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La Mala Mexican Inspired Cocktails
Bold Mexican flavors meet handcrafted cocktails in downtown Durham.
4.8
Mexican
$$
Bold Mexican flavors meet handcrafted cocktails in downtown Durham.
Located at 110 Corcoran St in downtown Durham, La Mala Mexican Inspired Cocktails blends Mexican restaurant fare with craft cocktails. Diners praise the guacamole, hearty tacos, and the bold, well-balanced drinks—including the signature La Mala. Reviews highlight attentive, friendly service and a chic, indoor-outdoor setting, making it a popular downtown dining choice.
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Handcrafted margaritas and signature drinks like La Mala and Spicy Watermelon, served in a chic setting.
Flavorful dishes including Quesobirria Tacos, Mexican Fries, and Mexican Pizza, perfect for sharing.
Weekly deals on tacos, featuring options like Carne and Pulpo + Chorizo, with generous portions.
Host gatherings in our stylish space with tailored menus and impeccable service for special occasions.
Enjoy our cocktails and tapas in a cozy outdoor area, ideal for socializing in downtown Durham.
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Overall rating
Anastasia Sample
This restaurant gets the lighting right for a date night! Loved the reggaeton music and attentive staff. Both a mil amores and la chingona margaritas were balanced, beautiful, and had a lot of tajin on the rim. The quesabirria and pulpo + chorizo tacos were great, and the portion was enough for two people. Was a great pre-dinner for a DPAC show.
Brock Blanks
Sidney was our server and she did a phenomenal job. She was attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed. The drinks, especially the spicy watermelon margarita was delicious and so was the food! Will definitely return and will ask for Sidney.
Max Gore
Max with Offline - All I can say is… WOW. As one of the first 1,000 members of Offline Raleigh, I had the chance to attend a private try-before-they-open event at Lamala (from the amazing folks behind La Santa), and let me tell you—it did not disappoint! The service? Impeccable. The food? I gotta say it… so effin’ good! The drinks? Whew! Get the signature “La Mala” — trust me, it’ll get the job done with just one. Here’s what we tried: • Quesobirria Tacos – You get three with consomé, and the FLAVOR was hitting. • Mexican Fries – Absolutely incredible. Honestly, they could be a full meal by themselves. • Mexican Pizza – My friend raved about it, especially the sauce that took it to another level. • Carne Tacos – Packed with flavor, tender, and juicy. The ambiance is perfect — super cute with both indoor and outdoor seating. The food came out fast, and our server Cindy was fantastic — quick, personable, and on top of everything. Long story short: Lamala is going to be a HIT in Raleigh. I’m already planning my next visit. If you’re looking for great vibes, killer drinks, and tapas that deliver serious flavor — run, don’t walk.
Adriana Delgado
A great unexpected gem. In the heart of downtown Durham is possibly the best Mexican restaurant. The guacamole was so delicious we had to order a second one. The tacos were big and hearty with a great price point. The drinks were superb and they hit hard so be careful. Order La enamorada, such a pretty drink. Overall a must go.
Brianna Cain
I went to La Mala a month ago over the weekend and it was nice! It’s a smaller venue, pretty dark (like you really need the small lamp decor to see the menu), but clean, cute and chic/modern. I sat at the bar and the customer service was great! The food was pretty ok. I was recommended the Mexican fries and they were fine. A good portion but not really what I expected. Perfect if you’re about to drink on the strip later in the evening. Also had 2 drinks - spicy watermelon and a margarita. Not very strong but a little pricey in my opinion. But they were good and pretty and definitely worth a try! A server told me they have great taco deals on Tuesday or Wednesday. Definitely would go back and try the tacos or some other dish!
