Thick beef tongue 👅 spicy hot pot!

I’d ordered takeout from here once before, and honestly? It left a pretty “meh” impression—nothing that made me rush back. But this time, grabbing dinner with friends, I walked in and immediately spotted something game-changing on the menu: beef tongue 👅!! Naturally, I had to order it—and wow, am I glad I did! Turns out it’s thick-cut beef tongue, not those paper-thin slices you get at hotpot places that vanish in a bite. This stuff had texture—tender enough to chew easily but with that satisfying bite that makes you go “mmm.” It was seasoned just right, seared to a slightly crispy edge, and honestly? It alone made me regret sleeping on this spot before 😩. Oh, and the asparagus they served with it? Total bonus—super fresh and tender, not the usual tough, overcooked stuff you sometimes get in mala dishes. Another surprise? Their purple rice! It’s mixed with red dates, so every bite’s got this sweet, chewy kick—kinda like a lighter version of eight-treasure rice 🍚. Pair it with the spicy mala xiangguo, and the sweet-spicy combo is chef’s kiss—it cuts through the heat perfectly, so you can keep digging into the spicy stuff without feeling overwhelmed. Now, not everything was a hit. Their century egg mashed chili eggplant? I probably won’t order that again. The flavors felt totally disconnected—like the eggplant, chili, and century egg were all doing their own thing. The century egg was also a bit too hard, and the whole dish was under-seasoned. Just… skip it, trust me 🫠. ⛳️ Mala Project Like 💗 Save ⭐️ Follow 🙋🏻‍♀️ Check my profile for more NYC eats! NYC Food Exploration | NYC Food Map | NYC Foodie #NewYorkFoodie #NewYorkFoodGuide #NewYorkFood #NewYork #NYC #NYCFoodReview #NewYorkChineseFood