Although I was a big fan of the revolving sushi restaurant, Tang Bar has been a refreshing replacement and when my husband and I arrived on a rainy evening looking for a hot meal, the fragrance of steaming soup aromatics lured us from the mall entrance into their restaurant that is half exposed into the mall's lobby hallway with inviting tables for families and a long stylish central table adorned with live colorful fish swimming in it's fountain. Be cautious about the $14.99/lb price since the self-service line is tricky when you "eat with your eyes" with the many soup ingredients, from fresh veggies and noodles to mouth watering shabu-thin meats. I particularly loved the lamb. They have two sizes of bowls that you are served once you're at the end of the line to weigh and pay. We tried both the spicy and just a kick broths and both were delicious. You bus your dishes to the window of the kitchen closest to the condiment bar. There is a small $.10 charge for to-go containers but we made a meal the next day since we have a hot pot at home as well. Walking around the mall and the large parking lots make this dining experience worth it. Staff is quick and kind in service, and joining their free membership earns you points, like $5 off towards your visit. read more

Tang Bar - Small and large bowl depending on how many pounds, my small bowl weighed 2lbs my husband's 4lbs - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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Soooo good but lowkey cross contamination risk because the tongs were limited and I saw people had to use one tong to pick everything up from meat, seafood, veggies, and noodles. I was extremely careful but you really can't assume everyone is. My stomach is made of steel so it wasn't an issue for me, but for those with sensitive belly's, you may want to be cautious. If any allergies to seafood, just avoid the place entirely. read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

How does this restaurant pass a health inspection while using one of the restrooms as storage space is beyond me. Food is similar to similar restaurants, perhaps with a smaller selection due to the location and target market. read more

Be aware, they will STEAL your food! I went today with my two kids. I purposely counted 6 pcs of spam and 4 pcs of baby corn as the kids would split them. When we picked up the bowl, there were only 4 pcs spam and 2 pcs corn!! And the Chinese dough stick that my daught placed was missing also. I made a complaint and they gave me a new bowl. The taste of their food is OK, but the experience is horrible. I strongly recommend the customers count their food whenever they can. I will never come back to this place. read more

I stopped by Tang Bar at Brea Mall recently and was seriously impressed. You can tell a lot of thought went into how everything's done, from the setup to the presentation. The ingredients were super fresh, the flavors were bold, and the portion sizes felt just right. The staff was friendly and helpful walking me through how to build my bowl (which is a nice touch if it's your first time). The space itself is modern and really clean, with a fun energy, perfect spot to grab a meal while shopping or to meet up with friends. Definitely one of the better food options inside the mall right now. Can't wait to go back and try more combinations. read more

Had high hopes but first experience was really rough. This is one dirty restaurant. Tables are left unwiped. Customers have to wipe their own spaces down. The food trays are heavily stained and gross looking. Outdoor dining area is also a storage zone for random stuff. Condiment area looks like a crime scene. Ran out of rice and ice cream around 745pm and were told not to make more or refill the ice cream chest. Cant say I have any desire to return. read more

Tang Bar - Had to stare at this while seated in the patio area - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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Tang Bar has by far been my favorite malatang spot in OC! Stumbled across this place in the mall and I was excited to try seeing the variety of meats, noodles, veggies, and broth. I'm so happy that they offer mushroom broth, perfect for the vegans. I'm not vegan or anything but I appreciate a nice healthy and light tasting broth to pair with the sauce and ingredients. Their just-a-kick malatang is also very good, although it might be more mild tasting compared to other places. They also take the initiative to ask about allergies as well which I do appreciate. Sometimes it's hard to find a seat during busy hours but I can manage. The free ice cream at the end is kind of like a reward lol. The decor is also nice, there's a little pond on the big table with fish inside which is nice to look at! read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

The place was very nice for a small space. The food was okay. I had better. The reason why I gave this place a 3 star was because of the service. For some apparent reason they lost what I had picked out and which it was 2 bowls. They told us to go redo our bowls so we did and when we picked out our bowls again, went back to give it to them, they said that they only meant 1. Literally waste of my time. read more

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

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MSG! Too much MSG added in the soup base. Concept and ingredients are fine but the MSG needs to go. Would not recommend this place due to the MSG-laden soup base. read more

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

Wanted to like Tang Bar because hear good things about their fresh ingredients and a build-your-own format -- so, it should've been an easy win. Unfortunately, the experience falls flat: * The line moves painfully slow. Despite the "self-serve" format, there's still major bottlenecking at the soup-base and payment stations. * The limited coconut-based soup option was a disappointment. It doesn't pair well with hot-pot style ingredients and ends up tasting mismatched. * While the variety of ingredients is commendable -- fresh produce, meats, seafood, lots of toppings -- that's really the only saving grace. * If you're in a rush or expect a tightly organized experience, this won't meet those expectations. Recommend passing until they revamp the service. read more

It's awesome to have a malatang place in North OC! Will definitely come here regularly as the cravings come, and glad to not have to drive any further. This is an unsolicited review and I honestly hope they do well as a business. They have a wide selection of ingredients to choose from including a wagyu cut (which was very popular), lots of mushroom, veggie, and noodle options. Also there's a laksa soup option (limited quantities) which seems like a less common option. You also get a free mini ice cream bar! It was also very sanitary (plastic gloves when getting ingredients). It's mostly self service, (bus your own table) but the workers were all super friendly. After assembling your bowl there's inside, in the mall, and outdoor seating options. I hope in the future, if possible, they stay open a tad later, but for now seems like they keep with mall hours. read more

Waited over an hour in line due to extremely slow workers. Exhausted by waiting in line, so we decided to take home. When we opened it up, theres NO soup at all, almost like dry pot. Extremely salty and oily. Will never return back read more

Tang Bar - $25 malatang togo with NO soup at all. Please keep this in mind! - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

I like that it includes Wagyu in their selection. Laksa soup base was quite tasteful. Free ice cream at the end is a nice touch. For the most part, it is all self service. It's conveniently located inside the Brea mall opposite of Red Robin. Google map will bring you straight to their door. The decor was modern and the staff seem friendly. read more

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EDIT: Owner was very transparent and straightforward with explanation. Can't wait to try this another time, hopefully things will run smoothly moving forward! Wasted our time if you are going to open later please update your hours. On yelp and google it stated that this place was open at 11:00 we waited 28 minutes until we left. Today, we were just waiting hoping this place would open soon but did not. We saw 2 workers actually prepping and the rest weren't really doing anything. The girl on the cashier was just on her phone the whole time and the other three employees were just grouping up talking wasting time while there was a lot of people outside lining up waiting. There were some people that just left because they couldn't wait any longer. Management should have trained their staff better in my option. read more

Enjoyed my first time!! Everything was fresh and very clean!! I would say I wished I knew more about the details of the sauces because mine was a bit too spicy even though It said mild. I will be back!!! read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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I've had my fair share of mala, and this place was really disappointing. I couldn't even finish my bowl--the broth was overly oily and later left all of us with stomachaches. I was also surprised to find it filled with hard wasabi peas (?). It was an unexpected addition, and if I had known, I would have asked for them to be left out since they were unappetizing in the broth. The cleanliness also seemed questionable; the utensils and bowls had a noticeable white residue or powder on them. read more

Tried tangbar today,food was ok. The sauce bar is not as expected. Will try another type next time read more

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

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Yum! I tried my sister's chicken soup and it was full of flavor and umami! I got mine dry, sichuan peppercorn. I didn't realize they added these crunchy yellow things. I didn't like that but everything else was great. I love picking my own stuff as I am not a big fan of a lot of meat. The sauce bar is awesome. And don't forget the ice cream by the tray return! I appreciate them asking about allergies. Will definitely be back! read more

I came here on Black Friday at around 6pm, and it was insanely packed, almost overwhelming. The place is brightly lit and relatively clean. Despite how hectic it was, Bryan provided some of the best service I've had in a long time. He was incredibly patient, friendly, and attentive, never making us feel rushed. Since it was our first time trying malatang here, he took the time to explain the different soup bases and helped us choose one that would fit our taste preferences. His recommendations were spot-on, and it made the whole experience feel welcoming rather than intimidating. The broth was amazing, and the ingredients were constantly stocked and tasted fresh (unlike a lot of malatang places lol...). Overall, I would recommend Tang Bar to my family and friends :). read more

Tang Bar - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Tried out the new malatang place that opened in Brea mall near the Macys and Red Robin. There were a variety of toppings/ ingredients to choose from as well as delicious soup bases with different spice levels. I also enjoyed the sauce bar that they had. The service was pretty quick and the interior looked very unique with a water table that had live fish in it. Would come again! read more

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So good. So delicious. You can make your own ramen bowl with all the toppings you want, exactly the way you want it. So perfect with fast service. Conveniently located in the middle of the mall. We stopped by for lunch while shopping. Really hits the spot! I'm looking forward to coming back again soon! read more

很好吃了 Tang bar had a lot of great choices for your bowl and the set up was very tidy and clean! Will be coming back !! read more

Food is great, get my fix for hotpot. However like many restaurants of this style they seriously need a child policy or keep an eye on hyperactive children. I saw a hyperactive kid behind me pick up an udon, use his hands in an attempt to break it in half and put it back into the tray. and also pick food and put it back into the tray. This is how disease spreads folks. read more

I have eaten here several times and even when it's busy we will get our food quickly. Today, we waited over 30 minutes to get our food. We noticed other people coming after us getting their food within 10 minutes of sitting down. Apparently they just pick the order that comes in last. After 35 minutes my daughter is still waiting for her food. read more

The food is soo good! We went about 30 min into the place opening and very little wait time. Very clean and service was wonderful. It can def get crowded as we were leaving seats were filling up. No refill soft drinks but free water. Not complicated at all to order so we will def be back. read more

Tang Bar - Soda is from a vending machine nearby. - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

This is a solid malatang place! I was craving Szechuan and the spicy Szechuan broth more than satisfied my itch. 10/10 malatang, I am so full and happy. :) It was a bit more expensive than I was expecting. By weight, the pricing is currently about $17/lb plus tax. I ended up paying $34 for my bowl, which I mostly finished except for the ramen noodles. I'm not totally sure if they account for the bowl when weighing. I would say my bowl could feed me for 1.5 meals. You start at the front and choose your ingredients, then weigh it and pay at the front. They give you a buzzer and you pick up your food at the counter, and there's also a place to return plates and trays at the front as well. There is a water dispenser at the front. They have plenty of vegetable, mushroom, root vegetable, meat, seafood, and fish ball/meat ball selections. Unfortunately, they did not have crown daises, which is one of my favorites. Some of my favorites in my bowl were the scallops, glass noodles, different beef options, and fishballs :) There's also a classic sauce bar with big sauce bowls. The service was quick, as there's usually always someone at the counter to help you out and answer questions. Everyone was very nice. There's free ice cream in a freezer, with things like ice cream sandwiches and ice cream bars. There was so much seating. Even though it got pretty busy around lunch time at 12:30, there were still plenty of tables outside. It was clean and bright inside. Yay malatang!!!!!!!!! read more

Tang Bar - malatang soup - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

Don't have to go all the way to Rowland anymore! Good bases. Clean environment. Worth it. Great selection on soup ingredients and proteins/veg. Will be back read more

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

Really good food spicy I didn't know what to pick at first but the potato noodles are good and I should gotten more vegetables and meat very nice and friendly customer service read more

Tang Bar - The spicy one - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

I don't usually leave reviews, but Tang Bar hit the spot being a malatang enthusiast. There are so many malatang staples to choose from at their immersive self-serve bar and sauce bar. They also have a chopstick sanitizer + clean restrooms which made it feel very cleanly. The restaurant is conveniently located right at the entrance of Brea Mall, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. I especially liked the long bar with the table river and the aesthetic outdoor seating area as it makes it a great spot for casual dining. Jasmine and Rachel at the cashier were super helpful in guiding me through the flavor options, from the classic bone broth to the spicy Szechuan. I went with the hot & sour option and definitely recommend it! Their guidance and customer service made it really easy to pick something that fit my preferences as I haven't dined here before. Overall, definitely worth checking out if you're craving malatang at a good price with more options than conventional malatang spots in the Fullerton + Brea area! read more

The food taste crazy good. The ingredients are fresh and the soup base is amazing. On top of that, the dining environment is so cool, there are scenary everywhere throughout the store. Service is also top tier. Makes me feel like I'm in a high end restaurant. read more

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Just to cover all the bases...the food was great, the service was great for the location but obviously understand this in Brea Mall so the ambiance will be loud regardless. I will say that I love you can pick between getting broth or sauce which is nice for those who want variety. Also be careful with adding to your bowl because it adds up QUICK!! read more

Good place to go when you are craving soup or stir fry noodles. Tons of fresh and frozen selections and you can put as much food as you want. Large bowl can feed up to 2-3 people. Nice location and beautiful setting. I am glad they put this at the Brea Mall. Something different than the usual food court food. Would be awesome if they also have different flavor soup. read more

The meat selection is actually bigger than most malatang spots, so points for variety. But wow... the soup base completely ruins it. The broth is INSANELY salty. And I mean saltier than any other malatang place I've tried. One bite in and it felt like my taste buds were being attacked. By the end of the meal, I was sooo thirsty. So blowed the next day after having it. read more

The service (specifically the cashier) was absolute trash. Mind you, I've had Malatang once before today. I had asked the blonde headed dude in the front who was ringing us up what was the difference between "broth or with sauce" he gave me the most disrespectful look and answer: it's sauce or soup. (I asked because our previous malatang experience didn't have this option). His response took me and my husband by surprise so we kinda just looked at him. He then explained it more only because i asked to explain. So obviously there was more to it. My husband initially chose the option "on the side" but ended up changing it after hearing the explanation to which the cashier made a snarky side comment along the lines of "final answer?" . Not to mention paying $75 for mid level food and even lower level service. Not coming here again. read more

We're so excited to have Tang Bar here!! We've been waiting for some kind of hot pot place to open closer to us for so long, and Tang Bar has filled that gap! There are tons of meat, veggie, and carb options to choose from - really something for everyone. The flavors are both authentic and accessible, catering to the melting pot that Brea truly is. The staff are kind and helpful. The restaurant itself is super cute. And overall, we're really happy with our first visit! It is definitely a little on the pricier side, especially because it's hard to estimate how much you're putting in those big bowls, and I would definitely say it takes about 2lbs worth of meat/veg/etc (~$30) to get your fill, so expect to spend about that much per person. The other downside is that because of the way they cook it in one pot (rather than traditional hot pot style) the done-ness of the meat and veggies, etc can't all be optimal. Overall, still absolutely delicious and will be a go to on cold winter days! read more

the staff is really nice and the place is clean! they are very understanding and quick on their feet with solutions. The food is really good everything cooked in the perfect way and good with accommodating my allergies! read more

The meat quality is terrible; it's all frozen meat, very tough, and not tender at all. read more

Tang Bar - The meat quality is terrible; it's all frozen meat, very tough, and not tender at all. - Szechuan Near Me - Brea, California

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Tang Bar is an absolute gem. The food is fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced--every bite feels thoughtfully prepared. The ingredients taste high quality, the presentation is clean, and the menu has a great variety that makes it hard to choose just one favorite. Everything we tried was delicious, and you can tell they care about consistency and quality. What really elevated the experience, though, was the service. Bryan was especially helpful--super friendly, patient, and knowledgeable about the menu. He made great recommendations and made the whole experience feel welcoming and smooth from start to finish. It's rare to find service that genuinely makes your visit better, but Bryan absolutely did. Highly recommend Tang Bar for both the food and the service. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to. read more

Food spicy level was not consistent. Ordered multiple bowls of "Just a kick" but the result was a large difference in level of spiceness. Ambiance is food court level. After ordering, between the first bowl served and the last bowl received was about thirty min wait. Another customer also made a complaint of similar delays. The manager initially attempted to explain but had a poor response. Jake from the kitchen staff approached, explained it clearly and provided a much needed acceptable explanation. He went above and beyond level and remained very processional and provided an acceptable apology. He also saw that the level of spiciness was unacceptable and provided extra chicken broth to dilute the bowl. The food was cooked well and despite the delays the quality of the food is actually quite decent. The concept of the self-serve, and cooked to order hotpot works. The manager eventually reimbursed us for the delayed food and now has won us over for a customer for life. Thank you Jake and the manager for making this right. read more