YGF Malatang

Some of my friends swear by this place and some vote for the hot pot place down the street, so I knew I had to come to make my own judgment. I actually didn't know YGF was a chain until I was it in Cupertino, but I really did not want to be trying it in the summer heat so I had to hold it off until now.The broth is super flavorful and there are so many options for ingredients to put inside! Most of their offerings look pretty fresh and typical of malatang. Medium spice was just right, although it was relatively strong -- any more and the taste of the ingredients would've gotten totally covered up and less probably wouldn't have as hard. I couldn't really taste that much of the broth, though; it was mostly just numbingly spicy.I like being able to pick exactly which ingredients I want and their quantity, but it is a little bit more expensive than I was expecting!The music is 10/10 though, just full of childhood soundtracks.

I was excited to try out YGF Malatang through a delivery service. Unfortunately, my experience didn't quite live up to the expectation.For $30, I anticipated a hearty Malatang meal, but the portion sizes were underwhelming. The breakdown left me puzzled: $1.37 for 4 small slices of potato, another $1.37 for just 2 seaweed knots, and the same amount for 2 pieces of Napa cabbage. Even with the usual markup on third-party platforms, I felt the value wasn't there, especially given the small portions.Malatang is typically known for generous, customizable portions, which is part of the appeal. This experience, however, felt a bit lacking, and it's not one I'd be eager to repeat.

Highly recommend! Very close to USC, this is about as good as it gets for students. For people don't like meat, this place has many vegetables and all sorts of noodles.Wish it opens earlier for early birds. It fast, convenient and delicious! Thank you.

YGF Malatang USA's newest location is conveniently situated across from USC, and let me tell you, it's the ultimate spot for all proud Chinese food enthusiasts and Mala Hot Pot aficionados who are longing for a taste of China but can't travel there at the moment. Stepping inside, I was completely transported--it felt like I was back in Sichuan, China!This spot exudes authentic Chinese vibes, so don't expect any American formalities here. It's all about diving into your hotpot ingredients and enjoying every flavorful bite.Before you go, I recommend playing a fun game with your friends, betting on how many types of fish balls YGF has and seeing how many you can stuff in your mouth! Trust me, there's an insane variety of all your favorite 麻辣烫 (Malatang) ingredients available!At $14.99 per pound, you get to pick whether you want your ingredients stir-fried or simmered in your choice of soup broth. Then, it's just a matter of waiting and indulging in the deliciousness!

You know a Chinese restaurant is fire when the whole place is speaking mandarin!! I don't like to gate keep so imma be real here, for all you USC students who grew up in Asia and have been craving authentic hotpot, this is the place to go!!The price depends on how much you put into the bowl. After you add in whatever vegetables, meat, noodles, etc in the bowl, they weigh it and cook it for you. The total came out to be only $13.43 after this much food, you just gotta be smart with it!I recommend trying the Beef Bone Broth Base! 中啦 was actually really spicy for me, and I high have a pretty high tolerance, so I would go with Mild Spicy if it's you're first time!

Attention USC students‼malatang place that opened in the frlyft zone for USC students. It's pretty affordable ~$15/lb. They have variety of selections of meat, veggies, and noodles + a sauce bar. You pick soup or dry and spice level. It is more authentic chinese style in terms of the mala-spice. Beware, I think it is on the saltier side of places I've been. But already so filled with USC students!

Malatang is my wife's first love then me then our son. Whenever we have an opportunity to try Malatang we will eat it. Malatang is very expensive in the USA compared to the prices we paid in China. This place is pretty expensive even compared to the places we eat in other parts of LA County. We usually go to a spot in Monterey Park and this Malatang place is a few dollars a pound more expensive. In my opinion, I like this place as the flavor is very fragrant and delicious. The price is a bit expensive for what it is. My wife who I would consider to be a Malatang Master knows her Malatang and felt like this place was just ok.

Everything all was explained and friendly for my first time will come back ..........can't wait to bring my boy

Goated food go to this place if you're hungry. Thank God for this place I love this place.

brother....when I tell you this place is the best addition to the USC food scene in the past decade, I am not lying. What's better than being able to choose the food you put into your hotpot and 14.99 per pound (compared to $16+ in ktown ) and a sauce bar? Nothing mayhaps.Service is nice! Restaurant is new and clean.tips for the malatang goers:- GET THE TOMATO SOUP BASE. YOU REGRET IT IF YOU GET ANYTHING ELSE. THE BEEF IS MORE BLAND AND NOT AS SAVORY. and if you like it spicy, you can just add chili from the sauce bar!! trust me.- get more veggies than you think, and less noodles than you think. The veggies will shrink. The carbs will fill you up and weigh down the pot