Different than other Mexican restaurants. Great tastes. Seems always filled with happy people…read more Wait staff great and accommodating. Has become my favorite in Durham.

We came here on a Sunday for lunch and really enjoyed it. The portions are great and the servers…read moreare nice and well-versed on the menu. The ultimate nachos were a lot. It's probably meant to be consumed by more than one person and I did have leftovers. It was so tasty though. All the protein (chicken, steak, shrimp) was cooked to perfection and still had plenty of moisture in it. The only thing I wish is that they would add beans and rice as a layer to the nachos; however, it was excellent. The six tacos plate was so good too. Loved the carnitas and pescado tacos. They were flavorful and filling. The rice was sensational and well-seasoned. The black beans paired with the rice was also excellent. I will be back. The dragonfruit mezcalito was so good! The restaurant was starting to fill up with a lot of people, so it's a popular spot.

While visiting Durham on business, I discovered La Mala was just a five minute walk from my hotel--…read moreand what a fantastic discovery it was. A beautiful clean and spacious interior with a great view for people-watching foot traffic along Corcoran. The service was prompt, friendly and attentive without being intrusive. I ordered La Santa margarita and it was refreshing and delicious served in a Collins glass over ice. For starters, the guacamole fresco served with toasted whole tortillas was a steal at only $10, and enough for two (although I ate most of it myself). I ordered the quesabirrias, three full-sized tortillas stuffed with tender shredded slow-cooked beef served with a generous bowl of birria consommé and accompanied with fresh chopped cilantro and red onion and a hot sauce (smoky, perhaps tomatillo?) -- another steal at just $16. All in all, my experience here was perfecto.

La Mala is a vibe. We visited for a second time, and had a good experience. The food is always…read moretasty and fresh, and the service was helpful. We tried a few drinks this time, and we were pleasantly surprised. Many drinks at Mexican food places can be too sweet; these were really balanced. I'd like to try the new Raleigh location as well.

Overall good experience again! Tried some new things:…read more - Torta Cubana: Hefty sandwich with like 3 different meats (including sausage & chorizo), fried egg, avocado, onions, lettuce, tomato. A little salty, but balances out with the spicy salsa they provide. - Camarones Ala Mexicana Platter: Good if you want a lighter, healthier feeling option. - Quessabirrias: Honestly, felt a little too greasy for me & the consommé wasn't super deep in flavor. It was okay. - Pupusa con Pollo: I think the pupusas will be my favorite item to get here! - Horchata: Love their horchata; super cinnamon-y and refreshing. Fast service during weekday dinnertime; fine ambiance. 9/10 would recommend!

Solid four stars…read more The Quesabirria was very good and the broth even had chickpeas lurking at the bottom. The tacos al pastor were pretty good and the aguas have numerous chunks of fresh fruit floating in them. The carnitas, liver, and lamb barbacoa were not all that. A little dry, maybe not as flavorful as could be. The staff speaks English and the menu is mostly bilingual. Order at the counter, have a seat, and your food will be delivered to you.

Growing up in Southern California, I've chased real tacos through enough dodgy alleys and late…read morenight backyard taco stands to know authentic when I taste it. Somehow that same soul has landed in the unlikeliest spot: Foster Street, in downtown Durham. Pulpo tacos, legit goat birria, bright ceviche mixto, a killer torta milanesa, and that sneaky chipotle aioli that steals the show. All washed down with ice-cold Modelo Negra on draft. Unpretentious, soulful flavors done right, prices that feel like a steal, and food that tastes like your nana cooked it with attitude.

I came here on a Saturday around 6 and was able to be seated right away. We chose to sit outside…read moreand their tables are right along the sidewalk. The atmosphere could be better but I still give 5 stars because of the food! We were skeptical about goat cheese and guacamole going together but wow! It was really inventive and delicious. Flavors I had not tried before. I also really liked that the free chips came with bean dip-/ yum! The gringa steak quesadilla I got was open faced. A little different than I was used to, but the flavor was 10/10. Overall I thought the food was unique and I would totally come back for more

Torero's is a durham staple. Beloved by all duke students and alumni alike. We went with a group…read moreof 10 around 7p on a Friday night and it was basically empty. This location is HUGE so there was lots of space. It wasn't very loud (besides my group of 10 lol) so we could chat comfortably. My ACP was quite spicy... not unbearable for me but might be for someone else with a lower tolerance. It was delicious tho. Table had skinny marg pitcher. Also banging. Queso was a lil runny and not very thick which wasn't our preference. Service was quick and easy. I would obviously forever go back!!

Stopped in for lunch on a Saturday around 1 and I think we were the only people in the entire place…read more- so we had really fast and attentive service. I had the Tamales Espinacas lunch portion - the tamale and beans were good. The rice seemed a little under cooked. Their salsa that came with the chips wasn't really that good IMO. One cool thing for this spot is you can order and have it delivered to Crank Arm that's right around the corner.

Ordered takeout from Fonda Lupita on a whim! Got the Tacos Dorados de Papa (fried tacos with mashed…read morepotatoes and cheese topped with lime slaw and cream; side of refried beans) and a Gringa (a quesadilla with onions; I got it with al pastor). Both were tasty, pretty classic. But it's low key crazy that this meal (enough for at least 2 meals actually) was ~$20, so reasonable. Pick up was fast and easy, service was friendly, ambiance inside was nice but I didn't stick around. The only annoying thing for take out is that their salsa bar didn't have containers conducive to take to go. There's free 2 hour Brightleaf parking nearby. 9/10 would recommend!

Loved the vibe in here. Ingredients looks super fresh with lots of options. Walk up and order and…read moresit wherever but they also have a full bar with seating too. Burrito was soo good and you gotta get sauces with it!

Came here after the Durham Farmers Market with a friend and wow this place was a surprise. …read more I went with the grain bowl and honestly it is one of the best I have had in downtown Durham. It is built on quinoa and rice with black beans and kale, then layered with corn salsa, tomato cortido, guacamole, and a creamy acevichado style sauce that pulls everything together. It is finished with a crunchy mix of pepitas, nuts, and grains. The balance is quite ideal in my view. My friend had the rotisserie chicken with two sides, kale and slaw, and it was just as impressive. Crispy skin, juicy inside, and really clean flavors. Simple food done right and GF friendly. Everything felt thoughtfully prepared. Prices land right where you would expect for the quality, roughly 16 to 21 dollars depending on what you order, and it feels worth it. My bowl plus side of dark chicken was plenty. A few notes. Parking is what you would expect for downtown, so plan accordingly. Service was solid and friendly, but nothing that stood out. The vibe inside is festive and relaxed, bright and open, and just a fun place to hang out for lunch. Porbably not a special occasion. I also suspect it could get loud when full. This is definitely going into my regular rotation. That grain bowl is going to be hard to pass up next time, so instead of replacing it I will probably just add a side or an empanada and start working my way through the rest of the menu.

This place was amazing. We tried both the brisket and chicken sandwich, and they did not…read moredisappoint. We also shared a potato empanada that was recommended by another customer, which was also fantastic. The yuca fries and plantains were delicious. You also get a large amount of food for the price, definitely left us feeling satiated. Staff was very friendly, we will be back!

Best tacos I've had in Durham. Love the way they present the nachos. It's exactly how'd I'd eat it…read moreif I were at home. It's all business. The Carnitas, Chorizo and Al Pastor are all recommended. The salsa is on the mild side so please use generously. It's got great flavor. I was impressed with this visit. I came in hungry and I left happy. You've definitely got a gem here in Durham. I will be back many times over. Yum gang...

Hmm, for the reviews Mi Calvillo had I was expecting way more flavor profiles. However the food was…read morevery bland. The chips were not fresh and there was no spice at all in the salsa. We had a cheese dip as well that was lukewarm. The server was very pleasant and helpful. It was a cute small space.

First time here - great experience! It was easy to get a table for 7 for a 5:30ish Friday dinner…read more The staff were quick, attentive, and friendly. Food was really good and different. The burrito relleno was a unique vegetarian option - definitely recommend! I also had the house pineapple margarita. Great kids menu options too - my son had the taco and burrito combo.

I will always recommend this place! Listen, this is my go to spot, when I want some good queso with…read morechorizo and a good margarita! The food is always good, fresh, and the service is always on point. The mood is right if you have a significant other, it no pressure if you don't. It is still a good vibe! Enjoy!

Amazing tacos, lots of terrific sauces and great staff 10/10…read moreThe place is great for a quick lunch or to sit and hangout while having a beer.

What a fun restaurant, I loved all their decor and art work. You order and pay at the counter and…read morethe food will be brought to your table when ready. I got the Asada Nachos and I loved the presentation! They come in a tall metal cylinder that you get to lift to reveal the nachos, it was really fun. The nachos were tasty, I enjoyed all the topping and loved the kick from the fresh jalapeños. The portion was HUGE. I brought home my leftovers, and even the leftovers were good (which is rare for nachos). They have a salsa bar with 4 different salsas, my favorite was the spicy orange peanut salsa. They ran out of their house green salsa which is made at the Hillsborough Street location, so I only got to try a little of this salsa. We didn't get any alcoholic drinks, but the bartender let us know that this Gym Tacos stays open late on Fridays and turns into a club!