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    Mala Town

    4.7 (424 reviews)
    ModerateHot Pot, Soup
    Closed 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Mala Town

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    Set with Beef Bone Broth Base
    Tien D.

    Food was so yummy! The broth was super flavorful and well-balanced. It was hot outside, but somehow we decided to eat hot pot:) Honestly, I have no idea what we were thinking, probably just craving mala tang that badly. Thankfully, the A/C inside was nice and cool, so it was actually the perfect place to enjoy a hot bowl of hot pot. It's self-service too, so you can grab as much as you want and customize your bowl exactly how you like it! Just don't forget your wallet has a limit lolol. My first visit was $32, but the second time I managed to keep it at $17!! Definitely coming back again!

    Meat area
    Lj Q.

    Went on a Saturday afternoon, been a fan of Malatown for a long time! This time around I wasn't too thrilled with the service. My order was served to someone else and a minute later was tried to be served to me. They claimed that it was brand new and even offered to remake it which was nice. But at this point, I have been waiting for so long that I've lost my appetite. While I try not to let one bad experience ruin my whole perception of a place, it was pretty disappointing how they handled it. Not one apology was said to the other person who was served my order or to me. Probably won't be back for a while at this location. I definitely urge you to try Malatown at their other locations! Malatown is still delicious overall and have been happy with all of them

    Set with Beef Bone Broth Base 招牌牛骨汤套餐
    Lily M.

    Went here for a quick lunch during my work break, and it was delicious Mala Town is located in a cute plaza full of fun Asian cuisines, where is there is plenty of parking. The restaurant itself has a lot of seating available, and the employees are kind and polite. The ambiance is very chill, especially since I went for a Monday late lunch. There are numerous food options that are very yummy. There is an assortment of meats, veggies, noodles, and more! There is also a DIY sauce bar with a handful of sauces and toppings like cilantro and green onion. Personally, I like to load it up so that way I have enough for 2 meals. If you have enough for leftovers, they have containers available for take home. They also offer to-go which is awesome if you're on a time crunch. Overall, love going here for my malatang fix. It's so good!! :)

    Tomyum broth
    Kelsy H.

    Stopped by MalaTown in Pleasanton and built my perfect bowl - you grab everything you want (and they have everything) and pay by weight. Had to load up on my must-haves: fish balls with roe, enoki mushrooms, quail eggs, udon, veggies, and LOTS of beef belly + premium beef. Then finished it off with sesame paste, chili oil, and green onions from the sauce bar (they didnt have ponzu ) I went with the tom yum broth (spicy + sour = my fave), but my fiancé got the spicy dry pot with this peanut sauce and it was too flavorful with the perfect kick. Super clean space and really friendly staff, which always makes a difference.

    Interior
    Helen L.

    Food: It's $16.99 per pound. They have a good selection of meat, seafood, veggies, and noodles. The meat was tender and the veggies were fresh! I got the tom yum soup base. It wasn't too spicy, but very coconut heavy. Staff: They staff here is super friendly and attentive! I accidently dropped a beef ball and after picking it up, the lady staff member offered to help me throw it away and gave me more napkins!

    Erica E.

    The staff is very accommodating for our party of 9 on a Saturday! We came at 5 PM and they helped set up the tables for us. Very clean and spacious setting with plenty of tables for big and small parties! The staff is attentive and checked in for more water and napkins. You pretty much get all the ingredients you want at the start and put it in a bowl (theres meats, veggies, noodles, and more!) They weigh it and it's priced based on that. Then you choose the broth and they cook all the ingredients in it. I got the mild signature beef broth which is a good standard soup to get! It was actually milky and had a good flavor with the veggies and meats I got. Since it's called Mala Town the mala flavor is def there. Def would come back!

    Nina M.

    LOVE Mala Town and the concept! YOU get to pick what you want and how much. You walk in, grab tongs and a bowl and go through a line of different food items that you can add to your bowl. Anything from greens (spinach, cabbage so forth), mushrooms, proteins, other vegetables, and noodles. Then you choose if you want it to be a soup or stir fry and they weigh your bowl and you pay. While you wait they have a sauce bar with an assortment of options to add. I appreciate the aesthetic of the bowls and how the whole location is decorated. Customer service is ok, but I come here for the food which I 100% recommend.

    Anh H.

    First time trying Mala Town and took my whole family! Each of us got a different broth and I would have to say the classic bone broth was most impressionable. Other places usually have super super light bone broth but this one has the most flavor! The signature bone broth is slightly salty especially when it cools down . I would say the tomato broth is at the bottom of the list for me (still good). Very spacious parking lot and in a great location too. I do wish they had more toppings options but still more than some other places! Would recommend if you're already in the area and looking for a new place for try

    Leo L.

    I ordered a mala xiangguo to go and when I tasted it, it was not mala xiangguo at all! There is no mala, the sauce was basically peanut butter, and half of the stuffs were not sauced. The tofu skin was clumped together. I ordered beef but lamb was put in instead. I went back into the store, the employee was very apologetic and made me a much larger malatang. She was incredibly nice and professional but the second time she still gave me lamb instead of beef. I also realized that the chef in the back was also not Chinese. This Mala Town branch clearly failed to train its employees well for them to be making these mistakes! It really is a shame considering how good the other Mala Towns in the Bay Area are. The manager of this branch ought to be ashamed.

    Awesome and fast service!!!! Clean location will definitely come back. Make sure you pick the right spice level to enjoy your food
    Moses S.

    Amazing food and quick service. Will definitely comeback because of the clean location. We were seated immediately after we ordered. There were also a variety of drinks and food to add to your dish!

    Veerawan T.

    The restaurant has a clean, open space with plenty of seating. Prices are reasonable, though I wish I had gotten their signature soup at medium. The mild version had barely any spice (the mildest I've tried among malatang soup bases). They have a sauce bar, good service, and a wide variety of meats and vegetables, making it easy to customize your meal.

    Sauce and toppings section
    Kari C.

    Did you go down to Mala Town? Well we did. And we kind of wished that we stuck with our regular restaurant across the freeway, Zhangliang Malatang. Lol! Seriously though, there were some hits and some misses. Let's start with the good. The restaurant itself is large and spacious. The buffet bar area is also more spread out and it was easy to pick the items we wanted. Selection of toppings was also pretty good. Staff were polite and helpful, but they were not very cheerful. There was an ample amount of sauces to choose from. I really liked the beef bone broth base (mild) - it had good flavors and didn't seem horribly greasy. I will say the mild is still pretty darn spicy. I would not recommend it to kids or other people who are spice intolerant. We really loved the beautiful metal bowls that the soup came in. The food also came out pretty quickly and it was steaming hot. But the restaurant was very empty on a weekday for early dinner. The hand cut noodles were some of the best noodle offerings. I thought their Ramen was a little too soft. Things that were not good: missing tags on some of the toppings. We had no idea what some items were. And dirt on some of the vegetables and mushrooms...I wanted more of both, but it wasn't easy to locate clean pieces. One of the worst things were the prawns with the heads and shells still on them. These were clearly not defrosted properly, and likely soaked in water, given how incredibly mushy they were. They would not even stay together after you took them out of the shells! We were very sad that we wasted our precious ounces on them!! We threw some away without even eating them. Definitely avoid these. The de-shelled shrimp were better, but they still had a strong preservative taste. They were missing green onions in the toppings station. The cilantro was also looking kind of wilted and yellow on the edges. The minced garlic looked really good though. The fish maw chicken broth base is very weak and lacking in flavor. However, it is actually mild. The tomato broth base has a little bit of flavoring in it that kind of reminds me of rhubarb. It is not a pure tomato soup if that is what you are expecting. One kid was okay with it, the other one was not. It seemed kind of expensive for what it was. For three bowls of soup and toppings, it was nearly $100 after tax and tip. We did have some soup left over for the next day, but we added more noodles to it. There is some loyalty program you can join that will probably give you a better discount. Overall, it was okay, and we will probably not be returning, but trying out some other malatang places or going back to our usual spot, Zhangliang Malatang.

    Christy T.

    Ambiance is very roomy and spacious. Not my first time here but always like to come once in a while. I really like the fish maw soup. Also ingredients are fresh. Service was quick and accurate.

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

    The attendant was really nice and the place was large and clean. I would come back again!

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

    Great food and service here. Good location. Food i always good. Clean and has sauce bar

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Great food and customer service. We can decide how much food to get so there's no waste. Reasonable prices!

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    9 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Great food and service. Good selection and environment is relatively decent. Not too loud and comfortable!!

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    3 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Great service and yummy food. Good variety of options and veggies and carbs. Fresh and replenished well. Will go back for sure.

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    30 days ago

    Great food! Fresh vegetables and meat. I liked the ambiance inside and the sauce bar was GREAT! 10/10

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Still the best place for Mala soup in the tri valley area. Better than the competitors for sure

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    4 months ago

    I love this place. Nice food, super friendly service, very clean. We come here very often. Highly recommend.

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    4 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Amazing place! I love the Sichuan style Maocai. Verified from a person from Sichuan Chengdu.

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    11 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Not as much selection / choices as other locations but still good and clean. Love choices

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    There are plenty of options for ingredients. The original beef soup base was flavorful.

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    Page 3 of 11

    Mala Town Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mala Town

    Mumu Hot Pot

    Mumu Hot Pot

    4.4
    (946 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$
    Halal
    Vegetarian friendly

    Great experience! Tomyum base with sauces enriches the tastes and enhances the flavors. Vegetarian…read moresingle combo was a great hit! 30 mins wait time Saturday evening!

    It's been ages since I've had hot pot, and tbh, I haven't been a fan of it because a lot of items…read morehave been bland to me. A couple workout buddies + kids and I went here for dinner on a Friday night, put our name down on the wait list, and waited for around 20 mins. During the wait time, we went nearby to the bakery and got some stuff there. Absolutely love the single pots here so you can enjoy your own flavor soup/broth to drink and to cook the items you choose. We were seated and everything looked so clean. Ordering was done via QR code and the items accumulate on the order page where if multiple people scan the table QR code, whatever each person adds gets added so don't check out until everything in that around is definitely in. The soups and items came by sooooo quickly. I was impressed! They have a make your own sauce combo and we did that between ordering and getting our stuff. I got a singles combo with tom yum soup base. It was a good amount of food. I chose one of the Wagyu, and the side items I chose were tendon, fish, and if I also chose something else, I forgot. It came with a lot of veggies such as greens and mushroom. Guess I mixed and "created" my sauces right cause they went well with the stuff. Cooking the meat was so quick, so pretty much not much wait time to enjoy some food. Others chose some different cuts of beef, some lamb (?), quail eggs, and more. A bit pricey, but the stuff was super fresh and things were really quick so it was worth it to me.

    Photos
    Singo Combo
    Singo Combo
    Mumu Hot Pot
    Mumu Hot Pot

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    Shabu King

    Shabu King

    4.2
    (290 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Still the best Hot Pot place in town!…read more Love the service and lots of selections of ingredients and food choices. Ambiance is nice and clean. WIll come again.

    I was looking for a restaurant for our group of 8, and I thought hot pot will make things simple as…read moreeveryone can customize their own pot and I don't have to worry about what dishes to order. After reviewing a few hot pot places on Yelp, I chose Shabu King based on the positive reviews. I called to make a reservation. On the day of our visit, I was glad to find our table was ready at the appointed time. One of the staff explained that each person first pick a broth type, then you can request side dishes or type of meat(different cuts of beef, pork and there is also lamb). For vegetables and seafood, they have a bar area for each and you can pick from the generous selections of fresh seafood and vegetables. I was really impressed with the variety. For seafood, they have whole small octopus, sliced calamari, fish fillets, clams, mussels, whole large prawns, as well as small crab. They also have a condiment bar for you to make you own dipping sauce. Each person get their own pot, and we enjoyed many helpings throughout the evening. Sometimes it may be difficult to flag down a server, but when you do they are friendly and eager to take your order. I think their operation can be improved by having customers scan a bar code and order online as I have experienced in other AYCE places. Everyone in our party enjoyed their own customized hot pot, and we walked away with a very full belly. Will be back again when I have the craving for AYCE hot pot!

    Photos
    Noodles and tofu
    Noodles and tofu
    My pot. Spicy beef broth.
    My pot. Spicy beef broth.
    Chicken wings

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    Chicken wings
    Happy Lamb Hot Pot

    Happy Lamb Hot Pot

    3.9
    (792 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$
    Large group friendly
    Casual dining

    I love Happy Lamb Hot Pot. This was my first time trying Happy Lamb and it was delicious…read more They offer a hot buffet of chow mein, fried rice, spring rolls, fried chicken wings and other items. They also have a cold buffet where raw veggies, noodles, seafood and eggs are available. The sauce station, soft drinks and ice cream are also self-serve. We ordered the premium option and a lamb shank. I personally enjoyed the Angus Beef, Australian Wagu, fried rice, chow mein and spring rolls, it was all amazing. Sunday afternoons are busy but the service was perfect.

    AYCE lunch is a crazy deal! $25.99 per adult before 3:00pm on weekdays, unless you opt out of the…read moresauce bar which saves you $6...so you only pay $19.99. Nuts! You have 5 meats to choose from and a variety of broths. The only split pot option is for the original broth and spicy (glad we got less spicy). I personally favor the tomato broth and tom yum broth. Standards are lower since it's $19.99 AYCE, so nothing to complain about for quality of meat. The spicy beef was a popular reorder. They have a huge selection in the raw ingredient bar, and we loved the quail egg, ramen, and spongey tofu. All the veggies were fresh. Top off with soft serve (chocolate, vanilla, mixed) either in a cone or to-go cup and you basically don't even need to eat dinner. Service was speedy, and our server graciously moved us from a booth to a communal table since our party of 5 was a tight squeeze in a booth. We all shared one split pot LOL I've come here for dinner before and still thought the selections were worth their price points (classic is $33.99 and deluxe is $41.99). Your meal is free on your birthday!

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    Happy Lamb Hot Pot
    Happy Lamb Hot Pot
    Happy Lamb Hot Pot

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    YGF Malatang & Hotpot

    YGF Malatang & Hotpot

    4.4
    (139 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Like that they are open late and service is great. Lots of veggie options for vegetarian with…read moreveggies and real food - not veggie meats. Tomato soup is also excellent and my sons get to have BBQ. while my wife and I get to enjoy some soup. Also really like their new beer from China - Snow Opera made from rice was refreshing and floral on the nose. Really great beer for someone who doesn't like beers.

    YGF Malatang & Hotpot opened 2 years ago where 101ShabuShabu was. Assumed interior has been…read morecustomized to accommodate a self serve hot pot eatery. Got a plastic bowl & a tong to choose amongst a large selection of shaved meats, seafood balls, seafood portions, and lots of veggies in a L-shaped display case. selected a broth among 6. Hearsay dry mala pot not spicy. Got medium spicy classic herbal beef bone broth @15.99/lb. Just a bit of Szechwan spiciness, not too hot. Weight: 1.09 lb. At register. Broth et al ready in 10 minutes. Always had constant refills of water. The spiciness may have disappointing but not the broth. 8 hours of boiling bones had an impact on the soup. Drank it all eventually. 4.5 stars: Worthy:YMMV. Quantity: .8 lb. Minimum. Usual weight. Quality: big assortment to choose from. All fresh. Some Seafood may have been previously frozen. Service: very good. Payment on mobile handsets, not counter. Parking close by difficult. More parking spaces at back of building.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Spicy chicken skewers you order via QR code at the table
    Spicy chicken skewers you order via QR code at the table
    Beef Skewers

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    Beef Skewers
    Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle

    Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle

    4.4
    (114 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    I was in town because of a family photoshoot and afterwards we wanted to eat! This place was…read morerecommended by our photographer and it did not disappoint! It was early dinner time on a Friday evening and it wasn't overly crowded. All 6 of us got different items and overall it's a matter of preference for what kind of broth and protein you'd like that depicts the meal, the toppings are generally all the same. Consider this place to almost be a "make your own ramen" type of thing, in that you're given a platter of toppings to add to your bowl of steaming hot broth, mix it and let it sit, then voila! It's ready to eat. For a rainy winter evening, it was perfect to have some tasty noodle soup!

    Loved this place and was so excited to try it out! I really love the environment inside as well…read moreit's super laid back but also looks pretty well kept for a nice outing with loved ones. The service was really good, they are super on top of cleaning and serving so my food came out in about 15-20 minutes. I got the combo with an appetizer, drink, and noodle soup. The portions were pretty generous. -grapefruit tea: thought it was pretty yummy! I also tried out the super fruit tea and i really liked it but personally found it to be a little too sweet. Not too much to displease though! I mixed some water and it was perfect for me. -tomato beef brisket noodle soup: i was surprised by how tender the meat was and how much they actually give you. If you love tomato soups as much as i do then it's definitely a great option! -takoyaki & lamb skewers: my sister had one dish from her combo order and i has my own but was able to try both! The lamb skewers were a bit smaller than expected but were flavorful with a fragrant aroma. The takoyaki came in about 5 balls and while they didn't include all typical takoyaki toppings it was still pretty good considering it came as a combo! Overall, i really loved coming by this place, my main concern is that it's actually in a pretty busy plaza so parking can be a little difficult during peak business hours. Otherwise it's located in a really great area relatively close to some shopping areas such as the Livermore outlets or even other smaller shopping plazas. Give this place a try if you're in the area and looking for a good eat without breaking the wallet!

    Photos
    Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle
    Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodle
    Green pepper fish soup

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    Green pepper fish soup

    Mala Town - hotpot - Updated June 2026

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