Latin street food restaurant now open in Reston at Plaza America

RestonNow.com November 6, 2023 at 11:35am

Maizal at Plaza America in Reston (courtesy Maizal)

Maizal, a Latin American street food restaurant, is now open at Plaza America in Reston (courtesy Maizal)

Maizal, a chain that specializes in Latin American street food, is finally up and running in Reston.

The restaurant opened its doors in Plaza America this past Thursday (Nov. 2) — a full year later than the previously anticipated Halloween 2022 opening.

Patrick Mika, Maizal’s marketing and catering director, said he can’t comment on the delay, but the restaurant team is “just happy to be open.”

“We are so excited to finally be able to share our concept with Reston,” Mika told FFXnow. “…We have already had several people walk in from seeing our ‘now open’ banner and they were all blown away by the flavors!”

Located at 11690 Plaza America Drive, Maizal took the place of Zoës Kitchen, the fast-casual Mediterranean eatery that got swallowed up and rebranded by Cava.

A grand opening is scheduled for Nov. 15 at 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m. Customers will be offered a free burrito bowl with any drink purchase, though the “premium meats” — grilled steak and braised brisket — will still cost an extra $2.50.

Mika says Maizal has specialty items that “set us a part from other Latin concepts,” including a variety of arepas, empandas and street tacos. The menu also includes quesadillas, nachos, chips and dips, burritos, and rice and salad bowls. The burritos, bowls and arepas can be ordered as pre-set or build-your-own dishes.

This is Maizal’s first Fairfax County location, but it’s part of the same restaurant group as Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, which can be found at Reston Town Center West, among other sites. Mika previously told FFXnow that the company’s familiarity with Reston through Mezeh led them to bring Maizal to the area.

Maizal now has five locations total, including two D.C. restaurants, one in Ballston and one in Charlottesville. Additional locations are expected to open at L’Enfant Plaza in D.C. and Pentagon City Mall in Arlington by the end of this year, Mika said.