Cancel

Open app

Search

Mala Sichuan Bistro

4.0 (714 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

Order Mala Sichuan Bistro Takeout or Delivery

Mala Sichuan Bistro Photos

Business Info

MALA SICHUAN BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

You might also consider

More like Mala Sichuan Bistro

Recommended Reviews - Mala Sichuan Bistro

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

九层塔盐酥鸡丁 Basil Crispy Chicken, 小熊红烧肉 Jiggling Pork Belly, and 四川担担面 Dan Dan Noodles
Sophie T.

After being nominated for a Michelin Bib Gourmand, my family and I were excited to try this place for ourselves. We arrived early for dinner and were seated quickly, and the service was great from start to finish. Since it was around 4 o'clock, the restaurant was not too crowded, but there were still a fair number of tables filled. Our waitress was very friendly, and the staff handled a small mistake with our order in a thoughtful and accommodating way. My favorite dish of the meal was the Dan Dan Noodles. The noodles were cooked perfectly, the pork was well seasoned, and the sesame sauce was balanced with a bright Szechuan flavor and a slight numbing sensation. This is definitely a must order if you visit. We also ordered the Kung Pao Chicken and the Basil Crispy Chicken based on Yelp recommendations. The Kung Pao chicken was not your typical Americanized version. It leaned more into Szechuan flavors, offering that signature numbing quality without being overly spicy. I personally preferred the basil crispy chicken, as it reminded me of Taiwanese popcorn chicken, and I especially loved the fried basil. The last dish we tried was the Basil Eggplant and String Beans. It was very flavorful and served as a nice contrast to the richer and more numbing dishes on the table. The oyster sauce and soy sauce combination was well balanced and not overly salty. Overall, I enjoyed the meal and appreciated the quality of the dishes and service, but I do not think it fully lives up to the Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. While there were standout items, the experience as a whole did not feel distinctive enough for me to go out of my way to return.

花椒鸡丁 Peppercorn Chicken
Chloe L.

No wait for dinner on a Thursday! Slightly upscale Sichuan food, think fancy Tiger Noodle. Ambiance feels nice for a date or just a night out. Generous portions on everything, recommend sharing family-style. We ordered: - spicy and crispy chicken: loved the seasoning on this, not too spicy and slightly sweet. very crunchy. - mapo tofu: personally I wouldn't recommend this, it was a bit bland some parts and salty other parts, and the marinade felt off to me. Super extensive menu so I'd come back to try other dishes!

Dry Pot Fish Fillet
Lisa J.

Popped in the original Mala's last night early evening around d 6 :30 ish because I was craving spicy Sichuan goodness and wanted to go back to my "roots"... As far as ambiance, this location is hands down my favorite. It is a dimly lit , shadowy hideaway inside, kinda with the feel of a speak easy, but for Chinese food ! I was dining alone so I preceded to head upstairs where I was quickly seated. Now I must admit, beyond the occasional checking to see if I was still "ok" , the waitstaff was not as attentive as I normally remember from many previous pasts visits , and many times I had to wait to place another order or get another beverage longer than I should have. But besides that, this original location is still very comforting for me and the food never disappoints!

Crispy and spicy chicken
Trisha C.

I have gone here several times, primarily for their spicy & crispy chicken. I probably ordered it 4-5x at this point. Of course, I have tried other food, but I really love this. I like eating it at the restaurant as opposed to taking it out because it is a bit crisper. It is so good with rice. I will eat it as a meal and sometimes as a snack. The ambiance is nice, and the service is excellent. I have gone there when it is busy and when there aren't a lot of people, and the service has been very consistent. I will definitely come here again.

Vivian L.

I absolutely love Mala Sichuan, which absolutely lives up to its name (the "mala" refers to the tingly feeling associated with the Sichuan spices). My go-to every time I come here is the mapo tofu, which has a good balance of sauce to tofu (many places have too much of one or the other). The rice portions are generous and they will give you more if you want. I also enjoy the spicy cucumbers as an appetizer. The ambiance is also wonderful - dark, deep red colors, and a very calming feel. Another reviewer called it "like a speakeasy, but for Chinese food", and I can agree with those vibes! Service is also wonderful: I am always helped quickly, but once the food comes out, the waiters get out of your way and let you enjoy the meal.

Krizia M.

Menu is a bit overwhelming and could be organized to allow simplicity when deciding through an array of options... seating is upstairs and bathrooms are downstairs near the bar. Great location & yummy food otherwise but was lacking customer service.. it took a while to find a waiter but once they took our order the food arrived quickly. Definitely worth trying if you're in the mood for Sichuan spice with authentic, shareable bites.

Kung Pao Chicken
Manuel G.

Mala Sichuan Bistro, with several locations across the city, is without a doubt the best Chinese restaurant in Houston for me. Especially the one on Westheimer, which remains my favorite. Of course, China is a vast country with many culinary regions, and our city is fortunate to have a wide variety of them represented. Still, Mala Sichuan is always my first choice. Even though they have several spots, we always return to the one in the Montrose area whenever we can. I love the décor and the service is always excellent. Well done. The menu is extensive. Just keep in mind that Sichuan cuisine tends to be spicy, so let your server know if you do not eat spicy food. There is so much worth recommending that I suggest you let the staff guide you. Still, I highly recommend ordering several dishes to share, so you can taste a variety of flavors on each visit. Do not miss the Kung Pao Chicken and the Peppercorn Chicken. When you try them, pay close attention to the unique flavor of the Sichuan peppercorn. It is not just spicy, it has a fascinating menthol-like quality. We love it. Mala Sichuan is without a doubt our number one choice when it comes to Chinese food in Houston. Bravo Español: Mala Sichuan Bistro, con varias localidades en la ciudad, es sin duda para mí el mejor restaurante chino de Houston. En especial el de Westheimer, que sigue siendo mi favorito. Claro está que China es un país inmenso con muchas regiones culinarias, y en nuestra ciudad tenemos la fortuna de contar con una gran variedad de ellas. Aun así, Mala Sichuan es siempre mi primera opción. Aunque tienen varias sucursales, cada vez que podemos, regresamos a la que está en el área de Montrose. Me encanta la decoración y siempre la atención es excelente. Qué buen trabajo. La carta es muy grande. Solo tengan en cuenta que la comida Sichuan, por lo general, tiende a ser picante, así que avísenle a su mesera o mesero si no comen picante. Hay mucho por recomendar, así que sugiero dejarse guiar por el personal del restaurante. Aun así, les recomiendo pedir para compartir, de manera que puedan probar varias cosas en cada visita. No se pierdan el Kung Pao Chicken y el Peppercorn Chicken. Y al hacerlo, pongan atención al sabor especial de esta especia que, más que picante, tiene una cualidad mentolada muy interesante. Nos encanta. Mala Sichuan, sin pensarlo, es nuestra primera opción cuando se trata de comida china en Houston. Bravo

Yangzhou Style Fried Rice
MC F.

There isn't a sign outside, so, unless you know to look for the cool black building in the corner, you might miss it! Came here because of the Michelin shout-out, and the food satisfied our Sichuan craving. Every dish was unique, and the flavors were complex and colorful. As you can see from my photos, the dishes were beautiful, as well. Standouts were the jiggling pork belly - meltingly tender - and the fried rice. The original wontons were delicious, as well, and reminded me of when my mom used to make homemade wontons. The garlic bacon was not what I was expecting (they were not bad/not great) and the eggplant was a tad under seasoned. I will be back to try other menu offerings!

Spicy and Crispy Chicken
Anna S.

I was today years old when I realized I had tried Mala Sichuan Bistro in Katy a few years ago; maybe it was fate that I decided to try again at their Westheimer location! Unlike the other Mala spots, this one is quite hidden, with a dark, nearly windowless exterior making the building rather unassuming if you don't look closely. The interior of the Westheimer location is gorgeous; it has two stories, so seating is ample! They were generous with their portions, and we ordered about five dishes. - Dan Dan Noodles: (3.5/5) I've had Dan Dan noodles a few times and personally wasn't a fan of how it was prepared here; it wasn't bad, and I'd give it a try again, but I do think it could've been spicier. - Red Oil Dumplings: (2/5) Similarly, this also could've been spicier. Their preparation wasn't bad, but as the name suggests, it was quite oily, and I quickly realized that maybe these dumplings weren't my cup of tea. - Spicy and Crispy Chicken: (4/5) Not bad! I enjoyed it and thought the chicken was appropriately crispy, and there was a good spicy kick to it. It's a safe order, but nothing was WOW about it. - Mapo Tofu: (3/5) Personally, I'm not a fan of the numbing spice that I get from Mapo tofu, so I didn't eat too much of it; however, my friends who are Mapo Tofu fanatics weren't too satisfied with the tofu. - Eggplants in Spicy Garlic Sauce: (5/5) This order alone was the star of the dinner, I think I fell in love... Not too oily, and it's great to have when you're eating it alongside protein-heavy foods. I'm not sure how the sauce was prepared, but I'd go back to Mala just to order the spicy eggplant dish. The garlic flavor wasn't too prominent, however. If I recall correctly, I do feel like this location holds back a bit on spice compared to their Katy location (granted, it's been a few years). It's a pretty decent Sichuan spot if you're craving Asian food in the Montrose area. I'd definitely come back, but order different dishes next time.

Mala Bamboo Shoots
Meghan M.

I've been to this location of Mala three times prior over the last four years, so admittedly, it's been a while and I come sporadically -- however, for some reason, I feel like the food has gotten milder over the years? It's delicious and I always enjoy myself, but I found myself wishing there were more Sichuanese peppercorns in the dishes we had (like the pepper chicken). The service and ambiance are great, but was just surprised by the lack of spice in the dishes today. I asked for hot sauce on the side, but they just had chili oil, which wasn't very numbingly spicy. I'm giving today's experience a 3.5 stars. Overall, Mala is a solid restaurant and I would come back, but next time I will be specifying that I would like everything to be extra spicy.

鱼香茄子 Eggplants in Spicy Garlic Sauce 花椒鸡丁 Peppercorn Chicken 西湖牛肉羹 West Lake Soup
Kevin L.

Mala on Westheimer is well within my top 3 favorite Szechuan restaurants in Houston! No dish fails! If you're new to Szechuan food, the west lake soup slaps, peppercorn chicken is a universal favorite, and eggplant in garlic sauce is super.

This is the black pepper chicken that I received

See all

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

17 days ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

21 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sophie T.
19
233
744

29 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Cori X.

Cori X.

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Manuel G.
32
43
256

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of MC F.
0
484
861

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Cori X.

Cori X.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 0
Love this 5
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Good Sichuan food with great price and portions. We loved it and took some home to Austin.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Cori X.

Cori X.

we don't mind you come dine in in your pajamas!!!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Cori X.

Cori X.

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1

8 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Theja A.
681
2
15

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Cori X.

Cori X.

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 18

Mala Sichuan Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mala Sichuan Bistro

Hello! Mala has been out go to restaurant for awhile! I have searched and cannot find an email to the owners to provide info about our experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated?

How can I make reservation? Will you be open for the New Year Eve

Yes we will be open, call us to make the reservation.

Will you be open on Christmas Day?

Yes, regular hours

Are there and gluten and dairy free options?

There's many dairy free options Gluten free is hard to do for traditional Sichuan because many dishes contain fermented broad bean paste, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, fermented… Read more

Do you have outdoor seating for family 8?

Yes we can manage that, best if you call in ahead of time so we can set it up

Do you have any non-meat dishes that are also non-spicy? Do you serve lunch and dinner on the patio?

Yes we do have non spicy non meat dishes. You can also some of the spicy non meat dishes to be made non spicy (but not all of them). Yes we can serve you on the patio.

Do you deliver? I'm thinking to order group meal for 10 ppl.

We don’t have our own delivery service, we do take out, we also deliver via third party delivery app

Do we need make reservations?

You can but you don’t have to

View All 9 Questions

You might also consider

Hu's Cooking

Hu's Cooking

4.5(1.1k reviews)
3.0 miWest University, Braeswood Place
$$

$20-30 We ordered the 3 shrimp egg rolls, beef and broccoli,…read moreand the walnut shrimp. Everything we had was delicious. We highly recommend giving it a try. Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5 Noise level Quiet, easy to talk Parking space Somewhat difficult to find parking Parking options Free parking lot

I've been a happy patron of Hu's Cooking ever since they opened the year before the pandemic, but…read morebecause of their instant success and local renown from their excellent eats, speedy service, busy-but-not-crowded vibes (see: their 1000+ Yelp reviews) I've never felt the need to drop a review of my own - until just this week. On my most recent visit we ordered mapo tofu with pork intestines off the specials menu - a hybrid of two of my favorite Sichuan-style dishes. The blend of bouncy, savory morsels amidst tender, saucy tofu was at once revolutionary and so obvious; why hadn't I yet seen this at any other restaurant? And sure, innards may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's important for you to know that none of my past orders from the 50+ item menu have ever failed me, whether enjoyed in the restaurant or at home. Maybe you'd prefer the aromatic, classic, perfectly balanced three-cup chicken? Or the sweet-skinned duck, glazed so delicately that specks of sugar crystal threaten to jump off onto the plate as you pick up a juicy slice with your chopsticks? And if you're vegetarian, might you consider the punchy garlic eggplant or the wok-kissed string beans? I could go on. Do yourself a favor and come see for yourself, though I'd recommend parallel parking on the neighborhood streets behind the restaurant rather than the rocky parking lot, to save you some trouble. Bring friends and chow down family style - you'll need help covering as much of the menu as you can, but you'll definitely have to come back to try everything.

Photos
Hu's Cooking - Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans

Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans

Hu's Cooking - Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat

Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat

Hu's Cooking

See all

Mala Sichuan Bistro - 红糖糍粑 Brown Sugar Sticky Rice Cake

Mala Sichuan Bistro

4.1(1.1k reviews)
9.7 miChinatown, Sharpstown
$$

Mala's Bellaire ambiance is definitely cozier and homier than their locations in Montrose and Katy…read moreAsian Town. It has a more quaint, mom-and-pop feel. Their service was great, and their extensive menu made it hard to decide what to order! But overall, I didn't feel like being too adventurous, so I ordered the usual: 1) Mapo Tofu: (4.5/5) Pretty tasty! There was definitely a numbing spice, but PERSONALLY not a fan of the addition of ginger, but this is purely personal preference, but something to keep in mind if it's not your favorite ingredient. 2) Eggplants in Spicy Garlic Sauce: (5/5) chefs kiss, you can't go wrong with this. Maybe the Montrose and Bellaire location prepare it a bit differently, but I felt that the Bellaire location did not skimp out on the garlic pieces; I also don't think the dish was very spicy, however. 3) Spicy and Crispy Chicken: (5/5) There's not much to say, but this is another classic that you can't mess up! There are several other dishes that I look forward to trying, and definitely think Mala is one of the best Sichuan places in the area!

The food here is fantastic! When we walked in it was very busy, but we were seated immediately as a…read moreparty of two, which was impressive. The food came out quickly and everything we tried was delicious. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the service. It was extremely busy and it seemed like there were only two servers handling the entire floor. If you didn't ask for what you needed when they initially came by, it was very difficult to get anyone's attention afterward. We had quite a bit of leftovers and couldn't get anyone to come over for to-go boxes or the check I ended up having to go to the front to ask. Overall, great food and a good experience, but they definitely need more staff if it's consistently this busy.

Photos
Mala Sichuan Bistro - Dining area

Dining area

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Spicy and Crispy Chicken

Spicy and Crispy Chicken

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Inside of restaurant

See all

Inside of restaurant

Bamboo House - Twice Cooked Pork Belly

Bamboo House

4.4(732 reviews)
15.4 mi
$$

I have heard great feedback about Bambok House and and their authentic Chinese Cuisine. The first…read moretime I visited I planned it to the T and when I visited their bar was not operational any longer, and that was apart of my planning. So I left. The second time I visited, I had the Hong Shao Rou with mushrooms (Braised Pork Belly) to-go, not a huge fan of takeout and this didn't disappoint and it was good. The takeout team member was pleasant enough. They feature an open kitchen with two tops closer to the wall/glass and larger tables more toward the middle of the restaurant. From the outside it features the traditional Chinese architecture with western building base. I look forward to yaksying the rest of the menu this year.

I've eaten at Bamboo House enough times to know that the food can be a hit or miss depending on the…read morenight. When it's done right, the flavors are bold and satisfying. But the inconsistency has been an issue for me, and the flavors aren't as good as they once were. Dishes I regularly ordered like Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Japanese Egg Tofu, and Honey Walnut Shrimp haven't stood out as much as of lately. Dishes like Szechuan Spicy Chicken is still one of my favorite, and Garlic Snow Pea Leaves are delicious when in season. Bamboo House still holds its place as great spot for group dining. The portion is generous, prices are fair, and overall a solid restaurant that's still worth recommending.

Photos
Bamboo House - Inside

Inside

Bamboo House - Peking Duck + Pancakes

Peking Duck + Pancakes

Bamboo House - Outside

See all

Outside

Mala Sichuan Bistro - 风味辣子鸡丁 Spicy and Crispy Chicken

Mala Sichuan Bistro

4.3(132 reviews)
2.8 miThe Heights

Always hit the spot for a homey meal. It's conveniently located at M-K-T near the trail…read more Occasionally, it gets crowded at night but we never have to wait for too long for a table. Some of my favorites to order and easy to share as a group: - Squirrel tail fish: interesting name but we were surprised how good it was. It became one of our favorites to order. - Spicy crispy chicken: a classic to try. - Eggplants in spicy garlic sauce - Dry pot beef - Mapo tofu: my favorite at Mala - Sizzling rice cracker pork The quality is always consistent regardless of the location. Food comes out fairly quick. Service is friendly. Mala is my favorite place to get good Sichuan food in Houston.

Nut allergy friendly: Mala is surprisingly conscious about allergies, which has always been a plus…read morefor me. There are many dishes with nuts or pine nuts (like the kung pao chicken) but they're usually pretty clear. The Mala on Westheimer has been a staple in my friends' lives for a long time. We did a 15-person table at this Mala location when it was still relatively new, and I still get to-go from it decently often since it's easy to get in and out of MKT's parking (and I live closer to it, nothing against the parking in Montrose!). Our staples are always the spicy and crispy chicken, twice cooked pork, and the dry fried double vegetables. Always safe picks. We usually adventure out and try something different every time. I really like how they do their beef dry pot, their garlic cordyceps (definitely recreating that one at home), and their cumin lamb. Their mapo tofu is also awesome. While it's not the "main" Mala location, it still serves up an authentic experience and MKT is lucky to have them.

Photos
Mala Sichuan Bistro - Interior

Interior

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Mala Beef Tendon

Mala Beef Tendon

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Eggplants in Spicy Garlic Sauce

See all

Eggplants in Spicy Garlic Sauce

Mala Sichuan Bistro - szechuan - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...