Mala Hot Pot Hankou Branch — Restaurant in Wanhua District

Booking is a must to avoid disappointment. Hotel staff helped us book in the morning and only 5.30pm to 7.30pm is available. Better make the most out of it on NTW699 per person. (NTW635 + 10% cleaning fee). I just realized the price is a bit higher by NTW37 at this outlet in HanKou St than the other outlet in same district at XiMen Ding. Ximen outlet is few blocks away and always fully booked.

Firstly, choose 2 soup base. Then choose meats or vegetables from 3 different order chits written in Chinese. The waiter told us to order not more than 4 dishes in chit 1 or more than 8 dishes in chit 2 for each round to avoid wastage and to maintain its freshness. Place order again when you finish the food. Just leave the order chit on the food tray next to your table in order for waiter to see it and collect them.

Secondly, go make your own sauce which is a frustrated as we failed to mix a good one. Either tasteless, too oily, too spicy. Took times to test and feel. We asked for waiter help but they said is up to your likeness. I think they can consider to put a sample portion of condiment for customer who are lost like me.

Thirdly, eat some fresh fruits while you waiting for your food to cook. Only beverages and fruits and ice cream are self service. Ranging from ready made teas or tea in packet, fresh juices, Taiwan beer, Coke in small can, white or red Wine, Taiwanese Lychee & mango, dragon fruit, pudding, tomato with sourplum etc. They served Haagen Dazs & Movenpick sorbet.

Lastly, they will come to collect cash from you and by the way to remind you that you still have 30 minutes to go for your...

My boyfriend went to the Fuxing South Road location and he liked the hotpot there, thought to bring me to this one since our airbnb was just around the corner. He wanted to try the wagyu which he didnt get to have the first time around; therefore, I was aware there's an additional price of 200ntd per person on top of whatever AYCE pricing. When I finished ordering I went to mix my sauce, came back to my table where one of the staffs approached me and asked:

Staff: Miss, did any of our servers explain to you for ordering wagyu there is an additional cost of 200ntd? Me:. No, but I am aware of it... Staff: It's 200ntd "per person" so it's 400ntd total on top of the regular dinner price Me: OK....I know.... Staff: Are you sure?? Me: Yes, OK (even though I was tempted to respond sarcastically "something wrong with the waygu or....?" I decided to keep my answer simple and clear and continued with my own business) Staff: (she chased me down and said) there's also a 10% service fee so it's total of 440ntd Me:. OK!!!!

I don't know what others might feel but I was a bit offended and speechless, even tried to just laugh it off but it did ruin my appetite. I would probably try another location to see if they have better service where they don't question whether I can afford it or not.

At least they have a large varieties of desserts (ice cream/pastries/...

We got recommendation for this place, there is many branches, this one is close to ximending branch, but we assume that might be less crowded, so we try this one.

We arrived at 2 pm with reservation, the place is not crowded at all. Just in case, they have online reservation, quite easy to book.

We order mala and chicken soup, it is good enough, but not outstanding. They have a lot of seafood option to order, although they are not bad but not very fresh. The meat is good, we order the middle price one, so the quality is really good. The vegetable bar don't have a lot of options for tofu, meatball, and veggy. They hvae a lot of instant noodle to choose.

There is a large option for beverage, beer, wine, tea, carbonated, and fruit.

Variety of sauce as well, we can cook up however we want.

They also have curry and stews with rice at the bar as well.

A lot of desert, fruits, cake, jelly, and the highlight, ice-cream (hakendaz and movepick). They have a lot of flavors and it is good.

Staffs are not very good with English, but good enough, they have English menu, so it wasn't difficult. There are not very friendly, but still quite helpful.

The atmosphere is decent, nothing much to comment about. And the restroom is clean.

Overall, good experience, and worth the price. If you want to try the famous hot pot, this is a good option, but it is not a must...