Delicious food with a good spicy kick however it is somewhat too expensive. Also the smell of bleach while sitting in the covered alley was less than delightful.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Joan Mastropaolo
Did the dry pot with the ginger/soy dressing. You chose what you want in your bowl and they have numerous selections. All delicious. Service is excellent too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Han Kim
We loved their Mara - it is dried Mara. The sauce is authentic and ingredients were fresh. It was cooked well in high temperature. Egg plant appetizer was also very good. The service was very good as well. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brendan K.
Had a terrific meal here, can't wait to come back! We did the dry pot, I can't recommend it enough.
N S
Literally need to call my grandmother to get over the trauma of this place. Terrible doesn’t cut it. This is a purgatory funhouse where someone decided to slap together random fragments of Chinese culture and completely bastardize it — with BAD FOOD and portions that are an insult to everyone and their ancestors.The priced spice levels and the fact that IT WASNT BLOODY SPICY OR NUMBING tells you everything. I really can’t this place felt like a curse. Is a curse. $63 for the saddest mala bowl I’ve had in my life. You cannot see the ingredients or choose the weight. Freshness red flag.I was rationing while eating?! I usually have a whole take out box left over when I order a bowl over $50 at any other respected Mala place.Please be warned, I beg you, do not step foot into this funhouse of bad portions and void of soul of the Chinese dining experience. You will leave unsatisfied and worse — with a looming sense of doom. Please I wish I could scrub this place from my soul. It literally needs to shut down.I ordered: (1 meat that I had to hunt for in the bowl like easter egg hunt, 4 veggies, 2 rice and split an appetiser- which too was overpriced and terrible)If you want elevated Chinese food experience go to Shan, if you want Mala go to literally anywhere else on the planet.
Recommended dishes: Pot, Mala Dry Pot Build Your Own Build to Share
Molly Hinesley
The environment is so cozy and it smells amazing throughout the restaurant. Server was very attentive and knowledgable. Did the “little spicy” dry pot with lamb, pork belly, fish filet and some veg. I think we ordered about 7 items which is what was recommended for two people, it was a lot of food so be sure you come hungry because you’ll probably want to try a lot of items in the dry pot. All the meats were incredible and cooked to perfection. Perfect romantic ambiance for a date night and a truly delicious meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mala Dry Pot Build Your Own Build to Share
Sue
One of my favorite places to eat in Manhattan! This location is better than the other ones and the quality is always very consistent. I absolutely love the blend of spices - it’s very unique and addicting. I typically get the mala pot with potato noodles, fish filets, woodear mushrooms, cauliflower, and something else. Friendly service as well, and there’s rarely a line!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Hejtmanek
A fully Americanized Asian fusion restaurant with a small menu.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Joel S.
Was in a rainy Sunday dry pot mood and decided to check out Mala Project. Made a late lunch reservation and honestly it wasn't needed. The restaurant had a lot of seats available. They only have indoor dining. The ambiance is very rustic with exposed brick and zinc roofing. Love the aesthetic. The service was really good and food came very quickly although not sure how that would change when busier. We tried the Chinese fried chicken as our app which was very good. Similar to Japanese karaage - light flavor of soy, ginger, and garlic. I was not a huge fan of the dipping sauce which was heavy on the vinegar flavor. The chicken on its own was perfect. The DanDan noodles were good but not the best we've had. The beef noodle soup had a great quality meat but the noodles were too overcooked for my liking One unique menu option is the ability to customize your dry pot with three different flavors - soy ginger, light heat, and numbing heat. That gives people who can't tolerate the numbing from peppercorn and birdseye chili an opportunity to taste the base flavors with some heat! Overall great experience but there are so many options for Mala Chinese food. If you're in the area, give it a try!
Joanna P.
The dry pot here is a MUST get! The bowl is bursting with spices and the build your own concept allows you to put in all your favorite ingredients. I got the spicy dry pot with two servings of eye round, bok choy, enoki mushrooms, and tofu. The spicy is definitely spicy but i'm personally a huge fan of the numbing spice. The space is a bit small and tight so it can get pretty busy so I recommend avoiding the dinner rush and coming early. I did knock a star because I felt like the portions were pretty small for the price you pay and didn't have the best experience with our server but I would still come back again
Great food, friendly and amazing team. Try the super yummy baijiu cocktails that fit really well with the food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Katrina W.
Giving this place a 2 because something definitely gave me food poisoning - my guess was the short ribs in the dry pot. The restaurant is super cute and the food comes pretty fast. For appetizers, we got the Eggplant with Roasted Garlic and Spicy Chicken with Cucumber. The eggplant was ok - very light flavor and I've definitely had better eggplant dishes. The chicken was good though - great flavor! For our mains, we got the Fish with Pickled with Pickled Peppers & Mushrooms and the Mala Dry Pot (spicy). The fish was delicious and super soft. The dry pot while delicious, was very oily and the short ribs tasted very unfresh/almost rotting. Unfortunately, I will not be returning here :(
Andy S.
Always flavorful and good quality ingredients, one of the best dry pots in NYC. We have been going to Mala Project for over 4 years, never disappoints.
Stacy K.
Came here with a group of friends and ordered a variety of dishes for dinner. Everything was pretty good and our server was so kind, she was amazing!! Portions were not that big
Nikunj Jain
Delicious food — the dry pot is one of my all time favorites!
Delicious food with a good spicy kick however it is somewhat too expensive. Also the smell of bleach while sitting in the covered alley was less than delightful.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Did the dry pot with the ginger/soy dressing. You chose what you want in your bowl and they have numerous selections. All delicious. Service is excellent too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We loved their Mara - it is dried Mara. The sauce is authentic and ingredients were fresh. It was cooked well in high temperature. Egg plant appetizer was also very good. The service was very good as well. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a terrific meal here, can't wait to come back! We did the dry pot, I can't recommend it enough.
Literally need to call my grandmother to get over the trauma of this place. Terrible doesn’t cut it. This is a purgatory funhouse where someone decided to slap together random fragments of Chinese culture and completely bastardize it — with BAD FOOD and portions that are an insult to everyone and their ancestors.The priced spice levels and the fact that IT WASNT BLOODY SPICY OR NUMBING tells you everything. I really can’t this place felt like a curse. Is a curse. $63 for the saddest mala bowl I’ve had in my life. You cannot see the ingredients or choose the weight. Freshness red flag.I was rationing while eating?! I usually have a whole take out box left over when I order a bowl over $50 at any other respected Mala place.Please be warned, I beg you, do not step foot into this funhouse of bad portions and void of soul of the Chinese dining experience. You will leave unsatisfied and worse — with a looming sense of doom. Please I wish I could scrub this place from my soul. It literally needs to shut down.I ordered: (1 meat that I had to hunt for in the bowl like easter egg hunt, 4 veggies, 2 rice and split an appetiser- which too was overpriced and terrible)If you want elevated Chinese food experience go to Shan, if you want Mala go to literally anywhere else on the planet.
Recommended dishes: Pot, Mala Dry Pot Build Your Own Build to Share
The environment is so cozy and it smells amazing throughout the restaurant. Server was very attentive and knowledgable. Did the “little spicy” dry pot with lamb, pork belly, fish filet and some veg. I think we ordered about 7 items which is what was recommended for two people, it was a lot of food so be sure you come hungry because you’ll probably want to try a lot of items in the dry pot. All the meats were incredible and cooked to perfection. Perfect romantic ambiance for a date night and a truly delicious meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mala Dry Pot Build Your Own Build to Share
One of my favorite places to eat in Manhattan! This location is better than the other ones and the quality is always very consistent. I absolutely love the blend of spices - it’s very unique and addicting. I typically get the mala pot with potato noodles, fish filets, woodear mushrooms, cauliflower, and something else. Friendly service as well, and there’s rarely a line!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
A fully Americanized Asian fusion restaurant with a small menu.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Was in a rainy Sunday dry pot mood and decided to check out Mala Project. Made a late lunch reservation and honestly it wasn't needed. The restaurant had a lot of seats available. They only have indoor dining. The ambiance is very rustic with exposed brick and zinc roofing. Love the aesthetic. The service was really good and food came very quickly although not sure how that would change when busier. We tried the Chinese fried chicken as our app which was very good. Similar to Japanese karaage - light flavor of soy, ginger, and garlic. I was not a huge fan of the dipping sauce which was heavy on the vinegar flavor. The chicken on its own was perfect. The DanDan noodles were good but not the best we've had. The beef noodle soup had a great quality meat but the noodles were too overcooked for my liking One unique menu option is the ability to customize your dry pot with three different flavors - soy ginger, light heat, and numbing heat. That gives people who can't tolerate the numbing from peppercorn and birdseye chili an opportunity to taste the base flavors with some heat! Overall great experience but there are so many options for Mala Chinese food. If you're in the area, give it a try!
The dry pot here is a MUST get! The bowl is bursting with spices and the build your own concept allows you to put in all your favorite ingredients. I got the spicy dry pot with two servings of eye round, bok choy, enoki mushrooms, and tofu. The spicy is definitely spicy but i'm personally a huge fan of the numbing spice. The space is a bit small and tight so it can get pretty busy so I recommend avoiding the dinner rush and coming early. I did knock a star because I felt like the portions were pretty small for the price you pay and didn't have the best experience with our server but I would still come back again
Restaurantji Recommends
Great food, friendly and amazing team. Try the super yummy baijiu cocktails that fit really well with the food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Giving this place a 2 because something definitely gave me food poisoning - my guess was the short ribs in the dry pot. The restaurant is super cute and the food comes pretty fast. For appetizers, we got the Eggplant with Roasted Garlic and Spicy Chicken with Cucumber. The eggplant was ok - very light flavor and I've definitely had better eggplant dishes. The chicken was good though - great flavor! For our mains, we got the Fish with Pickled with Pickled Peppers & Mushrooms and the Mala Dry Pot (spicy). The fish was delicious and super soft. The dry pot while delicious, was very oily and the short ribs tasted very unfresh/almost rotting. Unfortunately, I will not be returning here :(
Always flavorful and good quality ingredients, one of the best dry pots in NYC. We have been going to Mala Project for over 4 years, never disappoints.
Came here with a group of friends and ordered a variety of dishes for dinner. Everything was pretty good and our server was so kind, she was amazing!! Portions were not that big
Delicious food — the dry pot is one of my all time favorites!
Food: 5