La Mala Mexican Inspired Cocktails

While they don't take online reservations or advance reservations, they were able to save us a table for dinner when I called the morning of! I really appreciate this as we were heading to a show at DPAC with limited time.The food was super tasty! Most of it had a good spicy kick to it! I like spicy though, so it was enjoyable for me. Drinks were so pretty and tasty!Service was great and fast! Their menu online doesn't list everything, we noticed some additional items on the menus in the restaurant.

Recently, we visited La Mala La Mala Mexican Inspired Cocktails again. It was our second time, and once again, they impressed us.When we arrived, the place was fully booked. There were only two open seats at the bar, which we took. But after a few minutes, a table for two became available, and they immediately offered it to us. It was really nice that the staff thought of us.As we sat down, the same waitress who had served us a month ago came over. What amazed us was that she remembered our previous visit, including the drinks and food we had ordered, and even remembered where and when we had moved to North Carolina. We were shocked that she could recall all of this, given how busy the place is.We were very pleased with this kind of attention. At the end of our meal, she treated us to two shots of Mezcal tequila on the house. It was awesome that she even remembered we're big fans of Mezcal. It was such a kind and unexpected gesture from the restaurant and the bartender.This kind of attention and care from the staff and the restaurant as a whole is what makes you want to keep coming back. They make (in the best way possible) you want to do so, because when I think about where to spend an evening, La Mala, with two great experiences and fantastic customer service, immediately comes to mind.As for the atmosphere, it's definitely a great spot for a romantic dinner or an evening out with friends. They have a wide selection of drinks--perfect for sipping slowly and savoring each sip. At the same time, there's also a variety of fun drinks and cocktails that are served in a creative way and are great for sharing with friends.Now I want to bring my friends there and show them this wonderful place.

A great Mexican spot in the heart of Durham downtown! Perfect place to grab a bite before a show at DPAC or the start of a night of bar hopping.Given how pretty the food looked online, I was a little skeptical at first about the taste. I'm glad I was proven wrong! We got a few of the ceviche to try, and the Mexican fries and birria tacos to share. The ceviche was extremely fresh and flavorful. Each option has a slightly different flavor profile. I would avoid the mango one if you don't like your ceviche sweet, because that one was definitely on the sweeter side. The fries and tacos were great flavor wise as well! Maybe not the most authentic Mexican food, but definitely delicious. They also have a huge cocktail selection with really beautiful looking drinks (dare I say perfect for social media?) I think the drinks are a hit/miss and alc content can taste a little different between drinks. Lastly, the entire staff was super attentive and nice. Food came out really quickly and they frequently came to check in on us. They even noticed it was my birthday recently from my ID and gave me a free tequila shot!

I'd recommend La Mala for cocktails and shareables, not if you are are looking for a heavier dinner option. Our table split an order of the guacamole fresco and esquite. For our meals and drinks it was the Tulum Vibes Ceviche with the La Santa then the El Chavo del Ocho (the barrel drink) for me and the Ceviche de la Jefa (Momma's Ceviche) with the La Bichota for my husband. The food was good but we really enjoyed the cocktails.

Came without a reservation. Restaurant recommended by our AirBnB host. Seated immediately. Waited on immediately. Asked for recommendations. Guacamole app and Mexican fries as appetizers, wonderful. Then split the shrimp tacos and fish tacos. Can't say enough for the flavor. Restaurant is somewhat louder than I like but was still relatively easy to have a conversation without the surrounding tables having to be involved. Should definitely give this place a chance to be great for you too!

Food was great ,not sure if we were that hungry or was it that good staff was very attentive and friendly place was spot on ,stopped in for a quick bite for lunch ,didn't disappoint

This beautiful Mexican inspired restaurant is located in the heart of downtown Durham and features a number of carefully crafted cocktails made with fresh fruit (the buenos Dias sangria and Mexican Iced coffee were our favorites) and delicious dishes that will make any taste bud sing. The atmosphere is warm, inviting and the service was great. A few of our favorite dishes included:-the quesabirrias: 3 beef birria quesadillas with onions, cilantro, and lime with a savory birria consome.-the tres leches French toast was super thick and fluffy; topped with lechera, almonds, berries, this my favorite rite.- my friends and I are huge seafood lovers so the tangy shrimp ceviche was a crowd pleaser for us.- their cocktails were super tasty; I think my favorite one was the bueno Dias sangria which was full of peachy goodness.

10/10!!! The watermelon margarita was fantastic, from the spicy tamarind rim to the watermelon balls in the drink, could've had this twice! The guac was extremely fresh as were the tortilla chips, we also ordered a side of the hot salsa and wow - the flavor was so good we asked our server what peppers are in it so we can try to recreate! Very cool ambiance with great music and solid service. Would definitely be back for full dinner next time!

Such a vibe!Place is sexy & smells delicious upon entering.Drinks & food = perfectly crafted with a ton of flavor!! We ordered the Guac, tacos, and some spicy ceviche!Music, decor, staff = 10/10

We came in on a Thursday right as they opened and were the only people at the bar. We grabbed margaritas and some nibbles before the Bulls game and everything was amazing. The drinks were all beautiful and delicious (as well as strong) and the chips and guacamole were fresh and perfectly seasoned. We definitely got amazing service and attention, but not overly so which was appreciated. Next time we're in Durham, we'll definitely be stopping by again!