"After experiencing multiple delays, Mala Town will finally bring regional Chinese hot pots to Sawtelle Japantown on July 1. Chef Tiantian Qiu, who already has one of the most popular Sichuan restaurants in SGV at Hip Hot, is opening a regional Chinese hot pot restaurant in West LA. The restaurant’s name, ‘Mala Town (Tang)’ is a play on words that translates to ‘mouth-numbing spicy broth,’ but Qiu’s goal with Mala Town is to show others that Chinese food, particularly Sichuan dishes, isn’t just about the numbing spiciness that most have come to associate with the cuisine. 'Mala Town' will feature individual-sized hot pots with seven different soup bases, all representative of different regional specialties." - Kristie Hang