Enjoy mala buffet in CBD for only $10 per pax, with cheap beer towers

Attention to all CBD dwellers and mala lovers: Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo is offering an incredible S$10 mala buffet promotion at their Frasers Tower location! This deal is available for dine-in only; this weekday deal starts at 4pm.

The only catch to this promotion is to buy a drink and follow Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo on social media, which I would say isn’t really a catch at all. You would probably buy your own drink anyway without them asking you to.

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - storefront
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - storefront

Mala, a popular Chinese dish originating from Sichuan, is known for its combination of numbing (ma) and spicy (la) flavours, created by Sichuan peppercorns and chilli peppers.

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - ingredients section
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - ingredients section

At Xiao Man Niu, this signature flavour is the star of the show, and diners can build their mala bowls with an impressive selection of over 40 ingredients.

What I tried at Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - picking up meats
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - picking up meats

While we thought we were rather early, around 5.30pm, a crowd had already formed with people queuing to get in. You are first given your bowl and shown where you can pick your ingredients from. With loads of ingredients to choose from, this can take a while.

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - quail egg
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - quail egg

These ingredients include traditional mala essentials like instant noodles, which soak up the broth’s intense flavours, and luncheon meat, a salty and satisfying addition that balances the spice. Vegetables such as mushrooms and potato slices add texture and earthiness, while quail eggs offer a rich, creamy contrast.

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - pork slice
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - pork slice

Do note that diners are only allowed to take either 1 portion of prawn or beef at a time. My recommendation is to skip both of those, and go for the pork slices and pork belly. They are tender and soak up the flavours of the mala.

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - vegetable
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - vegetable

The meat selection is also varied, featuring options like pork slices and beef shabu, which absorb the spicy, numbing broth, enhancing their natural flavours. The usual price for Mala is S$2.68 per 100g, making the S$10 offer a fantastic bargain. You can select from 5 spice levels: Non Spicy, Mild Spicy, Medium Spicy, Super Spicy, and Monster Spicy.

Diners who choose non-spicy shouldn’t even be going to a mala stall in my opinion; it’s like eat Yong Tau Foo. I went for the Medium Spicy one, and I must say that the spice was comfortable and not too overbearing. Enough to make you sweat a little but not enough to make you hate your decisions.

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - beer tower
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - beer tower

For drinks for 2? We went for the 3 Litre Sapporo Tower (S$48) which they allowed us to have 1 tower for 2 pax in contrary to the usual 1drink per person. As if that was not worth your money enough, they are also running a promotion which where you can get 2 of these towers for S$80, saving you S$16.

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - noodles
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - noodles

While there was nothing outstanding about the mala dish itself, I must say that for S$10 a pax, this is extremely value for money. The meats were pretty standard together with the rest of the ingredients.

The only thing I found slightly special was the homemade noodles. This had a chewier texture compared to the instant noodles. One thing I need to praise Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo for not overcooking the noodles and still left it al dente. 

Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - mala bowl
Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo - mala bowl

Keep in mind, that the buffet has a one-hour dining limit and a food wastage charge of S$10 per 100 grams, so plan your meal wisely.

In addition to the buffet, Xiao Man Niu Mala Xiang Guo offers Grilled Fish (S$23.80) with options like Lemon and Monster Chilli. This dish includes a whole seabass served in your chosen sauce with various toppings in a heated metal pan.

Final Thoughts

While the duration of this buffet promotion is uncertain, diners are encouraged to visit them as soon as possible. All in all, I think it is a great promotion for a group of friends who want to hang out after work with a couple of drinks. With affordable food and drinks, what’s not to love?

Expected damage: S$10 – S$30 per pax

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