Whether it’s a comforting yet fiery bowl of malatang, or a mouth-numbing, stir-fry mix of meat, vegetables and instant noodles (aka mala xiang guo), it’s undeniable that mala has its charms. Everyone has their personal favourite mala place, but here, we list a bunch of new spots that you should visit when you need your usual dose of spice; from mala xiang guo hawker stalls to spicy Szechuan hot pots. Find the closest one to you today, and see if you’ll discover a new go-to hotpot hotspot!
Central Singapore
Green on Earth Vegetarian Cafe
Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to forgo all the hype around mala xiang guos. A restaurant known for its fragrant stir-fry boasting greens and (surprisingly delicious) mock meats, Green on Earth Vegetarian Cafe should be everyone’s go-to for piquant eats. Just select your options at the usual ingredients section, but be prepared for a spicy and numbing hit as the restaurant dishes out both in equal measure, no matter if you pick xiao la or da la.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GreenOnEarth/
Address: 386 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678043
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am-10pm
Mala Steamboat (She Jian Shang Mala Huo Guo – Chinatown Food Street)
Image credit: @chinatownfoodstreet
The newly reopened Chinatown Food Street boasts six new steamboat and BBQ ala carte buffet concepts, one of which is Mala Steamboat (She Jian Shang Mala Huo Guo). Dine at the refreshed alfresco space with a steaming pot of spicy-numbing soup filled with seafood and meats. At $19.90 per person, it’s a value-for-money meal, especially with its free-flow of fried gyozas and boiled dumplings.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ChinatownFoodStreet/
Address: 41 Smith St, Singapore 058953
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am-11pm
Ma La Xiang Guo (Koufu – HDB Hub)
This one has us salivating just thinking about it. Found at Toa Payoh’s Koufu food court at HDB Hub’s second floor, Ma La Xiang Guo serves some extremely spicy and oily mala xiang guos. Do yourself a favour and load up on quail eggs, chinese cabbage and pork belly, which will all come dripping in oil and topped with crushed peanuts. Be warned though, the lowest spice level here is probably a medium everywhere else.
Address: 500 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310500
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am-10pm
Yang Guo Fu
The world’s largest and award-winning mala tang chain has hit our shores. China-based Yang Guo Fu, which has over 6,000 outlets in countries like Japan and Australia, has now opened at Singpost Centre and Bugis Village.
Try its three best-selling signature broths and sauces to keep your mala cravings satisfied: Spicy Mala Beef Broth, a rich, nutritious stew that’s rich in collagen; the vegetarian-friendly Tomato Broth which is packed with vitamins; and Mala Ban, a sauce that brings a delightful kick of spice from the northern provinces of China.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/yangguofu.sg/
Address: Islandwide
Opening Hours: Varies by outlet
Upin Hot Pot
Although HaiDiLao Hotpot gets all the praise, Upin is a strong contender when it comes to spicy hotpot soup bases. This chain establishment offers the Sichuan Spicy Pot, which you can chuck all your meats and vegetables into, and have it turned spicy and mouth-numbingly good. You might also want to try their Signature Tomato Pot while you’re there, as it actually made this year’s SR Signatures list.
Website: https://www.upinhotpot.com.sg/home
Address: Islandwide
Opening Hours: Varies by outlet
Ri Ri Hong Mala Xiang Guo
This Chinatown hotspot is known for a lot of things, and being budget-friendly is definitely one of them. Go all out and select tons of vegetables such as morning glory and water spinach; then get instant noodles, pork, and beef slices too. Don’t forget to fill your bowl with a whole packet of golden mushrooms and chewy glass noodles as well. You’ll soon find out why this place has locals (and tourists even) travelling all across our island to enjoy their pots of spicy stir-fry.
Address: 32 New Market Rd, #01-1152, Singapore 050032
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-9:30pm, Sun, 10;30am-9:30pm
Old Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant
With a name like that, you know Old Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant is all about the spice. And it truly shows in its menu, which is sprawling with a wide variety of unique mala dishes. Those interested in unconventional mala options should try the Mala Pig Brain or the Mala Bullfrogs and Filefish, while others staying safe can choose the Mala Enoki Mushroom and Cold Mala Sticks for meat plus veggie skewers laced with mala flavour.
Website: https://oldchengdu.com.sg/
Address: Pagoda St, #80, Singapore 059239
Opening Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri, 11:30am-1:30am, Tue, Thurs, Sat, Sun, 11:30am-12am
West Singapore
Joyful Paradise Mala Xiang Guo (Food Pavilion – Clementi)
An unassuming stall at one of Clementi’s coffeeshops, the mala xiang guos here made our cut because of its crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside thinly-sliced potatoes, lotus root, springy instant noodles and good selection of meats and vegetables. In fact, its sister stall just beside it offers some tasty la mian noodles too, including a spicy Szechuan la mian soup.
Address: 443 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-55, Singapore 120443
Opening Hours: Daily 11:30am-10pm
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo
A mala xiang guo eatery that seems to be aggressively expanding around malls in Singapore, Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo serves both malatang and mala xiang guo, plus some other mala side dishes. We won’t deny that this one’s a little pricier than we like, but the vermicelli, kelp and okra here go really well with both the soups and stir-frys. And if it’s any consolation, you won’t have to sweat it out and bathe in the Singaporean heat, as most of their eateries are air-conditioned. You can also check out some of their halal-certified stalls here.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/malahotpotsg/
Address: The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, #01-41 Buona Vista, Singapore 138617
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am-9pm
Fat Cat Grilled Fish
Formerly known as Sichuan Kungfu Fish, this eatery has recently rebranded to Fat Cat Grilled Fish. You can attribute much of the hype around Sichuan boiled fish to this international brand specialising in Sichuan-style mala peppercorn grilled fish. They also offer smaller hotpot sets, personal fish meals and even bowls of mala noodles for single diners, so you won’t have to gather the entire gang just to satisfy your craving for mala.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sichuankungfufishsg/
Address: 1 #04-01 Bukit Batok Central Link West Mall, 658713
Opening Hours: Daily, 9am-10pm
East Singapore
Mala Hotpot (Happy Hawkers Coffeeshop)
One of the most affordable mala xiang guo options you’ll find in Singapore, Mala Hotpot at Happy Hawkers Coffeeshop provides generous portions of ingredients, plus a very reliable and consistent mala flavour. Located just outside the Bedok bus interchange, this should be every East-siders’s go-to mala xiang guo option.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bedok-Blk-204-Happy-Hawkers-Coffeeshop/1721978034798695
Address: 204 Bedok North Street 1, Singapore 460204
Opening Hours: Daily, 6am-10:45pm
North Singapore
57 Mala Xiang Guo
Whether it’s the classic style of mala xiang guo where you pick and choose ingredients, or a selection of pre-cooked food, 57 Mala Xiang Guo has it. If you love garlic, this place is a must-try, as they pile heaping amounts of it into their mala to add to the flavour. Sitting just outside Admiralty MRT station, it’s highly accessible by train, making it a convenient spot for those in the North to check out.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/57malaxiangguo/
Address: 70 Woodlands Ave 7, #1-02 Admiralty MRT Station
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am-10:30pm
Whether you get xiao la or take your orders with maximum spice, the signature numbing sensation of Sichuan pepper is unmistakable to any mala enthusiasts. Take a look at which of these 11 spots are near you, and pay them a visit!
