Well... what can I say? This is officially the best taco I've ever had in my life. I just had lunch at this beautiful restaurant, and I came here because so many people recommended it. But honestly, I never expected it to be this good. Congratulations to the chef because that taco was absolutely majestic. read more

Maleza - Fish Al Pastor Taco and drift margarita - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

I was a part of a group of 6 that decided we wanted a nice sit down restaurant and decided to try Maleza. The restaurant and decor was beautiful and the service provided was impeccable. The server checked on us often and although our entrees took a good half hour to come out, the server made sure we were well taken care of. The shortcomings of this experience started with the small menu- I expected a larger choice in food and was a bit taken aback when we realize there were only 5 or 6 entries to pick from... we also found we were nickeled and dimed for many things on the bill. For example, many restaurants offer chips and dip while you wait for the food (and we did end up waiting over 30 minutes after ordering for our food). I don't recall if someone specifically ordered chips and guac but they were delicious on the table. We asked if we could have some salsa to go with the chips and were charged for chips and salsa as well. For guac, salsa and chips, our table was charged $24. Our table of 6 ended up paying $438 before tip so each person paid almost $90 after tip. I expected a lot more for this price point. read more

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Maleza is definitely on the more upscale side of Mexican dining, but overall it was pretty hit or miss for me. We started with the guacamole and tostadas, which were delicious and probably one of my favorite things we ordered. We also tried the tuna tostadas, which were good, but definitely steer clear if you're not a fan of spice because they come with some pretty big slices of jalapeño. The carnitas tacos were unfortunately a miss. They were extremely oily and just not good in my opinion. We also ordered the Caesar salad and summer squash, and both of those were pretty good. For our main protein, we shared the Wagyu skirt steak cooked medium. For the price, I was expecting a lot more flavor and it just wasn't there. The margaritas were also not it for me. Our bill came out to around $240 for three people, and we shared everything listed above with only three margaritas and water to drink. At that price point, I expected the food to be much more memorable. Personally, if you're Mexican and already have pretty high expectations for Mexican food, I don't know that this is the place I'd recommend. I've found that upscale/modernized Mexican restaurants can be really hit or miss, and unfortunately this one didn't quite hit for me. There were definitely a few things I enjoyed, but not enough to justify the price. read more

Maleza - Prickly Pear Margarita - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

First time at Maleza in Palm Springs and I'm already a fan The place is super nice and chic--beautiful vibe all around. We started with the tuna tostadas--fresh, bright, and those grapefruit pieces took it to another level. Tried the fish al pastor taco (with pineapple!)--such a good idea and it worked. But the wagyu steak taco? Different league. Easily a standout. Also had the double smash burger and the white BBQ sauce was the twist I didn't know I needed--unbelievable. Drinks were just as solid and creative: Golden Hour, mango margarita, and a mezcal old fashioned... all on point. Shoutout to Alicia for taking great care of us--awesome service. First visit, definitely not the last read more

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Delicious food, and service was good. The wagyu taco was good but small. The ceviche was super pretty and was delicious. Watch out of the chopped chilis they put in there though they did a number on my stomach and I typically eat spicy food on the regular. Also had drinks at the bar on separate days. this is a hit and miss depending on who is making your drinks. read more

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The perfect last stop before heading back to home! We had an incredible meal over at Maleza. Arrived at around 1pm on a weekday and might I say, this place is absolutely stunning. Definitely gave desert oasis vibes with the white and green interior. We even got to snag a seat at one of the beautiful white and green tiled tables. I felt very cool here. We were greeted mighty fast and stated with the Jamaica and mango margaritas. Super delicious. I'm a huge lover of Jamaica, so this was a great little spin for a margarita. Both were delicious and refreshing. For food, we snagged the tuna tostadas, caesar salad, and shrimp ceviche. Everything was incredible but I'm a sucker for a good cased salad, so this was my number one fave of the trio. The tuna tostada had big beautiful chunks of avocado and tuna. So good! The Shrimp ceviche was yummy too with some of those tostada shells to accompany. We weren't quite done yet and had to sink our teeth into some tacos. We had the wagyu steak and the fish. Both were great! The Wagyu taco was incredibly flavorful. It was the star of the two. The fish was great in its own right. I was expecting a fried fish, but this was grilled. Very demure, very mindful...but also pretty delicious. Absolutely great experience over at Maleza! Like almost everywhere in Palm Springs, the customer service was impeccable. We were checked on , cared for, and well fed. This place is attached to a hotel and serves us great food by its pool. I can totally see myself, happily burning in the sun, by the pool, and sipping another one of those delicious margaritas. Looking forward to doing that soon. read more

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This is right next door to our hotel. It is located in "The Drift", which is another hotel. The dining room is light and bright and high ceilinged and tastefully decorated. We arrived at 5:15 to take advantage of the Happy Hour! The service was smiling and happy. We sat at the bar and had the street tacos and the chips and guacamole. They were beautifully presented and very delicious. The menu is somewhat limited but the chef is an artist. There were lots of fancy cocktails but we stuck to beer. We finished up and paid and wandered into the 107 degree evening looking for some ice cream. The only thing that disappointed was the dessert choices; rice pudding or churros! read more

I came across Maleza because a local mentioned they had excellent margaritas. If a margarita is on the menu, count me in! We sat at the bar, and Dylan was incredibly attentive and friendly. I got the mango margarita. It wasn't too sweet. I loved the presentation, but didn't love that the entire side of the glass had tajin on it. That could get messy, especially if you're wearing white! I ordered the shrimp ceviche as a treat and it was excellent. I loved how creamy it was. It had its own twist to it, but was still delicious. The service, margarita and shrimp ceviche were a 5/5. A must-try option if you find yourself in Palm Springs! read more

Maleza - Shrimp Ceviche - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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MAN OH MAN! When I say I had one of the best meals of my life here, I mean it. The market ruby rainbow trout was the best tasting thing I've ever put in my mouth. The fish was delicious and the citrus brown butter sauce, holy cow. They give you some bread to soak up the sauce. 1000000 out of 10. I'll be thinking about that dish for a long time. The rest of the food was amazing too, so was the coconut margarita. Service was great, vibe was nice. read more

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Arrived early for our reservations, so we went to the bar and Austin took great care of us, super friendly and accommodating. Tried their Coconut Margarita and Old Fashion, Excellent-Both Well Balanced. Lou is our Server for dinner, very polite and Friendly. Her recommendations were Snapper Crudo & Ahi Tuna Tostada-both were okay. Cons: seating on cushions? They definitely need cleaning. read more

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Super cute place with attentive servers. Stopped by just for a quick app and a drink and did not disappoint. Went with the shrimp ceviche and wow. Never expected the peach and radish to go so well with ceviche but it was just the right amount of crunch and sweetness to balance out the spiciness. As a cilantro lover i wasnt sure about ceviche without cilantro but this combination was excellent. Coconut marg was good too. Spicy and creamy, but not as creamy as i would have liked (milk lover here). Still delicious! read more

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I took one star off because the lemon they gave me was moldy and I didn't know until my friend pointed it out. So yeah I drank moldy lemon water.... Anyways, we got a lot of food to share among 5 of us. Our most favorite is potatoes in the steak dish and the coffee ice cream with Churros. They definitely need a separate dishes for those! Everything tasted amazing, and filling. Love that he kept filling up the chips! The server was really sweet and nice! Very very friendly! 10/10 for his service!! The whole place is so cute! We toook many cute photos there! The whole place had so much space, we were not close to other people at all. I will definitely come back but not sure will I get their lemons again tho... read more

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I cannot say enough good things about Maleza! First off, the service was great. Chris took wonderful care of us during our dinner. Food came out in a timely manner. Decent amount of seating so I'd recommend reserving a spot on Resy. Parking is just with the hotel parking. There was a valet stand but no one was life and nature duty so it was self serve parking. Now to the food. Which was simply exquisite. We started off with the ceviche and green beans. The ceviche was fresh and full of flavor. The green beans was surprisingly very flavorful and frankly I probably could've eaten the whole thing myself! The beet mole was very good and we saved it for our mains. For mains we got the striped bass and chicken milanesa. Both were perfectly done. The bass was flaky and tender, and full of flavor. The chicken was lightly breaded and cooked to perfection. The accompanying tarter was a very good complement. I'd definitely come back again! read more

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Came here for a bachelorette brunch. The outside just looks like a random building, but the inside was cute. They could definitely clean their furniture a little better as my chair was dirty. Our server Anissa was great! She was able to answer all of our questions, provided us with food we saw on yelp, but not on the menu, and gave us recommendations for a delicious coffee spot near by. Food The bride to be ordered a Guava mama to drink and did not like it. About 4 other girls then tried it and agreed that it was not very good. You couldn't even taste any guava. We were able to exchange it for a much tastier drink called Moon Water. It was delicious. A majority of the table enjoyed this drink. I had the espresso martini and chilaquiles. The espresso martini was perfect for me. I'm not a coffee drinker, but I needed some caffeine to go with my drink lol It was actually pretty tasty and it did the job. My go to brunch order is chilaquiles and they did not disappoint! They had the right amount of spice, a great flavor, and the chip was nice and crunchy. I devoured this meal. It was so good. I definitely recommend the chilaquiles. We ended brunch with churros. Soooo good. The sauce it came with was to die for. Highly recommend. read more

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Wait for my next review. It's horrible. Server amazing. Food is horrible. Pricing ridiculous. read more

Excellent food with inventive combinations. The maitake mushrooms and the enchiladas were our favorite. The service however was poor and lacking. Our waitress was slow to take our food order and we just placed it with our drink server. She barely checked in on us during the meal. I will also note that the cushioned banquet areas need extra back pillows and are not really comfortable for eating. Maybe lounging. Otherwise still a good place to have dinner read more

Maleza - Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Oh my gosh. 20/5 stars. Staff was so kind and amazing. The food tho.... We had a late dinner and shared biscuits, enchiladas and the ceviche. Vibes are high with indoor and outdoor seating. HIGHLY recommend. read more

Maleza - Churros - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Great vibes and a beautiful atmosphere. Overall, the food was very good, though unfortunately they were out of the steak which was the one thing my husband was hoping to order, so that was a bit of a bummer. The oysters were delicious. The guacamole was fresh and flavorful, and the pre-meal bread was a unique touch. The duck confit flautas were tasty, though more of a shareable appetizer than a full meal. The gem salad had a strong anchovy-forward dressing that wasn't quite for me, but the pork chop and chicken were both generously portioned and well prepared. For dessert, the churros were fine, but the ice cream and cajeta were really the stars. The persimmon bread pudding was also a standout and a huge hit. Service was friendly but a bit slow, with our second round of drinks arriving after we had already finished our meal. read more

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Art of the Upsell. Food is very good. Elevated Mexican with creativity. Located just outside downtown. But at $10 per taco and $20 per margarita, I didn't need the upsell from our waitress at every course. read more

Again, I highly credit Yelp for guiding me to Maleza! I LOVED the indoor/outdoor atmosphere from the moment I saw it (entering from the parking lot, between the pool and restaurant)! We were extremely fortunate to sit at the bar top with Anissa as our bartender/server; her fun-&-positive personality and attitude, knowledge and guidance of the drinks and food menus, and comfortable attentiveness made us feel at ease from the start -- an amazing ambassador for Maleza!! We started with their Queso Fundido ($18) which differed from any other we've had; this whole bean version, not overly cheesy (therefore, not too heavy), served with crisp, dippable tortilla halves (and more available upon request; however, not needed as there was just the right amount), was highly satisfying, yet not overly filling (as others' can be). The salads we ordered: Caesar Salad and Arugula Salad (in which I'd substituted avocado for the tuna listed on the menu), both $19, were attractive in taste (with crisp-&-fresh ingredients) and presentation. Their cocktail menu offered some fun and interesting drinks; among those we ordered, the Oaxacan Negroni ($17) was complex, spirit-forward, yet smooth-&-flavorful. Another FABULOUS find, one that has been added to our list of definite places to visit when in this area. read more

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So the first thing this place does not outwardly advertise that it is NOT air conditioned. They may say that it's partially inside but it's wide open. So while that dim light and dim ambience is nice it's hot AF when the high was today was 100. Who wants to eat spicy Mexican food without AC when it's so hot?! Second, if the high temp for the day was 100 and there's no AC why are you serving a "raw bar menu?" We took a chance and got the snapper crudo. Didn't finish it and hoping we don't sh**t our pants. Was hoping it would be served ice cold and chilled but instead came out at room temp (remember the temp outside) and smelled like rotten panties. Also got the steak to share for the table. Not horrible, and it was cooked just how we ordered it but not seasoned at all. Our server was very friendly and as helpful as she could be but completely non attentive. It must have been the end of her shift. Overall it was a total disappointment and a super uncomfortable experience. (I went into the bathroom 3 times just to stand in front of the AC unit). I'm not quite sure what's up with all the raving reviews. Perhaps this place is better to visit on a cold snap in January. read more

What a magical place. Food and drinks were outstanding and on another level. I'll be back every time I visit PS. read more

Maleza - Tostada and skinny spicy marg. - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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Will come here for their happy hour every time i find myself in palm springs!!! I was skeptical because it's a hotel restaurant, but the food is absolutely delicious, fair prices, and pretty big portions! Also enjoyed their cocktails. Great for small group seatings, especially their bar seating, and can also accommodate large parties! They can set up large outdoor, poolside tables read more

Maleza - Happy hour Chicken taco and raw seafood dish - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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Food and drinks were delicious!! Too bad we are not from the area, we would be going here every night!!!! read more

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Wow wow wow! I love stumbling upon unknown and new hidden gems. The ambiance is magnificent! The perfect Palm Springs venue. Service is on point with knowledgeable and friendliness. Now to the food! Omg wow! I think we ordered half the menu and we couldn't pick what we liked most cause everything was spectacular! Steak was delicious, crudos were fire, and one thing that I really enjoyed the most was the enchiladas. OMG delicious. read more

Wow!!! The best fish tacos ever!!! So good we went 5 times in one week! The other food is very good too but those tacos.... Yum! The staff was so nice and the space very calm and clean. read more

Maleza es un lugar que combina una decoración hermosa y acogedora con un servicio excepcional. Desde el momento en que llegas, el ambiente te invita a relajarte y disfrutar. La comida es deliciosa, con platillos bien elaborados y llenos de sabor. Las bebidas también son destacables, perfectamente equilibradas y refrescantes. Pero el verdadero protagonista de la noche fue el postre: el tres leches de chocolate. ¡Simplemente espectacular! Un imperdible para cualquier amante de los postres. En resumen, Maleza es una excelente opción en Palm Springs para disfrutar de una experiencia gastronómica de calidad. Definitivamente, un lugar al que regresaré. read more

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Went for a midday drink. Carajillo was very very good. They had the misters on as it was a hot day, so we were able to enjoy the outside part of the bar! Only thing I would suggest is they should juice their limes in the back kitchen, not at the bar where the customers are trying to enjoy the ambience without a grinding noise for over an hour. Still coming back for the Carajillo though! read more

Maleza - Carajillo - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Good- cute restaurant, minimal modern decor. It's small, so reservations are best. Bad- We only had drinks. My Palm Springs martini was very strong, straight up alcohol. It took about 15 minutes for the bartender to ask us for our drink order after we were given the drink menus. I understand, they were busy. When we return to Palm Springs, we will return to try the food. read more

Maleza - Cute decor - Mexican Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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One of my favorite restaurants in Coachella Valley! I would never expect a hotel restaurant to have great food, but Maleza sure beat my initial expectations. The restaurant is not that big and sits in the "lobby" of the posh Drift hotel, but the ambience was very comfortable. There is more seating outside of the restaurant near the pool, but I chose to eat inside with air conditioning. Additionally, the service was friendly, but a little slow at times (this was made up by the quality of the food). The food and cocktail menus are truly ahead of the curve for Coachella Valley standards. I ordered the guava mama cocktail and it was strong but mixed well enough that it was not too overpowering. The mezcal options are more well known for this place, but my drink was still very satisfying. Next, the food menu is limited but focused on a modern twist on Mexican cuisine. I ordered the scallop crudo, half chicken, prime flat iron steak, poblano rice, and the churros to end the meal. It's a rarity for me to like every dish I ordered, but I loved everything. The star of the meal had to be the half chicken because of the crispy leeks and delicious mole included on the plate. The main entrees are served with tortillas to make tacos out of so the half chicken dish had the perfect toppings to be included. Do not skip on the churros for dessert because they are fried to order and served with amazing dipping sauces. The Oaxacan chocolate dipping sauce was not too sweet or bitter and complimented the sweetness of the churros. Definitely a must order! Please expect a bit of a wait for the dishes to be made since they put a lot of care and effort into making them. I do not mind waiting for high quality food and would've waited even longer if I had to . Thankfully the inside of the restaurant/lobby has a beautiful partial view of the San Jacinto mountains, so there is always something to keep yourself distracted by. Overall, I think Maleza is my new favorite in all of Palm Springs and all of Coachella Valley. I believe this restaurant will eventually be featured on the Michelin guide in the upcoming future! read more

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I went to Maleza Sunday night for dinner with a reservation at 5:30 pm. The vibe of the restaurant is relaxed with upscale decoration. There is no host stand, so it was awkward entering, but I was greeted swiftly. The waiter noted that it was a good night as it wasn't busy. Despite it being slow, service was very slow. I was seated without water or a menu. It took about 10 minutes to be greeted again. Food came out very promptly after ordering, but the wait before and after the meal was long. The hamachi aguachile was delicious. It was flavorful and light with medium heat. The sweet potato dish was a complete miss. The flavors weren't great, and there were tiny bite sized pieces of shrimp. There were pieces of potato that were under cooked and crunchy while some pieces were so tender I didn't need to chew. There was cooking inconsistencies. The grilled maitake mushrooms were good, flavorful, and had medium heat. The server asked if he could bring the bill, and I requested a dessert menu. He brought the dessert menu and then quickly brought the bill. So, I took the hint that I was not allowed to eat dessert. (side joke - I think he forgot I was interested as there was a bit of waiting time before I was checked on again) I was given a drink voucher to return for the undercooked sweet potatoes, but as I don't drink alcohol maybe a friend can utilize it the next time. Parking was easy as one can utilize the hotel's parking. The restaurant is located in Drift Palm Spring's. read more

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My friend and I came to Maleza to celebrate our 10 year friendship anniversary and had such a great experience! Anthony took amazing care of us and really made our night special. He was super friendly and attentive and gave us the best food and drink recommendations! Everything he suggested was absolutely amazing. He made the whole experience feel fun and memorable, which was exactly what we wanted for such a special occasion. Thank you, Anthony, for helping make our 10 year friendiversary so perfect! read more

We went to celebrate Mother's Day - it was my sister, her boyfriend, our mom, and myself. We went to order our food and drinks, and they did not have HALF of the items we wanted to try. They did not try to work with us, they did not try to send anything to mend for their awful, half available menu. And the bartender seemed to have a crush on my sister's boyfriend because he kept sending him free margaritas the entire night... He had five free drinks, and our mom, nothing. Just an overall weird and bad experience. Having a wedding prior is no excuse for being so ill prepared on a holiday that is celebrated on the same day every year. Terrible server and management to have let that happen. OH - And one last thing - THE PLACE WAS HOT. They did not advertise that they have NO A/C. I just can't believe the experience we had... Terrible. read more

Had some drinks at this place but they also serve food. It is a nice establishment and looks nice to stay at. The food wasn't that bad. The drinks were good. Bartender can customize whatever drink have. It is good for groups. They have a lot of seating inside and outside. read more

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Food was great but not inexpensive. Staff is friendly and helpful with ordering either family style or individual portions.

Went for the second time because we were craving a Carajillo. They tasted as delicious the 2nd time as the first time. However the standout was our bartender Anissa. She was terrific. Super cool to talk with and makes killer drinks. Will definitely be back soon on a Sunday for her and Carajillos! read more

Really nice presentation. Our favorite was the mushroom dish. The restaurant is beautiful indoor and outdoor. Service was very friendly and attentive. The cocktails were delicious. read more

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The steak was cooked to perfection. You must get the desserts when you are here. Their churros are absolutely to die for.

This feels like such a best kept secret in Palm Springs. Veggie and meat options! Mocktails and cocktails!! Affordable!? We came in on a Monday night around 730 and got seated immediately, and learned that Monday nights are happy hour until close! We ordered the Palm Heart appetizer which is like a vegan ceviche and the Guac, and both appetizers were so fresh and delicious and light. We got a mocktail and a cocktail- I highly recommend the ginger/pineapple drink it was perfect for a refreshing moment after a day in the sun. I got the veggie tacos which were mushroom and potato - very fresh with crispy elements and fresh made corn tortillas- really good! And my partner got the shrimp, and she loved them. Finally we got the churros which were some of the best churros I've ever had in my life. They were crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside- and the dark chocolate dip was so good! Highly recommend this restaurant !! read more

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This spot is inside the Drift hotel and there was parking there and at the public lot across the street. I set a large group brunch here for a bachelorette party. It was a cute and casual setting. The portions were very generous, especially the burger and tacos. Drinks also looked good. We shared the guacamole and salsa. The server and bartender were awesome and provided some good recommendations for local coffee shops. I will be back. read more