Food: We came here because they were offering a $9.99 Summer Light single hot pot, which felt like a really good deal for an individual hot pot. We tried both the roasted chili & fermented black bean and Sichuan spicy soup bases, and I liked that they actually had different flavour profiles rather than just tasting like different levels of spice. We also ordered the pork wontons and spicy crispy tofu. The crispy tofu was one of my favourites because it added a nice crunch in between bites of hot pot. For dessert, we tried the banana mystery parfait and camellia oolong parfait. I especially liked the oolong parfait since it's not a flavour you see on dessert menus very often. I also really liked the individual hot pot format. Sometimes I want hot pot without committing to a full AYCE meal, so this was a nice option, especially for the price. Service: The staff were really helpful, especially because we weren't sure what to order at first. They took the time to explain the $9.99 deal and helped us figure out how everything worked. Our food also came out pretty quickly, which was nice. Ambiance: It's a fairly small spot and it was already busy when we went, even though it was a weekday. I'd probably recommend going a little earlier if you want to avoid waiting or have an easier time getting a table. Overall, we had a good experience and I'd come back, especially when I'm craving hot pot but don't feel like doing a full AYCE meal. read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Walked in on an early evening on a weekday and there was plenty of seating. Cute spot but posters and menu on the wall could look a little better. I love that they have a sauce station, a sauce station is a must for hotpot in my opinion. You order your food using the QR code on the table. They have an awesome summer light hotpot deal for $9.99 so I got that along with spicy chicken gizzard. I chose the tomato broth with thick noodles, chicken shawarma meat and watercress. Broth was so rich and flavourful I didn't really need sauce but still nice to have. This bowl was so filling and I also really enjoyed how they made the chicken gizzard, it was spicy and so flavourful and I love the fresh herbs in it which gave it a refreshing flavour. Make sure to let them know if you have a peanut allergy since it was topped with crushed peanuts. Some freebie hacks to save you some money! Say these lines to the server to redeem them. "Yummy yummy magic ice cream" = free mini ice cream cup "Potato king kills potato slices" = 1 crazy potato skewer To finish off you have to get the viral ice cream parfait, it was such a great way to end the meal and cool you down. Their soft serve was oolong flavour with tea jellies, rice puffs and mochi skewers. I don't know how the mochi skewers didn't get hard from being in the cold ice cream so that was a nice surprise. It was chewy and fun to eat. I love that it was the perfect sweetness since I'm not a huge sweets person. This location is not stroller friendly as there's a set of stairs to go up. I definitely will be back to get their summer light hotpot dish read more

Funny enough, a hot pot spot has become my favorite place for ice cream downtown. They regularly switch up their ice cream and parfait flavors, and we've never had a miss. We tried the Affogato Floating Black Tea Ice Cream, and it was the perfect midday pick-me-up. The black tea flavor was strong and aromatic. We didn't pick up much coffee flavor, but we'll happily take the caffeine boost. The grass jelly and pudding were the perfect additions, especially as the ice cream melted into them. Such a fun and refreshing little treat! read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This place is always packed. Ive never not seen a line. But it is small, like max 8 tables for 2-4 people. Specializes in spicy as you can tell by the name, but also have a non-spicy option (tomato). Not a huge menu but sufficient to create the perfect bowl to your liking. Limited sauce bar available for dine-in. Costs extra for take out. Best part, get their ice cream parfait! Huge and delicious read more

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In this economy, it's difficult to find meals that fit your budget. Well, I got good news for you. @lalaspicylab in downtown Toronto is offering hotpot combos for less than $10. I was skeptical at first. But when I tried it, it was worth it! You build your own bowl by choosing your meats, veggies and toppings. You even have access to their sauce bar. We also tried their apps which were equally delicious! Their parfaits were massive, and they changed every few months depending on the season. We got the cheese sea salt black tea (very creamy) and camellia oolong black tea (very flowery). Just a warning: The roasted chili and fermented black bean is spicy, though! FREE TIPS: score a FREE mini ice cream when you tell the staff the secret code "YUMMY YUMMY MAGIC ICE CREAM" score a FREE crazy potato skewer when you tell the staff the secret code "POTATO KING KILLS POTATO SLICES" read more

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Been here multiple times. The first time was for a yelp event but came back for the noodz! And their soft serve ice cream is the best! The staff are great here because two different times I was here, the manager circled around to check everyone at their tables was satisfied, definitely great customer service. My friend and I liked spice, and if you like that, you can definitely get some spicy soup, and chill soft serve ice to balance it out for dessert! read more

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came for the $9.99 summer deal and it was super worth it! portions were very generous and came with ice cream for the table! it was pretty spicy so I would get less spice than you usually would! read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Lala spicy lab is a cozy place that's quiet busy. As a vegetarian we had limited options to try but the vegan meal was delicious and filling. Two of us shared and yet were not able to finish it. The parfait was amazing flavors , something new to try. read more

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Food was delicious. Large portions. We ordered the Tom yum hot pot and it comes with various toppings like crab meat, egg , veggies and tofu skin. One portion can be shared amongst two people and you can add more toppings as you go. We finished with green tea and black tea parfait. It was so refreshing since the hot pot was pretty spicy. The service was pretty good and attentive. We did wait 45 mins for our table but we were able to leave and walk around and wait for a text message to alert us when table was ready. read more

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Came here for the 2nd time with my partner for her Yelp event. Cute little spot and with great service. The manager was nice and tentative. We like our spicy food and figured medium would be okay but it was at our limit of enjoyable and too spicy. I'd order mild next time. The beef tongue was good but I like thicker cuts. These were very thinly sliced, like hot pot meat. All in all good food and decent desserts. read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Great spot for individual hotpot that includes good toppings. The spicy bowl was good, I got the mild and no numbing and it was still spicy. There are many options for additional add ons and type of noodles. There weren't much sweet potato noodle for one of my soup but generous amount of toppings. The self serve mini sauce bar was awesome. Service was great, it can get busy esp if you are coming in a group of 4+. The matcha soft serve was my favourite. read more

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I came here for malatang hot pot and overall, the experience was great but a bit confusing at first. It's a small, cute shop with limited seating and when I first walked in, it was pretty busy. The staff was helpful but I didn't fully understand how the menu worked right away. The girl came and mentioned that certain items were included but I didn't realize she meant they were already in the bowl so I didn't need to add extras myself. Thankfully, we got it sorted out and everything after that was smooth. The food itself was really tasty, rich, flavourful broth and tons of variety. Just a heads up, even the mild spice level still has a serious kick so come prepared if you're sensitive to heat. And don't skip the parfait! It was absolutely delicious, creamy, refreshing, and the perfect way to finish off the meal. read more

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Food 3/5 Service 4/5 Vibe 3/5 New "malatang" spot in downtown toronto (very close to UT DT) Snacks 4/5, actual bowl of Malatang or dry mix 3/5, ice cream parfait 4/5. Personally had really high expectations as i keep seeing it all over social media, but my personal experience was okay. Food isnt bad , but It isnt my personal fav. Icy parfait is HUGE DOE! Not as creamy as i would like it to be (kinda taste like a sorbet ngl), but if your a huge bubble tea topping lover (like tapioca and jelly) + under this hot summer weather. You will love this! read more

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As much as I wanted to finish the entire hotpot right there, I ended up with leftovers for three days. (The takeaway container was pretty much a bucket) That being said the quality was pretty good too. The handmade noodles were a great consistancy and taste with a great bounce. We got the tomato broth with tofu (vegiterian) and it came with a myriad of well cooked veggies and different types of tofu. While there are a lot you could add on to the meal, it comes with more than enough by itself so we didnt find the need. They have a condiment section that was obviously very fresh and varried. It may have been when we got there but they seemed like they were just put out. The icecream was saddle and not too sweat. I know green tea ice crean is very popular in Asia but this is the only one that wasn't really my cup of tea. It was nice thay it had a cake bottom and orange jelly to mix up the consistancy and flavor. The service was fast and friendly with the server at our side any time we needed and answering any questions we had. Overall a great spot especially if you want good bang for your buck. read more

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Chicken cartilage: had a crispy crunch to it and good aromatics. The dipping sauce was minimal but I asked for more with no issues. The sesame seeds and scallions added a nice finish. Crispy Spicy fried tofu: bottom half of the tofu was swimming in oily chili oil while the top half remained crispy topped off with fresh RAW garlic and other fixens.. Hot Pot: Tom Yum Coconut broth was on point. Sweet and savory with a bit of that Thai tang. Ice Cream Parfaits: Was delicious and over portioned. Buried with jelly and all sorts of goodness Service was 10/10 Ambience very intimate read more

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I and my wife love spicy food and to try out new flavors. So when I got to know about this place, i couldn't wait to try it. After reading how crowded it can get during dinner times and on weekends we visited the place on a weekday around 5 pm. From outside, it doesn't appear much. But once your step inside, it is surprisingly big with great ambience. Small square wooden tables are neatly organized in a well-lit dining area. One wall is decorated with notes, another wall is adorned with bottled spices. In a corner is a small add-on station, with containers filled with chilli oil, sauces, minced garlic, peanut bits etc. We were quickly seated and the server explained us the menu, asked if we had any dietary restrictions and guided us on how to go about ordering - which is through a barcode on the table. She also patiently answered our questions as we ordered, explaining us the dishes, add-ons, about spicy and numbing levels. We scanned the barcode and ordered: - Crispy Tofu - Spicy Tenderloin Beef Noodles with Golden Egg ( with handmade thick noodles, medium spicy, regular numbing) - Sliced Beef Brisket MaoCai in their Signature Soup (with handmade thick noodles, medium Spicy, regular numbing) 10 mins later our order began to arrive. First came the Crispy Tofu. The portion was good, and from the look of it -with chilli flakes, red chilli oil - we could judge it was nicely spiced. A bite of it filled our mouths with strong spice notes. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, it was quite delectable. Second dish served was the Tenderloin Noodles. And we were caught surprised. The portion was huge!!! The noodles were submerged in a spicy, red broth and hidden underneath a thick layer of golden fried omlette. A bite of the crispy egg soaked in signature broth filled my mouth with an explosion of flavours. A few moments later the numbing came into effect. And I was like WOW!! I dived my fork into the broth and rolled some noodles. They were thick, slurpy and soft, but had a great bite and chew to them. The tenderloin was tender and cooked well. Finally came the Sliced Brisket MaoCai and my wife immediately stared at me , questioning my naive food ordering habits. She shook her head, gesturing, 'what have you done!?' Because this order came in two humongous bowls (reason being I had asked the noodles to be served seperately) In one bowl were the sliced Brisket, with all the great veggies, crab sticks, luncheon meat,tofu swimming in signature soup and topped with, garlic, coriander, sesame and crispy peanut bits. In another bowl came in the noodles, again drowned in their signature soup. I have to confess I had ordered to bring them seperately because i didn't want them to come soaked, so I could try bit by bit. But I guess I wasn't clear enough while ordering. So here I was with three huge bowls before me, questioning my life choices. But a foodie always loves a good challenge, isn't it? So I dug in!!! The signature soup was flavourful with great spice notes. The toppings were amazingly cooked and fulfilling. The noodles in that broth tasted heavenly, and the numbing effect added a great touch. Of course I couldn't finish it all, so had to ask for 'To go' boxes. The server was quick to come to our help and packed the food for us. But we were not finished yet. We wanted to end on a sweet note , so got their two parfait - Green tea and Black tea. And again, they were huge. My wife who has a sweet tooth dug in immediately, and she loved it. Of the two, we came to the conclusion that the black tea tasted much better. To foodies: Do not miss this place. If you love and live spicy food, enjoy the numbing and taste of sichaun peppers, this place is a must visit. It is a paradise for spicy food and soup lovers. To owners: Your flavors are amazing, the service is brilliant and the portions are generous. You guys deserve all the good coming your way keep at it. Special mention for our server, Shara. She was extremely patient with us and is great at her job. Overall, this was a great experience and would recommend to anyone who loves spicy flavors. Rating: 9.2/10 Signing off... Rahul aka CanIndian Foodie read more

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My friend hadn't tried hotpot so we decided to try this place out. The vibe is quite friendly and laid back. We were greeted promptly upon arrival and told to be seated at a table of our choice. One of the staff quickly came over to explain how the menu worked. After ordering, our food arrived quickly. We had the delicious Spicy Coconut Tom Yum Flavour Pot Combo. The portion was much larger than we could imagine. I have eaten at Szechuan venues previously and this was very authentic Szechuan. Everything was very fresh. We had to try the icecream and ordered one of each. Icecream is served on Rice Krispies - refreshing! Love the crunch! If you're in for an authentic Szechuan meal, this place is for you! P..S. They offer great secure takeout containers too. read more

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Lala Spicy Lab caught me by surprise! the restaurant doesn't look like much from the outside, but from the moment you set foot in the door, you are transported by the sights and smells. delicious simmering broths and huge bowls drew my attention immediately, and when my food arrived, I was READY to be impressed. And impressed i was! It was comforting and savory, with just the right amount of spice. Parfaits were delicious addition to the meal and the perfect way to cool off. For $20 you get enough food for two people-- or to take home some! read more

Lala Spicy Lab - store front - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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First time visiting here and it turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise! Their portion was huge -- really big bowl with full of ingredients -- and it was very flavourful. Staff was keep walking around and offering water, so they were there even before asking :) They have different spicy levels and numbing levels for people like me who can't handle too much spicy, which was very helpful. Their ice cream parfait is MUST-TRY! read more

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This place is incredibly popular, due to the portion sizes and relatively small dining space. Pick your base, which comes with a set of toppings included, and add some extra toppings if you want. They have a lot of spicy soup bases, as the name implies, but they have a couple non-spicy options as well. The meal comes in a huge bowl and at under $20 it's enough for two people. If you decide to get it to-go, they give you a literal bucket. The parfait here is also excellent. You can get it as a combo to save a bit, and I'd recommend doing just that. read more

I was very impressed with Lala! While the wait was quite long on a Wednesday evening, it was definitely worth it. A friend and I got the tomato base tofu bowl and the mao cai beef brisket (not pictured) and it was sooo filling and flavourful. There was also a cart to make your own dipping sauce which was perfect. Their price was very reasonable and we had more than enough leftovers for the next few days. The staff was super attentive despite how busy it was and the inside of the shop was cute. I'd highly recommend! read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Tomato tofu bowl - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Had a great lunch at Lala Spicy Lab on College Street with a few colleagues. Three of us ordered the sliced beef brisket noodles with a golden egg--the brisket was tender, the broth rich and flavourful, and the cabbage soaked up every bit of spice beautifully. The golden egg was a first for me and paired perfectly with the brisket. We loved the hit of fresh cilantro and the customizable spice levels--medium spicy packed a solid kick without overwhelming the palate. Our vegetarian friend went for the tomato tofu soup, which came in a huge bowl and was a hit. She said it was the best tofu she's ever had--soaked with flavour from the spicy tomato broth. We couldn't resist dessert, and we're glad we didn't. The citrus garden green tea ice cream was unlike anything we've tried--light, refreshing, and unexpectedly complex. The brown sugar ice cream parfait was like gourmet soft serve meets bubble tea--sweet, creamy, and indulgent. Service was warm and welcoming throughout. Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is that the space gets a little tight during busy times, but we'd definitely return. A fun, spicy, and satisfying experience! read more

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Wow, super impressed with this spot! Firstly, the portions are huge and you could easily split a meal between two people or take half home for later. The flavour is very depthful, you can tell that they take a lot of pride in it, and there's a ton of different toppings in the soup, which makes it fun to eat! We also tried out the parfaits and they were the perfect way to cool down after the spicy soup. Cute little place, gets busy so prepare for a short wait that is worth it. read more

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Didn't expect the soft serve in a malatang spot will be so good as a big fan of tea base dessert, the limited edition oolong soft serve is just perfect for me!! It comes with tea jelly and cereal as well Tom yum soup base is my favourite, slightly spicy but refreshing, cause they added tomato, lemon ... perfect with noodles too! The portion was soooooo big that I have to pack it for the next day lol read more

Lala spicy lab specializes in big maocai bowls which is a sichuan style single serve hotpot that can really pack some heat! I was so surprised how much I enjoyed it as I'm got a huge fan of spice. We got the tomato based hotpot which wasn't spicy at all and the Maocai with the lowest spice level. The portions were so big, you can really order one and share it as we had leftovers for days! Prices were so affordable too. We also got the peach ice cream parfait and matcha parfait which were both so delicious. The servers were very nice, they came and explained everything to us and came by a few times to give us extra napkins. read more

Oh my god! These portions are huge!! I added two extra items to my order and it came in a bowl that took up half of the table. Each bowl is loaded with a variety of ingredients and your choice of protein. There's also a sauce bar but I think the flavour in the broth is enough to satisfy my meal. The appetizers were also very good and fresh. The tofu and brown sugar cakes or piping hot. Ice cream was also good since the flavour was more on the mild side and that's what I prefer. The restaurant is a little small, but that's just downtown! read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I can tolerate spicy food fairly well but I know my limits and got the lowest spice level and mouth numbing and it was perfect, my mouth was still dancing with delicious flavours. In addition to the beef brisket my bowl had tofu, quail egg, spam, crab meat, sausage, fish ball, baby corn, cabbage, squash so it was a decent variety. For $4.99 you can add an ice cream parfait and I was expecting it to be a tiny cup but it was a large cup the size you would get from tsujiri! I can not comment on the quality as my mouth was tingling so I wasn't tasting the ice cream correctly but I enjoyed it. The serving is huge so I had leftovers and the server helped me package it into the cup and put it in the bag for me which I appreciated. read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Sliced beef brisket Maocai - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The maocai hotpot was very flavourful, and the pre-made mains came with a wide selection of items. The portions were generous so I didn't feel the need to add any additional toppings. The tomato broth was also a nice alternative for those who aren't looking for a spicy meal. read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I originally came to Lala Spicy Lab for the hot pot (which is great, by the way), but what really blew me away was the soft serve ice cream parfaits. Who would've thought a spicy food spot would have such elite dessert game? I tried two parfaits and honestly, I'd come back just for these. The brown sugar black tea parfait was like a bubble tea in ice cream form. It was so good and had tapioca and grass jelly in it. The citrus garden tea parfait was lighter and super refreshing, featuring grass jelly, green tea loaf cake, and citrus notes. Both were absolutely delicious! The portions were generous and offered great value. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Lala Spicy Lab - Chinese Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I recently went to Lala Spicy Lab to try out their individual hotpots. The first thing that hits you is the aroma of szechuan peppers. It smells so strong but it is the staple of hotpot. We were then seated right away and the staff are very efficient. We ordered through an app which makes everything so much more easier with no error in communication. I did wish the app showed a picture of each individual dish instead of just one example to type. We ordered the Crispy Pork Intestine Maocai Soup, which included sliced brisket beef, mixed proteins, vegetables, and your choice of noodles or rice. We also ordered Sliced Beef Brisket Tomato Pot and got the combo for both which came with ice cream/parfait. For apps, we tried the Spicy Crispy Chicken Gristle with Green Onions and Spicy Crispy Tofu. We got our bowls and apps very quickly and the portions were huge! You could definitely share one bowl between 2 or even 3 people. Apps were just the right amount of spice and not super greasy. The MoaCai soup was very aromatic and the broth was rich. The noodles wheat were firm and super heavy. We ordered the light spicy which still had some heat but not overpowering. Everything in the dish worked well together and is definitely comforting. The Tomato based soup was a little more on the tangy side. Not my favourite but still good. There was a lot of meat and other ingredients inside both soups so we definitely filled up pretty fast and we ended up taking most of it home which tasted so good even as leftovers. We tried both the Jasmine Green Tea Parfait and the Peach Oolong Tea Parfait which were both very refreshing and light. I like that it came eith Tea Jelly so it wasn't a heavy dessert. Overall, our experience was good. From the portions, the service and the flavours of the food, it was all excellent. Would definitely come back! read more

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Broth was delicious, but toppings were pretty minimal. Service was also a bit slow when bringing out our dishes :(

Food was interesting! You choose the protein and it comes packed with veggies and other ingredients. Soup base is a mix of chicken and pork bones if I remember correctly. Staff forgot a few of our requests though (take out box, parfait, bill) and we had to ask again for each of those things. read more

went during my trip to canada. the wait is long so make sure to get your number on the wait list! really good deal for how much they give you and the ice cream combo. it was the right spice level and we really enjoyed our meal. would go back again. read more