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Hot pots...some like it dry, some like their hot pot wet. Regardless, here, you can have it anyway you want it. There are plenty of ingredients to choose from, ranging from fresh vegetables, noodles, fishballs, and even packages of meat, thinly sliced for you. Just be aware, whatever you choose, you must have a pound's worth for them to make it a dry pot or in a broth. I focused on tofu and seafood, so I had to have mine in a broth. You proceed to order your spice level. My skin has having aversion to spice, so I had mine at level 0.5. The others had theirs at 1 and 3. They opted for the dry pot, which was stir-fried. They offer cold beverages to help put out the fire for the average going cost. My House Malatang was delicious and had a nice sesame taste to it. I opted for plenty of seafood from razorback clams, to oysters, and fishballs, along with potato noodles and veggies galore. For those who opt for the dry pot, it comes with a bowl of rice. For an appetizer, they give you a small plate of pickled radishes. This helps cool you down should your spice be too much for you. If you are worried about accidentally splashing your clothes as you eat, they give you a black bib to put over yourself. At the end, you just hand it back, and the guy will collect them and refold them, good as new. That part surprised me, and I wished they threw them away for sanitary purposes. They have very limited parking in the front, but the restaurant is near a supermarket, so if need be, you can score parking over there. There are two bathrooms, men's and women's, and the restaurant is able to host anywhere from a single person to a larger group of people for dining.
I think if you try Mala once and you like it, it kind of has a strange power over you and makes you want it again and again. I think it's third time this month I've been to Mala Mini. I believe it's under a different management than last year and I think it's an improvement. I haven't tried any other Mala place because I'm familiar with the spice level here and know what to expect. The ingredient station is clean, always full, and the ingredients are fresh. I don't get the meat version and for seafood, they have different fish balls and frozen shrimp, clams, and octopus. For me their 1.5 is perfect for Mala tang. It's definitely spicy but not unbearable. My nose runs when I get this level but level 1 doesn't seem as flavorful to me nor packs enough heat. My friend who can't eat spicy food gets 0.5 and she is happy. I also like that the level goes by .5. For dry mala, I have gotten 1.5 and it's too spicy so I prefer 1 or .5. Service is friendly and servers always walk around filling water. If you pay in cash, you get soft ice cream for free. But they offer complimentary Korean yogurt drink post meal, which is perfect after spicy Mala. I have tried another Mala place in Fort Lee and found their Mala tang didn't have enough Mala flavor for me but perhaps I should have asked for more spicy. For about 1lb it's $15 and that keeps me full for a while. The dining area is pretty spacious and clean, as well as the bathroom. The staff are Chinese but they speak Korean too. The only gripe is parking but that's pretty much the case for most restaurants in Pal Park and Fort Lee area.
Love, love, love this place! It's my go-to for Malaytang whenever I visit NJ. I always get the spiciest broth, and as a spicy lover, it's absolutely the best! The ingredients always seem so fresh, and the broth just makes everything better. You can't go wrong here! Please give it a try!
Great malatang, Good price point and very filling! Veggies fresh, and the taste of the mala is soup is very rich. Fast and welcoming service. Would def come back for the 3rd time!
Came here with my brother and his family and clearly got carried away packing my bowl of ingredients! I love the method of ordering by weight and as this was my first time here I decided to go a little wild on the amount of food. But I enjoyed every bite I could there and took the rest home for another meal. I went with the level 1 spice and feel that was a perfect choice as any more wouldn't been problematic for me. The snow pear juice is delicious! I wish I knew where to get more of that. Highly recommend dining here and considering my nephews love this place I'm sure I'll be back soon.
Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 I came here with a couple of friends, and we all loved our House Malatang bowls! There was a fair enough selection of items I personally like available (e.g., veggie and mushroom variety). I only would ask for Soft tofu as the cherry on top! My bowl cost about $24 and left me incredibly full. The malatang price was $15/lb and came with a peanut/sesame flavored dipping sauce on the side. Also, they added tanghulu since I first visited, and it was a tasty snack after! We got ours for free by paying in cash. The cherry tomato could be switched out for a strawberry though lol. Clean establishment. Fast and friendly service. My only note is the challenging parking situation in front of the restaurant, but there are nearby parking spots that are a few minutes walk away.
Visited Mala Mini for lunch on a Saturday. It's a DIY dry pot/hot pot place where you grab a bowl, choose your ingredients from the buffet, and bring it to get weighed. Price is $15.99 per pound for dry pot, and slightly cheaper at $14.99 per pound for hot pot. They are also currently running a special deal, where you get a bag of beef or lamb with each order. Once you've gathered the ingredients, simply tell them how you want it prepared, and take a seat. After a short wait, they brought our food to the table. I got the dry pot, at level 2 spice and my wife got the hot pot at level 1 spice. Both were pretty spicy, but they were tasty. At the time of my visit, they did not have any fish on the ingredient buffet, which is my favorite for dry pot. Parking is a little easier here than other local dry pot places so i'll be here sometimes.
3.5 stars (for the dry hot pot). Haven't tried the other items yet This is a korean owned mala dry hot pot place. They don't have dry ramen noodles or fish (my favorites) but they do have jumbo shrimp and calamari. The vinegar they have was either straight up white vinegar or this .. black vinegar? that had an odd cinnamon type flavor to it. The sauces are also not at each table - you'd have to get up and get it. The spice had a ton of korean pepper flakes (gochugaru), which was a little off putting to me... since I don't think the traditional Chinese version uses it. It also felt like it was getting all over my mouth/in my teeth. The flavor was fine. I think they did a good job matching the spice level. They also drain the water out before weighing, which is nice.
Cozy malatang spot near the ShopRite in Pal Park. You start with a bowl and choose all the ingredients you want. The staff will then drain any water and weight your bowl. You pay according to the weigh, which can add up quickly if you opt for heavy items like conch with the shell. It can be prepared dry or with soup. The soup is nutty and a little sweet. I prefer dry but soup also slaps on a chilly day. Spicy level one is already pretty strong, they let you start at 0.5 or have it on the side to add in yourself if you are really not good with spicy. Level one was very enjoyable for me. They bring you your food when it's ready and you settle the bill after you are done. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. They offered us a free dessert, which was tanghulu if you pay in cash. Parking is very limited and I would recommend walking if you live in the neighborhood.
I came here twice and absolutely loved the concept of this restaurant. You can pick out the ingredients you want in your hot pot and they will cook it in the kitchen for you. Depending on which hot pot choice you select, the price will vary and is based on the weight of your ingredients. They also have different spice levels for those who love spicy or cannot handle spice. I would highly recommend this place for anyone craving hot pot and love mala spice! If you pay with cash, you get a free tanghulu as well!
My brother introduced my family to malatang-style restaurants a few months ago. Mala Mini has become our go-to since parking is a little easier than at some other spots. It can get pretty busy but the place is big enough that you usually don't have to wait for a table. So how it works is you pick up a basket and pick out whatever ingredients you want for your dish. Honestly, I think picking out your ingredients is half the fun of eating here. At $15.99/lb the price of your meal can add up pretty quick though. Whatever--eating out is a luxury, right? Sometimes you gotta treat yourself. There's a wide assortment of meat, vegetables, noodles, fishcakes, and seafood. There's something for everyone. I'd say this place is pretty vegetarian-friendly, potentially even vegan-friendly (just not sure if the broths are vegan). So once you're done picking out your ingredients you take it to the counter to be drained. If you're like me, you'll end up getting really excited which leads to a filled basket and ~2 lbs of ingredients. You let them know if you want dry pot (basically stir fry) or hot pot (w/ soup). I always go for dry pot, but I bet hot pot hits the spot on a cold and rainy day. They also ask what level spice you want from 1-3. Unless you're a certified Spice Lord DO NOT go above Level 1. From my experience, they will actively deter you from ordering Level 2 or higher. I can handle Level 2 but it's right at my limit of spice tolerance. I need to down a gallon of water to finish my meal if I order Level 2. Level 1 is the perfect amount of heat for me; gets me a little sweaty but I still enjoy all the flavors. I recently found out they can also do increments of 0.5; 0.5, 1.5, etc. Maybe next time I go I'll order 1.5. Once you put in your order the food comes out fairly quickly. They also serve it with a side dish of radishes and it also comes with rice. At the end of your meal they give each person in your party a probiotic drink. I've always enjoyed the meals I've had at Mala Mini. My only gripe is that it's a little pricey, but I know it just won't be the same if I do it at home. Thus, I know I will be back here.
25 days ago
Per pound is the way to go for hot pots. The sesame dressing is phenomenal and the Chinese iced tea is delicious. I go here at least once a week and it's my go to when I'm hungry in the area read more
As a non mala lover, this place was amazing for having a zero level for their mala soup. There were so many options for toppings for vegetables and meat that I didn't feel like I was missing out on the experience. Their other dishes were really good too! read more
My husband and I love a good choose-your-own-adventure type of meal, and this looked right up our alley. We felt a little turned around since everyone else seemed to know what to do and it was clearly our first time, but the guy at the counter was quick to explain how things work: Grab a clean pair of tongs and a bin to collect all of the fixings. There's lots to choose from - veggies, noodles, frozen seafood, and meats. When you've finished making your selection of add-ins, they'll weigh it at the front (it needs to be a minimum of one pound; every half pound thereafter exacts an added surcharge). From there, they'll ask about your preferred spice level and whether you want your meal 'wet' or 'dry' - 'wet' meaning in a broth and dry meaning stir fried. A note on heat levels: Beware of overestimating your personal spice tolerance. The spice levels range from 0 to 3 (which can be narrowed down to halves), and since I love some heat, I asked for a level 2. The guy taking my order hesitated and asked, "Are you sure? That's pretty spicy." When I marked it down to a 1.5, he nodded with relief and said, "That's probably better." When I got my meal and had my first bites, I was immediately grateful for his intervention. A 1.5 had plenty of that signature Szechuan numbing heat and I was feeling that fire in my belly for hours afterwards. My husband's brothy choice (with a more conservative spice level of 1) was far more muted. The nutty broth, along with the side dish of peanut dipping sauce, was a rich and tasty swimming pool for his ingredients of choice. A few random notes and tips: - 'Dry' meals will also come with a bowl of rice. There were tiny specks of egg throughout the bowl, which I considered a nice touch. - Curiously, the check is squared at the end of the meal rather than upon point of order (most self-serve spots will have you pay first). Those paying in cash get a tiny dessert at the end. The cash prize used to be tanghulu - a skewer of candied fruits - but now it seems to be a tiny serving of soft serve. - There's also something of an honor system at work. I watched people freely get up during their meals to grab their own drinks from the fridge, and everything somehow got totaled up at the end. - Remember that noodles bloat. I thought I chose a small amount of noodles and was surprised by how much they thickened after cooking and couldn't finish my meal. Finding parking is a beast of a task in this area. There are a few spots available in front, but it's shared with the cafe next door. Sometimes you can find spots along adjacent streets - we lucked out with a spot in one of these. read more
Hot pots...some like it dry, some like their hot pot wet. Regardless, here, you can have it anyway you want it. There are plenty of ingredients to choose from, ranging from fresh vegetables, noodles, fishballs, and even packages of meat, thinly sliced for you. Just be aware, whatever you choose, you must have a pound's worth for them to make it a dry pot or in a broth. I focused on tofu and seafood, so I had to have mine in a broth. You proceed to order your spice level. My skin has having aversion to spice, so I had mine at level 0.5. The others had theirs at 1 and 3. They opted for the dry pot, which was stir-fried. They offer cold beverages to help put out the fire for the average going cost. My House Malatang was delicious and had a nice sesame taste to it. I opted for plenty of seafood from razorback clams, to oysters, and fishballs, along with potato noodles and veggies galore. For those who opt for the dry pot, it comes with a bowl of rice. For an appetizer, they give you a small plate of pickled radishes. This helps cool you down should your spice be too much for you. If you are worried about accidentally splashing your clothes as you eat, they give you a black bib to put over yourself. At the end, you just hand it back, and the guy will collect them and refold them, good as new. That part surprised me, and I wished they threw them away for sanitary purposes. They have very limited parking in the front, but the restaurant is near a supermarket, so if need be, you can score parking over there. There are two bathrooms, men's and women's, and the restaurant is able to host anywhere from a single person to a larger group of people for dining. read more
I think if you try Mala once and you like it, it kind of has a strange power over you and makes you want it again and again. I think it's third time this month I've been to Mala Mini. I believe it's under a different management than last year and I think it's an improvement. I haven't tried any other Mala place because I'm familiar with the spice level here and know what to expect. The ingredient station is clean, always full, and the ingredients are fresh. I don't get the meat version and for seafood, they have different fish balls and frozen shrimp, clams, and octopus. For me their 1.5 is perfect for Mala tang. It's definitely spicy but not unbearable. My nose runs when I get this level but level 1 doesn't seem as flavorful to me nor packs enough heat. My friend who can't eat spicy food gets 0.5 and she is happy. I also like that the level goes by .5. For dry mala, I have gotten 1.5 and it's too spicy so I prefer 1 or .5. Service is friendly and servers always walk around filling water. If you pay in cash, you get soft ice cream for free. But they offer complimentary Korean yogurt drink post meal, which is perfect after spicy Mala. I have tried another Mala place in Fort Lee and found their Mala tang didn't have enough Mala flavor for me but perhaps I should have asked for more spicy. For about 1lb it's $15 and that keeps me full for a while. The dining area is pretty spacious and clean, as well as the bathroom. The staff are Chinese but they speak Korean too. The only gripe is parking but that's pretty much the case for most restaurants in Pal Park and Fort Lee area. read more
2 months ago
3 months ago
Love, love, love this place! It's my go-to for Malaytang whenever I visit NJ. I always get the spiciest broth, and as a spicy lover, it's absolutely the best! The ingredients always seem so fresh, and the broth just makes everything better. You can't go wrong here! Please give it a try! read more
1 year ago
Great malatang, Good price point and very filling! Veggies fresh, and the taste of the mala is soup is very rich. Fast and welcoming service. Would def come back for the 3rd time! read more
Came here with my brother and his family and clearly got carried away packing my bowl of ingredients! I love the method of ordering by weight and as this was my first time here I decided to go a little wild on the amount of food. But I enjoyed every bite I could there and took the rest home for another meal. I went with the level 1 spice and feel that was a perfect choice as any more wouldn't been problematic for me. The snow pear juice is delicious! I wish I knew where to get more of that. Highly recommend dining here and considering my nephews love this place I'm sure I'll be back soon. read more
Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 I came here with a couple of friends, and we all loved our House Malatang bowls! There was a fair enough selection of items I personally like available (e.g., veggie and mushroom variety). I only would ask for Soft tofu as the cherry on top! My bowl cost about $24 and left me incredibly full. The malatang price was $15/lb and came with a peanut/sesame flavored dipping sauce on the side. Also, they added tanghulu since I first visited, and it was a tasty snack after! We got ours for free by paying in cash. The cherry tomato could be switched out for a strawberry though lol. Clean establishment. Fast and friendly service. My only note is the challenging parking situation in front of the restaurant, but there are nearby parking spots that are a few minutes walk away. read more
Visited Mala Mini for lunch on a Saturday. It's a DIY dry pot/hot pot place where you grab a bowl, choose your ingredients from the buffet, and bring it to get weighed. Price is $15.99 per pound for dry pot, and slightly cheaper at $14.99 per pound for hot pot. They are also currently running a special deal, where you get a bag of beef or lamb with each order. Once you've gathered the ingredients, simply tell them how you want it prepared, and take a seat. After a short wait, they brought our food to the table. I got the dry pot, at level 2 spice and my wife got the hot pot at level 1 spice. Both were pretty spicy, but they were tasty. At the time of my visit, they did not have any fish on the ingredient buffet, which is my favorite for dry pot. Parking is a little easier here than other local dry pot places so i'll be here sometimes. read more
3 years ago
3.5 stars (for the dry hot pot). Haven't tried the other items yet This is a korean owned mala dry hot pot place. They don't have dry ramen noodles or fish (my favorites) but they do have jumbo shrimp and calamari. The vinegar they have was either straight up white vinegar or this .. black vinegar? that had an odd cinnamon type flavor to it. The sauces are also not at each table - you'd have to get up and get it. The spice had a ton of korean pepper flakes (gochugaru), which was a little off putting to me... since I don't think the traditional Chinese version uses it. It also felt like it was getting all over my mouth/in my teeth. The flavor was fine. I think they did a good job matching the spice level. They also drain the water out before weighing, which is nice. read more
Cozy malatang spot near the ShopRite in Pal Park. You start with a bowl and choose all the ingredients you want. The staff will then drain any water and weight your bowl. You pay according to the weigh, which can add up quickly if you opt for heavy items like conch with the shell. It can be prepared dry or with soup. The soup is nutty and a little sweet. I prefer dry but soup also slaps on a chilly day. Spicy level one is already pretty strong, they let you start at 0.5 or have it on the side to add in yourself if you are really not good with spicy. Level one was very enjoyable for me. They bring you your food when it's ready and you settle the bill after you are done. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. They offered us a free dessert, which was tanghulu if you pay in cash. Parking is very limited and I would recommend walking if you live in the neighborhood. read more
2 years ago
I came here twice and absolutely loved the concept of this restaurant. You can pick out the ingredients you want in your hot pot and they will cook it in the kitchen for you. Depending on which hot pot choice you select, the price will vary and is based on the weight of your ingredients. They also have different spice levels for those who love spicy or cannot handle spice. I would highly recommend this place for anyone craving hot pot and love mala spice! If you pay with cash, you get a free tanghulu as well! read more
2 years ago
My brother introduced my family to malatang-style restaurants a few months ago. Mala Mini has become our go-to since parking is a little easier than at some other spots. It can get pretty busy but the place is big enough that you usually don't have to wait for a table. So how it works is you pick up a basket and pick out whatever ingredients you want for your dish. Honestly, I think picking out your ingredients is half the fun of eating here. At $15.99/lb the price of your meal can add up pretty quick though. Whatever--eating out is a luxury, right? Sometimes you gotta treat yourself. There's a wide assortment of meat, vegetables, noodles, fishcakes, and seafood. There's something for everyone. I'd say this place is pretty vegetarian-friendly, potentially even vegan-friendly (just not sure if the broths are vegan). So once you're done picking out your ingredients you take it to the counter to be drained. If you're like me, you'll end up getting really excited which leads to a filled basket and ~2 lbs of ingredients. You let them know if you want dry pot (basically stir fry) or hot pot (w/ soup). I always go for dry pot, but I bet hot pot hits the spot on a cold and rainy day. They also ask what level spice you want from 1-3. Unless you're a certified Spice Lord DO NOT go above Level 1. From my experience, they will actively deter you from ordering Level 2 or higher. I can handle Level 2 but it's right at my limit of spice tolerance. I need to down a gallon of water to finish my meal if I order Level 2. Level 1 is the perfect amount of heat for me; gets me a little sweaty but I still enjoy all the flavors. I recently found out they can also do increments of 0.5; 0.5, 1.5, etc. Maybe next time I go I'll order 1.5. Once you put in your order the food comes out fairly quickly. They also serve it with a side dish of radishes and it also comes with rice. At the end of your meal they give each person in your party a probiotic drink. I've always enjoyed the meals I've had at Mala Mini. My only gripe is that it's a little pricey, but I know it just won't be the same if I do it at home. Thus, I know I will be back here. read more
11 months ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
We got both malatang and dry pot! They tasted so good and it was nice that we can adjust the spiciness level even by .5. It was very crowded and busy but workers are always very nice. read more
3 years ago
They require you to pay for at least a pound worth of food which is around $15.00 per pound. Mala broth was clean and not too spicy since I asked for mild. They only give you a small bowl of peanut sauce as a side with a few chunks of diakon. I paid $20.00 in cash for this bowl of mala soup including tip and they didn't give me the free desert taghloo at the end they give you when you pay cash because they said they ran out. For this amount of money and much better service I recommend going to Shaburo for AYCE unlimited hotpot lunch (same soup and variety of veggies, mushrooms, dumplings, noodles, fishcakes and more ) for $17.95 and soft serve dessert at the end! read more
3 years ago
Ambience: nice clean modern! Food: SO. GOOD. literally dreaming about it daily. It's customizable because you choose your own ingredients. The staff is so considerate and reasonable. They tap out all the water before weighing the ingredients to ensure you're not being over charged. The rice is perfect gyopo style with the yellow grain in it. And the soup is soooooo good. I've had so many different mala-soups and nothing compares to this one. ALSO mala soup is actually really hard to find. People usually sell the dry pot not the soup. We went around closing and was able to get the Tanghuru promotion! :) read more
3 years ago
My fave mala place in bergen area. The servers are attentive and nice as well. If u pay cash they give u free tanghulu read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
I wanted to try a good mala hot pot, and this is the spot!! The owner is really attentive and friendly. The food is fantastic. I am glad they open this delicious restaurant in palpark. read more
3 years ago
Ever since i passed by this place for it to be open a few weeks ago, i finally got to try the mala soup. I was shocked how it tasted so good and it is very clean. Cant wait to try the dry hot pot there when i go there next time! The service was very attentive and they were really kind and nice. They also have other dishes so i cant wait to try those as well! read more
3 years ago
More info about Mala Mini
138 W Central Blvd
Palisades Park, NJ 07650
Directions
(201) 822-0066
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