The Mala Dragon on Pembroke Street is one of OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in the UK for 2026. The Sichuan tapas and wine bar opened in October 2025.

The Mala Dragon, a Sichuan small plates and wine restaurant on Pembroke Street in Bedford, has been named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in the UK for 2026, a year after it opened.

Overview

The restaurant opened in October 2025 and confirmed the listing to The Bedford Times on 14 November. OpenTable builds the list from what diners write in their reviews. The Mala Dragon is at 51A to 51B Pembroke Street, Bedford MK40 3RH.

Joe and Layla of The Mala Dragon said the news, which came by email from OpenTable, was hard to take in at first.

“We’re absolutely delighted to confirm that The Mala Dragon has been named one of OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in the UK for 2026,” they said.

“When OpenTable emailed us the news we couldn’t believe it. We only opened in October 2025, so to be on a list like this just a year in feels incredible.”

White-painted restaurant building with a paved courtyard, black tables and chairs and two large parasols
The courtyard at The Mala Dragon. Photo: supplied by The Mala Dragon

Built from diners’ reviews

They said the way the list is put together is what makes it mean so much to them.

“The great thing is that the list is built from what diners say, so every review from a guest who enjoyed their evening and took a few minutes to write about it has helped,” they said.

“We’re so grateful to all of our guests, and to our brilliant team, who work incredibly hard to make every visit a good one.”

A woman in a black Mala Dragon apron holds a plate with a bamboo steamer and flatbread outside the restaurant, beside its sign
A bamboo steamer served outside The Mala Dragon. Photo: supplied by The Mala Dragon

Sichuan food and wine

The restaurant pairs Sichuan small plates with wine. Its own website explains the name: “ma” is the numbing from Sichuan peppercorns and “la” is the heat of chilli, and it suggests matching a crisp white with Kung Pao chicken or a spicy red with dumplings.

“We wanted to bring proper Sichuan food and good wine together in Bedford, so seeing it be so popular makes us so happy,” Joe and Layla said.

A woman in a black Mala Dragon apron holds up a bottle of white wine and a bottle of red at the restaurant doorDining room with wooden tables laid with glasses and patterned napkins, a bay window and a birdcage lampshade

2 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by The Mala Dragon

Where to find it

The Mala Dragon is on Pembroke Street, Bedford MK40 3RH, and takes bookings through its website or on 01234 950 141.

White-painted restaurant front with parasols and planters, with a classic silver convertible parked in the street outside
The Mala Dragon from Pembroke Street. Photo: supplied by The Mala Dragon

Have you eaten at The Mala Dragon? Tell us in the comments.