I checked the reviews before I wrote. As everyone commented, the food is not bad but the service is horrible. They don't even have any service and ask you to tips at least 15%. The employees like to gossip the customers. I sat right next to the front desk. I heard they said the big table didn't order too much food and didn't order expensive food (there was a table with 6 people). I didn't order the rice with my meal on purpose because they will bring my rice first before the meals come. They didn't happy with it. They were complaining about it in the front desk and I heard it. I ordered the soda after the meals came, they didn't like it either. One of the waitress pushed another waitress and said, I don't want to go to grab. The other waitress said, I don't want to go either. If they don't like to work or they don't like servicing people, they don't have to work as waitresses. I don't understand why the owner hired them or maybe the owner agreed what they do? I ordered the food from chowbus. They just delivered the food out. They even asked for at least 15% tips? They didn't even want to deliver my soda or rice, they asked me to tip them??? DONT GO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SERVICE DONT GO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A HAPPY DINNER read more

The food was not bad but the service was horrible. We went during dinner time expecting it to be really busy but surprisingly, it was only half full. They sat us (2) at the table nearest to the kitchen/front desk/bathroom, and I saw that there were open tables further towards the window. So I asked if we can sit by the window instead. Those tables are bigger and seats 4 people. The waitress turns to another worker and tells her in Chinese that we wanted to sit by the window in which this worker responds with "两个人还想坐窗边" (Two people and they want to sit by the window seat?!) in a sassy tone and then she scoffs. Mind you, this whole time we've only spoken in English but I am fluent in Chinese so I understood everything. The waitress turns back to us and just shakes her head no without any explanation. At that point, I was just like okay, they probably expects the restaurant to get busy and wants to keep the tables open. But guess what, there's literally two people sitting by the window who happens to be Chinese aunties and they were chatting it up with the waitresses and being all friendly. It was giving special treatment. The whole time we were there, they would put food down on our table and not even acknowledge us even when we would say thank you. It's almost like "here damn" when they put our food down. No eye contact, no smile, no your welcome, no "enjoy your food". And the whole time, I couldn't figure out who's actually our server because random people would give us the food and fill our water. And the whole time, that window seat was open. So I'm genuinely so confused. And it ruined my mood for the rest of the meal. Now for the food, it was what you'd expect, packed with flavor and spices. Though the dry pot was very salty and it was very confusing ordering it because it doesn't really say if it comes with vegetables and we also couldn't order any vegetables using the 3 meat option. The egg plants were really good. The soup dumplings were alright, a little dry and greasy for my liking. The skewers were my favorite. The chili wontons were flavorful, I love the sauce, but the wontons themselves taste kind of old/not fresh. We wouldn't come back again just because the food is not unique, you can find it at any Chinese restaurant like mountain house down the street. The service however seemed like it's consistently bad seeing the other reviews. And if you're going to expect a 15% minimum tip then at least act like you like your job and serve your customers with a good attitude. read more

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Stopped in to try for first time. Well , you are require to order via table scan for menu for chowbus. There is nothing more annoying than this... I prefer to look at a menu in its' entirety and view food pictures of available as well. Using my phone to scan up and down to place order is lousy way to order. I'm ok to hey in my order after I see a complete paper it hard copy. Then as you sit to dine; you hear the instant singing, ringing as the chowbus orders hit the front desk? Anyway, tried the shredded pork in garlic sauce. It was excellent spice, flavors in garlic . I order a beef stick, lamb stick , sweet corn appetizers. Beef stick was excellent and better than the lamb stick. Now the sweet corn kernels was unusual and never seen before. The Chen's menu didn't show picture or what it was.... It was simple corn kernels on a stick ... was on, needed a coconut dip or coating or butter ? Service was minimal as order placed on chowbus. I thought flavors were key and I will eat here again. Not sure a 15-20-30 tip is warranted when you are ordering via chowbus with no interaction with waitress... they did deliver food to table... water refills non existent, or asking if food ok? May be 3 stars because of chowbus ordering process without a menu to look at ... May be fine for takeout , not a dine experience I enjoy, read more

Came on a very busy Sunday night but managed to get seated with no wait. However, it took an entire hour for our food to come out which was a bit frustrating given the lack of communication about any delays. However, the dry spicy pot was great (though a bit too greasy to have often) and the food was tasty overall. I would probably come back, but order takeout to avoid the long wait from dining in. read more

Mala Restaurant - Dry spicy pot (large) - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I came here today with my friend and she recommended it highly. We took our toddlers who are 3 and even they weren't picky and loved the beef skewers. We got dumplings, pork belly skewers,beef skewers and a spicy chicken plate with red hot peppers. I didn't have a favorite because it was all delicious!! Service was very good and attentive read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Best place for flavor and value if you're in the mood for mala! Anytime a friend visits from out of town, they request that we go here. Our favorite items to order are the bbq, the dry pot and the crabs. But honestly, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The service isn't the best as they will try to rush you out of your table during busy hours but they're nice about it. read more

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We often come here for authentic tingling spice Chinese cuisine! Food always comes out very fast and fresh, with large portions! Service is friendly, although ordering is done through a specific QR code at your table. They offer a 5% cash discount on your tab, so definitely bring cash if you can! There are plenty of tables and dining space, usually isn't too much of a wait unless you go during peak times. Overall, great value for what you get and it's delicious! Amongst all the options within Allston, this is a must try! read more

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Mala Restaurant might be the best Chinese spot in the Allston area, especially in terms of value. I came here with some friends and we were seated right away. The dry pot is an absolute must try. You can customize your bowl with whatever proteins and vegetables you want, and choose your spice level. Don't take the spice lightly. The fish fillet is probably my favorite protein. It's fried perfectly and so addicting that I usually order a large portion. The spicy wontons and dumplings are solid as well. I haven't explored much of the menu yet, but I'm sure everything else is also delicious. read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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This place seriously gets better and better. Most please kind of fizzle out, but not this place. This place is so consistently yummy and affordable. I still enjoy going there, as well as getting take out from there. The flavors are unmatched, and I definitely crave this place pretty frequently. Some friends and I recently got takeout from here, and I just wanted to give another shoutout to Mala for their delicious food. Thank you for providing consistency, especially in a time where that's not considered important. The service is always good here and despite being a small place, it's very comfortable and cozy. Will continue to support this restaurant and crave its yumminess!!! read more

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Walked in to this casual restaurant in Allston. Tried the Roast Beef Tendon w/ Chili Sauce, Chili & Cumin Lamb (my favorite), Double Cooked Bacon, Stir Fried Pea Shoots (a bit overly salty today), Stir Fried Chicken, and Shrimp & Pork Soup Dumplings (tasted better than they looked). There was loud dinging throughout the meal from notifications at the check in counter. We also walked in to see them cleaning green beans on one of the empty tables. Definitely a more casual and homey place, and the total was not bad! read more

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The spicy dry pot is our usual dish and it never disappoints us. It's convenient to order food from your phone although service can be a bit edgy sometimes. read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food here is solid. There is a 10% discount if you pay with cash. We tipped based on the cash price and they chased us down for not tipping based on the card price... so beware of that... they'll go after you!! Knocked down a star because of that awkward interaction. My favorite was the spicy chicken appetizer 口水雞. Both appetizers of the chicken and pork wraps had really nice sauces that were sweet, garlicky, vinegary, soy-y, super yummy. My party of 5 got 2 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 4 bowls of rice and we had leftovers! read more

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Mala Restaurant in Allston is one of my favorite places to go to when I'm craving Sichuan food! I absolutely LOVE getting their mala spicy pot 麻辣香锅 & like to change it up + pick different items on the list every time I visit; can pick a couple of different meats & veggies to add to the pot! Also, I always have to order the boiled fresh whole fish with special chili oil 沸腾活鱼片 OR the grilled whole fish with chef's special sauce 烤全鱼. Both are AMAZING, just one is grilled/fried & one is boiled ;) All dishes here pair super well with rice! (The fish with sour pickled veggies 酸菜活鱼片 is also CHEF'S KISS, cannot go wrong) Definitely try Mala Restaurant for authentic Sichuan food in Boston. Highly recommend! read more

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Brighton ave, dinner time, just have to circle around and catch a parking spot. The spot was busy and definitely lively. We ordered the make your own mala pot (I prefer dry pot style might have to try that next time) but the lady liked it! We also got the fresh fish in the green pepper (sour / spicy) broth. That was really good and also drinkable like a soup (the broth I mean) Service was good, water cup was constantly being refilled. The ladies working were nice. The space is not that big but they make use of it and it gets packed especially during dinner rush / weekends. read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Our party of 7 ordered a bunch of standard items, the mala hotpot, hot and sour beef stew, maple tofu cucumber app, jellyfish app, and the pork shrimp soup dumplings. Unfortunately something in the dish was bad and 6 of us had upset stomachs that day. Unfortunate because this is a place we used to go to a lot and haven't had a problem. The food is still good taste wise. read more

We took a chance on this place as it looked the busiest out of the several restaurants nearing it. Folks kept going in and we took a chance. We are so glad we did! Food is superb and pricing is very reasonable. Food: Soup dumplings - these are smaller than traditional XLB's at other places, but they still taste pretty good and have an ok amount of soup inside. Some had more, some had less. These took a long time to come out, it was last. I'd give them a 3/5 rating. Chili cumen beef - Very good, give it a 4/5 rating. There is a good amount of beef with some green peppers. There are a TON of red peppers but I find that its mostly unedible as they are pretty dry and hard to chew. This dish is pretty dry. We got it spicy and it was perfect, and the mala flavor was not overpowering. You can also get this with lamb instead of beef. Shredded pork with dried bean curd - This was also a 4/5 rating. There are generous portions of meat and bean curd (sorta like firmer tofu?), along with some slices of green peppers. Flavor is spot on and this dish is not spicy. BBQ skewers - I thought this would be more popular here, but we were the only table to order these. They came out quick and had great flavor. There was a little crispness to the tentacles. The lamb was very tender and flavorful. The pork belly was just ok. Overall, I'd give skewers a 3/5 rating. This place has a sizeable dining area. I really liked that you order from your phone after scanning the QR code at your table. You can easily add on more items throughout your stay. I only wish they had more pictures for their menu items, as it would really help. Service was very good. Staff was friendly and there was someone going around constantly refilling water. They do tend to speak to you in chinese, but some can speak some english. Prices are very reasonable for the portions and quality of food. I think this definitely adds to the popularity of this place, as I'm also looking forward to a return visit soon. Keep up the great work! Lots of street parking spots around the area, but depending on day and time, could get challenging, be patient! read more

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This is my 1st time eating here. The food was so good, i will be back. But you have to wait if you go for weekend read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

If you're not used to mala or spicy food, beware! With that said... this is proper mala! A small but mighty eatery in the ever growing Asian restaurant strip around Harvard Ave in Allston. This place is usually packed and needs a wait during the school year when college kids are in, but we were able to get a table for 2 quickly on a Friday afternoon. Service is quick and prompt as there is a lot of foot traffic in the small bustling space. The team there seems really happy and tight knit, at least more so than other places I've been in. The food is nothing short of excellent - their mala is top notch and each dish had very distinct but wonderful taste, the chef knows his craft. We ordered the vegetable dry hot pot, fish fillet in spicy chili, and the double cooked bacon. Hot pot was alright, and served as a good buffer with the other more oily dishes. The bacon was delicious, with a bit of heat for a nice kick. But the star was 100% the fish. Yes it's spicy, but they throw in this whopping thing of garlic right in the middle and the flavor profile will absolutely blow your mind. Get the fish, you will not regret. Get a bowl of rice, you'll need the buffer. tldr; proper mala spot in Allston. Get the fish in chili sauce. That is all read more

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Great Mala restaurant! All the portions were absolutely huge! I loved the dry mala noodles but my favorite was the fried chicken, it was very similar to popcorn chicken. Service was super fast and attentive. I would definitely come back! read more

Mala Restaurant - Dry Stir-fried Chicken with Spicy Capsicum - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Underrated and legit Chinese restaurant!! There's a reason this placed is packed every night, specifically with Chinese people. You order using a communal QR code for the table which makes it convenient for groups -- no more keeping track of what dishes everyone wants. Every dish I've tried has been delicious and freshly made. Not only that, but the prices are great! I feel like Mala is truly almost a hidden gem. They're known for their dry pots which allow you to customize the protein and vegetables. It hits every time. read more

Delicious traditional Chinese food. Amazing flavor, lots of spice. Warning- portions are very large. Loved eating here, would eat here again. I love the chicken so much. read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This place is a classic within my friend group. Chefs are sometimes inconsistent in the spiciness level. We got spicy but it was pretty mild. Taste was still 5/5, portions were 5/5 and price point was 5/5. read more

Mala Restaurant - Lots of food - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This restaurants makes amazing Chinese food, but only if you stick to SzeChuan style dishes. We enjoyed the DanDan noodles and crispy chicken a lot, but we could tell the soup dumplings were not authentic. They were a bit sweet?? Service here was alright, they weren't attentive with us and they didn't serve ginger in the vinegar along with the soup dumplings even after Ive asked for it. Nonetheless, I think they make authentic Szechuan style dishes that is worth having!! Food: 8/10 Service: 6/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Value: 7/10 read more

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This place is a solid 3.5. We had an early weekday dinner around 5:45 and there was no wait. It was a warm spring day, so the door was open but it was quite stuffy inside the restaurant. You order via the QR code on the table. We tried the large dry pot with meat and veggies, Dan Dan noodles, and wontons in chili oil. The dry pot was decent. Portion size was huge but we found that some of the ingredients were overcooked. The taro and fish filet pieces were super dry. Seems like they deep fried them before stir frying with the mala. You choose up to 6 'veggies' that you want and instead of tofu puffs they gave me wide noodles. Not sure if they just didn't have the tofu puffs or they made a mistake. The Dan Dan noodles had kick and lots of flavor and the wontons in chili oil was on the sweeter side which was a pleasant surprise. Overall, affordable prices for a decent meal. Not sure I would wait in line for this place but would come back to try other dishes. Don't expect any service, just flag down waitstaff if you need anything! read more

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Mala is my go-to restaurant in Allston!! Their dry pot is really yummy and comes in a decent serving size for its price. Their wonton in spicy sauce is amazing and I would highly recommend it - we ALWAYS get it whenever we come. If you have at least 4 people, I recommend getting the big rice bowl instead of individual bowls because it's huge and less expensive. They also have a waitlist now, so if you come during crowded time with a bigger group, it's more convenient from before, where it's first come first serve. Bring cash for 10% discount :) read more

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Recent favorite spicy food - love the boiled whole fresh fish fillet, spicy cold noodle, and spicy pot. Great various bbq options. Reasonable price and amount of food. Highly recommed！ read more

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Came for Mala and it did not disappoint. The heat always is a great kick and the food was all so delicious. Service was fast and the place was popping. I'd definitely come back! read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

I didn't really like the mala pot but their mala dry pot was really good! I love the amount of options they have and portions are also great. I believe this is the best mala dry pot you can get in Boston. read more

Mala Restaurant - Mala Dry Pot - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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garlic green beans 4/5 spicy mala bowl beef, crispy fish - 4/5 crispy chicken w/peppers - 3.7/5 One of my go-tos for Szechuan food in the area. Nice place for a standard sit-down meal with people. There's seating available for bigger groups as well. Love the spicy mala bowls and the selection of items they have to mix in the bowl. Standard service, never had any negative experiences here. Ordering here is done through a QR code. You'll scan the code on your table and place your order digitally. Servers will deliver your dishes to your table. When you are ready for the check you can select that you are ready to pay through your phone and servers will bring the check to you. Metered street parking available in the area. There's also a municipal lot a block or two down that has free 2 hour parking. read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Cheap and easy meals. It's not spicy like you think; mostly, it was edible for non-spicy eaters. A MUST-visit if you're in the area! read more

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Ordered this on Uber eats and it took an hour to get to Boston, but worth it! Tomato egg hit home, great comfort dish. Can't go wrong (4/5). Make your own mala pot, and I added pork belly, tripe, tofu puff, seaweed, cauliflower, Napa cabbage, wood ear. The meats (pork belly and tripe) were both ok. Pork belly was dry and tripe was WAY overcooked, very hard to chew. So I wouldn't get those items. But all the vegetables were really good, especially the seaweed, very fresh and perfect texture. Would recommend! I got it non-spicy as I typically prefer milder flavors and it wasn't too oily which I was worried about. Maybe a tad bit saltier than I would prefer but otherwise feels pretty healthy! (3/5) Overall, would order again, just make sure you account for the lengthy delivery into Boston. read more

Mala Restaurant - Scramble Egg with Tomato - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Food (5/5): We got a custom large vegetable hotpot with beef. We got toppings like sweet potato noodle, cauliflower, broccoli, lotus root, and king oyster mushroom spicy. The food was quite good especially for the relatively decent price. Service (3/5): You order on your own through the app on a scannable QR code. Ambiance (4/5): Quite nicely decorated with wallpaper and hanging light lanterns. There is also plenty of seating. Some of the tables, couches and seats seem a bit worn out. read more

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My friend wanted to take me to one of her favorite restaurants in Allston, Mala restaurant and I finally got the chance to stop by. It was very chill and walk in and take a seat vibes. No frills, just good food.You can order your food via a QR code and the food comes out quick. Their menu was extensive, there were a lot of items to get specifically from their bbq category which were so cheap. The noodle dishes were between $10 to $14 and they were a good size where you'll have leftovers. I don't even like beans but the string beans were so tasty with whatever sauce/seasoning they put on them plus had a very nice crunchy texture to it. Nothing really spicy except for the Dan Dan noodles. I enjoyed everything except for the crab pork bun which tasted quite fishy for me. The staff were helpful when we were ready to check out and boxed everything nicely for us. Overall a great cheap spot that will leave you full and coming home with a second meal. Food Dan Dan Noodle Beef stir fried noodles Fried string beans Prices $ Food 8 Atmosphere 5 Service 7 read more

Mala Restaurant - Dry Stir Fried String Beans - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Been to this place for countless times for mala. It never disappoints. The flavor hits every time; you can choose spice level and meat and veggies to put in your mala. There will definitely be a wait on weekday nights - you can get on a waitlist. The food comes out pretty fast considering the amount of orders (both dine in and takeout) they get and the service has been good so far. I've tried their other dishes and everything has been good so far. read more

Mala Restaurant - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Definitely a hole in the wall you cannot miss! Housing Boston's best dry hot pot with the best quality to taste to cost ratio, you won't be disappointed with how flavorful the food tastes. Experience 4.5/5 This restaurant is a bit understaffed despite the restaurant being so busy at times. As a result, service is lacking a bit especially with refilling waters or having food arrive at the table more promptly. The waitlist is through a QR code at the front of the restaurant which tells you how many parties are already waiting ahead of you. The ordering system is through a QR code where you order food directly from your phone and your order is sent directly to the kitchen. Sometimes the wait is long but it's worth it. I like that they don't try to rush you out the door and that the restaurant has a homey feel. Food 5/5 We always order the same thing each time since it's so good--we're regulars at this point! Typically we order the dry hot pot, rice, and the skewers (pork belly, lamb, and squid tentacles) and occasionally the Dan Dan noodles and Dry Stir-fried Chicken with Spicy Capsicum. Everything is always so yummy, flavorful, and addicting. Best dry hot pot in Boston! read more

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NOT AUTHENTIC AND THE SERVER LIES TO YOUR FACE. Some food is okay but some dishes are far from what it should be. The flavor is bland and the meat that should be used for grilling or stews were used for a traditional stir fried dish. The meat was frozen and the meat itself had absolutely no flavor but taste of chili and MSG. However the servers were not helpful to help us switch the dish that's barely touched when complained. It's somewhat understandable and definitely acceptable if they are upfront about the no exchange or return policy. But instead the servers lied to our face and tried to manipulate us by saying that all American beef is like this and that this is what the dish should taste like. As if we've never had the traditional dish in the states before. Disgrace to the Chinese cuisine. read more

I had the Seafood Mala Bowl, Delicious, Nice Portion, Excellent, on the side I ordered the jellyfish salad. I was hoping it was flavored like the Korean jellyfish salad I am used to, this was not the case, it was ok, but not as flavorful as the Korean style (vinegar, mustard) Will definitely be back! read more

Mala Restaurant - Seafood Mala Pot - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

As someone who doesn't like spice- I still liked Mala Resturant. If you get one things here GET THE SPICY DUMPLINGS!!! I was so shocked by the taste as they are not spicy rather sweet??? A must try. Mala spice is different as it doesn't hit the back of your throat but rather your lips; it's a tingling spice that leaves you grasping for water but somehow wanting more. We also got the beef mala dry pot which was full of Sichuan peppercorn flavor. The spice at first was not too bad but then crept up to my mouth. Portions are good size and service is not too slow. didn't have to wait coming at 5:45 on Sunday. Wait built after... read more

Mala Restaurant - spicy Beef Mala Pot - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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I find myself coming back to this restaurant at least once a month to satisfy my cravings. Everything here is full of flavor and they give you so much food! It usually gets pretty busy here so make sure to come early to secure a table. My favorite dish was the spicy crispy fried chicken. It comes out so fresh and crispy I find myself reaching for and getting full off this one dish. With all of this fried food I had to get a side of veggies. The string beans were good - just regular stir fried. The fish fillet and sour cabbage soup was surprisingly good. I ordered it just to try something new and it hit the spot. I took half of it home and finished it the next day for lunch. And everyone knows, the skewers here are their specialty. I love love love the chicken gizzards. The flavoring on the skewers is delectable. (Not sure if I labeled the dishes correctly) read more

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Not to be confused with the similarly-named restaurant a few doors down, Mala is one of many delicious Chinese restaurants in probably the most culinarily dense two blocks in Boston + surroundings. I finally came by with a friend for dinner last weekend - it was quite full but turnover was pretty quick and we moved up the waitlist quickly. I was recommended the dry pot (their speciality?), and my friend and I each ordered one; but honestly each order is so big we probably could have shared and been full! It was so yummy - lots of juicy meat and veggies that we customised and a wonderful amount of spice (both spicy spice and flavour spice). We also got the preserved egg (aka century egg) with tofu - it is a bit of an acquired taste, I'm told, but I adore it and it was really delicious. The spicy oil complemented the simpler flavours of the tofu well. As a side note for those of my fellow cilantro-haters, stuff comes with a lot of cilantro, so be warned to make a note of that when ordering if you don't want any :) Anyway, as noted portion sizes were really big and prices were really good for that, so a very tasty and economical meal overall Very excited to have finally tried it and I will definitely be back! read more

Mala Restaurant - Preserved egg with tofu - Szechuan Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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