Now with five locations—Chinatown, the Heights, Montrose, Katy, and Sugar Land—opened over the last decade, husband and wife team Heng Chen and Cori Xiong’s highly acclaimed Sichuan restaurant has garnered an army of followers thanks to dishes like Water-boiled Fish, Red Oil Wontons, and Spicy Crispy Chicken. The original Chinatown location—whose former chef Jianyun Ye was a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2017—is still widely regarded as Houston’s best restaurant for true Sichuan cuisine.How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Kind of like highway billboards and humidity, Mala Sichuan Bistro is part of what makes Houston, well, Houston. There are five across the city (those Sichuan peppercorns are both mouth-numbing and habit-forming), but we like the Chinatown location not only because it’s the original Mala, but it also has the most space for large groups, in case you pull up with a tour group or every member of your extended family. Just make sure you order as many red-oil slick dumplings, noodles, and dry-fried vegetables as possible.

Highlights include two cavernous Chinese-Vietnamese dim sum buffets, Kim Son and Ocean Palace, spice specialist Mala Sichuan Bistro, Cantonese eatery Mein, vegan banh mi sandwich shop Duy Sandwiches, Korean barbecue newcomer Hongdae 33, and Viet-Cajun pioneers Cajun Kitchen and Crawfish & Noodles — tossing mudbugs in garlic butter as well as in citrus and Southeast Asian herbs like lemongrass and basil. And if you should find yourself on the west side of town, in the suburb of Katy, check out rising stars like Malaysian restaurant Phat Eatery and Money Cat, a Japanese small plate concept that integrates Houston’s multicultural flavors.

Even before this Sichuan restaurant was awarded a Bib Gourmand from Michelin, it was lauded among locals for its tongue-tingling dishes. Crowd-pleasers like housemade red oil dumplings ($9), dan dan noodles with ground pork ($9), and spicy crispy chicken ($16) pack plenty of fiery flavor, while an unexpected punch from Sichuan peppercorns keep diners sweating. With outposts in Asiatown, Katy, Sugar Land, Montrose, and the Heights, Mala is a convenient choice for both dining in and taking out.

As spoonuniversity.com says, of all the Chinese eateries along Bellaire Boulevard, no one does spicy food quite like Mala Sichuan Bistro. The “mala” flavor unique to Sichuan is something of an acquired taste, but once it’s acquired, there’s no going back. Expect plenty of fiery sauces, liberal applications of Sichuan peppercorn, and some of the chewiest, bounciest noodles you’ll ever have the privilege of slurping up.

The menu can sometimes read like a listicle of tongue-in-cheek thriller movie titles, what with dishes including “Top Notch Pot of the Outlaws,” “Couples Lung Slices” or “Three Pepper Beaten Duck,” but that’s half the fun. The spicy, numbing heat of the Sichuan peppercorn enlivens dish after dish with some serious mouth-burning joy. Bestsellers include red-oil wontons, water-boiled fish and spicy crispy chicken.

The mapo tofu helped Mala Sichuan Bistro earn a James Beard nomination — Photo courtesy of Visit Houston. This James Beard nominee in Asiatown serves hot pot-style Sichuan meals in an unassuming strip mall, which is pretty typical of Houston's Asiatown. The sprawling neighborhood bucks the traditional "Chinatown" label with restaurants representing Vietnam, India, Pakistan, China, Korea, Malaysia and more.

The Chinese province of Sichuan is renowned for its culinary prowess, with cuisine often noted for its spicy flavor profile. More specifically, the flavors of "ma" (the pleasing numbing sensation of a Sichuan peppercorn) and "la" (a hot, tongue-singing feeling from the capsaicin in chile peppers). Enter Mala Sichuan, which lives up to its name by bringing all kinds of fiery sensations to your world.

Mala Sichuan Bistro – Sichuan – Named after the unique numbing and hot flavors of Sichuan cooking, the “ma” and the “la,” its initial location along Bellaire Boulevard helped popularize that cuisine to non-Chinese in Houston, incorporating a decent beverage program, in part. And the second spot, in the heart of Montrose, has the look of a modern Asian bistro. But the food is the draw.

At the second, Montrose location of the Chinatown restaurant that taught Houston to love the sizzle of Szechuan, the menu’s street-food section contains two must-try dumplings. There’s hot-and-sour wontons, chubby packages of pork dressed in a spicy vinaigrette, and slippery, thin-skinned red oil dumplings, infused with the flavor of mouth-numbing Szechuan peppercorn.

With excellent service and great prices, Mala Sichuan Bistro offers some of the best Sichuan-style dishes in the area. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to check out the crepe cake after sampling the pepper beef, garlic eggplant, crispy chili chicken, or a variety of other menu options. Grab some friends and head out for some red oil dumplings and fun conversation.

An excellent choice for spice lovers, Mala Sichuan Bistro was founded by a husband-and-wife duo who wanted to bring genuine Sichuan cooking to the Houston Chinese food scene. The menu includes water-boiled fish, cumin beef, tea-smoked duck, and pot-roasted tilapia. Where:9348 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 11:00 am – 9:45 pm

Walking into Mala Sichuan Bistro, I was immediately captivated by the friendly service and vibrant atmosphere. The staff greeted me with warm smiles and were more than happy to guide me through their menu, which was filled with mouth-watering options. To start off my hot soup journey, I decided to try their famous eggplant hot soup.

9348 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036Phone: 713-995-1889 Visit Website. A post shared by Mala Sichuan (@malasichuanbistro). With locations in the Heights, Montrose, and in Chinatown next door to One Dragon, Mala Sichuan Bistro serves authentic Sichuan cuisine in a stunning and spicy presentation.

An excellent choice for spice lovers, Mala Sichuan Bistro was founded by a couple who wanted to bring true Sichuan cuisine to Houston’s Chinese food scene. The menu includes water-boiled fish, cumin, tea-smoked duck, and roasted tilapia. It also contains lots of bamboo shoots and hot peppers.

Mala Sichuan has 5 Houston-area locations, and the Montrose location has the bougiest ambiance. Known for its housemade dumplings, Mala is a Houston institution for Sichuan homestlye and street food. Their maps tofu is on point.

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (39 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)– Type of cuisine: Chinese, Asian– Price: $$ – $$$– Address: 1201 Westheimer Road Ste B, Houston, TX 77006– Read more on Tripadvisor

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (39 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Chinese, Asian- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 1201 Westheimer Road Ste B, Houston, TX 77006- Read more on Tripadvisor

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (39 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.5/5)– Type of cuisine: Chinese, Asian– Price: $$ – $$$– Address: 1201 Westheimer Road Ste B, Houston, TX 77006– Read more on Tripadvisor

Out of all the delicious Chinese eateries along Bellaire Boulevard, no one does spicy food quite like Mala Sichuan Bistro. Chewy noodles drenched in an addicting sauce await you at this Szechuan-style eatery.

Address: 9348 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036, United States. Contact Details: 713-995-1889. Operating Hours: Daily: 11 AM to 10 PM