Maize Mexican Grill
1 / 3

Maize Mexican Grill

,

Experience authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch, served in a charming historic train station with a lively, convivial atmosphere.

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Maize Mexican Grill

Maize Mexican Grill

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Experience authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch, served in a charming historic train station with a lively, convivial atmosphere.

"This is a place I will definitely return to if back in town."

TIP

Happy Hour Deals

Visit weekdays 4-6pm for half-off appetizers like chips & salsa flight and guacamole.

Generous Portions

Portions are large; consider sharing or planning for leftovers.

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Open·Closes 10PM

Cuisine

Mexican

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(217) 355-3611

Address

100 N Chestnut St, Champaign, IL 61820, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Authentic Mexican Flavors

Authentic Mexican Flavors

Indulge in scratch-made Mexican dishes with authentic flavors from Mexico City, Michoacan, and Guerrero.

Handmade Blue Corn Tortillas

Handmade Blue Corn Tortillas

Experience unique, fresh, and handmade blue corn tortillas, a hallmark of Maize's commitment to authenticity.

TikTok
Charming Train Station Ambiance

Charming Train Station Ambiance

Dine in a warm and convivial atmosphere within a beautifully restored, historic train station.

TikTok
Your AI travel agent

Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you

Start Chatting

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

So far the best mexican Food in Central IL 🌮🌯🫔 Wings with Mole Enfrijoladas MAIZE #mexicanfood #whattoeatinchampaign #champaignurbana #champaign #centralillinois #illinois #maize
@fabis9250
9 likes • 1.5K views

Happy Hour Deals

Visit weekdays 4-6pm for half-off appetizers like chips & salsa flight and guacamole.

Generous Portions

Portions are large; consider sharing or planning for leftovers.

Y’all was really out here keeping tlacoyos a secret?! Had to pull up to Maize Mexican Grill in Champaign to see what the hype was about, and bro… the Mega Tlacoyos are something serious. Thick, handmade masa, packed with flavor, crispy on the outside, soft in the middle, and loaded with all the right toppings. This is elite street food, straight-up fire. If you’ve never had one, fix that ASAP. 📍 M...
@chriscaresnone
493 likes • 6.3K views
Make sure you guys aren’t missing out on Wednesday nights at Maize Mexican Grill Downtown CU, 9-1am $8 margaritas and $3 Modelos & $4 tequila shots! With your favorite IDEAL Dj Wesjile playing your favorite Latinx hits all night, definitely don’t miss out and come have fun with us! #fyp #uritheegod #salsa #Cumbia #bachata #cu #uofi #downtown #latinnight
@utgtheealchemist
12 likes • 716 views

Vegetarian Options

Try unique vegetarian dishes like nopal or squash blossom options.

Gluten-Free Friendly

Maize is about 95% gluten-free, excluding flour tortillas.

Tips

from all over the internet

Happy Hour Deals

Visit weekdays 4-6pm for half-off appetizers like chips & salsa flight and guacamole.

Generous Portions

Portions are large; consider sharing or planning for leftovers.

Vegetarian Options

Try unique vegetarian dishes like nopal or squash blossom options.

Gluten-Free Friendly

Maize is about 95% gluten-free, excluding flour tortillas.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Maize Mexican Grill receives praise for its authentic flavors, handmade tortillas, and generous portions, creating a welcoming atmosphere in a unique train station setting. However, some diners have experienced issues with service inconsistency and value for money, particularly concerning automatic gratuities and portion sizes for certain items.

"The tacos really hold up. The tortillas taste great, thinly sliced ribeye with the melted cheese was great too.

The free tortilla chips were thick but the salsa and all the dips are pretty addicting."

Sameet Sapra

"We were a family of 4, new to the area looking for something to eat. We decided to give this place a try and we were not disappointed. We usually get 3 entrees for 4 people, so we were very surprised to see how much food we ordered when it arrived.

They only do one free round of chips and salsa, but honestly you don’t even need to fill up on chips because HALF an entree will fill you up.

We added zucchini blossoms to the fajitas and enchilada, which added an interesting and unique flavor to it.

Whether you’re a student of nearby University of Illinois or just visiting, I’d highly recommend this place!"

Manil Trivedi

"Second time here. Wanted to try the Mega Tlacoyo. Didn’t like it that much. The flavor was muddled. The meat was the strongest flavor and we didn’t like it. However, the smoked mezcal drink was fantastic! The chips and salsa and order of guacamole was excellent! The chicken and shrimp enchiladas were tasty too. Our server was kind! We will visit again when we are in town."

Tamara Brandt

What People Like

Authentic and flavorful Mexican dishes
Fresh, handmade corn tortillas
Generous portion sizes

What People Dislike

Inconsistent and slow service
High prices for some items
Automatic gratuity policies

Frequently Asked Questions

Maize uses fresh, local corn to create handmade tortillas daily, offering an authentic taste experience.

Best Restaurants In Champaign Urbana, IL

Yes, Maize offers several vegetarian-friendly dishes, including options with nopales and squash blossoms.

Where and What to Eat During Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week 2025

Portions are generally generous, often enough to share or take home as leftovers.

Google Review

Yes, weekdays from 4-6pm, enjoy half-off appetizers like chips & salsa flight and guacamole.

TikTok

Maize is about 95% gluten-free, with the exception of flour tortillas.

Google Review

The restaurant is known for its warm and convivial atmosphere, set within a charming, historic train station.

Must-Stop Foodie Spots in Champaign County - Experience Champaign-Urbana

Many guests rave about the creative and delicious margaritas and other cocktails.

Google Review

The menu has changed, and tacos may need to be ordered in multiples, starting at a certain price point.

Google Review

Mentioned in

Featured in these publications

The Culture Trip

The Best Restaurants In Champaign, Illinois

The owners of Maize Mexican Grill are from Mexico City, so you know that what you’re getting is authentic. The menu is short but sweet. Most of the dishes are recognizable to Mexican food connoisseurs (with a few exceptions, of course, like the torta ahogada and the tlacoyo, which both include a number of traditional Mexican ingredients put together in different ways).

Visit Source →
meamy.morrisoncapital.net

s2bank ghana Maize Mexican Grill - Champaign Illinois Restaurant - HappyCow Best Vegan Restaurants in Champaign-Urbana, IL - Tripadvisor WebTHE 10 BEST Vegetarian Restaurants in Champaign (Updated 2022) United States Illinois (IL) Champaign-Urbana Champaign Champaign Restaurants Vegetarian Friendly … s2 bananas Maize Mexican Grill - Champaign Illinois Restaurant - HappyCow THE 10 BEST Restaurants in Champaign - Tripadvisor Web1. The Courier Cafe 348 reviews Closed Now American, Cafe $$ - $$$ Menu “Great food” “Sunday morning breakfast” Order online 2022 2. Seven Saints 404 reviews Open Now … s2 bankruptcy's WebReviews on Vegan Food in Champaign, IL - The Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant, Cafe Sababa, Everyday Kitchen - Champaign, Maize Mexican Grill, I Heart Mac & … s2 bandit's WebBest Vegan Friendly Restaurants in Champaign: See Tripadvisor traveller reviews of Vegan Restaurants in Champaign.

Visit Source →
ChambanaMoms.com

Where and What to Eat During Champaign-Urbana Area Restaurant Week 2025

A-MAIZE-ING: With breakfast, lunch and dinner options, Maize is a great option for any meal due to its fresh, unique flavors, generous portions, and friendly environment. For dinner, guests are invited to have two courses — Sopa Tarasca (bean and tortilla soup) with a choice of entrees. For the vegetarians, we were excited to see Mega Tlacoyo with Nopales featured — a stuffed blue corn tortilla topped with tender grilled nopales, melted cheese, onion, cilantro, sour cream, and añjeo cheese.

Visit Source →
Smile Politely — Champaign-Urbana's Culture Magazine

BEST new restaurants of the decade: 2010-2019

When Maize Mexican Grill took over the little shack on First and Green in 2011, it was without much fanfare or anticipation. The restaurant, which previously housed Ye Olde Donuts, Noe’s BBQ, and Derald’s over the previous decade, opened quietly, with just a small vinyl banner out front that had a drawing of a couple of Mexican farmers tilling land. I reviewed it on a whim, two weeks after it opened, stumbling into it with my friend John late at night, just to see what it was all about.

Visit Source →
trycaviar.com

Order the best Latin-american near Mahomet, IL

The food was great with amazing flavor! However, $8 for half a paper bag of Chips & Salsa and only 2 small salsas with it and then a green sauce and another sauce seems rather steep. The Tacos de Lomo (3) were filling and so tasty! And a classic Diet coke was my Fountain Drink.". "Pasta Poblana and Chips & Salsa were edible but not the best . their tacos are so boring and lacking much flavor. Meat was very dry with very minimal seasoning.

Visit Source →
Travel With Me 24 X 7

Best Restaurants In Champaign Urbana, IL

Authentic Mexican restaurant located in the heart of the city which is vibrant campus town of University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign. It was opened in 2011 and are recreating Mexican flavors from Mexican city named Michoacan and mountainous region of Guerrero. They prepare food from fresh ingredients and even the corn tortillas are handmade.

Visit Source →
Spoon University

The Best Ethnic Restaurants in Champaign Urbana

If you haven’t heard of Maize, are you sure you actually attend the University of Illinois?. This Mexican joint on First and Green is one of the most talked-about spots on campus. Why spring for Chipotle when you can walk a few blocks west and score some a-Maize-ing (sorry, couldn’t resist) and authentic Mexican cuisine?

Visit Source →
experiencecu.org

Must-Stop Foodie Spots in Champaign County - Experience Champaign-Urbana

Their first location just off campustown grew so popular, with long lines reaching out the door, that they opened a second location in the historic train station in downtown Champaign. Maize Mexican Grill delights patrons with their authentic Mexican dishes. Their fresh, flavorful ingredients transport you to Mexico.

Visit Source →
illinitoweruiuc.com

Explore Your UIUC Neighborhood | Illini Tower

From the well-loved Espresso Royale to the vibrant Maize Mexican Grill, Champaign has endless options to keep you fueled. Explore classic favorites like the Blind Pig Brewery for craft brews or indulge at Black Dog Smoke & Ale House for unbeatable BBQ—all close to campus and perfect for breaks or celebrations.

Visit Source →
212 East

The Best Restaurants in Champaign, Illinois

If you like Mexican food, this place will have you coming back for more, and maybe have you running off with their tortillas as well!. This local Mexican grill serves fresh handmade corn tortillas for every order. Maize’s makes sure to use the freshest ingredients in all their food which are all made in-house.

Visit Source →
UIUC Admissions Blog

My Official Top 5 Local Restaurants in Champaign-Urbana

My favorite Mexican food on campus, Maize perfects almost every different kind of Mexican cuisine. From basic things like burritos and tacos to more complex dishes like birria tacos, no matter what you get, it will be fantastic. Maize also has two different experiences for diners as well.

Visit Source →
The Daily Illini

Campustown boasts popular bars, restaurants

Maize serves tasty Mexican food and is located on the western edge of Campustown. Sakanaya is on the pricey end, but its ramen and sushi are worth the splurge on a special occasion. Sushi Ichiban, next to Ragstock and Panda Express, is good for a quick and cheap sushi dining experience.

Visit Source →
Burnham 310

Best Restaurants in Champaign, IL

Picture Link:http://markbittman.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/mexican-grilled-corn-e1431623174678.jpg. Maize Mexican Grill is a spot you must visit when in Champaign. This amazing spot has been visited by the Food Network’s own Guy Fieri and left him amazed.

Visit Source →
Family Destinations Guide

15 Best Restaurants in Champaign, IL for 2025 (Top Eats!)

60 E Green StChampaign, IL 61820(217) 355-6400 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. Maize Mexican Grill in Champaign is a popular eatery that opened in 2012. It offers delicious Mexican cuisine with a vibrant atmosphere and excellent customer service.

Visit Source →
Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling & More

16 Must-Try Restaurants in Champaign, IL to Try in 2023

Cuisine: Mexican restaurantAddress: 110 N Chestnut St, Champaign, IL 61820Maize’s Website. Maize has plenty of options for those looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant serving margaritas, tamales, fajitas, and enchiladas.

Visit Source →
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

4 Best Restaurants to Eat at on Green Street, Champaign IL | by Arienne Monteclar

The burritos and tacos are super fresh and the rice is flavorful. The only downside is the cramped location and crowds of people cramming through the door. Though they aren’t a super fancy place, they do everything well.

Visit Source →
Site Title

A Taste of Mexico: Your Guide to the Best Mexican Food in Champaign, IL

Maize Mexican Grill” provides a wonderful selection of elevated Mexican cuisine. You can stop by to relax and enjoy a cocktail or have a wonderful dinner. Their options consist of tacos, enchiladas, and much more.

Visit Source →
MHM Properties | UIUC Luxury Student Apartments

The Best of the best UIUC – Food and Shopping

As a completely made-from-scratch restaurant, Maize Mexican Grill is open and ready for the public. They have two locations around champaign as well as a seasonal food truck. Who doesn’t love a food truck?!

Visit Source →
Movoto Real Estate

14 Best Champaign-Urbana Restaurants

Yelp: 4 stars, 194 reviews Prepare to have your expectations of what a real Mexican restaurant should be. Yes, it’s that good. You’ll be greeted with fresh chips alongside two different kinds of hot sauce.

Visit Source →
Stacker

Best Restaurants for 10 Cuisines in Champaign

- Rating: 5.0/5 (4 reviews)- Address: 519 W Town Center Blvd Champaign, IL 61822- Categories: Mexican, Food Trucks- Read more on Yelp

Visit Source →
chambanaeats.com

All the food and drink spots in The Daily Illini’s 2025 Best of CU Awards

Visit Source →
Maize Mexican Grill (2026) – Best of TikTok, Instagram & Reddit Food Guide