Order Kung Fu Mala Takeout or Delivery
Kung Fu Mala Photos
Business Info
Kung Fu Mala Popular Dishes
KUNG FU MALA ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
Recommended Reviews - Kung Fu Mala
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Came for the first time today and the service, selection and cute ambiance was worth the drive. I love how lively this place was and how friendly the staff was. The food was delicious. I wish I had more room to try more but definitely coming back! Plus plus plus, they have their own parking lot!
Food was really solid. Pro tip: when they ask if you'd like some rice, say yes since a small bowl is included per malatang order. The broth was a tad bit saltier than I preferred, but still very flavorful for 0.5 spice. I preferred the broth over the dry based malatang. Service was decent. The restaurant has mukbang videos playing in the background and some kpop music.
Within the context of Oakland area this is probably the best spot for Malatang cravings. It is overall tasty, however, they have a limited selection of items and their noodles are add-ons which is a detractors since other places in the Bay don't have that Not much to speak on the quality of the meats other than they're what you'd typically expect from a hot pot shop, slightly lower quality cuts but not like purely fat that some nefarious places will pull on you. The ingredients are limited in both veggies, meat, and toppings (e.g. tofu-style, quail eggs, etc) Service is fine with there only being able two or three staff for a relatively full shop with maybe around 10 groups with 3+ in each group. No need to bus like some other spots but probably if there was a rush it can probably be a bit hectic as one staff member was almost always manning the cashier and refilling ingredients between breaks If you are on the look out for good malatang within the Bay Area then this place is on the lower but acceptable end of the spectrum. Will come back but more as because there aren't other notable options in the Oakland area
Great place to meet up with friends, hang out, or even host a group gathering. They offer a great variety of appetizers, along with both soup-based and dry malatang. Each malatang order also comes with a complimentary cup of rice, which is a nice touch. The service was friendly, and the restaurant was clean and welcoming. I ordered the Level 2 (medium) spice, and my friend, who doesn't usually eat spicy food, found it very manageable. If you want more heat, they have numbing and chili-spicy sauces available at the table, so you can customize your bowl to your liking. Overall, it was a great experience, and I'll definitely be back to try the soup version next time.
Delicious!!! Some of the best Malatang I have tried in a long time! The soup was so flavorful, you get to pick all the items you want yourself, there are many different options. The staff were super friendly and welcoming, the restaurant had a great atmosphere, trendy music playing, and a very clean and welcoming environment! I definitely recommend coming! 5/5
Came to try this place after seeing Olympian Alysa Liu eat here and her mural is also closeby about a block away. We ordered the medium mala and no spice soups. Pick your food items from the station, weigh it, choose a soup and they cook and deliver to your table. There is a iPad at each table where you can order drinks, skewers, dessert and pay after eating. Food tasted fresh and I liked that there is mala and chili oil at the table to adjust your levels. Also yummy peanut sauce and dikon to share. Staff friendly and patient in explaining things and super nice and attentive. It comes down to flavor profile for me and this spot is more Korean mala rather than Chinese mala (I prefer Tang bar for this reason). Only reason why it's a 4/5. Other than that, would come back. Adults must have a minimum of 1lb and there are no item weight restrictions for kids. Spacious inside with plenty of tables.
Enjoyed the mala soup, the best part is that you get to choose your own veggies and meat which is ordered by weight. You get a huge metal bowl and put in all the food you want. You can weigh the bowls anytime and it's a 1 pound minimum. They offer stir fry and soup versions, I preferred the stir fry over the soup. I got the 0.5 medium spicy which was not spicy enough, I'd definitely go the next level and get 1.0 spicy next time!
One of the best places to make your own soup or stir fry ! Fried rice is TOP TIER delicious... and the deep fried shrimp dim sum... oh my gosh what a pop of FLAVOR The service was amazing and the energy in the restaurant is everything! I usually get my order to go but today I decided to dine in! Wonderful Idea
Kung Fu Mala is a pay by weight restaurant focusing in spicy mala flavors. We ordered both the malatang the soup and the mala xiang guo the stir fried version. They spicy level ranges from 0 non-spicy to 4 danger hot. We were unsure how spicy i would be so ordered the 0.5 medium level. The 0.5 medium level spicy was spicier with the stir fried version than the soup. They have a good variety of vegetables and toppings. The meat choices available were lamb and beef and both were delicious. I would definitely come back and try a higher spicy level. The staff is super friendly and attentive. The restaurant also seems very clean which was good to see since it is self-serve for the ingredients.
This place is kind of different from classic malatang spots, something of a Chinese Korean fusion. I got the classic mala tang with broth, which was light and comforting. My boyfriend ordered the rosé mala xiang guo, which is basically just a rosé tteokbokki but with your choice of ingredients and a more cheesy sauce. The rosé option was indulgent and tbh better for sharing. Their ingredient bar isn't huge but they have all the essentials! I was really excited about their kabocha but it ended up dissolving in my broth since it was cut so thinly :( They do not have a sauce bar but they provided us with a creamy peanut sauce, as well as pickled daikon. Friendly staff and quick service.
Solid malatang place! They had a good variety of veggies and toppings. The only meat choices are lamb or beef and when I went they ran out of lamb already. The soup is flavorful, good spice levels and love that we can choose the level of spice we like! We tried the skewer platter as well and it was alright - the beef was the best and the shishito peppers were also good but could've been grilled longer
I got the menbosha as an appetizer and one of the malaxiang pots. I will say I have only ever had Chinese style malaxiang pot, so it was a unique twist to have some Korean flavors in the spices as well too! There's a subtle sweetness that goes along well with the spices in the stir fry mix. Compared to some other places, there isn't quite as many different things to choose from, but there is a good variety of things to add to your "pot". I really liked the menbosha, they really pack a lot of shrimp in between the bread. I have been inspired to try to make this at home because it's so yummy. Wait time was about 10 minutes for food, which isn't too bad! They currently have Santa hats on the backs of the chairs, so it's very festive inside.
Kungfu Mala is one of the few late-night spots in the area where you can grab beer, soju, skewers, and hearty bowls of soup. The servers were quick to greet us and walk us through the menu, which I really appreciated as first-time visitors. We ordered the skewer sampler for $29.99, and each skewer was well-seasoned, properly cooked, and quite tasty. The shrimp skewer was probably our favorite. Just note that the skewers can take around 15-20 minutes to prepare, although the drinks came out very quickly. Unfortunately, the soup bowls were where the meal fell short for us. I liked the concept of choosing your own ingredients and paying by weight, but my bowl arrived lukewarm, and some of the meat did not appear to be cooked thoroughly. Both my husband and I became sick the following day. I wish I had noticed the issue sooner and brought it to the staff's attention, but I was distracted while socializing. This may have been a one-off experience, but food safety is not something customers should have to worry about. While the skewers and service were enjoyable, the experience with the soup was serious enough that I would not return. Update: Meal was on a Sunday and we are still bedridden on Wednesday, unable to work or function. Take that as you will.
Alright, this place in a way partially changed my fear for mala foods. Though I know it's also a Korean chain so maybe that's what takes it down a notch. I opted my bowl of goods for the stir fried option for 0.5 spicy and it was just perfect for me. I would get it again in a heartbeat! Beware though, my friend's car got broken into in their parking lot (nothing stolen since there wasn't any of value, but still a window broken). It's great that they have this parking space, but according to the staff, it happens occasionally. Go figure for this area I guess. What we were impressed by is that they let us not only borrow a broom and a pan, but someone helped us with it too! So nice of them. The staff also let us know they can send any footage to law enforcement and recommended someone who can replace windows for cheaper than perhaps other neighborhood options. read more
Came for the first time today and the service, selection and cute ambiance was worth the drive. I love how lively this place was and how friendly the staff was. The food was delicious. I wish I had more room to try more but definitely coming back! Plus plus plus, they have their own parking lot! read more
Food was really solid. Pro tip: when they ask if you'd like some rice, say yes since a small bowl is included per malatang order. The broth was a tad bit saltier than I preferred, but still very flavorful for 0.5 spice. I preferred the broth over the dry based malatang. Service was decent. The restaurant has mukbang videos playing in the background and some kpop music. read more
Within the context of Oakland area this is probably the best spot for Malatang cravings. It is overall tasty, however, they have a limited selection of items and their noodles are add-ons which is a detractors since other places in the Bay don't have that Not much to speak on the quality of the meats other than they're what you'd typically expect from a hot pot shop, slightly lower quality cuts but not like purely fat that some nefarious places will pull on you. The ingredients are limited in both veggies, meat, and toppings (e.g. tofu-style, quail eggs, etc) Service is fine with there only being able two or three staff for a relatively full shop with maybe around 10 groups with 3+ in each group. No need to bus like some other spots but probably if there was a rush it can probably be a bit hectic as one staff member was almost always manning the cashier and refilling ingredients between breaks If you are on the look out for good malatang within the Bay Area then this place is on the lower but acceptable end of the spectrum. Will come back but more as because there aren't other notable options in the Oakland area read more
Great place to meet up with friends, hang out, or even host a group gathering. They offer a great variety of appetizers, along with both soup-based and dry malatang. Each malatang order also comes with a complimentary cup of rice, which is a nice touch. The service was friendly, and the restaurant was clean and welcoming. I ordered the Level 2 (medium) spice, and my friend, who doesn't usually eat spicy food, found it very manageable. If you want more heat, they have numbing and chili-spicy sauces available at the table, so you can customize your bowl to your liking. Overall, it was a great experience, and I'll definitely be back to try the soup version next time. read more
10 days ago
Delicious!!! Some of the best Malatang I have tried in a long time! The soup was so flavorful, you get to pick all the items you want yourself, there are many different options. The staff were super friendly and welcoming, the restaurant had a great atmosphere, trendy music playing, and a very clean and welcoming environment! I definitely recommend coming! 5/5 read more
Came to try this place after seeing Olympian Alysa Liu eat here and her mural is also closeby about a block away. We ordered the medium mala and no spice soups. Pick your food items from the station, weigh it, choose a soup and they cook and deliver to your table. There is a iPad at each table where you can order drinks, skewers, dessert and pay after eating. Food tasted fresh and I liked that there is mala and chili oil at the table to adjust your levels. Also yummy peanut sauce and dikon to share. Staff friendly and patient in explaining things and super nice and attentive. It comes down to flavor profile for me and this spot is more Korean mala rather than Chinese mala (I prefer Tang bar for this reason). Only reason why it's a 4/5. Other than that, would come back. Adults must have a minimum of 1lb and there are no item weight restrictions for kids. Spacious inside with plenty of tables. read more
Enjoyed the mala soup, the best part is that you get to choose your own veggies and meat which is ordered by weight. You get a huge metal bowl and put in all the food you want. You can weigh the bowls anytime and it's a 1 pound minimum. They offer stir fry and soup versions, I preferred the stir fry over the soup. I got the 0.5 medium spicy which was not spicy enough, I'd definitely go the next level and get 1.0 spicy next time! read more
1 month ago
One of the best places to make your own soup or stir fry ! Fried rice is TOP TIER delicious... and the deep fried shrimp dim sum... oh my gosh what a pop of FLAVOR The service was amazing and the energy in the restaurant is everything! I usually get my order to go but today I decided to dine in! Wonderful Idea read more
Kung Fu Mala is a pay by weight restaurant focusing in spicy mala flavors. We ordered both the malatang the soup and the mala xiang guo the stir fried version. They spicy level ranges from 0 non-spicy to 4 danger hot. We were unsure how spicy i would be so ordered the 0.5 medium level. The 0.5 medium level spicy was spicier with the stir fried version than the soup. They have a good variety of vegetables and toppings. The meat choices available were lamb and beef and both were delicious. I would definitely come back and try a higher spicy level. The staff is super friendly and attentive. The restaurant also seems very clean which was good to see since it is self-serve for the ingredients. read more
This place is kind of different from classic malatang spots, something of a Chinese Korean fusion. I got the classic mala tang with broth, which was light and comforting. My boyfriend ordered the rosé mala xiang guo, which is basically just a rosé tteokbokki but with your choice of ingredients and a more cheesy sauce. The rosé option was indulgent and tbh better for sharing. Their ingredient bar isn't huge but they have all the essentials! I was really excited about their kabocha but it ended up dissolving in my broth since it was cut so thinly :( They do not have a sauce bar but they provided us with a creamy peanut sauce, as well as pickled daikon. Friendly staff and quick service. read more
5 months ago
Solid malatang place! They had a good variety of veggies and toppings. The only meat choices are lamb or beef and when I went they ran out of lamb already. The soup is flavorful, good spice levels and love that we can choose the level of spice we like! We tried the skewer platter as well and it was alright - the beef was the best and the shishito peppers were also good but could've been grilled longer read more
I got the menbosha as an appetizer and one of the malaxiang pots. I will say I have only ever had Chinese style malaxiang pot, so it was a unique twist to have some Korean flavors in the spices as well too! There's a subtle sweetness that goes along well with the spices in the stir fry mix. Compared to some other places, there isn't quite as many different things to choose from, but there is a good variety of things to add to your "pot". I really liked the menbosha, they really pack a lot of shrimp in between the bread. I have been inspired to try to make this at home because it's so yummy. Wait time was about 10 minutes for food, which isn't too bad! They currently have Santa hats on the backs of the chairs, so it's very festive inside. read more
3 months ago
Kungfu Mala is one of the few late-night spots in the area where you can grab beer, soju, skewers, and hearty bowls of soup. The servers were quick to greet us and walk us through the menu, which I really appreciated as first-time visitors. We ordered the skewer sampler for $29.99, and each skewer was well-seasoned, properly cooked, and quite tasty. The shrimp skewer was probably our favorite. Just note that the skewers can take around 15-20 minutes to prepare, although the drinks came out very quickly. Unfortunately, the soup bowls were where the meal fell short for us. I liked the concept of choosing your own ingredients and paying by weight, but my bowl arrived lukewarm, and some of the meat did not appear to be cooked thoroughly. Both my husband and I became sick the following day. I wish I had noticed the issue sooner and brought it to the staff's attention, but I was distracted while socializing. This may have been a one-off experience, but food safety is not something customers should have to worry about. While the skewers and service were enjoyable, the experience with the soup was serious enough that I would not return. Update: Meal was on a Sunday and we are still bedridden on Wednesday, unable to work or function. Take that as you will. read more
When the cold air hits, your body just requires soup. I love how highly customizable it is. You walk in, grab a bowl, load up with veggies and then the meat at the end is lamb or pork. You can choose to have stir fry or soup and customize your spicy level! Then they cook and bring it out to you. $16.99 per lb. There are prepared peanuty sauce cups on the table that my friend thought was a little too sweet but other than that no complaints. Reliable and wasn't too busy on a fri night. Felt very comforting and friendly service. Approved!! read more
LOCATION: Telegraph/44th PARKING: Street parking WHAT WE ORDERED: * Stir fry malatang ($16.99/lb) -- 1 lb minimum My first malatang experience did not disappoint! The flavor was so tasty. It's not very numbing and spicy. My friend, who has a mild spice tolerance, can handle it pretty well. There was a decent selection of items to put in your bowl, but definitely more limited compared to other places. I opted for the stir fry over the broth, as I typically prefer dry dishes, but you can't really go wrong with either one. I'm really excited to go back and try the broth. read more
1 year ago
My new fav hot pot they have these amazing thick potatoe noodles that I can never find anywhere ugh just thinking about it makes me hungry. Can't wait to go back everyone was so friendly and welcoming. And the restaurant and all other areas were clean. The time to cook was a bit long but we ordered appetizers and meat skewers and for the price those were so delicious! Definitely going to be a regular read more
2 months ago
It was my first time here yesterday. I feel like the topping options were okay. They did not have many noodle options, types of meatballs, or other protein options. Also they ran out of meat which was a little disappointing as they refilled after I got my food and ate. Though I really enjoyed their broth it was better than other places I have tried but I wish they had different broth options. Nonetheless the server was really nice and the malatang tasted great. read more
Truly one of my top mala(tang) places and trust me when I say that I've been to all of them. My favorite aspect of Kung Fu Mala is that it's a Korean mala place instead of the more widespread Chinese mala places (YGF, MalaTown Express, Tang Bar, etc.). This means that on the menu, I could also get cheese added on, a mala tteokbokki, a mala rosé jjimdak, etc. along with the classic DIY bar with veggies, meats, noodles, and the other fun stuff. There's a good range of spicy levels for both the soup and the stir-fry. I think a level 1 is perfect for a stir-fry and a level 4 malatang is pefect if you want to die lol. Service was super friendly and they offered us aprons for any spillage/drippage! Rice was free as well (please keep it this way!!) and we got a bowl each for our stir-fry and soup. Plenty of tables and a good amount of space/no wait for a weekday lunch. There's parking in the back (long alley) but we just paid for meter street parking. Can't wait to try more things on a visit soon! read more
3 months ago
We had fun at Kung Fu Mala. Min order is a pound. It's around $17-19 per lb dependent on whether you want the soup or the stir fry (Xiang Guo). There is a vegetable soup option, otherwise it's a chicken broth. Plenty of vegan items. The two meat options lamb or beef at the end freezer will also be weighed. There's two kind of packaged noodles at $2.50 each. read more
Malatang at its finest! Pick all your ingredients from the bar and make sure you reach the minimum weight requirement. There is a weighing scale before the register so you can see if you're under and need to add more stuff. I like the giant deep freezer of sliced beef and lamb. You won't worry about any slimy thawed pieces. The bar is also kept sparkling clean and organized. Once your bowl is ready for payment, choose the style you'd like it to be prepared and if you would like a side of rice. Once it's done, the bowl is delivered to your table and enjoy! The restaurant is very spacious and you are comforted by mukbang videos and kpop music shows playing on screens above. read more
When I came around 8pm on a Tuesday night, it was pretty quiet and not busy at all. My friend and I were greeted by staff and asked if we have been here before; and then was explained the process when we had said no. The employee let us know our bowls were slightly underweight and encouraged us to get more toppings so we could get our money's worth. Our food was given to us shortly, I enjoyed the skewers as I was craving them, but I don't think it was anything to die for. The mala was super flavorful and had the right amount of spice for me and my friend. It was my first time actually finishing a whole mala bowl, so I would definitely come here again as there was a lot of variety in the menu and toppings bar/station as well! read more
i love coming here to get my malatang fix. No sauce bar but the premade sauce they give you is sososo good already. Rice is free which is amazing! Very spacious inside and clean. Service is amazing she is very nice. :) The soup is delicious and even though it can get a bit pricey depending how much you get it is always enough for another meal and the broth with some rice at home is fireee read more
4 months ago
Ambiance and the mala is good.. the broth is perfect i can handle spicy level 1. But .05 level is better .. Service was great read more
2 months ago
Ok, I was impressed! I had seen this restaurant on yelp for a while, but I seldom make my way around Oakland/Berkeley. I reluctantly decided to come in foran early dinner, and I was so glad I went here! 1lb minimum of food is enforced for adults but not for little one. We made 3 bowls. 1 with the soup, spice level 2. 1 stir fry level 2 mala and 1 soup no spice for our little one (they can only make no spice for the soup. So stir fry). The item selections had good variety, though other larger malatang places would certainly have more items to choose from. If you like noodles, keep in mind thst they do sell upon and Ramen package (not subject to weighing, sold per packet) by the register. They had wet noodles options on the buffet area but they would be counted towards your food weight. Rice seems to be free! Though you do have to ask the server to give you a bowl. The broth, even the no spice one was very flavorful and it wasn't might flavorful! I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the broth, delicious! Btw, levwl.soice 2 for the soup is spicier than level 2 for the stir fry, take note. I love spicy though so it was perfect to me . Hubby prefers the stir fry bc it was less fiery for his mouth . But he admitted the flavors both the broth and the stir fry were amazing! We had plenty of food to share (big eaters) and we left very full and content! All for just around $48 before tips! Wow! We will be back!! read more
11 months ago
I came here on a Monday night with a couple friends and had a great time! I decided to get the stir fry which I really liked. However, I will say the selection here compared to similar restaurants in the area was a bit limited. There's also a 1 pound minimum. Also, the food is quite spicy (I got the mild and thought it was hot) so if you're not into spice, I don't recommend coming here. At the end of the day, though, the food was still good and satisfied my mala craving! read more
Our party of 4 got here around 7:30pm. It was not busy at all, so we were seated immediately. The staff helped explain everything since it was our first time dining here. It's self-serve, so you get to choose what ingredients go into your bowl. Keep in mind that you pay $15.99 per lb of food in your bowl before broth is added. The bowl also needs to have a minimum of 1lb to purchase it. There's an assortment of different vegetables, meats, and noodles to choose from. I liked that you could check the weight before you finalized your selection. At the register, you get to choose from soup or stir fry as well as the different spice levels. The malatang was really good. I got the medium hot spice level and it was just the right amount of spice. I had about 1.27lbs of food before the broth was added and I felt satisfied after finishing my meal. The place overall is nice and clean. There are TVs on the wall playing KPop or showing mukbang videos. There's a small parking lot just outside the building, but otherwise you'll have to find parking out on the streets nearby. read more
This place used to be Pixiu Mala Hongtang, a regular spot for my girlfriend and me. It is now is under new management with a slightly altered menu. Yesterday we decided to stop by here and give the place a shot. Ambience wise - this place is almost identical to the previous restaurant but with a new logo slapped on to it. The menu has slightly changed - they have removed some of the old appetizers (such as the fried seaweed rolls) and added new things like Rose Mala Xiang Guo, and Rose Tteokbokki. Another thing that has changed is that your bowl needs to be 1 lb or more - this was definitely a change for me as I used to get less fillings at the food bar and opt for adding noodles and meat For our meal we ended up going for our usual and each got a Mala Xiang Guo. The food was tasty but we felt that there was something missing from the flavor perspective. I can't quite put my finger on it. As for the service - everything was pretty standard and par for the course. While I think this is a slight step down from the old place it still serves some pretty solid Mala food if you are in the mood for it. 4/5 read more
10 months ago
Highly, highly recommended! Every dish was incredibly tasty. I loved being able to choose only the ingredients I enjoy from their plenty of fresh options. I ordered level 2 spicy, and it had that perfectly enjoyable, numbing heat (I love spicy food!). I also tried three different shareable dishes, and all of them were delicious and paired wonderfully with the soup. I used to come here often when I lived nearby, and I visited again for the first time after moving an hour away. The one-hour drive was absolutely worth it!! Their all-time best malatang and their amazing new shareable dishes did not disappoint! read more
Amazing malatang -- my family is addicted and always asks to come here. The broth is something else -- super flavorful and warming. You can also get the non-spicy option if you don't want the mala feeling. The ingredients are always fresh and well stocked. The interior is modern and clean and neat. read more
You choose between soup or stir fry, and then build your bowl. There are several options for toppings like veggies, mushrooms, noodles. I got the soup with glass noodles but they were quite chewy. Next time I'd choose a wheat noodle. Lastly you choose between beef or lamb, and at the end your bowl must weight at least 1 lb. I personally also got way too many noodles so next time I'd get more mushrooms and beef :) The severs are friendly and there's lots of seating inside. They have mukbangs play on the tv too hahah. For dessert you can try their tanghulu! If you have a sweet tooth I recommend the grape ones. read more
LOVE THIS PLACE. It's like DIY/build your own hot pot but the cook it for you. You pick all of your ingredients and weigh the bowl per pound. The cook it in the kitchen and bring you your hot pot! I love all the ingredients they have out. Especially the rice cakes and glass noodles! They also have tanghulu which is the best sweet treat after a filling bowl of good soup! I always have left overs!! read more
1 month ago
Page 1 of 6
More info about Kung Fu Mala
4419 Telegraph Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
Temescal, North Oakland
Directions
(510) 817-4665
Call Now
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
More Info
Health Score
Kung Fu Mala Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Kung Fu Mala
Anything for gluten sensitive?
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
66 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
10 months ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
