Kungfu Malatang - Boston

I stumbled upon this restaurant a while back, and it made such an impression that I couldn't resist returning just two days later. I was craving the malatang I enjoyed in South Korea, and this place has a similar setup! You can select as many vegetables, meats, noodles, and other ingredients as you like, and they're weighed by the pound. You also get to choose your spice level; we opted for medium, which turned out to be not very spicy at all. We ended up with 3.4 pounds of food, totaling about $47. The broth was delicious and comforting, though I was hoping for a stronger mala flavor—it was a bit on the mild side. The service was prompt, and the Korean server was exceptionally kind and attentive to our needs. Overall, it was a fantastic experience with great food.

As a lifelong fan of malatang, I really enjoyed the flavors of this dish. However, after eating for a while, I found it to be quite salty. I suspect that the soup base has sesame in it, and the chili oil contributes to the overall saltiness and oiliness of the broth. Overall, I would rate the food a 4 out of 5.

The price is based on weight, so it depends on how much you fill your bowl with Malatang. There’s a rule that you need to get at least 1 pound. The servers are friendly and patient when explaining the menu. You can also adjust the spice level to your preference. I had a bowl that weighed 1.5 pounds, and it cost nearly $30 (including tax and tip), but everyone dining in is required to give a minimum 10 percent tip. Nothing really surprised me; it was just standard Malatang and a bit pricey. I was also confused by the meat section since there were no labels, which might lead you to accidentally choose the wrong protein. Overall, the food is standard, a bit overpriced, but the service is good.

We ordered Malatang and we love it. This is my first time dining in. I usually order on RICEPO but their portion can barely feed one person. It gets a bit salty in the end (maybe it’s because of their seasame/spicy oil sauce? Their service was great! (especially a server who speaks korean Food: 4/5

Fantastic. Service was super polite and helpful without being pushy at all. Delicious, super fresh ingredients and wide variety. I had no trouble at all eating vegan here, and my dining partner was just as satisfied. Pricing was great. Seating and atmosphere are low-key, but for a slurpy meal like Malatang, that’s just what I want. The medium spicy was PERFECT.