Mala Class

In and of itself, this small-ish cafe in Highland Park has delicious Sichuan style food with a pretty streamlined menu and reasonable prices. The menu has some of the staples that you would expect on a Sichuan menu as well as a few fun dishes or creations that is even friendly for vegetarians. The folks here seemed laid back and very friendly. As part of the rich tapestry that LA has in terms of Chinese food, Mala Class makes flavorful and quality Sichuan food more available (an additional option at reasonable prices) for people that don't live out in SGV and/are not willing to drive out there for food. Either way, I'm a big fan of this spot.I came here with a couple of friends and we've been wanting to check this place out for a while. We ended ordering a few things and sharing it family style including the spicy beef noodle soup. Other items we got were the dumplings in chili oil, the mala wings, the dan dan noodles, and the mushroom fries. I thought all the flavors and textures were pretty much on point and thoroughly enjoyed my meal. The spice level wasn't overwhelming either. Parking was really easy. Not sure if I came here late on a Sunday night or got lucky, but I was able to park along the street right across from the restaurant. Maybe it's just a less busy area of Highland Park in general.

Mala class is a great addition to the food scene on York Blvd! My partner and I were craving noodles and came here after seeing all the tiktoks. We ordered the Dan Dan noodles, the mala wings, and the mushroom fries. Dan dan noodle (4/5): these were perfectly nutty and packed with flavor! They were a tad bit too salty for me towards the end and the noodles were also stuck together in some parts.Mala wings (4/5): I really love the Asian fusion spin on this and thoroughly enjoyed each bite. However, it definitely could've been spicier and more numbing. The price also felt a bit steep when there are only four wings.Mushroom fries (10/5): whoever came up with this dish is an absolute GENIUS! I couldn't stop eating the fried seafood mushrooms. This would be amazing as a bar food :)Ambiance of the place is casual with small table seatings. We didn't have to wait when we came here at 7, but a line formed shortly after. Overall this is a solid spot that I wish was just a bit more mala! I do appreciate its introduction of sichuan flavors to people who might've not tried it otherwise.

I've driven by Mala Class' simplistic green painted exterior so many times, but finally ventured in today to try their modernized Szechuan food. Their menu is simple and perfectly matches their cozy ambiance. The server we had was extremely attentive and offered great recommendations. I ended up ordering the dandan noodles, mushroom fries, and dry pepper fried tofu. Mushroom Fries - 5/5Easily my favorite dish that I tried! Crispy, juicy, and reminiscent of Taiwanese popcorn chicken, but vegetarian. The seasoning was spot on, and they had a great texture and flavor--would definitely order again. Dandan Noodles - 4/5A bit on the saltier side and missing that deep, numbing mala heat that makes Szechuan food so addictive. The noodles were fine, but they didn't leave a lasting impression. Dry Pepper Fried Tofu - 3/5The tofu uses the same seasoning as their mala chicken wings, but I decided to go with the tofu instead. The seasoning was somewhat lacking along with the spice level, but that might just be personal preference/spice tolerance. Overall, Mala Class is decent for being located in Highland Park, but if you're craving more authentic, bolder, and cheaper Szechuan food, I recommend making the drive to SGV instead!

What a great restaurant nestled in Highland Park by the junction of Los Angeles and South Pasadena, near the 110 freeway. I stumbled upon this restaurant while searching for a Sichuan restaurant because I was in the mood for something spicy and noodly. It was a fantastic found because the restaurant was very cozy, with warm and welcoming ambiance as well as very friendly staff. We were seated right away because we arrived outside of peak hours. But I can see this restaurant being a wait if you arrive during peak hours since it probably seats somewhere around 20 people total. The service was very attentive and since the space is small and cozy, it's also easy to call over one of the staff to get help with the menu or other requests. I went as a party of 2 and ordered the spicy beef noodles, mushroom fries, bean cukes and beancurd. The spicy beef noodles was just the right amount of spicy to get me sweating and really taste the flavor, but if you are not used to spicy food, I do recommend asking for "light on the spice". The mushroom fries were soooo good (of note, I love fried asparagus at Nicks's on Lake, so I love these type of new-age fried veggies in place of the traditional potato fries); I definitely recommend you try the mushroom fries if you have a love of mushrooms and fried food. The bean cuckes and beancurd, which was recommended to us, had a refreshing and light flavor, as such it paired very well with our fried mushrooms and spicy noodles. I would 100% recommend this gem of a restaurant and will most definitely come back to try the other items on the menu! Parking is on the street, but the street has plenty of space and can park on both sides of the street as you see fit.

Best Chinese food outside SGV! Upon first visit, this instantly became my new favorite spot.Dan Dan noodles (5/5) and mushroom fries (5/5) are must order! We really loved the mala wings (5/5) too but be warned it's very numbing and I had to take breaks between bites oh god but so addicting in the best way! All the dishes are full of flavor, umami and the perfect balance of heat. Service was also friendly and food came out quick. Glad we went when first open, did get filled up while we were eating. Will be back for sure to support them again!

We came for lunch with my dad. Quaint spot in Highland Park, 8 tables i side 2 and 4 tops. We were greeted by our server Eric who showed us to our table and gave us our menus. All tables are served filtered water from a carafe on the tables. We ordered fried mushrooms, which we found out after talking with Kevin (owner) ate made with seafood mushrooms. Great spice and crunch. Hubby and I ordered Dan Dan noodles mild, when Eric brought our bowls to the table he mixed the sauce table side. The perfect amount of sauce to noodle ratio. The sauce had an aromatic flavor I've never tasted before. Delightful!Will Defintely come back on another So Cal trip.

Smaller, intimate spot that has great service and solid, approachable Sichuan food.Came for the Dan Dan noodles and they did not disappoint. Great flavor, texture, and was seasoned very well. The mala Wings and fried mushrooms were also worth ordering as well. Both had great crunch you'd expect from fried dishes. The wings looked spicier then they appear.The sesame noodles were a little bland, while the vegan mapo tofu is a nice vegan option but it was a little salty and didn't have much textural contrast. Additionally, you'll need at least two side bowls of rice to approach the proper rice to dish ratio. Cucumber and tofu skin salad was light and refreshing, but pretty standard.It's nice to have options and not have to drive a little further to the SGV. That being said, of you're an experienced Sichuan fan, you'll probably missing more intense mala flavors and spice.enu is compact and rices are pretty reasonable for the area, but it would be nice to have some more protein focused dishes.

This place is good for the area, but if some flavor was amped up or there was more protein added, it would be rated higher.Dan Dan is good, skip the sesame noodles. Chili oil wontons could have more meat with thinner skin.===============**Dan Dan noodles $15?The best of the bunch! Adequate amount of noodles with a tingly porky sauce. I would have wanted some pickled cucumbers or something to offset with some tang, but overall 4/5.Sesame noodles $12Comforting to a degree, but didn't blow my mind. Would pass on this one. The pickled cucumbers help make it interesting.Pork wontons with chili oil $9The pork filling felt a bit minuscule and the wonton wrapper was a bit on the thick side. Sauce on top was good tho cuz it was sweet and savory.Only a few tables, so if you come in a larger group you may have to wait. Service was pleasant and friendly, we were tended to.Bae and i did enjoy the Dan Dan noodles the most tho!

First to arrive on a weekend. Street parking was easy to find. The restaurant is small with minimalist decor.Service was friendly & attentive. As for food, our favorite was no doubt Mushroom Fries, perfectly crispy. We also enjoyed Mala Chicken Wings. Despite the two-chili pepper spice level, they weren't too spicy, even for someone with low tolerance like me. Garlic Sauce Shrimp was pretty good, but it could be more garlicky. You have to order rice as it is not included. Dumplings & Chili Oil were fine. The skin/ wrap was a bit thick. We were overall satisfied with the food. Looking forward to return for Dan Dan Noodles & more.

Went at 5pm on a Sunday to avoid a wait and we got in just in time for a party of 5! It's walk in only because it's a small space but I'm so glad we went and were willing to wait if need be. The menu is tight, the spice level is adjustable though they have suggested spice level for each. If you're not familiar with Szechuan peppers, it makes your mouth tingle but the actual heat isn't the same as jalapeños for example. Depending on the person one kind of pepper may feel hotter. Personally for me, I always hiccup when I eat jalapeños but with mala I just get a numbing feeling but I don't feel like I'm having some weird physical reaction. I love the citrusy peppers which has such a complex flavor and once you get used to the numbing feeling trust that you will look for this flavor all the time. I'm to the food!I loved the fried mushroom which was at once crispy and juicy. The mala chicken wings was def one of the top chicken wings I had this year. The garlic sauce shrimp was amazing with rice. The mapo tofu wasn't the best version I had but it still kept me coming back to it. Also love eating this over rice. The flavor of the mapo is way better than joy's down the street but joy's tofu texture is just so good. Still, for mapo tofu I think Szechuan impression has one of the best. In any case I would still order this dish here as I just can't get enough. The Dan Dan noodles and dumplings with chili oil as well as the beef noodle soup were good but the other dishes mentioned above were the home run dishes for me. So glad this place exists in our neighborhood!