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    Malena

    4.3 (22 reviews)
    Closed • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Malena Photos

    MALENA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Malena

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    Reviews With Photos

    Pozole
    Amber S.

    I really enjoyed this place. The atmosphere and the restaurant itself was nice and family friendly as well as clean. The green posole was delicious. The fish tacos are great and the quesa tacos with the Barbacoa we're really flavorful and tasty. My only complaint is that the tortillas were a bit soggy as soon as the plate came out, but everything was delivered hot and fresh. The hibiscus tea had a strange taste that I didn't really care for next time. I will get the Horchata instead .The service was quick. The ordering system was user-friendly that even offered Apple Pay, which I loved I would definitely return next time. I want to try the enchiladas Rojo.

    Hibiscus aqua fresca
    Lucia L.

    TACO bout a hidden gem! So excited to finally try @malena_bytamaleselena inside @maydanmarket in West Adams. This restaurant was started by a family of daughters, who were inspired by their mother, the founder of iconic @tamaleselenayantojitos . Maléna is their tribute to her, showcasing Guerrerense coastal cuisine from Costa Chica, a stretch of southern Mexico between Acapulco and the Oaxacan border, with the love of home-style cooking. You can really taste the love and care that they pour into every dish, and this was easily one of the BEST Afro-Mexican restaurants that I've tried in LA. Highly recommend checking out this hidden gem if you're in West LA, and supporting this small, family-owned business with the sweetest employees! Featured here: Tamal de Pollo *-- fresh nixtamal, shredded chicken marinated in jalapeño salsa verde Enchilada * -- Rolled tortilla filled with shredded chicken, and covered in red salsa sour cream, queso fresco, cabbage, tomatoes Pozole Sampler -- slow-cooked in pork broth, served with avocado, chicharrón, chile relleno, radish, cabbage in three different styles representing different regions of Costa Chica Hibiscus Aqua Fresca *

    Rudy M.

    This spot puts out some good food. While I only had two options open to me, it was a great experience to enjoy inside Maydan Market. The beef flautas were crunchy and carried a punch from the salsa chile de arbor. Mine had a lot of cotija cheese as you'll see from the photos but they were really good. I can't wait to go back and try other items on their regular menu.

    Tacos de Barbacoa
    Niecy S.

    Afro-Mexican food and it was amazing. The service was great. You seat yourself and all the tables has a QR code to pull the menu for all the restaurants in the location. Malena has been on my list for a couple months and finally tried it. This place was worth the hype. The prices were great and I've already been back twice. The vibe is this place was awesome. They had a great playlist and it was a mixture of families and friends just vibing. I definitely will be trying to enchiladas when I return but please visit. Oh and the staff were amazing!!

    Normally I eat at the middle eastern restaurant in Maydan, because I already have a Mexican restaurant I go to when I want that cuisine. But I am GO GLAD that I have Malena a try. OMG the food was off the chain. Although they have a small menu of items what they have is exceptional. Everything has so much flavor and the meat is tender. The pork tamale is one of the best I have ever had. My dining companion raved about the pozole. And we both loved the sea bass tacos. and the jicama beverage. The place is run by 5 sisters and you can feel the love in their food. It is like they are preparing meals for an extended member of their family, versus a paying patron. One of the sisters came to our table to explain what makes their food - which is Afro Latin - so unique from other Mexican foods. Same dishes but prepared differently.

    Esquite
    Andrea Y.

    Malena inside Maydan Market is definitely worth checking out if you're craving delicious birria without breaking the bank. I ordered the 3-piece quesabirria tacos with consommé, and at just $12, it was an incredible value for the quality and portion size. The tacos were packed with flavorful, tender beef, the tortillas were perfectly crisp with plenty of melted cheese, and the rich, savory consommé took every bite to the next level. We also tried their street corn / esquite bowl and it was delicious. The staff were also friendly and the ambiance was fun, there are TV screens everywhere where you can enjoy watching sports as well. Everything tasted fresh, satisfying, and made to order. Between the great food, generous portions, and unbeatable price, Malena is an easy five-star spot that I'll gladly come back to whenever I'm in the area.

    QR codes (these are at every seat)
    Brianna R.

    Overall, great flavors, but I will say I expected more from the tamal given the reputation of Tamales Elena. Fine, but nothing special at $8 a piece. With that being said, the barbacoa tacos are amazing! Tender meat with a great flavor, wrapped up in a really good corn tortilla. Great price, too, at just ~$12. The consomé was very flavorful. I tried the chilate (cocoa/rice based drink) for the first time and enjoyed this as well. Located inside Maydan Market (food hall), the service is more akin to ordering at a ghost kitchen. Even though we sat at the bar top, we ordered through the QR code (it's the only way to order), so staff doesn't engage with you until they drop your food off. The market itself is very beautiful, with ample seating and sunlight. You can sit anywhere and order from any of the restaurants, but we wanted to sit at the bar top to check out the food prep.

    Chicken Enchiladas
    Eleanor B.

    New experience at a Food Hall. Once I figured out the system I enjoyed the environment. The food was excellent. I plan to go again.

    Green chicken tamal. EXCELLENT!
    Tim B.

    We came here to sample some of the restaurants within the marketplace, and the tamales caught our eye. We decided on the green chicken tamal with high hopes and it didn't disappoint. In a world where we've all had hundreds and maybe even thousands of different tamales, this one stood out because of the amazing, let me repeat, amazing nixtamal corn used for their masa. The chicken and green sauce inside was flavored, perfectly, not too salty and definitely not under salted. But for me, it was the MASA that brought it all home. It had such a delicious flavor. You could tell that a lot of love was put into this tamal. The woman who served us at our seat was very kind, and the overall atmosphere of the place was very relaxing and enjoyable.

    I came here with the purpose to support and try out a new place. I'm not from around here, so was taken aback on how gentrified the space appeared to be. I felt out of place. Food was alright. Service was not the best. I got a dairy-free horchata from the oaxaqueño restaurant inside for myself as the drinks from Malena did not appeal to me, and drink was mid. Plus service not the best either. I was looking forward to this outing with my mom, and I'm sitting here feeling disappointed. Food is alight. I'm more disappointed with service and ambience. Thank you

    Hands down some of the best food, especially the fish tacos!!

    Hands down some of the best food! The fish tacos are my favorite. Service and ambiance is great.

    Quesotacos with consume .. Mexican Coca Cola

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Barbacoa tacos and pozole is fire!! Good price and good portions. Got to speak with owner. Awesome! Shows love for all military.

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

    No vegan options, which was very disappointing, otherwise this is a wonderful place. I recommend it for meat eaters

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    7 months ago

    No manches Frida! Está bien bueno el pozole! Great food, great service and the workers were super friendly! Definitely would come back!

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    11 months ago

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    Mi Corazon - carne tacos

    Mi Corazon

    3.8(772 reviews)
    6.8 mi•Los Feliz
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    This bar is fantastic! A large space with lots of options for seating inside and out. Very chill…read morevibe. We had intended to go to the bar next door, but one look at the crowd there and the loud throbbing music turned us off. I had wanted to go to Mi Corazon anyway, and was glad the group agreed. Lots of great mezcal and tequila options, as well as a well-stocked bar with wine, beer and cocktails. And the food menu looks great, but we didn't try it. Next time! The bartender was great and served us at our table. Brought us chips and a delicious homemade spicy salsa. The atmosphere was perfect for conversation, with good indie music playing at the right level. I will be back.

    1 Star -- Extremely disappointing experience…read more Unfortunately, our experience at this restaurant was horrible from the moment we arrived. When I first arrived, I gave them the name of our reservation, and the staff had no idea what I was talking about. We were a party of 6, yet they seated us at a tiny table that was clearly not appropriate for our group. When it was time to order, my husband very clearly told the waiter which pasta he wanted and even showed him a picture of the item on the menu. The waiter looked at it and agreed. My food came out, but my husband's food never did. We eventually found out that his order was never even put in. What made it worse was when the waiter came out saying, "Oh my God, I thought you said you didn't want it." Everyone at the table looked at him completely confused because my husband had literally told him what he wanted and showed him the menu item. Instead of simply acknowledging the mistake and fixing it, we were left waiting. On top of that, trying to get anyone's attention was nearly impossible. We had to repeatedly try to get someone's attention just to get basic service. Then there was another issue with the entrance fee. My sister-in-law had messages showing that we were told that if we ate at the restaurant, we would no longer have to pay the entrance fee. We showed those messages to the woman handling the wristbands, but instead of looking into it or speaking to someone who could clarify the situation, she simply said, "I don't know, you have to pay." No attempt was made to investigate or resolve the issue. After everything that happened, they still added a tip to the bill, despite the extremely poor service we received. Overall, this was one of the most frustrating restaurant experiences I've had. Poor communication, poor service, lack of organization, and no effort to make things right. I definitely will not be recommending this place to anyone, and we will not be returning.

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    Ka'teen

    Ka'teen

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    5.1 mi•Hollywood
    Outdoor seating
    Private events

    I chose to go here on my birthday with a reservation but was kinda disappointed that for it being a…read morepricey place they don't offer something for your birthday. Again it is a little pricey but the food was really good I'm not going to lie I really did enjoy the flavors. The drinks were pretty great too, good amount of alcohol not too sweet. The Ambiance is beautiful which is one of the main reasons I wanted to go there so I could also get my birthday photos and that I did because it was super pretty. I am going to say if you have a hard time seeing it is a little dark so be prepared to get that flashlight ready. Service was pretty good, we were running a bit late and they accommodated to that and everything came out at a pretty good pace.

    came back to Ka'teen to finally try the Dine LA menu, and I'm so glad we did. This easily made my…read moretop 3 Dine LA experiences. The service was impeccable--everyone was attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience feel special. We had to get the Michelada Oysters again because I had been craving them since our last visit. They were just as amazing as I remembered--fresh, perfectly seasoned, and seriously addicting. For Dine LA, I started with the Tostada Campechana, which was like an elevated ceviche with scallops, tuna, yellowtail, avocado, and a citrus sesame sauce. Everything tasted super fresh and the citrus gave it the perfect balance. The Bone Marrow Mole was rich, flavorful, and came with a generous portion and toast. For my main course, I had the skirt steak, which was cooked perfectly--tender, well-seasoned, and delicious with the green sauce. The homemade tortillas were amazing too. We ended with the Dulce de Leche Panna Cotta, and it was the perfect finish--creamy, smooth, not overly sweet, and so good we practically cleaned the plate. Amazing food, great portions, beautiful atmosphere, and excellent service. Ka'teen definitely delivered. I would absolutely come back again.

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    Guelaguetza Restaurante - Complimentary Chips and Mole.

    Guelaguetza Restaurante

    3.9(3.3k reviews)
    3.1 mi•Harvard Heights
    •$$
    Family-owned & operated

    My parents were visiting from Florida for their annual family trip, and I wanted to treat them to a…read moremeal and introduce them to the diverse food scene in Los Angeles. Since they live in an area with limited Mexican cuisine, I chose Guelaguetza, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant with authentic Oaxacan recipes, something completely new to them. They were excited to try something different, as they don't have many Mexican food options where they live, and I wanted to expand their culinary horizons. We were greeted with complimentary chips - some were drizzled with mole and Oaxacan cheese, which we requested refills of, and others were served with red and green salsas. The green salsa had a nice kick to it. For our meal, we shared two large dishes: the Festival de Moles ($53.00) and the Tlayuda Guelaguetza ($27.50). The Tlayuda Guelaguetza, which is also called a Mexican pizza, was layered with bean and chicharron spread, queso fresco, cabbage, quesillo, beef tasajo, pork Cecina, and pork chorizo. While I've always wanted to try Tlayuda, this one wasn't good, and I wouldn't recommend it. The pork chorizo was particularly unappetizing, and neither my parents nor I enjoyed the dish, feeling it was a waste of money. The Festival de Moles ($53.00) featured four individual moles - negro, rojo, coloradito, and estofado - with a choice of shredded chicken breast or pork spare ribs. We opted for a mix of both and found this dish to be excellent, and we would definitely order it again. They were very impressed with the moles, and enjoyed them for the first time. The only minor complaint was a lack of tortillas to dip with the mole, though they did provide some rice. We ordered several drinks, which significantly increased the bill. I was surprised we spent $200 on lunch for three people with only two meals. I started with the Pasion De Oaxaca ($16.00), a mezcal, tequila, passion fruit, grapefruit juice, and tajin cocktail that was excellent, perfectly balanced, strong, but not too sweet. For my second drink, I had the refreshing Aquas Frescas - Jamaica ($6), which was perfect after my meal. I even took it to go, and they kindly provided a cup. My dad ended up taking it, as he needed it with his medication (they're old!). My parents, who were trying mole for the first time, were very impressed and really enjoyed it. Our only minor complaint was the lack of tortillas to dip in the mole, although they did provide some rice. The food took a little longer to come out, even though the restaurant wasn't busy. I imagine this type of cuisine is labor-intensive, and you can't rush the cooking time for mole. You just have to trust the process! We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Guelaguetza Restaurante and will definitely be back. I can see why they're a James Beard Award-winning restaurant; you can get authentic Oaxacan flavors in LA! We're lucky to live here.

    Amazing food and drinks and there is live music but it is way too loud in there. The place is huge…read moreand gets packed but I think the speakers need to be turned down. Good for big groups but I don't really recommend if you actually want to have conversation. Got the enchiladas campesinas and mango slushy both of my visits there, it's a huge serving so had leftovers for another meal each time.

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    Guelaguetza Restaurante - Beautifully painted mural outside of Guelaguetza Restaurante

    Beautifully painted mural outside of Guelaguetza Restaurante

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    Mirate - bar downstairs

    Mirate

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    6.1 mi•Los Feliz
    Private events
    Outdoor seating

    I only came here for the bar so this review is strictly for the drinks. I did not know this place…read morewon Top 50 Bars of America for 3 years in a row, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that sign when we entered. My girls and I were bar hopping in WeHo for our friend's bachelorette and this place was recommended to us for good drinks. We went in with no reservation and the seats downstairs for the open bar area were full, so one of the servers told us we can lounge around at the bar upstairs and grab some chairs until someone kicked us out. Thankfully, we were able to grab a couch and everyone was super friendly and sweet. We ordered some signature cocktails off the menu and as the night went on, we ordered some tequila shots as well. Instead of lime and salt, they gave us our shots with golden berries and salt and wow. I'm definitely going to be taking my tequila shots with this combo! It was sooooo good. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and very spacious, and the food looked really good too. I'd love to come back with my husband to give them a try!

    I can't remember everything that was ordered, but everything was really good!! The tacos were…read morephenomenal-- each protein was paired with different seasonings so everything had its one Unique flavor profile. The fish was amazing as well! It came with their black tortillas so you could eat them as tacos too. Service was great! The servers were really attentive without being overbearing. The interior was beautiful and spacious too. I honestly love the tree at the center!

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    Mirate - Brunch

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    Holbox - Smoked kanpachi tostada

    Holbox

    4.7(2.7k reviews)
    3.8 mi•Historic South Central
    •$$

    I heard this place was good but hot damn was this place good!!! First come first serve seating with…read morea view of the foodie action! Servers checked in often and were very helpful. I loved everything I got! The ERIZO aka UNI SCALLOP mix was so fresh and seasoned to perfection. The CEVICHE DE ATUN aka BLUEFIN TUNA CEVICHE came right from the giant tuna hanging in the fridge. These dishes were bright and exactly what I hoped for! The PULPO A LAS BRASAS aka octopus was well cooked and had a yummy sauce on it. Top it off with fresh tomatoes, onions and hand made tortillas and got an amazing meal! The GUAC AND CHIPS and the CHURROS were great bookends to the meal! Everything was perfect.

    I have been hearing about this place for a really long time and my friend from Texas was visiting,…read moreso we decided to give it a try. We heard how crazy the lines get so we went early. Since it is in a food hall we were able to grab coffee and wait. We ended up getting in line at around 10:45ish because there were people already standing. We ended up being the fourth group. We got a chance to sit at the bar so it was perfect timing. We got a few tacos, the shrimp, ceviche and the guacamole and the tar tar. The shrimp was super flavorful and was probably the best. Everyone talks about the octopus I think that was my least favorite one. Everything was really fresh and the service was great! I do not know if I will be back just because of how crazy the wait time would be. But if you do go then you should definitely arrive early!

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    Malena - mexican - Updated October 2026

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