The stars are mainly for the bone broth soup, the rest needs to be better for people who don't understand what is extra pricing, and cross contamination for food allergies. How to get the weight low, when trying: 1. Light weighted greens. Try to get the excess water out. 2. Don't get the cilantro and green onions (if there are), it's free at the sauce booth. 3. Try to get items that aren't drenched in water/liquid, which might not work. All items were washed, which has liquid heavy on them. 4. Avoid tofu, solid root veggies and melons. They are cheap and heavy. 5. Skip the fish, shellfish, seafood. They're all heavy. My mistake to get the fish. Meatballs can get heavy too. Get the thin sliced meat or go all veggies. 6. The broth is comparable to Asia's. Don't skip this place. Remember, the broth makes it taste better as you go for the broth. If the broth wasn't good, you wouldn't come here. If you ask, they could have it very min. spicy than just mild, which taste as like no spicy. 7. Rice noodles, round pack ramen, and purple or green noodles are all dried/dry. These 3 don't cost extra, but will weigh together for the weight cost. 8. They don't put the pricing of the other noodles until you found out later! $5 for 1 udon pack?! Are you f-ing serious?! At least it's not weighted, but still no pricing labels! 9. I paid around $17.xx (tip separate, says could tip as low as 12% woah). Me not able to not go over $15, I took home the bone broth and made another noodle meal. Yes, I like to take my broth home because broth is complicated or time consuming to make. If I could buy the broth, I would definitely would. 10. Don't get carried away as $15 under (when adding light items) is a good meal with a fresh yogurt drink from Yomie's help lessen the spice. Again 4 stars only for the bone broth. All other items you could easily get in the market. read more

YGF Malatang - 5th time, I'm getting the hand of knowing how to get my meal to weight less. - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Was excited to see YGF finally open a location in Houston after being my favorite malatang spot in LA. The interior was well-lit and clean, and service was great The options were much more limited than what im used to but thats fine. I ordered the signature beef bone broth (mild) and enjoyed it while I was eating it. However, not too long after eating, my friends and I werent feeling great and think it was related to what we ate Anyways, hoping its just this one time read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Considering that it's a customizable bowl of soup, it was pretty enjoyable. Staff was ok. Shop is small and may need a bigger spot. Custom options wasn't bad. I wish there was maybe more soup options? But other than that pretty good. Expensive. (Depending on weight) read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

I really like the concept of Malatang. Depending on the day, it's a casual, quick spot to eat hot pot and since it's weighted, it's entirely up to you. I do wish there were more seafood options like oysters. There's a bar for sauce and the soup bases range from their Original to Tom Yum. Overall, 8/10. read more

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This place is one of those where you put what ingredients you want in your hot pot plus broth you want and weight it. I've only ever tried one place in bellaire like this but this place is definitely better. The quality of their ingredients is good and the meat quality isn't rubbery. The interior is a little bit small but enough if you come in a small group. The staff were super helpful and brought our hot pot to the table when it was ready. They also have a small sauce bar which was nice but I wish it had a few more options. We got their classic malatang mild spicy and it had just enough spice for me. read more

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This place is such a cool concept & easy business idea! Cons: -1st time here and the host did not explain how we order so we sat there confused for a few minutes - DO NOT EAT HERE IF YOU HAVE A SHELLFISH ALLERGY- there is tons of cross contamination as they don't clean the pots after heating up each personalized meal - Tom Yum soup was out on a Saturday evening (literally the only thing I wanted) - Some things you choose will become soggy bc they cook it all in a pot Pros: - Easy process to choose what you want - Someone cooks it for you - They charge by weight so choose wisely - Bone broth had great flavor -The staff restocked the empty bins as fast as they could - Have a sauce area read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

At $14.99 per lb this is a great value with really impressive flavor. The ingredients are clean and fresh, and everything tastes thoughtfully prepared. I cannot wait to go back and this would definitely be a regular spot for me if I still lived in Katy. The restaurant is new and very well organized. The whole experience brings me back to China with how straightforward everything is. You get solid value and bold flavors that truly hit the spot. If you enjoy mala tang, I highly recommend checking this place out. I am also excited to try the other broths they offer. Do not worry about the spice level because they are able to adjust it to your preference. The service is decent and the concept feels similar to fast food, but the food quality is absolutely sit down restaurant level. After you weigh your ingredients and pay, you can sit and watch them cook your food, which is a nice touch. There is also a well stocked self serve water and sauce station that adds to the overall experience. read more

YGF Malatang - Mala Tang Original broth - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

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We came for lunch on a Saturday and it was packed. Luckily, we only had to wait for 5-10 minutes for a table and then we were able to start packing our malatang bowls. It's like a chipotle for hot pot ingredients and the best part is that you get to choose your own broth or to get the dry style. I decided to get the dry style because I love mala dry pot. Something to note is that the dry style does take a little longer to prepare compared to those who opt for broth. Also, they charge you by the weight of your bowl so you have to be mindful of what you're putting in and how much. They also offer a free sauce bar like those at a hot pot restaurant which is a plus incase you are wanting more flavor. I really enjoyed my dry style. It had a great flavor and was super balanced. It was creamy while also being spicy and maintaining the authentic Szechuan spice. I liked how the spice wasn't over powering (8/10). I also got to try the tom yum and tomato broths and liked both. The tom yum is slightly sour and creamy while the tomato broth is much lighter. The service is quick and the ambiance is casual. The parking in this part of katy asian town can be challenging, but it was not an issue when we went. The best part is that there are plenty of boba places nearby for a sweet treat after. I would definitely come back for more. read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

I am obsessed with this place. The broths are all so good. The dry mala style is delicious as well. I think my favorite is probably the original beef broth with mild spice. I enjoy how much variety there is for the toppings bar. I like to get watercress, wide vermicelli, beef, and lamb. Looks can be deceiving... so don't fill your bowl too much or else you'll be paying quite a bit and might not even finish your bowl. I always have to remind myself to get less food than I think I need. I also like their sauce bar because I'm a huge sesame sauce lover. The place is kept pretty clean. Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Katy Asian Town. read more

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You know this place slaps when in a full restaurant there's not a single non-Asian there! All jokes aside, this is probably the most flavorful broth of Malatang I've ever had. I got mild spicy and even that had a nice kick to it. Would not recommend going higher than that unless you're crazy for spice! read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

Super solid spot to open up in Katy. I visited YFG on a Friday afternoon with a friend, and the restaurant was not very busy at all. We selected the vegetables and proteins for our bowls, and both selected the tomato soup base - which I think is definitely the way to go. I have yet to try all of their soups, but their Tom Yum soup does not taste how I was expecting it to. Rather than being a lighter seafood soup, it tasted and seemed more like a curry. Highly recommend as a fun spot to try with friends or grab a quick bite! The self-serve/selection makes it a fun and easy meal, and if you pack your bowls with more meats than heavier items, then it becomes a SUPER cost-efficient meal. Both of the bowls I got today were under $10 each. read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

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I got the 2 lb dried mix, which comes with plenty of assorted ingredients to choose from. With the 2 lb option, you can pick up to 12 items, and it's definitely plenty of food. Make sure to mix everything well before eating because all the flavor is packed at the bottom. The sauce was really flavorful; kind of like a thick, creamy sesame mix that coats everything nicely. They were also generous with the meat. Personally, I would have liked it a bit spicier and a little more garlicky, but overall it was still very tasty. read more

YGF Malatang - Grind pleasant spicy dry mix - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

Houston finally has Malatang! I visited YGF for lunch on a Saturday and the restaurant wasn't busy. Upon walking in, the restaurant was really clean and an employee directed us where to start. For $14.99/lb and the wide variety of ingredients, I think it's definitely worth it. I got the *Classic Herbal Beef Bone Broth at Medium Spicy and the broth was light with a nice kick. As a soup girly, I could eat here everyday. Both my boyfriend and I's bowls ended up being under $10 and we were still stuffed! I appreciate that they charge for the udon separately because of how heavy a block of frozen udon can be. You can also see them weigh your bowl and it seems like they compensate for the actual weight of the bowl since the scale starts in the negatives. I would definitely come back! YGF Malatang is a good place to visit when you're craving hotpot but don't wanna spend AYCE money. read more

YGF Malatang - Classic Herbal Beef Bone Broth - Medium Spicy - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

Tried this Malatang spot for the first time and overall had a good experience. The ingredients selection was impressive and everything looked fresh. I went with the medium spicy classic herbal beef bone broth and it was super flavorful -- definitely the highlight of the meal. it's $14.99 per pound, but there was no clear sign or heads-up that udon is charged separately and not by weight. Would've been nice to know before checking out. Other than that, the restaurant was clean and the staff were patient while I was figuring out what to get. I'd come back. read more

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If you're in the mood for a rich, comforting bowl of malatang, please check out YGF! You start by picking out your ingredients and putting them in a bowl. Bring the bowl to the cash register to choose your broth/spice level and pay. They'll hand you a number to hold onto while you wait for your food to be served. I chose the classic herbal beef bone broth with medium spice level, and it was delicious and flavorful. It had the right amount of spice for me. All the ingredients soaked up the broth really nicely. The restaurant was clean and had about 15 tables, which filled up pretty fast while I was there. There is also a sauce bar where you can make your own dipping sauce. Overall, I had a great dining experience at YGF. The malatang was excellent, and I'll definitely be coming back soon! read more

YGF Malatang - Malatang with classic herbal beef bone broth, medium spicy - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

I've been here a few times since they've opened and have not been disappointed a single time. When you enter you get seated and then you are able to grab a bowl and fill it with all your favorite things. Their selection is pretty large and have almost everything you can think of. My favorite broth by far is the classic malatang. The tomato tastes a little bit too much like V8 to me, and the dry mix is a little bit too peanut-y for my taste. They make the food pretty quickly for you and bring it out to you as well. Seating is limited so you may have to wait awhile during peak hours. read more

YGF Malatang - Dry Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Really great malatang place for $14.99/pound! It's very organized to grab your ingredients and then proceed to the weigh/checkout station. You get handed a number on a wristband which is how the servers will find who to bring the bowls out to. They also have different broth options which I hadn't encountered at malatang places before which is cool. I opted for the classic broth at mild spice and I'd say it was the perfect amount of spice for me. They have good ingredient options as well as a sauce bar which I enjoyed. Good amount of seating inside with a bright interior. Located in a plaza so good parking options read more

happy to have a malatang place in houston you can't really go wrong when you're literally creating the soup to your liking. the tom yum soup was tangy and creamy. they have almost every option you can thing of including chicken gizzards which i've never seen before only thing is i think they can clean their vegetables a lot better, a lot of them still had dirt on them they had a promotional period where they let you draw lots for prizes if you spend above $30. most of them were free drink which is nice to cool down the spice. read more

YGF Malatang - tom yum - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Went here 3 times, the pork bone broth is delicious and stays consistent everytime I've had it (as a spice lover medium is the best, mild is if you don't want your stomach hurting the next day), but It pains me to say that the quality in their tom yum broth has been lackluster. The first time I tried it (when they just opened), it was coconutty, creamy, and sour topped with a lemon and recently it just tasted like water with a little bit of the tom yum paste. None of the tom yum flavor stuck to the items in my bowl, so it wasn't enjoyable. There is a lot of cross contamination as they purposely put the meats last, and the udon makes your bowl more expensive as it's dense. I enjoy their sauce bar and the variety of toppings,veggies, and meat they have. They do offer a 10% for students if you show your ID. read more

YGF Malatang - pork bone broth (bottom) tom yum (top) - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Was super excited when there was a new Malatang place in Houston. I came during lunch hours with my partner and the place was pretty filled but everyone is usually in and out so wasn't hard to get a table. The layout is a little awkward since when you first open the door, the seating area is the first thing you see and everything else is in the back. How it works is you grab a bowl and a pair of tongs then move along the side to grab the ingredients. Keep in mind, they charge by the weight so be mindful of how much you're putting in your bowl along with the noodles being charged separately. At the register, your bowl is weighed, pay, and you're given a bracelet with your order number so the staff will call your number and bring you your food. They have a small sauce station and everything else is self-server. I noticed that the selection is kinda limited when it comes to veggies, meat, and noodles. Along with the seafood not being the freshest and went bad. The food tasted great as you're able to make everything to your liking. Overall, great place for when the weather is cold and I definitely be back. I do suggest checking the ingredients before putting in your bowl along with spice level if you couldn't handle spice since medium was pretty spicy to me. read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

It was crowded on a Friday night! I've been to YGF in other places so I was used to their setup. Loved that they had lots of options to choose from! It took awhile to get our food cause it was so busy. But it was nice that they brought it out to you. read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

Such a solid malatang place with 14.99/lb. Lots of options though I do with they had more variety for Asian vegetables. The herbal beef broth is slightly spicy but oh so delicious. Will definitely be back and can't wait! Service is more self service though they bring the bowl out to you. Otherwise sauce bar is self serve and so are utensils and water. Ambiance is casual and during meal times may get busy with a wait. read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

Second time coming and it's becoming a favorite, the food comes out good and fast, quality stays consistent as well. I always get extra spicy and I think the cashier noticed because he said he added extra chilis to it to make it extra extra spicy and I loved it !!!! The service is great! Inside is cute, ambiance is very simple which isn't a bad thing, it makes you really focus on the food. I will say, they do need to fix the front door because it's so heavy to open that I've watched grown women not be able to open it . read more

YGF Malatang - Herbal broth extra spicy - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

Great place to get malatang in Katy! The place is brand new and very clean. The customer service here was very nice. I've been to their location in Seattle and realized that this place has less options. I had a great time here, I'm glad that there's no minimum price and felt like it was cheaper here for some odd reason than the Seattle location. I highly recommend. read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

This was my first time trying malatang and I was NOT disappointed! Everything is self-served, you can pick your own options and portions, and you pay for the amount that you eat. Noodles are an extra charge but it's so worth it! They also have other appetizers like calamari, takoyaki, chicken, and etc! I had the calamari and it was pretty decent! Now the malatang... omg it was so yummy I KNEW I had to come back very very soon! I got the herbal broth at a medium spice level and it was so yummy! It reminded me of the broth you get at hot pot restaurants and all the ingredients just really made everything so delicious and flavorful! read more

YGF Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

I hate when you go try a new restaurant and you cant try it... AFTER we filled up our bowl and got to the server at the end of the line we wanted to try the tom yum... Out. Asked to order popcorn chicken... out. Put an effin sign up at the beginning of line letting us know that. We probably wouldve left and came back another time when they had tom yum but now we already filled up a bowl of raw meets and felt obligated. Annoying AF With that being said the potato swirl was top effin tier! The soup was pretty good too. Next time imma do less of the processed seafood and stick to the beef. Also will ask them to cook the beef leas next time. read more

YGF Malatang - Potato swirl. Too tier!!! - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

The food was good, but everything else about my experience was a 0. Cleanliness, customer service, and overall professionalism were very DISAPPOINTING. The girl at the register said it was her first day, which I understand can be stressful. However, when I asked questions she repeatedly replied with "Huh?" or "What?" in a rude tone. It's understandable if she didn't know the answers, but replying kindly would have been appreciated. There also didn't seem to be anyone helping or guiding her during training. Another employee was doing her makeup on the counter while also handing out food. She was touching her face and hair without washing her hands afterward, which is concerning when it comes to cleanliness and possible food contamination. Several employees were also on their phones instead of focusing on their jobs or helping customers. While the food itself was good, the lack of hygiene, professionalism, and customer service made the overall experience very disappointing. I hope this place finds new employees because it does have potential. read more

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I really like the concept of picking out what I wanted to put inside my soup and weighing it out. there were a lot of options of veggies and meats. The Tom Yum flavor soup was pretty good and the medium spicy level was not really spicy at all. The restaurant was clean and service was quick. read more

YGF Malatang - tom yum soup - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

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Big red flag today. Fourth time dinning in here because I love it however...today, my god. I opened the thing to grab my bowl and tongs and immediately i smelled something extremely stinky, like wet socks. I know the smell, it's from old dirty soggy wet towels that have been used over and over and not washed or dried properly...that begin to reek, super unpleasant smell if you ever have come across it. I was so confused where it was coming from, I thought maybe it's from the floor because the same smell can come from dirty old mops too. But no, the smell was literallllllyyyyyy etched into the very bowls we were using to hold our food. I am not making it up because after we sent the bowls off to get cooked, the smell lingered so we smelled our hands and that same rancid smell was stuck on my fingers. The only things we touched since coming in were bowls and tongs. I had to go wash my hands immediately. Idk if they used dirty or old towels to wipe the bowls dry or something before putting them into the fridge looking thing but my god, it was so off putting. It was too late and we did not want to cause a scene and yes, I still ate my food and yes it did taste amazing. I'm sure the heat killed whatever bacteria was on the bowl but my god, I am not returning for the fifth time. read more

Good job it is so yummy food that other customers want to go to your restaurant too like us the food was so delicious and yummy and good and perfect and looking good and serves good too we want to give you 5 stars for your restaurant that we want to go there to eat again too read more

YGF Malatang - Yummy Food Looking Good - Hot Pot Near Me - Katy, Texas

Cool spot that just opened up. It's a build your own bowl type place that measures it at the end for the final price. Staff was really friendly and explained how it worked and helped me make a bowl when I asked. Excited to come back. Food was a good size portion for what I paid and tasted great. read more

MY FAV RESTAURANT I COME 1-2 times a week!! I always get the bone broth with medium spice and it never disappointed me, i do wish they add more seasonings to sauce bar like chicken bouillon but i typically pack some from home haha read more

There are so many options here to choose from and they also have so many broth options! The workers here and very nice and accommodating so I highly recommend! read more

Love the environment! People are super kind and the food is great! Thank you!!!!!!!!!

Great soup. Highly recommend the herbal bone broth soup. The place is always full of people

i had this place yesterday and it was okay. however, i woke up this morning with a raging stomachache. i noticed when picking our food, we are using the same tongs for vegetables and raw meat, that could be a huge sanitary problem. hopefully they'll put separate tongs for that... read more

the food came so fast and it was soo good 100% recommend. best customer service! so much variety, best spot for a friends date

amazing food and ambience. cheap for the amount you get. great service too by everyone

wonderful atmosphere and great service! the staff was very helpful and there's a wide selection of meat and veggies. will come again!