“We heard a lot of people say they couldn’t find very traditional Chinese food,” said owner Sherry Chen. “So, this was one more reason we decided to open the restaurant. It’s not like American Chinese food, it’s real Chinese food.”

It’s also really spicy. Chen describes the restaurant at 3027 N Cole Rd. as authentic Sichuan, with bold, “mouth-numbing” flavors.

Hot pots with American Wagyu, lamb, short ribs, and vegetables will be the main draw of the menu, but are currently not available for takeout. Hot pots are dishes where diners cook meats, vegetables, and noodles in a bubbling pot of spicy broth.

The menu also features dry pots, including ones with frog legs, chicken, spareribs, and crawfish. Grilled fish is also on the menu, in addition to a long list of sides, including fried rice and stirfry noodles. See the full menu here.

Mala House is open for takeout from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s closed on Wednesday. Chen anticipates welcoming dine-in customers sometime in January.