MALA SICHUAN BISTRO || This Restaurant in Houston Serves Up an Immersive Sichuan Experience in Flavour and Interior Design
Situated on 12 acres of land in the Houston Heights, Mala Sichuan Bistro is a stunning restaurant celebrating the best of interior design and cultural diversity.
It serves authentic Sichuan cuisine in its divine interior, giving guests an exquisite taste of both worlds.
The grand facade of the restaurant features metal panelling, wooden seating, and cozy lighting. Together, these elements make it a show-stopper, sure to attract the attention of anyone passing by. The circular silhouette draws inspiration from Moon gate architectural passageways in China. Its Chinese signboard also represents the restaurant's purpose — serving Chinese cuisine by giving visitors an immersive experience of the country.
The entrance is inspired by Moon gates in traditional Chinese architecture.
Walking into the space, there is elevated seating on one side and a bar area on the other. The overall design style is calm and laid-back with a hint of vintage, reminiscent of the Chinese countryside. The colour palette is dominated by inky blacks and natural wooden tones.
A closer look reveals the smart incorporation of elements capturing snapshots of Sichuan. The design details and finishes pay tribute to Xiong’s countryside homeland in Chengdu, while the Pagoda roof was hand-crafted by Sichuan artisans.
The dining room.
Soft and organic shapes have been used to add a natural touch to the space. At the same time, custom fabric Chinese lanterns are installed above the dining room as if they’ve just been released into the night sky. The etched wood art, too, depicts scenes from the rural areas of China.
A collection of artwork depicts the moon phases.
A screen of custom moon phases celebrates the Chinese appreciation of the moon, while Chinese character shadowy art is incorporated at the entry, symbolic of the restaurant’s aim.
The backlit bar adds a sense of modernity to the restaurant serving up authentic Sichuan flavours.
We love how the oversized Chinese abacus-styled partition serves double duty by dividing the space effectively and serving as a decorative piece. The use of raw forms and exposed structures add to the rural Chinese ambiance, too.
An abacus-style divider at the entrance.
The owners, husband and wife team Cori Xiong and Heng Chen, have worked for over a decade to spread their love of Sichuan cuisine — and their passion is evident throughout the restaurant’s interior. Their flourishing restaurant is now James Beard-recognized establishment with 5 locations, and this particular location has come to life in collaboration with the veteran Houston hospitality designer Gin Braverman of the Gin Design Group.
Dining in this space will give you an authentic experience of Sichuan — achieved through both the ambiance and the food. Seating outside offers stunning views of the Heights Hike and Bike Trail, another cherishable experience to enjoy.
With its divine interior design and genuine Chinese bites, the Mala Sichuan restaurant serves as the perfect spot to celebrate cultural diversity while collecting valuable memories — and paying heritage to impeccable interior design!
PROJECT DETAILS
Restaurant Name: Mala Sichuan Bistro
Opening Date: September 2022
Address: M-K-T 600 N. Shepherd Dr., Ste. 453, Houston, Texas, 77007
Owner: Cori Xiong and Heng Chen
Square Footage: 2,784 SF
Interior Designer: gin design group
Design Collaborators:
GEWL
Course Construction
objektfab
House of Fine Interiors
North CNC
Gunnells Concrete
Carissa Marx
Photos by: Leonid Furmansky