mala class has been on my list for ages but Highland Park is a bit of a stretch, so I came with a friend on a Thursday for lunch. Parking was pretty chill at that time (snagged a street parking spot in front) and there was no wait.
The dan dan noodles had a nice chew to them and the flavoring had the perfect hint of spice against the peanut sauce.
The wings were a little too overseasoned — we had to shake off all of the peppercorn on the top and it was still pretty salty and peppery (but not THAT spicy). They were perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, though.
The dumplings and chili oil were probably my favorite bite. They’re like wontons except they didn’t do the last fold, and the sauce they are in is very well-balanced with a strong hit of acid against sweetness.
The mapo tofu needed some sugar to bring out the flavor of all of the spices because otherwise it felt like there was no real flavor, where there were a million spices working against each other. I would definitely pass on this one but everything else was pretty good.
The interior is very classically Highland Park-esque and our server was super nice! I would come back to try other dishes.
This is one of my fave spots in LA. The food hits every time. The cucumbers, tofu, wings! Everything is on point. One of my favorite spicy beef stews of any cuisine too. I come every time I’m in LA. The space is cozy, comfortable and the service is always friendly and quick. Love the staff too, always so helpful with recommendations for things to do when I’m in town, which is great as someone not from the area. Definitely a hidden gem in the heart of highland park!
5
Incredible and I hope they stick around to teach us all of Mala!
Friend and I met up here to catch up amongst all the spice and numbness.
The mushroom fries had their very own cumin rub and it had a nice crispiness with a layered flavored.
Wings were equally great. Seriously the rub does it!
Great beef noodle soup and the hit has to be the Dan Dan noodles. The Dan Dan had layers of flavor and our guy mixed it perfectly table side for us.
Definitely will go back!
It was so good that I picked up mall tofu for to go.
2
Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this place as the service staff decided to change the tips I left to almost double what I put, and the establishment did not apologize when asked. Said “sometimes people make mistakes” and proceeds to explain how being service is tough. Thankfully, I took a picture of the merchant receipt before I left. They did a decent interpretation of Szechuan spice/food with local style, but nothing to write home about. Place is really small and not good for big groups. Great for dates, however. If you plan to eat here, take pictures of your receipt and ensure they did not charge you more.
5
Small and casual place serving some great szechuan food. We tried the fried mushrooms, dumplings, wings and Dan Dan noodles. The fried mushrooms were good with a nice dusting of cumin. The dumplings were tasty. The Dan Dan noodles were great, with lots of peanut flavor. They were a little more fresh (less oily) than most versions we've tried. We liked those quite a bit. The wings were amazing and we loved those. I need that chili mix on top to sprinkle on top of everything at home! Nothing was too spicy, we might ask for a bit more spice on the noodles next time. Very excited we have a szechuan option with a cool vibe to add to our rotation.
The restaurant is very cute and the service was great. Very attentive and friendly.
