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Garden Grove, CA

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X-Malatang

3.6 (90 reviews)
ModerateNoodles, Hot Pot, Soup
Open • 11:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

X-Malatang Photos

X-MALATANG ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - X-Malatang

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Dan P.

Clean self-serve ingredient bar, not as much options as bigger chains but still feature your common veggies, noodles, toppings, and selections of beef, lamb, pork, and seafood. The bone broth has a much more mild Sichuan flavor, a bit saltier and packed less of a kick. Overall, a solid spot in Little Saigon! Friendly staff, quick service. Parking free and easy to find.

Tom Yum Broth + Toppings
Robin N.

I ordered the tom ton broth, but it didn't taste like tom yum at all. There was no pronounced lemon grass flavor, and lacked the sour and spicy flavor. The toppings somehow saved my dish, but my girlfriend was served undercooked octopus and overcooked noodles (???). Service was a little slow, but I didn't mind because there was only one server working. However, they did have a major mix up, and gave my partner's malatang to another table. When they realized their mistake, they took the bowl back from the other table and gave it to my partner. No apologies, no offer to remake it, which was honestly shocked. Ultimately, I would not come back here again. I've been here a couple times already, and the quality of the broth and toppings has been very inconsistent. This visit especially was very disappointed.

All that chili flakes at bottom of the barrel.
John T.

Lay out is pretty simple. Grab a bowl, tong, and pick away at all your toppings. Total weigh at 1.3 pounds 21$ after tax. Beef and lamb are in a freezer located by the register where you pay. They don't have filets of fish to choose from. Decided on the bone broth extra spicy. Spice level- Pretty hot as I wasn't expected the flaky chili Sauce bar pretty limited- Four sauces at the bar and some oils. Output time - Under 5 minutes Was questionable about my tofu skins not being cooked thoroughly. Restrooms were out of order, so patrons should check first in case the chilis spice upset their stomach. Would comeback for a quick meal.

Kathleen T.

I've been here quite a few times now and never been disappointed! The bowl is HUGE and they have a great selection! I love tom yum and this place makes the broth very flavorful! It's definitely a great place to try and in a great area!

Jennifer K.

Delicious Soup!! When I went, there were out of Beef Bone Soup which sucked because that was the one I wanted to try the most. I ended up getting the Sukiyaki Soup, and I found it super flavorful and very good! There's a lot of selection for what to put in your bowl, there's a good selection of meats, noodles, vegetables, and sides. The sauce bar has a good selection of sauces and oils. The most popular meats are frozen so you kind of have to fight with the frozen meat to get it into your bowl. You have to get 1 lb. of food, they weigh it before you pay. You can't get any less than 1 lb. The restaurant was very clean, and it wasn't super full. It was easy to find seating, and it wasn't full for a random Saturday. The employees are very nice and helpful. He informed us that we had to get at least 1 lb. of food in our bowl, he told us which soups are spicy and which are not, and he brought water to our table. He also informed us that there's no lids for the sauce, in case you want to bring sauce home, but there are lids for the regular bowls. I would come here again! It was a fun, new experience, and the food was good!

0/10 health department please involve. Food here was spoiled. I ordered delivery for lunch. Really excited for the food and the food came out was bad, sour on the imitation crab stick, i ordered cheese fish ball, they gave me something else. I want vegetables, no vegetables. they gave me a lot of imitation crab stick instead and it came out spoiled, slimy. I throw the whole thing. I can't eat that.

Spicy Dry Mix (TikTok: @justandyvu)
Andy V.

1. I really like the spicy dry mix, and I realized that I prefer to have dry malatang! 2. The spot has chill casual vibes! The interior is cozy! 3. The staff was friendly and timely with my order! They brought my water and utensils to my table! 4. There are indoor and outdoor seatings! There are a good number of tables! 5. Parking lot is huge, but it can get crowded depending on time and day! Note: There is a one pound minimum charge! Photo: spicy dry mix

beef bone broth medium
Dana C.

The food was alright. Considering there's other options, I'd go somewhere else but I'd come here since I live nearby. I usually go for the spiciest level but I got the medium bone broth and I'd say it's very mild and bland. The options were also limited. Compared to other places, there is a huge selection while this restaurant doesn't but it does have the main things you'd put in hot pot.

Noe C.

solid options here! $14.99 per pound. beef bone broth mild tasted perfect. veggies could've seemed a bit fresher. also completely missed the frozen meats, but it is inside of a cooler right next to payout section. staff was nice. very solid late night option for some yummy soup

Amy L.

Price aside, it was pretty good. I ordered the tomato base soup and it wasn't too greasy. There is a big noodle selection but not for meats. Not many tables so come before the dinner rush.

Spicy dry mix (top left) Beef bone soup - mild (top right) Beef bone soup - wild (bottom middle)
Gordon L.

Came to visit friends in Garden Grove and found this great malatang place with a self-service bar and affordable prices! We went there for their soft opening so they gave us a 12% discount and free soft drink (coca cola or sprite)! The base price is only $14.99/lb, and even lower after the discount. We were required to purchase a minimum of 1 pound, but that's usually easy to hit and would be a large enough portion for one person. Not too many options so the choices aren't overwhelming, perfect if you're craving malatang. My favorite items were the thinly sliced beef, thinly sliced lamb, quail eggs, and fish tofu. The space is small and compact, but looks fairly clean. The place is located in a shopping plaza with other stores nearby.

ig: @cravingswithcat
Catherine N.

Finally got to try this spot and I really liked it. I've read some reviews about it being a little messy during busy hours, but it was very well kept when we came today. The broth is seasoned perfectly and I rarely had to dip my food in the sauce. I like that the spice level is an accurate point. So sad that they were out of quail eggs and the beef was a little chewy/tough because it was mostly tendon. There's a weight minimum of 1 lb. They have indoor and outdoor seating. ig: @cravingswithcat

Top: Tom Yum Bottom: Beef Bone Medium
Ashley T.

Okay, the hubby and I have been back 6 times since we first went two weeks ago. And I don't know if it's our hyper fixation, BUT this place is delish for what it is. Now there are tons of other malatang spots popping up all over OC, mainly in the Irvine area and keep an open mind when dining here. The selection of toppings/fixings is limited but you get your standard hot pot fix. Protein is plenty in the form of balls, the sliced shabu style meat is towards the end near the register so don't pile on too much of the processed balls. Veggies/seafood options are good, but if you come later in the evening they may run out and will not refill. I've left cabbage-less and my bowl just wasn't the same. I have gotten the Beef Bone Broth both medium and wild and I prefer the medium, the flavor is *chef's kiss*. The hubby loves the Tom Yum; just think of a premium version of the Mama Noodles. 1. Grab a bowl and some tongs 2. Gather your goodies 3. Weigh and pick your broth 4. Pay, get a number, find a seat 5. Water and utensils will be provided once you find a seat 6. Personal hot pot bowls will come out in minutes 7. There's a decent sized sauce bar for you to make your own concoction! Parking: BE VERY CAREFUL!! It's in the same plaza where a few cars have plowed into buildings and an electric car recently caught fire.

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Reviews are mixed. Many highlight the fresh ingredient selection, customizable bowl options, and friendly and helpful staff. The space is also clean and inviting.

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Ask the Community - X-Malatang

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Jong Ro Shul Lung Tang - #3 Pork Back  Bone Soup

Jong Ro Shul Lung Tang

4.1(537 reviews)
1.6 mi
•$$

Love soup! If you do too, this is the place for you!…read more Friend and I came Sunday night. It was busy. Busier than I expected and service was still great. It's quite lively. The ladies working here are kind and on top of things. My friend and I got the army stew to split. It was a TON of food. It was quite deceptive when it came out. When your order is brought out, they place a table top burner in your table first. Then the banchans come out. Banchans: - cucumbers: crisp and refreshing, mild spice - radish: very crunchy - kimchi: very tasty here - fish cakes: my fav, they are a bit sweeter here Then the main cauldron of soup is brought out. What's in it: - hot dogs/sausage: cut up and I think it's kielbasa - spam - meat chunks - oval rice cakes - tofu - a square of dried ramen noodles with American cheese - some veg like onion, green onion - tasty broth!! - bowl of rice too Let this cauldron boil up over the table top burner then dig in! This hit all the right spots, especially as the temperature is starting to cool down. There was so much food. My friend and I ate to our fill and had enough to each bring home leftovers.

The food was terrible, for starters…read more Soondae guk (sausage soup) had pig ear that was ... inedible + smelled / tasted really bad. Tried different pieces and ended up feeling nauseous later. The bibimbap was okay but definitely not worth the price. Thank God I asked for the meat that usually goes into the rice, on the side; it was as hard as jerky. Side dishes were underwhelming. Honestly the only thing that wasn't bad was the service. Of course I left a good tip and didn't complain about the food to the server bc it's not their fault! ^_^

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Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

Kaju Soft Tofu Restaurant

3.9(2.9k reviews)
1.7 mi
•$$
Family-owned & operated
Minority-owned & operated

First time at this location. Food was tasty and portions are filling. You order off of a kiosk at…read morethe table so it makes it very easy to order based on your preferences. The banchan sides are tasty as well. I love the kimchi and cucumber dishes that Kaju serves - you just have to wave someone down when you want a refill on sides and water. I ordered the oyster tofu soup and a combo with chicken and beef tofu soup. There's lots of parking since they are located in a plaza with other businesses. It can get crowded during peak times though. Tip: You can put in your name on the list through Yelp before getting to the location!

Kaju (specifically this location) is my absolute favorite place to go to for tofu soup. At one…read morepoint, I came here almost every week with my friends when we all lived nearby. I always get the dumpling tofu soup (#17) with mild spice, and it's so consistently good every time. They also really pack in the amount of tofu in the soup compared to other places I've been to, so you can definitely get your money's worth. One thing they've introduced recently compared to the last time I was here was the addition of ordering from a tablet at the table. The service has always been quick regardless though. I'd recommend always checking their Yelp page ahead of time to join the waitlist before arriving just in case. Sometimes, they have people on the Yelp waitlist but they don't have staff actively checking it, so it's best to sign up and then arrive at the restaurant to let them know you're there. Overall, love coming to Kaju and I will always come back when I'm craving tofu soup!

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Mai Phat Noodle House

Mai Phat Noodle House

4.5(882 reviews)
1.4 mi
•$$
Locally owned & operated
Eco-friendly

Mai Phat Noodle House is one of those places that does simple food really well. I ordered the dry…read morewonton noodle with BBQ pork and a side of steamed wontons. The noodles had a great chewy texture, and the star of the dish was definitely the sauce. It had that classic Vietnamese-Cantonese flavor, perfectly balanced between sweet and savory, coating every bite of noodles without being too heavy. The BBQ pork was quite dry, the wontons were generously filled, and the soup on the side was clean and comforting. The steamed wontons with soy sauce were also delicious and packed with flavor. Portions were generous, prices were reasonable, and everything tasted fresh. I'd happily order this again.

Follow this restaurant on IG because their noodle soups always look so good. Finally got to go try…read more1 weekend not too long ago around about 6pm. Mind you, they don't close until a few hours later. Went in to order takeout and there were a few dishes we wanted that they didn't have available; oxtail noodle soup and pork knuckle noodle soup. They came to tell us twice for each individual item. We had to opt for other noodle dishes which weren't bad. They were actually good. But not what we went for. Instead we got the beef stew noodle soup for my son which smelled really flavorful and he said was good. I got some sort of Taiwanese noodle soup that was on the front page of the menu that looked good and tasted great as well. It came with a bunch of assorted proteins such as hard boiled egg, tendon, tripe, stewed meats. It was a spicy noodle dish which I loved. I will most likely get it again next time. Their chili oil sate is actually really spicy and has that kick so I appreciated that since most places are not spicy. The portions were also pretty big; each order was good enough for 2 bowls. We enjoyed our noodle soups but still want to go back what we anticipated.

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Grandpa's Kitchen - Grill Bar 168 - Bo ne

Grandpa's Kitchen - Grill Bar 168

3.9(1k reviews)
0.3 mi
•$$

Value and decent quality. Hue Tieu are very good, only critic is a little too much liver...I'm on…read morethe fence with the addition of celery pieces. I get it, it's for a crunch texture but not a real fan. Biggest surprise is the com ga xoi. Huge pieces and portion size is very good. I will be coming back for the Bo Ne.

The first and last time here…read more I had the bo ne, and it was awful. The decent part were the eggs and bread- I mean how can you mess that up? The mushroom sauce/gravy was watered down, and excessive. The steak was hidden somewhere in the puddle of mushroom gravy. - The worst part. It was tasteless, thin, and probably cheapest cut of steak you could imagine. The salad that came with it was ok. At first I didn't realize it was a salad until I noticed the pool of dressing on the bottom of the dish. 1/5 for the bo ne with side salad. My husband's hu tieu nam vang kho, dry Phenh Penh noodles- this was decent. 3/5. We have had much better and this was just decent. The celery in it was a little weird, but it was the excessive amount of celery that ruined the bowl. It wasn't as flavorful as you'd imagine this type of entree to be. Service was ok. Ambiance however was awful, there was some really depressing music playing the whole time. I hope it's not like this all the time.

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ZZ Hotpot House - Mala Sichuan Pot

ZZ Hotpot House

4.3(692 reviews)
0.9 mi
•$$
Large group friendly
Kid friendly

The food here is really good, I am not gonna lie, the food is 10/10 tasty delicious. My sister and…read moreI usual come here to eat. And also the service is awesome. Everyone should come to this place more, everything is perfect, I don't know why not so many people know this place, Give it a shot!

With the surprise closure of Red Flame, SO and I have been on the hunt for a new place for soup…read more As any fan of hot pot knows, there is a rare intersection of PRICE and QUALITY that makes a spot a repeat attraction. That makes it 'The' place to go, even if it's a little further out. I believe ZZ has the potential to be that place. When we stopped by it was empty. The menu was QR code only, I know this is a downside for some, not so much for me, but worth mentioning. There are 2 restrooms, single user, roomy and very ADA-accessible, the illuminated mirror is a very nice touch. And the food? First point is the price. You cannot beat this price, I believe. For two of us, our total was around $40-something. The food itself? Delightful. Attentive staff. The sauces available on the table were good. I did opt for mild heat level, since I like enjoying my food and not panting like I'm in Hell in this heatwave, and the broth was very good. A nitpick I often have with hot pot is that there is far too much cabbage, but in this case I felt like it was pretty balanced. All in all, I am excited to come by and give it another try. I have very high hopes for this spot.

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X-Malatang - noodles - Updated October 2026

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