YGF Malatang

This Malatang spot is a hidden gem! The food is consistently delicious, and the staff are friendly and welcoming. The restaurant itself is clean and nicely maintained, making for a comfortable dining experience. It's also in a great location—surrounded by a supermarket, a bank, and plenty of other food and drink options nearby. Perfect for a quick bite or a casual meal out.

The food was delicious and one of the server (Carmen) is very nice, since it was our first time here, she explained everything to us. Two thumbs up 👍🏻 👍🏻 Highly recommended place.

I’ve been here twice and I’m definitely coming back. Staff is really nice and soup has a good flavor. Lot of toppings to choose from. I reccomend the beef broth medium spicy or the tomato. Thank you!

I had a great time at the YGF Malatang. The broth was rich and flavorful, the meat was tender and fresh, and the vegetables were crisp and crunchy. The service was fast and friendly, and the atmosphere was cozy and inviting. I would definitely highly recommend this place.

It's not just the food but the whole experience. You pick the ingredients and they cook. Lots of healthy and savory things to choose from...

Love the food here. You can pick what you like and choose the spicy level. You can make your own dipping sauce too. Dry hotpot was good too. The cumin in the seasoning really leveled up the flavor

Fantastic ingredients that makes killer hot pots. Despite the place being consistently packed with people, staff is super friendly, professional and accommodating. And the place is surprisingly clean!

I recently dined at a fantastic Chinese restaurant that specializes in mala tang, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. The aroma of the spices filled the air as I entered, instantly whetting my appetite. The mala tang was simply outstanding, with a perfect balance of numbing Sichuan peppercorns and fiery chili peppers. Each bite was a burst of flavors, complemented by the freshest ingredients and a variety of meats, vegetables, and noodles to choose from. The service was prompt and friendly, adding to the overall enjoyable dining experience. If you're a fan of spicy cuisine, this restaurant is a must-visit. Highly recommended!

Great malatang place. Quick and easy as well. When you walk in when busy they will tell you if a table is free and give you number. Then you can just fill up a bowl of food from the bar. Everything from veggies, noodles, meats, fish, balls and most things you can find at a hot pot place. I like the normal broth one medium spicy. It’s not crazy spice so you can easily get spicy without issue. The dry pot is good but a little too sweet with the peanut sauce they put in. Prices are good and it’s a nice place. I like to come here a lot.

This is my first time here. The soup base is so delicious, drinkable soup base much better than other Malatang restaurants. The service attitude of the waiter is super good. Potato noodles are my favorite😍

We’ll definitely be back. Everything was fantastic 😋

Whenever my partner and I are in Milpitas, we know we have to go to YGF. We usually have to wait for a table, but it’s worth it. They have plenty of options for meat, vegetables, and other toppings, and they’re always very generous with putting lots of soup in your bowl.

FOOD beef bone broth is very good. they have standard malatang ingredients like vegetables, tofu, meat, etc. sauce station is lacking though— not much variety in terms of sauce. SERVICE wait time is pretty long (about 30-40mins for a table for 4). cooking time is relatively short though (about 5-10mins). workers speak chinese and english ATMOSPHERE very busy at night!! kinda loud inside so youll need to talk loud. parking is VERY hard to find, you may need to park further. they have some bar style seats that face the window (which i liked). theres both outside and inside seating. also saw a cool skyline outside so maybe youll see a cool car too

Pretty good vegetables and meat. The beef is nice and the soup (I got the beef bone soup, high spicy level) is among the tastiest for malatang in the bay area.

I went with my Chinese friend, and it was absolutely incredible. The food was so good it blew my mind. We spent around $45, which included 1 pound of food (priced at $15 per pound) and two drinks. I loved being able to customize everything and pick all the ingredients I wanted—it made the experience even better. I asked the staff about the spice levels, and they warned me that the extra spicy was really intense. As a Korean, I opted for the regular spicy this time, and honestly, it wasn’t very spicy at all—probably mild by Korean standards. Next time, I’m definitely trying the extra spicy! The ingredients were super fresh, and there was plenty of parking, which was really convenient. The place seems pretty popular. We didn’t have to wait, but I can see there being a line during busy lunch hours. Also, there’s a fantastic boba spot nearby! Grabbing a drink there after your meal is the perfect finishing touch. I’ll absolutely be going back—it was just that good!

A pay per pound hot pot spot where you just pick your ingredients and they make it for you. It's a novel experience around these parts and honestly it's pretty decent. Was a fun experience and while the food is pretty mid mostly, it's priced alright too so is worth a visit if keen.

Came here about maybe two weeks ago? Although the line for it was quite long, I do think it was worth the wait. I got the tomato broth and it was so savory and delicious. I actually prefer this tomato broth over the tomato broth in one of the other malatang places nearby. I also think their signature broth is quite delicious. Good selection of noodles, meats, and toppings. I really enjoyed dining here and despite the hectic dinner rush, the staff was pretty organized. I will come back again and recommend this place!

Dont fill your bowl too much! It ends up being a lot. I had more than enough for two meals. I had the dry noodles. I thought the flavors were just right and the temperature is HOT!

First time here and I love it. The food is good and you can put as much as you want in the bowl. So since I’m a meat lover, I started at the end of the buffet line then moved toward the veggies. I was skeptical that would get full but not even half way in and I’m stuffed. I would come back for sure. Great service as well, the gentleman at the cash register explained how it worked, it being my first time. Very friendly and helpful.

My current favorite malatang spot. They have all the ingredients/sauces I want and everything is always fresh in my experience. The value is good compared to other malatang places I've been to, and they even give fruit most of the time. I like the tomato, golden chicken, and signature mild spicy beef broth. Favorite ingredient is obviously the beef--I get at least 10pcs each time. 😌 Currently they give a voucher per pound for the next visit; I usually get around 1 lb, so it's perfect. They also have takeout available which is super convenient. Seating is best for smaller parties, and the space is considered small. Service is good and quick. The wait can be long and parking can be annoying during peak hours, so I like to come early.

YGF Malatang in Milpitas offers an enticing adventure for any food enthusiast seeking a spicy yet flavorful experience. From the moment you arrive, the long lines might seem daunting, painting a picture of anticipation and eagerness in the air. However, unlike many crowded eateries where wait times can be excruciatingly slow, YGF Malatang manages to keep the line moving briskly. In a surprisingly short amount of time, you find yourself stepping into a culinary haven where the aroma of spices teases your senses, promising a memorable meal ahead. The truest highlight of this journey lies in the distinctive broth that YGF Malatang is renowned for. Rich, aromatic, and imbued with a perfect balance of spices, the broth serves as the heart of this culinary experience, drawing you in with every spoonful. The first sip instantly envelops your taste buds in a warm, savory embrace, making the wait in line seem insignificant. The complexity of flavors dances on your palate, offering a robust depth that transforms each mouthful into a captivating experience. It’s a broth crafted with care, maintaining the delicate balance between spicy and savory, ensuring that it doesn't overpower but rather complements each ingredient it comes into contact with. Adding to the pleasure of the meal are the noodles, which stand out not just for their flavor but, notably, for their texture. The chewiness of the noodles provides a delightful contrast to the broth, creating a textural symphony that elevates the dining experience. Each bite releases a burst of flavor, seamlessly blending with the broth’s richness. The noodles’ springy texture makes every mouthful interesting, prolonging your savoring of the dish while harmonizing perfectly with the complex spice profile. Despite the initial long lines, the rapid progression and the exceptional quality of both the broth and chewy noodles ensure your journey at YGF Malatang is not only worth the wait but also unforgettable.

Pretty straightforward, you choose what you want into your soup from the open "salad bar" style area, then choose your soup at the till and you pay per weight of your bowl of selected ingredients. they have a really wide selection from authentic Asian ingredients, some I've never seen or tried before, to things which are more common to westernised restaurants - there's something for everyone, so if you like noodles you can't go wrong here. I think the only criticism I could offer would be that it's probably not safe for those with food allergies or those who have strict dietary requirements, vegans etc - unfortunately having a system where everyone gets their own tongs (as opposed to having a pair of tongs per ingredient bucket) means you will get cross-contamination between buckets, even though I thought it was really fun and you can tell everything is kept very clean. I will definitely be going back, it was one of the best bowls of noodles I have ever had, and of course the sight of it made me choose too much - but it meant I had leftovers for the next day and I will never complain about having too many noodles 😍

chelsea

FOOD beef bone broth is very good. they have standard malatang ingredients like vegetables, tofu, meat, etc. sauce station is lacking though— not much variety in terms of sauce. SERVICE wait time is pretty long (about 30-40mins for a table for 4). cooking time is relatively short though (about 5-10mins). workers speak chinese and english ATMOSPHERE very busy at night!! kinda loud inside so youll need to talk loud. parking is VERY hard to find, you may need to park further. they have some bar style seats that face the window (which i liked). theres both outside and inside seating. also saw a cool skyline outside so maybe youll see a cool car too

Y. A. Zhang

Pretty good vegetables and meat. The beef is nice and the soup (I got the beef bone soup, high spicy level) is among the tastiest for malatang in the bay area.

Dan Kim

A pay per pound hot pot spot where you just pick your ingredients and they make it for you. It's a novel experience around these parts and honestly it's pretty decent. Was a fun experience and while the food is pretty mid mostly, it's priced alright too so is worth a visit if keen.

Donna Kim

I went with my Chinese friend, and it was absolutely incredible. The food was so good it blew my mind. We spent around $45, which included 1 pound of food (priced at $15 per pound) and two drinks. I loved being able to customize everything and pick all the ingredients I wanted—it made the experience even better. I asked the staff about the spice levels, and they warned me that the extra spicy was really intense. As a Korean, I opted for the regular spicy this time, and honestly, it wasn’t very spicy at all—probably mild by Korean standards. Next time, I’m definitely trying the extra spicy! The ingredients were super fresh, and there was plenty of parking, which was really convenient. The place seems pretty popular. We didn’t have to wait, but I can see there being a line during busy lunch hours. Also, there’s a fantastic boba spot nearby! Grabbing a drink there after your meal is the perfect finishing touch. I’ll absolutely be going back—it was just that good!

Tuuyen Do

Dont fill your bowl too much! It ends up being a lot. I had more than enough for two meals. I had the dry noodles. I thought the flavors were just right and the temperature is HOT!

eggtart

Came here about maybe two weeks ago? Although the line for it was quite long, I do think it was worth the wait. I got the tomato broth and it was so savory and delicious. I actually prefer this tomato broth over the tomato broth in one of the other malatang places nearby. I also think their signature broth is quite delicious. Good selection of noodles, meats, and toppings. I really enjoyed dining here and despite the hectic dinner rush, the staff was pretty organized. I will come back again and recommend this place!

Austin Zhuang

YGF Malatang in Milpitas offers an enticing adventure for any food enthusiast seeking a spicy yet flavorful experience. From the moment you arrive, the long lines might seem daunting, painting a picture of anticipation and eagerness in the air. However, unlike many crowded eateries where wait times can be excruciatingly slow, YGF Malatang manages to keep the line moving briskly. In a surprisingly short amount of time, you find yourself stepping into a culinary haven where the aroma of spices teases your senses, promising a memorable meal ahead. The truest highlight of this journey lies in the distinctive broth that YGF Malatang is renowned for. Rich, aromatic, and imbued with a perfect balance of spices, the broth serves as the heart of this culinary experience, drawing you in with every spoonful. The first sip instantly envelops your taste buds in a warm, savory embrace, making the wait in line seem insignificant. The complexity of flavors dances on your palate, offering a robust depth that transforms each mouthful into a captivating experience. It’s a broth crafted with care, maintaining the delicate balance between spicy and savory, ensuring that it doesn't overpower but rather complements each ingredient it comes into contact with. Adding to the pleasure of the meal are the noodles, which stand out not just for their flavor but, notably, for their texture. The chewiness of the noodles provides a delightful contrast to the broth, creating a textural symphony that elevates the dining experience. Each bite releases a burst of flavor, seamlessly blending with the broth’s richness. The noodles’ springy texture makes every mouthful interesting, prolonging your savoring of the dish while harmonizing perfectly with the complex spice profile. Despite the initial long lines, the rapid progression and the exceptional quality of both the broth and chewy noodles ensure your journey at YGF Malatang is not only worth the wait but also unforgettable.

y Sun

We’ll definitely be back. Everything was fantastic 😋

Ishmael Ayesh

First time here and I love it. The food is good and you can put as much as you want in the bowl. So since I’m a meat lover, I started at the end of the buffet line then moved toward the veggies. I was skeptical that would get full but not even half way in and I’m stuffed. I would come back for sure. Great service as well, the gentleman at the cash register explained how it worked, it being my first time. Very friendly and helpful.

aq xin

My current favorite malatang spot. They have all the ingredients/sauces I want and everything is always fresh in my experience. The value is good compared to other malatang places I've been to, and they even give fruit most of the time. I like the tomato, golden chicken, and signature mild spicy beef broth. Favorite ingredient is obviously the beef--I get at least 10pcs each time. 😌 Currently they give a voucher per pound for the next visit; I usually get around 1 lb, so it's perfect. They also have takeout available which is super convenient. Seating is best for smaller parties, and the space is considered small. Service is good and quick. The wait can be long and parking can be annoying during peak hours, so I like to come early.

Ander

Pretty straightforward, you choose what you want into your soup from the open "salad bar" style area, then choose your soup at the till and you pay per weight of your bowl of selected ingredients. they have a really wide selection from authentic Asian ingredients, some I've never seen or tried before, to things which are more common to westernised restaurants - there's something for everyone, so if you like noodles you can't go wrong here. I think the only criticism I could offer would be that it's probably not safe for those with food allergies or those who have strict dietary requirements, vegans etc - unfortunately having a system where everyone gets their own tongs (as opposed to having a pair of tongs per ingredient bucket) means you will get cross-contamination between buckets, even though I thought it was really fun and you can tell everything is kept very clean. I will definitely be going back, it was one of the best bowls of noodles I have ever had, and of course the sight of it made me choose too much - but it meant I had leftovers for the next day and I will never complain about having too many noodles 😍

Vincent Chen

We come here often for dinner and it never disappoints. The selection of ingredients is good, price is fair and their soup/dry base options all taste good. You can also adjust the level of spiciness. It’s build your own bowl style so you can add any amount of ingredients you want. They just charge by weight. It does get busy here, especially for dinner so there can be a wait sometimes. Just need to sign in on the waitlist tablet outside the door.

Shahzad Ali

YGF Malatang is a vibrant and authentic Chinese dining experience located in the heart of Doraville, Georgia, at the Peachtree Pavilion.

Fun experience to grab what you want in your hotpot and have them cook an individual portion. I come for lunch often. I like the dry spicy pot but the soup ones are good too.

Amazing malatang. The broth is so rich and flavorful. This places gives Haid Di Lao a run for their money.

Visit: September 2024 It was cool to try a build your own malatang hotpot. They had a decent selection of options and staff was there checking and refilling frequently. The food tasted decent, nothing super special I would say, and it costed quite a bit for 1.5lb bowl. The table we had was also very unbalanced. Food came with some grapes and 3 tokens to the next door crane machine store, which was nice touch

The food was great. For me, they offered quite a few verity I like, so much so that I have to limit myself on the amount per item. They seem to refill the item quite often, so the bins are always full. There was not much service needed given the restaurant model, and the atmosphere was standard, though I did like that it didn't feel stuffy given they serve hot bows of soup. I'm definitely going back there, just hoping the line won't be long then either.

Nice for one person meal Lots of veg choices and broth is flavorful 6:30pm no line but waiting to get weighed took a long time; once ordered service was fast

Join waitlist through the kiosk and wait to be called. Select your food into the bowl and weigh for the price at the register. Be seated to the table the staff assigned for you. A couple minutes the cooked bowl would be served! Delicious and fresh. Beef broth is tasty. Tomato one not bad only a little bit artificial. Will try the dry pot next time.

Price is $15.99/lb with the many options for the broth. Malatang has gotten very popular recently and feels similar to hot pot. You get a decent amount of food if you only eat 1 lb of food. The space in the restaurant is on the smaller side, but the wait time is short. You grab a bowl and go down the line while picking up the ingredients you want into your bowl. At the end, the cashier weighs the bowl to determine how much to pay. Wait time for them to cook the food and bring it out to you is very quick, which helps bring down the wait time. I enjoyed the beef broth but spice level was high for me personally at the mild level.

My food came with a small bowl even though the weight is 1.04 pounds, while the other two had bigger bowls with weight 1.4+ pounds. Don’t know what the cutoff weight for the size of bowl is. I like the flavors better than YGF in Cupertino. Somehow I feel it’s less salty. The tables and chairs are nicer, too.

Monday night. Gets busy during peak dinner time. Enjoyed grabbing a bowl and tongs and choosing all the things that I like. In portions i choose. Sometimes you just want one beef ball. Everything looked fresh and was good. Just need to have parents not let little kids lean over and touch the food (was happening with the party in front of us). The tables are setup as 2 and 4. So it isn’t meant for large parties. You grab all you food and pay at the register and pick your broth. I picked the non spicy tomato. You need to be careful what you pick and how much. Your bowl can get heavy fast and you have a $40 bowl. They give you a number, you seat yourself and they bring your bowl to you once it’s cooked. It was super fast when we went. They gave only a few sauces. I like places with a lot of sauces to make your own recipe. I would come back.

The way this place works is that you grab a bowl, then pick the ingredients you want for your noodle soup/hotpot, then pick the soup base, and pay by the weight. There are quite a big variety of different ingredients to choose from. Just don't get too excited and get too much than what you could consume.

S H

My food came with a small bowl even though the weight is 1.04 pounds, while the other two had bigger bowls with weight 1.4+ pounds. Don’t know what the cutoff weight for the size of bowl is. I like the flavors better than YGF in Cupertino. Somehow I feel it’s less salty. The tables and chairs are nicer, too.

Kevin Huang

Price is $15.99/lb with the many options for the broth. Malatang has gotten very popular recently and feels similar to hot pot. You get a decent amount of food if you only eat 1 lb of food. The space in the restaurant is on the smaller side, but the wait time is short. You grab a bowl and go down the line while picking up the ingredients you want into your bowl. At the end, the cashier weighs the bowl to determine how much to pay. Wait time for them to cook the food and bring it out to you is very quick, which helps bring down the wait time. I enjoyed the beef broth but spice level was high for me personally at the mild level.

Christina Ng

Monday night. Gets busy during peak dinner time. Enjoyed grabbing a bowl and tongs and choosing all the things that I like. In portions i choose. Sometimes you just want one beef ball. Everything looked fresh and was good. Just need to have parents not let little kids lean over and touch the food (was happening with the party in front of us). The tables are setup as 2 and 4. So it isn’t meant for large parties. You grab all you food and pay at the register and pick your broth. I picked the non spicy tomato. You need to be careful what you pick and how much. Your bowl can get heavy fast and you have a $40 bowl. They give you a number, you seat yourself and they bring your bowl to you once it’s cooked. It was super fast when we went. They gave only a few sauces. I like places with a lot of sauces to make your own recipe. I would come back.

Vincent L

The way this place works is that you grab a bowl, then pick the ingredients you want for your noodle soup/hotpot, then pick the soup base, and pay by the weight. There are quite a big variety of different ingredients to choose from. Just don't get too excited and get too much than what you could consume.

Grace Lee

Join waitlist through the kiosk and wait to be called. Select your food into the bowl and weigh for the price at the register. Be seated to the table the staff assigned for you. A couple minutes the cooked bowl would be served! Delicious and fresh. Beef broth is tasty. Tomato one not bad only a little bit artificial. Will try the dry pot next time.

Overall pretty good, the broth is decent and the choices of items like veggies and noodles also meat are supple. But the veggies were very under cooked. Like the bamboo shoot, yam, an potato. And it feels overpriced for what it is~~at this price range I rather eat hotpot~~

Tried the dry version and had a mixed feelings. Noodles were overcooked, which took away the texture. I paid $22+ which felt pricey, though Malatang is priced by weight and ingredients. Flavor wise, it’s ok, but if you’re used to bold, punchy Mala in Singapore, this version might feel a bit muted. Lack of deep aromatic kick.

It’s a nice place where you create your own bowl by picking from a variety of items, then choose your soup base. It’s easy to end up with a lot of food. Neither of us could finish our bowls, and even the kid had too much. I thought the soup flavors could have been better. They didn’t taste like good ramen. Still, it’s worth trying.

Mark Hassin

It’s a nice place where you create your own bowl by picking from a variety of items, then choose your soup base. It’s easy to end up with a lot of food. Neither of us could finish our bowls, and even the kid had too much. I thought the soup flavors could have been better. They didn’t taste like good ramen. Still, it’s worth trying.

Yatpuquattro

Tried the dry version and had a mixed feelings. Noodles were overcooked, which took away the texture. I paid $22+ which felt pricey, though Malatang is priced by weight and ingredients. Flavor wise, it’s ok, but if you’re used to bold, punchy Mala in Singapore, this version might feel a bit muted. Lack of deep aromatic kick.

Normally I would give good reviews but the takeout(delivery) portion size is just tooo small. It barely covers the bottom of the bowl. This costs 31 dollars after tax.

Be cautious about the weight!!! They are trying to trick you! I had my food with 1.18lbs weight on the scale and then when I got the receipt, it showed 1.78lbs. And my daughter's had the 1.57lbs with tomato soup (she had a lot of heavy weight fish balls, shells and eggs). You guys compare the pictures and have some sense of the weight difference. She already ate quite some and put one quail egg in my bowl when I'm typing in the review. Very bad experience! I won't come back again!! [Update] They seem to be very actively monitoring reviews on Yelp and other platforms. A few minutes after I posted my review. They came to me and offered me partial refund to remove my review. After I refused, a while later they showed me a video clip from WeChat to prove that no manual typing of the weight in their system. Maybe I’m wrong, but decided to leave the original review as is for you guys for precaution.

Warning on food safety. Got food poisoning from eating here and have been sick for 3 days. Had dinner here on Thursday and started to have symptom a few hours after , doctor confirmed food poisoning later. Not saying everyone will get sick because clearly many people eat here, but I would definitely not be coming back.

I went there with my friends last week, and she told the cashier that there is no hand soap in the restroom, he just said “yeah” she was like you guys should pour more soap right? Then they did. It means they knew it and they don’t wash their hands before serving the food, GROSS Spicy mix is good, I don’t like the tomato soup, tastes like water

$45 and my tongue is all tingly. I took 3 bites and left. Total bummer. Flavor of veggie option not good. Toppings 50/50 but kinda ick GO SOMEWHERE ELSE