A brand new Colombian tapas restaurant called Muraya will make its debut later this year in South End, located at 200 E. Bland St.
The new restaurant is the latest from Manny Pérez Ochoa, who opened El Puro Cuban Restaurant in Madison Park and Havana Carolina Restaurant & Bar in Concord. He and his wife, Carolina Maury, plan to open the new space near the trail into a bar, lounge, and restaurant with an old-fashioned flare reminiscent of Cartagena, Colombia, according to Axios. The couple plans to open this restaurant in the former home of Hot Taco in mid-September 2023.
“It’s going to feel different than anything in South End right now,” the couple tells Axios. “I want people to feel the magic and warmth of visiting la Ciudad Amurallada de Cartagena. We’re going to use Colombian flavors and ingredients to make the recipes a bit more elevated. You’re not going to find your typical Colombian food [here] because there are already places in Charlotte that serve those authentic dishes.”
Pérez Ochoa immigrated to Charlotte from Cuba in 2015 and quickly made a name for himself through his restaurants. For Muraya, he plans to bring in Colombian chef Mariana Arango from Barranquilla. Customers can expect an array of Colombian dishes, such as steak tartar on arepas, ceviche, mini sliders, croquetas, and tuna tartar. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant will use various ingredients not found in North Carolina.
