# Mala Project

> Mala Project — Restaurants restaurants in New York, NY.

## Key facts
- **URL**: https://frankiapp.com/business/mala-project-39306
- **Type**: Restaurants
- **Cuisine**: Restaurants
- **Location**: New York, NY
- **Address**: 245 E 53rd St (2nd Avenue), New York, NY 10022, New York, NY, US
- **Phone**: 12126021005
- **Website**: https://www.malaproject.nyc
- **Coordinates**: 40.757102, -73.967662
- **Claimed**: unclaimed
- **Vibes**: Cultural, Casual

## About
Mala Project is a dry pot restaurant located at 245 E 53rd St in Midtown Manhattan, known for its bold Sichuan-inspired flavors and customizable bowls. The space is warmly decorated with pink tones and wooden accents, giving it a lively, casual feel that works equally well for a quick solo lunch or a fun group outing. Diners can build their own bowls with a wide selection of proteins, vegetables, and aromatics, then choose their spice level. Lunch pricing offers especially strong value, and every bowl comes with free rice.

## Hours
- Monday: 12pm - 9:15pm
- Tuesday: 12pm - 9:15pm
- Wednesday: 12pm - 9:15pm
- Thursday: 12pm - 9:15pm
- Friday: 12pm - 10pm
- Saturday: 11am - 10pm
- Sunday: 11am - 9:15pm

## Highlights
- **Build-your-own dry pot** — Customize your bowl with your choice of proteins, vegetables, and spice level.
- **Unbeatable lunch value** — Lunch bowls run just $14.99 per pound, with free rice included every time.
- **Bold, colorful interior** — Pink walls and wooden utensils give the space a fun, welcoming cultural character.
- **Cooling dessert options** — Coconut milk jellies and yogurt drinks offer a refreshing finish after spicy bowls.

## FAQ
### Where is Mala Project located?
Mala Project is at 245 E 53rd St (at 2nd Avenue) in Midtown Manhattan, New York, NY 10022.

### What are Mala Project's hours?
Mala Project is open Monday through Thursday from 12:00 PM to 9:15 PM, Friday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Saturday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 9:15 PM.

### What type of food does Mala Project serve?
Mala Project specializes in Sichuan-style dry pot, a build-your-own bowl concept where you select your proteins, vegetables, and aromatics, then pick your spice level. The result is a deeply flavorful, customizable meal that pairs well with their free rice. They also offer cooling drinks and desserts to balance the heat.

### What is Franki?
Franki is a restaurant discovery app that helps you find great places to eat through real video reviews from actual diners. You can browse reviews, photos, and videos of Mala Project on Franki, and earn cash back when you dine there. Download Franki on the App Store or Google Play to start exploring.

### How much does it cost to eat at Mala Project?
Mala Project is one of the more affordable dry pot spots in Manhattan. From 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, bowls are priced at $14.99 per pound, and $16.99 per pound at other times, with free rice included.

### What do diners enjoy most at Mala Project?
Reviewers praise the bold, flavorful dry pot bowls and the fun of building a fully customized meal. The coconut milk jellies and yogurt drinks are frequently called out as great additions to round out the meal. The colorful, lively interior also gets consistent appreciation for its welcoming atmosphere.

### Is Mala Project good for groups?
Mala Project works well for group hangouts thanks to its casual, social atmosphere and the interactive build-your-own bowl format. The Midtown location is easy to reach, and the affordable pricing makes it a practical choice for larger tables.

### How can I contact Mala Project?
You can reach Mala Project by phone at (212) 602-1005, or browse their menu and more at malaproject.nyc.

## Reviews
### nottoosweet — 4.3/5 · Apr 9, 2025
solid drypot place! the interior is super cute - pink and bold colors and wooden utensils. i would say the portions are smaller, this barely fed 4 people and costed $40~. taste was there though!

### user_5f8856 — 5.0/5 · Mar 31, 2026
nice portions and great flavor at mala project. we also got some desserts to cool us down, the coconut milk jellies were delish!

### anush_d_explorer — 2.9/5 · Mar 9, 2023
A solid dry pot spot

### jlw3079 — 5.0/5 · Dec 3, 2024
So flavorful

### vvveats — 4.3/5 · Apr 24, 2026
i think i just found the cheapest malatang spot in manhattan. from 11 to 5 it’s only $14.99 a pound, or $16.99 otherwise. and it comes with free rice. I had to grab my yogurt drink because i literally cannot eat malatang without it, then went straight to building my bowl. the marinated meat, quail eggs, and veggies are the move here. There’s both dry and soup pots with my favorite being the dry pot. 

@malatown_usa 
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#nyceat #malatang #nycasianfood #asianfood #hotpot