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    Mala Sichuan Bistro

    4.3 (132 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    干锅牛肉 Dry Pot Beef
    Bryan V.

    I'm no stranger to Mala Sichuan Bistro, but this was my first time trying the Heights location. I think they were having a good day because the food tasted even better than usual. I was scarfing down every single dish! Mala Dry Pot: one of my favorite dishes of all time. The Mala seasoning was delicious. I would've loved more lotus root! Pork with rice cracker: very tender pork... it contrasted well with the crispy rice crackers. I enjoyed it. Crispy spicy chicken: Not much to say. I always get this dish and it hits the spot every time. Eggplant in garlic sauce: tender and full of garlicky goodness. Don't skip this! Mapo tofu: Classic. They've really solidified this recipe. Spicy, savory, soft... Yum. Sweet and sour crispy fish: saved the best for last. So this was a new dish they were serving! I've never seen it before and ever since I've tried it, I think about it often. I was upset to find out they don't serve it at the Katy location! The sauce is soooo good and the fish maintains its crispiness. They need to make it a mainstay item at every location. It was THAT good.

    麻婆豆腐 Mapo Tofu  风味辣子鸡丁 Spicy and Crispy Chicken
    Jennifer V.

    Slowly trying all the Mala locations!! Mala is one of my favorite restaurants these days. Cumin lamb, mapo tofu, and spicy popcorn chicken are my favorites. Very good portions. I went on a weekday evening and there were only two servers for the full house, so service was sometimes slow.

    Green beans and pork
    Ingrid S.

    Truly amazing food! Szechuan can be overpowering to me and I was a bit on the fence about going but wow I am SO glad I did! We asked the lower the spice level by one pepper level and it was perfect. Get the water boiled fish, you have to! The texture of the fish is so tender and the sauce is so delicious. I would also highly recommend the Mala beef and the green beans. I'd go back here all of the time if I lived in Houston! My only complaint is the location, it was really hard to find. I wish there was better signage. The inside decor was super nice. Overall the food was a 10/10!

    风味辣子鸡丁 Spicy and Crispy Chicken  麻婆豆腐 Mapo Tofu Seasonal vegetable  Fish soup
    Hemi K.

    We went in for a weekday dinner and were seated immediately. The food came out within five minutes of our order and we were pretty impressed. We did find a hair in the soup which we told the waiter and was given a new dish immediately. The food was delicious but lacked a little spice compared to the other locations. The interior was clean cut and definitely newer than the other locations. I did feel like the portions were smaller than the other mala sichuan restaurants. They had limited servers so we needed to flag down the server whenever we needed to get something. Overall, would definitely go again when craving authentic Chinese food.

    炒饭 Fried Rice
    Alexandra P.

    I came here during the week for a work lunch and was excited to try it after seeing it was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand. I went with 5 coworkers, and since the dishes are served family-style, we ordered a few items to share: Mongolian beef, spicy fried rice with everything but pork, spicy crispy chicken, mapo tofu, and dry fried double vegetables. Every single dish was packed with incredible flavor. The portions are huge so make sure you keep that in mind when ordering! The meat dishes come with steamed white rice, which is refillable... something we did not realize until after ordering. My personal favorites were the spicy fried rice and the spicy crispy chicken. Both had a great spice level without being overwhelming. Service was extremely fast, which was ideal since we were limited to only an hour lunch. Overall, amazing quality and flavor for the price. I will be back!

    鱼香茄子 Eggplants in Spicy Garlic Sauce
    Abel Ivan F.

    Food is absolutely incredible. Great for sharing and ordering the spicy chicken and the eggplant with garlic is a must. Service is very friendly, restaurant is clean, right in the heart of bellaire. I've come back many times and have always left happy.

    四川担担面 Dan Dan Noodles
    Grace K.

    Oh how I love Mala Sichuan! This restaurant is located in MKT which is a beautiful shopping center with cute boutiques, restaurants, and dessert shops that feels makes you feel like you are not in Houston. This restaurant is very nicely decorated with a spectacular ambiance compared to some of the other Mala locations. The waitress was super friendly and promptly brought us water. I had to order my go to dishes: spicy crispy chicken, Dan Dan noodles and water boiled fish. I decided to give the crispy Mala beef a try based on the waitress's recommendation, but I was slightly disappointed and will likely not order it again. The flavor was good, but the beef was slightly tough and just not on par with Mala's high standards. The spicy crispy chicken was perfectly seasoned with Mala spices, and the chicken was super addictive and scrumptious. The Dan Dan noodles set the bar for Dan Dan noodles in my book, and the noodles were chewy and paired well with the sesame sauce. The water boiled fish is always crave worthy with the expertly cooked fish and sichuan sauce and veggies. My diagnosis: Mala Sichuan sets the standard for Sichuan food and never disappoints.

    Naomi H.

    I loved every single dish i tried at this spot! I randomly selected this place because i was on a walk got hungry and found this. it was happy hour (Lucky charm). The place was not packed and Im surprise because the food and the ambience was just great. I sat by the bar and promptly was handed a menu. I wanted to try few things so i ordered: *the wonton sour and spicy: soooo delicious and BIG portion, it came with a side of white rice that was HUGE as well. I got the shrimps /prawns also with that sichuan kick, so so delicious. Needed to have my veggie intake so I ordered the bok choy, what can I say it was perfectly sautéed with garlicky, sesame flavor. *********HANDS DOWN MY FAVORITE OF ALL WAS THE SOUR AND SPICY WONTONS, I IMMEDIATELY FELT THAT STINGY SPICY SICHUAN FEELING ON MY TONGUE*********

    Vy Van K.

    Been going to mala Sichuan for years when we lived here in Houston and it's nice to come back and visit them at their location by M-K-T. It's right along the park with plenty of parking but the closest parking lot does get busy. We were seated immediately on a Saturday afternoon when most people venture out for brunch lucky us. The dining room is spacious and bright with comfortable seating. The menu is extensive with a variety of dishes especially for the adventurous. Everything is so flavorful with amazing prices. We ordered the beef brisket with mushroom medley, which on it's own was delicious but compared to the other dishes it was mild but a hit with our daughter who loves mushrooms. The water boiled fish came on a bed of cabbage with pieces of soft, flaky fish on top in a spicy broth. The spicy and crunchy chicken is mainstay Szechuan dish with fried, juicy chicken pieces and chopped chilies. My husband loved the Sichuan style salt and pepper prawns with juicy, large shrimp fried with jalapenos, onions and bell peppers. Then to round it out we got some baby bok choy stir fried with garlic. We ate until we were stuffed and still had leftovers. Totally was just over $100 with tax and tip.

    Eint P.

    Mala Sichuan is hands down one of my favorite spots in Houston. The flavors are bold, spicy, and completely addictive. Anytime I have family come visit me in Houston, this is the spot I take them. The mouth-numbing peppercorns hit just right every time. We normally get the dry-fried green beans, water-boiled fish, and spicy wontons and of course the crispy chicken. Each dish packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. The portions are generous, service is quick, and everything comes out piping hot. If you love real Sichuan spice and crave that tingly heat, this place never disappoints. A Houston gem through and through!

    Mapo Tofu
    Alexandra K.

    Good food but service is slow! I had an alright time. The restaurant is pretty small so waiting is awkward. Overall I would recommend the mapo, the cabbage and the spicy crispy chicken.

    Spicy & Criy Chicken
    Akhilesh B.

    This place never disappoints! We have visited Mala various times and various different locations but this is our favorite. You can never go wrong with their dry pots. The staff is super polite and the ambiance is just perfect. Highly recommend trying their basil crispy chicken (extra hot recommend)

    Zach H.

    Really nice ambience inside - decor was great! Smallish restaurant but good location at MKT. The chicken soup was okay - not super flavorful but nice on a cold day. The kung pao chicken eggplant + string beans were both delicious. Split among two of us and still had a little bit of leftovers.

    Yangzhou Style Fried Rice

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    Mala Sichuan Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

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    Hu's Cooking

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    $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

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    Mala Sichuan Bistro

    4.1(1.1k reviews)
    9.9 miChinatown, Sharpstown
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    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

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    Inside of restaurant

    Mala Sichuan Bistro - Garlic Cordyceps

    Mala Sichuan Bistro

    4.0(714 reviews)
    2.8 miMontrose
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    Consistently good food and probably the best local chain for Sichuan in Houston. The heights…read morelocation 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.

    Get the eggplant! Been obsessed with Sichuan food lately,…read moreand 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!

    Photos
    Mala Sichuan Bistro - Bar and dining area on first floor

    Bar and dining area on first floor

    Mala Sichuan Bistro - Red oil wonton

    Red oil wonton

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    Mala Tofu Pudding with Fish Fillet

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    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.

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    Bamboo House - Peking Duck + Pancakes

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    Mala Sichuan Bistro - szechuan - Updated May 2026

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