Zhangliang Malatang Irvine（张亮麻辣烫 尔湾店） — Restaurant in Irvine

This was by far the worst malatang experience I have ever had, and I am shocked at how different my visit was compared to these other reviews. From the moment I walked in, I noticed the place was dirty and unsanitary. Many of the ingredients looked old, and there were bugs flying around the food area, which immediately made me question the restaurant’s hygiene standards.

The customer service was just as disappointing. The staff provided no guidance at all—I had no idea where to sit or how the ordering process worked, and none of the employees offered any help or clarification. To make matters worse, after finally managing to place my order, I waited forever for my food to arrive. At least five other parties came in after me and were served well before I was, which felt incredibly unfair and disrespectful.

When the food finally did arrive, it was a complete letdown. The bowl was half empty, looking sad, and the portion was so small it felt like a joke. There was no excuse or apology from anyone on staff for the long delay or poor service, and the overall rude attitude made the experience even worse. I left feeling frustrated, disappointed, and genuinely upset that I had wasted time and money here.

Do yourself a favor and avoid this place at all costs. The food is terrible, the service is awful, and the atmosphere is unpleasant. Save your time and money—there are far better options elsewhere. I will never return and strongly recommend others stay...

Zhangliang is a chain restaurant. I’ve been to several other branches, all are pretty decent with good service and delicious food. But this one is the worst ever.

I was asked to checkout with tips BEFORE I can eat, and received zero service at all. There was no bowl at the sauce counter. I talked to the staff for the bowls but nobody was answering. Everyone was pretty occupied and nobody cares.

The worst thing is… the food they gave me was not everything I ordered. I’m pretty sure several stuffs were missing. I ordered 3 pounds of food thinking I could pack the leftovers back home for tomorrow’s breakfast. But in the end nothing was left. I know exactly one stuff was missing, and several was less in quantities. That was not what I expected for a $50 dinner.

Oh btw, they put up a note at the counter saying “If you leave a good review on Google map and/or other platforms we’ll offer you some gift.” I guess this is the only reason for the...

Zhang Liang Mala Tang offers a wide variety of food items. My wife prefers their Tomato Soup over YinTang’s Spicy Hot Pot, while I enjoy the Bone Soup at YinTang.

However, the minimum order of 0.8 pounds isn't ideal for families with kids, as it increases dining costs. When kids are feeling under the weather, they can’t eat more than 0.8 pounds, and Yin Tang has no such limitation.

We've visited Zhang Liang twice. Some frozen items didn't cook well inside, unlike at YinTang. At Zhang Liang, you pay upfront with a mandatory 15% tip, while YinTang lets you pay with an optional tip after dining.

For families, it’s better to avoid buying a large bowl to share, especially when family members are feeling under the weather, as kids like having their own bowls.

Overall, Zhang Liang offers great variety, but be cautious of the undercooked frozen items and the mandatory tip. Additionally, no sign indicates the 0.8-pound minimum and it’s not...