I went to this popular Szechuan/Sichuan spot with a few locations a while back. They specialize in Mala Xiang Guo/麻辣香鍋, or as commonly translated, a spicy/numbing dry pot. Usually, these spots are gone with some others, as they can get prohibitively expensive for solo dry pots due to the number of minimal ingredients, but I made due. The inside was a bit dark, but it was nice otherwise, and my server was friendly. The food I got was pretty good, though a lot less flavorful than I thought it would be. I went with a Spicy/正常辣 base, which is listed as "Má (numbing) Là (spicy)to the max," which was $5 to begin with. If I recall correctly, I got the following toppings, as 4/5 were recommended for solo dining. My choices were the $6 Bean Curd Sheet/豆腐皮, $9 Chinese Bacon/腊肉, $11 Lamb/羊肉片, and $9 Beef Tendon/牛蹄筋. This came out to $39, which is pricey, but hey, it's Midtown, and I chose three meat options, so it's not too surprising. I also got a side of Purple Rice/紫米 for $2.50, as this dish is usually paired with rice. The meat was all cooked very nicely with a good mix of textures. There wasn't a ton of meat, but, for the mix I got, my preferences were the bean curd and then the tendon. In terms of flavor, it was much milder than I thought it would be, which is a bit annoying as they charge $5 for the base. This was both the spice level, and I found it less numbing, even though there were a bunch of visible Szechuan peppercorns. The rice, which was nutty and sweet, was therefore less needed outside of the inherent saltiness. Though I would have preferred a bit more heat, I did like that it was a bit less oily, though, compared to some of the other mala xiangguo spots I've been to. This was a pricey, but tasty meal. I would/will likely go back for lunch as it seems like a better deal and presumably get the Classic BènBèn/经典笨笨 or Little Prince Lamb/喜羊羊. I would also definitely order the spiciest option because if that is mild, I wouldn't go back here. Mid 3, lowered due to price compared to quality. I prefer some other dry pots. read more

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So good!! I went during their happy hour for an earlier dinner and loved it. The service was great and the space itself is really cute and nice. We got the wings and a drink for happy hour, both very good. The wings were juicy but not spicy. Now for the main event, we got a málà dry pot to share and it was huge. We had maybe 6/7 items inside, and it was definitely enough for 3 people. I was feeling brave so got the Extra Spicy. I have a very good spice tolerance, so I thought it was great and wasn't too bad, but it definitely was spicy. The sauce was so tasty, and the spice didn't overwhelm the flavor. The actual ingredients were all so good, esp the veggies and beef. I'm already excited to come back and try every combination of ingredients!! read more

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10 stars if I could!! My partner and I came from NJ and had plans to meet with his visiting friend and she didn't know how to use the subway so we decided to eat around her hotel and we found this place! And I'm SOOOO glad we did. I had my expectations low because I reallllly was craving the original spot we were going to go to but now I can't stop thinking about this place!! We got seated right away and without a reservation and the place is a decent size. I loved the decor that looked hand drawn, it was even on the plates! It has a cool vibe inside, dimly lit but warm and cozy. We came during happy hour so for apps we got the pickled veggies and mala wings. The wings were super juicy, the perfect spice and the little chip that was on top added a nice crunch and sweetness. The wings were soft on the inside and crisp on the outside, literally perfect bite! And the pickled veggies was a nice balance to the wings! I got the hot and sour soup... SO GOOD I WANT IT AGAIN. The perfect balance of sour and spicy. The spice is perfect, such an amazing flavor without it being overwhelming! The noodles were perfectly chewy and everything in there added such a great balance to the feel and taste of the soup! My boyfriend got the pork belly with preserved mustard greens and also loved it! Like ALOT. The pork was tender, the bao bun was soft, there was so much flavor and it did not have an oily /fatty feel to it at all! Sooo delectably savory! Overall, an amazing time and I would DEFINITELY COME BACK read more

Mala Project - Pork Belly With Preserved Mustard Greens - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

Mala Project in Midtown East is such a fun spot if you love make-your-own mala xiangguo. I really like how customizable everything is as you choose your ingredients, pick your spice level, and everything comes out flavorful without feeling oily or heavy. It all tasted really clean, which I appreciated. It's definitely pricey, especially if you're used to paying Flushing prices for mala xiangguo. But you're really coming here for the vibe and the experience. It's cozy, modern, and just a genuinely pleasant place to sit down for a meal. The service was excellent too. Our server really knew what to recommend and helped us put together a great combination. If you want mala in Midtown and don't mind paying a bit extra for the atmosphere, this spot is a great choice. read more

Mala Project - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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Came on a Wednesday night and had no issues with grabbing a table. We've been to Mala Project a few times in East Village and decided to check out this location. Overall similar vibes and ambiance. Did want to note--please make your app more user-friendly! It's a bit glitchy at times, and please give us the option to scan our receipt if we forget while in store! Also, nowhere on the app does it say what we can specifically redeem the points for, and I can find the information nowhere online, and I have a hard time reaching a real person who's not some automated voice online when I call a restaurant to ask about the app! We ordered our typical dry hot pot bowl order, which consists of black fungus mushroom, tofu skin, potato noodles, pork belly, and bok choy. We ordered it medium spicy, which was barely spicy. Our friends ordered mild spicy, in which they didn't taste any hint of spicy at all unfortunately. We were just confused and a bit thrown off for why we were charged an extra $3-$5 for choosing the level of spicy when that is required anyways, compared to our previous time at a Mala Project in which this extra $ was not the case. Mala dry hot pot is known to be spicy, flavorful, and numbing from the sichuan peppercorn. We felt like there just wasn't enough spiciness, and barely tasted the numbing sichuan peppercorn flavor that we love in dry hot pot. To add, we were also confused why the cancellation price was so high at this casual spot, which led us to choose walk-in over making a reservation. What we ordered: - Mala Dry Hot Pot (black fungus mushroom, tofu skin, potato noodles, pork belly, and bok choy) read more

Mala Project - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

One of my favorite restaurants in NYC! Food is sooooooo good and flavorful, and it came out pretty quickly once we ordered. Very filling too! And lots of options for the dry pot; I really love the Woodear mushrooms Service was normal, nothing memorable. Restaurant and bathroom were clean too! It is on the spicier side tho so beware! read more

First time trying after seeing it all over TikTok and it does not disappoint. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly - recommended our appetizers for us. And came back a second time after craving mala for days! Love that they also give you Haw Flakes with the bill, reminds me of childhood. read more

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Great ambiance and number of options for vegans and vegetarians. Scallion pancakes were good but would be better with more scallions. Sauce that came with it was unique but not sure if I loved it. We also got the famous dry pot which was delicious and filling. However, could easily make it at home if I knew the correct spices. Overall everything was good but nothing stood out to me as amazing. Would go again but wouldn't go out of my way to go. read more

Mala Project - ML Dry Pot (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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I dined solo at Mala Project and had an okay experience. They let me sit at a small table instead of the bar, and the mala dry pot was fully customizable and super yummy. I got purple rice on the side and this was really unique -- it was my first time seeing purple rice mixed with goji berries and jujube, so it felt like a Chinese medicine bowl (in the best way possible!). For dessert, I couldn't resist trying the herbal jelly bowl which was just as I expected and had a mix of mochi and boba in the bowl. It was okay, but I've had better Chinese dessert bowls at places in Queens for half the price. When I got my check, I was surprised to see the Haw Flakes. So nostalgic!! When I was a kid, my grandpa and I used to always share these haw flakes. It was a really nice touch. The primary downsides: it's pricey, and service is slow. It was hard to get the server's attention to refill my water so I felt thirsty throughout the meal. read more

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Good experience, nice place to go to and have family style. Food came pretty last too! read more

Mala Project - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

Good spot for mala dry pot! A popular chain, the interior of this location has dim lighting, lots of small table seating, and is a relaxed vibe. Service is pretty quick here. Their menu is fairly big with a variety of entrees and appetizers, but what they're known for is their dry pot: a option where you can choose which ever toppings/ingredients you want in your bowl and they will stir-fry it together. I love the variety that they have when it comes to dry pot ingredients and the different sauce/seasoning options. The ingredients that I got were delicious, good portion, and cooked well. A little bit more on the pricer side than I would usually spend on dry pot, but it was good! read more

Mala Project - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

Great spot for when you're craving some sichuan food made your own way! Love the dry pot here- the ingredients are fresh and the portions were bigger than expected. I got glass noodles, rice cakes, fish filet (highly recommend), bok choy, taro, and imitation crab. I think I could have ordered less because I had about half left to take home. It came out to $45. My only gripe is that their "mild" spice level was actually very spicy - my mouth was on fire the whole meal. They need an intermediate between "soy ginger" and "mild". I can't even imagine what the higher spice levels are like. Maybe they misheard me and gave me a spicier base than I wanted. Service was good and they refilled our waters often. read more

Mala Project - ML Dry Pot (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

Some of THE BEST Chinese food in NYC! So so good, especially their noodle dishes and beef dumplings. The chicken is my preference, but last time I did chicken and shrimp and it turned out delish with the noodles. My colleagues love this place too, great lunch spot for a team lunch. The service is great as well. read more

Mala Project - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

As a known malatang enthusiast, one of my friends recommended Mala Project to me, as I was visited NYC for a week, and I couldn't be more grateful for her recommendation. Unlike most malatang places in the Bay/LA, it's not really a self-serve concept, but more so you order the ingredients that you want from a menu, and are charged the total (ex. different meats are priced at different price points). TBH, you can likely share one bowl between two people (or more, pending how many ingredients you get). I believe that the recommended amount is ~2-5 ingredients for 2 people. Food is actually a banger - probably one of the best meals that I've ever had. In the week-long span that I was here, I visited Mala Project twice, simply because I had loved it so much. Service was relatively fast as well. Ambiance is pretty casual. There's also a small happy hour menu with drinks and light bites. Only downside I would say is that it's somewhat pricey(?) compared to some other similar restaurants, but worth it IMOP. Highly, highly recommend. read more

Overall: 8/10 Food: 9/10 Do not be fooled by the fact that the restaurant on the inside gives off upscale cuisine that won't serve enough portions to fill your belly. The food is flavorful, plentiful, and well spiced. However it does lack the numbing flavor some seek when eating MaLa drypot. The ordering system is unlike typical drypot places where you gather ingredients in a bowl yourself and pay per pound. Instead, it's a sit down restaurant with a menu and you pay per item and it's a fixed amount of that item. As far as components that we got in our drypot, we got sliced eye of round beef, lobster balls, fish fillets, frog legs, dried tofu skin, box choy, and shitake mushrooms. I would personally not get the frog legs next time as the legs do lack meat and are mainly bone. Spice wise, we got extra spicy which was plenty spicy for me but like I said before it lacked the numbing feel in my mouth that I desire when I eat mala drypot. Atmosphere: 6/10 Immediately when you walk in you'll realize the restaurant is very dark and quite loud. We think the darkness may be intentional to hide the sweats should you accidentally order a spiciness level too high for your taking. The restaurant itself is very packed and it feels like we were well within arms reach of the table next to us. The upstairs bathroom was broken at our time of visit so we had to go downstairs and use that bathroom instead. Service: 10/10 We did not have a reservation and were able to be seated immediately on a Friday night without waiting. The waiter came to get our order in a reasonable time and the food was prepared relatively fast as expected for a MaLa drypot place. We were supplied with plenty of water and water glasses were filled very fast when empty. At the end of your meal, you are rewarded with a free Haw Flakes treat as your reward for making it through the spicy food you just got. Who doesn't like a nice free sweet treat! read more

Mala Project - (FREE) Haw Flakes - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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We keep coming back for lunch--it's just that good! The flavors are incredibly addictive and keep us craving more. Highly recommended! read more

Mala Project - YEAR OF THE PORK BELLY Pork Belly, Wood Ear Mushroom, Cauliflower, Potato. - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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We had the dry pot pork belly and purple rice... very well prepared, delicious and an ample serving. The bartender, Wyatt, is top tier! The attention to detail and the taste of the Old Fashioned was as good, if not better than many of the NYC roof top bars. We will definitely go back!!! read more

The food here is phenomenal. The flavor of the stir fry noodles is exactly what I crave and expected - something you can only taste with a high heat wok. The Mala bowl is great as well - expect higher prices than what you would get in Flushing because of the location. The service is decent though it took a while for the staff to get to us. But once the order was placed, food came out quite quickly. Probably because of the high heat! read more

Mala Project - Stir fry noodle with shrimp - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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We are a regular customer of Mala Project and last week - we placed an order for our office - via GrubHub - #669033055904603 It was a 55$ order and we got a small rectangle plastic box - mostly noodles, 3 broccoli pieces - 6 strips of Tofu and a few greens. Thats it. It used to be a 1/2 aluminum tray for this price. The quantity was less than 1/2 normal and literally nothing else but noodles in it. I am no longer going to order from Mala Project any more - that was a rip off. read more

I've been craving dry hot pot and found this place (multiple locations in NYC) It was YUM It's not self serve like places in LA which I prefer, instead you check off the stuff you want and it's a set amount This bowl was like I think a little under $40 for the two of us ($20ish per person) and we were full. The flavor was soooo good though, not overwhelmingly mala but still spicy Instagram - @joangela.eats read more

Mala Project - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

Mala Project isn't a meal--it's a full-contact sport. The first bite slapped me like I owed it money. By the third, I was negotiating with my ancestors. By the fifth, I could see into the future... and it was me drinking three gallons of oat milk. The staff? Legends. They calmly watched me sweat like I was running the NYC Marathon and smiled like, "Yes, grasshopper, become one with the peppercorn." The flavor rollercoaster: numb, fiery, euphoric, numb again. Basically Six Flags for your tongue, except powered by chili oil and sorcery. In short: Mala Project didn't just feed me. It baptized me in spice. read more

Went for lunch. Food was awesome! My wife and I almost came back for dinner on the same day!

We walked in without a reservation on a Friday afternoon and were lucky to get a spot. We ordered two Mala dry pots at MaLa Project, one with fish fillet, bok choy, wood ear mushroom, and baby bamboo shoot, and another with eye of round, lamb, and baby bamboo shoot. Both came with white rice and were spicy - kicked a punch! The lunch specials were reasonably priced. The staff was very friendly. Ambience was nice. We also had a lychee black tea which looked good. We'll be back for happy hour cocktails which also looked good. It's a great place to come with coworkers or friends, especially if you can handle the heat. read more

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Discovered Mala Project with a promo card at the Asia Society Museum to stop in and try a free vegetable dumpling ($12) with $20 purchase. We were in time for Friday late lunch and opted for the BenBen Vegan Dry Pot medium spice ($17) which had sweet potato, lotus root, firm tofu, and broccoli in medium Mala spices. Just enough spice without total mouth numbness to enjoy the flavors. We paired it with purple rice and an extra side of white rice $1 which filled it out a bit more for two people. The pan fried vegan dumplings were tasty and just a little crunchy outside with a lot of chewy inside, and a very tart soy dipping sauce. The purple rice lager is a special Mala Project and Evil Twin Brewing company collaboration that was smooth and sweet like a brown or amber ale, but with some lighter notes and touch of sweetness from the rice. Definitely give it a try! I also loved the Rose Lemonade as it's hard to find and I always enjoy it when I can find it. Service was great with the recommendations and helping us navigate our first visit with the menu and offerings. It wasn't crowded at all for our 3pm visit, and had a relaxed atmosphere, even slightly romantic with the flowers on the tables and paper lanterns and pink napkins. read more

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One of my favorite spots in the city for Sichuan eats -- I love how customizable the Dry Pot is, highly recommend the Fish Filet, Lotus Root and Glass Noodle. The Fried Rice could be made vegetarian and had a good heat to it. They have a generous happy hour with affordable drinks. I've been to their EV location and this one is well-lit and felt a little bigger in comparison -- it was also very easy to make an edit a reservation to add another person. read more

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This was my first time visiting Mala Project, and it definitely will not be my last! Mala Project is your typical dry pot place, aka you pick your ingredients and they stir fry it with your sauce of choosing. This is definitely best enjoyed family style, so I recommend that you with a group of about 4 people! For my group, we went straight to the hot pot. We didn't have any dietary restrictions amongst us so we went straight to filling that dry pot right up. We added tons of protein and veggies. We also got a side of the purple rice. We were hestitant to only do one large pot and no apps, but my friend who had come here before insisted it would be more than enough food. She was so right! Our pot was filled straight to the brim. With the rice, we could barely finish every bite. The best part? The meal came out to be about $20pp with tax and tip included. This is a sweet deal and quality food if you ask me. Definitely make sure to check this place out! read more

Mala Project - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

Food/Drink: really delicious!! Got 7 items and rice for $30/person, lunch is definitely the better deal where you can get free rice! Service: good service & easy to get a table walking in for a Thursday night Atmosphere: From the outside unassuming but inside is SO cute! Their tableware and decor is really nice/artsy read more

Mala Project - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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Love the ambience here! Spicy level wasn't too spicy and the mala pot seems pretty standard compared to others read more

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As a Szechuan/Sichuan native, I'm unimpressed by their dry pots. 1. The meats are not just par-cooked but fully prepared in advance, not even in a nice way of preparation. The deep-fried skin is a cheap trick, using fat to make up for flavor and 火候. 2. The spices are just not right. Hypotheses: multiple spices failed to integrate because of lack of 爆香（no sign of heat to the Szechwan pepper); lack of fermented sauces such as 豆豉or豆瓣酱 3. Didn't seem to make efforts at all to find classic meat options for dry pots such as goose wings. 4. Minor flaws: Lack of medium-spicy option, no comment allowed in online ordering. read more

Incredible food, drinks, and service. We started with the popcorn chicken, scallion pancakes, and beef dumplings. For our mains we shared the the hot pot with beef round, fish fillet, and mushrooms. The fried rice was incredible, so was the dessert (not pictured) with fried and steamed baos with condensed milk (a must). Shoutout to Paul who was an incredible bartender and gave us amazing recommendations! read more

Mala Project - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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I've been back to Mala Project at least three times within the same month with different groups of family/friends, and we've always enjoyed our meals here! The food is delicious and well-made, the service is great, and the ambiance is cozy and pleasant. I thoroughly recommend the build-your-own mala dry pot as you can put any ingredient together for an extremely satisfying and filling meal. I don't eat spicy so I always get the soy ginger flavor base, add 3-4 meats, 4-5 vegetables and 3-4 misc ingredients for a group of 4-5 people. Moreover, I also like the purple rice, beef wrap, chili peanuts, and mapo tofu dishes. Honestly, the entire menu is great and I'm looking forward to going back myself and trying something new on the menu every time. Plus, the leftover dry pot makes a great meal the next day. Overall, highly recommend! read more

Came here on a random day and there was no wait. Mala is so delicious in general and this place is pretty solid. We ordered a variety of things for the dry hot pot and their beef wrapped in a scallion pancake. The mala was very good, we just wished there was just a little more food per item. The beef wrapped in the scallion pancake was absolutely delicious. Overall, the food and dining area was really nice, but I have had the same food self served, and I like that method better. read more

Mala Project - Beef Wrap MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

This place is pricy but honestly so delicious. The flavor profile of sichuan food just hits the spot - the spice, the greasiness, the mix of meats and vegetables. I came with a couple friends on a Friday and didn't have to wait to be sat. We got the "little spicy" option which was fine for us (not too spicy) and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. We each picked out 4 things to add to the drypot and were very full by the end. The food also came out fast. read more

Mala Project - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

I tried Mala Project during restaurant week with my boyfriend. I enjoyed the food a lot and especially enjoyed the Mala Gan Guo with potatoes, firm tofu, cauliflower, wood ear, and thin slices of lamb! The restaurant was clean and service was good. I left somewhat disappointed in the portion sizes, though, and felt like there could have been more of the gan guo for the price, If you're taking out your Chinese parents, they may tell you that they can make more of the same thing at home for less $! read more

Mala Project - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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As a party of three, we arrived here around 8:00 PM and were told there would be a 45-minute wait. We expected this since it's a popular spot with a first-come, first-serve waitlist (no reservations accepted). To our delight, we were seated after only about 20 minutes. We ordered the shareable dry pot, customizing it with a variety of ingredients, and it did not disappoint--it was absolutely delicious! The portion was generous and perfect for three people. A helpful tip: we each chose three ingredients to include, and it worked out to be just the right amount of food for our group. The restaurant has a pleasant ambiance, with tasteful decor and a calm atmosphere. While the service was generally good, it could have been more attentive. My water cup was empty several times, and we had to ask for refills. Speaking of water, here's another tip: avoid eating the red peppers unless you're ready for serious heat--hence the extra water requests! Overall, a great experience with flavorful food and a cozy setting. Would definitely recommend! read more

Mala Project - MALA DRY POT (build your own combo) - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

I came with two friends for dinner on a Sunday; we had a reservation, but there were plenty of tables available when we arrived around 7pm. We just decided to order a big mala dry pot to share. Everything just gets thrown in together so honestly everything has the same overall flavour... but some notable points: The eye of round (fatty beef) was very delicious. It was very thinly sliced and each piece was very flavourful and tender. The fish fillet was surprisingly good. The breading wasn't too heavy, and the inside was very soft, juicy, and savoury. The quail eggs were really overcooked. Wouldn't recommend this. Potato slices were so yummy, they were cooked to a perfect softness and picked up just the right amount of chilli flavour to be well rounded. Rice cakes were similar, also a really good option. The five-spice firm tofu was good but it's just 豆乾, idk why the English name was so fancy. It's nothing too special imo. Overall, it was a nice meal but a little more expensive than I think the quality warranted. I think if I were to come again I'd like to try some of their a la carte options. read more

Mala Project - Mala dry pot - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

We got the make your own option and it was a little pricey, but the ingredients were definitely fresh and amazing quality. There was also a huge portion leaving the 3 of us very full with one bowl, AND the food was actually spicy! The service was great and the ambiance was romantic. It is a little loud in there but overall a solid place with home cooked style food! read more

Mala Project - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

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My friend and I were craving dry pot on a cold Sunday evening and decided to go to Mala Project to get our fix. We each ordered a couple of items for our pot and it came rather quickly. Servings weren't as small as I thought they would be, but for close to $40 I was expecting more food. Quality of ingredients were good and the food had the perfect amount of spice! Staff were attentive, making sure we had napkins and water as we ate. This is great for those who don't feel like assembling all the ingredients and making their own dry pot! Will be back to try some of their other made to order dishes! Check out my foodsta @chiuventure for a closer look and more details of my dining experience here as well as other establishments in NYC and around the world! read more

Mala Project - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York

AMAZING RESTAURANT. The dishes were so flavorful. The service was great and the interior is unique. Great ambiance.

I always enjoy Málà Project. This location is on the smaller side. I came in around 1:15 for lunch on a weekday and was able to be seated right away. Each element of the fried rice worked very well together and it felt like a hearty meal. The waiters were very attentive. I didn't enjoy my martini but that's on me because I usually don't like them. read more

Mala Project - Leftover Fried Rice and lychee martini - Szechuan Near Me - New York, New York