Dajie Makan Place is one of the few stores in Singapore selling halal mala xiangguo with three levels of spiciness to choose from. The Bedok branch serves barbecue hotpot (think of it like mookata) while the Clementi location supplements its menu with Chinese food such as yong tau foo and chicken rice.

344 Bedok Rd, Bedok Shopping Complex, Singapore 469528 and 354 Clementi Ave 2, #01-253, Singapore 120354 

Here at Fuyuan, the mala xiangguo ingredients are sold by portion rather than weight. As such, the vendors will pick out the ingredients for you and cook it in a dominantly Sichuan peppercorn base that promises to provide a dose of numbness and tingliness.

6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-29 ABC Brickworks, Singapore 150006 and 1 Punggol Drive, #02-27 One Punggol Hawker Centre, 828629

Need a place to recharge and refuel after a long day of walking and shopping around the Marina Bay Sands area? Head to Ju Bao Xuan in the Rasapura Masters food court and get your fill of mala hotpot as well as grilled fish and other Chinese dishes.

2 Bayfront Avenue #B2-49A Marina Bay Sands, 018972

A name that you would have definitely heard of if you love mala xiangguo is Ri Ri Hong. Expanding beyond its Chinatown store to Hougang, you would often find long, snaking queues waiting (Singaporeans love queueing after all). People who can’t handle spicy food would also find Ri Ri Hong acceptable as they don’t use a lot of Sichuan peppercorn while loading up on garlic instead.

32 New Market Road, #01-1152 People’s Park Food Centre, Singapore 050032 and 159A Hougang St 11, #01-02 Food Loft @ 159, Singapore 531159

A stone’s throw from Ri Ri Hong, Ma-La is an alternative for those who don’t like to stand in a queue. Unlike the former, Ma-La is more conservative on garlic but employs more peppercorns in their dish. As such, go with a less spicy variant if it is your first time here or if you’re a lightweight in the spice department. Also, Ma-La gets bonus points for using pretty bowls.

32 New Market Road, People’s Park Complex Food Centre, #01-1060A, Singapore 050032

Ri Ri Sheng is a must-go for all the Easties out there. Located in Tampines, the store has caught favour with its punchy flavours, both on the spicy and numbing front. Moreover, Ri Ri Sheng has generous portion sizes, so order conservatively, be there extra hungry or grab a friend to share it with.

823A Tampines Street 81, Singapore 521823

Mala xiangguo can get pretty oily and cloying, which is why rice or noodles are great at balancing the flavours while fulfilling your carbohydrate needs. Here at Ma La, however, you have the option of having mantou buns with the dish. Pro tip: don’t forget to get boiled quail eggs to soak up the addictively spicy sauce too.

208B New Upper Changi Rd, #01-48 Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, Singapore 462208

With multiple branches dotted across Singapore, there will definitely be a You Ma You La near you to satisfy your cravings. A plus point is that the brand has fairly consistent standards across all its branches. You Ma You La also charges their ingredients by weight rather than by the number of ingredients, so you can control the portion size and not overeat.

You Ma You La has multiple locations in Singapore

When we think of mala xiangguo, meats and seafood tend to come to mind. But if you’re looking for a healthier option to match the sinful sauce, try Green On Earth. The vegetarian establishment serves up a plethora of vegetables, soy products, mushrooms as well as mock meats that will satiate meat-lovers out there. So if you’ve converted to vegetarianism or veganism, or want to eat more greens, check this place out.

386 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, The Rail Mall, Singapore 678043

Opened till 4am daily, Wan Xing along Upper Serangoon Road is the place to be for night owls and supper fiends. Besides the extended opening hours (from 11am), Wan Xing has strong flavours that will definitely deliver the kick you want. Do note that Wan Xing is on the pricier side, perhaps due to its being housed in an air-conditioned setting and convenient location. Wan Xing has since expanded to multiple outlets.

Wan Xing Mala Xiang Guo has multiple locations in Singapore

Located within walking distance from Clementi MRT, Joyful Palace Mala is conveniently located for Westies. Fans of mala xiangguo will fall in love with their fragrant, flavourful and spicy chilli and with their pricing by weight, it is also a budget-friendly option.

443 Clementi Ave 3, #442, Singapore 120443

A restaurant tucked within the HDB blocks of Tampines, La Bu La has been a favourite in the neighbourhood, especially among the students of nearby Temasek Polytechnic. Not only does it serve mala xiangguo, but the restaurant also has a whole list of Northern Chinese and Sichuan-style food so you can get a variety of dishes at once.

822 Tampines Street 81, #01-196, Singapore 520822

Yang Guo Fu is a popular Chinese chain restaurant with over 6,000 locations worldwide. While they don’t serve the traditional stir-fried mala xiangguo, they are known for their mala tang (soup). After choosing your ingredients as per usual, pick between Spicy Mala Beef Broth and Tomato Broth or get the Mala Mix, which is the dry version.

Yang Guo Fu Mala Tang has multiple locations in Singapore

Gong Yuan is another establishment that specialises in mala soup. They currently have 13 restaurants islandwide so a location wouldn’t be too far away from you. For their Ma La Soup base, you have four levels of spiciness to pick from. But if you can’t handle the heat, they have non-spicy soups too – Tomato, Pickled Vegetable, Pork Bone and Mushroom.

Gong Yuan Mala Tang has multiple locations in Singapore

Previously in Pasir Ris Central Hawker Central and now at 16 Bedok South Road, Tian Tian Xiang Shang is helmed by a chef named Ah Gang. With an ethos of wanting to serve up the best food he can, the hawker has been a haunt. Tian Tian Xiang Shang also serves a small selection of Chinese food such as various iterations of grilled fish.

16 Bedok South Rd, #01-13, Singapore 460016

Located within Maxwell Food Centre, Dingdinghong faces stiff competition from many famed hawkers around. Yet, they have managed to pull a crowd with their own take on mala xiangguo and affordable pricing (against other CBD selections). For those who can’t take spicy food, Dingdinghong has a non-spicy option too.

1 Kadayanallur St, #01-41 Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184

57 Degrees currently has four locations mainly in the northern and eastern regions of Singapore. The main star here is, of course, the mala xiangguo, which is said to be cooked by chefs hailing from Sichuan. Other Chinese dishes such as grilled fish, fried rice, noodles and more are available to fill your belly as well.

57 Degrees Ma La Xiang Guo has multiple locations in Singapore

Don’t be deterred by the weird-sounding name 0f the restaurant. Located in the corner of Djitsun Mall in Ang Mo Kio, fans flock to Ah Gu Kaka Wa for its range of Chinese food, chiefly among them is their frog-based dishes. The mala xiangguo too is another fan favourite that you shouldn’t miss.

5 Ang Mo Kio Central 2, #01-01 Djitsun Mall, Singapore 569663

Like Yang Guo Fu, Zhang Liang is another popular Chinese chain hailing from Harbin and boasts over 5,000 stores globally. Choose your ingredients then pick from three soup bases to complete your dish – Mala, Tomato and Mushroom, all of which are made with beef bones.

Zhang Liang Mala Tang has multiple locations in Singapore

Read Next

10 Places To Get The Best Sarawak Kolo Mee In Singapore

Eat Clean At These Chinese Vegetarian Eateries

Where To Get The Best Traditional Chinese Desserts In Singapore