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    Mala Class

    4.6 (169 reviews)
    ModerateSzechuan
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:30 PM, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Mala Class Takeout or Delivery

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    MALA CLASS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Mala Class

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    Apple Sidra
    Andrew I.

    I have driven past this place on York and was always curious so I decided to stop by. It's a small, homey, and intimate interior. Makes you feel like you are at someone's home in a welcoming way. I got the dan dan noodles (I liked the peanut sauce, but not a lot of pork with the dish), dumplings ( solid, nothing crazy), and apple soda (a little too sweet, but I enjoyed it). The dishes were solid, decent seasoning I was expecting a bit more in that department. Overall, it's a solid spot nothing too impressive. It's a cool spot to do small plates. They did forget about drink so I did have to remind my server, but overall service was alright. If you want expand your taste buds a bit give this spot a try.

    Natalie S.

    New favorite spot in highland park, wow! Garlic soy wings - 5/5 - holy crap, probably the best wings I have had in my entire life. We loved it so much we ordered 3 plates for my party of 3 so we each had one lol. They taste like Korean fried chicken. There are 4 pieces and they are all flats (my favorite!) very large sized pieces and the flavor was unreal. Favorite dish at this place. Dan Dan noodles - 5/5 - amazing! Great portion, flavorful, no peanuts which is great for those allergic, and just get this. Mushroom fries - 5/5 - I've never had mushroom fries before, but these were addicting and I could not stop eating them! The dry seasonings was so good I wish they sold it. Dumplings - 4/5 - great dumplings! The sauce was incredible Mapo tofu - 5/5 - I don't eat this but my husband thought it was insanely good. Very spicy so order mild if you can't do spice. Service - 5/5 - all servers very friendly, knowledgeable in the dishes, and attentive! Ambiance - 5/5 - very cute inside! It's quite small, and they don't take reservations so I recommend coming early. Not the best place for a large group though because of the size. Parking is easy, we found parking right out front the two times we visited. Overall found my new obsession!

    Mushroom Fries, Mala Wings, Beef Noodle Soup
    Nani N.

    Came here with my friend on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't crowded at all. We had to find parking on the street which was kind of inconvenient since it was a far spot away. The food was great! My favorite was the Mushroom fries and Beef Noodle soup. Everything was of course a little spicy and had a mala flavoring, so if that is something you enjoy, I would recommend this place. The entire bill came out to be $58 (not including tip) which is pretty decent for ordering 4 dishes.

    AMAZING FLAVORS!
    Astrud A.

    Great food in Highland Park! Parking, I was able to find street parking on a weeknight. It's a cute little restaurant, but their flavors are amazing. I was addicted to their mushroom fries! Like you can munch on it while watching TV or something. Staff were also friendly and accommodating. Their chicken wings were plump and flavorful! I shared with my friend, and we didn't want to overeat, so we chose 2 dishes and the mushroom fries as an appetizer. It was more than enough. Would recommend this spot 10/10!

    Mushroom Fries
    Amanda M.

    Went to Mala Class last as a walk in on Saturday night around 6pm and the wait was ~20 minutes, which was great. The tables moved fast. The staff were very friendly and walked us through the menu. Interior is simple and minimalist with about 8 tables. I had just gotten back from a trip to Sichuan so I was excited to see how Mala Class would compare. We got the mushroom fries, salad, cucumbers & tofu skin, chicken wings, and cold sesame noodles. The standouts were the salad, mushroom fries, and wings. Definitely not as spicy as Sichuan, but that's to be expected.

    Szechuan Salad
    Joanna L.

    I've seen the hype online, but honestly not crazy impressed...I do give props for not being crazy expensive though! My friend and I came at 4pm on a Wednesday, looking for a late lunch / early dinner situation since we were busy. We definitely should've checked online first, but just FYI: they are closed 3:30pm - 5pm (our fault for not checking!!). We waited the hour and came back at around 5:15pm. Since dinner service had just started, there was only one other party inside, and we were seated immediately. The space is relatively small with around 6-8 tables, and it was full by the time we left. The menu is very tiny with approximately only 15 items. We got the szechuan salad, fried tofu, and mapo tofu (medium heat). We expected strong spice, so we ordered a bowl of rice for $1.50. The food came out relatively quickly. The salad is a mix of romaine and red cabbage, and the standout is the jicama, which is unique to me in a salad. The dressing was too vinaigrette-y for my liking, but I appreciate the effort to add in spices and diversify from Western salads. The tofu dishes came out next. I think my issue with the two was that they were not mala -- it was neither spicy nor numbing. Granted, my spice tolerance is quite high, but the flavors weren't there for me. Despite being sprinkled in red pepper, it did not have flavor. The fried tofu was, in my opinion, bland, and the pepper flakes did not add flavor. The crunch of the tofu was great, but I guess I'm used to the aromatics seeping into the soft part of the tofu. We ordered the medium level of the mapo tofu, but I wish we'd gotten the extra spicy. I'm not sure if there's a lack of peppercorns or whatever, but it was not numbing in the way I anticipate Sichuan to be. I did not need the rice at all to offset the spiciness or numbness. The dish was also much more soupy than I have seen before - it made the rice too soupy. Rather than the spicy flavor popping out, what stood out to me was the salt - the dish was very salty even when mixing it. I appreciate mala class's innovative attempt to bringing a somewhat western approach to Sichuan food. I think the dishes I ordered didn't live up to my expectations as they were somewhat more authentic dishes (and also lacked ingredient diversity with two tofu dishes haha), but I see high potential in dishes like mushroom fries and mala chicken wings.

    Fried Chicken Wings
    Nikole D.

    -dumplings: flavorful and sweet, not spicy Would be able to retain more spice and save sauce if served in a bowl instead of a flat plate -Dan Dan noodles: can feel numbing spice Server mixed it for us -chicken wings: crispy and juicy, less spicy than noodles (looks spicier than it tastes) dry-rubbed Small tables inside (may have a longer wait time ) Quick service: ordered food and served it quickly Inside: Worth it for quality of food and for date nights (long-term couples). It's good for casual dining settings

    Fawn R.

    The chicken wings are soooo good! We really enjoyed the appetizers. Service was very nice and welcoming too. I don't know if I loved the mapo tofu, it was too salty for me and tasted like crawfish boil but if you like crawfish boil you will like it. Spicy noodle soup tasted fine but it was too oily in my opinion. I would come back for those wings!

    Dumplings in Chili Oil and Mala Wings
    Sandy T.

    $27 for dumplings in chili oils and some wings.... I've been pushing myself to try new restaurants in the neighborhood always reluctant because I know that a lot of these new businesses are overpriced and underwhelming. I decided to give this one a shot and my sentiment rings true. Look at my photo and tell me whether that's worth $27. The dumplings were subpar. I've definitely had better dumplings from frozen. The wings were decent, but again not worth the money. And much rather drive over to the SGV and get some real food for a lot more affordable prices. I'll gladly spend the money on food if it's worth it and this was definitely not worth it. Overall, a solid 2.5 I would say. I'm not gonna go back even though it's so close to me.

    Mushroom Fries
    Ale S.

    I want to express how delicious the food is and how friendly the team is at Mala Class. My party of five visited recently, and even though there wasn't an obvious table available, the team quickly created one for us, and we only had to wait a few minutes while it was being set up. The Dan Dan noodles were brought to our table and mixed for us, which was a nice touch. We also ordered several small plates and the shrimp plate, and everything arrived promptly, one after another. The mushroom fries were especially delicious! We truly loved the food and the relaxed atmosphere, which made our lunch perfect. We were a bit short on time, so we particularly appreciated how efficiently the waiters handled our bill. It was a hot day, and we also appreciated that they consistently brought us cool water. Overall, we felt incredibly welcomed and well taken care of. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience!

    Mala Wings - dry rub
    Michael G.

    We were choosing between here and Woon and we'd never been to Mala so we said let's do it. Seating is first come first served, and we waited about 20 min for a 2-person table. There were two other parties in there with 4+ people. Great atmosphere and not super noisy, crowded, etc. The staff were super friendly and shared some of their favorites from the menu. We went with the cukes and bean curd, mala wings (dry rub and saucy), dumplings in chili oil, dan dan noodles, and garlic sauce shrimp (with rice). The standouts were the mala wings and dan dan noodles. I'm normally not a fan of a saucy wing because of the mess -- but these are sooo worth the stickiness. Do it. The noodles had a great umami and I kept going back for more. I also loved that the waiter mixed the noodles for us and explained the dish - nice touch! I loved the sauce that came with the dumplings, but I wanted more flavor from the filling. Still tasty though. We had plenty of food for 2 people and I think 3-4 people would be the perfect amount for what we got.

    Apple Sidra
    sim k.

    Amazingly authentic szechuan food and flavors that are excellently sweet and salty. The spice levels aren't too insane and the Apple sidra is a must have when dining here. Definitely will be coming back!

    Cukes and Beancurd
    carolyn p.

    it's a small cozy spot. there was plenty of street parking on a friday night. the service was attentive and friendly. they mix the dan dan noodles for you at the table. the dan dan noodles come with pork as a default but we got the vegetarian version. the szechuan peppercorn is prominent but not too strong. the shrimp dish had too much onion for my taste. i liked the cukes and bean curd, but wanted more bean curd. the mushroom fries were pretty good when they were hot.

    Mushroom Fries, Dan Dan Noodles, Mala Wings, Dumplings in Chili Oil, Dry Pepper Fried Tofu, Cukes and Beancurd, and Cold Sesame Noodles

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    Mala Class Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mala Class

    Which items on the menu are vegan? The menu only indicates which ones are vegetarian.

    All our vegetarian options are also vegan. Even our Dan Dan Noodles can be made vegan by removing the minced pork topping. Plenty for you to enjoy :)

    Can dishes be made without onion,as I am unable to eat anything made with onions ? Cross contamination is a big issue at many places that say they can customize, so please answer realistically, I would rather not spend the night in hospital.

    Hi Sara, We only have one dish that contains onions which would be the Garlic Sauce Shrimp. But all the ingredients for the Garlic Shrimp are flash fried in the same oil as… Read more

    Is there anything gluten free on the menu?

    We had mapo tofu & the shrimp dish with rice. I would say that's gluten free.

    Do u have delivery?

    Hi Anna, We currently delivery through our TOAST platform. If you google Mala Class, there would… Read more

    View All 6 Questions

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    Sichuan Impression - Tea Smoked Pork Ribs

    Sichuan Impression

    (1.3k reviews)

    $$

    My friends and I came to Swan impression on a Sunday night around 7:30 PM. They were still pretty…read morebusy during this time and I was not surprised by it. We've been at their location in Tustin and I heard this one was better than that location I was really excited about it. Teson is really good too, so I had a pretty good expectation on this location. Upon arrival, we were immediately seated by the staff member and she was pretty efficient and on top of things. I have attached here, but the ambience is pretty lively, but also not too loud. It was an enjoyable experience where you can talk with each other and be able to hear one another. At the same time, they had a clean and classy decor to their interior design. We ordered the stirfry lamb with cumin, shredded potato, and the chili oil fish fillet. The Lamb - 5/5 was perfectly cooked and seasoned with a very nice heat to it. Be careful because this is not for those sensitive to spicy food, but if you do like spicy, this has such a nice kick to it. The shredded potato - 5/5 one of my favorite dishes to substitute for the rice. Don't be deceived by how it looks. It definitely has a kick and can numb your mouth; however, you can still taste the pickled flavor in each bite. The chilli oil fish - 5/5 one of my most favorite dishes from both locations. Although the spiciest of the dishes, you taste the flavor through each bite. The dish is perfectly cooked and just dissolves in your mouth. Overall I am extremely satisfied with our visit and recommend coming here if you're ever in the area!!

    Came by Sichuan Impression and had a pretty mixed experience overall…read more We ordered the spicy squid tentacles dry pot, which honestly was a bit disappointing. The squid tentacles were tiny, and the dish felt like it was mostly filled with mixed vegetables. For $25.99, it definitely felt a little like a rip-off. On the brighter side, the Tea Smoked Pork Rib was really good--super flavorful and probably my favorite dish of the meal. That said, most of the menu is on the pricier side, and the portions aren't very generous, so value-wise it's a bit questionable. Service was just okay. No one really checked in on us, and we had to wave our hands a few times to get attention when we needed something. Overall, solid flavors in some dishes, but the portion size and pricing hold it back from being a full 5 stars.

    Xiang La Hui香辣汇 - Spicy Roasted Fish w/Red Pepper

    Xiang La Hui香辣汇

    (356 reviews)

    $$

    Since I no longer truly reside in the 626 on a permanent basis, my search for new Asian restaurants…read moreputs me in many areas to find the latest delicious food venues, and Xiang La Hui is one of them. This place is not for the faint of heart, if you're afraid of spicy food. However, if you're adventurous and like a little kick to your dishes , this is the place to be. I did ask for my kung pao chicken to be less spicy, but I ordered the Dan Dan noodles to be regular spicy, and it was quite delicious. The noodles had the requisite springiness in its bite. The Jamaican lady sitting at the next tables shared a spicy Tin Foil pork rib with me, it was also delicious. She also recommended the Happy Chicken dish. Finding out the best dishes is easy, if you manage to talk to the regular customers. Generally, it's really hard to find people like me who occasionally like to adventure out for spicy food, but this place hits the spot when you have a dried chili craving. It's a good restaurant to bring your good friends, there are several large round tables available, several rectangular tables with booth seats or chairs, and the portions are very good for sharing. There is parking lot located at the back of the restaurant, and also some limited street parking. In the dining area, there's a mounted television showing you the chefs who are cooking Szechuan dishes, twirling around the red dried chilis in the wok pan, dishing out the food, and you see people enjoying and eating the food, great entertainment if you're eating by yourself. Do check out this restaurant when a craving for delicious spicy food comes upon you, this place won't disappoint you!

    there's a big free parking lot close by. the place is clean and tidy. service was snappy and you…read moreorder your food through QR code on the table. my signal was bad inside but they have wifi posted on the wall. ambience is fairly casual and there's often a nice flow of diners in this place. the food order: - fried tofu + veggies tasted fresh was a nice side dish to contrast the spicier dishes - the grilled fish w/ pickled veggies was great. i prefer the green peppercorn to red these days and this one was a bit heavier on the acidity (which i love). - tinfoil pork ribs were very good. the meat was moist but with good chew. heavy on the chilies, peppercorn, garlic and cilantro. for me it had the perfect spiciness--any more and it would've been too challenging. will def come back.

    Daybird - Cod Sando and Szechuan Hot Chicken Sando

    Daybird

    (548 reviews)

    $$

    Westlake

    Daybird is one of my favorite spots to get a fried chicken sandwich because of the spices they use…read morein the batter. The chicken breast is not only perfectly crunchy and seasoned but it is way bigger than the bun. I joke saying that the bun is a handle for the chicken breast. The spices go great with the sweet Asian slaw. The fries are also very good- perfect crisp. The spot is small. There is only a counter on the wall to eat. Parking is available in the lot as well as their underground parking structure. Service is great. The guys behind the counter were very chill and friendly.

    I suppose I'll be hunting for other fish sandwiches in LA. Second time here, 0 for 2 on fish…read more Today we stopped by around 12:30 (they open at noon)... aaaand they're closed? Open on Google, open on Yelp, no notice on any of these platforms or Instagram unless all they did was post a now-expired story which isn't very helpful. There's some vague post saying something to the effect of: great news, they aren't closing and are opening a new location! Is this instead of the Silver Lake one? In addition to? It takes literally less than a minute for the business owner to change Google business hours to CLOSED--I do this for my workplace--which is significantly less than what potential customers spend driving here. Another guy and his family might've come up from Riverside to a closed door. Hopefully they actually live here and weren't in LA just for this!

    Meizhou Dongpo Restaurant - Holiday Set Menu 599 (Pre Order Required)

    Meizhou Dongpo Restaurant

    (1.4k reviews)

    $$

    Century City

    I went here today for lunch with my girlfriend at around 1:30 p.m. The restaurant looked clean,…read moremodern, and wasn't busy at all. Customer Service: (5/5) The waiter was very nice throughout. She was very endearing as she talked to my girlfriend in chinese and also kind to me when speaking in english. When asked about dishes and proportions, she was very knowledgeable and honest. Food: (4.5/5) We ordered the Mapo Tofu and Meizhou Special Fried Rice with chicken. The food came out within 10 minutes and the portions, as I saw on previous reviews, were generous enough for us to share and be full. The Mapo Tofu came out on a hot ceramic bowl. It wasn't as spicy as I thought, not overly spicy but just enough where you get that numbing kind of sensation in your mouth that leaves you wanting more. The beef wasn't like the ground beef you see in other mapo tofu, but more of chunkier pieces which I wasn't a big fan of as it didn't seem spread evenly. The Meizhou Special Fried Rice with chicken was probably one of the best fried rice dishes I've ever had. You can tell it was made from a wok and the flavors were just incredible. The chicken seemed to have been friend separately and added on top afterwards but the saltiness of the chicken didn't take away from the fried rice at all. Instead, it added to the flavor and made it all so enjoyable. For the ultimate experience, I'd recommend eating both together to maximize your palette!

    The Peking duck is still the reason to come, but nearly everything around hasn't kept pace with the…read morecompetition. The space feels worn -- menus tattered, décor dated, the whole interior overdue for a refresh. For a restaurant positioning itself at the higher end of Chinese dining, Meizhou Dongpo is sleeping on the finer details. No complimentary tea service, and rather than offering a pot for the table, they serve individual tea by the mug -- a comically oversized Western mug at that. Chopsticks arrive without spoons, and when you ask for one, you get silverware instead of the porcelain you'd expect at Chinese restaurant. The Peking duck accoutrements came with a little plastic spoon on the tray. Small things, but they add up.The fried rice was a letdown too and looked nothing like the menu photo. Spots like Din Tai Fung and Lunasia Signature are operating at a different level and the gap shows. Meizhou Dongpo has the bones of a great Chinese restaurant. The duck alone proves it. But until they invest in the experience around the food, it's hard to recommend at this price point.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Sichuan Street Food - stir fried celtuce

    Sichuan Street Food

    (101 reviews)

    $$

    I've been coming here at least once a week for the past five months, and this place continues to…read moreimpress every single time. The service is consistently great... attentive, efficient, and genuinely welcoming. Fair warning for anyone new to Sichuan cuisine, the dominant flavor is "spicy". That said, the dishes are not just about heat... they're layered, aromatic, and incredibly well-balanced. Every dish I've tried has been outstanding, both in flavor and presentation. If you're a fan of bold, authentic flavors and reliable service, this spot is definitely worth visiting. Tip - If you're new to the cuisine, I strongly recommend getting everything MILD spicy. I've been told by some of my colleagues that MILD spicy is still pretty spicy, so be warned. With that said, strongly recommend the dishes below. Lamb with Cumin 11/10 - My favorite dish here by far. Aromatic, flavorful, and the spices are just on point. Dan Dan Noodles 9/10 - Solid and consistently good. The sauce is properly seasoned and truly compliments the perfectly cooked noodles. Shredded Cabbage with Pork 9/10 - Not to be confused with twice cooked pork. This dish is so simple and bland looking, but it's packed with flavor... so good! Garlic Pork Belly 8/10 - This is a cold dish. The meat was perfectly cooked and properly coated in chili oil. Solid and consistently good. Kung Pao Chicken 8/10 - In my opinion, it's an elevated Kung Pao Chicken. Solid and consistently good.

    This place is crazy good. When you think of Szechuan food you're probably thinking SPICE, but you…read morecan adjust the heat of most of the dishes here so you're not frying your tongue off. It can get really busy, though, so expect to wait or just call in your order and take your food to go. I recommend the soy sauce tofu with beef dish. It's fire. Massive W. Gen Z words. Good.

    Mala Class - szechuan - Updated May 2026

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