Mahala in Croydon

Authentic Romanian cuisine, with actual bigger portions than expected.

We had a lovely meal at this Romanian Restaurant, the food was delicious. Having said that, the service was average, we were one of two tables in the Restaurant and the waiter had to be asked several times for a child seat and for our drinks. The prices are pretty steep, our meal cost over £100 for 2 soups, two mains and two desserts plus water, a glass of wine and a cola. Apparently they charge for everything including the bread buns and sour cream for the soup (!!!). They also charged me twice for a glass of wine, which I don’t believe was an accident and insisted on a 10% service charge when I offered a lower tip. I would mot visit again but I do have to say the food was good.

Took my team here for a lunch , spent a 1000 pounds here all good till around 21 we were only 5 of us left , the owner accused us of drinking from outside,it is true some.one brought me a bottle of jack wich the foil was off ,however the bottle was on the table and my cap.on top of it ,i tried to talk to him polite and explain him why would i have palinca in front of me if we dring from that bottle , he did not care he did no want to talk nice to us just acting like a mafia gangster saing to us shame shame shame ,it s true we were wrong to keep that bottle on the table but we had on front of us drinks from the bar and had the recits 1000 pounds spent on a evening,he did not care ,we were not let to say why how ... very disappointed!!!!!don t recommend,stay away from this restaurant!!!!!!!!

Good food, impeccable service and nice atmosphere. If you want to try proper Romanian food this is the perfect restaurant in London to do so 👌

Very nice restaurant. Delicious food, welcoming staff and vibe. Must go!!

Bad experience, would not recommend this restaurant , the manager or whatever his role is in the restaurant was drunk and causing problems

No no no , very bad experience the owner shouting at us acting like an mafia lord ,very disappointed of everything here👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

Loved the food we had got to go back and try more. Staff excellent and friendly and helpful. Both had a great experience. Thank you all so much. Compliments to the chef as well.

Superb restaurant and prompt service.

If you order take away via the apps, your food will be stolen by the drivers or unsent and this restaurant wouldn’t do nothing about it a total shame

Friendly staff lovely food and great atmosphere. Highly recommend

Excellent food, a pleasant and welcoming environment, the impeccable service provided by Marian, I recommend 100%

The worst restaurant, I paid 30 lira for more potatoes than meat and the waiter was not kind, the food was nothing more raw, I do not recommend 👎👎👎

The best service I strongly recomend the mix grill and the sample starter really good paring with Purcari

Mahala is one of the best Romanian Restaurants!! And also the service is great!! Marian knows what to do!!

The food was delicious. The waiter Marian made sure we didn't miss anything. We will definitely come back. Thank you very much!

Visited for lunch on a Tuesday afternoon. Full a la carte menu available and reasonably priced. Chicken was very nice with typical Romanian flavours. Service was pleasant and welcoming and the place is clean and unfussy. I definitely intend to go back again.

Very tasty traditional dishes and very good service

The food was delicious, it seems like homemade food. The waiter was very friendly .. thanks for the good experience.

A very quiet and welcoming place 🥰 Food grade 10. We will definitely be back ☺️

Aparently quite popular Romanian restaurant so we decided to visit it. I asked what soup is from today, and the waiter replied that all of them were freshly made 'today'. Well, that was not the case. You could taste that the beef soup was made before and reheated, a nice vegetable soup where they generously dropped some water boiled beef. 'Tochitura' and 'mici' were quite good, not wow, but good. Overall, the service was quite poor. The biggest problem is the damp air from the restaurant and the hard weird smell, so we had to move out on the terrace for some air... unlucky the rain started and we moved back inside. Do I recommend them? Hmm, I would say yes only if you are really craving Romanian food. Otherwise, I would not come back. And by the way, they charge you for bread and sourcream ... probably they forgot that they are in the UK.

Very pleasant waiter and nice atmosphere but food was average and quite high prices

Ordered online several times. Fast and really good, delicious food. Recommend it.

Tasty food and decent price for portion.

A Delightful Journey Through Romanian Culinary Traditions I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mahala a gem nestled in the heart of Croydon, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I walked in, the warm and inviting atmosphere set the stage for a culinary adventure like no other. The decor beautifully reflects Romanian heritage, with traditional elements that transport you straight to the picturesque countryside of Romania. The staff was incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable, eager to share the stories behind each dish and make recommendations. Now, let’s talk about the food—oh, the food! The menu is a celebration of Romania's rich culinary history, featuring a delightful array of dishes that highlight the country’s diverse flavors and ingredients. I started with the ciorbă de burtă a tripe soup that was nothing short of perfection. The broth was rich and creamy, with just the right amount of tanginess from the vinegar and a hint of heat from the garlic. It was comfort in a bowl. For the main course, I couldn't resist trying the pomana porcului served with a side of creamy polenta. Each bite was a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, a true testament to the skill of the chefs. The dessert menu offered an array of tempting options, but I ultimately chose the papanasi cu dulceata de afine, traditional Romanian doughnuts topped with sour cream and blueberry jam. They were light, fluffy, and decadently delicious—a perfect ending to an exceptional meal. What truly sets Mahala apart is their commitment to authenticity. Every dish is prepared with the freshest ingredients and utmost care, capturing the essence of Romanian home cooking. It's clear that this restaurant is a labor of love, dedicated to preserving and sharing Romania's culinary traditions. In summary Mahala is a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the rich and varied flavors of Romanian cuisine. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned aficionado of Romanian food, you’ll find something to love here. I can't wait to return and try more of their delightful offerings. Highly recommended! Razvan. S

Everything is perfect . From food, to serving, to cleaning... The prices are ok.

Despite the many complaints in English, you still have that supervisor or whatever who harasses the employees and speaks very badly to them. I don't think you realize what those waiters are going through, and I'm not exaggerating, screams, hurray. You should investigate this issue. I was with some co-workers and everything was perfect, including the interaction with the serving staff, until that supervisor started scolding the one serving us, telling him in Romanian to stop being so nice. (Leave the spell) Is that how you work there? At the time of payment, the same supervisor started arguing with us because we didn't leave him a tip. I tipped one of the waiters in cash and that supervisor just jumped on him and scolded him right after I walked out the door. I think that man is terrorizing all the waiters who work there, my colleagues were shocked by that attitude. It's a shame about your food and the overall performance you have.

We walked to the bar to get seated , head waiter outright rude. To date we have been regular customers, safe to say we will not be returning anytime soon.

Excellent food and service !Recommended

Very tasty food and an atmosphere to match 😻

Excellent food, freshly prepared, drinks of the highest quality and an excellent service by Madalin. The best Romanian restaurant in London, I recommend it

Nice plece, good food and friendly staff

Every time we talk about Mahala, our thoughts automatically go to Mădălin and eggplant salad😂, obviously the whole team is ok, and so is the food. I recommend!

Amazing food, great service, and phenomenal atmosphere. Was a little sceptical coming here being not Romanian but wow will definitely attend again.

I recommend Mahala restaurant! The food is delicious, Mădălin professional as always!

Wonderful atmosphere, superlative food and service! We were served by Madalin who is very professional and friendly! I recommend with love!

Great place, nice food, nice drinks, good service, I would definitely come back.

Great place and great staff! Will be back!

Best Romanian food in London. Service top class and food which always reminds me of my mother food taste.

A fantastic experience. Food is delicious and staff is welcoming and helpful. Restaurant is clean. 100 % recommend this place.

Optimum food, exceptional staff and a wonderful atmosphere, I highly recommend

Really nice food ,really good portions and tastes great , service 5+ ,nice atmosphere. Thank you

Absolutely amazing service. The food is out of this world, the staff it’s awesome and overall it is a fantastic place. Well done and I’m always gonna come back for more delicious food.

The food is just amazing. We really enjoyed it. Restaurant is very nice and clean. Staff is very friendly. Will come back again. 100 % recommend it.

We're back in Croydon for one night so where else would we come?! Delicious food, as always, with friendly staff in a welcoming atmosphere. We definitely had to finish with papanași: frumoasă!

very good minicars, exceptional services, I recommend this restaurant toto which is located in East Croydon

Traditional, tasty, generous portions! We'll be back 😊

Spend your money somewhere else if you want to receive some service and good food. The worst experience you can have in a Romanian place, the rudest server ever.

We have been to many Romanian restaurants, in London but honestly at Mahala we had the toasties Romanian food. We had: - cold starter, baked eggplant salad, roe, zacusca, beaten beans with onion. - beef soup - bean stew with a drumstick - paparazzi We'll be back soon!

my mony back for this order the food was rotten smell old

We had the mixed grill which was good - too much food and I doubt we had the best of Romanian cuisine, there was likely much more interesting on the menu...but we were two blokes drinking beer, and meat worked. Beer they served was pretty ordinary, wine was nothing special either. Restaurant was very quiet - hope more people go to support them.

I have been meaning to get to this place for a while seeing pics of all delicious Romanian food and I was not disappointed. I had beef soup (ciorba) and it was made to perfection, was accompanied by sour cream and 🌶️ as you would expect. We also had aubergine salad which was extremely tasty which reminded me of home. The grilled minced meat (mici) and fries were also very good - had them for take away as I was already full. Also the focaccia which was freshly baked then was to die for. Will definitely come back and I highly recommend this place for all Romanians/Balkans who are missing their country food dishes 🤗

My food was cold and is coming after 2 h .

item are missing this is not good

Well established restaurant with very tasty food, echilibrated drink meniu and affordable prices. Will visit you again.

I invited my Gym friends to experience the Romanian food 🥘 and they said they loved it and they liked to come back when I will invite them. Thank you for the hospitality. Mahala!!

Wery expensive the food and no parking space....you eat and pay iven the ticket for no parking space

This order was deliverd with the bicycle and the pizza's were smashed and the rest of the food leeked everywhere. Not to say that the delivery guy first only came with just a bag of sauces and had to wait to go back and get the rest of it. Disappointed

Great place to be with friends and family. Delicious food, great atmosphere, nice staff. Definitely worth a visit.

no parmezan on pasta , they put just when they want

Ideal for family get togethersn thou on a person point of view the pearents could have keeped their children more in check being a bit nosy for my liking right next to me Food is very much eastern European cuisine which I could not fault Loved the seafood pasta ( see photo ) Large bar on site Easy accessibility throughout for pushchairs and the toilets

Amazing food! Ordered a take-away a few times while in Surrey and was never disappointed! The portions are good size and their food is delicious!

Good environment, potato wedges can be more crispy, were bit soft and blend, polenta didn't have much of the taste, but maybe it supposed to be like that, cabbage rolls, fish and meat were nice, cheese doughnut was pretty good, service was also good.

Mincarea a fost excelenta și asta contează, mulțumiri bucătăriei. Serviciul a fost prietenos. La ambient s-ar putea lucra, ii lipsește atmosfera. Nu exista un cuier, hainele mai ales iarna trebuiesc îngrămădite pe undeva, iar mobilierul în partea din spate are iz de gara,rece.

The food is not testing and no cook properly

Singurul local din zona in care poți experimenta tradiția culinară românească la un nivel deosebit! Felicitări!!!

Amazing place! Lovely food, excellent service and happy atmosphere! Highly recommended. Would be definitely back

Delicious romanian food. Fresh ingredients with real romanian taste! Really recommend.

Delicious food and arrived nice and warm. Thank you

So pretty much 😍💕 and so finding food Romania traditional

Se vede că este restaurant românesc…mâncarea “ca la mama acasă”, absolut delicioasă!

We went there with our friends. The food is amazing. Fresh and very tasty. The atmosphere is very relaxing and it is very good value for money. Make sure you try the donuts. Definitely recommended.

Amazingly tasty food, great service!

Un loc perfect de petrecut timpul liber și pentru orice eveniment, cu staff prietenos și servire de 5*. Recomand cu incredere.

Absolutely brilliant. We only live a couple of minutes away but this was our first visit & seriously regretting not coming sooner. Despite being packed at 5pm on a Saturday they squeezed us in without a reservation. Service was great. We had calamari (spicy) and prawns to start and Lamb in sauce with mash and the homemade minced meat rolls with chips as main, all were very tasty, the calamari & meat rolls were particularly good and special mention for the proper homemade chips. The place was absolutely buzzing with a party of some kind next to us and great music. The house red wine was lovely. Definitely recommend and we're coming back for sure.

Brilliant food and amazing service. Will definitely be back!

One of the best place for meetings! Family, friends, all will be satisfied. Here's what I ordered: Pizza - unique taste, well prepared, you have to try it (Mahala) Tea - well served (Fruit Blossom Tea w/ honey) Wine - Purcari Sauvignon (one of the best from PINOT GRIGIO) Dessert - Delicious cheese donut with blueberry 🤤 Talking about price... they deserve more, yeah... place, music, atmosphere, service - all in high grade. 👌 Well spend time. Will be coming back again and again ;) *adding pictures

First-class service, fantastic tastes. Recommended.

Mancarea delicioasa , nu a trebuit sa asteptam prea mult , servirea impecabila si o atmosfera super ! Multumim frumos

Very pleasant place, good dining experience.

Amazing place, I can't recommend enough, delicious food and drinks, worm and welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, overall great quality service and food

Had our wedding reception here. Food was amazing, was too. Great portion size and delicious, really good value for money. So friendly and so much care taken. My sister is gluten intolerant and they took time to go through the menu with her.

Excellent food, well done chef, but a shame that the service do not deserve even one star. Train your staff how to greet and talk to the customers, how to take orders and how to look after the tables, currently the service is zero stars. The bar attender treats very bad the waitresses, unpolite words addresses to one of the waitresses while we were having lunch. The Italian waitress do not know the drinks menu or recognise them when you ask for a drink (instead of Shandy she brought me a Peroni). Also, be carful on the bill and check each item ordered and consumed as they add more drinks on the bill then you had on your table. For us was the first and the last time visiting this place.

Am dat comanda , am așteptat peste 30 de minute sa imi spună dupa ca nu s au uitat, porțiile foarte mici și preturile mari pentru o mâncare normala.

The food is always very delicious, authentic, and the portion is very big.

The soup is amazing!! In sunday afternoon ,relax and enjoy !

Very good food and super nice staff - will come back!

Stunning restaurant, fantastic job !!

Lovely food and the service was fantastic. I will definitely be going soon

Amazing traditional romanian food. Great prices for the quality and size portion served. I eat here often and Cristina is very professional all the time, gives excellent service and listens to customer needs.

Authentic Romanian food. We tried the £10 set menu and it was delicious. The portions are fair and the food very tasty. The waiter was polite and discreet. We can’t wait to be back.

One of the places that I would come everyday. Extremely taste food that sometimes it’s hard even in Romania to find. Can only put 5* but definitely it’s a 10

As a Serbian, it was my first time properly trying Romanian food here. Our neighbours have delicious food! I loved it. Also, it's an elegant venue with great staff. I strongly recommend this place.

Mahala - Thanks a lot!! So glad that we decided to try this restaurant out for the first time yesterday.. I can really say that they are one who offer the best variety of food in this area. They really do not disappoint :)

Great restaurant , food is amazing !

I've been here for a big family lunch. Great food and service was impeccable!

Very good Romanian traditional food. Some good Romanian wines and a very good palinca. Very hospitable and caring staff and we also had the chance to talk and greet the chef. Maybe important: - we booked a lunch on a Tuesday (when the restaurant was more quite and intimate) for 20 people, most from abroad (... who ate Romanian food for the first time and they really enjoyed it). We recommend it both to Romanians and any other people who want to taste a bit of the Romanian traditional cuisine.

Great authentic food and atmosphere.

The food here is incredible, but that's if you dine in (that's what me and my family usually do). But i ordered recently through Uber Eats, and the delivery was fast, way too fast. I thought, ok, better for me, but the food sucked for the first time. I ordered the cabbage rolls with polenta, and these were stale, so stale you couldn't eat them. I also ordered some the meat rolls with fries, and the meat rolls had a funky smell for some reason. Most likely since i didn't dine in, they just gave me leftovers from past days (also explained the fast delivery). The pancakes were alright, as i would expect. I would recommed to not order out and just go there in person to eat.

Ca acasă ❤️Mancare foarte buna. Personal atent și amabil. Recomand!