In New York, they say, you’re always looking for a job, a boyfriend or an apartment, according to the great philosopher, Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City. Carrie wasn’t wrong, but she forgot to include every New Yorker’s search for the perfect “go-to restaurant.” Enter Málà Project, the Sichuan concept restaurant with locations in the East Village and Bryant Park.
What I love about Málà Project is it’s the perfect place to impress out-of-towners, host a low-key dinner with friends, or take your next Tinder (Hinge? Soul Swipe?) date. When I visited the East Village location, I wasn’t sure what to expect having never tried “dry pot,” which is a different take on the traditional Sichuan hot pot. Málà’s dry pot doesn’t have the usual broth or soup you’ll find with hot pot, but it packs the same fiery punch.
Pan Fried Pork Dumplings
You select items from a family-style menu that includes things like beef tongue, pork belly, sliced lamb, and something called “Rooster’s XXX” (I’ll let you guess…). Málà also recommends adding non-meat sides like broccoli, bok choy, mushrooms, etc. to balance the flavors and textures.
Once you’ve made your selections, the chef flips everything into a wooden bowl like a spicy salad with a healthy dash of cilantro to top it all off. You can decide on the level of spiciness – non-spicy, mild, spicy, and super spicy (warning: expect the food to actually be very spicy, but so delicious you won’t want to stop eating #HurtsSoGood).
Málà suggests ordering at least three ingredients per person for your shared bowl, so my friend and I went for a mix of pork, chicken, seafood, with some vegetables thrown in for good measure and it was an incredible medley of flavors. We chose to make our dry pot “spicy,” which made us feel adequately adventurous without sacrificing our tongues to the scorch of “super spicy.”
We also loved the appetizers we shared beforehand – highly recommend the “pan friend pork dumplings,” the “scallion pancake,” and their popular “leftover fried rice,” which you should save for the entrée to counteract the dry pot fire. When you’ve finished the dry pot or decide your tongue cannot take anymore, whichever comes first, cool down with your choice of desserts or sweet dim sum options.
Scallion Pancake
Like the food, Málà puts the same attention to detail into its aesthetic. The East Village location had neon lighting, brick walls, and communal tables. It was cool, without trying too hard. I’m told the Bryant Park location is equally awesome. Carrie Bradshaw would be proud.
You can find Málà Project online at and https://www.malaproject.nyc/
and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/malaproject/.
HOURS
Monday – Thursday 12pm–3pm, 5pm–10:30pm
Friday 12pm–3pm, 5pm–11:30pm
Saturday 12pm–11:30pm
Sunday 12pm–10:30pm
World traveler, wellness enthusiast, eating my way through New York and a city near you.
