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San Jose, CA

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Wuji's Mala House

3.4 (739 reviews)
Closed • Closed

Wuji's Mala House Photos

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WUJI'S MALA HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Wuji's Mala House

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Beef mala pot
Tiffany P.

My boyfriend and I came back here after not visiting for a while, and I was surprised to see that the original owner had returned after reading some of the reviews. They now have a happy hour from 9-11 PM, which I really like since I tend to eat dinner pretty late. We ordered the beef house pot and the beef mala pot. I wouldn't recommend the regular house pot unless you're into creamy, milky broths! The broth tasted a little better after a while but I still did not like it. On the other hand, the mala broth is super popular here and my favorite! I usually go with level 3 or medium spicy and it's just the right amount of spice for me! I always replace the mala ingredients since I don't like intestines. I did notice the broth has changed and a lot less salty now. Personally, I kind of liked the saltiness of the old version, but that's just a preference for me. I love the sate sauce here! I wished they had bigger bowls, since I like to take out my meat and vermicelli to keep them from overcooking. Overall, even with the broth changes, the food is still pretty good, and I'd definitely come back especially for the 20% off during happy hour!

Lamb Mala Pot level 5
Viv N.

I'm honestly so disappointed. Looking back, I should have left the moment they said they ran out of rice because everything just went downhill from there. For context, I hadn't eaten all day. I was starving, which means just about anything should have tasted amazing. Instead, this was one of the most frustrating meals I've had. It was still more than an hour before closing when the server told us they were out of rice, and the server suggested ramen so I ordered it, at an additional cost of course. The issue is that the ramen came uncooked, but there wasn't nearly enough broth to cook it. My pot was drying up so fast I had to pour in my drinking water just to keep things from burning. That completely watered everything down, to the point where my level 5 spice (the max level) wasn't even spicy anymore. The glass noodles were very chewy. My fire went out before I could finish cooking everything because the ramen took so long. To make things worse, I had no water for at last 15 minutes. I placed my empty cup at the edge of the table hoping someone would notice. I used to really love this place, but this experience left me so sad and disappointed. I left full, but completely unsatisfied. I don't think I can recommend this spot as my favorite hot pot anymore.

Stopped by Wu Ji's Mala House with a friend and loved it. The broth is well-simmered with a strong herbal flavor. The spicy pot is fragrant (not just numbing) and the braised beef tripe was excellent . Friendly owner and staff. Cash or Zelle only. Highly recommend the sour plum drink--perfect for a cozy hot pot on a cold day.

Elise V.

Wuji Mala is back in its prime, and I couldn't be happier. If you've been around as long as I have (13+ years!), you remember when this place had two-hour wait times and for good reason. Now, with Chef George back in action, it feels like the soul of the place has returned. The Lamb Mala Pot #5? Still flawless. It's like he never left. Balanced heat, bold flavor, tender meat--pure nostalgia in a bowl. They've also given the interior a much-needed facelift. Gone are the hot colors--now it's neutral, sleek, and clean. The new floors and upgraded chairs definitely elevate the dining experience. It's got that refreshed energy while still honoring what made it special. Bonus: They now offer Happy Hour from 9-11 PM with 20% off. If I lived nearby, I'd probably be camped out in the corner every other night. If you've never tried Taiwanese hot pot, or you're looking for a hot pot spot that delivers consistently bold, unforgettable flavor--Wuji Mala is it. Don't sleep on this place. George didn't miss a beat, and neither should you.

Portions are in the pot are definitely smaller, for nearly $25 a pot it's a getting tough When my pot came it was like nearly filled only half way.. They def are stingier because you can tell the exactly portion every single piece of tendon, tofu, intestines n tripe. AND there glass noodle portion is smaller. I've been here way too much, I know the difference.

Beef mala, medium spicy
Jessica V.

I think the food and service was alright. This is a pretty quaint spot with not much decor inside. The beef mala pot had a good, deep flavor but was overly salty. I got medium spicy but looking back, I could've gotten a higher spice level. When you come here, keep in mind that they only accept cash, Zelle, or Paypal and when you pay with PayPal, there's usually a fee because you're paying a business. I recommend just bringing enough cash. Overall, this place was alright food, service, and ambiance wise. It was an okay meal but I don't think I'll come back again.

yan t.

Wu Ji Mala Hotpot holds so many memories for me . I've been coming here since my teenage years, and the flavors are still just as amazing as ever.The beef tendon and tripe are outstanding ,tender, flavorful, and absolutely unforgettable.

Mala 0.5

The newly upgraded space is bright, comfortable, and inviting. After hearing that the original owner has resumed management, I couldn't wait to give it another try. We arrived right at the first dinner seating at 6 PM on a particularly hot day-but thanks to the air-conditioning, it was perfectly comfortable. I ordered the 0.5 spicy mala beef broth, and my mom had the non-spicy creamy broth with lamb. The mala broth was just as it should be-rich, flavorful, and full of that signature taste I've missed so much. It truly brought back the original, delicious experience. We left completely stuffed and satisfied. I'm so happy this place is back to its old glory, and we'll definitely be returning for more hot pot soon!

Dining room
Stew F.

Food is always tasty and we keep coming back despite the questionable cleanliness. Specifically - 1. The dining room, and hotpot trays, are FILTHY. See attached photos. Dirt on the walls, open containers of dirty dishes and the SMELL. Ventilation is non-existent. Surprising for a restaurant that serves hot-pot powered by a flame. Also has a pungent.....urine like musk. 2. We witnessed the cook chain smoking at the front door. Not like 25 feet away from the door. Like, sitting in the chair that is used to prop open, the door. There was no escaping the cigarette smoke inside the restaurant. Oh well, haven't gotten sick yet. Yolo!

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Business owner information

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8 months ago

Love wujis for their intestines and tripe! Not a lot of other hotpot's have these items. Also the fact that it's spicy !

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1 year ago

Eat here for many years!!! Always love their Beef Mala Small space but clean!! Recommend ask for dipping sauce on the side. 9/10

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Wuji's Mala House Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Wuji's Mala House

To-go quality Is the to-go quality the same as dine in? How about the portion size and any limitations on level of spiciness? Thanks

Quality will be the same as dine in but the spiciness level is only from .5 to 1.5. I do feel like they give you more soup for to go but otherwise, generally the same in everything else.

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Value city Stopped…read moreby here for some lunch and was pleasantly surprised to see that they have lunch specials *Beef noodle soup with a small lu ro fan - Their beef noodle soup is really solid. The broth and noodles were pretty standard but in a good way. I think the beef is the star of the show - just the right amount of meat/connective ratio so it was really soft and fall apart. We added on extra bokchoy for 75 cents, which was very welcome. The lu ro fan was a nice compliment. Not too greasy and very flavorful. They go very strong on the star anise here, but I don't mind. *Popcorn chicken rice platter - Chicken is juicy and comes out hot. A good portion. I mean you can't go wrong with chicken, tea egg, rice, and pickeled mustard greens. For the price, they really can't be beat - especially the lunch specials. They give you free housemade chili crisp on the side, which is a must

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I've been coming here since I was 17, and I'm 30 now. The beef noodle soup is still one of my…read morefavorite things to order. The broth is rich, deeply flavorful, and genuinely reminds me of the beef noodle soup I grew up eating in Taiwan. It's rare for me to find Taiwanese food here that actually brings me back like this does. Comforting, authentic, and consistently delicious. After all these years, I still keep coming back.

We met up with some friends who frequently come to this restaurant. Though, this was our first time…read morevisiting Tai Kee Wonton, and we live nearby! Order via QR code on each table. The food comes out fairly quickly. The service is minimal but sufficient. Inside seating was booths and tables. Fairly cozy and tight. One unisex restroom only. NOTE: 45 minute time limit for dine-in. Especially during peak time. The food quality and authenticity was spot on per our friends. A.5 House Special Beef Noodle Soup (4/5). Flavorful, rich, broth with a slight spice. The beef was cooked until very tender. The noodles were soft yet and a nice firm chewiness. It was perfect. Definitely not overcooked where it becomes waterlogged or mushy. E.5 Combo Stewed Pork Rice Plate & Small Wonton Soup (4/5). The plate came with blanched cabbage, broccoli, a tea egg, minced pork over steamed rice. The pork belly was braised and stewed until fork tender but not over done so it still kept it's shape. The minced pickled mustard greens was the highlight. B.6: Taiwanese Sandwich. It had the same type of meat, the stewed pork belly with minced pickled mustard Greens, a little sauce in a steamed white bun. D&M, Thanks again for spending time with us and treating for lunch! Support your local business.

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Honestly my expectations were super high given the price, but you just can't get this homemade…read moredelicious thing anywhere. They have it at some dim sum bakeries but it's usually just rice with a small piece of pork or sausage and maybe some peanuts. The website says to order 2 days in advance but luckily she made extra! I got 6 orders and shared with my family, they all agreed it is better than anything we've had as a kid and man is it packed from corner to corner with pork belly, salted egg, chestnut, and mushroom! It is pricey, but what isn't nowadays?

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Wuji's Mala House - taiwanese - Updated October 2026

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