The deliciousness that never gets old, I could say it every day. If you go around lunchtime, you might have to wait a bit. When it's busy, the staff may seem a bit cold, but when they're not busy, they'll teach you about various ingredients. It might be good for beginners to go after 3:00 PM. I don't know what it is, but the white and red wiggly thing is super delicious! I end up taking a lot of it! Even though it's spicy and hot, I find myself going there anyway.

This is a revisit. The spicy hot pot here is the best!! Today, I was satisfied with the perfect level of spiciness and numbness! If you spend over 1000 yen, you get a free serving of noodles, and if you spend over 2000 yen, you get a free canned juice. I opted for the canned Ramune since I spent over 2000 yen. The soup here is delicious, and you can add as much chili oil and Sichuan pepper as you like, which is very convenient!

Even though it was past 2 PM on a weekday, there were quite a few people. Some ingredients were not explained, making it a bit challenging for beginners, but the staff kindly helped out. They offered a free 80g of noodles for purchases over 1000 yen. The soup was creamy and delicious!

This is the place I go to when I run out of cilantro recently! The price is determined by the weight of the chosen ingredients, so it can quickly turn into a scary system where a bowl of tantanmen costs 2000 yen in no time (lol). For me, I chose cilantro, chrysanthemum greens, shimeji mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, cartilage-included meat, chashu, and winter melon. Highly recommended are the unique "cartilage-included meat" that can only be eaten here and the dish always leaves me thinking, "Will it be crunchy this time?" but ends up being soft every time (lol). Also, something that can be found elsewhere but is a must-try is the "(sweet potato starch-made) sweet potato noodles" with a satisfyingly crispy texture when bitten into! However, one disappointment is that the cilantro is cooked together without being chopped... I will ask next time if it can be chopped and used as a topping! (lol)

I'm addicted to this place and go twice a week!! Being able to choose your favorite ingredients is great, and being able to eat lots of vegetables is also good, but most of all, the taste of the spicy mala broth is amazing and addictive. Today, I tried the tomato soup for the first time, and it was surprisingly good!

This was my first time trying it in Japan! I used to go to a hot pot restaurant in China every day. In China, there is a hot pot restaurant where even if you order the spiciest option, it's not actually that spicy, but it's popular among locals. The clear broth soup has a richer flavor compared to other hot pot restaurants, and it's delicious. The taste is just the same in Japan, and it brought back nostalgic memories! Located in Higashi-Ikebukuro, there are many Japanese customers, and the staff is also okay with Japanese. It's priced at 400 yen for 100 grams when you order by weight. This time, I got 13 items totaling 400 grams for 1,600 yen. It's 5.6 times more expensive compared to China, but I think it's a good value in Japan. I ordered the spiciest level, but it wasn't enough for me, so I added more spice using the free condiments available. However, it still wasn't as spicy as the hot pot restaurant I usually go to. But the clear broth soup is truly the best, with added flavors from the vegetables and meat, making me very satisfied. When I eat hot pot in Ikebukuro, I usually go to the north exit, but I would like to visit this place again.

I ordered the medium spicy ramen! It had a strong mountain pepper flavor and was really delicious! There was a service where you get 80g of extra noodles for orders over 1000 yen, and the portion was huge haha. The soup had a sesame flavor with a strong kick of spices. Towards the end, I realized how numbing it was when I drank some water haha. There were a lot of Chinese staff and customers, so hearing Chinese conversations added to the foreign atmosphere. The white whipped cream-shaped topping was like a fish cake with shrimp or crab paste inside, and it was delicious!

I was hesitating between other shops in Ikebukuro, but decided on this restaurant as it seemed authentic. You choose your favorite ingredients and spiciness level before paying. It would have been better if I could see the price as I picked the ingredients... Even though I only took a few items, it ended up costing over 1000 yen, and I received extra noodles (I should have taken fewer noodles). The order arrived in about 10 minutes, but after taking a bite, I regretted choosing this restaurant. The taste was off...! I chose the least spicy option, but it still had a burning sensation, no umami, and I had to add a lot of salt to the overly salty miso broth... I won't be going back...

A friend had enthusiastically recommended Yogo Fukumara Tan to me, so I finally paid a visit! When I arrived, I was surprised to learn that this was the same place where I had my first experience with spicy hot pot many years ago. However, I approached this visit with a fresh perspective. The interior of the restaurant is compact but the topping shelf is quite large, offering a wide variety of ingredients. This time, I chose squid, shrimp, quail eggs, Vienna sausages, beef tripe, lamb, lettuce stems, wakame seaweed, fried bread, sweet potatoes, and glass noodles, all in a large spicy hot pot. I opted for the extra spicy level. The cost was 400 yen per 100g, so my total came to 2040 yen for 510g. The glass noodles were a free service for orders over 1000 yen, and soft drinks are complimentary for orders over 2000 yen. The hot pot had a blend of beef bone soup and spicy soup, with a creamy texture and a generous sesame oil flavor. The beef bone soup was milky and the spicy soup had a good balance of herbal flavors without being too overpowering. Some of the standout toppings were the chewy and thick glass noodles, the hearty lettuce stems, the crunchy wakame seaweed, and the flavorful shrimp. Choosing the toppings and watching them all come together in a large bowl was a fun and enjoyable experience. While the total cost may reach around 2000 yen, the meal and experience are definitely worth it.

I visited this restaurant based on a recommendation from a local. I had mentioned that I liked the Ma La flavor at a restaurant in the West Exit, and was told that the Ma La soup here is somewhat similar. It was my first time visiting this place, located right next to one entrance of the Ei-cho street in Ikebukuro East Exit. They have a self-service system where you can choose your own ingredients and the price is determined by weight. They offer a variety of meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, and more. I chose the Ma La flavor soup with medium spiciness, but they also had options like beef bone soup and tomato soup. I customized my bowl with various ingredients and ended up getting a serving of 80g of noodles for free since my total exceeded 1000 yen. I opted for corn noodles. I ordered the "Ma La Tang" which cost 1,190 yen for 298g, making it around 4 yen per gram. The bowl included beef, honeycomb tripe, tendon, Vienna sausage, meatballs, wonton, squid tentacles, fish balls, Chinese cabbage, enoki mushrooms, sweet potato vermicelli, corn noodles, and sliced rice cakes. The Ma La soup had a unique flavor with a hint of creaminess and depth. It was slightly salty but very flavorful, making it enjoyable to drink. The quality of the ingredients was good as well. Overall, I had a great dining experience and look forward to visiting again to try different combinations of ingredients. (By Kyonatsu Shuuku, 1/24/2023) (22 likes/3.12)

Located just off Sunshine Street, this spicy hot pot restaurant offers a wide variety of ingredients. From white fish, octopus, squid, beef, pork, lamb, beef bone meat, and sausages to more unique options like dried tofu, fried dough sticks, duck blood curd, and more, there are plenty of choices. You can also choose from different types of noodles like knife-cut noodles, corn noodles, and even instant noodles. With a mix of vegetables, meats, and other ingredients, a meal for two costs around 1400 yen. The spiciness levels range from 6 to a maximum of "extremely spicy," but even at the highest level, it's not too overwhelming. The beef tendon noodles I tried were chewy and delicious. The restaurant has a cute circus tent-like decor, and the crab dumplings were a standout with a unique texture. Overall, a great dining experience and I look forward to trying their other locations in Shibuya, Ueno, Ikebukuro, and Okubo.

Visited in December 2021 with my wife to have lunch in Ikebukuro. We decided to try the highly recommended mala hot pot. You can choose your favorite ingredients and pay by weight, which is a common system. We selected ingredients like Chinese cabbage, komatsuna, and lamb, and the total came to 2,500 yen. My wife's portion was 1,870 yen, so it seemed a bit pricey. When we handed the ingredients to the staff and sat down, we noticed that the majority of the customers in the restaurant were Chinese, with only a few Japanese customers. It seems that there are many Chinese people in Ikebukuro. The dish arrived shortly after, and to our surprise, the soup was a clear broth, unlike the traditional spicy soup. About 10 years ago when we had it in China, it had a medicinal soup base with multiple spices and flavors from the ingredients. However, the current trend seems to be the clear broth. Well, it was delicious, and we could enjoy plenty of vegetables, so in a way, it felt like a healthy menu. The cost performance was mediocre, but the satisfying content made up for it. Thank you for the meal.

It was incredibly delicious! I want to eat it every week. You can choose the type of noodles, ingredients, and spiciness. Even the medium spiciness is quite hot, but all the Chinese people around me are eating the extra spicy. The taste is addictive, so I will definitely come back for more.

Spicy knife-cut noodles (980 yen) with free rice♪ The noodles are chewy and delicious, and the rich creamy soup is also to my liking. It's topped with plenty of green onions and minced meat, and when you mix in the rice, it's a perfect combination. The sinful taste of carbs♪

Today I had some business at Sunshine City so I went to Ikebukuro. Feeling a bit tired both mentally and physically, I decided to go to Yang Guo Fu for some garlic-infused soup. This is the first store in Japan of a chain that has over 6,000 stores across China. The interior of the store is very clean and the staff are also very polite. Unlike other stores, the ingredients are not wrapped in plastic but neatly displayed. There are many mysterious ingredients available, priced at 400 yen per 100g. I chose lotus root, white and black fungus, tofu skin (similar to menma), and yuba. There were also various types of noodles, meat, dumplings, and gyoza, but I kept it simple. As a service, they offered to add knife-cut noodles, which I gladly accepted. You can also choose the level of spiciness from three options. I read online that it can cost over 1500 yen, so I was surprised to find out that it was only 540 yen. The soup was creamy, garlicky, and rich, perfect for the upcoming cold season. The ingredients I chose were all delicious. They provide chili oil, sesame oil, sugar, and vinegar on the table for adjusting the flavor. It was a satisfying and affordable meal. Thank you for the meal.

Yesterday's spicy hot pot was delicious, so after finishing a meeting in Ikebukuro, I stumbled upon a hot pot restaurant right in front of me!! Even though I had passed by many times before, I hadn't noticed it at all. I entered the restaurant right away. The price here is around 400 yen per 100g, which seems to be fixed. This includes noodles like bean vermicelli. I estimated my order and it came out to be 225g, costing just under 900 yen. Plus, they offer free additional noodles of your choice at the register. Quite reasonable. There are seats on the second floor as well, and it's not too crowded. I waited about 5 minutes and my order arrived. This hot pot had more oil compared to the one I had yesterday. The flavor was quite rich. I felt like there was a good amount of garlic in it too. The spiciness was moderate, but slightly lacking for me. However, you can adjust the spiciness as you like. The squid balls with fish roe inside were really delicious! They also had a lunch set with white rice. Overall, I left feeling very satisfied. I will definitely come back again.

When I stopped by at the end of the year, I had to leave halfway through due to the "spring rain break," but I revisited the restaurant in the new year. I decided to try a variety of toppings since all dishes, including noodles, are priced based on weight. I had a combination of a few sheets of glass noodles, mung bean noodles, and complimentary knife-cut noodles. The cloudy soup had a nice blend of numbing and spicy flavors that paired well with the toppings. (I found the garlic a bit too strong for my taste, so I'll ask for less next time.) Unlike the other side of the station, the buffet-style noodles here were better than I expected. It's convenient to be able to adjust the types and amounts of noodles when you don't feel like eating something heavy at night. Plus, being able to mix and match various toppings allows for a more enjoyable dining experience without getting bored. The staff members were friendly and the atmosphere in the restaurant was lively. I plan to drop by occasionally in the future. (If I had to ask for one thing, I would be even happier if they offered a set with a soup packed with toppings and rice.)

- Date: December 22, 2018 (Saturday) - Description: A new specialty store for Malatang has opened in Ikebukuro, a place known for its unique and ever-changing dining establishments. Located near the Sunshine Street, this Malatang shop is surprisingly authentic and may intimidate beginners. The process of ordering is unique, where customers choose their own ingredients by weight (400 yen per 100g) and pay upfront. The staff then brings the cooked dish to the table based on the number on the receipt. The shop is self-serve, with a variety of ingredients to choose from. The Malatang served is creamy and not too spicy, making it suitable for Japanese taste buds. The price is reasonable for the portion size, and there is a discount offer for returning customers in January. Overall, the experience was enjoyable, and the Malatang was delicious. It is a challenging yet rewarding dining option in Ikebukuro. - Rating: 8/10 - Award: Certified as a great restaurant

The soup is delicious and goes down easily. The spicy flavor is the best! The change with black vinegar is also incredibly tasty! I often go to Shibuya. However, I found myself gaining weight from going every week, so I decided to go as a reward. It was delicious! Thank you for the meal.

Once you try it, you'll be hooked on the taste! You can choose your own ingredients, spiciness, and noodles, making it enjoyable every time you go.