The food was great for what I paid as it was too much for lunch and it was enough for dinner too. Take out is an option if you don't finish. Service was amazing. It was my first time there and staff was very helpful in guiding me and my boyfriend. If you're a responsible customer and return your dish to their return station, there's a small treat waiting for every customer, which is a great way to incentivize responsibility. In terms of ambience, I really liked how they decorated the place to feel like a welcoming place to sit, eat, and chat with all the decorative foliage. The main table with the mock river was something that kept me and my boyfriend's attention the most with the little fish swimming from one end to the other while we ate. Overall: 9/10 boyfriend approved. Pricey but worth it! read more

Tang Bar - Fish balls, lobster ball, wagyu, beef brisket, napa cabbage, enoki, tomato, mussels, scallop, instant noodle, Chicken broth - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Plenty of parking. The restaurant is located inside the mall on the 1st floor. You basically grab whatever you want and they weigh it by the pound. Once you're done, you chose a soup base and that's it. They have a mini sauce bar with limited sauces and seasonings. Overall, it was okay, nothing special. Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Located in the first floor of the mall - Restroom available - Limited indoor seating - Weighs by the pound read more

This was my first time at this restaurant, but it was my third time having this type of mala tang. Unfortunately, this was by far the worst experience I've ever had. The very first bite shocked me. The food was unbelievably salty--so salty that it was practically impossible to eat. I went back to the counter and asked for two bowls of plain broth, but even the "plain" broth had a noticeable salty taste. I tried dipping the food into the broth to dilute the salt, but it was still very difficult to eat. I eventually had to rinse the food in water a second time before I could barely finish it. I've had mala tang at two other restaurants before, and neither experience was anything like this. The broths were different in flavor, but the level of saltiness was always reasonable and enjoyable. This was an extremely disappointing and unpleasant experience. I really hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously because food this salty is simply not acceptable. read more

Came here for dinner as I always wanted to check this place out. It is located in one of the entrances in the Brea Mall (downstairs by Macy and right across from Red Robin's). Setup similar to other Mala tang restaurants where you first choose your ingredients, and then select the flavor of your soup base at check out. Plenty of options for vegetables, tofu based items, all sort of mushrooms, some seafood, and a few selections of frozen meats (beef, pork, etc). For those that are not familiar with Mala Tang style restaurants, you may be carried away by picking up lots of ingredients, and will cost you an arm and leg as the price of your meal is based on the total dry weight of the ingredients you choose before check out. This place is $16.49 per lb. So keep this mind as you select your ingredients. I had the hot and sour soup base, and it was very delicious with all the added ingredients that I had chosen (sort of like a self serve hotpot). I did went overboard as mine was just over 2lbs... It is self serve but the staff were very friendly and supportive. Worth checking it out when you're in the area.1 read more

Tang Bar - Hot and sour soup base mala tang - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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Solid spot for build-your-own malatang, especially for the price, as long as you're mindful of the ingredients you add since the cost can increase quickly. I usually eat smaller portions and almost always have leftovers, so I really like this concept because I can control exactly what goes into my bowl and how much I get. I've been here twice and ordered the "Just a Kick" soup base both times. It had the perfect level of spice for me: not too mild and not too spicy, though I did find the broth a little oily. There's a great variety of ingredients to choose from, a well-stocked sauce bar, and free ice cream for dessert, which is the perfect way to end the meal. There's also plenty of seating indoors, on the patio, and along the mall hallway outside. The restroom requires a code to access. It was clean but dimly lit and the speakers inside were surprisingly loud. Overall, I'd definitely come back. The food has been consistently good, and the location inside Brea Mall makes it a convenient option whenever I'm in the area. read more

Tang Bar - Wagyu beef in "just a kick" broth - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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I've been to a few Malatang places here in socal and I have also been to many locations that serve malatang in Asia! I have to say that tang bar is probably the best one in California that I've had! There is so much to choose from the self-serve bar where you can help yourself to vegetables, seafood, and meat! I was so excited and overwhelmed in the best way when I saw the variety and selection that was provided. After grabbing your bowl of food items, you will bring it to the cashier where they will weigh it, and cook the food in the broth that you like! I got the spiciest flavor - and I have a huge tolerance for spice. I thought it was so nice that they allowed me to ask for it to be spicier because it is what I truly enjoy! A lot of other places will usually say that it is a set recipe. So I did appreciate this a lot. My friends have a lower tolerance for Spice and got the just a kick broth flavor - they thought it was a good balance as well! They have a variety of broths to choose from, and you can even have them do a dry mix as well! After paying and grabbing your food, you're able to help yourself to the unlimited sauce bar - their Sesame sauce paired with chili and garlic is a huge recommendation! I will definitely be back again. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

My friend and I were so impressed with the selection of meats, veggies, proteins, etc. Everything seemed well kept and super fresh too. We came on a Thursday night and there wasn't a wait. I like that the broth had the actual mala numbing spice, some places lack that.The worker was really nice too. They have a good amount of seating and is located on the 1st floor. ig: @cravingswithcat read more

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Tang Bar - Brea I'd give this place 3 stars. The concept is interesting. It's a mix of cafeteria-style dining and hot pot, which is still fairly unique in America. You grab your own ingredients, build a bowl, and hand it over for cooking. The challenge is the pricing. Since you're selecting ingredients before they're weighed and charged, it's hard to know what you're spending until the end. The cost adds up quickly, and the final bill can be surprising. As for the food, it's alright. The broth does most of the heavy lifting. The ingredients themselves are fresh enough, but the flavor largely comes from the soup base they add at the end. The experience is simple and efficient--almost like an assembly line. Everything is self-service, and there isn't much interaction beyond the ordering process. I appreciate the concept and understand why it's popular. The customization is fun, and the hot bowl is satisfying on a cold day. But when I compare it to the price, I see it as only a small step above food court dining. Not bad. Not amazing. Just okay. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

If you're ever shopping at Brea mall and end up hungry after shopping, I definitely recommend this place! I love malatang and I've been on the search to find a new malatang places since the place I used to go to near me unfortunately closed down. I'm glad I tried this place because I come to brea mall so often so I'm glad I found a restaurant I can now go to if I'm ever at the mall. This is build your own bowl concept. You can either get soup base or stirfry. This place definitely has more options than the places I've visited from. They also have your own sauce station. For the broth, I chose "just a kick" which was perfect for me. It was a good spice and wasn't overly spicy. Absolutely delicious. I couldn't finish my bowl so I did get pack the rest for home and had it for lunch the next day and it was still delicious. There's a good amount of seating inside and few tables outside. It's honestly a nice place. They even have complimentary ice cream for their guests! read more

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Was craving hotpot by CSUF, so this place wasn't too far away from it. It's located near the Macy's / Red Robin entrance, so it wasn't hard to find. There were plenty of options for toppings and meat types. However, their Wagyu and beef brisket rolls were surprisingly dry, even if they were in a soup. Service was reasonable for a dinner rush and staff were patient when questions were asked. Soup bases were nicely seasoned without being overly salty, and the price was decent for the portions I chose. read more

Tang Bar - Cooked food in broth - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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This is one of those "DIY" hotpot places that's been very popular lately, and having one at the mall is a nice option. I like that they have a wide selection of veggies, meats, seafood, carbs, and other add-ons to choose from and they do look more fresh than some other similar spots that I've been to. After filling up your bowl, they weigh it at the end and charge by the pound. I got the "Just a kick" broth and it was pretty good. Decent spot, but nothing special. Still prefer some other similar spots for overall taste. The negative was that the orders came out very haphazardly. We came as a small group but they all came out at very different times, with some other customers' orders being ready before ours (who ordered after us). They give you a buzzer and will buzz it each time a bowl is ready. Some of us started eating first because it was taking so long for the other bowls to come out, and there just didn't seem to be a good system. Seating can be tough but tables seem to free up pretty quickly. Don't forget the complimentary ice cream in the freezer by the tray/dish return area in the end! read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Tang Bar is a newly opened build-your-own hot pot spot inside Brea Mall on the first floor. At the entrance, grab a large stainless steel bowl along with tongs and gloves. The ingredients bar is organized in a flow - starting with a wide selection of vegetables, moving into meats, and finishing with carbs. I usually like pairing my hot pot with a bowl of steamed rice, but that's not offered here... which might actually be a blessing if you're trying to cut back on carbs! After filling your bowl, you place it on the weigh station, choose your soup base or sauce, and wait for it to be cooked. I believe we paid $16.49/pound (1.02 pound is removed from what you see on the scale for the weight of the bowl). While waiting, there's a sauce and condiments bar where you can customize your flavors. Utensils and napkins are available near the pickup area. A nice bonus: they have a deep chest freezer stocked with complimentary ice cream to enjoy after your meal - such a nice surprise! The space itself is fairly large and open, with well-spaced tables and a small outdoor patio. That said, I wish they had a better system for seating. We visited during peak hours and it was packed. Some parties saved tables before even paying, which left those who had already ordered and were waiting for their food scrambling to find a seat. read more

Tang Bar - Inside - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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Amazing malatang place. They have lots of vegetarian options which is rare for a malatang eatery. All their dry options are vegetarian as is their mushroom broth. I got the peppercorn flavor and it was the perfect level of spice. A kick without being so spicy it overwhelms all other flavors. It's very casual. Self serve and self seat. They also have wet wipes to wipe down your table. Their prices are reasonable--a little more expensive than other similar places, but you do get a larger selection of sauces at the sauce bar, fresher noodles, and free ice cream at the end of your meal. My tastebuds are excited to return. read more

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This newly opened malatang bar has quickly become one of my go to spots, especially because it is so close to home. I am always craving malatang, but most places are such a drive, so having one nearby is a huge plus. What really stands out is the variety. They offer a wide selection of vegetables, meats, and noodles, so you can really customize your bowl exactly how you like it. I tried the "Perfect Kick" soup base and it definitely packed more than just a little kick. It was much spicier than I expected, but the next time I asked for it less spicy and it turned out just right. They also offer a free popsicle or ice cream, which is such a nice touch after a hot and spicy meal. The ambiance is super cute, and there is even a small fish stream running through the middle of the large table so you can eat while watching them swim. It makes the whole experience feel fun and unique. read more

Tang Bar - perfect kick soup - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Really bad design in the rear of the restaurant. Sat in the corner next to the free ice cream sandwiches and popicles with no ventilation. Feel twice as hot in that area compared to the rest of the place. Food was overcooked and staff didn't seem to care since everyone looked like they were just doing this for the season while school was out. This place was bad even for mall food. read more

Really solid malagang place. I got their chicken broth and it was light yet rich at the same time. All the ingredients I chose were cooked perfectly and they have a great sauce bar. I paid a little over $20 for 1.4lbs of food, which I think is a fairly average price for malatang these days. The best part is that they also have a fridge full of ice cream that's included as part of the price! Would definitely come back for lunch. read more

Tang Bar - Chicken broth - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Decent food selection with free ice cream bar/popscicle! Food: - large selection of fresh vegetables, different tofu, mushrooms, and noodles - as other reviewers mentioned their wagyu was very thick and tough I won't be getting that next time - I liked that the chicken broth base was lighter, and their spicy soup bases are on the spicier side - sauce bar was OK. I felt their soy sauce was SO salty I had to dilute with my chicken soup! I wish they had satay (shacha) sauce, and I was surprised to see cut celery as an option in the B sauce bar. Sesame sauce was good though. - free fudge bar or popsicle afterwards! Service: Essentially self-serve except when they take your bowl and ask for your preparation preference. Ambience: Nice open seating with a cute river containing live fish running down the center of the long table! Overall: Better to err on getting less food than you think as it gets pricy. It was nice to be able to walk around the mall afterwards, so will likely return again. read more

First time tried Tang Bar. Beautiful design of resto. Start with big bowl and tang and you can choose the vegetables, meats, noddles. They will measure what your food and asked about the soup ... I choose Jusk a kick it. Yummy. Recommended read more

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Reallly enjoyed my malatang here. Really good selections of items and my favorite part is the broth option. The sour and savory broth (green mustard veggie) is top tier in my opinion. Sauce bar was also kept pretty stocked and they also have free ice cream and popsicle, which is a huge plus. Great way to cool that mouth down from the heat. Only issue i got with this spot is the seating. It gets pretty packed and getting a seat can be a challenge if you're not hawking. Overall, I would come back. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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This malatang place is actually pretty decent for Brea! Quite authentic. They have a wide variety of ingredients here. Protein choices here also looked pretty good for a malatang place. The restaurant itself is actually quite small, there's not a whole lot of seating, but you basically can just seat yourself anywhere. Very friendly place for eating alone. Parking here was pretty terrible though. It's good to see many non-Asians trying out malatang! My order came out to be about $12 with tax and honestly it was already pretty filling for me. I got the "just a kick" spice level and it literally was on point with "just a kick". It's more on the numbing side for the broth, tingly! My friend got the dry mix and she also quite enjoyed it. As for their sauce bar, I noticed they only really have the sesame sauce, but they don't have satay/shacha sauce. I hope they bring it here, but their sesame was actually not bad too, a lot more nuttier which I quite enjoyed. The decor here is pretty nice as well. I'm surprised there are actual goldfishes in the water stream area bc I would be worried that kids would throw food in there to "feed the fish" lol. Surprisingly it was clean though. I would definitely visit again if i'm around the area. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Review 127/365 Day Challenge We finally visited here w my Mimas for our Vimi's birthday luncheon celebration on a Tuesday at noon 12.16.25 My bestie heard great reviews about this DIY Hotpot bar located inside Brea mall on the 1st floor. Across from Red Robin burger restaurant and near the Macy Men/Furniture Department side. Service here is really great especially associate Thuy is awesome and great. When asked if she's able to wipe down the table before we take the table next after another customer was finish dining. She also checked on us a few times. The restaurant is nicely done w greenery decor and clean. It's a bar where you get a bowl and fill in whatever vegetables, proteins, different types of noodles like glass noodles and ramen available. Than at the end of the station, you weigh your bowl, pay for it. There's associate take your bowl you made and cook it for you on the broth you choose. The spice isn't so spicy at all. We got the Malatang JUST A KICK. There's a dipping sauce bar where you make your own dipping sauce. Only bottles drink available for purchase or complimentary water station. They offer Free ice cream Sandwiches & popsicles for dessert I'll definitely return with my hubby or family to enjoy again. Love the concept of this DIY hotpot. Especially for this winter weather or rainy cold days. Another great spot to eat at a mall and it isn't fast food. HEADS UP...eating near the entrance/exit of the mall at the sliding door booth/table. You may possibly get a very special uninvited guest FLY buzzing around. The Cons/negativity trying to enjoy your meal in that area/seating. FYI read more

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Located inside the Mall close to Macy's and Red Robin allows you to customize a large bowl with any combination of ingredients, including vegetables, meats, seafood, and noodles. The ability to select a broth of choice and have it cooked to order is a unique and appealing feature. Additionally, I found the premises to be very clean and well-maintained, which is always an important factor for me. I would like to specifically commend Claire, the staff member who assisted us at the front. She was absolutely amazing--extremely patient and attentive--taking the time to thoroughly explain the different broth options available. Her knowledgeable and courteous service significantly enhanced my experience. While the overall concept and service were commendable, it took a while to get our food I really do like my soup hot but again it's not quite the temperature I wanted and the broth kinda lacks or on a bland side the sauces on the sides makes it better though. Since the broth not that hot the meat kinda little tough. read more

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Mediocre malatang for $14.99/lb in a small, crowded space with slow service. Waited 40 minutes for our food and had to stand around for seats to open up. I didn't enjoy the hot & sour broth or the dipping sauce bar. I've eaten at many soup restaurants. This is the first time I disliked both the soup and sauces. My dipping sauce tasted worse the more I tried to adjust it. Worth noting: they include the weight of your bowl in the total, which some other places don't. On a more positive note, I appreciated the large ingredients selection. Despite the small area, they maximized their space well and the ambience is nice. They have free ice cream bars available in the freezer. read more

Tang Bar - $14.99/lb malatang - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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TL;DR Variety of customizable options. Spicy, robust broth. Complimentary popsicles as a treat for the end! Food The spicy Sichuan malatang was heart and spicy, but the Sichuan flavor was a bit strong for me. Next time, I'll try another soup base, because there's 2 bases of soups and different flavors and spice levels. There is a variety in selection of meats, seafood, vegetables, and mushrooms. You pick what you want, pay by weight, and they cook your soup. The portions are huge! I had enough for 4 portions. They also have a sauce bar for you to customize. Service and Ambiance The restaurant is so beautiful. A modern aesthetic, with water and plants. The service was kind and quick. They had utensils, togo boxes for soups and sauces, and a complimentary freezer with different popsicles. read more

Tang Bar - Complimentary Popsicles - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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This is my third time here, and usually it's great with minimal wait and fully stocked ingredients, but tonight was unusually crowded for a Thursday. They were out of the laksa broth, so I got the Just a Kick broth. It was good but a little bit spicy for me. It's a grab what you want malatang spot where they weigh your bowl. The interior is cute, especially the little fish river flowing down the center table. Some toppings weren't refilled fast enough and it felt a bit pricier than other malatang places, but they still had a good selection of toppings. My favorite part is the unlimited free ice cream and ice cream bars freezer next to where you return the plates. Overall, I'm glad Brea finally has a malatang place! read more

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The restaurant is self-serve -- you pick your own ingredients, weigh them, and then they cook it for you. The food comes out in about ten minutes. It gets pretty busy and sometimes there aren't any open seats, but people usually finish quickly so the turnover is fast. The ingredients are very fresh. I ordered the satay flavor and it was quite good; the mild spicy option was also nice. Be careful with udon and noodle options though -- they're very heavy, so the weight adds up and it becomes really expensive. It's much more cost-effective to choose meats and lighter vegetables. Dont forget free ice cream. read more

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Price can surprise if you put too much heavy items in the bowl like fishballs, tofu, and certain veggies and noodles. You can easily reach $40 for a bowl of soup if you are hungry and that isn't worth it at all. Also the Wagyu meat is tough and definitely low grade. But it's still a fun option at the mall. Many soups to select from and their spicy options are crazy spicy. It's also fun to make your own sauces. I recommend going with the glass noodles because it's super light, some light veggies, but a lot of beef. It's normally about $14 to $18. Another fun thing is their free ice cream for the kiddos. read more

Tang Bar!!! I'm so happy they opened another malatang place in OC. I came here on at around 1:30 pm on a Friday afternoon and there was a good amount of people. I chose the hot & sour soup base for my bow. The flavor was good but it was pretty salty. Sodium city!!! My friend chose the regular szechuan soup base and I found the flavor & salt level of that one to be a lot better. The food itself was great, however they messed up 2 of my friends orders... The workers were apologetic and allowed them to remake their bowls however there was ~15 minutes of confusion and miscommunication, where the workers were having trouble understanding what was going on? Maybe it was because this location is newer but eventually we got it sorted. Overall, I was satisfied and would come back. It's a chain with a few locations in the Bay as well! read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Fourth time: very mid experience. They were extremely busy and behind. The toppings did not get replaced fast and they didn't make the Just a Kick broth spicy. It tasted almost bland. When I asked for something to make it spicier, the cashier informed me to just use the chili oil in the condiments bar. I got some but it only made my broth tasted toastier and not spicier. Got the Thai chili instead and then it definitely gave my broth a kick! I recommend Tang Bar forming a system where the can move the line quicker. Fifth time: so many ingredients were missing. The Napa cabbage looked all beat up, no quail eggs, no fresh ramen noodles, lack of meat pieces, and no green onions :( definitely less busier than the fourth time but not having green onions was really a mood killer. However the Just a Kick broth this time was spicier than last time so I enjoyed it a lot more. read more

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I really enjoyed this place when it first opened until I started to notice I was receiving less food after it's cooked. I messaged the manager about it to give them a chance to correct the issue, but no response. I refuse to go back until they fix it. I refuse to pay $25 per bowl to receive only half of what I put in. I won't be going back until I get a response and will update my rating once the issue is fixed. read more

This was my first time trying Tang Bar, and it definitely won't be my last. I wasn't sure what to expect with the self-serve setup, but the staff was incredibly helpful in explaining how the process works. I decided to try the "Just a Kick" broth, and it was the perfect choice for a first-timer. It has a rich, savory flavor with just a gentle heat--enough to be tasty but not overwhelming. I loaded my bowl with beef, fish balls, quail eggs, and veggies. Everything tasted super fresh and the broth really tied it all together. If you've never been, give it a try! Great service and a delicious customized meal. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

The concept and location is great. Food is actually delicious but pretty hard to portion the weight so you will be hit with a surprise on your bill when checking out. I was being conservative and it still came out to $24. The service and staff seem great but the main con is the time. It takes way too long from start to finish. People take their time at each station and only one register so by the time you reach the register and have to wait again for the meal to cook, it took at least 35 minutes from start to finish. Seating is open concept and since it's new the ambiance is clean and nice. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Tang Bar offers a wide variety of ingredients for customers to choose from and add to their bowl, and everything looked very fresh. A nice selection of soup base (soup or dry) to suit your preference. There is plenty of seating, even free ice cream bars to take from the side fridge which was a great bonus. I would definitely come back when I am in the mood for shabu shabu by myself without the usual hassle. read more

The flavors are good but be aware the ingredients will disappear after it's cooked... I didn't want to believe what other people are saying but it's true... I literally only got like 3 stems of veggie and I only got one... and I got different fish balls and I'm missing one type of fish balls... just be aware you pay for more. Mind you I was told I'm the only order going to to kitchen so I don't think my food would be missing that much stuff... The cashier is nice. read more

I usually order takeout from this place since it's convenient, and it's always been pretty decent. But man, today was the worst :( They gave me someone else's order. I literally saw two workers looking confused about the takeout orders, and I heard one girl say, "I'll ask them." She never asked me anything, so I assumed everything was sorted out. I didn't think to check the bag since I figured they had a good system in place. Lesson learned!! I guess I'll be checking my order every time now (but at the same time, it's hard to check food that is already sealed?) I was so excited to eat my dinner, too. Someone else got my bowl of deliciousness, and I went home with some health-freak monstrosity :((( I'm so sad. I tried calling them but they didn't pickup and I don't know what to do with the order now. Do I return it when I go back?? read more

$15/lb Load it up with meat and seafood Noodles and broth are awesome. Got the max spice one. Really fast and hot perfect for cold day. Would definitely come again! Lively and pippin' vibe. The goldfish are lols read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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I've been interested in coming here since the last time I was at the mall a few months ago. The idea is build your own soup or noodles. The concept was unique and the restaurant was trendy inside. However I didn't enjoy the food as much as I thought I would. I got the chicken broth and it was very bland (not many options for people that don't eat beef or pork). There is a nice little spice bar with green onions, chili oil, garlic and other condiments (enjoyed this part). Ended up being about a $30 noodle soup which was just average. read more

Now open at the Brea Mall on the first floor near Macys is make your own hotpot and weigh it and pay. The interior is decadent and doesn't feel like you're eating at a mall. It's clean, with a selection of veggies, seafood, and meat choices. I believe it was $14.99/pound. read more

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Disclaimer to take my review with a grain of salt because I can't handle much spice! The bar to pick ingredients was very extensive and was so clean! They had all the classic malatang ingredients organized so well so it was easy to tell what was what. However, I didn't really like the soup base I picked, which was the pickled veggie broth. I wish they had the tomato soup base that most other places have, I think I'd like it much more! Personally the pickled veggie broth was way too salty for me. Besides the broth though, I really enjoyed the rest of the experience. They have ice cream sandwiches in the freezer next to the dish return area which was a pleasant surprise too! read more

Very good built your own hot pot place. There are a lot of options including vegetables, seafood, meat and noodles. I tried the chicken soup option and it was very good. It actually ended up being a healthy, quick lunch which is a rare thing to come by these days. Downside is that it is kind of pricy and it's easy to get too much when you are just piling it on. The seating is pretty cute though, just a little loud. read more