Dry Pot (Ma La Xiang Guo) in Chicagoland?

Dry pot (Ma La Xiang Guo) is similar to hot pot, but no boiling liquid. You pretty much pick what you want in there (vegetables, meat, seafood, etc) and it's cooked for you in a bowl. Really good stuff. I've had it a bunch recently in NYC (one place just off Times Square and another in Flushing) but I'm afraid there's no places in the Chicago area doing this. Is my suspicion correct? I guess the best bet would be a Tony Hu restaurant..

EDIT: WIth the help of my Chinese girlfriend, we found one at Lao Ma La. Anybody know of other places doing it, especially ones where you can pick what goes into the pot?

Northern City in Bridgeport serves it.

shotzy wrote:Northern City in Bridgeport serves it.

Nice, thanks. Do you get to choose what's in there too?

There is a new(?) dry pot place in the food court at the Richland Center. You choose your own ingredients from a selection of perhaps 20 meats, vegetables, mushrooms, noodles, and tofus. The cost is $10/lb, with a minimum order of 1lb.

I have only tried the vegetarian ingredients, but everything tasted delicious, and the mala sauce is fiery and savory.

At some dry pot places I've been to you choose your spice level. I was not asked to do so (I'm not sure if the men running the stall speak much English). The default was spicy but not overwhelming.

Fans of dry pot (and those curious to try it) should definitely check it out. I've been looking for a good dry pot place in Chicago and am satisfied that I've found it.