Malena

Not friendly. With so many options in LA, customer service should be on point. Didn't greet us as we arrived to counter. Never once asked us how we were doing or how the food was. We were the first clients of the day and they were not busy. Won't be back. (I was really looking forward to visiting a restaurant of the African Diaspora. Very disappointing.)

We had the honor of experiencing this amazing restaurant during their soft opening. The owners are wonderful, very kind and friendly, and we enjoyed every delicious item on their authentic and creative menu. You can tell that they really care about their customers. The atmosphere is amazing! Grab a chair at the bar and enjoy the experience. You won’t regret it and will want to go again!

Amazing Food and authentic flavors! The pozole is unique of having customers build the pozole.. they were kind enough to help make the pozole, but there’s also a QR code that shows a nice video of how to top a Pozole.. but if you need help, ask away! … the Relleno was full of flavor, I ordered a 2nd and 3rd round of this, friendly staff overall , left happy

I have really enjoyed going to their food truck “Tamales Elena” so I was excited when I saw the head chef was opening a restaurant! Restaurant atmosphere was electric, noise volume was perfect and food was timely/delicious! Will be returning again.

Malena is located in the Mayden complex on Hillcrest & Jefferson. The are located just west of the Jefferson Park community, and are in what long-timers know as Mid-City. They are a pop-up and offer a very good menu representing their culture. Some items are basic and especially within the Mexican part of Los Angeles, offer a lower price point. Now, that is not to marginalize all Mexican food must be "lower or cheaper" as there is an art of how it is prepared. I think one of the issues is to operate in the Mayden complex, your prices have to be a bit higher, as well as the quality of food. That is all good, but just be prepared. Now, I had to Birria tacos, which were excellent and the blue corn tortillas was a nice touch. The consumme was outstanding. The hit was 3 tacos for $18. At most home grown Mexican restaurants, Pozole is a traditional staple. Their offering was a notch above. Fresh ingredients, excellent preparation and the usual condiments. I opted for the "red" and at $25 a bowl I got my money's worth, although similar pozole in and around L.A. is usually $15 or less. So here is my bottom line, Malena offers quality offerings in a very nice venue. It is worth the experience. The biggest issue with the Mayden is parking can be difficult (of course depending on when you arrive) so just be prepared.

Malena is such a lovely spot at Maydan Market! 🌿 The vibe is cozy, stylish, and super welcoming. The food is delicious, full of flavor, and beautifully presented without feeling too fancy 🍝🥗. The staff are friendly and make you feel right at home, even when it’s busy 😊. It’s a great place to relax, enjoy good food, and soak in the lively market atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit — and an easy place to come back to again! 💛

Definitely my new favorite spot in the neighborhood. The meat in the Relleno is so tender and delicious, and the potatoes and plantains make the perfect combination. Mouthwatering. The dessert tastes and smells so good, too! Gotta bring my friends next time.

Wasn’t sure going in to it what afromexican food was, but wanted to try a new place. Extremely happy I did… one of my favorite spots now. The staff is extremely friendly. Looking forward to making this a weekly stop for me. Try it… you won’t be disappointed!!

Great food! Fantastic service! Such a joy to eat at this restaurant. Really impressed to see this kinda restaurant coming to this neighborhood. Can't recommend it enough.