Muraya — Restaurant in Charlotte

A Flavorful Evening at Muraya – With a Side of Laughter

We had our first dinner experience at Muraya, and from the moment we walked in, we knew we were in for something special. We were promptly greeted by our server, Jessica, who introduced herself with a warm smile and infectious energy — truly a vibe! She walked us through the menu like a culinary tour guide, asking about our preferences and offering thoughtful suggestions (along with a few personal favorites). Her passion for the food and the restaurant’s scratch-made philosophy was clear from the start.

Drinks First: We kicked things off with cocktails — and Jessica didn’t sugarcoat her opinions when we asked for honest recommendations (respect!). The Bronx Old Fashioned came with a full-on smoke show, perfect for the drama lover in me. I went with the Porn Star Martini, and let me tell you, it was just the right mix of sweet and sassy — ideal for someone who doesn’t usually drink. Basically, it was summer in a glass.

Appetizers: We started with the Empanadas, Pan de Bono, and Ceviche — all absolutely delicious and bursting with flavor. Unfortunately, the sushi course didn’t rise to the same level. The Wagyu Nigiri was undercooked and chewy (definitely not melt-in-your-mouth), and both the Baru Roll and Tierra Roll were forgettable — overcooked shrimp and lackluster flavor made this part of the meal a miss.

Entrées Worth Writing Home About: Back to greatness with the Yuca Gnocchi, one of Jessica’s recommendations, which was pillowy, flavorful, and unique. The Pargo Entero (whole fried snapper) was another standout — beautifully executed and packed with bold flavor. The NY Strip? Cooked to perfection. (The asparagus? Well, let’s just say it’s not winning any popularity contests on my plate.)

Dessert (A Bit of a Letdown): We ended with the Tres Leches and Milo Brownie. Sadly, they didn’t live up to the rest of the meal. The brownie was dense and chewy, with presentation that screamed “last-minute bake sale.” The Tres Leches was fine, but just that — fine. It lacked the finesse and attention the entrées had, and presentation felt like an afterthought.

Service & Atmosphere: Jessica let us know dishes would come out tapa-style, though she was more than willing to adjust the flow if we preferred. Timing was a bit slow, especially considering the restaurant wasn’t too busy, but Jessica kept us engaged with conversation, humor, and great energy. By the end of the night, she felt more like a friend than a server. Her attentiveness and passion truly elevated the entire experience.

Final Thoughts: If you dine at Muraya, ask for Jessica — she’s knowledgeable, personable, and genuinely loves what she does. You’ll get great recommendations, thoughtful service, and some solid laughs.

We’ll definitely be back! Be prepared: with live music, it can get loud — but the vibe?...

I know this review has a TON of pictures attached to it. It might look like I went here with either a bunch of friends or I came back to the restaurant a different day. Let me tell you…. Neither of those are true. My girlfriend and I came for our monthly “treat yo self” dinner. It’s like a pat on the back for getting through all 4 weeks and not losing it hahaha. In all seriousness, we came in here with moderate expectations. Charlotte isn’t super renowned for their Latin American cuisine, but Muraya may just be the game changer we need and the hero we do not deserve.

The place gives the vibes of like an industrial, Amazonian, tradition Colombian style atmosphere with its exposed ceiling, stone pillars, bronze silverware, and coffee brown napkins. The actual plates are gorgeous and feel super high quality. I’m very impressed that what you see is what you get. Nothing feels cheap in this place.

We came in on a Monday so it was pretty dead. Not their busiest day by far. Our server, Chris, was quick to treat us like royalty, family, and best friends all at once. He kept it real and was intensely passionate about Muraya’s food and mission to provide a good ol’ fashion Latino experience. His service was unmatched and always eager to help us make any decisions, since it can be overwhelming at first glance! If you want an unforgettable experience you should look for Chris; a tall, handsome black man with a great smile! His wife is actually the bartender! With these two at play you are sure to have the best drinks and the best times.

THE. FOOD. WAS. BANGIN. We quick fired the first three tapas plates so that we could calm our growling stomachs. The first thing to come out was the croquetas de cayeye (see attached). That first bite was like a slo-mo moment filled with a cheesy, creamy, savory inside juxtaposed by a breast, crunchy outside and further smothers with its own pool of crema fresca. I knew that if this simple, delicious dish was this good right off the bat, that could only mean great things were to come. And this is how we ended up eating so much. Every. Single. Thing. Was amazing. Something I have not experienced in a fairly long time. Every bite we took we stared into each other’s eyes in total disbelief as if we’d found a treasure so valuable right under our noses in South End. And truth be told, it is just that. This a gem. This is not even a diamond in the rough. This is just simply a diamond. They’ve only been open since September of 2023 and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for them.

I cannot recommend this place enough. Please please please try this. You will not be disappointed and you’ll walk away fatter and happier than you’ve ever left a restaurant. I cannot wait to come...

This place will satisfy the drunk college people that usually order “Uber eats” everyday & don’t really know true quality “Colombian food” & don’t mind over paying for rubbish on fancy plates….

Came here with my in-laws & wife with hopes of a good time during “restaurant week”… as soon as we got there it was a mess, they claimed that they were missing items & the restaurant week menu was limited… we weren’t that upset because we are positive outgoing people so we ordered what we could. The “sushi” rolls were pathetic, just small hard rice pellets rolled up with a tiny piece of hard meat & a nib of avocado completely flavorless, had to drench it in this “chicfila” sauce they painted the plate with…. My mother in law ordered a “red snapper” for $50 that was truly disgusting - overly fried & not fresh & definitely “farm raised”… funny thing is 2 other customers complained about the same order… the tomato soup was supposed to have Parmesan cheese and basil but instead it had cheap mozzarella string cheese & no basil at all… (deceptive)

The empanadas were EMPTY, dry & overpriced (we aren’t cheap people just smart) I am a chef myself so I know.

The drinks were filled with ice to the top.

The chicharron was scarce & also overly fried

The desserts WERE NOT fresh, definitely sitting in the refrigerator for 2+ days.

The staff was using “Fabuloso” to clean other tables & the chemical smell was insanely strong as we were eating, should be using fragrance free cleaning products especially while customers were in there eating.

If you want to be tricked & scammed come here to eat & help them pay their rent, seems like they are drowning in debt because their deceitful ways are insane, they have to do these things to turn a profit.

Want REAL QUALITY Colombian food with an authentic experience ?? Go to “Los Paisas Restaurant ” in Charlotte where they get ingredients directly from the motherland & actually care for their customers, with LARGE respectable portions, quality you can see & TASTE!!!! Ran by true Colombians / adults with experience!!!!

Muraya is ran by a bunch of teenagers & the chefs seem to still be learning how to cook.

Fancy plates & decorations don’t = quality

Muraya is a gimmick, scam, deceit.

And to top it off they had this RUDE girl with a big camera walking around interrupting people while eating or talking all to ask if we wanted a picture (pushy about it) to then sell it to us for $20 (very tacky & just uncomfortable) We don’t want random photos bring taken of us while trying to eat. It’s very TACKY to charge $20...