MALA NOODLEs

this is genuinely one of the best dry pot ive ever had.. and i am saying this as someone who is visiting providence from nyc and eats dry pot very often in flushing. i have gotten dry pot twice in the past 4 days of being in providence 😂 that’s how good it is. this place is more worth if you go in person and choose your toppings (it’s a flat fee, NOT based on weight). i get level 2 spicy and it’s pretty standard mala spicy. it’s a little pricey for a student’s budget (comes out to ~$20) but it’s technically a good deal cus it’s not based on weight (which can go upwards of $30 usually) im honestly just posting this review because this place has pretty low overall ratings but most of the lower ratings seem to be from people who don’t/can’t eat mala, so disclaimer!! the flavor is genuine and good!!!

My son wanted Ramen so we went to Mala. He loved it. Then again, he’s 10, his standards aren’t as high as mine. Would I spend another $45 on these? No. Honestly it was kind of flavorless and disappointing. The fried rice was good, not great, but overall a solid fried rice. Not overly salty. All the ingredients on the line to choose from were from frozen bags (I know because I saw the freezer)

I’ve been here twice and the soup is fabulous. I just want to share a quick suggestion. The first time I came, the ingredient containers matched the labels on the glass. The second time, they were out of order and it was a little hard and confusing to tell what was what. A lot of people in the U.S. might be unfamiliar with these ingredients so it would be great to have everything in order. The people have been super nice. Just some helpful feedback.

This was my second time visiting, and I'm glad I tried it again. This time I didn't use the kiosk but brought my container of selected ingredients to the cashier and ordered in person. I asked for very little spicy, and the cashier set it as 0.5. It was a perfect level of spiciness for me. One complaint I have is about their use of plastic. Every thing used there is plastic except for the chopsticks: containers, forks, and spoons. I brought my utensils to reduce plastic consumption. When I try to select ingredients, there were only plastic container. I saw stacks of big bowls in the kitchen and asked for one. The staff said they don't use those. When I was served, I realized that the food is served yet another plastic container (different from the one I handed to the cashier with my ingredients). Here I urge the management to make changes so they can reduce plastic consumption.

Excellent and authentic mala. The jajang has lots of fish balls, mushrooms, and other vegetables in a delicious sauce. Very tingly but not too spicy. The one hand pancake was godly. Will be back to sample other menu items. A++

I don't understand the low rating from people. This is a very self explanatory, DIY, malatang/mala xiang guo joint. If anything, this is probably the easiest and most hassle free experience. To the people who are complaining about it being overpriced, bad service, or confusing. There are signs showing you what to do, you can fill up your bowl to the brim; nothing other than the bowl size is stopping you from making this "overpriced" unless you add in a literal pound of meat. The flavors of the food were great along with the speed of how fast the food was made. I'd definitely recommend this spot to anyone who likes sichuan or hotpot style of food. Coming back again as a regular.

Great spot! You get to have your noodles exactly how you’d like them. Really big spot with plenty of space. Mostly to-go but there’s a lot of tables for dining in if you want. You get to make it all yourself. Pretty much buffet style where you grab a bowl and fill it up as much as you’d like and then pay when they cook it for you. It’s just like doing hot pot but way cheaper, faster and easier. Good for groups. Two restrooms. Dessert options. Drinks. Plenty of staff that are very helpful. It’s still brand new but the Place is very clean. Small Parking lot in front. They have Wi-Fi (but I didn’t have to ask the password because they are very close to a Starbucks and their Wi-Fi was stronger) Can’t wait to come back!

This spot is a great spot to try especially if you’re into ramen, pho, or noodles. You can choose any fresh toppings such as fresh veggies and or dumplings, etc to create your own soup or stir-fried noodles. Then, you choose your own spice level. Here’s where it gets tricky. If you’re not into spicy food at all, go with a level 0 which means no spice. I ordered level 1 and it was super spicy and my partner agreed as well. They should let people test the spice levels because several people in the restaurant were all sweating and couldn’t eat their soups either. The girl at the counter was rude when I inquired about trying a stir-fried noodle with no spice inside. This place lets to let customers know up-front their spice level is because some may be afraid to ask for a new soup or stir-fried dish. I had to buy another entire soup with no spice inside and it’s expensive. The soup was tasty but yet again at a zero level, a little spice was inside. Wish they were more clearer with that. Other than that, it was ok. Each soup or stir-fry comes with a white rice or fried-rice which is a plus.

Was late and I was finally hungry after a big lunch. Thought a noodle house would hit the spot, found this place on yelp, and wandered over. The concept was a little strange you choose foods out of a salad bar, sort of arrangement and put them in a bowl which you hand to the young woman behind the counter. You then had the choice of having them turn it into soup or stirfry. But the final product was fantastic. Best $20 I've ever spent in an Asian restaurant. And the woman behind the counter was as nice and helpful as could be. A very, very pleasant surprise. Five stars.

Gotta say I was a little scared coming in here thinking everything was going to be super duper spicy, but actually it wasn't crazy spicy at all! You make your own bowl, and then select between a soup or a stirfry. I selected soup with level two spice and that ended up being perfect for me! Absolutely loved it, full of flavor, not too spicy for me. It just hit the back of my throat, but besides that it was pretty easy to eat! The other bowl was level zero spice and it had a nice flavor! I would say that the to go cover/lid for the bowls does not work that well so I would recommend maybe changing that so that it will be easier for people to take their food to go because there's extra food left over! Definitely recommend giving this place a try!! (Specially when it gets cold outside!!!)

The food was good, the spiciness level one wasn't too spicy at all. It had a good flavor. It even came with fresh cilantro and green onion however I will say they added so much cilantro to our bowl I think next time I would ask for a little less. The service was great, it was our first time going and they explained all of the options perfectly and how to actually make the DIY bowl. Super friendly! There was a very cute photobooth option that costed around 5-6$ and the large windows were so relaxing to watch people walk by while we ate noodles. We got the DIY noodles with a free side of rice and a peach drink for roughly $23.

I tried the spicy dry pot with chicken here. The toppings were alright, though many were unfamiliar to me. You can load it up, including noodles, and choose between white or fried rice on the side. The meat is added separately at the end. The flavors were great and perfect if you're craving something spicy. Overall, it was good, but $23 for a bowl of noodles felt a bit pricey.

It's a noodle bar where you create your own soup or stir fry. I chose the stir fry and my mom chose the soup. I loved the noodles and happily added tons of veggies to it. We both got the least amount of spice that was available but both felt it was very spicy for us. (We are wimpy with spice) My husband loves spicy foods and thought it was mild. The employee was very helpful in guiding us with recommendations for what works well in a soup vs. a stir fry. If you love noodles and spice, this place is for you! There is a dining room for you to eat at in the restaurant and it is very casual.

This is my go-to spot in Providence whenever I'm in town and am craving anything comforting and a little spicy. When they first opened, I was so happy to finally have a mala place in town. Food: You can put whatever you want in a bowl. The variety changes every time I went but some staples included meatballs, fishballs, veggies, noodles, etc. You can choose dry or soup pot, kinds of meat, and spice level at the register. I usually do Level 2 because Level 3 was too spicy for me (and I love spice). Somehow they managed to fit everything in your bowl after everything is cooked. The soup is creamy and sometimes taste a little peanut-y. I recommend putting some vinegar on the side for dipping as it can get salty. Service: Pretty much self service, but the folks at the register have always been so nice and patient. Can't wait to go back!

I recently came back to Mala Noodles because I was craving some spicy dry pot. Now, Tiger Sugar & Mala Noodle have a collaboration with 10% off the other place the same day. Just bring each receipt and go each place to show cashier. Some of the choices will be changed, but I like everything that is available. There is a good selection of meats, vegetables, and noodles. I filled my container to the top and did a stir-fry with the lowest spice level of 1. Service was great as always. I was able to get two servings out of the one meal. Definitely worth it!

Really good noodles! I love that I don't have to worry about adding meat since it's a fixed price. Level 1 spice was still spicy for me but still delicious. Good selection of veggies and extras. You can pile as much as you can into the bowl. There's a screen to place your order and they take your bowl to cook it. Nice casual atmosphere. Would come again

Today was my second visit at Mala noodles. Friendly staffs at my both visits. My family really like their Dry hotpot. We enjoyed dry hotpot in Hong Kong and it's nice to find this in Rhode Island. We also try Rose dry hotpot for the first time today. It's like dry hotpot with cheese and cream flavour add to it. We like it as well. Restaurant deco is very simple, for that I will normally give 4 stars, but since this is the only dry hotpot I know in the area, I will add it to 5 stars as I love spicy food. I also got a spicy shredded tofu appetiser home. It's really good. Will visit again soon!

this was some of the kindest service my family has experienced in prov. we came in on a saturday afternoon and had never built our own hot pot or dry pot before. we also have a lot of dietary restrictions and they were so accommodating including making a chicken broth base which isn't on the menu. the food was so delicious and even though it has a kick (and some of us are a bunch of wimps when it comes to spicy food), it did not distract from the flavors at all. we enjoyed the photobooth inside and bought our prints, and enjoyed eating inside. even though it's not full service, they were so hospitable and brought out sesame paste and water to us. will absolutely be back.

Would never recommend. Multiple bugs in my hotpot. Attached a photo of a couple of them.

I've visited Mala Noodles twice and loved the meal every time. I like how you can fill your bowl to your liking. I wish there were more options or that they could switch it up. I got a stir-fry bowl with lamb as additional protein ($2-$3) with fish balls, pork balls, mushrooms, bok choy, mung noodles, rice noodles with level 1 spice, and fried rice. I feel like level 1 was a good amount of spice for me to where I can still taste what I'm eating without being overwhelmed by heat. I always get my stir-fry to go, but they have a lot of seating areas in the restaurant where I would sit and try the soup version. Mala ain't for the weak. For the amount that you receive for your meal, it is worth trying.

Love this place! The girl that always helps me is supper sweet too! I get the spicy ramen with chicken and the side of fried rice. O.M.G. It's basic but very tasty and now It's one of my weekly cravings. YUM!

Agree with the first review - my prayers have been answered!! Malatang/malaxiangguo is one of my favorite foods ever. I'd always wished for a spot in RI to have it, but ended up making it at home or making the drive to Boston. It's a serve-yourself type of place with a wide variety of fresh and frozen ingredients. You can choose dry pot or soup version, your spice level, and you get a free cup of rice! I love spicy food (especially the numbing Sichuan mala flavor) and a level 3 -- that they give a warning for -- is a really good spice level for me. My friend found level 2 to be spicy, and there's a lot of coughing going on throughout the restaurant sometimes lol Everything was very good, but the flavor has been a little inconsistent each time I've gone. They're new, so I'm sure they're still finding their groove. I usually love malatang (the soup version) but I think their dry pot (malaxiangguo) is even better! What makes this place different is the standard price: 17.99$ (without additional protein added which costs extra) and you can add as much veggies, noodles, fishcakes, etc. as you can fit into the bowl! Every other mala spot I've been to charges by weight (and I eat a lot) So happy they're here, and it has always been busy each time I came. Welcome to PVD!

If you like it HOT, then this is the place! Nice size bowl of noodles. Choices of veggies is nice. Meats at typical to an Asian pallet but not my cup of tea. Cut up hot dogs? Just give them a shot and make up your own mind if you like spicy hot pot.

First time at Mala Noodles and I need to send out a warning first that Mala Spicy is not your average spicy! Please ask the server for recommendations if you're not sure! Secondly, the food is delicious. I got 0 spicy but it was still spicy for me so I had to eat nice and slow. Lots of options in terms of protein, veggies and carbs like sausage, napa cabbage, and chewy mung bean noodles. Its a great deal too, especially since it's priced for the whole bowl so you can stuff it to your heart's content. There are other soup options like Tomato and Tonkatsu which generally should be less spicy if at all and you can choose to add on a side of free white rice/fried rice and optional protein like chicken, beef, shrimp, and pork. I also love that you can choose to make it a soup or a dry hot pot. For desserts, they have levain style cookies so we bought a chocolate chunk one and a matcha white chocolate one. Both were delicious! There are a lot of seats in the restaurant and even a cute Asian Photo Booth (IYKYK). I would definitely recommend this, even if you're not a spicy food fan! Just bring a cup of milk! Hehe

Was craving something sweet and noticed they had sweet buns in the menu ! The service was amazing, the staff was very friendly. Leslie was awesome ! It was my first time here and I enjoyed the atmosphere. Will definitely come back for noodles.

I wanted to love this place...but it was only ok. So here's the deal: You take a bowl and fill it with whatever items you want. There's a little selection of lower-end meats (slices of hot dogs, imitation crab stick, and a few kinds of meat balls) plus multiple kinds of noodles, tofu, and veggies. I will say that all of the ingredients looked very fresh! My boyfriend and I filled our nicely-sized bowls and discussed next steps at the register. You can pick soup or stir-fry...we both picked stir-fry. You're then asked your spicy-heat level. I saw the sign had 0-5, so I began to say "0 please" (I'm not a spicy gal) but she said "1, 2, 3, or 4?" so I double-backed and said "1" thinking maybe I had misunderstood the sign and 0 wasn't an option... (ultimately, as noted on the receipt, they did 0.5 for me, lol). My boyfriend did level 4 spicy. Your meal also comes with either white rice or fried rice and they ask if you want additional protein added (I think they are nicer quality proteins perhaps?) We passed and stuck with the ones we had already selected from the little buffet. When our order was ready, we brought it back to our table and dug in... 1) My 0.5 level spicy was TOO spicy for me... Wish I'd pushed for the level-0 but, oh well. I was able to tolerate it but it was more than I would expect for such a low level. My boyfriend's level-4 was pretty darn spicy and he was sweating in no time...but he likes spicy so that's ok. 2) As far as the actual stir-fry... everything was cooked to an acceptable doneness for the most part, but holy moly was this oily. The bottom of the bowl had a POOL of oil that made the last half of my bowl really unpalatable. My boyfriend experienced the same thing, but pushed through and ate more because, well, he was pretty hungry! But yeah... this sat so heavy after we were done. 3) Ingredients... I had selected hot dog pieces, pork meatballs, and the imitation crab stick... Honestly, the hot dog was the best part - ooof. The pork meat balls were super dense and the crab stick, to me, tasted funky and I didn't eat more than one piece of it. For my noodles, I selected rice sticks and low mein noodles... both were fine, but ultimately were super oily. I picked some lovely pieces of cabbage...but they were wilted and sopping with oil at the bottom of the bowl so I didn't enjoy them too much, sadly. Side note... wish I'd gotten white rice. We both got the fried rice... and it was pretty meh. Just rice, a little soy sauce perhaps, and canned mixed veggies (carrots, peas, corn)... minimal flavor. Ok, long story short... we don't plan on going back. We WANT to want to go back...but the only way to customize your TASTE is with the heat level chart - but you can't customize FLAVOR. And, ultimately, beyond the spicy level --- I simply didn't like the flavor. My boyfriend thought the flavor was fine, but agreed that he wished we could customize it more. Otherwise, if you don't like the flavor - regardless of it being a heat level you like - you won't want to come back. I've been to similar types of places where not only can you pick your heat level, but you can also customize the flavor with additions like garlic and ginger... or you can change up the flavor with different sauces, like having it stir-fried with soy sauce, oyster sauce, or sweet chili sauce... This place seems to be ONE flavor, changed only by heat. **shrug** Just not our place, but you (dear readers) might enjoy it?

Alright guys, if you want authentic Sichuan Mala Tang, this place is it. It's got the best flavor that I've tried in the US. Warning though, the spice level is also authentic. I grew up eating spicy foods, and level 3 was painful to eat (albeit still delicious). So I recommend level 2 for spice lovers and level 1 if you still want that kick. There's a current promo for 10% off if you buy boba from Ten One Tea House across the street. You essentially pile into your bowl as much ingredients as you can and they will make it into stir fry or soup. I haven't tried the soup but the stir fry is sooo good. My favorite is to add in the curly egg/ramen noodles (the texture reminds me of热干面), the seaweed knots and all the different mushrooms/fungi! If you fit everything into the bowl right, the portion is very hefty. Rice is included on the side. Next time I go, I will take pictures to add to review!

The food is amazing, authentic Mala flavor and only place to serve original Malatang and Mala Xiangguo. The front people are so nice and service is friendly. Ambiance is mian Chinese red color which I loved it

The portion sizes are very generous and flavors are all very authentic as well! Definitely worth a try!

Our Sichuan prayers have been answered. I've always thought it weird that there are not more Sichuan Chinese restaurants in the vicinity given the large Chinese population and popularity of the cuisine. It's extremely easy, take a bowl and load it up with protein, veggies and/or noodles from a buffet. Take it to the counter and choose between soup or stir fry at your preferred level of spice. That's it. It's cooked with mala as the restaurant name suggests, and will provide the the spice level you desire. There's a great variety to choose from. I tried the two and three spice levels and they definitely delivered on on the flavor. It's fast, quick and great for takeout. Make your way down if you've been missing your sichuan fix.

Tastes good and has variety, but lately been getting less volume of food than before, and the hours are wrong.

The food here is truly authentic and delicious, must try the level 2 spicy. The manager here is super friendly and welcoming, the price is absolutely favorable for everyone Music here is good too

Amazing flavors and such a kind staff. I've only lived in providence for a few months but have already begun eating here weekly (if not more frequently than that). Such good food that always leaves me full :) great selection of meat, veggies and noodles. I highly recommend getting the stir fry. Mala for breakfast lunch and dinner.

it was good, we tried the stir fry and the soup. the service was okay, the food took a little long, but it wasn't a big deal. the ambiance was nice, just a little crowded. I was discouraged because we've gone twice now and each time the area where you fill up for toppings is near empty and there aren't much options as far as noodles and proteins. I ordered the stir fry and my boyfriend ordered the soup. The soup is the better choice by far. The stir fry is just too oily for my preference, my second photo shows the extra oil at the bottom. We both had level 1 spicy the first time (it was a little kick, but we both really like spicy so it wasn't too bad for us), the second time we went we had level 2 and it was a significant increase of heat. the flavor of the soup broth is excellent, i really appreciate when soup broth is exploding with flavor. I would go back for the soup, but if it is still lacking in noodles/ toppings again that'll probably be my last time going.

Good concept but they are still working out the kinks. A bit pricy but you get a lot of food; soup, noodles, rice, and all the toppings you can fit. Also the spice levels are very inconsistent some days the level 2 spice is fine others I'm dying halfway through my bowl.

My food was not good. I liked the concept, you pick your noodles and the contents of your stir fry, then specify spice level. I got level 2 which was spicy but not unpleasantly so. However their sauce is basically sichuan chili oil and ketchup (yes Heinz ketchup, I saw them squeeze out the bottle). So the end result is very soggy, salty, very very oily noodles, so much so it was inedible after a few bites. There was a pool of oil covering the bottom half of my container. The noodles were just oily mush. I've had great spicy sichuan food before, but this wasn't it. Was also pricy. Don't do it!