I have heard about this restaurant MaLa Canteen for a long time. Everyone talks about how great it is, how authentic the Sichuan food is, and how nice the place looks. So, I finally decided to give it a try and see if it lives up to the hype.
I went there with a couple of my buddies last weekend. It’s located in Rockville Town Center, which is a pretty busy area with lots of shops and restaurants. We found the restaurant easily enough. I mean, who could miss it? It’s got this big, bold sign that just screams “good food inside!”
Now, I gotta say, I was a little surprised when I walked in. It’s merged with this other place called “Friendship Restaurant,” which was always kind of empty the few times I went. Even this time, during the dinner rush, it wasn’t super packed. Maybe we just missed the peak hours, or maybe it’s just not as popular as people say.
We sat down, and the waiter gave us menus. It was quite extensive, so many choices! I decided to go with my gut and order the spicy stuff. I mean, it’s a Sichuan restaurant, right? Gotta go with the classics. They had this set menu called “Grey Wolf Big Pack” and “Tiger Meat Lover“. My friends chose the “Grey Wolf Big Pack“. It turned out that we could get five-star toast, and some good dishes. We chose some dishes that the chef recommended, and they were all pretty good.
All in all, MaLa Canteen was a pretty good experience. The food was tasty, the prices were reasonable, and the service was decent. Would I say it’s the best Chinese restaurant in the DMV area? Maybe not, but it’s definitely worth a try if you’re in the mood for some Sichuan cuisine. I mean, it’s not like I’m a food critic or anything, but I know what I like, and I liked MaLa Canteen.
- Food: 4/5 – Pretty tasty, good portion sizes.
- Service: 3/5 – Nothing special, but not bad either.
- Ambiance: 3/5 – A bit empty, but clean and well-lit.
- Value: 4/5 – Good prices for what you get.
So, there you have it. My two cents on MaLa Canteen. It’s a solid choice for Sichuan food, but don’t expect to be blown away. Just go in with an open mind and an empty stomach, and you’ll probably have a good time.
