I've traveled all over Mexico and for the most part, Mexican food in the US is a disappointment. But not here. It's so much like the food I've experienced throughout Mexico. I had the Mole Negro and the Elote off the Cob. We also had a special that was meatballs & sauce. It was all excellent with heat & flavors that were native to Mexico. It's the closest Mexican I've had anywhere in the US! I'd certainly do this again! As Arnold said, 'I'll be back!' read more

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Went for cinco de mayo and was BLOWN AWAY. The key to this place's success is innovation. Their riffs on Mexican cuisine and creative cocktail menu makes each order an adventure. And the wait staff was the perfect balance of helpful without being pushy. Lastly, the vibes are great as well, especially with the big doors open. Can't wait for round 2. read more

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This restaurant was a great last minute find for a nice sit down lunch before heading back home to Chicago. I arrived on a Wednesday afternoon a little after 1pm and was sat down immediately. The restaurant has very friendly staff and a homey vibe.. I ordered the enchiladas and I am still thinking about them days later. The sauce was so incredible! It was a little spicy (a warning for anyone that might not be a fan of spicy food items), and full of so much flavor. Every ingredient tasted so fresh! I didn't try any apps, but both the Smoked Mezcal Negroni and Crema Catalana (similar to creme brulee) were also really good. read more

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I've been a fan of Maiz de la Vida for more than five years now - long before this restaurant existed. My first interaction with Maiz de la Vida was back in August of 2020, when I bought some masa from them which was delivered to my house. Just from that interaction, I was a fan. Then, in 2021, I had a great meal from their food truck in front of Chopper. So when I needed a place to meet some friends for brunch on a Sunday morning a week or so ago, we pretty quickly agreed ton Maiz de la Vida. We had a reservation for 11 am on a Sunday, and it was busy throughout our brunch, so I recommend a reservation. The space is cool and open to the outside - on a pretty day, this was delightful. And our server was great - really friendly and helpful. For the table, we shared their Elote Off the Cob (lime aioli, manchego cheese, cotija cheese, salsa seca, and lime) and their salmon ceviche (salmon belly, avocado, leche de tigre, aji amarillo, red onion, and sweet potato). Both were great, but the spice level on the ceviche really made me fall in love - deliciously sour and spicy and bright. For our entrees, we tried between us: enfrijoladas (heirloom beans, chicken tinga, avocado salsa, queso fresco, crema, onion, and parsley); the huarache with chicharrón prensado (with heirloom beans, seasonal escabeche, queso fresco, and peanut and chile de árbol salsa); huevos rotos (two sunny side up eggs with chorizo, fried potato wedges, morita chile powder, tomato sauce, and parsley); and enmoladas (chicken tinga, heirloom beans, Monterrey Jack cheese, onion, and crema). I tried everything but the enmoladas and liked everything. I thought my enfrijoladas needed a little acid or salsa but was a very good dish. The huevos rotos and the huarache were great. I also tried a couple of their cocktails - a play on a dirty martini (Desert Tiger - mezcal, chile de árbol, olive brine, and serrano olives - "A Filthy & Fiery Agave Martini") and the Daquiri Jardín (a frozen drink of white rum, blanco tequila, melon, and epazote - "Like slipping into a garden party in Mexico"). Both were great. I'd drink them again right now. (A note about the location. The restaurant is in what is now being referred to as South Gulch. Parking is rough. There is a garage next door that you can park in but it was expensive for us - we've gotten used to Baltimore parking prices in the last five years and forgot how expensive it is to park in Nashville. Just FYI. It shouldn't stop you from eating at Maiz de la Vida.) My love of Maiz de la Vida continues. Great Mexican food in Nashville. If they open five more businesses, I'd visit them all. Can't wait to return. read more

Maiz De La Vida - Enfrijoladas - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Food was great, but the service was really disappointing. My favorites were the milanesa and the spicy broccoli. Unfortunately, the service took away from the overall experience. Our server didn't wait for part of our group to return from the bathroom (we were gone maybe 4 minutes) and brought out several items we had specifically said we didn't want. We also weren't informed ahead of time that they couldn't split the bill, which led to confusion when it came time to pay. On top of that, a 20% gratuity was added without being mentioned until someone already paid. Our group works in the service industry, so we tend to be understanding, but this experience definitely missed the mark in service. It's a shame because the ambiance is beautiful and very aesthetic. Parking is also a bit tough. Overall: 7/10 read more

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Food- Incredible. Mole Negro is the best mole I have ever had. Quesabirria, also a top birria contender. Those two are absolute must try dishes!! Drink menu heavily leans towards mezcal but there are other options if that's not your thing. Server forgot half our table's drink orders and then forgot half of our food orders as well and had to come back twice to ask what we ordered. Server also told us about a special that was sold out but continued telling us about the dish anyways. And then told us he would bring more chips to finish off our guacamole and salsa with but never brought the chips. Kind of strange service, but the food won us over regardless of awkward interactions. Definitely need a reservation if you want to go on a weekend night, the place was packed! Can't wait to come back and get more mole!!! read more

Maiz De La Vida - Mole Negro - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Maiz de la vida is a warm and inviting restaurant with some of the most delicious Mexican food I've had. The caldo de pollo is so comforting and the dumplings make the hearty soup taste even more like something your grandma would make. The chicken tinga enchiladas with mole negro is perfectly seasoned and the complex flavors of the mole make you want to lick the entire plate. I would definitely recommend coming with a few friends to share the elote and salmon ceviche to start! read more

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To be honest, I looked at the prices before hand & came in expecting to be underwhelmed. However, I genuinely enjoyed our meal here. We walked in on Saturday night @ prime dinner time & chose to sit outside given the nice weather & ambiance, & we were sat immediately. Service was great all night, & I can't comment on the parking as we walked here. As much as I'm tempted to knock down a star for food & drinks being on the pricier end, I will say that the quality exceeded my expectations & the portion sizes were very generous. Given the location & the expenses it takes for this local restaurant to succeed, I think they deserve to keep that 5th star. We ordered chicken tinga tacos, elote off the cob, Milanese, quesabirria, the guacamole/salsas combo, & a sweet potato dessert I can't remember the name of. Milanese & quesabirria were my favs, but everything was honestly very good. Highly recommend if you're looking for local casual upscale Mexican cuisine. read more

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The flavors were bright, fresh and spicy! Very nice, a small restaurant hidden off of 8AveS. The menu is limited but there is something for everyone if they are willing to take some chances and sweat a little. They have a very cute bar seating area overlooking the kitchen. I was hoping for some posole but was disappointed I enjoyed the shrimp with aquachile, the dishes were very refined, but I think they lack a little explanation and balance. Glad I went. read more

Maiz De La Vida - Inside the brick and mortar in 8 South - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This was a pleasant surprise! We had wanted to try a place around the corner but there was a long wait so we found this fantastic place and we are so glad we did! No wait/ small delicious menu and we all truly enjoyed our meals. I tried the enmoladas which I've never ordered and it was delicious! Our server kept our waters filled and was super friendly. Two gender neutral restrooms, beautiful bar , very festive atmosphere= winner! read more

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I'm mad that it took me this long to come here. This place was fantastic. We originally planned to sit at the chefs table, but opted to ask for a booth instead. The server was fantastic. She was so nice and helpful. We spilled a drink (yikes) and they were so kind in giving us a new drink and cleaning up for us. We had the special New Years hangover brunch menu. I saw that Pozole was offered and knew I had to have it. The soup was delicious and so large I had almost half of it to go. We also tried their tamal and horchata french toast. Both were so good! Get their horchata cold brew - it's so yummy! We can't wait to come back and have dinner. If it's anything like their truck near Chopper, it'll be yummy. read more

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Finally we're able to dine here. We've had their food truck foods & we love them so we have high expectations for this place. It lived up to our expectations. The food was delicious & flavorful. The salmon ceviche could use more salmon than sweet potato but it was really good..and spicy! My husband ordered their special & was very happy with it. The chilaquiles is amazing! Ordered the caldo de pollo to go for our daughter & she liked it. The inside is clean & colorful with the Christmas decoration. We were first seated in a table were by chair couldn't be pulled out for me to sit in since it was in front of a post. Not sure why we were seated there when there were plenty of options since it's wasn't busy. They gladly seated us in a booth of my choice. Besides that little hiccup, I highly recommend this place based on the food & our waitress was pretty good. read more

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Amazing ! The food here is a great twist of authentic and modern Mexican food, the flavors brought me back to my childhood days. If you like Oaxaca flavor this is the place to go. Every single dish i tried brought nothing but joy to my taste buds. The drinks were very well made and good quality. The service and staff were very friendly and welcoming. I have to thank the chef and cooks in the kitchen who did an outstanding job in making each dish feel like food art . I love this place ! read more

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Quesabirria: pretty good. Nice crispy shell, and it came with a good consomme and crema. Ive definitely had better in both Chicago and Boston, but this was still solid. Cochinita Pibil: the meat had a really nice char. Very tasty and packed very full. Elote off the Cob: not too noteworthy. Decent, but I'd order something else next time. Service was fine. Ambiance was nice. Very clean and large space. Nothing particularly wowed me, and prices were on the high side, so I probably wouldn't come back. There is validated parking for the metropolis parking garage next door. read more

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Drove into Nashville around lunchtime and we found this great spot! On a Friday it wasn't that busy and we got a table for our big group easily which was super nice. Our waitress was extremely friendly and patient with our table. We got some of the chips and dips to start which were great and I loved the chips because they were on the thicker side and well salted. I opted for the paloma to drink as well and it was refreshing. To eat, I got the huarhce after a suggestion from the waitress and it was so good! A great size for lunch and all the ingredients were super fresh. Overall a great experience and would love to go again when I am back in Nashville read more

Maiz De La Vida - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between warmth and creativity--inviting, beautifully designed, and full of thoughtful details that make you want to linger. Service was steady and unfussy, the kind that lets the food take center stage while keeping everything running effortlessly. Each plate arrived like a small piece of art, vibrant and intentional, showing off both skill and pride. The quesabirria was the real showstopper--crispy on the outside, molten with cheese, and filled with tender, richly flavored Wagyu. It's the kind of dish that reminds you why people fall in love with good food in the first place. read more

Maiz De La Vida - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

They specialize in their heirloom corn and in house mill process. Excellent flavors, beautiful dishes, nice atmosphere. I'd hit it again read more

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First time here & enjoyed this place with one of my friends. We had reservations at the community table but decided to sit at the bar instead. Love: all the food was very well seasoned; quesabirria taco (smoky sauce was delicious); salsas (ranged in spice level); carne asada (juicy even though we ordered it well, potatoes seasoned well); elote corn; chocolate pie (delicious chocolate on a buttery shortbread crust); service (super kind, thoughtful); validated parking Dislike: community table - if you intend on enjoying conversation with your dinner partners, this might not be the best option. You're not sharing a meal family style with the entire table - only sitting with other guests. read more

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Finally made it to Maiz. Very cute spot tucked away in a cozy corner of The Gulch area. I want to start by saying my Mexican food standards are super high, thanks to my abuelita. Maiz does a nice job of presenting an elevated version of Mexican food. It's not pretentious, but it's also not Tex Mex lol, so if that's what you're looking for, this is not that. I highly recommend making a reservation at the chef's counter. Loved this experience. My favorite bites of the night were the chips & salsa, and chicken tinga tacos. Both dishes had the most flavor out of the things I tried. The spice level variation of the salsas was appreciated and all 3 were really good. The chips really shine here. The tortilla game here is something serious and they make them all in house. The chicken tinga taco was well flavored and the meat was juicy. I LOVED the big garnishes of cilantro. I did not like the flautas. I've never had potato flautas and I definitely prefer chicken or beef flautas and these potato flautas were bland. For me, there was too much either crema or kewpie mayo or whatever the sauce was. Wouldn't order again. The birria taco meat & consumé were somewhat flavorful, but I was missing the cumino and other spices I'm used to. I also noticed my two least favorite dishes of the night used blue corn tortillas. This might be part of my issue too. I prefer white corn tortillas. The flan was executed well. I didn't think my favorite shirley temple since moving to Nashville would be here, but it is! 10/10 for the bartender who made this kiddie cocktail lol. I think the cherries might have been alcohol soaked though? Not sure. It was a good mocktail otherwise though. Service was really good. Portions are large, in my opinion, and I took most of this home. I'd go back to try a couple of other things and their brunch menu. read more

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Chorizo and Grits. ¡Si! Masa Pancakes ¡Si! Dirty Horchata ¡Si, si, si! Attentive service, delicious and creative food. ¡Maiz de la vida es tan rico! read more

Good quality, authentic and creative so I see the hype. However, that doesn't mean everything on the menu is life changing. Salsa and chips: three salsas all very good and exceptional flavors. We ordered a mushroom appetizer... forgettable. Hamachi entree special: fishy flop on beans. Negro mole with chicken, very good. Margaritas, amazing. Eclair dessert was very good but uneventful. Our server Dakota was fantastic. Atmosphere was great, casual vibe. Overall, it was good but not $180 good. Dropping it a star because the price points are outrageous for what you are getting. read more

Maiz De La Vida - Bottom plate: Hamachi on beans and mussels Top plate: Mole negro with chicken (great) - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I always enjoyed the Maiz de la Vida truck but I feel like the brick and mortar takes everything to the next level! It is such a welcoming vibe as soon as you walk in. We were all in the mood for sharing so ordered just about every appetizer and taco. One of my friends is gluten-free and had no problem navigating the menu. There was a shrimp special appetizer that I hope they add permanently to the menu! I also greatly enjoyed the Paloma - can never go wrong with a paloma! I will definitely be back for more! read more

Maiz De La Vida - Paloma and salsa! - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

From truck to table (don't worry, truck is still there), Maiz DLV nails it. The birria remains transcendent, carnitas tacos perfectly crisp and tender, tortillas outstanding. House habanero salsa balances heat with real flavor, and the Dirty Horchata is the perfect sweet finish. Essential stop for serious eaters. read more

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Maíz de la Vida has been on my Nashville restaurant bucket list ever since it opened, and it was well worth the wait. For cocktails, I tried both the Spicy Margarita and the Paloma. The Spicy Margarita was appropriately named -- it was strong and packed a slow, lip-tingling burn. The Paloma was much milder and sweeter. Both were delicious. For an appetizer, we tried the salsa trio, which contained "Tatemeda, Verde and Norteña" salsas. The tatemada and norteña salsa were both on the spicier side (but manageable) while the verde (green) salsa was the mildest. The chips were crispy and well seasoned. The free refill on chips was much appreciated. For my entree, I tried the new (as of February 2025) Chile Relleno, or stuffed pepper. It's one of the few vegetarian entrees on the menu. The pepper is stuffed with oyster mushrooms, sweet potato, quinoa, pineapple. The pepper was surrounded by almond tomato salsa. The flavors worked well together, but there were a lot, so I felt some disappeared into the background, mainly the pineapple. Regardless, it was a delicious entree, and I hope it stays on the menu. Overall, I really enjoyed my experience. The service was great and I really liked the ambiance and decor. I look forward to returning to explore more of the menu. The dessert menu was so tempting! read more

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Had a great dinner at Maiz de la Vida with a large group. We made a reservation and were seated immediately when we arrived. Those who didn't make a reservation had to sit at the bar or outside as the restaurant was very full. Chips, salsa and guac came out quickly - and all had some serious spice to them! The elote corn was the star of the night - I could have eaten 3 bowls of it. Also got the chicken Milanese which was HUGE and completely worth the price of the dish. The chicken mole was good, but was a very small portion for being $32. Also really enjoyed the flautas. The quesabirria was also very good! Definitely will be coming back to try more items on the menu! read more

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I'm a huge fan of their taco truck so I was thrilled when they opened this sit down spot on 8th. Chef Julio is a cool, down to earth guy who truly knows his craft & the food reflects that. All the chefs here are amazing. We only come for lunch but there are many options we enjoy. I'm absolutely obsessed with the enchiladas w/their mole..the mole is next level delicious. Also the quesobirria is amazing (that salsa that comes w/it is STUPID). Also love the potato flautas. Service can be slow as there is usually only one waitress at lunch. But all the staff is kind. I will say, I don't love the layout of the restaurant. They went with mainly communal tables w/booths on the edges of the dining room (that are only available for 3 or more people). I don't want to sit that close to people & I really think that was a big mistake on the design end. Also, due to lack of insulation- you can sometimes hear people loudly shredding the guitar since that guitar shop is above them. Crazy how loud it was the last time we were there. Bizarre. Overall, happy they opened this spot and will support them whenever we can. Recommend! read more

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The restaurant was busy but still easy to have a conversation. We had a group of 5 and shared a very long table with another group of 5 which was never an issue. It never felt like the two parties were interrupting the other. The server was very friendly and helpful with the menu. The food was fantastic. We ordered to share everything. They are famous for the quesabirria and that was fantastic. The corn was very good. The chicharron was fantastic and was my favorite of the things we tried. The salsas were fun. Between the 3 offered with the chips and guacamole, there was a 4th with the meal. They had varying heat levels, and all had a great flavor. read more

Went there for an early dinner. Prices are very high on some items and very appropriate for others. Food was tasty but some items like the street tacos were too pricey for the few bites . The chips and guacamole were extremely pricey , even though the chips were homemade. Service started out good then as they got busier we couldn't get more drinks and were very disappointed in how long we waited. So food is tasty but pricey and service was mixed. read more

Maiz De La Vida - Salmon - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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My first time here and wow, it was amazing. First off, we had a couple more people than we expected and they accommodated us even though they were busy. Second, it's set up so nicely inside. Tucked away in a new development (and they give a parking discount) it's really a great spot. Third, service was great. Our server was patient and gave us his recommendations and was just down to earth and kind. Lastly the food! Wow. Everything was delicious, hot, and balanced. Absolutely get the birria. read more

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Love to see Maiz de la Vida expanding to a brick-and-mortar! Their food truck in East Nashville is a local favorite, and this new spot in the Gulch is sure to be a hit. A friend and I stopped in for lunch on a Monday and were surprised to find it pretty busy! They were prioritizing reservations, but there was bar seating and community tables for walk-in guests like us. The decor is bright and colorful - and our server seemed really excited to have us there! I ordered their Chilaquiles with an egg on top, and my friend went with the Quesabirria. The Chilaquiles is a huge portion for lunch - although next time I might add chicken instead of an egg to balance out the chip to topping ratio. The Salsa Verde it's served with is fresh and flavorful. We shared a slice of their Tres Leches Cake for dessert - which was the perfect sweet treat to end our lunch. Their lunch prices aren't bad either - especially for the area. We didn't try their drinks this time around, but I'd definitely consider this as a solid option for lunch! read more

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Finally got to try Maíz DLV. Best meal I've had in sooo long. One of the best meals I've ever had, in fact. Tried the broccoli. It was perfectly balanced with a touch of spice and some sweetness from the peaches. The fried yuca was comfort food of the highest order. The elote was perfect. The Milanese was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Fresh dill complemented the dressed greens and sexy salsa. Of course the hand pressed tortillas are incredible. Perfectly toothsome. Service was great. Shout out to Kayla. read more

Parking is difficult to find depending on the day and time. We've had the taco truck, which was great. Husband had the chilaquiles and thought they were great. Daughter had the quesabirria and it was not as good as what we had prior, but she liked it okay. I had the quesabirria burrito. The meat tasted like poor quality meat to me and the burrito was mostly rice, hardly any beans or meat. The tortilla was good, except for the parts that tasted like bad cooking oil. The guacamole was very good and the best part of the meal. read more

After a long travel day and short planned trip to Nashville we decided to order food off of Post mates instead of going out, we had been researching restaurants we wanted to try and this place was actually on our list! Fresh tortillas and Kentucky Waygu? Sign us up! (As Kentuckians we may be a bit biased) but this place did not disappoint what's so ever. We ordered the Birria tacos, chicken tacos, elote, and flautas... it was all absolutely delicious! Elote was a little spicy after eating a few bites of it but still delicious! The star of the show for me was the Flautas- the flautas themselves were so good but the sauce they put on them really sends it over the edge for me! Absolutely delicious and so so Crispy! Would 1000% order this again! This place is a food truck attached to a tiki bar so eating there would be nice as well! We just were too exhausted to deal with. read more

Maiz De La Vida - Chicken tacos (back) and birria (front) - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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So good! It's a small little spot in the gulch that a friend recommended - and now I can't wait to go back and try more. We sat at the bar and they gave us a complimentary empanada to start which was so tasty. I had the chicken street tacos which were the perfect level of spicy. I am already planning my next trip here to try out more of the menu. read more

Maiz De La Vida - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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They really missed the mark on takeout. I visited at lunch time to place a takeout order at the bar. I ordered a Barbacoa Quesadilla to go. I then paid the bartender. When my food arrived, there was no plastic ware or napkins, so I asked for some. The bartender wasn't sure what to do, so I went directly to the order expediter. He told me they didn't have any plastic ware or napkins for me. I then asked if there was salsa in the box with my food. He assured me there was. But later, when I opened my food, there was no salsa of any kind. Only a quesadilla, refried beans (with some cheese sprinkled on them), and some consommé in a small to go container. The food was decent, but it was really hard to eat without plastic ware or napkins. I'm really disappointed by this experience and I probably won't return. Nope, I think I'll stick to Pie Town Tacos for a better overall experience. read more

Maiz De La Vida - Front Entrance - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Everything was amazing! The greeting upon arrival, the attention given by the server, the great selection of cocktails----the FOOD! This is ELEVATED Mexican on a whole ''nother level. Not to be missed! read more

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I love that menu is ever changing but has some staples that stick around - incredible birria taco & elote, didn't love the espresso martini style drink but not a huge orange fan read more

MUST VISIT! The inside was great with music and a bright and clean welcoming vibe. The host and bartender both were very nice and professional. The drinks were very good. But the food! I have never In my life had better tacos. They were life changing! They were a bit expensive but I genuinely don't mind because the food was that good. We will definitely be coming back! I would recommend making sure you have a reservation though as there aren't a whole lot of tables. read more

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Went for brunch this past weekend. We started with the chips and salsa. Chips are home made. I didn't love the salsas but I'm a wimp with heat. We also got the banana Foster's pancake. It was way too sweet for me. Granted I don't have a sweet tooth. The actual pancake was good though. I had the eggs Benedict. They make the English muffin in house. The dish is was good. I had the bloody Mary like drink that had tequila. It was good as well. Server was very nice, had lots of recommendations. Restaurant is pretty/ read more

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Came to Maíz de La Vida with a friend after waiting for a previous reservation to be honored as they were running behind. I've been to the food truck in East Nashville on several occasions for their amazing Quesabarria tacos. Their restaurant did not disappoint either. I decided to go with the Tlayudas per Matt's (the Bartender) recommendation. They did not disappoint. The Chef has every right to be proud of that dish. I ask tried the Canterita drink, which made this Mezcal hater enjoy a Mezcal drink for the first time. I'll be back soon. read more

Maiz De La Vida - The Bar - Mexican Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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