Opened in 2021, the authentic Chinese restaurant "Yang Guofu Mala Tang (Yogokufuku Mala Tang) Shin-Okubo branch" is part of the Mala Tang chain with 6000 stores in China. Located along Okubo Street between Shin-Okubo Station and Okubo Station, amidst a chaotic area with Islamic, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese chain restaurants. The menu offers set meals that change daily or a choose-your-own-ingredients option, with ingredients priced at 400 yen per 100g. It is recommended to choose your own ingredients, with around 40 types displayed in the showcase including vegetables, meat, seafood, meatballs, fried bread, and unique items like duck blood, cow stomach, and cartilage. The reviewer often goes for the Japanese-style Mala Tang "Shichihou Mala Tang," where the main difference is the option to choose the type of noodles. The reviewer opted for rice noodles with pork cartilage, enoki mushrooms, coriander, Chinese cabbage, and wood ear mushrooms, totaling 840 yen for 210g. The Mala Tang was served in a large bowl with a moderately spicy soup that had a creamy coconut milk-like flavor. The noodles were chewy and elastic, similar to springy noodles, and the vegetables were lightly simmered to maintain their crunchiness. The pork cartilage was crispy rather than tender. Self-service condiments like chili oil, black vinegar, Sichuan pepper oil, and sugar were available near the register. Adding black vinegar and Sichuan pepper oil enhanced the flavor. Overall, the reviewer enjoyed the hot pot experience, particularly appreciating the deliciousness of the rice noodles.

Clean and refreshing brothless noodles -> Mild spiciness and delicious, even better with vinegar. Corn noodles, beef tendon noodles -> Beef tendon noodles are chewy and delicious, also goes well with corn noodles. Beef tripe, white fungus, lamb, choy sum, cabbage, processed meat, dried tofu.

Little Seoul Shin-Okubo. Korean restaurants and Korean goods stores line the streets, always bustling with young people whenever you visit. As you head towards JR Okubo Station, the atmosphere changes slightly. Shops from various Asian countries like China and Taiwan start to increase, transforming into a multicultural image. Near Okubo Station, there is a spicy hot pot restaurant that R has been into recently. It is said that all the friends R has taken there end up getting hooked and always come back for more. The name of the restaurant is "Yang Guofu Mala Tang Shin-Okubo Store". I'm not particularly good with spicy food, so I wonder if I'll be okay... With a hint of anxiety, I follow along. In the evening, past 4 PM. At this time, the customers are sparse. I place my belongings on a seat and head towards the refrigerated shelves where the ingredients are displayed. It's a treasure trove of ingredients! Vegetables, meat, seafood. There are even ingredients I haven't seen much in Japan. I take a bowl and tongs, and like R, start picking up ingredients. Komatsuna, bok choy, spinach. There's pork, beef, and even lamb. R recommends the lamb. Let's try a little of each. Quail eggs are here! Squid looks good too. Hmm, what's this? Let's try it. Before I know it, the tray is full of various ingredients. Since the price is determined by the weight of the ingredients, I ended up with a rather luxurious spicy hot pot (laughs). You can choose the type of noodles from the ingredients, but once you exceed a certain price, you can get one type of noodles as a service out of the four available. It seems like R's strategy is to complete the spicy hot pot with the service noodles without taking any noodles at first. However, I was curious about the knife-cut noodles displayed among the ingredients, so I picked up a little of those as well. I decided to also get the service noodles. I choose the level of spiciness and pay. I leave the bowl and wait for the finished dish at my seat. After waiting for 7-8 minutes, it's ready! My original spicy hot pot. It looks delicious with plenty of ingredients. Let's dig in. Vegetables, seafood, meat. I crunch through them all. This time, as a beginner, I chose the normal level of spiciness. But it's quite spicy! However, I have a secret weapon, coconut drink, just in case. When I drink it, the reset is complete. I crave more spiciness again. This has created a perfect infinite loop. The lamb recommended by R doesn't have a strong smell and is easy to eat. Interesting, interesting. The knife-cut noodles I was curious about also go well with this spicy hot pot. Maybe I should have taken more of those... But the noodles are heavy, so taking a lot would make the spicy hot pot quite luxurious (sweat). The strategy is quite difficult. What strategy should I use next time I come...? Wait, am I already becoming a regular here...? The spicy hot pot is truly formidable. Yang Guofu, you are truly formidable. I feel like I'm falling into a spicy hot pot hell and becoming a regular customer already...

Spicy hot pot where you can put in as much meat, seafood, processed items, mushrooms, vegetables, seaweed, yuba, glass noodles, noodles, etc. as you like. I tried a new type of processed item for the first time. I still can't handle offal though. When you spend over 1000 yen, they add a little extra noodles as a bonus. The spiciness was delicious again today. Thank you for the meal.

Located along Okubo Street, closer to Okubo Station than Shin-Okubo Station, is a spicy hot pot restaurant with an eye-catching orange exterior. I visited for the first time during lunchtime on a weekday. When I looked in from outside, there was no one there, which made me a bit nervous, but I gathered my courage and went inside. The interior had over 15 tables and a few counter seats, making it quite spacious. For those who choose their own ingredients, the price varies by gram, so I was a bit worried about how much it would cost if I took too much, and it seemed a bit troublesome, so I opted for one of the set menus. There are two types of noodles available, glass noodles and knife-cut noodles. I felt that glass noodles might not be filling enough, so I chose the knife-cut noodles with the "Beef Noodle Set" for 1,080 yen. I selected a mild spiciness level 1. A small bowl of rice was included for free. Payment was accepted via various code payment methods like PayPay at the front counter. As I waited alone, female customers started coming in one after another. At least 10 or more people came in separately, skillfully picking up bowls and tongs, selecting ingredients from the refrigerated shelves, and then proceeding to the register. The food was served in less than 10 minutes. The bowl was large with plenty of various ingredients. There were beef, fish cake, crab legs, fried tofu, lotus root, wood ear mushrooms, bean sprouts, and other vegetables. In the center was a soft-boiled egg. I tried it right away. The knife-cut noodles were about 1 cm wide and chewy. Even though I chose a mild spiciness level, it had a numbing heat that made my lips tingle for a while. There was a generous amount of beef, perfect as a rice accompaniment. I broke a sweat slowly, and the meal was satisfying and delicious, so I'll definitely come back again.

I ordered the mild spice level, but as someone who is not good with spicy food, it was quite numbing. While the spiciness is indeed low, the numbness is strong. Be careful. However, the taste is very delicious so it's worth a visit. The system can be a bit confusing for first-timers. Just put the ingredients on a plate first and bring it to the cashier. A kind lady will help you.

There are other hot pot restaurants where you can choose your own ingredients, but this place is great because you can also choose the amount of noodles and ingredients you want. You can choose to have just one quail egg or try different types of meatballs individually, which is very convenient. There are almost 30 different ingredients to choose from. In addition to glass noodles, there are also options like corn noodles, beef tendon noodles, and instant ramen that you can mix as you like. Personally, I got excited to see flat glass noodles on the menu. The spicy flavor in the hot pot is strong and very delicious. The bowls for taking ingredients and for eating are large, so the presentation in the photos may not look great, but for a light dinner, it was just right and cost 740 yen.

The other day, after a work meeting, I went to Yang Guofu Malatang, which Yufei recommended as an introduction to authentic Chinese cuisine. As expected from authentic Chinese cuisine, the customers were mostly Chinese, and the staff barely spoke Japanese. It's a system where you put your favorite ingredients in a big bowl, similar to a buffet. It's quite interesting. Some of the ingredients are written in Japanese. Regardless of what you choose, it's 400 yen for 100g. The regular Chinese customers were really good at draining the water from the ingredients. Impressive! By the way, my meal cost a little over 700 yen. I chose pork, beef, wonton, dumplings, wood ear mushrooms, quail eggs, glass noodles, tofu, komatsuna, chrysanthemum greens, shiitake mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. When I took these to the register, they told me that if I spent over 1000 yen, I would get noodles for free, so I went back and added more ingredients. I didn't choose any noodles, so it worked out perfectly. Oh, are glass noodles considered noodles? The soup can be chosen with 4 levels of spiciness, and I went with the normal level. I took a sip of the soup. It was incredibly numbing!! The numbness from the Sichuan peppercorns was stronger than the spiciness. Numbing but delicious! As I got used to the numbness in the middle, it started to become quite salty. It was quite an exotic experience and really interesting. If you go in alone without any prior information, you will definitely be confused, so be careful.

I drank a lot of sake during the day, and my satiety center was completely destroyed. After eating mediocre soba in Takadanobaba, I wanted to have a proper meal, so my wife and I ended up at this restaurant. It was close to 9 PM when we entered, and there were only a few customers. The interior had a cafe-like feel with wooden decor, but the excessive LED lighting gave it a tacky vibe. We had to seat ourselves as no one guided us, and it took a while for someone to take our order. I ordered the Maratantan ramen with knife-cut noodles, while my wife ordered the vegetable-packed ramen with regular noodles. My order arrived in about 10 minutes. The soup had a savory and spicy seafood flavor with a numbing sensation from the Sichuan pepper. The knife-cut noodles were wide and rough, similar to fettuccine pasta, but a bit hard to eat. It didn't leave a strong impression. On the other hand, my wife's order took nearly 20 minutes to arrive, and to our disappointment, it was made with instant noodles. We were surprised as we expected something more authentic for the price. The instant noodles ruined the texture, becoming soggy quickly. The amount of bean sprouts was excessive, and it felt like a lazy dish. While slurping the disappointing noodles, I couldn't help but feel let down. The use of instant noodles threw off the balance of the whole dish. It might be acceptable for a street food stall at $4-5, but at $10, it was just not worth it. I don't think we'll be returning. Namaste.

The pleasure of Ma La Tang is in choosing the ingredients such as vegetables, meat, and processed foods lined up on the shelves. Additionally, you select the type of noodles and the level of spiciness and numbness at the register, pay first, and then take a seat. It feels like shopping in a supermarket, and the enjoyment comes from creating your own combinations. However, if you choose too many ingredients, you may quickly exceed your budget. Ma La Tang is a Chinese noodle soup dish that offers the numbing sensation of Sichuan peppercorn and the spiciness of chili peppers. The noodles used are usually glass noodles, but sometimes they may be replaced with knife-cut noodles or rice noodles. I hadn't reviewed it, but a Ma La Tang restaurant opened in the place where an izakaya I occasionally visited used to be. When viewed through the glass from outside, the interior of the restaurant gives off a cafe-like atmosphere. The previous izakaya had a messy atmosphere, so it seems like they renovated the store significantly. There were already a few customers inside, enjoying their meals. I entered the restaurant and approached a female staff member to ask about the restaurant's system since it was my first time there. They had a set menu that included a half portion of rice, which was reassuring. I had previously chosen too many ingredients and ended up with an outrageous bill even though it was lunchtime. I ordered the Ma La Dao Xiao Mian and paid at the register first. When asked about the level of spiciness, I requested the maximum. Unfortunately, they didn't offer a large portion of the dish. The staff, who was Chinese, seemed to struggle with Japanese, but it didn't affect our communication. After paying at the register, I sat at a table near the central register. The dish was served on the table after about 5 minutes. Although it wasn't a large portion, the dish looked very voluminous. It seemed like there were plenty of ingredients to enjoy. I was surprised to find that the Ma La Tang included char siu. There were two types of char siu, a rolled type and a roasted type, both of which were braised pork. There was even a soft-boiled egg on top of the dish... I decided to start by tasting the soup. Despite requesting maximum spiciness, it wasn't the typical bitter spiciness of extremely spicy dishes. It was more of a sharp, refreshing spiciness. The numbing sensation came after the spiciness. The bok choy was crunchy and had a pleasant texture. The uneven flat noodles were chewy with a good firmness. The shape of the noodles helped pick up the soup well. I enjoyed comparing the two types of char siu with rice. I also tried the soft-boiled egg, which had a runny yolk. I dipped the noodles in the yolk and enjoyed it. Even without ordering a large portion, the dish was satisfyingly filling. Since it was a 1000 yen lunch, I plan to visit again on payday.

Yang Guofu Mala Tang Shin-Okubo store, located just a 2-minute walk from Okubo Station North Exit in Tokyo, offers a Mala Tang dish with instant ramen for 1180 yen. This new establishment opened at the site of an old traditional izakaya a couple of days ago. I had checked out the place about 10 days ago based on early opening information, but it was still under construction. Today, armed with confirmed opening details, I decided to pay a visit. Upon entering, a Chinese staff member with limited Japanese skills explained the ordering system, which involved choosing from standard menu items or selecting your own ingredients. I opted for the latter option, where ingredients cost 400 yen per 100g. I picked my favorites like fried egg, quail eggs, clams, imitation crab sticks, shiitake mushrooms, some unknown paste, and a token amount of vegetables, followed by adding instant ramen. At the register, my bowl weighed 296g, resulting in a total of 1180 yen. When asked about spiciness level, I requested a mild amount. In less than 10 minutes, my dish arrived, and after trying the soup, I found it to be quite spicy - causing me to break a sweat while finishing it. I believe the soup would be very tasty without the spiciness. They mentioned that the amount I paid this time would be complimentary on my next visit, which is valid for 5 days. I plan to return and try the dish without any spiciness. Thank you for the meal!

If you've been unable to visit the Ikebukuro or Okachimachi branches of this restaurant, fear not - a new branch in Shin-Okubo has opened! I went to check it out on the opening day, only to find out it was the day before - what a bummer! But I went back once it was officially open. The system for their spicy hot pot is simple - soup and ingredients are all included for 400 yen per 100g. It sounds easy, but it's actually quite tricky. The price jumps significantly as you add more weight - 400 yen for 100g, 800 yen for 200g, and 1200 yen for 300g. It's hard to tell how much each ingredient weighs, and all ingredients cost the same regardless of weight. This might make you wonder if some ingredients are a better deal than others. What I love is that noodles aren't automatically included - if you want to skip the carbs, you can just enjoy the soup and ingredients. The soup itself is just as rich and creamy as the one at Zhang Liang Ma La Tang, if not better. I ordered the highest level of spiciness, but it wasn't too hot. The balance of numbing and spicy flavors was just right, making it perfect for savoring the rich soup. Depending on how you order, it can get pricey, but it's a great choice for when you want to fully indulge in spicy hot pot!

This is authentic Chinese flavor. It was delicious, but expensive! 3300 yen for 800g.

It's a super fattening food but so delicious, I couldn't resist. Thank you for the meal! 🤰✨

Delicious

Yang Guofu Mala Tan Shin Okubo Store, located a 2-minute walk from Okubo Station North Exit in Tokyo, offers a dish called "Mala Tan with hand-cut noodles" for 540 yen. The restaurant opened on May 1st, and I visited last Sunday as well. This time, they mentioned that the amount I spent on my previous visit would be treated as a service on my next visit, so I decided to go again. There are two options available: choosing from the standard menu or selecting your own ingredients. I opted for the latter, where you pay 400 yen for every 100g of ingredients. I selected my favorite items such as fried egg, quail eggs, beef, spam, shiitake mushrooms, unknown paste-like item, Chinese broccoli, and spinach, and added hand-cut noodles at the end. When I went to the counter and showed my previous receipt, they only charged me 540 yen, while the regular price would have been 1720 yen. When asked about the level of spiciness, I chose no spiciness, which surprised the staff. Last time, I asked for a bit of spiciness, but it was too spicy for me, so I decided to go without this time. It's no longer the traditional "mala" (numbingly spicy) flavor, but it was still quite tasty. The soup had a mix of pork bone, chicken broth, and soy milk, with a slight spiciness. Overall, it was good, but considering the cost, I might not come back again. Anyway, thank you for the meal!