Mala Town

MalaTown on Harvard Avenue lets you build a bowl around the broth you want. The choices include beef-bone broth, Sichuan-style broth, tomato, mushroom and tom yum. From there, you choose a staple and the other ingredients, making it possible for two people to order very different meals at the same stop.

The soup bases vary in heat and flavor, so look beyond the name before deciding. Tomato and mushroom offer alternatives to the spicy, numbing Sichuan preparation, while tom yum adds a sour note. Online orders use set combinations with a specified number of ingredients; check those details before adding extras. This is MalaTown at 194 Harvard Avenue, separate from Mala Restaurant on Brighton Avenue. Use the exact address when ordering pickup or delivery.