Mala Sichuan Bistro

Mala Sichuan is a true hidden gem. Every time I eat here, I’m reminded why I keep coming back — the flavors are bold, addictive, and deeply authentic. The spices are used not just for heat but to build layers of flavor that are hard to find outside of China. The vibe is relaxed but stylish, and the staff is always welcoming and quick to help. Whether I’m dining in with friends or grabbing takeout, the experience is consistently excellent.

Very kind and informative customer service. I had the sour and spicy wontons which were awesome as well as the eggplant with string beans. Food was very quick and so tasty. In the mall they are unsigned but in the tall black building towards the middle of the complex. Will definitely come again!

I was on the hunt for the perfect spot for a girls’ lunch, and this little gem ended up being my pick! It’s a small, quaint place...nothing too vibey, but cozy enough for a casual meal. We were expecting a bit more atmosphere-wise, but that’s on me for not reading the reviews beforehand. Now, let’s talk about the food...personally, I loved it! Bold flavors, great portions, and just the right amount of spice… for me, at least. My friends? Not so much...they weren’t prepared for the heat! (Note to self: pay more attention to those little chili icons on the menu next time!) I’ll definitely be back, especially with my son and boyfriend since we all share a love for spicy food. I can totally brag about the flavors here! The service was friendly but could have been a bit more attentive. Overall, a solid spot, and I’m excited for my next visit!

We highly recommend this place. We come here 2-3 times a week for many years. The food is authentic and very fresh, and quick too. The sichuan mala spice is on point and it doesn’t leave you feeling too heavy either. We love the service too from our usual waitress who is working today as well.

Mala Sichuan is hands down one of the best Chinese restaurants I’ve ever been to — not just in Houston, but anywhere. Every dish bursts with bold, authentic Sichuan flavor, perfectly balancing numbing spice (málà), richness, and freshness. The Mapo Tofu is silky and deeply satisfying. Their use of Sichuan peppercorns is masterful. The atmosphere is stylish, and service is consistently friendly and efficient. The staff is always happy to explain the menu and make thoughtful recommendations.

This place serves amazing food. But that's not the reason for my review. Im leaving this review to convey my sincere thanks to the staff for their honesty and integrity. My friends and I dined at this place, and one of us left our valuables behind. They kept it safe for us. Nothing was missing. Thank you so much!!

Authentic vibes, from the tea to the servers. The eggplant green bean flavor was pleasantly surprising. Crispy spicy chicken really is crispy and works well with the peppercorns and peppers, but not really that spicy. The red oil dumplings had a nice flavor, a little on the sweeter side but too much flour and too little filling.

Super interesting and delicious flavors in a nice atmosphere, with a large but easy to read menu. The food came out in cute dishware and the waiters don’t bother you. It was cold outside and they gave us warm water which was just a nice touch. We had the tea smoked duck, eggplant, nourishing soup, cordycepts mushroom app and pickled pepper chicken. Yum and decently priced

Mala makes some delicious food! The phone service leaves something to be desired -- we've ordered twice now and each time, the lady was curt and hung up on us without taking a name or giving a time estimate. Still, a small price to pay for really tasty food. Another small issue is that their website doesn't list spice levels. We got burned (literally) with their Green Peppercorn Beef. It was off-the-charts spicy where we couldn't eat it without rinsing it. Most things here will have a kick for sure but they need to warn you when it's that level of spice. This seems like the sort of place where anything you order is pretty likely to please. My favorite items so far have been the Beef Brisket with Mushroom Medley (a delicious dish with zero spice but ample flavor that even my toddler enjoyed) and the Twice Cooked Pork. Their Red Oil Dumplings and Sour and Spicy Wontons are great as well. Honestly, everything we've tried has been good. Highly recommended and definitely my new go-to spot for Sichuan food.

Amazing service and good! The crispy basil chicken is amazing and we got a couple of drinks that I don't remember but were made to perfection! My friend didn't like the sticky rice balls and our server took it off the bill which was so kind. Place was clean and looked great inside. The seating is intimate but I enjoyed it. Some people don't like being super close to others, so consider that before coming here. 10/10 place can't wait to come again!

Mala Sichuan is my old faithful for flavorful authentic Szechuan cuisine. Tucked in the corner of a plaza, behind the late Acme Oysterhouse, it can be easily missed. Inside, the restaurant has two floors - the ground level offering a few casual tables and a couple of bar seats, while the upstairs has additional tables for larger groups and a slightly more formal setting. Regardless of which floor you visit, don't forget to check out their beautiful thatched roof detail on the interior ceiling. The menu offers a wide of variety of dishes with varying spiciness levels and protein sources. My personal favorite is the dry pot vegetables which is better than some of the other local competitors. It's not overly oily, has a nice variety of vegetables and comes with a large side of white rice. I highly recommend but be warned that it is does have the classic mouth-numbing Szechuan peppercorn so if you're not into spicy food, proceed with caution. Service was wonderful. Very attentive and our food came out in just a few minutes. Parking is widely available in the plaza parking lot.

Yummnmyyyy food!! Cumin lamb, twice cooked pork, dan dan noodles, I mean it was all so good. You really can't go wrong ordering here. Id get a variety and eat family style. I will definitely be back!!

I visited Mala for the first time as my husband and I love Sichuan food. The food was great 9/10 We ordered hot and sour soup 10/10 Dry pot beef 10/10 Crispy and spicy chicken 9/10 The service was very quick 10/10 Ambiance was really nice and the overall vibe was great 10/10

We ordered the spicy and crispy chicken, Dan Dan noodles, hot and sour soup, red oil dumplings, and eggplant. We did ask for ground pork in the eggplant but it didn't seem like there was any in it (although they did say there was). The eggplant itself was still really good though. I also really liked the red oil dumplings! The Dan Dan noodles were our least favorite, really strong peanut flavor

On the hunt to try all the Chinese restaurants in Houston. This time we decided to try Mala Sochuan Bistro. It was very quiet the day we went, likely because it was after lunchtime on a weekend. Inside was very cute with a Tsingdao beer Christmas tree and lanterns. We ordered the red oil wontons that was surprisingly a sweet base with a generous amount of pork wrapped in a wonton wrap. We also ordered dry pot beef that was less oily than other places which we loved with the aromatic seasoning coating the ingredients. Beef was super tender and I loved the lotus roots. Also ordered the green peppercorn fish fillet that was in a soup base with oyster mushrooms and bok choy. Just to note, this dish is very numbing and has a unique twist to what you generally may be used to. The fish fillet melts in your mouth and pairs so well with white rice. M This place was definitely on my top list of favorite Chinese restaurants I've tried so far, will definitely be back to try their other dishes.

Our food came out extremely quickly! Terrific service. Portions are generous. The Dan Dan noodles are my go to and their funky cold noodles are very flavorful. Vegetable entrees gave all been tasty as well though the corn could've used a little more flavor. Would go back.

This place was great! Service was super fast and we loved it so much we ate our entrees prior to a photo because it was that good! We got a table quickly and the staff helpful. 4.5/5. Highly recommend family style and trying as much as possible. The apps incredible (dumplings and Dan Dan noodles)

They are pretty nut allergy friendly (servers will understand the request). But I almost always get the same thing when I come with my friend anyway. A family-style Sichuan restaurant that has expanded across Houston, this Mala location is located in the corner of the lot next to the abandoned ACME Oyster House with plenty of parking. There is nice bar seating downstairs and more large circle tables upstairs that comfortably seat 10-12. I always order the twice cooked pork, spicy and crispy chicken, and vegetables (along with rice, can feed 3-4 people). The twice cooked pork is a classic and Mala is one of the only locations that makes theirs with leeks. Nice spice, very flavorful (4.5/5). The spicy and crispy chicken has more numbing heat than expected. It usually comes out great, but the chicken at my last meal here was a bit drier than expected. (4/5) The dry fried vegetable green beans are an excellent side with rice and any protein. (4.5/5) They are also BYOB with a corkage fee. Great place for food, hope they treat their servers well.

Great spot! It has a wonderful ambiance inside and is beautifully decorated. The server was really kind and took his time to explain the menu and the type of food served. There are plenty of small plates to try, and we got a small sampling, but it was still a TON of food! Probably 4 more meals out of it likely. We had the dan dan noodles, red oil dumplings, and the king Pao chicken. My favorite was the kung pao chicken, it was really yummy with the peppers and had a perfect kick to it. The dan dan noodles were good, but I was slightly disappointed as I had expected them to have a bit more spice to them. The red oil dumplings were delicious, the pork was well seasoned, and the dumplings themselves were perfect! Wonderful place! I recommend for a big group (they have a lot of seating upstairs). We didn't have drinks, but they also have an extensive beverage menu as well. It was great!

Cozy and authentic restaurant, got the following items! Loved the red oil dumplings and beef brisket with mushroom medley, they are must gets. Server was very attentive. Red oil dumplings Couples lung slices Beef brisket with mushroom medley Egg and tomato fish cubes Simmered prawns with veggie Sautéed seasonal vegetable

Great place for authentic Sichuan food. Went on a Friday night, easy to get a table for 2. Inside is beautifully decorated along the main wall. Water boiled fish: 4.5/5 one of my favorite dishes, love the combination of the numbing spice with fish, the sauce is thick and perfect on a bed of rice, could use a little more of the mala spice but that's just my personal preference Lamb ribs: 4/5 fried lamb ribs with their mala spice, great texture and flavor, had a few pieces that were really fatty which was tasty but can be a bit much Dan dan noodles: 3.5/5 could've used more sauce, pretty good but standard dan dan noodles Matcha millie fuille cake: 4/5 slightly bitter matcha balanced well with the cream and honey, appreciated the sparkler for an extra special touch Love getting this place to go and decided to try the inside. The service was good and the food came out really quickly.

Came on a Saturday a little bit after noon and there was no wait at all. Everything we ordered came out super fast and all at once. They used the perfect amount of peppers so you don't get too numb from eating it. Everything was very flavorful and the meats were very tender. 100% would come back to try new things. Red oil dumplings: highly recommend, very nice chewy to the dough but not too chewy. House special funky cold noodles: this is such a nice contrast to all the numbing spice, when your tongue gets a little overwhelmed with the oil or numb, use these noodles to cut it and refresh. Dry pot beef: star of the show, you get a mix of everything. The potatoes are soooo good, it soaked up all the flavor. Spicy and crispy chicken: super flavorful and the meat wasn't dry at all, this is super addicting. Twice cooked pork: sooo tender, they don't skimp on the leeks. Definitely take a bite of the meat together with the leeks. Cumin lamb: lamb didn't have gamey flavor at all. Cumin flavor is very strong so this may be a turn off for some but I really enjoyed this.

Stopped in to grab a bite after it was recommended by a friend who tried it a few years ago. Service was fast to get me seated food did take a little while but definitely worth the wait. Everything tasted fresh and came out hot!

Honestly - the food was awesome and portions were solid, prices were totally fair if not cheap! The hot and sour soup was huge and was tasty. The eggplant was so good - whatever sauce they use was delicious. Mongolian beef was decent enough. I really enjoyed the Kung Pao Chicken though. The Bokchoy was light and fresh. The only weird thing was that is was deathly quiet during lunch time and no music playing to fill the voids.

3.5 stars. Go for the spicy and crispy chicken. Overall good selection, decent quality, semi authentic. Stopped by for dinner with a friend. Place is decent if you are in the area, but def not a destination place. The spicy and crispy chicken was really good but the hot and sour soup and pork and bamboo was just ok. For the pork and bamboo, at first glance it looks about right, but the flavor was bland. Also all the pork was stuck together in big clumps, which made it hard to eat. The hot and sour soup was similar. Looks good, but flavors are more mild and only semi authentic. The place is pretty spacious, including an upstairs dining area. Ample parking. Service was good.

Been coming here for years! Always ordered the Spicy Aromatic Chicken (they change the name sometime a go), Water Boiled Fish, Dry Fried String Beans w/ Pork, & Westlake Soup. Never been dissapointed. Sometimes we threw in some Tea Smoke Duck & Red Oil Dumpling. Nice sitdown restaurant & quick take out.

This has become the preferred Sichuan restaurant amongst my friends. Parking can sometimes be a bit of a challenge so best to carpool. Ambiance is low-light and perfect for conversation. Never had takeout, always preferred to dine-in here. They have a small patio downstairs and then the majority of tables are upstairs. Service is fine and all dishes have been delightful. Food comes out pretty fast and portions are perfect for a group of 3-4.

This place was absolutely delicious! We were in town visiting some friends in Houston and they took us here for dinner on a Friday night. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! Every dish was so flavorful and the food arrived at our table very quickly. We ended the meal with slices of matcha and tiramisu crepe cakes. Overall, tasty and delicious! We'll definitely be back!

It's been a while, but the food is just as delicious as ever. We tried the crispy prawns with rice crackers, and it left our mouths tingly and wanting more. Always a pleasure! Thanks for the great service and attentive staff.

I've literally been here 3 times in the last 4 weeks, I even went here for Christmas Eve. My family is Sichuanese, so hopefully you know that I know my stuff. I remember going to the original Mala in Chinatown back when it was just one location. I'm glad they've done well enough to expand, and I'm glad to see Sichuanese food being more ubiquitous in general. Here for the first time, or want to impress? I would go with the 2 classic entrees: Water (or Beef) Boiled Fish Fillet and the Spicy and Crispy Chicken. The water-boiled fish is more gravy-y than the traditional style, which is more like an oily broth, but feels much healthy and goes well with rice. The chicken is like popcorn chicken on spicy steroids, perfect texture and great flavor. Both are fantastic and my absolute favorites. A 3rd dish I really like is the Dry Pot Fish Fillet: deep-fried fish with vegetables and spices is a killer combo. If you want soup to start, I recommend the West Lake Soup, it's a refreshing and savory soup that's great as an appetizer. I haven't had much anything else on the menu at this location because I always order the 4 dishes I mentioned above, so I can't in good conscience make any additional suggestions. However, I would say based on Mala's reputation and what I've had so far, you really can't go wrong! Just like the Chengdu Taste and Sichuan Impression dynasties in Los Angeles, Mala Sichuan Bistro has cemented itself as the king ('wang') of Houston. Long live the king!

Didn't meet my expectations unfortunately, as I have heard a lot of great things about Mala. Decor was nice and there were not that many tables. Ample parking even though it's in Montrose area! Service was great and food came out pretty fast. Food (not very spicy): Dan Dan noodles ($9): 3.5/5, pretty good with a nice bite, not very special personally red oil dumplings ($9): 2/5, the proportion of filling to wrapper was awful, I felt like it was mostly wrapper. Way too pricey for what it was Water boiled fish ($16): 4/5, my go to dish at Sichuan restaurants, this was good!! My favorite dish but I may be biased. Portion was alright. Shredded pork with mushroom ($15): 3.5/5, it's average and gets the job done, not my favorite. Great for person with western palette Mapo tofu ($14): 1/5, I really disliked this dish. I don't eat this much but I have had much better. There was a floral flavor that I couldn't stand. I couldn't finish this. I'm not familiar with Sichuan cuisine but I found it super heavy in oil and all the flavors of the dishes blended together. The server brings a tablet for you to pay and they stand there holding the tablet as you pay and tip which I found very awkward. Overall, flavors were average and dishes were overpriced for what they were. Wouldn't return. I'm not sure if other locations are the same.

We recently moved and immediately ordered through doordash once we realized we were in the zone. My taste buds get excited every time we order from here. Last week, I was bored so I drove to the location. Kind of hard to find. It's tucked in the back of Acme Oyster house. There aren't many tables but very nice inside. I do have to say, it was better the other two times we ordered it but we also waited a few hours so that's probably why. My go to fish is the cumin beef. It's amazing ! My hubs gets their version of General Tso ckn and we always get the dumplings along with pork fried rice. Yes, we are pigs. If you like spicy, this is the place! Amazing !

My new favorite sichuan spot in Houston! I highly recommend this place if you enjoy sichuan food. If you like Sichuan peppercorn chicken you'll love this restaurant's crispy mala beef. The upstairs is really nice and I love how it's decorated. The waiters are also really nice and will explain the menu to you if you are new. Can't recommend this place enough. I will definitely be back.

Had a great experience at Mala! We split the spicy crispy chicken, dry pot beef, and red oil dumplings among 3 and there was plenty of food and some leftovers! This was my first time having Sichuan cuisine and it was really tasty! The peppers have a super fun heat to them (almost numbing rather than hot) and the dishes were all great. My favorite was the dumplings, but both of the entrees were tasty as well!

Good food Lovely staff Plus we'll designed restaurant U can feel they do put so much effort for design this place It is lovely

The food was great! I loved the eggplant, Dan Dan noodles, and crispy and spicy chicken. Beef was tender too.

Mala Sichuan is a spice lover's paradise! Dining family-style with friends, we savored every dish, each packed with intense flavor and a fiery kick. The ambiance is welcoming, and the service was excellent. The Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken were standouts. If you're into bold and spicy flavors, Mala Sichuan is a must-visit.

Been here before and had my anniversary dinner here. The food here is great. Ordered the crepe cake that was nicely decorated for dessert. Not sure if the server assumed something but the crepe cake had a sparkler . The setting in the restaurant is very pleasant with a cozy interior.

I'm a sucker for mala food, but it's so hard to find in yeehaw land. Luckily, I found out this place through a friend! If you like mala project in NYC, this place tops it by far in terms of quality, taste, and price. I have tried the location in Chinatown as well, but this is my first time at the Montrose location. Came here on a Saturday night with a party of 5 and were seated within 10-15 minutes. They brought up upstairs to a large corner in the back of the restaurant. After a few conversations with the host, we squeezed at a 4-top table instead, so we could be closer to the main area. (We also said we'd be willing to squeeze -- just didn't want to be in the back of the room). We ordered the following 5 dishes: -dry pot fish fillet (5/5): holy crap the fish was crispy and mala flavor was on point. soft and tender potatoes and lotus root were a great addition. Portion was huge! definitely the highlight of the night -twice cooked pork (5/5): was so nostalgic for me. Reminds me of the China Family at UT Austin. Pork was perfectly tender and again they did not skimp out on the seasoning. -spicy and crispy chicken (5/5): very crispy and great mala flavor -basil eggplant and string beans (4/5): no complaints! Just ordered so we could get some veggies in. -dan dan noodles (4/5): bit too salty for my liking, but noodles were nice and chewy While my top three dishes were all mala flavors, I would recommend only ordering maybe 2 of the 3 at a time because it can get a bit boring with the same flavors. Easily could have ordered 4 dishes instead because the portions were so big. There is a parking lot, so you won't have trouble finding parking. They give you complimentary rice on the side. While this is typical of chinese restaurants, but felt the need to mention this because not everyone does this!

My husband and I thought we'd try Mala in Montrose for lunch over the weekend after reading all the fantastic reviews. It's a tiny place with an authentic Sichuan cuisine. Our server was nice enough--not very friendly. We told him we'd never been there before so he vaguely explained their menu and mentioned they serve food 'family style'. I really wanted to try the the Hot & Sour Soup but not have a large bowl so I asked if I could please have a cup. The server said no so I was a bit disappointed that I had to order the full 'family-style' size. Then, my husband ordered Mongolian Beef (he's not gastronomically adventurous) and I ordered the Beef Brisket with Mushroom Medley. Again--family-style portions. That's fine. I get it. To be honest, the beef in both dishes was a bit bland. Our server made it seem like they would be spicy so we braced ourselves, but instead, we tasted blandness. We decided to give their desserts a try. I ordered the green tea/matcha crepe cake and my husband ordered the vanilla caramel crepe cake. Mine was good. His was fantastic! Our one soup, two entrees, two desserts, and two waters was 90 plus bucks. Uhm...seriously? We would be totally fine paying that if our server was a bit friendlier and our entrees had more flavor.

I literally dream of coming back here all the time. As a socal native, I have zero expectations for food when I travel. A friend of mine recommended this place (she lived in china for a few years so I trusted her judgement) and my god were we blown away. The food was so freaking good and the perfect amount of spicy for me (I LOVE spicy but my husband can't handle it too much but he still liked it) We loved every dish we got and couldn't decide which one was our favorite! highly recommend if you're in the area!

So. Much. Flavor Egg and Tomato Fish Cubes - Went out of my comfort zone with this and it paid off. Avocado Charred Pepper Salad - Sauce was very rich but I wouldn't order it again Sour and Spicy Wontons - best thing of the night!! Custom fried rice order - Ben gives it 3/5 They need more staff. Had a hiring sign on the front door. Go in with patience, the food worth it.

One of my favorite Asian spots. Parking lot - same as Acme Oyster restaurant. Or can park on the street. Restaurant is typical - dark, "mood" lighting. Not a lot of alcohol options - beer, cider, some wine. Nice, professional, efficient staff. Food comes out fast without sacrificing taste. Can't say I've ever had anything that is not good here - although my go to is hot and spicy soup, water boiled fish, garlic eggplant, fried green beans (hard to find a place that makes it better than here), Dan Dan noodles, spicy wonton. Fried shrimp is good as is the peppercorn chicken. Since I was last here they've started offering party trays which is 4-4 portions of typical dish. Will def be using that at future get togethers. Def recommend. Of course will be back.

My first impression of this place was unsatisfactory, but eventually, that changed to great! I became obsessed with this restaurant and all their food *thumbs up* One of my go-to Sichuan restaurant in Houston, TX.

good food. Mala spicey as promised. Feels authentic but what do I know - I've never been to Asia!

I thought mala sichuan was good, but nothing really special. in terms of authenticity, i thought a lot of their menu catered towards a more American taste palette. their ratings for spicy were in truth not that spicy in my opinion. overall, still very tasty, but definitely something to keep in mind for a Chinese audience. I ordered the red oil dumplings (红油水饺), Dan Dan noodles (四川担担面), Kung pao chicken (宫保鸡丁), mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐), and water boiled fish fillet (水煮鱼片). I didn't think any of them were particularly spicy, but still very yummy! the ambience and interior is also beautiful.

Love going here. My favorites are the spicy/crispy chicken and the dan dan noodles. This place seems less spicy than the Chinatown location, but that may be my imagination.

Potentially my favorite restaurant in Houston. The ambiance is great--a little dimly lit, not too loud, and usually there is not too long of a wait. Every single dish I've had here has been delicious, and the service is super quick and very friendly. They also offer unlimited rice! My favorite dishes: Spicy and crispy chicken Water-boiled beef Twice cooked pork Dan Dan noodles Red oil dumplings Matcha crepe cake (any of the cakes, really!)

Nothing puts diners in a festive mood like a tree made of Chinese beer bottles. That's what greeted my companion and me when we paid a holiday-season visit to Mala Sichuan Bistro in Montrose. Even more impressive was the two-story mural of an Asian-style fantasy figure presiding over the restaurant's first-floor bar and dining area, as well as the 2nd-floor loft with its main dining room. Arriving a little after 5 pm, we stood inside for about five minutes expecting to be greeted, but the host station remained empty. I finally asked the woman presiding over the bar who we should see for seating. She apologized, having apparently mistaken us for takeout customers waiting for an order, and seated us immediately at a table in the bar area. The upstairs dining room doesn't open till the restaurant starts to fill up, generally after 6 pm, she said. Our food was delivered quickly and cheerfully. I enjoyed my fish with tomatoes. My companion thought his garlic chicken was just serviceable. The garlic spinach was well prepared, but the stringiness of it was unfamiliar to my Western palate. Feeling adventurous after the meal, we each ordered the milles feuilles cakes, built on stacks of thin, tender crepes with various fillings, plus a lit sparkler for garnish. The cakes are from a bakery in Chinatown. My companion was wise to order the tiramisu. I got the matcha, which was fun for being an exotic shade of green but less sweet than what we Westerners are used to.

I thought I knew what spicy food was until I went here. This food is truly spicy, but so delicious! At first, I wondered why the Kung Pao Chicken was rated as one of the spiciest foods on the menu and I kept eating it until I could feel my mouth slowly start to light on fire. Thankfully the white rice it comes with is a great way to ease the fire started in my mouth. Our server was also incredibly nice and checked on us often and made sure our waters were always full which I greatly appreciated. There was a great vibe going on in here with the two story building and the dim but direct lighting inside. Perfect for a nice family dinner or outing!

Food was ok. My boyfriend loves spicy food so he got the cumin lamb but the dish was extremely overloaded with peppers he could only eat half of it so we shared mine. I got the pork belly, it was good. We sat upstairs and were the only people up there. They sat another couple at the table right next to us (about 1ft away) out of every other table which was annoying. The server didn't check on us once between the time she took our order and the time we asked for the bill. Prob wouldn't come back here

There was absolutely nothing I did not love here service was A1 tha ambiance was chill other than the very gossipy girls next to us but THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU GOTTA GET HERE IS THE BACON CUCUMBER yes absolutely get that for sure I will personally give you directions to this place if you can't find it dm me and I will be here for you

Really nice food and I like all the spicy dishes. Strongly recommend this restaurant as a native Chinese

One of the better Sichuan food place I've visited in Houston so far. When you ask for super spicy, they really deliver. They spice it the right way too- with ground Sichuan chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns instead of using Thai bird eyes chilies like the other so called Sichuan restaurant south of the area. I had asked for mapo tofu with no meat and super spicy hot....boy was it HOT and Numbing...that's what I'm looking for when I have a craving for Sichuan food. My partner got the Sichuan Crispy Chili and Chicken. We had asked for regular spicy for his but I guess the chef thought if the mapo tofu has to be super spicy, they must be able to handle fire. As spicy as the chicken was, he thoroughly enjoy it and said the flavor was on point. Prices are reasonable. Rice is complimentary as with all Chinese restaurants in the area. Will return for more.

Mala Sichuan is one of those places where you can randomly pick and the food is ALWAYS GOOD Decor: this is such a cute and intimate space with lots of bright colors in the lobby area and dim, romantic lighting in the tables. I've been here with both my family and just with my boyfriend and they all loved it. Cleanliness: the restrooms are always very clean and the waiters use masks Food: Dan Dan noodles : I will ALWAYS order this. So flavorful and always made fresh. I have taken this home and left it in the fridge overnight and it's still good in the morning. Crispy Mala Beef: This is my boyfriend's favorite dish. The menu will say its spicy but it's really not. It's just the right amount of sodium and Sichuan peppercorn flavor. Crab and Asparagus Soup: this is a simple and tasty soup. I wouldn't say this is necessarily a banger but it's always good as an appetizer. Jiggling pork: this is a new favorite! I'm not sure how to describe the sweet soy sauce flavor but it's so good! I also like how the Broccoli is not overly cooked. Dumplings: I am not sure what kind of dumpling these were but they were really tasty. The sauce is a bit overwhelming though. Chicken and chestnut stew: we tried this for the first time and I really liked it! I think the chestnut was a little underwhelming but I would order this again.

My gf and I were attending a wedding ceremony so we decided to venture into the food-osphere near our hotel. Of all decision, we decided to try this Sichuan restaurant. It was a sit in place with nice decorations. Could be for a date, or a family dinner (both instances were presented at the moment). We ordered Kung Pao Chicken, as well as the Green Tea Bacon Fried Rice. The chicken was delicious and had an adequate amount of spice. I learned the meaning of Ma and La when it comes to spice and that meal in particular exemplified it. Nicely coated in sauce, and the peanuts and chopped chili pepper was a nice touch. It was served with steamed rice. The Green Tea Bacon Fried Rice was an experience. Living in St Louis, I have learned a different version of fried rice that my taste buds are accustomed to. However, this rice was very fragrant and a strong black pepper flavor. It was ok however paired with the chicken, it was better. Good experience. Good experience overall.

Dear foodie readers, we absolutely love Mala Sichuan for those Chinese food cravings...we have been to the Chinatown location, as well as this one...each one has its own unique menu items...the Montrose location has a great mural for those insta selfies...my kids love the kung pao chicken and the cumin lamb...they are excellent. The fried rice is just right. Food comes out in record time...so if you are hungry, you will be eating delicious food in no time.

I'm happy to see Sichuan style food benefit from a boom of popularity here in the States. Sichuan food is considered one of the most well known and well received style of Chinese cuisine, famous for its unique mouth numbing and tingling peppercorn spices. That being said, I'm very glad to see Mala Sichuan not only served well made dishes, but stayed true to tradition. When I looked at the menu, I saw traditional Chinese dishes like Couples Lung Beef, Boiled Fish in Hot Oil, the classic Mapo Tofu, and Dan Dan Noodles, just to name a few! And I was not disappointed when I these dishes, among many others. They are generous with the portions and seasoning. The colors are vibrant and fresh. The Dan Dan noodles are by far the best I've had. No wonder Mala Sichuan Bistro has established its deserved reputation with the Houston Chinese cuisine community. The time I went, it looked like the place was very understaffed. So be patient with them. Some helpful tips: - Get there earlier than the regular dinner rush or you will be waiting a while or make a reservation. - Do family style. This allows you to try more dishes while averaging out the cost. - The rice is refillable for free.