Julio Hernandez first launched his journey into restaurant ownership with a griddle and some handmade tortillas. Now, he has a restaurant in a primo spot in the Gulch where there are tacos, yes, but also excellent steaks, ceviche and mole.
The combination of handcrafted Mexican food in a warm environment, complemented by excellent cocktails and attentive service, has helped propel Maiz de la Vida into nationwide recognition, with Hernandez netting a James Beard nomination.
Today, Maiz de la Vida has made even more news with its inclusion on USA Today’s 2026 Restaurants of the Year list. The local spot, along with Junior in East Nashville, was named one of the top 39 places to eat in America.
What makes Maiz de la Vida stand out
It’s unsurprising that this modern Mexican restaurant, where corn both forms a back-bar mural and serves as the backbone of the menu from tortillas to nixtamal grits and stock for rice, has captured so much attention…