This months mystery dinner treated us to this flavorful spot tucked in with a lot of restaurant/bar gems I can't wait to explore. But first thing first, Mala Pata is a beautifully decorated and well deserving of its prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand award. Each flavor layers so beautifully, you're definitely in for a culinary delight. My favorite hands down is the bunuelos, just know they're incredibly addictive don't say you weren't warned. I enjoyed the macha wings, pepita salad, roasted oysters and pasillo de humo very much as well. Honorable mention is the guacamole and flautas de papas. Our party did the shared plates and I'm convinced you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Our server was absolutely amazing as well. I'm very much looking forward to returning. We had ladies night, but this could also work for a lovely date night too. read more

Ventured over to Crabtree to try out this much anticipated Mexican restaurant with a Bib Gourmand recommendation! The decor was funky and fun, chupacabras and colorful decor. Their plates are tapas-style, which I love as well. I ordered their non-alcoholic ginger drink (i forget the name), but it was delicious with a ginger punch and perfect for my upset stomach. The dishes came out in a weird order in my opinion, but no complaints. Our first dish served was the relleno-fried fish tacos. The tortilla itself was so delicious and corn-forward, the fish was tender and nicely fried, though i wish it was a little crispier, and I missed any relleno flavor. Next up was the lechoncito street tacos which were my absolute favorite dish of the night. The pork carnitas melted in your mouth, the salsa verde added the perfect punch of acidity, and the corn tortillas here were phenomenal again. Next dish to the table was the bunuelos, and this was my husband's favorite dish of the night. These were nice and crunchy, with a gooey, gummy exterior that you see with yuca flour. These only thing missing was the agave from the butter. Last up was the steak coloradito - the steak was nicely grilled, mole coloradito had a phenomenal color and nice smoky flavor, and the chimmichurri added a nice herbal acidic note. Beans were maybe a tad under but delicious. A lovely modern take on Mexican food! 7/10 s *Bunuelos: fried balls of yuca flour with queso oaxaca, guajillo chili oil, agave butter *Lechoncito Street Tacos: white corn & pork tallow tortillas topped with salsa verde, confit pork carnitas, and pork cracklings *Relleno-Fried Fish Tacos: blue corn tortillas with relleno-battered fried NC fish, sofrito aioli, mango & cabbage curtido, pickled onions, cilantro *Grilled Steak Coloradito: 6oz grilled skirt steak, mole coloradito, mayocoba bean salad, charred green onion, chimmichurri, habanero-pickled shallot, caramelized white onion read more

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I've really enjoyed my first experiences at Mala Pata in Raleigh, recently awarded a Michelin "Bib Gourmand" designation. Their tagline proclaims "Bold Latin American flavors crafted with North Carolina heart"... and after two visits I couldn't agree more. With fresh masa made daily from heirloom Oaxacan corn, you'll get exceptional chips, tostadas, and blue and white tortillas as the base of many dishes. Of course that's just the start... I first heard about nixtamalization, where corn is converted into masa, living down in South Florida circa 2015. My Miami food-obsessed friends kept raving about a new taco stand, Taquiza, and the great stuff it was turning out. Despite living 40 miles north, I became a regular, in large part due to their freshly made chips, tostadas, and tortillas, nixtamalized daily! And now, living in NC, I'm so glad to discover Mala Pata in Raleigh is similarly upping the bar on Mexican dining. Dishes I've enjoyed include (see photos)... Rajas Enchiladas - Fire-Roasted Poblanos, Queso Cotija, Cheerwine Mole, Pickled Onions, Sesame, Crema, White Corn Tortillas Aguachile Verde - NC Shrimp, Serrano, Cucumber, Shrimp Head Oil, Radish, Avocado, Corn Nuts, Cilantro, Tostadas Pepita Salad - Lettuces, Parsley, Radish, Herb Crema, Piloncillo Pepitas, Cotija Añejo Fresh Guacamole - With Marinated Tomatoes, Cotija Cheese, Pickled Onions, Pepitas, and Cilantro, served with House-Made Corn Chips. Relleno-Battered NC Catch of the Day on fresh Blue Corn Tortillas topped with Sofrito Aioli, Mango Curtido, and Pickled Onions Fuego Margarita - Serrano-Infused Blanco Tequila, Pineapple, Lime, Cilantro, Orange Liqueur The restaurant is spotless, with very cool décor - perfect lighting and sound levels. The service was wonderful, right from the start at the hostess stand. I made a seating request in my resy and they actually noticed it! I find this, oddly, a very rare event - everyone asks "any special requests" - yet when you arrive it seems clear no one has looked at this. Not so at Mala Pata. Hats off the the host / hostess staff! I'll be back ASAP to try the entire menu. Suggest local food lovers do the same! Congrats to Mala Pata, brought to us from local industry vets Angela Salamanca, Marshall Davis, Eric Montagne, Zack Gragg, and Justin Pasfield. read more

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The food quality was excellent. A little expensive for portion sizes. Servers were knowledgeable and helpful. We had the bunuelos, flautas de papas, carnitas tacos, pinxos de pollo and the skirt steak mole. Everything was flavorful - our table agreed that the bunuelos was the best. read more

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina - Flautas de Papas - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Delicious!!!! Restaurant is more on the intimate side but pretty chill at the same time. I thought everything was made well :) i would rec getting the raspberry chocolate dessert over the tres leches. Id go back to try the pescado frito. And the fish tacos were surprisingly light for being fried. Their corn tortillas were yummy! Im usually a flour tortilla girl too. Service was great! Our waiter was newer but he was super kind and consistently checked up on us but not too much. read more

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Bunuelos. Get the bunuelos. And the guacamole. And at least one cocktail that has some heat- because a cocktail with heat (jalapeno, mezcal, etc.) is the only cocktail to get to compliment the rich, full flavors from the rest of the menu. Fish tacos, wings, so many dishes- all prepared in unexpected and delicious ways, savor each bite - take your time. The chipotle salsa crema is the perfect example of delicious flavor that unfolds slowly. Not heat, just depth. Amazing small plates, easily shareable, delicious without regretful decadence. read more

Came to dinner on a Saturday and they had last minute availability for 3. I had been recommended this place and it appears in the new Michelin Guide list, so my expectations were high. The atmosphere is very loud, and the high ceilings contribute to this. It's very hard to hear the person across from you. We ordered drinks and food all at once since we got there not long before close. The food and drinks came quickly. Everyone enjoyed their drinks, but that's really where the enjoyment ends unfortunately. We started with the guacamole and the in-house made tortilla chips. It wasn't bad, but lacked flavor I expected basis the presentation. The Colombian Buñelos were unique and tasted ok. My friend had the pork tacos and was not pleased and another friend had the enchilada and was not able to eat finish them basis their dislike of the mole flavor. I had the fish tacos and they lacked seasoning but were decent. We had very high expectations for this place and left disappointed. The service was good and I would consider going back for a drink. read more

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Mala Pata (Gateway Plaza - Raleigh) Three of us spent $77.93 + tip on an excellent Colombian Sunday brunch at Mala Pata, and it more than lived up to the hype. When the Michelin Southeast reviews came out last week, I learned for the first time about the "Bib Gourmand"category, essentially fine dining at great value. Mala Pata earned that distinction, and since none of us had been before, we decided to give it a try. Two of us are especially passionate about corn tortillas, which made this an easy choice. Location & Arrival: Mala Pata is in Gateway Plaza, an increasingly interesting destination that also houses Fiction Kitchen and Escazú Chocolates, two longtime favorites of ours. Parking was easy, but finding the door was a little tricky: the sign is above Fiction Kitchen, yet Mala Pata's entrance is actually around to the left. Atmosphere & Service: The interior is bright, stylish, and welcoming. We had a 12:30 reservation and were seated promptly by friendly staff. One of us is vegan, and the server handled that gracefully, helping us work out both vegan and non-vegan options for our starters. Many dishes run a bit spicy, but the staff was very accommodating in adjusting to suit our preferences. What We Ordered: Two plates of black beans - one vegan, one with cheese Two Migas Tacos plates - one with chorizo, one without Skirt Steak & Eggs Sunny Water for drinks The Food: The star of the show for me was the handmade blue corn tortillas, a nostalgic favorite from my childhood, paired with perfectly scrambled eggs and bright seasoning. The Migas tacos (three per plate) were filling and flavorful, though the chorizo was a bit too spicy for my taste. The black beans were enjoyable, though one of us found them slightly under-seasoned. The skirt steak was excellent, beautifully browned on the outside and juicy inside, just as it should be. The accompanying sauce was flavorful and balanced. The fried plantains were delicious, though two and a half pieces left us wanting more. Overall: Everything was fresh, vibrant, and thoughtfully prepared--though overall a touch under-salted for our palates. Still, the quality of ingredients and craftsmanship shone through. The staff was impressive: super friendly, professional, and attentive. We'll definitely return. read more

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Searching for a hidden gem? Even though you may have heard of Mala pata in Gateway Plaza - they have a surprise waiting, You don't need a secret knock, it's just around the corner - go PAST their main entrance and you can't miss it... Meet "Peyote" their open air, one stop, shutter/patio area offering snacks and full bar drinks! This colorful spot offers drinks which can be served sip & stroll style and the snacks are small bites that reflect the artistry of Mala Pata's cuisine. It was so...EASY! each of the patio tables has a QR code for the ordering app. We had a blue corn biscuit with a side of black beans. I couldn't wait to go back, when I did, they were just closing...So check those hours b4 you go - you'll be glad your did! read more

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina - Holy Taco!!! - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This spot has been on my list to try since it opened, and then once I finally made a reservation once I saw it made the Michelin bib gourmand list! We loved our meal! Loved the bunuelos to start. My fish tacos were so well cooked and I really loved their tortilla. Every member of the staff that we interacted with (and it was quite a number of people lol. We always had a full glass of water!) was so friendly and kind. Have to come back to try their brunch! read more

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina - Fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Mala Pata was an amazing experience. The restaurant is beautifully done and the food was top notch!! Loved it and HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! read more

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Wow!! We loved everything we had at Mala Pata, the drinks were amazing as well as the food. It was quite busy on a week day night and everyone was talking about how good their dishes tasted! The staff were very knowledgeable and described the dishes as they came out. We will definitely be back! read more

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Loved the experience here. Super packed on a Wednesday evening so highly recommend reservations. Their drink menu is extensive. The menu is unique and we ordered a couple of plates to share. Guacamole, fish tacos, wings, and enchiladas. Everything was delicious! The guac and the wings came out first, followed by the tacos and enchiladas. Our only callout was we wish the courses were spaced out a little better. Definitely will return read more

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Stopped in without a reservation for dinner and got seated at the semi-open bar next to the main dining room. Bartenders were cool and attentive, very helpful with the menu and deciding what to order, and also explaining dishes that are more unique. Cocktails off the menu were well-done and crafted thoughtfully. We ordered guacamole and fresh housemade chips and the lechoncito tacos which were perfectly filling and great bites for a light dinner. The semi-open bar is a great option if you want the full menu but not the more formal sit down. Prices were really reasonable and justifiable because of the curated dishes. Will visit again for more soon! read more

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I found this restaurant in the Michelin Guide; however, I was underwhelmed by my dinner. It may be a better fit if you eat meat. I'd much rather go get tacos at Torchy's. read more

The sweet corn calchapas were the perfect mix of sweet and fluffy-bacon was perfectly crunchy and apples added more depth-delicious! I also had the carnitas and grits which were fantastic. Our server was kind and attentive. We also had the patatas bravas and the bruñelos which were almost like pao de queijo-YUM! Loved getting to have brunch in such a comforting and pretty environment with my girlies! read more

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Went to Mala Pata with some friends on a Saturday night. Let's start with the good-service was excellent, waitstaff was knowledgeable and recommended items and answered all of our questions. Drink menu was great (had one of my favorite beers, the Prairie sherbet sour) and definitely has some interesting items on the main menu. Everything came out hot and fresh. We had the salsa macha wings, buñuelos, carnitas tacos, flautas de papas, tuna tartacos, and piña y queso as well as the tres leches. Everything was good but I wouldn't say anything was mind blowing. I personally found the tuna tartacos to be the best item with the piña y queso in second. For the negatives, we had to go get a drink at the bar next door for 15 minutes despite having a reservation because they were running behind (it happens and I know they are new--just wanted to note) and to rub salt in the wound--they didn't comp the drinks or offer anything for us having to go wait next door. Honestly our main qualm was the price to portion ratio and price based on ingredients. It just seems a little outrageous to charge 14-17 dollars for 4 chicken wings or 3 potato flautas when those are not high cost items--for something like raw tuna, the pricing makes sense but for corn tortillas with potato? Furthermore the portion choices didn't make sense for sharing despite that seemingly being the intention of the menu (3 tacos for one dish, 4 with another). Finally, the tres leches had goat milk which we found unpleasantly game-y (not sure if this is traditional but just our opinion on the dish). Overall I'd say it has a good vibe inside and could be fun for drinks and apps if you're willing to spend a little more but not sure it's for us. read more

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So good! We had the flouts, fish tacos and enchiladas I also had the Mai Thai. Will for sure be back. read more

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina - Fish tacos - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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The whole flounder dish, the guacamole, bunuelos were all delicious. However, having to pay $10 per person to make a reservation and then having to follow-up after a Saturday night on a Wednesday when the restaurant re-opened to ask for a $40 credit, is not worthy in my opinion, of a Michelin Gourmand restaurant. Raleigh has a lot of great restaurants and not one of them expects a deposit for a reservation nor does it have such a poor system to make sure the customer is credited. read more

Very cool and hip new spot in Raleigh. The entire staff was so friendly and helpful. We went and split multiple appetizers. They were all very good. I will definitely return. The Carnitas tacos were great. read more

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My wife and I went with some friends last weekend. We did have to wait 15 minutes despite having a reservation. Things happen and they are new but not the best first impression. There was no attempt to smooth it over at all. We were asked to go get a drink at their adjoining bar. (I pay you more money because you didn't have my table ready?) The ambiance was very warm and inviting. The wait staff was attentive and knowledgeable. We got the buñuelos, piña y queso, carnitas tacos, flautas de papas, salsa macha wings, tuna tar tacos, and the tres leches. I would describe all of the dishes as fine. Pretty much every dish except the salsa macha wings lacked any real flavor. The pricing model was probably the worst part though. The shareable dishes were priced between $12 and $16. However, none of them were sharing size. (2 flautas, 2 tacos, etc.) Main dishes are $30-$40 but we didn't get any of those. There's some potential here, but overall they really need to rethink their menu. Either the pricing needs to adjust to align with what you're serving or the menu items need to adjust to align with your pricing. read more

A solid experience. We sampled 4 of the cocktails and each had its strengths. The bunuelos were tasty and a unique item for us. Our entrees had some interesting flavors. The flautas de papas and the rajas enchiladas had distinguishable features but were remarkably similar. Both were crispy - which we were not expecting for enchiladas - and both the fillings were lacking. The masa focus was not so apparent to us but that may be our selections or our ignorance. The staff was attentive but the acoustics were a challenge- even with a half full restaurant. We could hear way too much of the adjacent table's conversation. Our disappointment may be a result of the hyped reviews both here and elsewhere. It was good but nothing particularly exciting. read more

Great food and service. One of the best Mexican restaurants in Raleigh. Service was top notch also.

Outstandingly friendly staff! Food was excellent with some new experiences. I have returned twice. My second visit was with an experienced restauranteur who had the same positive experience as me. A third visit was to the tiny, attached bar for punch. Again, friendly staff and delightful food. read more

This place didn't serve frozen margaritas or fajitas. The service was fantastic, and the space was well decorated and fun. read more

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina - Pasillo De Humo Platter - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Amazing food! Nik out server was very nice and informative! Friendly service and great flavor all around! Definitely recommend! :) read more

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina - Mexican Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Incredible food. Try their mole sauce. It was really really good. Also their cocktails are really good Hope to go back and check out the bar. read more

Delicious food, great service, interesting ambiance. Take the time to look at the murals and corn light fixtures. Will definitely go again!

Very mixed feelings about Mala Pata. The name is so good and gave me high hopes for it being authentic and bold. The decor was quite nice and also seemed promising. The drink menu is extensive but the three cocktails we tried were overly sweet and we ended up leaving one untouched. Only one Mexican wine on the menu which was disappointing considering there is so much good wine coming out of the region right now. We ordered the guacamole, the flautas de papa, fish tacos and tacos de lechoncito. Everything was good (especially the lechon) , just not amazing. It all tasted fresh and very homemade which we loved, but most of the dishes lacked spice, both flavor but mostly heat wise. The pacing was also terrible, we had 3 out of the 4 dishes before the first cocktail even came out. Ultimately I loved the more sophisticated Mexican vibe but it was a bit too subdued. Mexico is bold and bright and spicy and full of personality and this fell just shy of that bar. read more

This place was incredible! The staff were so friendly and kind and the service was great. Hands down best tacos we've had in Raleigh and best meal we've eaten out in years. Everything we had we would order again and wanted more of. Definitely going back! read more

If you are looking for traditional mexican food this is not the place for you. I asked for a frozen margareta and they don't have them. No fajitas either. Basically, no traditional drinks or food. Our meal was okay, but we won't go again. read more

This place is special. The people, the service and the food are exceptional. This is the best restaurant we have eaten at in a long time. The food is so delicious, perfectly cooked and exotic it makes you feel like you are in another country. The depth of the flavors and the presentation of the food are an experience everyone should try. We are going back soon! read more