Tmaz Taqueria Beyond the Fold

We already covered Tmaz Taqueria's tacos in The Fold. The al pastor was the best of the series. The barbacoa stayed with me for days. Tacos at $2.50 each when you buy two made it the cheapest full meal in the lineup. All of that stands. But Tmaz is not just a taco shop, and the rest of the menu deserves its own look.

Beyond the Taco

Pupusas ($3.50 each) are thick, stuffed corn cakes griddle-pressed to order. The cheese-and-bean version is the starting point, with a molten interior and a crust that has just enough resistance before giving way. Curtido, the pickled cabbage relish served alongside, adds acid and crunch. Two pupusas and a drink is a meal for under $10.^{1Pricing from in-restaurant observation at the Packard location, summer 2025.}

Tamales ($4) come wrapped in corn husks, steamed until the masa is soft and the filling is concentrated. Pork and chicken are the regulars. Both are good. The masa is the thing: dense but not heavy, with enough lard to give it flavor and body.

The enchiladas are a bigger plate. Three corn tortillas rolled around your choice of protein, covered in red or green sauce, served with rice and beans. This is a $12-$14 plate that feeds generously. I ordered the enchiladas rojas with chicken on my second non-taco visit and regretted nothing.

The 3 Leches Cake

I mentioned in the Fold entry that I had seen 3 Leches Cake on at least half the tables. On a return trip I finally ordered it. The cake is soaked through, sweet without tipping into cloying, and served cold. It is exactly what you want after a plate of enchiladas or four tacos. At $5, it costs less than most desserts downtown.

The 4 a.m. Advantage

This bears repeating. Tmaz is open Monday through Saturday until 4 a.m. Closed Sundays. In a city where the late-night options thin out dramatically after 10 p.m., a full-service taqueria cooking from scratch at 2 a.m. is not just convenient. It is important.

The Packard Street location sits east of Platt, past the point where the student corridor gives way to quieter strip malls and residential blocks. Parking is easy. The second Tmaz location at 2529 Dexter Ave in Ann Arbor offers the same menu. Both are open late. Both are cooking everything from scratch.

The kitchen does not cut corners at these prices. Tortillas are fresh. Salsas are made daily. The green salsa, thin and loaded with serrano heat, remains one of the best condiments at any restaurant in the county. A four-taco dinner with a drink costs about $13. A pupusa plate costs less. The 3 Leches Cake costs $5. If there is a better dollar-per-calorie ratio in Ann Arbor, I have not found it.

Tmaz Taqueria is at 3182 Packard St, Ann Arbor. Second location at 2529 Dexter Ave. Mon-Sat 11 a.m.-4 a.m. Closed Sunday. Cash and card accepted.