MAiiZ Nixtamal Tortillería
540 Fisgard St
Victoria, BC

Hours: Daily 11 AM to 6 PM
Website: https://maiiz.ca
Phone: (778) 433-1544

MaiiZ is the home to more than just tortillas. Here, they serve all the basics of Mexican food–tamales, tacos and quesadillas. I visited one week for their mushroom tacos, another for their huitlacoches (corn smut) and finally grasshoppers! Regarding the former, these shrooms were slow cooked and basted in a special recipe to bring out the extra flavour. And anyone willing to accept that eating bugs isn’t gross, these insectas aren’t just randomly plucked from anywhere!

One layer of the flatbread isn’t enough to hold some of these tacos. Depending on the ingredient, two gets used to keep everything from sagging. When I first visited, I was curious about the fungi, and the woodsy scents and flavours that made my mouth salivate are perfect. In the middle are a wonderful mix of fresh cilantro, cabbage and pickled red onion. I prefer mild salsa so that my mouth isn’t burning afterwards, but maybe next time I’ll go all the way.

As for the latter, I was hopping! Grasshoppers aren’t an ingredient commonly listed in menus, and while this offering is a seasonal treat, I hope it’ll return once in a while! When they are dried up, spiced up and even given an appropriate garnish to deliver the right amount of softness (of the avocado) and popcorn like crunch, I’m all over them like an anteater to a nest to this other edible delight! The zesty shrimp-like flavour is very different from what I tasted before.

I was begging for them to sell packages so I can snack on them alone! Alas, I’m not sure where the cooks source this product from. It’s safe to say they are dressed up at the kitchen, but as for where I can buy just the basics in bulk, hopefully they can tell me in my next visit.

Although their specialty tacos are pricier than the regular offerings by a wide margin ($8 a piece than 3 for $18 for beef or chicken), I’m okay with that! Supporting small businesses who go out of their way for including the exotic deserves the price hike. Also, the staff are very friendly and get to remember their clients when they visit very often!

Chef Israel Alvarez Molina established this operation some years ago (bio in the link), and is brilliant for bringing the authentic flavours of his home to Victoria. I can’t wait to see what’s next. What he has developed in his tortilla recipe is different from a lot of store bought. I can tell that part of it is due to how they crisp it up. There’s a soft cereal like crunch. The increased amount of lime makes all the difference, but I suspect he’s added other ingredients into the recipe.

They also make their own ice cream (which I’ll have to return to try the next visit) and custom drinks. I’m glad that their primary staple, the tortilla, is also sold at grocery stores. One won’t be enough to satisfy my appetite and I’ll have to pay attention to their open air kitchen to see how they crisp it up so I can replicate it at home! Overall, I’m back for their mushroom tacos when the craving hits. But to truly amp it up, I hope they’re listening as Fall is right around the corner. I can see how this can be improved when the Autumn season arrives. That’s when one can go into the woods to harvest lobster, ox tongue or califlower (or the chef can visit The Root Celler).

Even by thinking about what they use has me anxious, but ultimately, I’ll have to pay attention to their Facebook and Instagram page to know when or if its coming!

4½ Stars out of 5