Sorimmara brings mala spiciness to Annandale

Sorimmara, a new restaurant in Seoul Plaza on Markham Street in Annandale, offers something different: mala, a spice with a numbing taste on the tongue used in soup and stir fry dishes.

Mala comes from China but is popular in Korea, which has some 200 Sorimmara restaurants, says manager Serene Lee.

The Sorimmara restaurant in Annandale is the fourth in the United States and the first in Virginia.

Diners can select from dozens of ingredients on display (fish cakes, mushrooms, noodles, vegetables, and many more) and spice level (mild to inferno) to create a hot pot (malatang) or “dry pot” (mala xiang guo).

They also offer guobaorou (deep fried pork, shrimp, or other ingredient), fried rice, rice balls, and tteokokki (spicy rice cakes). Alcoholic drinks will be added to the menu once their ABC license is approved.

Sorimmara is closed between 3 and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and all day on Mondays.

Related story: A new twist on Korean cuisine