was so big and I wanted to savour every bite. Parking isn't easy but it is worth it. Even if you park a distance away you're walking through the market which is always nice. Do yourself a favour and stop by this landmark and hidden gem! read more

Service and food was great! I went with a friend because we had to grab some lunch, but we didn't know where and saw that this place had great yelp reviews. I ordered the small nachos and it was amazing!! They don't cheap out on the ingredients one bit. It was super cheesy and yummy! I'd recommend coming here. Seating might be a little hard to find during rush hours. As well, when I went, the card machine was broken, so it was cash only. read more

Corazon De Maiz - Small nachos - $10.35 - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Picked up a shredded beef burrito from here on my way to the airport. It was quite delicious, filling, and affordable! The beef was very tender and flavorful (less dry than the pork), the ingredients tasted made from scratch, and they toasted the wrap to seal it closed. Aside from beef, rice, and black beans, the they also added lettuce, pico de gallo, shredded cheese, sour cream, and a little bit of quacamole. Not bad for about $11 (CAD). If I ever find myself in the area and can't decide what to eat, this would be a good default option! read more

Corazon De Maiz - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

This place is a lunchtime favorite and offers authentic, fresh and delicious Mexican staples such as burritos and enchiladas. Excellent quality of food, outstanding selection of homemade hot sauces, great charming family service. read more

This place is simple but fantastic!!!! All homemade, fresh, and such great flavors! Tortilla soup is a meal and is the best I've ever had! Tacos were fantastic, as were the veggie quesadillas.....and their house made salsas were so good! 8 levels of hot....so good! Homemade horchata! Can't go wrong here....plus the NICEST people working there! read more

Corazon De Maiz - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

A little hole in the wall Mexican restaurant in Byward market. Honestly the best burrito Ive had. I usually order the beef burrito and the meat is so incredibly soft and tender. They have a huge sauce bar on the side. My favourite is the sweet chipotle. The people there make you feel like you've just transported to a homey little spot in Mexico. Seating there is very limited - 2 tables and a few seats at the food bar, but if you catch it at a good time, you could catch a table. Definitely one of my favourite places in Ottawa. 10/10 Highly recommend! read more

Corazon De Maiz - Medium Beef Burrito sweet chipotle sauce on side - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Big shout out to fellow Yelper Jennifer P. for this great Mexican joint inside ByWard Market. The menu is simple, authentic Mexican fare in a small booth but with big tastes! The food here is fantastic as the tacos and nachos that we had were delicious and flavourful. The kids loved the food so much that I had to order seconds of everything... note to self...have less kids;) Order process is simple, order at the cook's counter, pay at the cash and if you eat in they will deliver to your table and if you eat out theyll call you for pick up. Service is very good and there's a great selection of hot sauces that you can add. Definitely a great place for some real good food! Thanks again Jennifer P!! read more

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All of these positive reviews made us feel this was a definitely good place for a late lunch. Not good at all. The tortillas were rubbery. The three chicken tacos were bland and cold. The chicken wasn't flavorful or hot. The pico de gallo and guacamole seemed fresh but didn't help. The beans were runny mess on the taco. The large quesadilla was all cheese and some raw veggies (onion, bell peppers and tomatoes) tossed in. There wasn't any flavor for the quesadilla. The tortilla was rubbery. The burrito was tiny and greasy with pork. We couldn't finish our dishes. Skip it and find something else. I'm lucky I know what good Mexican food is and have plenty of tasty taquerias in my town that make me know what good food is. And you have to pay for hot sauce. We didn't and I guess that you should to cover up the lack of flavor read more

Fresh, delicious food. I love their nachos, usually add beef. Totally worth it, they load it up with meat not stingy at all. Beans are flavorful and rice cooked just right. read more

Corazon De Maiz - Nachos with beef large size. - Mexican Near Me - Ottawa, Ontario

Corazon de Maiz did not give us our full order and won't respond or refund us for items paid for but not received. We've already waited one week. DO THE RIGHT THING: REFUND OUR MONEY! p.s. Re the food, everything was cold and bland. (Yep, bland Mexican food!) But the nachos were ok. read more

Expertly prepared fresh made to order with very little waiting. The sweet smoky chipotle and salsa verde sauces were our favorites. Guac is superb. 3 generously portioned tacos made for a filling meal. Perhaps better than the food was the sweet service. Without my knowing, our youngest son was eager try his new Spanish skills and tried placing his order in his broken Spanish. The warm employee jumped right in taking extra time to slowly coaching him in how to properly place his order in Spanish. She made a huge impression and my son wanted to return for every meal. Wish we lived closer! read more

Having lived in Mexico for a few months, I'm willing to endorse this place with a stamp of approval. It's legit. I went with 3 quesadillas; 1 with chicken, another with cochinita pibil, and another with barbacoa. Got them to go with an authentic Mexican Coke in the bottle for about a $9 total. I put together some different sauces to go and all of them were delicious. The staff is friendly and pretty much all of them speak Spanish (the line cook busted it out right away not even knowing I speak it too). I think she was a bit taken aback when this gringo replied in her native tongue. The only two things that seem to suck here are the portions and the hours. My quesadillas didn't come close to filling me up, which just made me want to go back for more. The only problem with that was the hours. They're located in the Byward Market area where just about everything seems to close around 6 or 7. So by the time I wanted seconds, it was demasiado tarde. Que pena. read more

This is one of those little booths inside the Byward Market building. I've walked by it a couple of dozen times and never noticed it. Hubs found it somewhere in his electronic travels and added it to 'the list' and we made it there this past week. Here's what I noticed: - Everyone that works there is happy and looks like they like being there - and not just with guests. You can see they smile and chat and treat each other kindly just in day to day interactions. - Those in the know eat there. A local TV personality was in there eating lunch which tells me the local workers like the food - always a good sign. - The food was made with fresh ingredients - everything we tried was great. - Surroundings are simple but cheerful. Basic utilitarian tables and chairs. Spots of cheer (like the table covering) add life. - Quirky music selection - like an accordion cover of Cheap Tricks "I want you to want me". Fun! I had the tortilla soup - it was heaven and the chunks of fresh avocado were like butter. Yum! Also had quesadilla's (beef) which were so juicy and tasty. I don't even know what anyone else ate, I was so focused on my own food. I do know whatever they ate, hubs and the son were both happy. One thought - go ready to do take out. Seating is limited. If you get a seat, it's a bonus. Biggest table will sit 4 and it will be squishy. Table for two or a single at the counter is most likely what you will be able to find. Will I return: Yes - great stop when you are in market area. affordable. Will I recommend: Yes. read more

Always amazing and delicious food. Very reasonably priced and generous portions. The burritos and tacos both meat and veggie are so good and as close to authentic Mexican as you can get. The horchata is also very good and you get the takeaway glass to enjoy at home. Highly recommend!!! read more