New street-style taco restaurant and bar opening soon in Plaza Midwood. What to expect.
The team behind a local Mexican restaurant is opening a new taco spot and bar in Charlotte soon.
The restaurant group that operates Mal Pan, a modern taqueria in SouthPark, is bringing two new concepts to the heart of Plaza Midwood this spring: El Malo Tacos, a casual street-style taco restaurant, and Hermanita, a bar inspired by Mexico taverns.
“We’ve had pretty good success with Mal Pan here in South Park, and it was always the goal to do a taco shop … I’ve also wanted to open a bar, as well, so it was just a fantastic opportunity,” Andre Lomeli, co-owner of Chango Enterprises, told CharlotteFive.
“I want guests to, you know, transport and feel what it’s like to be in, like, a cool little tavern in Mexico City or Tijuana … something modern but with traditional touches.”
While El Malo Tacos and Hermanita will be two separate businesses, Lomeli explained that they will operate as a “dual concept” within the same building — and both will serve food from El Malo’s menu.
Similar to Mal Pan, which opened five years ago, the new restaurant and bar will have a lot of authentic Mexican foods inspired by taquerias of Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, California, but will be more a “casual, street-style version of Mexican cuisine,” Lomeli said. Look for:
Street tacos
Birria Tijuanense
California burritos
Quesadillas
Nachos
California style fries.
Aside from a wide variety of traditional Mexican cocktails and draft beers, Hermanita will also have live music and late night DJs, too.
“They kind of get the best of both worlds over there. The decor, the branding and the two spaces are going to be completely different, as well, which should be kind of cool,” Lomeli said.
“It’s just gonna be really fun, really laid back … just great tacos and great drinks and, you know, just a fun place to hang out.”
An official opening date has yet to be announced, but Lomeli said they’re expecting to open sometime mid-May.
“We want it to be fun … we’re excited. It’s a different concept. This is something we’d like to scale and replicate in the future,” Lomeli said.
El Malo Tacos and Hermanita
Location: 1705 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Cuisine: Mexican
Instagram: @elmalogram, @barhermanita
This story was originally published March 13, 2024 at 10:16 AM.
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