I’ll be straight up with you guys, Mala Restaurant is the only place that I’ve ever had hotpot in town, so I have no other Boston restaurant to compare it to. However, the reason it’s the only hotpot place I’ve been to here is that it was so good that I just keep coming back. Honestly, I don’t know how you can do much better for their Vegetable Mala Pot – less than seven dollars for a heaping bowl of spicy goodness is a deal you can’t pass up. Be warned, though, the word “spicy” is not used lightly here though – my boyfriend’s eyes were watering throughout dinner.

Mala’s menu can be intimidating – it’s pretty extensive, and not the most vegetarian friendly. However, if you spend a few minutes looking it over you’ll find that they do have something for everyone, whether you’re more of an adventurous eater (try the pig blood hot pot!) or you’re more of a simple beef-and-noodle individual. Make sure you’re prepared for some spice!