After a long morning of site visits under the blazing sun, I suddenly realized it was well past noon. My stomach was growling, and as I quickly ran through my usual lunch spots in my head, I remembered Panda Mala Hotpot over at Little Walk. It had been a while, and I figured I deserved a treat.
Panda Mala Hotpot offers an all-you-can-eat experience, with prices slightly higher than most typical hotpot places in Thailand—but in return, the broth is noticeably richer and more aromatic.
For the soup base, I picked a mala + pork bone combo. The mala had a real kick, and the pork bone broth was rich and layered, with hints of Chinese herbs that gave it more depth than just being salty. That alone made it feel worth it. The ingredient selection was solid—sliced pork, veggies, mushrooms, meatballs, and even some Thai-style grass jelly and ice cream for dessert. Nothing fancy, but definitely enough to satisfy.
Drinks are mostly self-serve, but you can add on beer and other beverages if you’re feeling festive.
I have a soft spot for good dipping sauces, and this place didn’t disappoint. Their sauce station includes all the essentials for mala lovers—sesame oil, cilantro, scallions, and more. Mixing up my own custom blend always feels like an essential part of the hotpot ritual.
Since there were only two of us in the restaurant, the AC wasn’t blasting, so I was sweating buckets from the spice. But honestly, sweating a little kind of added to the experience. Cathartic, in a way.
All in all, the 499 set still felt a bit pricey for pork-only, but the flavors and experience made it worthwhile.
If you ever find yourself wandering around Pattaya at midday, not sure what to eat, this might just be the perfect spot to sit down, unwind, and sweat out the stress—one spicy bite at a time.
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