This is the go to Malatang place in the south bay. Fresh ingredients, bright ambiance, and modern furniture add to the tasty soup bases that they provide. If you've never been to Malatown and it's packed, they will assign you a table first and then you go to the bar and grab your bowl and tongs. Start filling your bowl with the ingredients (veggies, meat balls, noodles, lastly meat). Note: If you fill up your bowl about 2/3rd of the way full, that'll be about 40$. Overall, you can fill it up and split it between 2 people and it's very filling. 100% love this place read more

I've had this place multiple times and it's been great, but I feel like recently it has been lacking. The table spacing got a little better. I remember when the tables used to be very close to each other and I could hear the other tables' conversation. Also walking through the tables was difficult considering how you don't want to bump into the customers sitting and eating. Food(5/10): I noticed they removed the fish balls with roe. I really liked that topping and was a little saddened when I no longer saw it at the bar. I didn't have any issues with the other toppings, but I had an issue with the broth. I went with beef bone broth and medium spice level. When I tasted it, the broth tasted watered down and it was very much lacking in flavor. Service(10/10): Their service hasn't changed. They are super nice and attentive. They are very quick and I didn't wait long for my food to come out. They are also quick to clean the tables as well. Overall, I hope their soup quality gets better and I hope they bring back the fish balls with roe. read more

A little DIY hotpot restaurant located in Milpitas Square! No reservations, which is understandable given the space. You get a bowl and tongs to create your pot contents before paying at the register. There's also a complimentary sauce bar, fruit tea, and water. The most important thing to remember is that the food is price/lb!! This spot is not for big backs wanting more food for less $$. So, think of it as an everyone gets their own entree kind of meal. FOOD: *Spicy mix w/ peanut sauce (dry pot) -- This peanut sauce blend was *so* hecking delicious, it'd pair well with any protein, carb, and veg! I'd describe the savory experience as a mix of: peanuts, soy sauce, ssamjang, SHACHA SAUCE, sesame oil, sichuan peppercorn, and the slightest bit of sugar. Even tho this is a hotpot restaurant, I wouldn't mind returning just to have this sauce again. PARKING: The plaza is pretty big, but can get busy during dinner time Fri-Sun. Storefront parking might not always be available, but you won't have to walk more than 2 min or anything. read more

Mala Town - 2. Spicy Mix Dry Pot(with peanut sauce) - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Pretty decent malatang spot with quick food turn around times and service. There is assigned seating which is a plus compared to others where you are fending for a seat and table. I ordered the signature beef bone broth in medium with a selection of hotpot ingredients that you get to pick and choose from. I especially loved their fishcake selection. The sauce bar is also free, which is nice, and I actually enjoyed their sauces more than the broth itself. The broth could have used some more salt and flavor; the medium spice level wasn't as spicy as I had anticipated as well. Nonetheless, it was still a good experience but I'd say Tang Bar ranks higher for malatang solely in terms of broth flavor. read more

Mala Town - signature beef bone in medium - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

Such a great place if you want to customize your hotpot. You come in and grab a bowl, add your toppings and ingredients of choice, they weigh it out (you pay by the weight of the ingradients you have in your bowl). You then pay, they cook it for you and theyll bring your cooked hotpot to your table. Dont forget to make your sauce while you wait for your food to cook. Pro Tip: It's easy to overstuff your bowl. That said, choose wisely, and dont get too much of each ingredient. read more

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Best malatang spot in the bay. Rich broth with strong spice levels and love the build your own bowl aspect. Quality of meat is not bad and the ingredients seem pretty fresh. Fast service and average pricing. read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I love coming here with my friends. The restaurant can be really loud and packed around dinner time, sometimes with long waits, so I'd advise planning around that if possible. Upon entering, you're given a pair of tongs and a bowl that you can fill to your heart's content with a huge variety of meats, veggies, and noodles. I'm impressed by the sheer selection of toppings. I love tofu and there are multiple different types of just tofu alone. Keep in mind that you pay based on the weight of your bowl, but I've noticed that every time I come my bill ends up being affordable no matter how much I dump in there. Once you get to the end of the line, the employee weighs your bowl to price it and asks for which broth you'd like, and if you'd like to order any drinks. Then you pay and at this point you're given a table to be seated at where you wait for them to bring out your pot. There's a sauce bar (similar to the ones at Haidilao, Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House, etc.) where you can create your own dipping sauces which I love! It can be weird to navigate if it's your first time having Malatang because you pay before you eat, you have no idea when they're gonna add the broth, etc. hence my over-explanation for people who might not know what they're doing. Mala Town was my first and so far only experience with Malatang so I'm not sure how it compares to similar spots, but I love all kinds of hot pot and this one definitely hit the spot. read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I've been to Mala Town for a few times since their grand opening, and because the bar was so high during that time, I feel like it's gotten a bit average. I love their sukiyaki broth but it's never available -- I've been back three times in the past few months, and it's never in stock. Bummer. They also no longer have their complimentary drinks. At first they had this jasmine tea that was really refreshing. Then they got rid of it and replaced it with something more like pumpkin juice? Now, none of it exists. Unfortunate to see since it was so grand before. They also don't have a great selection of ingredients compared to before. I wished they brought back the wide sweet potato noodles. They only have one non-broth flavor which is VERY peanut-y. The flavor gets tiring after a while. I wasn't a fan, but if you like peanut it may be for you. Only because my expectations were so high before, I am disappointed in today's selection given its high price. Not sure when l will return, but overall decent place if you're feeling malatang. read more

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Difference between Mala Town and YGF: MalaTown has: -bigger sauce bar -each soup is fixed to 15.99 -no oyster mushrooms It was a good first time. NGL the mild beef was pretty heavy hitting but it was good otherwise. Loved the meat and the balls. I wish they had the mini oysters like YGF though. read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

It's lunchtime, and this place is busy; the line is out to the door. I have tried many hot pot places before, but by far this is my favorite. The broth is cleaner and seems to have a few more options. If you have not eaten hot pot before, pick up a bowl and add in different kinds of toppings. Once you are done, bring it to the cashier and have it weighed; the minimum is one pound. The cashier will then ask you what type of broth you would like. Today, I got the Sichuan broth, which is the spiciest. Whenever I am feeling under the weather, this type of broth helps me clear up my sinuses and congestion just like that. After I paid, the cashier assigned a seat, and within a few minutes, the soup was brought out. Service is great! This is a self-serve restaurant type, but they have people assigned to serve customers water. Also, the waiter is constantly cleaning the table as soon as someone leaves so the next person can have a seat. Highly recommend! read more

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The food here is pretty good. A great way to get the food you want in your hot pot without splurging too much. The ingredients are pretty fresh, all things considered. They bring things to your table but, besides that, you grab everything yourself. The place is pretty clean and it does seem like a great date spot. Avoid things with high water content if you're trying to be the most economical. The tom yum is obviously the best. But the sweet and sour tomato is good for vegans to join in on. read more

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Doordash orders here are stingy. 42 bucks excluding Dasher tip. Added 3 additional side. Base price (1.5 lbs food) plus add-ons, they give you half the portion you'd normally get. Its not my first time ordering here and the last 2 times they have ripped me off. Would your business go under by providing $1.99 worth of Napa? I added that as a side and got 2 tiny pieces. That's crazy. Don't dash here. read more

Mala Town - 40 bucks of dash order. They're scammy cuz you're not there. - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

My second time here! Came here on a Sunday around 2:30PM and there was a line out the door. It moved fairly quickly. When you get in you grab the bowl and choose from a variety of veggies, meats, fish! I love going here and being able to choose whatever I'm in the mood to eat :3 I'm always scared imma go over by a lot but with this amount of food it was around 1.2 not bad at all! I love the sauce bar there's a good variety and they assign the seats when you get closer to the cash register. I love the Tom Yum broth here and the food comes out fast :) There's a good amount of seats but sometimes when people move around you they bump into your chair. It's a bit annoying... I wish there was more space for people to walk around. read more

Mala Town - Set with Tom Yum Soup Base 冬阴功汤底 (Mild Spicy) - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

It's still solid. I think there's been a recent decline in quality. I go semi frequently. Sometimes the shrimp balls aren't there and today they were noticeably worse. They removed all their drinks from plum juices, tea, and other drinks. Now they only have water. I think there needs to be a little more consistency with them removing certain things like shrimp balls, noodles, broths and readding them. Honestly, I hope they can keep the quality and just raise the pricing. It's quite disappointing. read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

One of my go-to Malatang spots! I like to get either their tom yum or tomato broth. The tom yum broth is very rich and flavorful, with a good amount of spice. They have a nice variety of ingredients, and I really like the overall ambiance. read more

Once you walk in, you join the line to get your bowl & tongs and start grabbing your food. They have a wide selection of meats, seafood, veggies, and noodles. Once you are done, you get your bowl weighed and you pick your soup. After you pay, you can get in line for drinks (water or sweet tea/juice?) as well as the sauce bar. The tea/juice machine dispenses the drink slowly though. You sit at the table # your receipt has and you wait for your food to arrive. There was a lot of tables, but it is packed. I got the dry pot (spicy peanut sauce). I don't usually get dry pot, but I had to because I love peanut sauce! It is good if you like peanut :) My bf got the beef soup and it was pretty flavorful/strong. Would recommend grabbing a few handmade shrimp balls and beef tendon when they offer it. It is a pretty solid spot! read more

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Their hot bone beef broth is flavorful and had a good balance of spice to mala. Lowkey wanted to strain the broth but still enjoyable. My partner also likes their tomato broth. Tips for next time: - skip the noodles (all the ones we tried were too chewy), quail eggs (poor quality), chinese donut (way too doughy) - limit other toppings outside of meat to 1 piece (specifically corn, tofu, fish balls), - fill your bowl with meat and vegetables read more

Mala Town - Hot Beef Bone Broth - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I love the food! The staff here is sooo nice too, the customer service is excellent, especially Tingting! She's the best! The ambiance is cool too, I love the music :) read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

Flavor (5/5): I've tried a lot of chains that are the same concept but Mala town definitely stands out! Love that they have a wide variety of options and the soup bases are flavorful! They also have lots of drink options that are free in the back for you too. Instagram Worthy (5/5): The interior feels a bit cramped just because there's so many people during meal rushes but it's clean and inviting! I also like that the bowls come out in little pots versus bowls. Service (3/5): We all ordered separately but one after the other. The last bowl took 15 minutes after the first bowl came out. Same soup bases so not sure what the delay was for. No reason was given. Takeaways: A solid spot for when you have a group that has different eating limits so you can get your meal exactly the size you want. One of the better make your own noodle soup spots! read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I love coming to this place mainly for their tom yum broth base. They have such good selections especially for seafood lovers like myself and different variations of noodles as well. The only thing is I wish they would have beef bone broth non spicy since my daughter doesn't tolerate it. The only non spicy options they offer is chicken, mushroom or tomato. Other than that I enjoy coming here. read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

Love the large selections of ingredients here but their sauce bar sauces are kind of weak. The bone broth medium was tasty but a little bland in my opinion. The veggies are perfectly cooked which I appreciate. I love hotpot and this is just a "fast food" version of hotpot. Service is fast which is great for lunch! read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

My second experience at Mala Town was a considerable improvement from the first. I ordered a Medium Spicy Beef Bone Broth base, which had your standard aromatic numbing Sichuan spice. As someone with an average spice tolerance, the Medium spice level was perfect. The wait was about 20 minutes at 6:45 pm on a Saturday night. Staff were patient and helped us pour our leftover soup and veggies/meats into separate takeout containers. read more

Mala Town - Set with Beef Bone Broth Base (Mild and Medium) - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

First time trying something that wasn't YGF. The original beef bone broth flavor was quite lacking in the beef flavor. It was more like salt and cream broth instead. The meat was very dry and rough. It was shredded and ripped horribly with some pieces being too large. My bf had to add the beef flavor from the dipping sauces to be able to taste the beef. The fish didn't look fresh either. It was like $16 per pound which was pricier than other chains. read more

Mala Town - beef (looks like cream with no beef) - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

Came here recently with my sister and unfortunately found a hair in my pot. The service was quick and they easily remedied it by letting me make another bowl, however this is the second time this has happened... haven't been back since which is unfortunate because I really like this place. read more

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A great option for malatang in the heart of Milpitas Square! With the advent of so many malatang places recently, I would say that Mala Town probably ranks within my top 3 spots, though I do have some gripes, which is why I am giving this 4 stars at this time. I tend to judge malatang places based on their soups - and my favorites at this spot are the Sichuan and the hot and sour golden soup. The sichuan is spicy and numbing just as you would expect, and while the golden soup is not as hot/sour as you would expect - it is a good option. The tomato, if you like something on the sweet side, is quite good - and I've heard good things about the tomyum though I have yet to try it. One of the reasons for MalaTown not receiving 5 stars from me personally, is that the soups have been inconsistent the couple times I've eaten there. I've had visits with under seasoned sichuan and classic beef broths, and other visits with overly salty golden soup. In terms of ingredient variety, Mala Town suffers a bit. While the meat, noodle, and seafood options are ok/above average, I wish they had a larger variety of veggies and mushrooms. I find that my bowls tend to be mostly meat/seafood since I don't like grabbing too much of one thing, leading to a lack of veggies. Maybe a tofu option or two would be great as well, though they do have the fried variety. Nothing to say about the service since it's a malatang place, and the ambiance is generally nice though it can get quite loud at peak hours and is a little cramped since they have relatively small tables. I've seen lines out the door so do be wary of that since its first come first serve. Overall, while not my favorite spot for malatang, this spot is solid and I will probably keep visiting if I'm in that area and craving soup. I do hope they improve their consistency and selections though. read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I love Mala Town! It's my go-to spot whenever I'm craving a comforting bowl of hot soup with ramen. One of the best parts is how customizable everything is--from the broth to all the toppings, you can really make it your own. I always add tons of veggies, ramen, beef slices, fish balls with roe, and other items. The broth I usually recommend is the spicy beef bone broth. One downside though is that the soup isn't actually spicy at all -- It's just a ton of chili oil. So if you're expecting this to be spicy enough to make you question your life choices.. it's not Pro tip: only get what you can actually eat! On my first visit, I definitely went overboard and ended up with a nearly 3lb bowl that cost almost $60. Lesson learned. These days, I've found my sweet spot--my bowl usually lands around 1 to 1.3lbs, depending on how hungry I am. Another thing I appreciate is their sauce bar. It's fully stocked with green onions, cilantro, peanut sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, and more--perfect for adding that extra flavor to dip your meat in. Staff is always friendly and quick when it comes to cleaning up tables. Plenty of space to eat with a big group or a small one. Overall, would recommend coming here. read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Really enjoyed my visit to Malatown! I love the concept--picking your own ingredients and paying by weight is super fun and customizable. I got the bone broth soup with mild spice, and it was flavorful and comforting with just the right kick. My boyfriend ordered the dry pot, but it was a bit underseasoned and didn't quite meet our expectations. One thing that was a little frustrating--they included the weight of our bowls instead of zeroing it out, which made the total a bit higher than it should've been. Not a huge deal, but something to watch out for. Overall, still a tasty spot and I'd come back--just with a little more attention to detail next time. read more

Mala Town - 1. Signature Beef Bone Soup 2. Spicy Mix Dry Pot(with peanut sauce) - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I LOVE THIS PLACE!! They have a variety of ingredients that they offer. This is where I discovered the mochi-filled fish tofu! I really like their bone broth, it's super flavorful and delicious. The sauce bar is also nice, and I absolutely love that they provide complimentary beverages. The goji and date drink is my favorite! They give you a number stand when you order, and then you just find a table. Once your food is ready, they deliver it straight to your table. My favorite malatang place at the moment! read more

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Came here on a Saturday night around 8-9 PM and it was relatively busy. The interior decor is nice and they have music playing so it's a very casual ambiance. I will say, right off the bat my friend and I were a bit confused why there was no hostess at the entrance. There was just a hoard of people and we were just waiting around with no one acknowledging the line. It was our first time here and unlike other places, Mala town doesn't have a waitlist to add your name on. Regardless they gave us a table number and then we grabbed a bowl and tongs to pick our ingredients. There was a good variety of veggies, seafood, noodles and so on. I liked that you could pay upfront too and pay for your own bowl even if you're in a party with other people. The food itself was good, very comparable to other Malatang places. I ended up getting the spicy beef bone broth but it really didn't have any kick at all, so I would definitely say kick it up a notch with the heat if you enjoy spice! The sauce bar was easy to access and they have self-serve water. I will say I feel like my soup cooled down really fast but other than that I think this place is good. The service was quick too. read more

Mala Town - Beef Bone Mild - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I had an incredible dining experience at Mala Town! The food here is super delicious, every dish was full of flavor, perfectly seasoned, and cooked just right. If you love authentic, mouth-watering mala dishes, this place will not disappoint. I especially want to highlight our server, "Alan". His service was outstanding! He was friendly, attentive, and very knowledgeable about the menu. Alan made great recommendations and checked on us often to make sure everything was perfect. His warm attitude truly made our meal even better. read more

Mala Town - Yami food - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I went to this place for the third time after trying other Hot Pot spots and this place was my least favorite. They have a huge meat selection but I think they can do better with the vegetables and other toppings. Also the signature both broth had to flavor. Even though there's a condiment station, I added so much sauce and garlic to my soup and it still tasted watered down. The garlic and peanut sauce is also watered down too. Service is quick and casual. Staff is nice. The food just needs some help. read more

Great selection of items and meats from this bar, good beef broth although next time I will go for medium spice. Good place to stop by for a quick malatang! read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I was visiting my brother and his family and they wanted to try something all new. They have never been here before, so we decided to give it a try. You pay by the weight. So you are given a rather big bowl to add your vegetables, noodles and protein into. Once you get to the register, they weigh your bowl and ask you what style of soup you wanted. I opted for the Tom Yum style. Tom Yum Soup: I packed mine with a fair amount of vegetables and some protein. The broth itself had the sour and spicy flavors I wanted. At mild, it was tame and not overtly spicy. The speed was rather quick and I got my soup about 5 min after sitting down and paying. Everything worked well for me in creating my own bowl. And the amount you get is enough for two servings. Overall, I had a good experience here. A bit crowded but I do see myself coming back again read more

Mala Town - 3. Thai Style Tom Yun Soup - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

I crave Mala town once a month and it never disappoints. Meat choices appear to be high quality and vegetable/produce choices always look fresh. I usually stick to the bone broth soup. Clean space, decent sauce variety. read more

ooo I can tell why there's a line out the door for this place, EVEN THOOOOO YGF is literally only halfway across the plaza. Their organization and display of the menu/ food items seem more organized and modern than YGF, and also more variety of things to choose from. I liked that they have more soup bases to choose from, I got the beef bone broth, and my boyfriend got the chicken fish maw broth. I liked them both! But my boyfriend said that his got saltier and saltier as he finished his bowl. I saw a lot of reviews about the meat quality here, but I thought it was just fine! I usually only get beef or lamb and don't get any of the marinated stuff my boyfriend and I really enjoyed the cheese fish tofu, which is something we've never had before, but ended up liking! its the shape of a flower. Although this place is more expensive than other malatang places, they do make up for it with their amenities. They have 2 different drinks available for free, which are cold jasmine tea and cold herbal tea! Their sauce bar has a lot more to choose from than other places. I like that the sauce bar has a sign that has suggested combos for people who may need help making a sauce. They also have cute signage per table, and each one has a different positive affirmation! I love ittt. read more

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If you enjoy hot pot, love picking out your own ingredients, and appreciate having your meal cooked for you, then Mala Town is the perfect spot! It's a unique dining experience that might remind you of Mongolian BBQ--except instead of grilling, your hand-picked raw ingredients are cooked in a flavorful soup. Unlike an all-you-can-eat setup, though, you fill your bowl once, and it's weighed before cooking. My bowl came in at 1.7 pounds, and I was pleasantly stuffed! The only challenge for first-timers is figuring out just how much to grab--it takes a little trial and error to get it right. The selection is impressive, with a wide variety of fresh vegetables and meats to choose from. There's a smaller assortment of fish balls, but they do offer shrimp, which is a nice touch. They also have a few "exotic" animal parts for the adventurous eaters! The soup itself is the star--absolutely delicious and bursting with flavor. However, they tend to cook the food quite thoroughly, so the meat can end up a bit dry and tough. Even so, the taste still shines through. Props to the condiment bar, which offers a great range of options--not just spicy sauces, but thoughtful ingredients to enhance your meal. Plus, they provide complimentary water or sweetened tea, which is a refreshing bonus. A word of caution: this place gets incredibly busy! After 5:30 PM on weekends, be prepared for lines stretching out the door. My advice? Arrive early to beat the crowd and enjoy a more relaxed meal. read more

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Food: though it's said that the owner of Mala Town is the same as YGF, personally, I like Mala Town more than YGF. Overall freshness and flavors are better. Service: it's super busy during weekday lunch time and the staff are still helpful and welcoming. Ambiance: clean style but the floor is very greasy.... read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

Huge fan of Mala Town!! I've been dying to try this place since I first heard about them opening in the area. I loved the variety they offered; huge selection of vegetables, proteins, and noodles compared to other malatang places I've visited! I also appreciated how well organized it was inside - it definitely kept the line going. I ordered their beef bone broth, and it was really good! The broth was rich and at a medium spice level, it was pretty solid. My food came out quickly too. Definitely try their fattier beef! All of the other ingredients were pretty standard, but were of good quality overall. The sauce bar was also pretty clean and well organized. Prices are $15.99/lb here, which seemed steep compared to other malatang spots in the bay area. It's a little cramped inside, so keep this in mind if you plan on visiting with a larger group. read more

Mala Town - 1. Signature Beef Bone Soup - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

This is my go to spot for malatang! I love the variety of broths offered here and the topping options. I crave hot pot all the time and this is a delicious quick fix. I go here at least once a month. read more

Mala Town - Tomato broth and tom yum broth - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California

This place is absolutely amazing if you are into building your own soup bowl with endless amount of ingredients to choose from. Right when you walk in, you are greeted by the workers there where they would hand you a table number and you would get in line to build your own bowl. I normally get bone broth medium since that is my go to for the perfect amount of spice. Comparable to other places, they offer free drinks like sweet jasmine tea and a larger variety sauce bar. I highly recommend anyone who loves to have more of a build your own food experience to check out this place out. read more

Mala Town - Ramen Near Me - Milpitas, California