For pick-your-own mala bowls, this stall at Tampines Street 81 nails it with a spot-on balance of flavour, heat and the numbing tingliness characteristic of mala dishes. According to Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang, this stall is modest on the spice level so don't be afraid to scale up if you're a spice fiend. Otherwise, most would do well with the medium level, which offers a slow burn. The ingredients here are really fresh. Tastemaker Zhihui Lim loves the crunchy lotus root and tender pork slices, while Tastemaker Marc T. really likes how the silky glass noodles soaked up the flavourful sauce. The sauce is also neither overly salty nor oily — a big plus in our books! Prices average at $1 for vegetables and $2 for meats. Portions are pretty generous, so pace yourself.
Avg Price: $10 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Wei Zhi Chiang