Consistently good food and probably the best local chain for Sichuan in Houston. The heights location is a little swankier but we love the space of this location especially for larger groups upstairs. Our go to orders are the hot pepper chicken, cumin lamb, red oil wontons, and Dan Dan noodles. The food is spicy and numbing from the sichuan peppercorn and very flavorful. My only complaint is the salt level of some of the dishes but otherwise it's excellent. Hopefully they can open up a new location closer to us in SE Houston/Webster eventually. read more

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Get the eggplant! Been obsessed with Sichuan food lately, and my friend recommended this place. I think we may have went on an off day because I have tried takeout form this place that was delicious, but on this day the food wasn't my favorite. We did overall enjoyed our experience and time and I would recommend giving this place a try! We ordered a total of 5 dishes and everything seemed very authentic to Sichuan cooking. With Sichuan cuisine though, a lot of the food will be on the oily side, so keep that in mind. - Eggplant In Spicy Sauce (5/5): Definitely order this dish! You can tell the eggplant was prepared well because it retained its beautiful purple color and luscious shape. The flavor was sweet and savory seeped well into the eggplant. My only comment would be that there wasn't a strong garlic flavor, but it was still so tasty I think it deserved that 5/5! - Mapo Tofu (2.5/5): I came here specifically for the mapo tofu but was left a bit disappointed. The flavor was pretty good and had that strong Sichuan pepper spice that lingers after a while. My issue with the tofu was the consistency of the sauce. I found it to be very thick and clumpy in an unpleasant way, almost like eating little gelatin pieces. I would probably come back to try it again just in case this was a bad batch, but it's hard to compete with wanna boa's mapo tofu. - Spicy and Crispy Chicken (4/5): Pretty juicy and crispy chicken with a slight kick. I love anything fried chicken so I did enjoy this dish but it was pretty standard and there wasn't much to write about. - Red Oil Dumplings (3/5): Pretty standard oil dumplings. They weren't really spicy which would be good for people who can't handle spice. I think I would've liked a bit more meat filling but overall not bad. - Dan Dan Noodles (3/5): I loved the texture of the noodles but I found the sauce to be kinda slippery which made it hard adhere to the noodles. I also thought the flavor could've been a bit stronger. Service/Ambiance: the interior of this place was super cute, especially the upstairs area. I loved the dim lighting and tiny table lamps which gave this place a cozy romantic feeling. The outside was also interesting with an all black exterior and no sign. That might make it hard to notice or find the restaurant, but that did give it a more hidden feeling which was nice. Parking was also abundant and service was great! read more

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I decided to come here at the last minute on a Saturday and it was not busy at all. There is free parking which is always a plus. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated. Service was pretty good, friendly and attentive. I had the Red Oil Dumplings which were pretty good and the Sizzling Rice Cracker Pork which was just okay. I was hoping I would love the food because they have a Bib Gourmand designation but I just wasn't impressed. read more

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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. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - 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 - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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! read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - 花椒鸡丁 Peppercorn Chicken - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Loved the food here!! Massive portion, we definitely over ordered for four of us. The dumpling were amazing, the beef rib was really good but it comes in small pieces of meat with bones. I wish the ribs were larger so that it would be consumed faster, but the small pieces made it a great sharing plate for 4 people. The hot and sour soup was amazing as well. read more

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! read more

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Visiting from San Diego where we have some amazing Szechuan restaurants, I was surprised to find there was just as good if not better dishes in Houston. The most notable dish for me was the water boiled fish fillet. This was also eaten to go so I'm sure fresh out of the kitchen it wouldn't have been even more delicious! read more

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. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Crispy and spicy chicken - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

One of my favorite places to get Chinese takeout. You can add notes to your order and they actually pay attention. Just a good spot although the spice levels have gone down tremendously. read more

Out of all the locations in Houston, this Mala on Westheimer is easily the most hidden. It's small and located on the furthest corner of the lot with very minimal lighting to distinguish itself from its neighbors. Make no mistake though; despite the humble appearance, its food holds the same standards as its larger counterparts such as in the Heights or Katy. Their water boiled fish fillet (not pictured) is always a must for me, but it's not for the faint of heart in terms of spice. I grew up on that dish, and Mala has consistently served it with an enjoyable semi-firm texture and the appropriate ratio of fish to vegetables. Other classics include the dan dan noodles, mapo tofu, and crispy chicken; these are much likelier crowd pleasers than the fish. My friends and I usually stroll to another shop if we're craving dessert afterward, but we gave the tiramisu and matcha cake a shot this time. Totally worth it! I can't decide which one I like better. If possible, just get both and share with your buddies. Houston has plenty of Sichuan restaurants to choose from, but Mala stands out through consistency in service, taste, and authenticity. I have yet to feel let down once among the 20-something times I've visited across all locations. read more

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. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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 read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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Delicious sichuan food where the peppers really do numb your tongue. The boiled fish is so good, and I always love mabo tofu. I don't think you can go wrong here... the crepe cake looks delicious as well. It has a mysterious black exterior (no sign). You go in, and the mural is beautiful. There is a second story as well that is quaint and cute. read more

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. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Mala Bamboo Shoots - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Dan Dan noodles are pretty excellent. They also offer "take home" dan dan noodles where all the ingredients are separate, if you're not ready to eat it immediately. Couples Lung Slices (which I just discovered has no lung) are not good. Very tough and chewy. Not as flavorful as other places. They're much better at Li's Potstickers or Cooking Girl (at Cooking Girl they're called Mr. and Mrs. Smith). To-go order pick up is really easy if you're in a rush. Just order online, head to the host stand when it's ready, and your food will already be waiting for you. Don't even need to wait for someone to hand it to you. read more

Extremely Disappointing Experience Our group arrived a little before 9:00 PM, well ahead of the posted 10:00 PM closing time. From the moment we walked in, the staff made it clear we were not welcome. We were told the kitchen closes at 9:30 PM, and rather than being offered proper service, we were given Styrofoam cups -- apparently to avoid doing dishes, which came across as lazy and unprofessional. The ordering process was rushed, and any small adjustments we requested were met with visible frustration and even yelling toward the kitchen. The overall attitude of the staff made for an uncomfortable and unpleasant dining experience. This was by far the worst experience we've had here, and unfortunately, we do not plan to return. read more

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. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - 鱼香茄子 Eggplants in Spicy Garlic Sauce 花椒鸡丁 Peppercorn Chicken 西湖牛肉羹 West Lake Soup - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Not what it used to be, which is disappointing. My recent experience here did not make me want to come back, and it's solely because of the food. I was looking forward to having some of my favorite dishes that I used to order because I was craving them, only to be let down because literally all three dishes we ordered were extremely salty, to the point that we couldn't finish a single dish and had to chase every bite with rice or tea. Ordered the dry fried double veggies, spicy and crispy chicken, and the water boiled fish fillet. Used to be such solid dishes but I've noticed inconsistency in their food ever since they've open other locations, and not just at this location. I also wish they made the water boiled fish fillet like they used to, now they just add a ton of cornstarch to it and it's not even the same dish anymore :( read more

First time ordering from here, I ordered black pepper chicken but the food I got didn't look exactly like the picture in their menu and also the flavor was not right and the chicken was saucy and it shouldn't. In the pictures I've added you can see the difference between what they show and what I received. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - This is the black pepper chicken that I received - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Mala makes some delicious food! The phone service leaves something to be desired -- we've ordered twice now and each time, the lady was curt and hung up on us without taking a name or giving a time estimate. Still, a small price to pay for really tasty food. Another small issue is that their website doesn't list spice levels. We got burned (literally) with their Green Peppercorn Beef. It was off-the-charts spicy where we couldn't eat it without rinsing it. Most things here will have a kick for sure but they need to warn you when it's that level of spice. This seems like the sort of place where anything you order is pretty likely to please. My favorite items so far have been the Beef Brisket with Mushroom Medley (a delicious dish with zero spice but ample flavor that even my toddler enjoyed) and the Twice Cooked Pork. Their Red Oil Dumplings and Sour and Spicy Wontons are great as well. Honestly, everything we've tried has been good. Highly recommended and definitely my new go-to spot for Sichuan food. read more

I visited Mala for the first time as my husband and I love Sichuan food. The food was great 9/10 We ordered hot and sour soup 10/10 Dry pot beef 10/10 Crispy and spicy chicken 9/10 The service was very quick 10/10 Ambiance was really nice and the overall vibe was great 10/10 read more

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This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in all of Houston! Food is always consistently good and it comes out fresh! Service is very quick too! My favorites are the brown sugar rice cakes, Dan noodle noodles, hot pot fish, and the garlic eggplant! read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Demolished half the food before we could take a pic - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great spot! It has a wonderful ambiance inside and is beautifully decorated. The server was really kind and took his time to explain the menu and the type of food served. There are plenty of small plates to try, and we got a small sampling, but it was still a TON of food! Probably 4 more meals out of it likely. We had the dan dan noodles, red oil dumplings, and the king Pao chicken. My favorite was the kung pao chicken, it was really yummy with the peppers and had a perfect kick to it. The dan dan noodles were good, but I was slightly disappointed as I had expected them to have a bit more spice to them. The red oil dumplings were delicious, the pork was well seasoned, and the dumplings themselves were perfect! Wonderful place! I recommend for a big group (they have a lot of seating upstairs). We didn't have drinks, but they also have an extensive beverage menu as well. It was great! read more

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

LOVE this place. Our favorite items are: - Shrimp w/ cracker - Black pepper beef - Chilli oil dumplings - Fried chili chicken Amazing food that is served hot and fresh. To be honest we've only ever gotten take-out and never dined in, so I can't speak on the service. The staff have been friendly when we pick up orders, though! The ambiance is a little upscale--dim lighting, ambient lighting, nice decor, etc., so I prefer just picking up the food so I can go in my pajamas lol. read more

The restaurant itself is nice. Very cute and stylish. Nice seating. Good lighting. Solid alcoholic beverage list. Extensive menu. Employees are always nice. Food comes out fast. Most dishes I've had have been really good. The Dan Dan noodles weren't very flavorful. But the crispy chicken and the crispy beef are really good. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

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They are pretty nut allergy friendly (servers will understand the request). But I almost always get the same thing when I come with my friend anyway. A family-style Sichuan restaurant that has expanded across Houston, this Mala location is located in the corner of the lot next to the abandoned ACME Oyster House with plenty of parking. There is nice bar seating downstairs and more large circle tables upstairs that comfortably seat 10-12. I always order the twice cooked pork, spicy and crispy chicken, and vegetables (along with rice, can feed 3-4 people). The twice cooked pork is a classic and Mala is one of the only locations that makes theirs with leeks. Nice spice, very flavorful (4.5/5). The spicy and crispy chicken has more numbing heat than expected. It usually comes out great, but the chicken at my last meal here was a bit drier than expected. (4/5) The dry fried vegetable green beans are an excellent side with rice and any protein. (4.5/5) They are also BYOB with a corkage fee. Great place for food, hope they treat their servers well. read more

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Food is amazing! I had the Dan Dan Noodles and the Cripsy Shrimp with Rice cake... The quality and flavor was outstanding. This location seemed to be more flavorful than the MKT location. read more

We have been going to mala for 10 years and it has maintained the same great quality and taste! The ambience is pleasant for an intimate date or family dinner. The service is nice and timely. The prices are also great for the quality and portion sizes. There are a ton of vegan and vegetarian-friendly options, making it great for groups. This time, we got: kung pao chicken (6/10) - great texture but a bit too sweet for our taste (though we did get it modified to be without peppercorn) eggplant in spicy garlic sauce (8/10) - usually not a fan of eggplant but the garlic sauce makes it taste so good! baby bok choy and shiitake mushroom (6/10) - this was good once we mixed in the sauce with the bok choy, but the other items were better tasting in comparison house special funky cold noodles (8/10) - these were so refreshing in the houston heat! they were also just the right amount of spice without the numbing effect of peppercorn sautéed lotus root with red chillies (4/10) - this was too bland for our taste, but we asked for chili oil which made it somewhat better Our other favorites (not pictured) are the dan dan noodles, mapo tofu, peppercorn chicken, yangzhou fried rice, and crepe cakes! read more

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Great place for authentic Sichuan food. Went on a Friday night, easy to get a table for 2. Inside is beautifully decorated along the main wall. Water boiled fish: 4.5/5 one of my favorite dishes, love the combination of the numbing spice with fish, the sauce is thick and perfect on a bed of rice, could use a little more of the mala spice but that's just my personal preference Lamb ribs: 4/5 fried lamb ribs with their mala spice, great texture and flavor, had a few pieces that were really fatty which was tasty but can be a bit much Dan dan noodles: 3.5/5 could've used more sauce, pretty good but standard dan dan noodles Matcha millie fuille cake: 4/5 slightly bitter matcha balanced well with the cream and honey, appreciated the sparkler for an extra special touch Love getting this place to go and decided to try the inside. The service was good and the food came out really quickly. read more

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Yummnmyyyy food!! Cumin lamb, twice cooked pork, dan dan noodles, I mean it was all so good. You really can't go wrong ordering here. Id get a variety and eat family style. I will definitely be back!! read more

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3.5 stars. Go for the spicy and crispy chicken. Overall good selection, decent quality, semi authentic. Stopped by for dinner with a friend. Place is decent if you are in the area, but def not a destination place. The spicy and crispy chicken was really good but the hot and sour soup and pork and bamboo was just ok. For the pork and bamboo, at first glance it looks about right, but the flavor was bland. Also all the pork was stuck together in big clumps, which made it hard to eat. The hot and sour soup was similar. Looks good, but flavors are more mild and only semi authentic. The place is pretty spacious, including an upstairs dining area. Ample parking. Service was good. read more

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Amazing service and good! The crispy basil chicken is amazing and we got a couple of drinks that I don't remember but were made to perfection! My friend didn't like the sticky rice balls and our server took it off the bill which was so kind. Place was clean and looked great inside. The seating is intimate but I enjoyed it. Some people don't like being super close to others, so consider that before coming here. 10/10 place can't wait to come again! read more

Returned and really enjoyed the dishes this time! I got the water boiled fish ($16), mapo tofu ($14), and cumin lamb ($18). Everything was absolutely delicious!! The cumin beef/lamb may be a bit overpriced compared to the other dishes but I liked their incorporation of bell peppers into the dish. I appreciated how the fish relatively isn't as oily compared to other restaurants' interpretation of that dish. The ambiance is great and ample parking, this is a great location for szechuan closer to central/downtown Houston! read more

The restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere and spans two floors. The waitress is very nice. However, there was a strong odor near the restroom, which left a negative impression. The food is served incredibly quickly--this has its pros and cons. On the positive side, there's no wait after ordering. On the downside, it raises concerns about whether the dishes are freshly prepared. Having eaten a lot of Chinese cuisine in LA, New York, and the Bay Area, I feel this place caters more to Chinese-American tastes rather than authentic Chinese flavors. Not necessary a bad thing, just not to my preference when I am craving for Chinese food. read more

Mala Sichuan Bistro - Szechuan Near Me - Houston, Texas

Mala Sichuan is my old faithful for flavorful authentic Szechuan cuisine. Tucked in the corner of a plaza, behind the late Acme Oysterhouse, it can be easily missed. Inside, the restaurant has two floors - the ground level offering a few casual tables and a couple of bar seats, while the upstairs has additional tables for larger groups and a slightly more formal setting. Regardless of which floor you visit, don't forget to check out their beautiful thatched roof detail on the interior ceiling. The menu offers a wide of variety of dishes with varying spiciness levels and protein sources. My personal favorite is the dry pot vegetables which is better than some of the other local competitors. It's not overly oily, has a nice variety of vegetables and comes with a large side of white rice. I highly recommend but be warned that it is does have the classic mouth-numbing Szechuan peppercorn so if you're not into spicy food, proceed with caution. Service was wonderful. Very attentive and our food came out in just a few minutes. Parking is widely available in the plaza parking lot. read more