El Malo Tacos’ Hermanita Is a Not-So-Hidden Gem of Midwood Corners

Imagine sitting on a cozy patio under soft, glowing string lights sipping a grapefruit tequila cocktail from earthenware on a Sunday evening. The remnants of lime and tajín linger in the air after every sip, seamlessly blending with the pervasive aroma of savory meat and warm corn tortillas.

As you begin to let the warm fall breeze carrying the hum of tipsy chatter and the subtle sounds of a strumming guitar whisk you away to a Mexican tavern, you hear, “Deondre, your order’s ready!” over a loudspeaker. You’re not in Mexico anymore; you’re at a Dave’s Hot Chicken.

If you haven’t visited neighborhood staple Akahana lately you may not know that The Plaza’s Midwood Corners shopping center has gotten a facelift, complete with new kids on the block like Dave’s Hot Chicken and El Malo hoping to hold down the shopping center’s legacy on the corner of The Plaza and Central Avenue.

One of those fresh faces is a “not-so-hidden hidden” speakeasy-style escape to Tijuana called Hermanita, serving traditional Mexican sips alongside street tacos.

Fittingly translated to “Little Sister,” Hermanita is the sister bar concept nestled inside El Malo Tacos, a taco and comfort food joint inspired by the street eats of Tijuana and San Diego, a laid-back offshoot of SouthPark’s modern taqueria, Mal Pan.

Even though Lil’ Sis officially opened at the end of July, it wasn’t until I awkwardly mistook the open door for my usual entry point when picking up tacos that I realized I was in the wrong place.

The moody interior, perceivably darker in the light of day, offered a distinct contrast to the bright white minimalism of El Malo, immediately triggering my curiosity and a misplaced sense of dysphoric hanger. Food panic must’ve been written all over my face, because a server approached me immediately and said, “El Malo is next door, we are their sister bar,” putting my fear and growling tummy at ease.

Two weeks and a Coco rewatch party later, I was excited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and pregame Halloween with the spirit of agave and the essence of Mexico in the backyard of my ‘hood.

A strand of festive and colorful flag cutouts (referred to as papel picado) danced above the entrance as boo and I made our way to the bar. Green LED track lighting traced the seam of the booths and illuminated the bar adorned with marigold garland giving “spooky speakeasy vibes.”

Vibrant cutout lanterns with skulls peppered the space and faux candles twinkled in the rafters, further setting a DÍa de los Muertos mood.

Even though Fireball alone can induce a mouth-watering trauma response that sends chills down my spine, I settled on trying the Sunday special — $5 Canelos (Fireball + Sidral, a Mexican fermented apple soda). When boo settled on the Jalisco Ashtray (a can of Modelo with tajin, lime and a Tequila floater), I was flooded with doubt.

The bartender set a full-sized glass soda bottle in front of me. To my surprise, the effervescent amber liquid resembled my beloved hard cider, putting my saliva glands at ease. I tapped the straw inside and watched it bounce back to the surface before taking a swig.

The spicy cinnamon-flavored whiskey and crisp fizz of the apple soda tingled on my lips as I swallowed. My boyfriend watched nervously, aware of my “condition,” but there was no gag to be had.

My confidence restored, I decided to order the Cantarito “La Güera” ($11 grapefruit tequila, Pamplemousse, grapefruit, lime, hibiscus agave and soda). Tajin lined the rim of the terracotta cup, providing the perfect complement to the light and citrusy cocktail inside, making the “ah” of balanced refreshment all the more satisfying.

I am no connoisseur of Mexican cuisine or tavern culture — after all, my Spanglish is mid, I cringe over tequila shots, and I’ve been known to DoorDash three crunchy tacos supreme sans tomatoes at 3 a.m. — but Hermanita feels like it completes the trifecta of tacos, tequila, and tradition that the El Malo story embodies.

In a city where it feels like you hear of a new “taco spot” opening every week on all the corners, Hermanita still feels one-of-a-kind. It’s competitively priced with daily specials ($8-$14 for cocktails, plus a pinch of top-shelf splurge options).

It’s one of only two in the immediate shopping center serving alcoholic beverages — and let’s be honest, we’re not going to Akahana for the drinks. It’s got a spacious patio with picnic tables on the outside and two TVs on the inside for watch parties. It’s also approachable, think dive-adjacent.

If Hermanita continues to lean into the traditions of Mexican tavern culture while being unafraid to play up the aesthetic, building buzz around event planning, and exploring options for small group entertainment, it will be poised to become a Midwood must-have.

Hermanita is located next door to El Malo Tacos in the Midwood Corners shopping center at 1705 Central Ave.