Maize Mexican Grill, the popular downtown Champaign restaurant, will open a second restaurant soon, owner Armando Sandoval announced Wednesday.
The new location is the home of what was previously Epic Burger and, before that, Meatheads, at 1305 S. Neil St. Epic Burger closed earlier this month.
Maize has enjoyed a successful run at The Station, 100 N. Chestnut St., in Champaign, since 2017. It was Maize’s first attempt at a more formal, sit-down restaurant; Maize had initially opened at 60 E. Green St., in 2011, at the tiny site of what was once Ye Olde Donut Shoppe. That initial location — which boasted only a handful of seats and even fewer parking spots — offered quick, mostly to-go orders and became wildly popular from inception.
Maize seeks to “recreate traditional dishes and flavors from Mexico City, Michoacan and the mountains of a little farm in Guerrero, Mexico,” according to its website. “We have since closed the Green Street location due to the building being removed for a new development.”
Maize also has a location at the Illini Union, serving the fast-casual menu made popular by its original Green Street location. The menu also contains breakfast items. Maize also has a popular food truck.
The new spot is expected to offer a similar menu and experience as the original Maize on Green Street. It will also include drive-through service.
In 2018, The Daily Meal honored Maize as having the best burrito in Illinois and the 11th-best in the country.
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