Casa Balam

"Mexican restaurant Casa Balam hits a lot of high notes—and not just because of the upbeat music bouncing off the sun-baked stone walls. Their spacious dining room often means you can walk right in without a wait, especially on weekdays. And if group ordering starts getting tricky, point your crew toward shareable dishes like beef birria with chiles and citrusy ceviche platters. Plus, the food and drinks are fantastic, like the velvety Bee Word with coconut milk, sweet pollen, and tequila." - juli horsford, jacinta howard, nina reeder

"At Casa Balam, music ricochets off sun-baked stone walls. Servers weave through the crowd, balancing trays of electric-blue mezcal cocktails. They pause to unveil platters of ceviche, wisps of smoke curling dramatically around the dishes. At first, it all might feel a bit Miami-obnoxious. That's part of the reason why we like this Decatur Mexican spot. It’s not a who’s who of Atlanta, but it has the look and feel of one. People come to Casa Balam for a good time, sure, but really this is a place to kick back, share some spice-packed plates, and go with the upbeat flow. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Fish shines as a highlight here. In the tacos de pescado, the flounder has crackly, tasty breading, and is flaky and moist inside. Tender and light, the ceviche ahumado has a zingy, citrus kick that’s cool and bright. To bring a little flair to your table, that ceviche arrives in a cloud of aformentioned drama that dances above the plate. Casa Balam also stands out because they get really nerdy with their masa. They process all of their own corn in-house to make tortillas and tortilla-adjacent dishes. At lunch, we especially like the picaditas, where the cornmeal base truly tastes and smells like corn. They're sturdy and loaded with chicken. While it’s smart to make a reservation on weekend nights, diners can usually just show up and find a seat, or snag a spot at the bar. Between the music and everyone talking over it, it gets loud in here at night. So save any hushed, soul-searching conversations you might have stored up for another time (like maybe at lunch or brunch, when it’s quieter and there are also pancakes and eggs on the menu). But Casa Balam is really best used for a fun time out when you don’t want to see anyone wearing sunglasses inside. So when it’s unclear if the evening will end in tequila shots, or a heated game of Scrabble, bring the pre-game crew or book club squad. This place works for both. video credit: Amy Sinclair Food Rundown photo credit: Amy Sinclair Tacos De Pescado Casa Balam does fish well. The breading on this flounder is crispy and flavorful. And the corn tortillas are soft, not grainy or crumbly. Ceviche Ahumado For such a theatrical dish, this is a simple and refreshing starter. The fish has had time to get comfortable in a spicy peach and lime marinade. photo credit: Jacinta Howard The Bee Word This is the best cocktail on the menu. It’s washed in coconut milk, so it’s velvet-smooth, with the bee pollen adding a bit of sweetness while the lime balances it out with a tangy touch. El Azul Your mouth won’t turn blue drinking this smooth fruit-forward mezcal cocktail with blue curacao, gin, and lemon, but it’s strong enough to make you keep checking to see if it did. Picaditas These are only served at lunch, but they might be our favorite thing here. The tea saucer-sized picaditas arrive loaded with nicely seasoned chicken, black beans, crumbly queso fresco, and a big slice of avocado. The housemade masa base is slightly soft but toasty enough to support the toppings. photo credit: Amy Sinclair Steak This dish is available at lunch, although steak is also on the menu for dinner. It’s fork-tender and comes with tangy, herby chimichurri sauce, which makes what would ordinarily be a heavy meal feel almost salad-y...but with much, much more beef." - Jacinta Howard

"Atlanta is on a roll with Mexican cuisine. The team behind the popular El Valle in Midtown and Oaxaca in Chamblee have opened Casa Balam in downtown Decatur. It is in the former Ted’s Montana Grill location. Chef and co-owner Luis Damian has created a menu of traditional and modern Mexican fare, including tacos, empanadas, and family-style meat options of duck confit, beef birria, and Chilean sea bass. Be sure to order the corn tres leches for its extra creamy goodness." - Eater Staff, Henna Bakshi

"From the co-owner of El Valle and Oaxaca, Casa Balam is the newest addition to Decatur’s downtown dining scene. Taking over the old Ted’s Montana Grill space, the Mexican restaurant features huge booths—perfect to crowd into with friends and little ones while you dig into family-style platters of tender chicken, duck, and birria, with warm housemade tortillas. Start with an order of creamy guacamole with onions and jalapeños. And we'd also recommend the juicy 10-ounce wagyu, which is shareable but so good you probably won’t want to. For a margarita, try the Bee Word, made with coconut milk and slightly sweet bee pollen—it’s so refreshing you'll consider the merits of starting your own bee colony." - nina reeder, juli horsford, jacinta howard

"Luis C. Damian, founder of Mi Casa Tu Casa Hospitality Group, operates five restaurants in Atlanta including El Valle, Oaxaca, and Casa Balam. His journey from dishwasher to executive chef was shaped by his experiences at Bahama Breeze and The Cheesecake Factory." - Henna Bakshi