Mala TangSuperb Sichuan HotpotThe only reason I think Mala Tang was not full on a Saturday night was people just don't know that it is there. Otherwise, there is no reason not to be there. The food is excellent, the service was warm and helpful, the ambiance is elegant but not pretentious, and the restaurant is really well-designed to make the ordering process very user-friendly for those not used to the cacophony that is normal Chinese hot pot dining. I lived near Sichuan province for a few years, so I'm used to the spicy flavors of that cuisine and the joyful group dining of hotpot that enlivens everyone. Mala Tang does a great job capturing that spirit + some innovations. True, the "spicy" broth is just "American" level spicy, but this is excellent Sichuan food!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for hot potVery good Sichuan hot pot restaurant - i.e., you cook the food yourself at the table. The hot pots are quite spicy (you can ask for milder versions as well) and the flavors seem pretty authentic. Portions are generous. They provide small, individual hot pots for each diner, so different people in a group can have different levels of spice in their food.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect for groups!Service was amazing. I had my birthday dinner here and it was an awesome venue for a group. We had so much for cooking food together and our server was so helpful in helping to pick out yummy selections. This is a perfect place for a birthday/celebratory dinner.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMPretty authentic hot potI'm very happy I went to Mala Tang. The service was great and the food was both authentic and good. Would happily go again. My only complaint was that the meat servings, especially the lamb, were skimpy. They propped the meat up on a crispy vegetable so that it would look like a taller pile. The wine marinated beef, on the other hand, was a plentiful serving. As were most of the vegetables -- especially the leafy greens.
I'd happily go again. And since it's metro accessible, I probably will.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was very authentic ChineseFood was very authentic Chinese and tasted quite well. Bill was high for 3 meats and 4 veggies - 100 dollars. Felt like meal was worth cheaper but overall it was pretty,good.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOur group of seven had a reallyOur group of seven had a really fun experience with the hot pot meal. Our server recommended that we order ala carte the meats and veggies, which turned out to be an excellent option. While we were waiting, we ordered a number of different appetizers, all of which were pretty tasty and would have been great if we were doing more of a happy hour & nosh. With a diversity of meats, seafood and veggies on the table, we shared everything and had our own personal hot pot with either mild or spicy broth. Mala Tang also had a sauce and spice table for adding dipping sauces and spices to our hot pots. A big bowl of rice topped off our meals, but paleo is possible. The food and service was very good. I will definitely go back.2/24/2013 12:00:00 AM