I've been to another Mala Project location before, but this was the first time that I got to try their menu aside from their dry pot (which is already pretty good!). The interior of this restaurant is a bit bigger with lots of seating and is bright. Service was nice and quick. We got the dan dan noodles, the husband wife beef tripe, the fried dumplings, duck tacos, dry pot, and buns. All of their appetizers were pretty solid (not bad but not outstanding), but I really did enjoy their duck tacos, which I thought was a fun twist on how you normally eat duck. Would definitely come back for those and their dry pot! read more

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Mala Project is one of my all-time favorites in NYC. The food comes in large portions so it's definitely good for sharing with other people and still have leftovers. My go-to order (which I stole from my good friend) is the mala dry pot with eye of round, pork belly, fish fillet, bok choy, wood ear mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, glass noodles, rice cake, lotus root. If you're not a fan of very spicy foods, you can get mild spice and still have lots of flavor. Service is quick and never disappoints, and Mala Project is always a go-to casual spot for lunch or dinner. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Mala dry pot- eye of round, pork belly, fish fillet, bok choy, wood ear mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, glass noodles, rice cakes, lotus root - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Went on a Sunday around 1pm, and was able to sit right away. The service was fast, but they didn't rush you so we were able to eat and catch up with friends. We split two dry hot pots (build your own) with 4 people. The dry pot can be large and filling so if you have the same spice level, I would recommend sharing one between two people. The little spicy one was not as spicy as expected, so if you handle spice well and like a spicy dish, I would go for the normal spicy level. The Mala pickles were a great balance to the dry pot, if you're looking for a simple, small starter to add on. If you're in the Bryant park area, I'd recommend for an easy sit down and solid family style sharing food between friends. 4.5/5 read more

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Dried hot pot was so good! Food was used with clean oil and it was delicious. I've heard this place many times and it has met the expectations. Service was great overall. Will visit again to try different dishes next time! read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Some positives about this place: reasonably priced for the area, quick service, good portion size, made to order, clean, and great staff. No complaints. I stopped by around 2 in the afternoon to order their lunch special. Thankfully, there weren't too many people in there since the lunch rush was over. I ordered the Beef Please lunch special, which is beef tenderloin, broccoli, lotus root, and enoki mushroom dry pot combo (comes with rice) and your selection of how spicy you want the meal to be. Within 10 minutes, my meal was ready. It was well packed and hot (as in just finished cooking). The flavor and the spiciness of my meal was on point for a great dry hot pot spot. The portion was large enough that I would say.. you can pack the rest for another meal (dinner). I will definitely be back for lunch and maybe even a customized dry pot meal. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Lunch special: BEEF PLEASE Beef Tenderloin, Broccoli, Lotus Root, Enoki Mushroom. Rice is included. - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Overall, I thought the Mala Project was tasty; however, I definitely didn't think it was worth the price. I'm a tourist from SF so perhaps my understanding of prices here are slightly skewed but we shared 2 dry pots with an average amount of ingredients (see photo) amongst 4 people and each had to pay $27. I didn't get that much food overall and was left hungry afterwards / could've definitely eaten more. Regardless, the food itself was good! It didn't feel like the ingredients were particularly higher quality but the food came out quickly and the space was well decorated. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Very central location with great service and good vegetarian options. The food was okay. We got a vegetarian dry pot, which was a little too salty. We also got the dan dan noodles, which had a vegetarian option. Finally, we also got the vegetarian dumplings which didn't have any flavor. Overall, the food is okay but acceptable for a quick lunch. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Vegetable Dumplings - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Heard great things about Mala Project so had to check it out. Shared a mild mala dry pot and 2 bowls of rice with a friend and it was the perfect portion. Highly recommend the fried fish fillet and pork belly! If I were to come back, I wouldn't reorder the potatoes. They were thin and not cooked through enough. Overall, decor and ambience of this location is cute and cozy. Loved the pink accents. Service was great! read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

This place is pretty yummy. I ate here once before and enjoyed it so much that when I came back to New York, I wanted to eat here again. The portion is definitely fair for the price. I definitely prefer this over hot pot. You basically build your own dry pot with all the ingredients you prefer. When it comes to build your own dry pot, the price of your dry pot will be determined on the ingredients you add to your pot. Luckily we didn't need reservations when we went Sunday around 4:30ish. The atmosphere was pretty chill over all. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

I heard great things about this restaurant! It has been on my food bucket list. We made reservations so did not have to wait in line. The ambience was pretty clean and nice! There were a lot of seating/ also a bar seating. The service was good and we got make your own dry pot. The amount was perfect for two people. Tip: for those that cannot handle a lot of spice I would recommend the little spicy. I would come here again!! Price: kinda pricey but worth! read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - ML Dry Pot (build your own combo) - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Fantastic dry pot place in ktown! We ordered the highest spice level and it was definitely spicy-- perfect for what I needed and wanted! Service was fast and ambiance was very casual. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

I came here to visit NYC, and this restaurant happened to be 2 blocks from my hotel. This is my first time trying dry hot pot, and it was actually really good. Service and ambiance was also great! The staff came around to make sure you have enough water. Highly recommend this place if you like Chinese food. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Fried rice - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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We really enjoyed it! It was a bit tricky to gauge how much to order for a party of 5 - ended up ordering two dry pot bowls with ten ingredients each. Total was around $175 (not including appetizers, tax, tip). The food was great, but felt over priced. Could've done without the Dan Dan noodles. read more

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Delicious flavors, perfect balance of spice, and fresh veggies. The tofu was cooked to perfection and the rice cakes balanced out the crunchy veggies. read more

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Never had dry hot pot before and glad it was here! Food was really tasty and was wonderful for sharing. I enjoyed being able to build our bowls and choose what we wanted and the spicy levels of each. Their other dishes are great accompaniments including the Dan Dan Noodles and Beef Rolls. The Eggplant was served chilled with paired well with the spicier dry hot pot bowl. I recommend getting bowls of plain rice on the side too since everything is pretty flavorful. For dessert, get their fried buns! Sweet and playful that is also good to share. Service was friendly and helpful and the ambiance was chill and comforting. Make reservations in advance since space is limited! read more

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When I come to NYC, I like to stay in midtown, but am always craving authentic spicy Chinese food. Mala project hit all the right notes. Bites for everyone with dumplings and scallion pancakes, but the customizable dry hot pot is (literally and spice wise if you want it!). Also, do not sleep on the cocktails. I had both the improved lychee martini, which was a fantastic cocktail with the right amount of sweetness, and a bourbon-Campari cocktail. They washed down my beef, pork belly, bok choi and rice cake dry hot pot perfectly. And the haw flakes to go are a lovely touch. We will be back each time I'm in town! Make a reservation if you want to go during peak times, but this makes a great warming meal before a show. Super cute restaurant as well and the hooks on the wall for your coat are perfect. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

I got little spicy since I usually can't handle spicy, but the little spicy is really mild. I got the rice on the side and it's overcooked.Personally just really average for the price. read more

Tried Chinese dry pot for the first time at Mala Project, and we absolutely loved it! The flavors were bold, spicy, and had that deep deep deep, medicinal kick that makes Sichuan cuisine so special. Every bite was packed with heat and umami. We started to look up local dry pot shops back home in San Diego lol. The staff was attentive, friendly, and quick to offer recommendations. The ambiance struck the perfect balance between cozy and modern, making it a great spot for both casual dining and a quick fun lunch outing. If you love spice and want to try something different from traditional hot pot, this place is a must visit. Pro tip: They offer different spice levels, typically ranging from Mild to Super Spicy (Not Spicy, Mild, Medium, Spicy, Extra Spicy). If you're new to Sichuan spice, I'd recommend starting with Medium, it still packs heat but won't overwhelm you. If you love the burn, go for Spicy or Extra Spicy for that numbing, tingly sensation from Sichuan peppercorns. The pot itself comes with a mix of seasonings, dried chilies, and Sichuan peppercorns. Protein options: Beef slices - tender and flavorful (this is the one we got and it was great!) Pork belly - rich and adds depth to the pot. Popular choice Lamb slices - gamier, but pairs great with the spices Shrimp - adds a fresh, briny contrast Fish fillet - mild and tender Tofu (firm or soft) - great for soaking up the flavors Veggies we picked: Lotus root - crunchy and soaks up the sauce (underrated) Wood ear mushrooms - chewy and great for texture Enoki mushrooms - Absorbs the sauces and flavor very nicely Potato slices - soft and absorbs all the spice as well Highly recommended: Glass noodles and quail eggs read more

(G)o or no go - GO!! if you love spice that isbut spice is adjustable so nw if that's a nonnegotiable. A relatively new Midtown spot with small tables, cozy ambiance! perfect place for a long overdue catch up or a first date who has potential (W)hy - not bad portion sizes for what you pay and authentic spice (A)ge - pretty solidly in the 20s (M)enu - lots of veggie, pork, chicken, beef options, allll the sides, everything you need for "make your own bowl" Tldr: Service was quick! Cocktails were cute! Spice was spICYYy Would go again! read more

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Overall rating: 4.7 I stumbled on this place when I was looking up Chinese spots in the area. I wasn't able to snag a reso but I read a few reviews that suggested to walk-in. I'm glad I read them. When you arrive, they can't seat you until your full party is there. So I said I could sit at the bar with my date. The bar is not comfortable. Bad move. Fortunately when my date arrived 15 min later... we were able to grab a table. The server was nice and very attractive, but I found it odd that when we asked if he recommended anything - he couldn't give no any specifics or popular dishes. For an appetizer we had the duck tacos and they were not good. They are STUFFED with guacamole and then thinly sliced duck inside (see picture). Do not get. I've never had dry hotpot before so I was excited to give it a try. But is it basically just stir fry? I liked it, but did I love it? I don't know. Recommend giving it a try, but knowing what you want bc deciding is very hard. read more

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Yummy dry pot with all our favorite ingredients. But the appetizers we got were kind of not to my taste. The soba noodles were pretty grainy, and I wish the eggplant appetizer came hot instead of cold. But otherwise this was a sold Mala dry pot spot. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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I've been to their East Village location many many years ago and got their Build-Your-Own spicy dry pot - remember it being good. I am bit late to the party but didn't realize that they expanded and have 3 different locations in the city now! I was excited to see the unique and hard to find dishes on their menu and just had to try them out! They did not disappoint!!! - The mere fact that they offer those dishes speaks to the authenticity of the place! The Eggplant With Roasted Garlic was sooo tender and the sauce was soooo flavorful with strong aroma of sesame oil that compliments the garlic and scallions well! The Beijing ChǎoBǐng was actually something I've been wanting to try forever after hearing about it from friends (apparently it's a quintessential northern Chinese thing!) but haven't found a place that offers it - loved it! I really wasn't sure what to expect, but the texture of ChǎoBǐng surprised me in the best way - it's light and fluffy and heavenly! The XiāngXī Fried Rice is super flavorful and imbued with Chinese sausage pieces, peppers, and other good stuff! read more

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Mala's dry pot is some of the best in the city! I wish they had one additional spice level (just below the spiciest one) as the medium just doesn't cut it and the spiciest one is overkill but still, always worth the visit. Their mapo tofu is also delicious and worth trying. read more

Do you have the spice tolerance of Satan himself and love hot pot but hate how soupy it always is. Well come on down to Mala Project, where you can customize your drypots with everything under the sun! Truly a beautiful experience. Get the peanuts, skip the shots, and get the yogurt/milk drink! read more

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I've been to another Mala project before which I absolutely loved and so was really excited to come to this location for the first time. However, I was so disappointed with the food we were served. It had no flavor, and lacked the regular spices it usually has. The sauce used in the dry pot was watery and the veggies weren't even chopped properly - it seemed like someone had cut the leftover vegetables in a rush and added water to the sauce to increase the quantity. I got the exact same order I usually get so was really unhappy with the food. I had 3-4 bites and left it without even taking it in a box. It's also pretty expensive so I was sad to have wasted $30 on a meal I didn't eat. The reason I'm giving 3 stars and not 1 (ideally) is because I'm hoping it was just a single bad experience. Needless to say, I will not be coming to this location again. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - ML Dry Pot (build your own combo) - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Yeaaaaa I read the reviews beforehand and kinda knew what I was getting into with the dry pot prices... but I have to say they were well worth it!! Okay firstly, I love Mala Project's website. When I visited their website on desktop, I opened up to some pretty relaxing and chill tunes too. It def hyped me up to go to the resto. My friends and I ordered the dan dan noodles, Fish with pickled peppers and mushrooms (enoki), and dry pot. For the dry pot we ordered: - 2 Eye of rounds (beef) - 1 squid - 1 wood ear mushroom - 1 lotus root - 1 chinese cabbage - 1 5 spice firm tofu The squid and 5-spice firm tofu is NOT worth it. The squid comes in skinny pieces and had a tough consistency, so to me it wasn't worth it to add as a protein. The 5-spice firm tofu... had no spice. It tasted flavorless and didn't hold much of the mala flavor. Everything else was great though, and the veggies we chose were great. The 2x eye of rounds were well worth it and provided a lot of good protein. Overall quite hearty and such a delicious flavor that had us finish every last bit of the dry pot bowl. The dan dan noodles were okay... minimal meat that came more like a topping to the dish (a small mound of ground meat on top of the noodles), so it surprised me as a $15 dish. The sauce was underneath the noodles, which was basically chili oil. It was the least impressive dan dan noodles I've had. The fish was amazing though. I loved how it was served on top of enoki mushrooms. It was great flavor all around and a nice consistency. The service was a bit too touchy - although there was one guy who was taking our orders at the beginning, some other female server swooped in and took our main order once we were ready. Starting there, our table seemed to have 2 main servers, and throughout the night we were asked more than 10 times how we were doing and if we needed anything, while we were in the middle of eating (rather than having empty bowls, raised hands, or showing signs of needing the servers). So that was a bit odd. Otherwise, great food in this establishment. Our dry pot with those 7 ingredients came to a total of $50 or so. and with tax and tip I paid about $38 so it wasn't too bad for yummy food! read more

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Ordered to go on a Friday right when they opened. Apparently, they have a super busy lunch rush because instead of waiting the recommended 10 minutes, I ended up waiting 40 minutes for my order. I got the lunch special dry pot and the beef roll. Beef roll was definitely overpriced for what I got. For the dry pot, I appreciated that they had the more obscure meats and vegetables as choices. It came with rice, and my dry pot was cooked well and tasted great. Would come back for the lunch dry pot. read more

If you value basic respect, avoid this place -- the staff was shockingly rude, confrontational, and borderline aggressive, creating one of the most hostile dining experiences I've ever had. --- July 25, 2025 8:10-9pm ET I had a deeply unsettling and uncomfortable experience here, and I feel it's important to share. When I first walked in, I was assigned a table I didn't like, so I politely asked if I could sit somewhere else. A staff member (very tall and skinny man with a long face and hair pulled back, working both the bar and floor on Friday evening) immediately snapped: "We only have this table or the bar available. Those other empty tables are reservations only. You either sit here or you're gonna have to wait", and walked away. His tone was unnecessarily abrasive and cutting; the hostility was so unexpected, my heart rate spiked. It was an involuntary reaction to how abruptly and aggressively I was spoken to. The way he addressed me was genuinely jarring. He came across as incredibly difficult to deal with -- short-tempered, rigid, and unapproachable from the very first interaction. Ironically, another table cleared up just 3 minutes later. *** Later, while waiting for the restroom, I briefly sat at an empty table nearby. The same staff member came over and very rudely (again using that scary cutting tone) ordered me to leave the table so he could set it up, even though I was clearly not in the way and wasn't staying long. I would have happily moved if he had simply asked nicely. However, he did the opposite and when I refused (as anyone reasonably would after being spoken to that way), he responded with visible irritation, glared at me like he wanted a confrontation, and then slammed the pile of plates in his hands down onto the hard tabletop in front of me. It felt aggressive and meant to intimidate. *** On top of that, the overall dining experience also felt off that day. I had to ask multiple times to get water and an extra napkin, and was eventually handed paper towels from the bathroom. I was also given a partially used water bottle that had been left behind by another table that had just finished, which was off-putting. My server never checked in on me once. Throughout the meal, I felt largely unattended and overlooked. *** When I paid my bill, I told the manager on shift how unsettling the experience had been and how it had completely ruined my dinner. I asked how it could possibly be acceptable for a staff member to speak to and treat a customer that way. She gave a surface-level, insincere apology -- and only after I pushed for some acknowledgment did she apply a 10% discount and remove a $3.50 drink. But honestly, it felt minimal and dismissive, like a formality rather than a sincere apology. The small discount wasn't offered; I had to ask for it, and it felt more like a reluctant gesture to end the conversation than a genuine effort to make things right. This wasn't just poor service; it was unprofessional, unnecessarily rude and hostile, and showed complete disregard for customer experience. Restaurants should make customers feel welcomed and respected. Unfortunately, that was far from what I experienced here, and this experience was one for the books. read more

Yummy dry pot spot with multiple locations in the city. We came here on a Monday afternoon with no wait. They usually recommend at least 6 items for 2 people which we thought was plenty to share between us! Rice is not included and $1 each bowl. The beef reminded me of the thin hot pot slices, and the lamb was juicy and tender. There were 4 flavor/spice options and we chose 'spicy' which packed a good punch and worked well with rice. Fish tofu, fish ball with roe all tasted just as good. Would recommend a visit, but would say there are more authentic (and cheaper) dry pot places in Flushing Ty for reading :) read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Fatty beef, Sliced lamb, Lotus root, Enoki mushroom, Fish tofu, Fish ball with roe (Spicy) - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

Had to subtract a star because of the price point of the dry pot here - yikes, it's so expensive for what it is! My partner and I ate here on a whim last night, made a bowl each with about 4-5 ingredients each... how did that total up to $87 (incl. tax and tip) ?? It was our first dry pot experience so not sure if we did something wrong as noobs. Maybe it was just the midtown Manhattan tax? Or maybe we should've just ordered one to share, and added an app/side or second entree to also share? I just know we prob could've gotten a bigger portion for a fraction of the price in the New World Mall food court. Or perhaps you'd get a better bang for your buck during lunch hours here, when price tags are discounted. Highway robbery aside, I thought the "little spicy" bowls had the perfect amount of heat (more of a mild-medium spice) and the fried fish fillets were big and meaty. The lamb was tender but on the fatty side. I also had enoki mushroom and Chinese cabbage in my bowl and it was overall pretty tasty. Perhaps would've been better paired with a bowl of rice to soak up the fat, juice and spices but that would've been an extra $1 and I was unnecessarily trying to cut back on the carbs. Looking back we should've split one at the very least. All in all a tasty meal but overpriced for sure. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - $33 - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

It really pains me to update my review. I was a longtime fan of mala project who has been coming to this location for years. The food quality has gone down considerably since the pandemic, but what pushed me over the edge was the horrific service I experienced over the weekend. We were willing to overlook the long wait time, mixed up orders, and incorrect billing on the receipt, but could not overlook the host's hostility and aggression toward me and my friends. At the end of the meal, we were waiting for a to-go order for nearly 20 minutes. Instead of letting us know the order was ready, the staff placed the order behind the host with the other delivery orders. When my friend went to see if that order was hers, she noticed her name and started to reach for it. Immediately, she was yelled at and told "if you want this, you need to ask". When she asked if she could have her order, the host turned his back on her and ignored her. He was visibly rolling his eyes and complaining about us to other customers and other members of the staff. The food, which I once loved, did not make up for this awful experience. The quality is not what it once was. The Chinese Fried Chicken was dry and the soy garlic sauce in the dry pot was unusually salty. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be coming back and would no longer recommend. read more

Mala Project is one of my favorite restaurants in the city! Their dry pots are amazing and you can pick all your favorite items to include! I love that they have several different varieties of mushrooms, proteins, and veggies. The flavors are phenomenal. You really can't go wrong here! read more

One of the best meals I have ever had. It was unlike anything I have ever tasted before! read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

all the servers r super duper nice the food itself is pretty good although i do feel like its a bit whitewashed haha like the fish is fried when i thought it was gonna be boiled it was also a. little bit too sweet the purple rice was sweet and had dates in it. it tasted like a dessert read more

On a recent work trip, my group and I were craving some Chinese and we were looking for somewhere to go. The first couple places we stopped at had outrageous waits but then we stumbled upon this place. It was a bit busy but they were able to accommodate us quickly. The place was small but cute and they fit the tables in nicely. Our server was great and offered us some suggestions when we let them know that we we'd going to order a bunch of food for the table and just share. Everything we got was delicious! There were some things I hadn't tried before and every bite was so good. Even when I was full I wanted to keep eating, it was all just so good! I will definitely be back next time I'm in the city! read more

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This place is so dang delicious but so expensive. You can customize your bowl and add as much or as little ingredients as you want and they will stir fry it up for you! It tastes truly authentic, which is hard to find especially for something in midtown. However, they're always really busy, so make sure you get a reservation or be prepared to wait! I love how they gave coat hangers near each table too. read more

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We got the dry pot (no spice) and thought it was good but not great. I like the concept of choosing what you want but the sauce wasn't anything crazy and for $40 I'm not sure I would order the same thing again. Maybe we should've went with the spicy version? read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite meals in New York! Been having a lot of mala/Sichuan food lately and this is one of the best! I love the idea of a "build your own dry pot". We chose broccoli, tendon, pork belly, fish and it was so delicious! Wish we had more dry pots in California! Chicken with cucumber- not real chicken! It's bean curd, but still good. We came here during our anniversary weekend, so the waitress gifted us mantou for dessert. I've had these growing up so it wasn't anything special to me, but my husband loved it and ate 5 of them lol! The service was great, 5/5! read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) Spicy Chicken With Cucumber - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Better than I expected. Honestly thought it would not live up to the hype but it did. The service first of all was so good. We got 2 appetizers (scallion pancakes and the husband and wife one) which were both really really good. We built our own dry pot the way our server recommended and it was so good, though more expensive than we expected. I would def do without the chinese bacon in it next time though. read more

MáLà Project Bryant Park - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Dim Sum Near Me - New York, New York

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Omg.... I randomly stopped in here (visiting from Las Vegas taking care of my daughter after her surgery) I went in for a cold beer and air conditioning, they were so kind and sweet and as I started seeing what was coming out of the kitchen and talking to those around me I thought I should order this for my daughter for comfort yummy food! It was all she'd eat that night and craved it so much she ordered it last night after I left and told everyone she knows about this incredible restaurant! Thank you so much! I'm back in Vegas and I can't wait to get back and have it again!!!!!! Everyone needs to eat here and experience the love and flavors!!!!! read more