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

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

I love this place! It's a build your own style malatag bar where they charge by the pound ($16.49/lb as of this review). You line up and grab the vegetables, meats, seafoods, and noodles for them to weigh, the broth will follow after. The broth is flavorful and comfortably hot, although for the entry heat level of "Just a Kick" would be a "Horseback Kick" to most folks that would assume it is Mild in spice. I strongly recommend you get the chicken broth if you have low spice intolerance, until you have a chance to try out the spicy options! There are many good options of what you may add to your bowl, from seaweed, to baby corns, to wagyu beef, and much more, I wouldn't say there are cheap ingredients here! The staff is very thorough, they will ask you to place your tongs down, how would you like it cooked (soup or stir fried), what heat/flavor, and if you have any allergies. One out of the multiple times I've visited here, they undercooked my food (the seafood tofu was cold in the center), I went back and pointed it out, they swiftly corrected it! Now, as I mentioned that this place goes by the pound; if you are price weary, you must be mindful of what you grab! I suggest getting only one or two pieces of your favorite ingredients rather than just grabbing whatever. I manage to always have the ending price under $10 and with the included broth, it manages to fill me up! The interior and exterior of this place is quite pleasant, they have live goldfish swimming around at the center table with good seating. While you're waiting for your food, they have a self serve toppings bar. Oh, also there's free ice cream, so save the soda for a cup of water instead! 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

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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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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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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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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A decent malatang place! The self-serve area had a variety of options and the line goes faster than expected. I got the laksa broth, which I never had before at malatang and it was fragrant and a good spice. The space was crowded but there's decent seating. read more

I wanted to like this place because the food itself was actually really good, but the experience was disappointing. First, they had run out of several sauce condiments, which is kind of a big deal for a malatang-style meal where sauces are part of the whole experience. Worse, when I finished eating, I found a metal clip sitting at the bottom of my bowl. That's a serious food safety issue. Luckily I noticed it before accidentally swallowing it, but it definitely ruined the meal. Good food doesn't make up for basic quality control problems like this. I hope the restaurant improves their kitchen practices because this shouldn't happen. read more

Tang Bar - Metal clip at bottom of broth - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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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i've been super excited to come back with my boyfriend! i got the same broth as last time, just a kick, and my boyfriend tried the sweet and spicy dry mix. unfortunately my broth was the complete opposite compared to last time. it was extremely flavorless, the first time i went i didn't need to use a dipping sauce because the broth was so flavorful and almost too salty towards the end of my meal. this time i had to go to the sauce bar to add soy sauce, chili oil and chili peppers to my bowl which made everything a lot better. the broth was also not as piping hot as it should've been, it didn't taste fresh. might've been an off day. other than the broth, the ingredients were well stocked and fresh, the space is clean. i wouldn't recommend getting the "wagyu" because it's very tough. i didn't know they had free ice cream last time, but it was a delicious sweet treat after a warm and spicy meal! read more

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I liked the ingredient options they had. Pricing wasn't bad either for 16.99/lb. But my soup took forever to come out and my friends were already halfway done with theirs by the time mine came out. I had leftovers and they charge 10cents for a to-go bag. Kind of ridiculous for a restaurant. They do have free ice cream that probably gets taken advantage of but that's not my problem. read more

Tang Bar - Just a kick - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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

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

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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Tang Bar is a relatively new place at the Brea Mall. The restaurant is very clean and the staff is very nice. The bar for choosing your toppings (vegetables, meats, noodles, etc) was very clean and well stocked. I ordered the Just a Kick malatang soup and enjoyed it very much. The soup truly had "just a kick" of Szechuan. As someone who enjoys spicy food, but not too much of the numbing feeling, Just a Kick was a great choice. I also enjoyed creating my own sauce at the sauce bar. The surprise was that there is free ice cream if you dine at the restaurant! read more

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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Today, I decided to try Tang Bar after seeing and hearing a lot about it. When I walked in, I immediately noticed how aesthetic and clean the space was. The layout looked organized, and there were plenty of ingredient options to choose from. I picked all my favorite ingredients and noticed they offered both soup and dry options. Since Sichuan spicy was one of the recommended flavors, I decided to go with that. I also appreciated the sauce station and how organized everything was, although it was a bit confusing at first trying to figure out where everything was located. When I started eating, I realized the pork intestines were very chewy, almost difficult to bite through. In general, the meat quality was disappointing because most of the meats were hard to chew. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the vegetables and noodles. For the price, I felt it was a bit on the expensive side. Overall, it was still a decent first experience, and I would consider coming back to try the dry version next time. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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

How can it happen? You wrote down no onion and cilantro. Then when I opened it, it surprised me! Is that because when cashier checked with me that if you were allergy or just didn't want it, and I replied just no? I knew that Next time I should say allergy, so they can be serious read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

$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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Such a cool concept - have never been somewhere that lets you build your own hot pot buffet style and then cooks it for you. If you go on a weekend or Friday be prepared to wait 10-15 minutes after paying for the cooking and line itself moves kinda slow prob 10-15 min as well. Tables / seating is limited as well but overall worth it because they have a great selection of noodles and meat! Quail eggs are so delicious. Spice level of Shezuan is perfect as someone who loves spicy food but beware it does have the numbing stuff! read more

Tang Bar - Shezuan hot pot - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Took family from out of town to Tang Bar at Brea Mall for build your own soup. They have a huge selection from veggies, leafy greens, seafood, meats, noodles, and sauces. As you bring your creation to the register, they weigh your bowl and charge $14.99 per pound (they deduct the weight of your bowl). Then you can select from a variety of soup bases ranging from coconut milk (laksa), Szechuan, pickled veg, mushroom, or chicken. Place was busy but worth the wait! Nice job Tang Bar read more

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I first tried Tang Bar in SF and could not stop thinking about the laksa broth. I didn't know there was a location in Brea mall, so we decided to go as soon as we found out. Since it is inside a mall, it was an open restaurant layout. We went during a rainy day and there was a long line which was expected cause it was soup season. You grab a tray and a bowl and fill up your bowl with all of the hot pot ingredients and they cook it for you. There were a lot of tables and they also had a sauce bar so that you can make your own dipping sauce. I got a bunch of veggies, meats, fish balls, and picked the laksa broth. It was so good and I even had leftovers to take home. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Staff incompetence left me waiting for 20 minutes with no food while wife got her bowl. No sorry, just a refund as I didn't have time to wait again. System that has flaws they can't execute. Don't recommend and will not be coming back. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Checked out this noodles bar at the Brea mall yesterday. You get what you want and you pay by weight. They have noodles in soup or dry noodles with different flavors. I got the little spicy soup base and paid about 26 dollars for mine with mix veggies, some meats, seafood and noodles etc. they separate the soup and noodles if you order to go and it's great and you can save some soup for making your own noodles at home. They also have a sauce bar and free ice cream for the customers. Pretty nice concept at the mall. read more

A solid spot for malatang in the Brea area. I came on a Thursday afternoon at 1 PM and it was relatively busy. I enjoyed how there was a wide variety of vegetables and meat. For the beef, the options included wagyu, short plate, brisket, and chuck. I thought this was very impressive since most places only have one option for beef. They also have plastic gloves for when you're getting the food. The food was $14.99 a pound. Ambiance: 5/5. The restaurant has a spacious, beautiful interior and outdoor seating. I recommend parking right in the lot right outside the door. Service: 5/5. Very friendly service and quick turnaround time after paying. I got the "just a kick" broth and it was delicious! It had a good numbing spice. The only downside was that I wish there was more broth. Additionally, the meat was too chewy; could be because it was overcooked or the meat is sliced too thick. Overall, a solid malatang spot with a wide variety of food and beautiful interior. There is also free ice cream available. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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Me and my daughter love this place. The chopsticks and soup spoon look a little dirty and they need to restock the sauce station more often and offer a better labeling and recommendations on sauce making for others that have no clue. Otherwise variety of veggies,meat, seafood and noodles. We come here almost every weekend 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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I think about his place probably at least once a week, because I love this place so much. They have a wonderful selection of ingredients to choose from. I got the sweet and spicy dry mix and it was SO GOOD. I love how they also have a self serve complimentary ice cream fridge to finish your meal here. The workers are also super friendly and nice here too. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

My primary issue with the Tang Bar is paying $30 at a food court type establishment (technically Tang Bar is not in the food court but 1 level below). I will admit I lacked a strategy in filling up by bowl. Since the meal is based only on the weight ($14.99 per pound), I should have focused on the meat and seafood. But at least I enjoyed the food. The broth I chose was supposed to be a little spicy but I fully broke out in sweat by the end. The sauce bar was fine. There's also free ice cream bars which I'm not sure how many people were aware since they don't mention it. There is a nice courtyard outside for nice evenings. I may try again, next time using a ROI method. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

This place is straight forward: grab a bowl and tongs and select your ingredients. Get it weighed and select soup or dry and a flavor. Pretty much self service here- get your own condiments, water, utensils, ice cream. Ambience was fine - just a casual setting within a mall. Good: flavor was great, many fresh ingredients were available - more selection than the usual malatang places. Bad: my bowl was missing some ingredients I had when I weighed it like a beef ball and a fish cake. My bowl also came with chicken meat which I didn't pick up. To management: I'm not really sure what happened but I recommend to double check how you're managing different orders/different ingredients to avoid mixing or misplacement. Some friends I came with also were missing a few items like fish ball with roe in their soups. It's definitely strange, never happened to me before at a malatang place to have missing or ingredients I didn't select! read more

Tang Bar - Dry noodle - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Quick hot pot priced by the pound, if you are near or at the Brea Mall. It's a build your own, bar style, choose what type of broth you want, then wait for them to buzz you when it's hot and ready. Sauce counter is also available to make while you wait for your malatang. Don't forget to get your ice cream in the freezer after you deliver your used bowls to the back counter. read more

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Pretty solid hot pot spot with a veggie broth option which I always love! The broth was light and simple but a bit too oily for my taste. They offer lots of toppings (unlimited toppings) and I got my favorites. The sauce bar is also a plus but be warned -- the Thai chilis are NO JOKE and use sparingly haha! read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California