Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

Mexican restaurant · Woodcrest ·

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

Mexican restaurant · Woodcrest ·

Fresh masa, agave spirits, Oaxacan mole, Latin flavors

Information

2431 Crabtree Blvd Suite 102, Raleigh, NC 27604 Get directions

$30–50

@michelinguide

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The Best Value Restaurants in the American South

"In Raleigh, Mala Pata is identified as a Mexican restaurant that appears on the MICHELIN Guide's inaugural American South Bib Gourmand list." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/the-best-value-restaurants-in-the-american-south

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

@infatuation

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Mala Pata - Review - Gateway Plaza - Raleigh - The Infatuation

"After years of planning and delays, the newly opened Mala Pata was one of Raleigh’s most anticipated restaurants—and it quickly delivered. This pan-Latin American spot with heavy influences from southern Mexico is the brainchild of a supergroup of local restaurant owners and vets from Centro, Ex Voto, and Locals Seafood. Bring a small group of friends and hit the adjoining Peyote minibar beforehand. Mala Pata’s cheesy Colombian buñuelos are a must-order, as are the lechoncito de oro and the butterflied, grilled striped seabass served with salsa verde and salsa roja, each covering a half. photo credit: Forrest Mason photo credit: Forrest Mason photo credit: Forrest Mason photo credit: Forrest Mason photo credit: Forrest Mason Pause Unmute" - Eric Ginsburg

https://www.theinfatuation.com/raleigh/reviews/mala-pata

Forrest Mason

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

Mala Pata Opens in Raleigh on May 14 | Eater Carolinas

"Opening on Wednesday, May 14, this Latin American restaurant is led by culinary and community ambassador Angela Salamanca, design-and-drinks lead Marshall Davis, culinary advisor Eric Montagne, and executive chef/general manager Zack Gragg. The kitchen centers on heirloom corn imported from Oaxaca that is nixtamalized into masa for fresh tortillas, and the menu intentionally blends traditions from across Latin America rather than sticking to strict regional boundaries: expect a pure Oaxacan mole alongside dishes that use El Salvadoran curtido on fish tacos, reflecting the team’s Colombian, Cuban and North Carolinian influences. Offerings include aguachile verde, macha wings, carnitas, fish tacos, flautas de papas, rajas enchiladas and whole grilled fish. Framed as a community-focused project that honors tradition, it will serve dinner Wednesdays through Saturdays from 5–10 p.m." - Erin Perkins

https://carolinas.eater.com/2025/5/5/24424059/mala-pata-raleigh-opening

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

@postcardnews

22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

New in Gateway Plaza, Mala Pata centers everything on house‑made masa—think heirloom corn, nixtamal, and a small menu that changes with the seasons. Anticipated and confirmed open by Axios, it’s from the team behind Centro and Locals Seafood.

https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/05/05/mala-pata-opening-date-raleigh-gateway-plaza-cinco-de-mayo

Mexican Food in Raleigh

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Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

@postcardnews

22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

A 2025 arrival centered on fresh‑milled masa and Latin American flavors from a super‑group behind Centro, Ex‑Voto, and Locals Seafood. Editors flagged its opening as a defining addition to Gateway Plaza’s dining scene.

https://malapatanc.com/

Best Restaurants in Raleigh (2025)

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

Catherine K.

Google

What a fantastic experience!!! My boyfriend and I recently moved to the area and have been looking for our next favorite and this might just take the cake. Our server recommended we get multiple small plates to share, which was a great call. We got the guacamole, aguachile, fish tacos, lechoncito tacos (which were our favorite), and of course the tres leches cake. Everyone was incredibly kind and the atmosphere was so cool. I will be coming back soon to try the other half of the menu.

Shanah B.

Google

My husband and I finally made it out to check out this newer restaurant in the area. He had been wanting to try it, but I was concerned that they would have nothing for me since I had Celiac and am Vegan and they seem to definitely have a meat and cheese heavy menu. I asked the server as soon as we sat down if they had anything that could accommodate me because there was nothing glaringly obvious on the menu that would suffice. She was very helpful and said that they do typically keep a grilled pineapple taco as an option for people who are vegan and that the guacamole appetizer could be made with the cheese on the side or without the cheese. So those were the only two options that I had, which was better than nothing. As a side note, they make all of their tortillas in house and are probably the best tortillas I've eaten to date. So those alone may be worth the trip! I have to say the food was pretty good and the the margarita on the rocks with salt was spot on! Not only delicious, but the glassware was fantastic! The service and atmosphere was great, but the pricing is a bit on the higher side for me for the vegan food that I got. Ultimately, if you eat meat, this is probably a great place to check out. As a vegan though, definitely not top of my list unless they can start diversifying more to reduce the amount of cheese in all the dishes and/or offer some meat alternatives (mushrooms and nopales are great options).

David M

Google

We stopped here for brunch a couple weeks ago and it was delicious and we immediately made plans to return for a dinner. We were not dissappointed. The atmosphere is fun and slightly upscale. The service was excellent and above expectations at both visits. We started dinner with a couple drinks from the bar. They offer a good selection of speciality drinks. We selected The Mezcal Mule and Leather Jacket, both were terrific. The bar staff were helpful, quick and nice to chat with while we sat at the bar before our table was ready. For dinner we started with Pina y queso for a small plate, while good it was not a standout and not something we would order at future visit. Our entrees were the Rajas Enchiladas and Pescado a la Talla. Both were fantastic! The fish was cooked perfectly and because it was somehat pre-cut it was easier to eat than I was expecting. I would recommend the side of homemade tortillas as they were amazing. The enchiladas were also exceptional. Everything was beautifully prepared, well-plated and fresh. This was the best Mexican food experience we have had in the area by far. We have added Mala Pata to our list of favorites in the area and plan to return soon.

Terri S.

Google

Absolutely blown away by Mala Pata and the staff! The ambience at Mala Pata felt warm and inviting. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, and could offer great recommendations to our party of three. We ordered so many dishes and not one was disappointing. Here are a few of our favorites: (All were fabulous dishes) Butterflied grilled striped seabass with both salsa verde and roja Flautas de papas – Tuna tartacos Aguachile verde Pina Y Queso Guacamole Pork carnitas Great portion sizes mean there was plenty for sharing within our group! If you favor a great cocktail look no futher than the beautiful Peyote bar. The cocktail menu will satisfy everyone. Mala Pata delivers bold flavors, creativity, and a vibe that’s rare. Whether you’re a Latin‐food aficionado or just looking for an evening of great food this place will earn every 5 star review they receive! We are looking forward too our next trip. Reservations are recommended.

Jonathan Y.

Google

Once I heard about Mala Pata's Michelin Bib Gourmand, I figured I'd stop by and check it out with a friend. We didn't make a reservation but we managed to get bartop seats. The depth of flavor in the butter accompanying the buñuelos and the aguachile marinade were what won me over. I would come back and try more of their menu!

pragnya sri G.

Google

Food and drinks here are amazing. We loved everything we ordered. Service is great. They explained and recommended the dishes patiently.Always checked on us till end.Ended with desser Tres leches which is good.

Veronique G.

Google

Had the best time celebrating a joint birthday dinner at Mala Plata! The atmosphere was amazing, simple and clean, but still really stylish and cool. The drinks were so good, and everything about the experience felt fun and effortless. They even surprised us with a dessert and candle, which made the night feel extra special. Don’t even get me started on the tres leches cake… actually, get me started because I still can’t stop thinking about it. I’d go back just for that alone. Perfect spot for a birthday or a night out—definitely coming back!

Steve S.

Google

The food here is fantastic— so nice to have a place that serves elevated Mexican cuisine along with some Colombian fusion! Well thought out wine list and delightful service too! Great date night restaurant

John E.

Yelp

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.

Tracy A.

Yelp

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.

Jennie N.

Yelp

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.

Cindy O.

Yelp

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!

Taylor K.

Yelp

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!

Stacy A.

Yelp

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!

Nicole L.

Yelp

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!

Emily G.

Yelp

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

Colby M.

Yelp

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!

Holly R.

Yelp

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

Ellen M.

Yelp

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

Jerry J.

Yelp

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.

Brooks P.

Yelp

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.

Tj A.

Yelp

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.

Melanie's H.

Yelp

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.

Christine S.

Yelp

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.

Marshall D.

Yelp

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

Carly H.

Yelp

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

Brandon E.

Yelp

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.

Paola B.

Yelp

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.

Kate B.

Yelp

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!

Richard R.

Yelp

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.

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

The Best Value Restaurants in the American South

"In Raleigh, Mala Pata is identified as a Mexican restaurant that appears on the MICHELIN Guide's inaugural American South Bib Gourmand list." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/the-best-value-restaurants-in-the-american-south

Mala Pata Molino + Cocina

@infatuation

132,814 Postcards · 3,234 Cities