Malabar Grill

Hot pot is definitely the perfect comfort food for chilly weather. I got there around 5:30pm, and the restaurant wasn’t very busy — just a few tables. I was a bit surprised, though, that even with so many ingredient options, some items were already running low and a few were almost gone. I ordered the tomato broth, and the cashier didn’t ask about the spice level — she just mentioned to the person next to her that I wanted mild spicy. They cook the pot first and then bring it out to your table. The funny thing is, the tomato broth didn’t really have much tomato aroma, and I couldn’t taste any spice at all. I headed over to the sauce station to add some flavor. They actually have more sauce options than most hot pot places, which makes it feel like you’re expected to season things yourself. The green onions and cilantro were pretty much empty, so I asked the front counter if they could refill them, and they did — which I appreciated. On the bright side, I really liked that they offer self-serve lemon water and iced tea, along with a few other drink options. I’d gently suggest restocking ingredients and condiments a bit earlier before peak hours so everything looks fresh and ready. It really helps with both the overall vibe and the dining experience.

Malabar Grill, located inside of Tasty Pot, was a great experience. I went on a Monday around early afternoon and the place was empty. I went ahead and topped up to 2 lbs of food. Shrimp, fish, crab cakes, udon noodles, broccoli, it's all here. Great assortment of hot pot ingredients. The flavors were rich and amazing. I chose the Healthy Bone Soup broth with mild spicy level and that, alongside my veggies, udon noodles, and the meats, made such an amazing combo for a 10/10 lunch!

I have always come to Tasty Pot after my other favorite hot pot joint closed. It felt like not long ago they rebranded, and this summer they were closed for construction again. Once they reopened, they changed their business model. Now you can choose your own soup base and ingredients, and they charge you by the weight of the food. Then they cook it for you and bring it to your table. The ambience hasn't changed much except that they now have stations where you can choose your ingredients. There are lots of options, and they have some pre-made items as well. I also like that they offer complimentary green tea. To me, that's not how I prefer my hot pot, as I like having a fire to keep my food warm. However, it's also nice to be able to choose exactly what you want in your hot pot.

Came here for the Yelp Elite All Star event to check out Malabar Grill, a new pop-up inside Tasty Pot on Main Street in Alhambra. It follows the newer hotpot trend where you pick your ingredients, weigh your bowl, then choose a broth. I'm a fan of this setup because it offers a wide range of options for vegetables, fish balls, meats, and all the usual hotpot essentials. Even though the event included a deal where every pound counted as 1.2 pounds, I'm keeping this review honest. I brought my buddy, who paid for her own bowl, and she's basically a hotpot connoisseur. They offer eight broth flavors. I went with the Taiwanese mala and appreciated that you can actually choose your spice level, unlike at Boiling Point. I picked the very spicy option, which is the middle level for this broth. It had a nice kick without being overwhelming. I imagine the flaming spicy is probably closer to Boiling Point's heat. My buddy got the healthy bone broth. It was creamy, rich, and paired really well with vegetables. Mine was great for meats, but her broth tasted more balanced overall. The sauce bar was another highlight. It had everything I needed to mix my usual sauce combination and a few extras to experiment with. Service was great. The staff member bringing out the pots was friendly, quick, and checked on us without us having to ask. The noise level was exceptional because it was a closed-out Yelp event. Parking: Free street parking or free public street garages on First Street. This place can be a five-star if they don't overcook your meat, but I get it. It could have been a one-off, and they may not be fully staffed. Huge thank you to Annie, Thuy, and the rest of the Yelp community moderators who put this event together. Always appreciate the effort that goes into these experiences. If Malabar Grill becomes a full-time spot, I'm all for it. I’Il definitely come back to try more broths and build another loaded bowl.

This place is under new management. Ordered: Beef Hot Pot, Stinky Tofu Hot Pot, Taiwanese Hot Pot, and Kimchi Hot Pot. The spicy wontons were on the house. Broth is a bit light, in my opinion, on the bland side. Nothing really stood out to me. Overall service was very good and attentive, which made up the average tasting food. They constantly came to ask if we needed more soup and also refilled our iced water. However, the sterno that kept the pot warm didn’t last long, so our hot pot soup wasn’t hot enough. But if you’re looking for an individual hot pot option, this place isn’t too bad. Support your local business.

Came here with friends and thought it was just OK. They offer a good variety of hot pots, but this style is different—everything is cooked in the kitchen and then brought out to you with a small burner underneath. The food was fine, but nothing really stood out flavor-wise, and I’ve had better hot pot elsewhere. You order through a QR code, but the server doesn't come by to bring out the food, and you can ask for more broth if needed. Service was decent overall. With so many other options in the SGV, I probably wouldn’t come back.

Reviewing for Malatang, their new name after renovation. It's a pretty unique hotpot spot. You add everything you want in your soup to a bowl, then they charge per pound of stuff added. Instead of there being a handful of preset bowls (like the old version of this spot), you can add everything you do want and nothing you don't. Their soup base selection was good and incredibly flavorful, all ingredients were super fresh. Huge fan, definitely a big step up from the OG tasty pot. Highly recommend, will be coming back.

If you like Boiling Point (BP) this place is a BP adjacent. The sauces are very similar, and they have similar options. What I do like is that you can adjust the spiciness of the Taiwanese Spicy, the one at BP is borderline edible because of the spiciness. The popcorn chicken was suprisingly good, perfectly crispy on the outside but still juicy on the inside. They do give more variety in their pots, but there are random ingredients like Taro. Overall, a solid spot if you're craving this style of hotpot and BP is a drive for you.