Best Mala Spots in Singapore

Ask anyone for a mala recommendation and Ri Ri Hong is the probably the first name you'll hear— and for good reason. With decent prices and a great variety of ingredients, it has become a constant for mala fans all over Singapore. For $12, you could get a medley of pork slices, lotus root, tofu skin, Chinese cabbage, king oyster mushrooms, and two bowls of rice. Go during off-peak timings to skip the queue!
Photo by Burppler Casey Tan

Seek out this mala joint in a quiet corner of ION Orchard's food court. You're here for their impressive zi char dishes, soaked in housemade mala sauce that sees the use of over 30 types of spices. We recommend their Mala Crispy Fried Fish ($16), which is light and crisp to the bite. The medium spice level packs a punch without numbing your senses to the umami flavours. We also love that the dishes are well-balanced — neither too oily nor salty.
Photo by Burppler Alicia Kho

Located in Kovan, this 24-hour mala joint offers a wide array of fresh ingredients including unique stuff like spinach noodles, tea tree mushrooms, as well as pig intestines. They go all out on heat here, so unless you're a spice fiend, we suggest going one down on your usual spice level. Their flavour-packed sauce is so good, it makes that steep price tag ($22 for two pax) worth paying for.
Photo by Burppler Jonathan Lim

If vegetarian dishes have a bland rep in your books, don't look past this store's meatless rendition of mala that holds its own. It's fresh, fragrant, spicy — these guys are definitely heavy-handed with the peppercorns. While a little pricer than usual at $3 for 100g, it's worth the money for a #MeatlessMonday ma la lunch. Make sure to add Noodles or Vermicelli to your bowl to soak up every bit of that mouth-watering sauce!
Photo by Burppler Wei Zhi Chiang

We have a winner for ma la soup! From the Old Chengdu restaurant across the street, this offshoot in People’s Park Complex doles out delicious takeaway-only Ma La Tang at $12 for a portion hearty enough to feed a group of four. Go with the lowest ‘xiao la’ spice level to hit the sweet spot, which sports a hint of herbal fragrance without being too overpowering. Pro tip: Head next door to the hawker centre for seats.
Photo by Burppler Eunice Sng

Another spot for good vegetarian ma la, this favourable Bugis joint doles out wok hei-laden sharing portions at $20.90 for two. We like that its location is super easy to get to, which makes it perfect for after-work dinners or mid-day ma la cravings. It also doesn't hurt that their piquant mala sauce coats the fresh, crunchy ingredients like cabbage and lotus root with just the right balance of heat!
Photo by Burppler Wei Zhi Chiang

Tucked in Serangoon, this household name serves up good for sharing stuff! Bring the gang to enjoy 1-for-1 Spicy & Fragrant Chicken Pot ($20). The pot comes packed with substantial chunks of tender chicken breast, thighs and wings — all marinated and cooked in fiery mala sauce. Go for the low spice level, which has a good enough kick while still keeping the broth at manageable heat for slurping.
Photo by Burppler Amanda Liu

For top-notch Mala ($19.80 for a bowl) sans the oily residue that pools at the base of the bowl, this one's for you! Every ingredient is satisfyingly crunchy and is thoroughly coated with flavourful mala sauce. The Pork Belly in Garlic ($12.80) is good for a snack but if you need something to work up an appetite, Burppler Veronica Phua suggests going for the Beef With Pickles In Sour Soup ($25.80). The appetite-whetting broth comes with straw mushrooms, vegetables and strips of fatty beef.
Photo by Burppler Jayson Yeo

Here's a joint in JEM worth journeying to the west for. Come for the medium-spiced Ma La Xiang Guo ($11.40 for two), which offers manageable (but still sweat-inducing) heat and addictively delicious flavour that will keep you coming back for more. Be warned that the dishes here can come across saltier than usual, but we're happy to put up with that setback when paying less than $10 for a sufficiently tasty ma la fix!
Photo by Burppler Ying Ying

Easties, hunt down this underdog ma la contender tucked in a far corner on the second floor of Pasir Ris Hawker Centre. Prices start from $1 for vegetables, $2 for chicken or pork, and $3 for beef and mutton — more than decent for the generous portions! Not overly salty, this one's best enjoyed with a bowl of Rice ($0.50) or some Instant Noodles ($1) to soak up any leftover sauce.
Photo by Burppler Eunice Sng