Memoir Spicy Pot - Chicago

NOOO!! WHY DID YOU GUYS CLOSE!!? ?? It was one of my favorites in chinatown and now I just found out that you guys close u.u

Love this place! Build your own spicy Mala noodles (or you can choose soup) with a great selection of meats, fish balls, veggies, tofu, etc. They add peanuts to the mix FYI for anyone who may be allergic but adds the perfect crunch. Great affordable option in the downstairs food court!

Located in Chinatown’s Richland Center underground food court, Memoir is among the only make-your-own Szechuan MaLa dry pot spots that I’ve seen in Chicago so far— it didn’t disappoint, especially if you’re craving Szechuan spice and flavor. They have a diverse range of ingredients from veggies to fish tofu to intestine, and you can choose whether you want it with soup or not (boiled vs. dry).The price is $13/pound, which is not too bad. The lady who works there is kind, and threw in a couple extra veggies after I paid for my weight. Mine was slightly over 1 pound, and the total was $16 with tax. Be careful with choosing your ingredients though and don’t go overboard, as it can get pricey if you aren’t careful.After choosing all my ingredients, I waited about 8 minutes; the end product was pretty delicious, well stir-fried, and also comes with rice. They automatically add peanuts to the drypot though, so if you’re allergic, make sure to specify no peanuts. The flavors weren’t as strong as I would’ve liked, so I’ll make sure to ask for more spice next time. Overall, this is a solid spot for a make-your-own MaLa drypot experience in Chicago. The ingredients aren’t as expansive as MaLa project in NYC, but it’s also not as expensive.—Price (relative to peers): 4/5Food: 4/5Ambience (food court): 4/5Service: 5/5Overall

I'm already a regular customer here since I eat here at least once a week for their panfried dishes! I love having the option to pick out my own ingredients and how much I want added. Also since I'm vegetarian, I can pick out my vegetarian options. It's also the only restaurant that let's me add unlimited bean curds (my favorite) to my dishes compared to other restaurants that give me tiny portions of it as a side. Highly recommend this place!

Located in Chinatown's Richland Center underground food court, Memoir is among the only make your own Szechuan MaLa dry pot spots that I've seen in Chicago so far it didn't disappoint, especially if you're craving Szechuan spice and flavor. They have a diverse range of ingredients from veggies to fish tofu to intestine, and you can choose whether you want it with soup or not (boiled vs. dry).The price is $13/pound, which is not too bad. The lady who works there is kind, and threw in a couple extra veggies after I paid for my weight. Mine was slightly over 1 pound, and the total was $16 with tax. Be careful with choosing your ingredients though and don't go overboard, as it can get pricey if you aren't careful.After choosing all my ingredients, I waited about 8 minutes; the end product was pretty delicious, well stir fried, and also comes with rice. They automatically add peanuts to the drypot though, so if you're allergic, make sure to specify no peanuts. The flavors weren't as strong as I would've liked, so I'll make sure to ask for more spice next time. Overall, this is a solid spot for a make your own MaLa drypot experience in Chicago. The ingredients aren't as expansive as MaLa project in NYC, but it's also not as expensive. Price (relative to peers): 4/5Food: 4/5Ambience (food court): 4/5Service: 5/5Overall Value: 4/5