A forgettable lunch I had here. It's not terribly bad but I can name a couple other Chinese restaurants I've had a better experience in. The restaurant is a few blocks from the main street of Steinway so it'll take a bit of searching. Going inside, the area is rather abstract. Pink flower wallpaper on one end and dry wall on the other, it's kinda off-putting but I didn't come here for the atmosphere anyway. Service was lukewarm, I got my order in but the two workers inside weren't too receptive and the menu itself is kinda barebones with most of their food being a bit more than I would like to pay for so I just settled on one order of Singapore Mei Fun. After waiting 10 minutes for my food to arrive, the Singapore noodles which are usually spicy were kinda salty but it was nothing a bit of duck sauce wouldn't fix. This one order cost $17 while not the worst Singapore Mei Fun...well technically it is, even though it's not horrible but I've had much better from other places for a stable price of $12. Yeah, a rather disappointing visit. Not the worst I've ever had but could be so much better. read more

See all

We happened upon this spot after a workshop across the street, and were so pleasantly surprised by the unique flavors served up by this small local business. I got the wonton soup and pork juicy buns. The soup was different from other wonton soups with the addition of cilantro and some nice balancing flavors for the salt, and the juicy buns were your classic soup dumplings with a very nice rich sauce to dip in. The dandan noodles my friend ordered were maybe my favorite, they were the perfect level of spicy and so flavorful without being overwhelming. I'd go back just for my own plate of those. The service was quite fast, and it's a cute little shop that feels like a small town Chinese restaurant. Very reasonably priced as well. Some of my favorite Chinese food I've found outside of Lower Manhattan ! read more

See all

we have good chinese in the neighborhood, but Ma LaLa is really exceptional, and here is how: I ordered a soup (soba/bok choi/egg) and expected to have this just come in a broth, as most places do tjese days. What I got is a LARGE container of broth, full, and a large container of fresh ingredients for what turns out to be more than one meal worth of soup. Ma Lala is now my go-to for chinese food. In addition, their 2-for-one dumplings is amazing. fresh. so great! read more

See all

Ate here today after work as a substitute paraprofessional at P.S. 234 Q for lunch and dinner all by myself. I had brought and ate the double cooked pork and pumpkin pancake for dessert. It definitely tasted really good and delicious that it also tasted similar to Sweet Yummy House in Elmhurst. The service there was also attentive, pleasant and friendly. I couldn't agree more. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time! :) read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

See all

I've been on the hunt for the best Singapore noodles, I've ordered them twice through Uber Eats ,they had a buy 1, get 1 free deal. The food was so fresh, just needs more curry, I added more curry & some thai chilli sauce & that was perfect. Will try other food from this restaurant soon. read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Singapore noodles - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

The mala chicken hit the spot. The chicken, tender and full of flavor. The peppers and sausage the perfect level of spice and left that beloved sichaun tingle. The spring roll came out hot and delicious. The fried rice stole the show. A simple fried rice that hits the palate with the perfect blend of salty, savory goodness. And for the lunch special all under $12. A fantastic deal. read more

See all

I had a very unpleasant experience at this place. I asked simple questions such as: can you point out on the menu where l can get rise or noodles with tofu as l don't eat meat. The person at the counter was clearly upset with me for no reason. Which l felt like she was racist to me. I really just wanted to order food and leave but not feeling like l am not welcome at the place. I do not recommend this place as the customer service is 0/10. read more

Small hole in the wall restaurant where staff are super nice. The food itself was more like a 3/5, but the spice in the dry hotpot is the typical mind numbing variety (I'm just not a huge fan but wanted to give it a try). Their portion sizes are pretty big and we could only eat half! The dumplings were pretty good though and they gave us a whole portion of chicken fried rice on the house - not sure if it was because they were right about to close. The fried rice was pretty flavorful although it wasn't much chicken and was more onion and rice. For the service and the freebie though, they deserved the extra star. read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Half of the dry hotpot portion we got - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

I ordered a lo mein chicken and the food was so salty. I hate it. The server was pretty nice when we ordered the food. That Ambience was pretty nice as well. I've been there a few times so I don't know what happened to the food. read more

If you're in the mood for some simple clear broth and nothing too heavy I would suggest coming by for their chicken cilantro wonton soup in a very moldy flavored seaweed broth which would be perfect if you're not feeling 100%. The garlic cucumbers were a little on the sweet side but still refreshing. The peanut noodles sauce was a little heavy but was a huge portion. read more

See all

I ordered the "spicy crispy chicken" for $20.95 through door dash. The dish was over-cooked, dry as toast, to the point of being burnt, and so inedible that it went into the garbage. When I contacted the restaurant to report this, I was encouraged to call door dash so that they might get me a refund. I declined to do this, and will just never order from this place again because if it's that much trouble for a restaurant to care that you continue to be a customer, then it's too much trouble for this customer to hang in. read more

The food here is very good. I always get the dan Dan noodles, soup dumplings and spicy fried chicken. If you're a fan of spicy Chinese food then this place is definitely one of those spots to check out. It isn't extremely large, but has about 6 tables inside if you're looking to dine in. They do have seats outdoors during warmer weather. The staff is also super friendly. I'd highly recommend you try them out. read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

See all

This is a small Szechuan style restaurant located in Astoria. There aren't many places that serve this style of Chinese food in the area but it also serves "normal" American style Chinese food as well. I ordered the cilantro wonton soup, cucumber salad as well as burning noodles. I was disappointed with the first two dishes. It was very bland esp the wontons- it's more northern style but I can see enjoying it if I wanted a simple soup. The cucumbers were not done correctly- it was not marinated long enough- so it was just like plain cucumbers with chopped garlic. The burning noodles were the only dish that I appreciated- it had the signature numbing sensation and spice. I just wish it had some other accompaniment to give it more texture like shredded vegetables to balance the dish. Prices were fair but I don't think I will be back. read more

See all

First time here and they did not disappoint. The dry pot was amazing. Large portion sizes. Definitely over-ordered but will make for get leftovers. We ordered the dan dan noodles for an appetizer, chewy noodles and good flavor. Then we had the custom dry pot (we put chicken, tofu, Napa and Choy medium spicy) that came out tasty and fast. And finally we ordered the crispy fish which was HUGE but crunchy and flavorful - definitely more food than we expected but it's okay! Servers were friendly and even though there was an error in our order they were quick and ways to fix. The restaurant is small and hole in the wall, feels authentic. AC wasn't on so a little warm with all this spicy food but overall will definitely come back with friends and family. read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Malala Dry Pot - Pick 3 or more items Spicy Crispy Fish - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

I've been eyeing this place for awhile. When craving Asian food I decided to check out this spot. We came after lunch time so there was no line. They have really spicy dishes which I always like as I have to add something to it for a bit of a kick. They have from noodles to rice entrees. The portions are decent size too. It isn't a fancy place so no need to dress up and didn't have to make reservations either. The food was tasty and the service was alright. It isn't like the run of the mill Chinese food restaurant. It is quite different. I would go back if the mood is right. The quality of the food was great too. read more

See all

This is my go-to spot in Astoria for MaLa! The dishes are big enough to share between two people. We got the spicy cumin lamb, dan dan noodles, and spicy crispy flounder! All the dishes were very good. Their base spice for these dishes is pretty spicy but they do a great job of lowering the spicy level if you can't handle it by requesting the dishes to be more mild. My favorite was the spicy cumin lamb - so tender and flavorful. However, the crispy flounder was also perfectly CRISPY even when ordered for take-out! read more

This place was recommended to me by a friend of mine. They rely mostly on deliveries. Indoor dining is possible, they have around 7-8 small tables, nothing fancy. They do not play any kind of music, a bit sterile atmosphere. All employees were wearing masks when I was there. Service is fast, maybe too fast since I received my food (2 dishes) within 5 minutes! I had a wonton soup which was quite bland and tasteless (water, algae, scallions, and wonton noodles) and lomein with beef (an average quality). I think I chose a wrong dishes, although I asked the waitress for a food recommendation. Prices are very moderate, the soup was $10.95 (big bowl) and the noodles were $12.95. Anyway, I will give place the second chance. They close the kitchen at 9:30pm, so keep that in mind. MaLaLa does not sell alcohol. Location: corner of 42nd Street and 30th Avenue. Close to Steinway, Q18 bus, and R and M trains. read more

See all

Wow. A real Szechuan restaurant in Astoria. This place rocks and it's not super pricy. The fried flounder at $23 easily feeds 2 read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Very pricy (ordered dry pot).. authentic but mediocre..not recommend..but prob not many authentic Chinese restaurants around the neighborhood.. read more

They have lunch specials that come with an egg roll or soda. The Mapo Tofu tastes very good and authentically spicy. My coworkers also said their food was delicious. I would definitely return to try other options. read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Mapo tofu fish - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Friendly staffs and food was done super quick. Ordered fish & tofu takeout from here and despite being less than $20, portion was big and delicious. A good authentic spot. read more

Gave it another try after my last bad meal because my 1st meal here was so good. It was much better Avoid the American Chinese food here. My gen tso was hard dry stringy and bland. My lo mein was bland. The Lotus Pond Fresh Veggies / 荷塘小炒is a favorite. So crispy and light. And the Soft Eggplants with Garlic / 鱼香茄子 is a tiny bit spicy and a little sweet and is tender and delicious. Both came w a huge white rice. Have gotten vegan ma pao tofu before which i recommend generous portions. Nice staff. My pics are of food after we ate - so you get much more then that read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Soft Eggplants with Garlic Sauce - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

See all

I can't believe it took me so long to try this place! Ma LaLa was able to seat us right away on a busy St Patrick's Day weekend. The service was quick, thoughtful, and friendly. For the hot pot you can choose whatever toppings you'd like as well as the level of spicy, including none. I did the mild spicy and it was perfect for me. It came with a side of white rice. The heat was enough to enjoy without feeling like I needed a jug of milk lol. I left feeling full and happy and craving more! Will definitely be back. read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Dry pot with pork belly, fish cake, and bok choy - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

See all

Think of any szechuan dish you know - they have it here! My group and I were craving for some szechuan and this location was in the area. The portions are perfect for family style. The entrees come with rice. We ordered: Kung pao chicken - was a mild spicy sauce but very good mix with the peppers Eggplant with garlic sauce - cooked well and big portion size Mapo tofu - spicier than other locations but also big portion Dan dan noodles - also spicier than other locations but good mix of flavors Beef noodle soup - broth was spicy but complemented the beef and noodles Fish - cooked well and tasted very good with the sauce The restaurant offers a 10% discount if you pay with cash. We had a good amount of leftovers and everything was decently priced. Would definitely stop by again when I'm craving for szechuan food. read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Kung Pao Chicken, Soft Eggplants with Garlic Sauce, Mapo Tofu, Dan-Dan Noodle, Beef Soup Noodle - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Excellent service and delicious Chinese takeout food. Would come back for more! I would recommend this business! read more

Was so happy to hear about a Szechuan spot nearby and especially one that serves dry pot. Service was great and food was delicious! Will be returning for sure. read more

See all

As I'm doing this review. My family and I are still here at the restaurant. We noticed this new place pop up in Yelp and decided to try it. Everything is good. Service is good. Good quality ingredients. Everything was very flavorful. Dishes are generous size. Not your typical Chinese takeout. It's better. Hopefully owner can maintain quality of food and service. Note: they are offering free dumplings or crispy chicken depending on your order $$ size. Definitely will come back. read more

See all

Tip 1: If you pay cash, you can get 10% off but let them know to reflect that on the receipt. Tip 2: There's no tap water (at least during COVID), so bring your own water if you don't want to pay for bottled water. Tip 3: There's only outdoor dining available right now. Tip 4: Super spicy (hottest) is indeed very spicy Friend and I shared the juicy pork dumplings, which are like mini soup dumplings that were nice and hot. My friend got the spicy beef noodle soup and I got the dry pot (napa cabbage, layered tofu, and ear mushroom) as a super spicy version, which comes with rice. Be aware that it is indeed very spicy, but not unbearable, although I might drop it down one level to make it more comfortable. Everything was tasty and I might get my friend's dish the next time I feel like noodle soup, but I was craving dry pot. This feels like a comfort food type of place, and the prices are really reasonable especially when paying cash. read more

I've been back a few times and my returns have cemented my view that this is an overlooked gem. The food measures up to Cafe China and Chili any day. Look, it is mostly set up for takeout, I know, but there are a few tables and service is attentive if you do stay. The dry pot is spectacular in all forms-order it as spicy as you can take it and include the potatoes as they really soak up the spice-and the twice cooked pork is excellent. read more

tiny place but the food is bomb ! spicy and flavorful ! love it :) good proportions tooo

Extremely kind service, very clear and helpful. Food was very flavorful and spicy, true to the cuisine. The crispy spicy fish flounder was a bit dry. The Dan-Dan 'burning noodles' were not too spicy, really enjoyable. Things can be ordered to preferred spiciness level. The portions are quite large. I would return to try other menu items. It seems well-suited to visit with a group and order an array of items to try. read more

See all

Door dash order. Mala dry pot is good if you're in a pinch and not willing to go to mala project in Manhattan!

Amazing place. Very friendly staff and amazing food. We had fried rice, sizzling beef, lo mein and the dry pot. All were really really good. I highly recommend this restaurant read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

Good if you like overpriced Sichuan style Chinese and pebbles in your food. Wondering about the kitchen cleanliness... MaLa flavor was ok but really paltry portions for 25 bux. Two ppl can feast for that much at MaLa project. Also no cilantro? Oh it's a 4 bux up charge.. that should've been the warning flag not to order here. Dumplings cloying.. Dan Dan was ok but was cold on arrival. read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - MaLa, Dan DanDan Noodle, Spicy Dumpling in Chili Sauce (mild spicy) - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

See all

Excellent food--great spice levels, amazing dry spot, crystal shrimp dumplings are done right. Ma Lala is wonderful, highly recommended!

My fave place in the whole world for dry pot. I've tried dry pot from multiple places in Flushing but this place always comes on top. I usually order delivery and the food always comes piping hot and secured in the bag. Pls don't ever close down or ill cry :/ read more

Do not sleep on Ma LaLa! This spot is in heavy rotation for me when it comes to takeout. This is not your typical Chinese takeout, which is why prices might seem a little higher than what you're used to. But it's totally worth it. The ingredients are fresh and high quality, and the dishes reflect authentic Sichuan flavors, rather than Americanized versions. I absolutely love the Dry Pot which is similar to a stir fry. I had never heard of it before this place opened by me, but it's quickly become a new favorite. You can mix and match ingredients from a large list that includes proteins, veggies, and noodles, along with spice level. Traditionally Dry Pot is supposed to be very spicy. I usually go with the Mild option, which still has quite a kick. I don't even know what the sauce is that they mix it with, but whatever it is, it's heavenly. My go-to is usually thin sliced beef, broccoli, green beans, and ribbon noodles (pictured in my photo). For those doing keto or low carb, they even have konjac noodle knots! If you order directly from their website, they have cheaper prices than the other delivery sites. And they usually have specials like a free order of soup dumplings when you spend $10. They also give a cash discount. I usually order and pick up from the restaurant, but I've gotten delivery a few times and it was extremely fast. Portion size is plentiful, and will be larger if you choose more ingredients. Their soup dumplings or "mini juicy pork buns" are not only cute, but perfectly flavorful. A true gem in Astoria. You won't be disappointed! read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Malala Dry Pot with thin sliced beef, broccoli, green beans, and ribbon noodles. Mild spice. - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

The food is fantastic, our 1st time. The beef seasoned perfectly, the chicken kungpow outstanding, the fish, I couldn't get enough in my mouth. I encourage everyone who has never been here, you must, you must come here at least once. I know you'll keep coming back. ;) read more

Ma LaLa Chinese - Our dishes - Szechuan Near Me - Astoria, New York

See all

Delivery guy got lost or something and never delivered my food, business did not give a refund.

This was my first time eating Ma LaLa. I was always so curious because the restaurant looks so different and nice from your typical Chinese restaurant. I gave them 5 stars for the quality of the food! But I will say it's a little more on the expensive side. My favorite part of this meal was the General Tsos chicken. That was so delicious !! And had to be the best General Tsos I've ever had in the area. I will 100% be ordering that again. I liked the softness of the vegetable fried rice as well. It does come with white rice! I only ordered the fried rice because I wasn't sure if the general tsos or sesame chicken came with it. The only bad side was that I ordered Sesame Chicken, & I'm not quite sure if I received it. It was really spicy , it was not nasty but I was not able to finish it. It was different from the typical sesame chicken from other restaurants. I'm used to the general tsos and sesame chicken cooked the same way. I will say It was different in a good way but I was not prepared. If you like a sweet and spicy taste then that meal is perfect for you!! Lots of peppers and chicken! I'm glad I got to taste Ma La La , and I bet it's even better if we could have experienced it at the actual restaurant. read more

See all