Quiteño1969

Sure wish I had taken pictures, although they would not have conveyed the amazing flavors of this place. That number, tingly szechuan pepper 🌶 was used perfectly. We ordered spicy and it was! Just how we Luke it. Wish we had a place like this in Dallas because I would be a regular. Service was great, good atmosphere, amazing food! Highly recommend! Provecho

amy

cozy and warm vibes, started with duck tacos which were just okay, felt like it was missing something lol. i did like the mala spicy, i was worried it’ll be too spicy but it was perfect amount. server was friendly, would come back!!

Blake Rasmussen

A great Chinese restaurant offering tasty Sichuan cuisine in a relaxed setting. This is a fairly casual restaurant, but they serve some expertly mad dishes. The dry pot is their specialty and it’s deliciously spicy, fragrant, and mouth-numbing from Sichuan peppers - I strongly recommend you try the dry pot, but the marinated pickles and popcorn chicken were excellent too. They have a great happy hour special where food is discounted (our beer was full price), so take advantage of that before 7pm.

+8

Carla Espinosa

First time coming to this establishment, and I must say I was very impressed. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try new cuisine. My server Cody was very attentive and could tell I was nervous. He took his time to explain the menu to me, recommended some tasty options. The restaurant itself has a great ambience, good music and very cozy. I appreciate the different spice levels they have and you can customize the food to your liking. I will definitely be coming back to try other dishes from the menu.

Bill

A solid spot for comforting Mala dry pot - the menu is extensive and customizable with plenty of meat and veggie options. I ordered about six items (definitely a bit much for one person) plus a hearty bowl of purple rice. Everything was flavorful with just the right level of spice. Generous portions, great flavors, and an overall satisfying solo dining experience.

+2

Syl

Loved the experience of sharing a dry hot pot for the two of us (+ an appetizer and rice). You get to make it your own, and I appreciated the variety of vegetarian ingredients. Good spicy options too. Food came out fast and was tasty. Just would have appreciated more genuine recommendation from the waiter.

Jessica Bachansingh

Málà Project is a good spot for dry hot pot in east village. I love that you get to pick your own mix of ingredients — veggies, noodles, meats, tofu — and they cook it all together in this super flavorful, spicy sauce. The heat is there, but it’s not overwhelming, and the numbing spice is kind of addictive. It’s fun to go with friends and share a big bowl so you can try a little bit of everything. The place has a chill vibe and the food always comes out fast and fresh. Scallion pancake was good too

Kitty Tsang

Went with a big group for dinner and Paul was our server. Food was amazing and came out quickly. Big portions too, great for sharing whether it was appetizers or the dry pot bowls. There were many people dining at Mala Project for the first time and it was really helpful when Paul made recommendations & shared the usual favorites as well as his favorites. Super attentive and we had a really great time! Would def go back and hope to have Paul as our server next time too!!

YonJee Hong

I come here all the for their drinks + food (mapo tofu, dry hot pot) - everything is delicious and the staff are super kind and considerate. shout out to paolo for espresso martinis and green tea shots! goes above and beyond thank you!!

Kaitlyn Kline

5 of us came here for dinner on a Friday night and shared 1 dry pot, 1 appetizer, and some rice. It was a good amount of food for us, though if we were hungrier, I’d recommend 2 dry pots for 5 people. I was happy with the selection of vegetable options for the dry pot. As vegetarians, we were able to build a hearty and delicious meal with the options available, even if we would have enjoyed some more choices. Really loved the soy ginger glaze! It was punchy and bright, without being too overpowering, definitely recommend!

Astrid Martinez

Came for a quick lunch. I had the cold soba noodles & the leftover fried rice. Both dishes were very tasty and the portion sizes are awesome. Service was super attentive. I will definitely be back :)

Pranav Gaikwad

The best place for dry pot. Eggplant with roasted garlic is a must try. Spicy popcorn chicken was good too. I would recommend spicy sauce base for the dry pot. Overall the best place to have food. Service and ambience is good too.

+6

Mononito Goswami

We had Mala dry pot with Quail Eggs, Fish Fillet, Chicken Gizzard, Fish Cakes, and Mushrooms. The food was delicious, and the service was great! I’ve had both the Mala and the mild spicy sauce, and would recommend the mildl spicy sauce, unless you love spice.

Ruby Chan

Málà Project is a highly rated spot for neo-Szechuan mala dry pot, aka a must visit for any spice lover. The space gives a funky and hipster vibe with neon light decors. I highly recommend building your own dry pot for the full experience. I am a sucker for dry mix pot and this one 100% satisfied my craving. They also offer mala dry pot lunch combo for $15-16. ＊Mala Project Dry Pot 麻辣香鍋 $75 *** First, don’t be scared by the price—we literally had to split the whole dry pot into 4 servings lol (for small appetite girls). We splurged on the marbled beef ($22) which tasted like premium hot pot cut. The beef tenderloin was a cheaper option ($9) and it was very tender. Glass noodle is the perfect carb to absorb the flavorful sauce. We picked the spiciest soup base and it was really numbing (but yum). They also have soy ginger sauce and less spicy base available. ＊Eggplant with Roasted Garlic 蒜蓉茄子 $12 * My fav starter! They plopped minced garlic on top and vinegar as the sauce base. It was delicious to mix the eggplant into your dry pot and enjoy altogether. ＊Pig Ear in Chili Oil 紅油豬耳朵 $14 * SPICY ALERT. My friend has a high spice tolerance but the dish had her keep chugging water. We both still thought the pig ears were really good in terms of texture and flavor. ＊Hot & Sour Noodle Soup 酸辣粉 $18 The glass noodle was chewy and soaked up the vinegar-y broth. I liked the spicy and sour flavors, yet the broth was quite oily. It came with beef belly, lobster balls, tofu pockets, and bok choy. ＊Crispy Ube Mochi 紫薯餅 $9 🌟🌟 I don’t care how full you are—YOU NEED TO ORDER THIS DESSERT! It was crispy on the crust, chewy on the inside, served warm, and NOT TOO SWEET. ＊Herbal Jelly 燒仙草 $9 A cold, sweet dessert to cool down your numbing tongue after indulging in so much spicy food. It was on the sweeter side, and I loved the grass jelly and red bean.

+25

First time here for a birthday celebration. We had a reservation and they seated us immediately even though our whole party hadn't arrived which was very nice. Our server was friendly and explained…

First time here for a birthday celebration. We had a reservation and they seated us immediately even though our whole party hadn't arrived which was very nice. Our server was friendly and explain…

First time here for a birthday celebration. We had a reservation and they seated us immediately even though our whole party hadn't arrived which was very nice. Our server was friendly and explained…

It's on the pricier side for dry pot especially with all the newer openings but you get what you pay for--consistently good execution and a fun ambiance. The quality of the ingredients is great and l…

It's on the pricier side for dry pot especially with all the newer openings but you get what you pay for--consistently good execution and a fun ambiance. The quality of the ingredients is great and…

Came here for a quick bite before watching a mysical nearby. This place is a really good night out/casual date situation dinner. We saw several couples and groups. \n\nThe main sell is there dry pot …

The dry pot at Mala project. Wow. I mean. This dish engages all five senses. You have to add the glass noodles and tofu skin even if you think it's not what you're into

First fine dining and it far exceeded expectations. Mauricio, our server, recommended some fine additions and the foot was top notch. I recommend the drypot with the fish, rice cake, tofu skin, woo…

First fine dining and it far exceeded expectations. Mauricio, our server, recommended some fine additions and the foot was top notch. I recommend the drypot with the fish, rice cake, tofu skin, woo…

Some of the best service I have experienced in the city. Such a cozy vibe, and our server gave us excellent recommendations. Dry pot concept was new to our table, we're all hooked now! Will be re…

Incredible food and such a great ambience. Shoutout to Paul for giving the best service and letting my friend and I know of the deals that we could take advantage of! Already planning my next trip …

Incredible food and such a great ambience. Shoutout to Paul for giving the best service and letting my friend and I know of the deals that we could take advantage of! Already planning my next trip …

This is our favorite spot as a couple or family gatherings. Excellent customer service and helpful in creating your dry pot. \nDimmed lightning \nOutdoor seating\nSmall bar \nNew wine and beer ro…

So yummy, I was so sad to have to share with as many people as we did.\n\nThe mapo tofu and the house pulled noodles were the absolute favorites!! The improved lychee martini was also a fun and yum…

I LOVE this place! We came for dinner without a reservation and were still able to get seated immediately on a Sunday night. \n\nYou should definitely come with a group and share one giant pot sinc…

Really amazing house fried noodles with shrimp. Also love how the waiter used the top of the fire coke as a straw holder. 10/10 ambiance, will definitely visit again.

The ambiance was wonderful- The drinks & food were just as delicious- Will definitely be back! The most comforting bites!

The restaurant is unassuming from the street. The interior is comfortable and can get crowded. The Happy Hour drinks are a good deal. The Dry Pot is very good. The Beef Tenderloin and Pork Belly w…

It’s ironically called big bar even though spaces are very limited in here - it’s definitely a vibe though with its cash only and overall divey atmosphere. Lots of disclaimers all around but if you know what you want and can be expedient about it, you’ll be well served here.

Super cozy and cute. No wait despite NYE weekend but still busy/lively. Love the red lights. Bartender was alright / weird vibes. Maybe they were tired / had cruddy customers before me. Just had a glass of a house red

Well... I don't know how I never came here before but what a vibe. Soaked in red light, cash only, a very chill, eclectic crew, all of that made it for me a perfect later night after dinner spot, even if the back bar is unsurprisingly thin and I low-key hate carrying cash on me these days unless I'm a regular somewhere. As an old head with a kid, I'm not sure when I'll be back but when the opportunity presents itself, I'm down.

Helena

I had the Chinese chicken, house pickles, and scallion pancake with black bean sauce. All pretty delicious and pretty spicy. I felt the chicken could have done with a sauce but the plates were beautifully presented and I was attended well with constant water top ups and check ins - though I was the only customer. Great design and would definitely go back with more people to try more of their offerings!

Kaylie Ng

This is my second visit to this place. I ordered the dry pot to share with my friend. For toppings, I personally recommend the sliced potatoes, as they add a nice crunch. I also loved the wood ear mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, shrimp balls, and eye of round beef. As for noodles, I don't recommend the glass noodles because they tend to become dry and stick together. Instead, consider the potato noodles or other options for a better experience. The portions are quite large and filling. As for side dishes, I recommend both the garlic eggplant and pork ear, but be aware that they are quite spicy—even spicier than the dry pot. The only downside is that everything is a bit pricey; even the spicy level costs an additional $5. The sauce was more oily than spicy, which is one aspect I didn't particularly like about this place. For dessert, I noticed many people recommending the glass herbal jelly, but I personally wouldn't suggest it. While the jelly and red beans were fine, the taro balls and boba were hard and not chewy at all, which I didn't appreciate. Overall, it was a bit too sweet for my taste. However, I do recommend their sweet potato mochi; it was surprisingly good! I managed to eat two of them even after the dry pot. I love anything mochi, so I highly recommend that.

Dhruv Patel

Got a few different dishes at Mala Project and only the dry-pot style create-your-own bowl was a hit. The mapo tofu was weirdly overly sweet instead of spicy without strong peppercorns, and the garlic eggplant was alright (good garlic infusion into the sauce if you’re a fan of garlic). The dry pot bowl had a good combination of cumin stir fry flavor and spice and would definitely recommend that one.

+1

My favorite location as the ambiance is the best and it's a bit less crowded! Friendly service, food comes out fast, and portion size is bigger than you think. I wasn't able to finish mine and got …

This was really good. We went as a group of 3 on a Saturday night and were seated immediately. Service was quick. \n\nThe dry pot was great and they put in a good amount of glass noodles and meat. …

Was in a rainy Sunday dry pot mood and decided to check out Mala Project. \n\nMade a late lunch reservation and honestly it wasn't needed. The restaurant had a lot of seats available. They only hav…

MaLa Project has 3 locations - we went to the one in uptown Manhattan. The most popular dish as well as the dish that the menu funnels you toward choosing is the dry pot, which can be personalized or…

Food is tasty but portions are quite small. An adult may need to order two dishes for a meal. Services are just OK. They use a handheld device with tiny screen for billing. Difficult to properly see…

food is tasty but portions are quite small. An adult may need to order two dishes for a meal. Services are just OK. They use a handheld device with tiny screen for billing. Difficult to properly s…

Mala has been a hit in the last few years, and Mala Project provides the perfect environment to satisfy those curiosity and cravings. Building your own pot is always fun.

rashi

Loved their dry pot, but was too spicy because i got the most spiciest base underestimating the spice level. If there’s a next time, I’ll stick to a medium. peanuts were really good when paired with a chilled beer. Dumplings were insipid.

+2

Amy Wang

Let me preface this by saying I never write reviews, and the only reviews that leave my fingertips almost always find themselves driven by disappointment and regret. I ordered the dry hot pot with three primary ingredients (broccoli, five spice tofu, and squid), coupled with a soy garlic sauce and a side of purple rice. But even before the food arrived, I was already vaguely uncomfortable, given that the only chairs at this restaurant look like the creaky, cushion-less folding chairs one might see at an outdoor high school graduation ceremony. It was also extremely loud and packed, yet I did not see a single Asian besides myself and my companion whom I had to shout across the tiny table to. Needless to say, I was extremely underwhelmed by the food. Despite ordering the dry hot pot with three main ingredients, each ranging from $5 to $15 each, I received a measly portion with a puddle of soy sauce at the bottom. Yes, I ordered the soy garlic sauce, but soy sauce and garlic should be taken for granted in any kind of Chinese cooking; why charge an extra $3 for it and serve my food without the sauce even reduced? Do they think Chinese people like drinking soy sauce? Or any people for that matter? Next thing you know, they'll charge $3 for each spice they use too. And the rice... I'm Chinese and a regular chopstick user, so tell me why this was the hardest rice to eat that I've had in my life? It felt very granular and not fluffy at all, and since it lacked the clumping, sticky properties of properly cooked rice, I had to literally pick it up grain by grain. And purple? It was almost pitch black. If you've seen raw uncooked purple rice, you know it's much darker and lightens in color as you cook it. I did discover some mashed dates in there as a nice surprise, but typically you order rice to cut the savoriness of the main meal, not add an additional sweet flavor profile. My side of rice is not a place for you to get creative, please. As for the laughably large pile of cilantro garnishing my broccoli, I have no words. Actually, I do: if they were as generous with my actual food instead of the cilantro, maybe you wouldn't be reading this review right now. It goes without saying (at least I hope) that Chinese food does not entail drowning your food in soy sauce and slapping cilantro on everything. Like seriously, broccoli doesn't look more elevated with cilantro on top, nor does it taste better that way. I shouldn't have to pay extra for the worst rice of my life either; someone should instead pay me for begrudgingly putting that stuff in my body.

At the end of the day it's a bar.... The bartender and bouncer are the singular most offensive and pretensous people I have ever met in my life. Full of self importance and a vibe like they are keepers of all. They essence of the place has great bones and a good vibe overall... Just hope you catch the bartender on a night she isn't feeling like being rude and stuck up.Its far away from a premium bar and has an attitude problem equal to the snobbiest bars in all of Manhattan.... It's a hard Miss.

I stopped by Big Bar while visiting New York, and it was one of the most disappointing experiences I’ve ever had. The bartender was incredibly rude from the very beginning — no greeting, no smile, just an attitude like I was bothering her by even being there. She clearly had no idea what she was doing and couldn’t answer the simplest questions about the place. I didn’t even end up ordering a drink because the atmosphere was so unpleasant and unprofessional. I left after a few minutes, completely unimpressed. For a city like New York, where good service is everywhere, this was a huge letdown. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone.

I had a very disappointing experience at Bog Bar in New York. We asked about the recipe for a Whiskey Sour, and were told it’s just whiskey and lemon juice. When we mentioned that a classic Whiskey Sour usually includes egg white, the staff became rude, told us not to “teach the bartender how to do their job,” and we were basically kicked out shortly after. Instead of a friendly conversation or a simple explanation, we were met with disrespect and attitude. Customer service matters, and no one deserves to be treated like that. Would not recommend this place.

I would leave zero stars if I could— I work service too and never leave reviews, this case was extremely bad and deserves to be shared. Absolutely horrible experience with the femme presenting bartender on a pretty empty Saturday. Extremely rude, condescending, unbearable and had to leave pretty immediately, it was ageist and very unpleasant to be around. The two lonely men sitting there were also questionable and she seemed way kinder to them, than to us fellow non-men with a kind demeanor. Will not come back, thank you for making us feel horrible. Thank you!

Looks like some bartenders take tips for granted, expecting tips while being so rude to customers with the excuse of “being busy”. Wow, what a good reason for being disrespectful of customers. Reminder of the principle of a tip (which unfortunately has been forgotten): tips are here to reward good services for bartenders who deserve them, they should not be taken for granted. So just one thing busy bartender: if you want some tips, just do your job properly by being just slightly nicer, and not just demand “give me tips “. For your pride at least!

Big Bar is hard to miss with its bright red interior lights shining onto the sidewalk, but when you walk inside you’ll have wished you did miss it. I recently had the displeasure of stopping by this ‘dive bar’ and it was an experience I won’t soon forget; unfortunately. This bar harbors a particularly rancid vibe. Everything from the bar tender’s hall monitor attitude, to the Gen X clientele sitting at the bar top, to the bald man in a bright blue sweater standing outside holding the door looking to start arguments. It all meshed into a miserable, spoilt, and rank experience. This self touted ‘dive bar’ is a total disaster from start to finish. The atmosphere is dreadful. The space is cramped and awkward. The decor is tacky and lacking grace. It is all too evident that they tried too hard to come off as this trendy, relaxed, dingy dive bar but you can feel how incredibly gauche and trite the ambience really is. The supposed "dive bar" charm was nowhere to be found. Instead, it felt more like a sterile and sanitized version, where an older crowd can live out their dreams cosplaying being a patron at a dive bar. Without actually having to step foot in one. The raw authenticity of a dive bar is nowhere to be found here. Instead what you will encounter is a travesty of such magnitude that it defies the very essence of what it seeks to embody. Stripped of any genuine character, it is a desolate void. Big Bar’s ambiance is a facade. A cheap costume masking a soul devoid of grit or character. Stepping inside, the sterility of the place struck me immediately. But it was the customer service that truly revealed the rot at the core. At the helm of this charade was a bartender whose demeanor is a chilling specter of authoritarianism. Her presence fills the room and adds to the festering of a putrid environment. We did not get her name, but she is a heavy set brunette woman with glasses and nose piercings. She made comments that were teetering on discriminatory and seemed to convey a covert racism. She was abrasive with a patron over a seemingly arbitrary qualm. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear other patrons share a similar experience. The libations, one might hope, would salvage some semblance of a good experience, but they were as soulless as the decor. The drinks are underwhelming and bereft of any skill or care in their making. They didn’t seem to have any thing of substance worth drinking. All the bartender had was well liquor and flat beer. And in a location filled with other options that have better drinks and a more refined atmosphere, we did not stay long. In sum, this Gen X haven is truly a pit of despair and disappointment. This establishment is a blight upon the landscape of nightlife. A soulless simulacrum devoid of the grit, grime, and charm that define a dive bar. It feels more of a sterile tomb and I would implore seekers of a genuine experience to look elsewhere.

Bouncer dressed like where’s Waldo for Halloween tonight is a problem for a small business like this. I walked in with a few girls and he was hitting on the customers inside I did not see anyone in the front of the door so I walked inside. I thought he was just some big goofy Halloween dressed older over weight guy talking to younger girls. As I got though the door he started getting aggressive super weird because he’s a lot shorter than me and I’m not an aggressive person. He asked for ids I thought he was being funny but still reached in my back pocket to accommodate him. That’s when things got really weird he started acting aggressive so I turned around to leave because I don’t want to hurt this bully so I said I’m gonna just leave.. That’s when I asked the girls I was with to come he decided to follow me out screaming have a good day just so we are clear it’s night time! This place should really watch who they hire because clearly they don’t! You have been warned stay away from this place!

I really regret to change my review here. I really liked the place and used to go there. There is a specific bartender working there that is absolutely rude. She made a whole scene because some people tipped only $5 for 5 cans of beer. She was ringing some bells and her friends were shouting 'you should tip your bartender and blah blah..' and pointing to those people (that had actually tipped). Let alone that she earlier did lift me from my seat for her those friends of her to sit... When we told her that we understand that you are busy but this doesnt justify you being rude she took our drinks from us (had just bought them and i had personally tipped $3 for a jin) and asked us to leave the place. She just ruins that great bar and the nice vibe.