Malatang (麻辣烫, má là tàng) is one of China's most popular comfort foods: a bowl of ingredients you choose yourself, cooked in a hot, flavourful broth. It started as Sichuan street food and is now eaten all over China and, more and more, in Perth.
What does "malatang" mean?
The name describes the eating experience in three characters:
- 麻 má: the tingling, numbing feeling from Sichuan pepper.
- 辣 là: chilli heat.
- 烫 tàng: scalding hot, because the ingredients are cooked quickly in boiling broth.
Not every malatang has to be spicy, though. At Ace Hot Pot, three of our nine bases (Chicken Bone Broth, Mushroom Soup and Tomato Soup) are not spicy at all.
How do you order malatang?
- Fill a bowl from the fridges with whatever you like: meat, seafood, fish balls, tofu, vegetables, mushrooms and noodles.
- Choose a soup base. We have eight, including Classic Malatang, Chicken Bone Broth, Sichuan Hot & Sour, Tomato, Curry Laksa and Tom Yum, plus two dry styles: Mala Stir Fry and Mala Ban.
- Weigh and pay. Every ingredient is $4.68 per 100g, with a 400g minimum.
- Choose your spice level, from not spicy to ace hot. Then we cook it fresh and bring it out with free rice.
What should I put in my first bowl?
A good first bowl has a bit of everything: some protein (sliced beef, prawns or fish balls), something that soaks up broth (tofu puffs, tofu skin or noodles) and some greens. Leafy vegetables and noodles are light, so they don't add much weight. Meat and seafood are heavier.
If you're not sure about spice, start with mild in the Classic Malatang base. If you can't eat chilli at all, choose Chicken Bone Broth, Mushroom Soup or Tomato Soup.
How much does malatang cost?
At Ace Hot Pot it's $4.68 per 100g for every ingredient, with a minimum of 400g, and each malatang comes with free rice. You decide the size of your meal, so you decide the price.
Is malatang the same as hot pot?
They're related but not the same. With traditional hot pot you cook ingredients yourself at the table in a shared pot. With malatang, the kitchen cooks your bowl for you. Read our guide to malatang vs maocai vs hot pot.