I loved the ambiance of this Mala location! It was so bright and vibrant. I always order the same sour and spicy wontons and the red chili oil dumplings because they never disappoint. This time, I ordered the spicy crispy chicken as well, and it was the perfect balance of Szechuan spices and crunch. The service was also really smooth as our server was especially attentive to food allergies in our group. read more

With so many delicious sichuan foods available in this city, its hard to really compare. Mala is an excellent dining experience. From the decor, the food flavor and quality, and topped with really and friendly staff - this place is a one stop shop it seems for a really memorable date night. My friends and I ordered the crispy spicy chicken, stirfried eggplant w/ pork, a green jewel pork dish, water boiled fish, cumin lamb, water spinach w/ garlic, crispy beef, and a bacon wrapped something for appetizer - a hot tea and a unsweet tea. This was perfect for about 6 ppl coming out to about 170$ with gratuity auto applied. Each dish had its own unique deep flavor and texture that didn't make you feel like you ate the same thing again and again. Unlike many other sichuan experiences, the numbing spice didn't overpower any dish so despite showing 3 peppers on the menu, even spice novices shouldnt have to worry! Place is cute enough for a proper date night :D Despite polishing off all the food plus two rice containers, we all left not feeling filled with carbs or grease. What are you waiting for? Go check it out! read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Szechuan Near Me - Katy, Texas

This place is FYEEE. Every bite was extremely flavorful. This spot is worth every penny. When I eat out, this is the quality that I want! The place is nice and very clean inside. Staff is extremely helpful and polite. I see why this is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant - highly deserved. We ordered the Dan Dan noodles and Clay pot fish. So amazing. I willll be back. read more

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They had an amazing Chinese/Lunar New Year celebration, highly recommend checking their website/Instagram for their celebration. They brought lion dancers (bring some cash to tip/feed the lions) and did little prizes when dining. Definitely recommend going during lunar new year but bring earplugs in case it's loud. read more

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I was hesitant to bring my toddler here for lunch, since Sichuanese food is known for spicy food, but I'm so glad I went! Not only are there good non-spicy options, but I was also pleasantly surprised the staff was able to accommodate my child's eating needs. I forgot his kids plate at home but they were able to provide cute plastic dinnerware and a CLEAN high chair. The food arrived very soon after ordering. This time I ordered Mapo tofu, which actually wasn't spicy at all. It had a little bit of the classic numbing effect, but was also surprisingly sweet. We got the fish cubes with egg and tomato. I love the thick sauce to mix in with rice. It too had sweet flavor. The fried chicken with basil is very similar to Taiwanese fried chicken, except the individual pieces are smaller, and there are bits of pan fried onion mixed in. Very delicious! If I came again I'd order any of their spicy food! read more

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Favorite spicy fish spot! Tried a few Lotus dishes, and it's so good. Interior is clean and nice. Staff is nice as well.

Horrible place. Came here cause they posted a sign said they are Michelin recommended. It is definitely not the truth. The service was awful. It was hard to flag the server down and the description of the dish was wrong. I ordered the basil intestine but just one leaf of basil in the dish. No basil flavor at all. The lotus root has black color all over (see the pic). It was not fresh at all. Is this restaurant recommended by Michelin??? You know the answer. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Are you sure - Szechuan Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Great food! Ordered the spicy & crispy chicken, eggplant & green beans and Dan Dan noodles. Everything was delicious. Good service and ambience. Con: they need to print new menus. The pages are falling apart, worn out and filthy. read more

Food was good but not as spicy as I expected. Would definitely come back. We had mapo tofu and black pepper steak

We went on a rainy Saturday and was surprised that we were the only customers around 11ish. A few customers started trickling in later though. The interior design is very nice and clean, and we were seated next to the window so we can see the outside. We got the food pretty fast, and the dishes were really good. We got the the spicy & crispy chicken which was spicy and salty just right. My mom says it is a bit small pieces, but I thought it was fine. The water boiled fish was really tasty as well and every bite was enjoyable. I can't say which one is my fav because both were so good! The white rice could be better but other than that, I couldn't stop eating. So good! 10x better than another location I had before. The staff is good, but there was one who gave a 'I could care less' type of feeling, but whatever, I will come back for the food indeed. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Water boiled fish and spicy &crispy chicken - Szechuan Near Me - Katy, Texas

I have eaten at the original Mala Sichuan Bistro on Bellaire many times, but decided to try the one in Katy Asian Town last night with some friends. The decor at the Katy location is beautiful, with Chinese lanterns and intricately carved wooden panels and doors, it is a sight to behold! We ordered the red oil dumplings, garlic cordyceps, mala bamboo shoots, Crispy Mala Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Shredded Pork with Garlic, Dry Pot Shrimp, and two bottles of cold sake. The entrees were served with white rice. Everything was amazing! Despite them having every table filled, the service was impeccable, and the food quality was superb. No complaints of any kind! This is a great place for excellent food - the best Sichuan in town, in my opinion - and a great atmosphere for family and friends alike! read more

It's decent but not authentic if you have a lot of experience with Chinese food. The service was fairly quick and the interiors are always culturally appropriate to the cuisine. I've attached a photo of their Sichuan boiled beef, or 水煮牛肉. If you compare it to a classic photo of this dish, you'll find this one lacking. There's little sauce and the coloring and flavor is way off. The lotus root was sliced unevenly and the flavor unremarkable. It's not a signature dish but I still found it a bit lacking. I also ordered their jelly noodles, but found the flavor way too salty. It was also warm whereas it's usually cool. In summary, flavor is not bad and service is good. But if you expect authentic, classic Szechuan flavors, you probably won't find it here. I've been twice so far and ordered different dishes every time, leaving with the same experience. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - 水煮牛肉 or Water Boiled Beef - Szechuan Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Food, service and ambiance were amazing. Love how they decorated the place. Every dish pulled through and reminded me of home. Definitely one of the better Sichuan places I've tried. read more

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I've been to multiple locations cause I absolutely love Mala. Whenever I'm craving scheuzen food Mala is my go to. However, this location to me was quite disappointing only because it did not taste like they had scheuzen peppers at all. I came with a party of 5 so we ordered a decent amount of dishes to share and the restaurant was clean and nice decor. Service was good and I have no complaints but all of the dishes were not scheuzen. No mouth numbing flavors. I wouldn't say they were bland but didn't taste as I was expecting and again I've been to other locations with the same dishes so I was caught off guard with this location read more

The wantons!!! Get the wantons!!! I haven't had a wanton soup this good since I left from living overseas in Asia! Omgggg it was good! If wantons aren't your thing, then get the Mongolian Beef! The flavor and texture were absolutely perfect! I literally sat there and just kept eating on it all! I couldn't finish it though. They have huge portions!!! 10/10 will be back! read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Mongolian Beef - Szechuan Near Me - Katy, Texas

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First time here, nice decor, service was great. Spicy fried chicken was great, not too spicy and it was tasty. Spicy fish was ok.. I was a little disappointed of the nourishing chicken soup. The soup was salty, all I tasted was salts. The chinese jam was old..not fresh (not recommended ). Overall, it was ok.. Will try other dishes next time. read more

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Food is always great at this place and the dishes came out quickly for all of us. We will certainly be back here again

Pros. Good service, Good Chinese food, Cons. Could be a little more cleaner. Details. The food was pretty good it got enough spiciness which I really like but slightly too salty for my taste. When I asked for a recommendations they are very knowledgeable for what's on their manual. And gave me quick and clear responses. But we sat at a corner so it was a little hard to get the waitress to come to our table. Minor stuff the wall could be a little cleaner and the chair wasn't very clean, but I cleaned it with a napkin. The best part was the little spark stick on the cake went out before I could take a picture and I asked the waitress to light up another one they had no problem of doing that for me so I was able to take the picture. read more

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If you're craving authentic Sichuan food, Mala Sichuan Bistro in Katy is the place to go. The dishes are always fresh and flavorful, with highlights like Mala Tofu Pudding With Fish Fillet, Basil Crispy Chicken and Eggplants In Spicy Garlic Sauce. The restaurant has a cool vibe, and the interior design enhances the overall experience. While the service can vary, the delicious food keeps us coming back. read more

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The food was not very good. The flavor was off. They automatically add gratuity to the meal without telling you and there is nothing on the menu stating that they will add gratuity. Which is wrong. read more

Great service, excellent food, highly recommend! Spicy crunchy chicken and chili oil dumplings are amazing !

Omg food was so amazing. I had the wonton soup, garlicky cordyceps and hot jasmine tea. I want to go back immediately!!

I came here with a small group and we tried several dishes: - Spicy and crispy fried chicken with string beans - Water boiled fish - Mongolian beef - Green tea and bacon fried rice - Wonton soup - Dan Dan noodle Of the dishes, I'd say my favorites were the crispy chicken, fish, and Mongolian beef. The crispy chicken was on par with what I've had at other Szechuan places, but the blistered green beans took it up a notch, so you weren't just eating mouth numbing chicken. The water boiled fish had plenty of Napa cabbage, which I love, and was also a favorite of the table. The Mongolian beef was surprisingly good--super tender beef and slightly firm onions. As far as the rest of the food, the Dan Dan noodle was not loved--it had a strong sesame flavor that was a bit overpowering. The wonton soup probably could have used some more salt, but I thought it was still pretty good. The green tea and bacon fried rice was very interesting and I thought it was good as well. I also tried the black pepper ice cream and while no one else was a fan, I enjoyed it. I love unique flavors though, so it was right up my alley. I'm really looking forward to returning and I feel like Mala lived up to most of the hype. read more

I've eaten at other chains in Houston but finally sat down to eat in the katy area! It was just as good! If you love szechuan everything and spice, this is definitely the restaurant for you. Most szechuan restaurants go overboard on the peppercorn but this place does it just right. Here are my opinions on dishes: -spicy crispy chicken (absolutely love it but i wish they have slightly bit more chicken) -mapo tofu with or without beef is both good (one of my favorite dish) -beaten duck: only get this if you like duck. But great flavors! -dan dan noodles: wasn't bad but it was a little sour. Make sure to mix it well before eating. -eggplant in garlic sauce: loved it! Also, service is great! They're very caring and accommodating. Will come back! read more

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I feel like it's pretty clean in here and tables are pretty distanced out so you feel safer. The food is not bad. We got the crispy basil chicken, spicy crispy chicken, red oil dumplings, and the crab and asparagus soup. The green tea fried rice is also good! 4 stars because our server was great, but another employee came by and we told him we were missing a part of our order and he got angry at us telling us we were wrong and that we didn't know what we ordered but he wasn't even the one that took our order. Just extremely rude. read more

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This place was busy and we only had a 10 min wait! We ordered five dishes and they came out so fast. For the speed of service the food was not lacking in flavor. We ordered the garlic cucumbers for an appetizer and they were so light and refreshing. We also got the garlic eggplant, it was the perfect amount of sweet and savory with a hint of spice. Our main dishes were the spicy and crispy chicken, Dan Dan noodles, and chicken fried rice. The chicken was the standard Szechuan style fried chicken with all the crispy bits. The fried rice was not fried as much as it was slightly sautéed, more so just oily rice, the flavor was good though. The Dan Dan noodles were the best of the three. The perfect amount of szechuan peppercorn for those who haven't had it! It wasn't too spicy and the noodles were nice, chewy, and bouncy. Everything came with a large portion of steamed white rice which paired great with the eggplant. Overall I would recommend this place for speed, and quality of food! read more

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In general fast and efficient service from wait staff. Menu selection is more limited than other places; but purposefully done. The lighting in the center is a little dark, if you like more visibility, take the booths in the edges. Food is generally on par but not "omg amazing". Prices semi reasonable relative to the area. Knocking off a star because they wouldn't seat you without everyone there. Not the best place for a business meeting noise wise but lots of office people come here read more

Mala sichuan has always been a go to for me for a couple of years now. The food has consistently stayed the same through all these years. The food truly is amazing and brings the kick you'd expect from Sichuan food. The menu has many options for many dietary restrictions such as vegetarians. The most popular dish, the crispy spicy chicken, does not disappoint. It's not truly spicy but induces a bit of a numbing sensation on your tongue when you eat it. It is my favorite dish on the menu by far. The Dan Dan noodles were also great. Due to dietary restrictions we removed the pork and made the noodle vegetarian. The abby pepper shredded beef was also great. The beef is very tender and flavorful. The eggplant and string beans were the icing on the cake. They are perfect and have such an amazing subtle flavor with garlic. Not pictured but what I've gotten before: mapo tofu (removed the pork) has been amazing and the sauce that they serve this in is really really good, string beans in garlic sauce are also very good and again this sauce is to die for. The fried rice are like any fried rice you'd get at a Chinese food joint and I didn't find them particularly special. The service and ambience are also amazing. The food comes promptly and the servers are always smiling and willing to provide recommendations. The ambience is casual. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Dan Dan Noodles (elected for no pork), Basil Eggplant and String Beans, Spicy and Crispy Chicken, Baby Pepper and beef and plum juice - Szechuan Near Me - Katy, Texas

Food, service, & ambience all outstanding. Carefully honored my allergies to shrimp and oyster sauce. Tofu soup excellent! Eggplant excellent, my hubby. Mala fish pudding Wonderful! read more

Another fine establishment in Katy's Asiatown. Boiled dish and beef did not initially seem appealing and I will confess to being one hundred percent wrong about that because it was absolutely heavenly. Best new dish I have tried in a long while. Ordered on one of the last days of the EatDrinkHTx menu, and it was well worth it, even if our second courses arrived long before the first. read more

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Searching for delicious Sichuan food in Katy? Mala Sichuan Bistro is the place to go. On our first visit here, my boyfriend & I tried the spicy and crispy chicken. This is described as "bite size crispy dark meat chicken flash fried with dry red chilies, whole Sichuan peppercorns in mala seasoning and Sichuan bean curd sauce, garnished with sesame seeds and cilantro." This dish was unlike anything I have ever tasted before. The red chilies gave it a very unique, dry spicy flavor which went so well with the juicy dark meat chicken. In my opinion, the spice level was just right. I can't wait to come back to try their fried rice and some of their beef & lamb dishes! read more

I liked this Mala Sichuan at Katy more than the one at Bellaire. Loved their spicy chicken. Spicy chicken at Bellaire is like searching for chicken out of the chillies. However, here at katy, I could actually enjoy the chicken while I get the red chillies flavor. I found the chicken more fresh and not rubbery unlike many others. Also, I think I found the best chicken fried rice in town. Its so fresh and light. Not overly fried nor greasy. Enjoyed their hot and sour soup too. It comes in a large bowl, good for 2/3 people to share. Dint like their dumplings much, their fillings is not really to my taste. Not returning for dumplings but most definitely returning for my favorite dishes and to explore more on their menu. Nice place to dine out, good ambience. read more

We had lunch here about a month ago. Food was good. Service was ok. Ambiance was fine. Today I ordered a crab and asparagus soup (which we had on our previous visit that was good) for pick up for my wife as she was not feeling well. What I got was seafood and asparagus soup (not sure if it is the same dish or not) but my problem was that the soup was not even filled up in the to go container, looks like they ran out of soup. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - This is what it was when I opened the bag after I got home. - Szechuan Near Me - Katy, Texas

Order vegetable fried rice and crispy chicken. The fried rice had no vegetable in it. 18$ and the popcorn chicken I mean crispy chicken look like popcorn but taste like a** . It was soft and not crispy. I called the restaurant and ask what normally come in a vegetable fried rice.. they said mushroom bok choy which I didn't get any. And the lady I spoke too told me nothing she can do about it. NEVER NEVER AGAIN. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Popcorn chicken - Szechuan Near Me - Katy, Texas

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This location is my 3rd one of theirs I have gone to and eaten at. The place is very different from the one in downtown and Bellaire. The service was not bad, we were well taken care of but there was a bit of attentive needed. We were in a corner area so I am not sure that may be the issue. The food was presented beautifully and they were all delicious! I hope it stays the same forever. The cooks did an excellent job! read more

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So many new places to choose from. But lines were long at the ones we wanted to go to. So where do we end up? Here again. I say "again" because we've been to the ones in Montrose and Bellaire. We haven't been for a while so I actually wanted to see if they still had bone in on their spicy and crispy chicken. Nope. They're just like everyone else and it's boneless. Portion size much smaller than the other ones too. Had the mung bean, lotus root (spicy sauce), plumb pork ribs appetizer, Dan Dan noodles too. My favorite was the mung bean as I liked the balance between ma la and chili spicy. They have two side areas with big tables for private parties (both full when we went). There was no wait to be seated. And no cash discount. read more

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food was really good ! and costumer service , will come back for sure love the place !!

The food here is seriously incredible! I've tried so many of the dishes here, but my favorites are Dan Dan noodles, hot and sour soup, spicy and crispy chicken, kungpao chicken, and twice cooked pork. The service here is also awesome, and the restaurant itself is very clean and nice. I come to eat here often, and always recommend it! read more

Order: 4D1KKN Food is good. Service is decent. Ambiance is okay. We don't appreciate how sneaky the waitress decided to give herself a 20% tip. The waitress will run your card, have you sign while she hold the tablet to process payment then quickly turn away, select the tip herself and submit payment. Check your receipt folks. Just be careful. We don't like shady staff, lead me to believe shady business practice. read more

SISSEY Y is the best !!! I spilled my water and she cleaned it for me Great place! Nice and chill!! read more