- Chinese Food
- Chinese Restaurant
- California
- San Mateo County
- San Mateo
- Downtown
- Chinese Restaurant in East 3rd Avenue
- MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫
MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 Photos










Hours
Monday, 11:30 AM - 9:30 PMTuesday, 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Wednesday, 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Thursday, 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Friday, 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Saturday, 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
Sunday, 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM
About MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫
Welcome to MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫, an exciting and unique addition to your local Chinese Restaurant category. We offer a distinctive dining experience centered around the popular Chinese dish, Mala Tang (麻辣烫), presented in a self-select, customizable format. If you're looking for a flavorful, interactive, and personalized meal, MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 is your go-to destination. We empower you to create your perfect bowl of spicy and savory soup by choosing from a wide array of fresh ingredients and selecting your preferred level of heat.
Step into MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 and discover a vibrant and modern environment designed to enhance your dining experience. Our space is clean, well-organized, and inviting, creating a comfortable atmosphere where you can focus on crafting your ideal meal. The layout is designed to make the self-selection process easy and enjoyable, with clearly displayed ingredients and a logical flow. Whether you're dining alone for a quick and satisfying lunch or meeting friends for a fun and interactive meal, our environment provides the perfect backdrop.
The core feature of MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 is our self-service Mala Tang concept. Mala Tang is a popular street food in China, known for its rich, savory, and often spicy broth, filled with a variety of ingredients. At MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫, we take this concept to the next level by allowing you to be the chef of your own bowl. You start by selecting your favorite ingredients from our diverse and fresh selection, which typically includes a wide range of vegetables (such as leafy greens, mushrooms, lotus root, potatoes, and more), various types of noodles (glass noodles, rice noodles, egg noodles, etc.), different kinds of tofu and bean products, and an assortment of meats and seafood (like beef slices, lamb slices, fish balls, shrimp, and more). All our ingredients are carefully sourced and maintained to ensure the highest quality and freshness.
Once you have chosen your desired ingredients, you proceed to the broth selection. This is where you can truly customize your Mala Tang experience. We offer a range of broth options, from mild and savory to intensely spicy, allowing you to tailor the heat level to your personal preference. Our signature Mala broth is known for its complex flavor profile, featuring the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorns (mala - 麻辣) combined with a rich and savory base. We may also offer other broth options to cater to different tastes. You can choose the broth that best complements your selected ingredients and spice tolerance.
After selecting your ingredients and broth, your customized bowl is then prepared fresh in our kitchen. Our skilled chefs will cook your chosen items in the flavorful broth, ensuring that everything is cooked to perfection and the flavors meld together beautifully. The result is a unique and personalized bowl of Mala Tang that reflects your individual tastes and preferences.
In addition to the self-service Mala Tang, MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 may also offer other complementary items to enhance your meal. These could include side dishes, appetizers, or beverages that pair well with the spicy and savory flavors of Mala Tang. We strive to provide a complete and satisfying dining experience for our customers.
The self-select format of MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 offers several unique features. It allows for a high degree of personalization, catering to individual dietary preferences and restrictions. Whether you're vegetarian, vegan, or have specific ingredient preferences, you can easily create a bowl that suits your needs. It also offers an element of fun and interactivity, as you get to curate your own culinary creation. This makes it a great option for groups, as everyone can customize their own bowl according to their liking.
Our services at MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 are focused on providing a seamless and enjoyable dining experience. Our staff are friendly and helpful, ready to assist you with the selection process and answer any questions you may have about our ingredients or broth options. We strive for efficiency in preparing your customized Mala Tang, ensuring that you can enjoy your meal promptly. We also maintain a clean and organized dining area to ensure your comfort.
While specific promotional information can vary, MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 may offer special deals or discounts to attract and reward our local customers. These could include lunch specials, discounts for students or seniors, or promotions on certain days of the week. We encourage you to check our local listings, social media pages, or in-store signage for any current offers that might be available. These promotions provide a great opportunity to experience the unique flavors of Mala Tang at an even more attractive price.
MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 is more than just a Chinese restaurant; it's a place where you can express your culinary creativity and enjoy a truly personalized dining experience. We are excited to bring this popular and customizable dish to your local community. Whether you're a spice enthusiast or prefer milder flavors, our self-select Mala Tang offers something for everyone. Come and explore the wide array of fresh ingredients, choose your perfect broth, and create your ultimate bowl of Mala Tang at MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫. We look forward to serving you and being your go-to destination for a unique and satisfying Chinese culinary adventure.
MalaTown Express 自选麻辣烫 Location
77 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, USA
Customer Reviews
I had a great experience at this restaurant. The indoor environment was clean and well-maintained, creating a comfortable place to enjoy a meal. Service was impressively fast, and there was a decent variety of food options to choose from. What really stood out was the pricing—this spot offers the lowest price per pound I’ve seen in the San Mateo area, making it a great value for anyone looking for a budget-friendly meal without compromising on quality.
Great selection of ingredients. Best price for Mala tang in town. Tasty food! The sauce bar is very basic. They charge extra for green onions, cilantro, and garlic, but it only 50 cents each and me order of each can easily be shared with the table. Right now your order comes with a free malatown tote bag. Wasn't the biggest fan of everyone being served in to go containers, but I always have leftovers so it makes things easier. If you want Mala tang to go, this is the place for you.
The food selection is pretty good and $9.99/lb is a really good deal, especially if you're not planning to eat a lot. I got the beef bone broth and the food hits the spot, but I wish the sauce selection was more robust. They only have soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil but ponzu and sesame/peanut sauce would be a great addition. The place is also a little tight/claustrophobic but the rotation of people when I came was pretty quick. I was able to get a seat and my food really fast. Overall, I'm full and satisfied
The soup here is pretty good. The food is 10 dollars per pound so it is pretty affordable. You do have to pay for the some of the sauces seperately though. Chili sauce is free but 50 cents for garlic, green onions, etc. I do wish that they had an assigned seating system. When it gets busy, people have to kinda fight for seats. But luckily, the turnaround is pretty fast.
Fresh and diverse selection of options with ambient environment. Didn’t have to wait for seating on a Saturday afternoon lunch. Price is very reasonable compared to other malatang places at $9.99 per lb.
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