Don't let the single picture fool you. I considered for a second to gate-keep this place. Easily my favorite hotpot place in Manhattan. The service is quick and efficient especially considering the lively atmosphere around us. I'd highly recommend trying out the sichuan style beef tallow broth and if you're feeling adventurous one of my favorites, the fresh duck blood, specifically stands out and is the only place in New York that I know of that offers it. When I'm on this side of the city and I'm craving some spice and meat, I don't have to think twice about coming here. read more

Mala Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

Biggest gripe is that we made a reservation, and still had to wait half an hour to be seated. But other than that, we really enjoyed our meal! Love that they put your coats and bags in a big plastic bag to protect them from that distinctive hotpot smell. And that you get an apron. And that they give you gum at the end of your meal! The workers are all really friendly and the food is pretty good quality! And it's super easy to just order off your phone at the table. We did wish the meat portions were a little bigger, but dishes like the tripe and fish came with more than we expected. We got the medium spicy beef tallow, and it was kind of too much for us! The initial flavor was so delicious, but it just builds more and more the longer you eat, so keep that in mind. I'm also super curious about the duck blood broth, so maybe I'll try that next time. read more

Mala Hot Pot - Tomato broth, medium spicy beef tallow broth - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

It seems that there are a lot of hotpot places open near ktown. This place stands out for its wide selection of hotpot ingredients, which is great if you like variety. Ingredients are fresh overall, but portions are smaller than expected. The shrimp paste didn't live up to expectation though as it tasted overly starchy, with very little shrimp flavor. The hotpot smell is intense and long-lasting. Although there's a machine meant to reduce odors, it didn't seem to be working. Dining time is limited to 1 hour and 30 minutes, and staff will notify you when your time is up. Overall, it's a fairly good-quality mala hotpot option in Manhattan. As always, this is New York, nothing really compares to the hotpot experience in China. read more

See all

We made a reservation and unfortunately, we did have to wait a little bit to get our table. The staff were nice though, but didn't really communicate that much with us while waited for our table. Once we did get our table, we ordered the spicy broth (medium) and tomato based broth. Probably should have gotten the mild for spicy because it builds and got super spicy towards the end of my meal. Overall, really enjoyed it but it is pricey. I feel like hot pot is only worth if it's ACYE. read more

This hot pot restaurant is a solid choice if you're looking for a comforting, no-fuss meal. The flavors were pretty authentic, everything tasted fresh, and most importantly -- no food poisoning, which is always a win for hot pot! Nothing about the experience was particularly outstanding or memorable, but it was definitely enjoyable. The location is super convenient right in Koreatown, which makes it an easy go-to when you're craving something warm and cozy. Overall, it didn't leave a lasting impression, but it did leave me satisfied. The service was attentive. A very comfortable, reliable meal -- especially in winter. I'd rate it 4 out of 5 and would go again when I want something simple and comforting. read more

See all

I had the pleasure of eating lunch here today before catching the train back to DC. While today is Black Friday the restuarant was not overly crowded and I didn't need a reservation. I got seated right away. I ordered the solo lunch special which comes with one protein (meat), 2 broths I picked the pork and spicy beef tallow and noodles. I ordered some veggie spring rolls, more mushrooms and white rice. It also comes with a choice of juice. The waiter was friendly and my order didnt take long to prepare for the table.. The restuarant was clean and the staff was attentive. Overall I enjoyed the experience! read more

Mala Hot Pot - What all comes with the Solo Combo Lunch special. Drink not shown! - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I love that you can't throw a rock in Midtown without hitting an authentic Chinese hot pot spot these days. How far we've come from a decade ago..... Mala Hot Pot--showcasing the kind of naming creativity Chinese people are famous for--offers, you guessed it, mala-flavored hot pot. But also all the meat-based, mushroom-based and tomato-based broths for diners who don't feel like experiencing assfire at 1pm on a Tuesday. We yin-yanged a pot of Rich Beef Bone Broth and Mala (medium spicy level). The bone broth was appropriately umami and came loaded with all the pork bones, goji berries, dried dates, etc. that a good Chinese pork stock should have. The Mala wasn't as oily as other spots, nor as crazy spicy as expected--i.e. I could still feel my tongue halfway through the meal. Ingredients were fresh and cut well for maximum convenience. Out of everything we tried, the Hot Pot Noodles were the most standout item, very al dente. They also provide a multi-tiered cart on wheels for you to place your ingredients and unwanteds. The spice bar was extra cost, sadly, as seems to be the trend these days. Sigh. Might be time to sneak your own sacha sauce in a flask or something. read more

Mala Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Solid hotpot spot near Macys/Herald Square. Drinks were solid, food was tasty and fresh and service was fast and friendly. read more

See all

I had the Vegetable Macao and it was fantastic! Huge portion. Server told me about the sauce bar (not sure what he called it) at the rear, and loaded up on garlic, cilantro, scallions and hot peppers. I love spicy but was new here, so ordered medium spicy which was plenty and didn't need the hot peppers. But I'm a huge garlic fan and mixing the garlic into the hot broth was delicious. Definitely going back! read more

Gathered here with friends on a cold November night and it was the perfect remedy to warm everyone up. If you don't have a reservation, it may take a while to get a table like us, and we stepped out to a bar across the street until one opened up. When we came back we were sat a table that was kind of a community setup... elbow to elbow with a strangers group, but this is a social/communal dinner so I didn't mind it. When you order you pick your soup base and your ingredients (or a combo package), we chose the pork-based broth and the Mala-mild broth. It turns out even the mild Mala broth can get pretty spicy as it builds on your tongue, so getting a 2nd broth option is a smart choice. All in all, a very satisfying dinner with friends. Will love to come back here soon. read more

Mala Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

See all

I want to say service is AMAZING! Workers are very attentive and will grab your empty plates as soon as you're finished. They will refill your soups very often and the person whom I assume is the owner confirmed the order we submitted online. You submit your orders on your phone -- there's a QR code on the desk that you would place and it's your specific table. It was busy at first but started getting busy despite it being so late at night. read more

Mala Hot Pot - I - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

So good!!!! Best hotpot in ny, such a hidden gem in manhattan, had fresh duck blood and frogs and eels, so good and so authentic

I must say this spot has the most diverse menu of all the hotpot places I've been to! Frog legs, innards, etc etc (will take too long to type it all). Sauce selection could use some additions but it's got the essentials. Overall a solid spot. Will be coming back read more

Absolutely loved this hot pot spot! The broth options were rich and flavorful, especially the spicy one, it had just the right kick without being overwhelming. The ingredients were super fresh, from the thinly sliced meats to the veggies and noodles. I also appreciated how clean and well-organized everything was. The staff was friendly and explained how everything worked, which made the experience easy and fun. Perfect place to come with friends or family. Definitely coming back! read more

@foodie_starry Winter calls for hot, spicy treats and nothing satisfies like a good hot pot! Craving struck at work, and I had to indulge with a delivery. While I haven't dined-in yet, their Maocai and Spicy Dry Pot assured me I'm not missing out! Opted for the Spicy Dry Pot with yams, lotus root, mushrooms, quail eggs, and sole fish fillet. Every bite was bursting with flavor! Also tried the Mao Xue Wang Maocai from their menu, boasting fresh duck blood, a rare find indeed. Loaded with rich ingredients, it's like having hot pot at home. Delivered piping hot, the dishes soaked up the spicy broth overnight, making leftovers even more delicious the next day. Perfect for work lunch or solo diners, choose your spice level and enjoy a hot pot experience right from your couch! read more

See all

Mala Hot Pot in New York, NY. You can smell the delicious aroma of Sichuan hotpot as soon as you walk in. There's a huge selection of USDA certified prime rib eye, pork, seafood, veggies and broths to choose from at @malahotpotnyc. I recommend to get the Yuanyang Pot to try two different broths. Everything was super fresh and the cocktails were delish! Book your table now! Insta: @thehungrysw. Check out the weekly specials: Monday: 20% off! Tuesdays & Wednesdays: Free refills on beer! read more

See all

Wear clothes that you don't particularly like because the smell is strong af lol. I think this place is overpriced tbh since you order a la carte. The quality is ok. You use your phone to scan the menu and order. Service is nice but I think there are better hotpot places. This is in midtown so it is convenient but only if you live nearby. read more

See all

We enjoyed trying hot pot at Mala on a cold day hanging out by herald sq The options are ample and the quality of meats is great. Unfortunately, they lack non--pork based options for broth, as even the other protein based broth apparently has pork. The vegetarian broths were just okay. Really enjoyed the lamb meats! Don't forget that there is a sauce station in the back (no one informed us so we had some bland cuts through the first half of our meal). The drinks were yummy too! The ambiance is not desirable. The bright white lighting makes it feel like a McDonald's and lacks comfort. Although they went for an ultra modern look, it feels impersonal and a bit hospital-like as a result. We weren't fans at all. read more

An a la carte hot pot spot with a giant shared pot. My friends and I picked two broths, mushroom and pork bone. I'd say the mushroom was better and I would love to try tomato next time! Tomato surprisingly adds so much flavor to the foods you cook in it, let me know how you like it I enjoyed all of the different options available for order but my favorite beef option is probably still the fatty beef. I'd recommend cooking certain items longer like lotus root, beef tripe, and daikon whereas the usual beef slices should be quick if you like them soft. The sauce selection had the usual suspects and could really make your hot pot experience 10x better with a good sauce. Just don't ever order lettuce please, every plate basically comes with a piece of lettuce so save them My Sauce: Soy Sauce, Satay (XO) Sauce (I use more of this because I like my sauce a bit thicker), a lil bit of sesame oil, sprinkle some sugar, cilantro, green onions, a dash of hoisin, peanut, and sesame sauce The servers were friendly and you got your orders within 10 minutes usually. They got some bops playing in the background like TWICE, DPR IAN, and Bruno Mars. They'll help bag your clothes in giant see through bags when you enter. When you leave, there's a machine near the entrance to deodorize your clothes before you put on your jacket when you leave. My biggest complaint is the size of the tables, my friends arm was constantly in front of my space because it was so cramped. Rather than seating us at a bigger table, my friend was seated on a stool outside of the booth. read more

Mala Hot Pot - Inside - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

See all

My friends and I had a pulsd deal where two ppl can have a soup base, with a meat or seafood combo platter, a drink each, and a dessert to share for $56. The four of us paired up and got two of this deal. I was the only one that's had hot pot in the passed so for a Korean girl to guide all these folks on how to have Chinese food was a bit difficult bc I just dump everything in the broth, mix what I think is good for sauce and just go with it. My one Chinese friend calls me fake Chinese, but she forgets I am Korean, which is a different story.. Having been to other more authentic hot pot joints in Queens and Brooklyn, can't give this place a five star, but I will say my friends enjoyed it. The drinks were strong, the food was a perfect amount for the four of us and the staff (after we told them we had a pulsd deal) adjusted and were very accommodating. I would recommend trying to get a deal if it is available because a la carte places like here, things add up and you can easily spend $300 for four ppl. If you have friends that have low spice tolerance, get the lowest spicy spicy broth and a chicken or other not spicy broth. Trust me, all these spicy intolerant folks couldn't stop digging their spoons in the spicy broth even though their tongues were scorching. Who knew you can get hot pot without going to Chinatown?! read more

Walked by this place at night and was taken by surprise the look and feel of this place. I've been to a lot of hot pot places and they either do over the top decorations or make the place look very traditional. Mala Hot Pot surprised me in that this place looked like what a modern hot pot spot in China would look like today. I had to go in and try it. Ordering is pretty easy. You scan a QR code and order through your own phone, which I much prefer to the greasy iPads other places give you. The service was a bit slow as our soup was already boiling but no food items came out. It looked like a part of 20 just placed their order ahead of us, so the kitchen might have been backed up. It happens. We got the $65 deluxe platter that came with veggies, seafood and beef/pork/goat. It was the perfect amount of food for two people. Fair warning for those who cannot eat spicy, even the mild on the mala soup is SPICY. Go with the pork bone soup base. It was very good as well. read more

Mala Hot Pot - Veggies and seafood - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

See all

Good experience last night for hot pot at Mala. Service was quick and food was good. The ambiance probably isn't want to would go there for if you care about that but if you want good hot pot it's worth it read more

Mala Hot Pot - Hot pot - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

Spicy is proper spicy, prepare to clean out your sinuses. We had a mild and a medium half for our pot and the medium side barely got used. Food (3/5) - Portions are a little on the small side for everything except the beef tripe. There are a lot of meat options with highly variable pricing, remember to check the bill to make sure you were not mistakenly up-charged. A lot of variety of mushrooms, which I enjoyed! Ambiance (3/5) - Very brightly lit, was pretty empty when we were there (7pm on a weekend). Clean. Service (4/5) - Food came promptly and staff were generally unintrusive. Got a little understaffed towards the end. Price (3/5) - A little pricey for a very basic, no frills hot pot, generally manageable. read more

This restaurant brings the exact flavors I've been missing. Mala Hot Pot has so many standout features to mention. This place balances quality and affordability perfectly. Employees here deliver good attention in a setting perfect for families. I back what they're doing here. read more

The food has standard hotpot options such as pork, beef, chicken, and lamb. However, they have an extensive list of unique meats, seafood and veggies as well. I would say this is the perfect place to come if you are feeling adventurous but also want some safe options. The sauce bar is well put together, however I was not a fan of the thickness and flavor of the peanut sauce they had, I prefer the ones I've had in other places, this was a little bland. The cocktails also have interesting and common options, so there is something for everyone. The service was great, the staff were very nice and accommodating, even asking if were wanted to store our shopping bags with them up front. I think the one thing that could be improved is the ambiance. The lighting is a bit fluorescent and it kind of just seems like you are eating in a big brightly lit box. I think some warm lighting would be great. read more

Mala Hot Pot - Laid-back cocktail - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

See all

The restaurant provides excellent dinner meals. The staff performed with confidence and precision. My partner and I shared this plate. People flock to this restaurant. I'm ready to go back to this place. read more

Enjoyed an incredible Chongqing hotpot at Mala hotpot! We got the yuangyang pot with spicy beef tallow broth and rich pork bone broth. The flavors were fantastic. The friendly and helpful service made the experience even better. Don't miss the cute jiggly coconut jelly dessert ! Follow @spinx17 for more NYC food Adventures! read more

See all

my bf and i went here a couple times and rly like it! my bf is closer to this place over chinatown so it's nice when we're too lazy to venture a lil farther. everything here is yummy and i have no complaints. the staff here are really nice and we prefer this place over er hotpot actually read more

Authentic chongqing hotpot we had medium and it was very spicy. The meat lover platter was a bit odd because it came with seafood and the squid was all dried up and frozen. The sauces option had good choices. Service was great read more

Mala Hot Pot - Mala hotpot - Hot Pot Near Me - New York, New York

The spicy soup base is not the best in the town. Average services. The floor is slippery and dangerous to walk on.

Amazing food and place! Price was reasonable for new york. We love the broth! Chicken broth was super good!!!

Service was excellent! Very informative, explaining everything as this was our first visit to a hot pot restaurant

the food itself was really good! it felt a bit expensive per item but if you go on a day when they offer a deal, it is more than worth it. the super spicy brith was not actually that spicy, but i have a very high tolerance. my nose was still running though! the ambiance: it was very clean in there. its white and pretty calm, it felt similarish to a surgery room maybe? everything felt very sterile and clean. service was great! nothing good nor bad to say about it. we flagged them down a few times for more drinks, but they always made sure our water cups were full read more

This is a great hot pot location right in the middle of the city. It's a huge location with a condiments bar (which is awesome) and they have a great selection of different hot pots. The wagyu and short ribs are both amazing. The service is great as well. read more