Malatang (maratong) is a rich and flavorful soup that you can often build yourself at “self-serve” style restaurants. The soup is filled with numerous spices making it a dish you either crave or hate. We highly recommend giving it a try so you can discover which camp you are in!
Our journey into loving malatang (maratang)
If you haven’t tried this Chinese hotpot dish for one (or two depending on how many things you put in your basket) consider yourself missing out. Don’t feel bad, you are in good company. Tons of folks, including us, have been living in the dark. We only became obsessed with this belly-warming wonder a few months ago when professors and staff from Namseoul University introduced it to us. (A few of us are studying for there for our Masters in International Teaching.)
We love this dish so much we just updated the app with not one, but FIVE places to find it in Pyeongtaek. Every adventurous food lover needs to know where to find this addictive Chinese dish in their neighborhood. So what is this wonder? Let’s take a look.
About malatang (maratang)
Malatang is a build-your own-soup from Sichuan, China. It has a deep, rich, nutty, and spicy flavored broth that will haunt you in your sleep in a good way. The name “mala” literally translates to “numbing” and “spicy”. Eating it makes you feel similar to
Now that you are excited about giving this delicious broth a try, let’s talk about what you are going to put into it. You will usually have a wide selection of mushrooms, leafy greens, fish cakes (round and on toothpicks), tofu in various forms, noodles, sausages, rice cakes, lotus root, etc. You will get to choose exactly what you want to eat and how much of it. You will also be able to add extras like beef, pork, or lamb.
How to order from malatang (maratang) self-serve restaurants
Here is how the ordering system at “self-serve” (usually) works:
- Choose your ingredients: Pick-up a plastic box tray and tongs, go through the self-serve section and pick what you want in your soup. Then take it to the cashier who will weigh it. Kind of like the pay-by-weight salad bars at grocery stores in the US. They will then take these ingredients and put them in your dish, but first…
- Choose Soup or Saute: Now, we have talked about the soup here and that’s what you should get… but you can also get a saute with similar flavors. If you want soup
say , “Tang”. If you want it fried say, “Bo-kem “. (Get the soup) - Choose A Type of Meat or no-Meat: If you would like thin strips of beef “So-
gogi “소고기, pork “Dwaeji-gogi ” 돼지고기, or lamb “Yong-gogi ” 영고기 you will say so at this point. (Each place offers different options, but these are the most common) It’s often about 3,000 on average. If you don’t want any meat, just ignore this part and move to the next thing. - Choose Your Spice Level (maybe): Sometimes they have a sign of how many peppers (spice level) you want. Sometimes they don’t. Sometimes you are just along for the ride.
- Pay for Your Food: Now you just have to wait for the magic to arrive at your table. It’s going to be fantastic.
Remember, if you have extra they are happy to let you take the extra home. If we don’t finish our broth we always get it packed up. It’s just too delicious to waste. Now that you are ready to go order (They aren’t going to speak English so have your Google Translate or Papago apps ready if you need them) let’s talk about where you can grab this tasty meal in your neighborhood.
5 Places for Malatang in Pyeongtaek
Dongbang Malatang
010-9066-6659
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 안중읍 안중로114번길 3
PRO TIPS: To learn more about how to order this dish, click on the South of Seoul blog link below. It will help you feel more comfortable. A build-your-own Chinese soup restaurant. A MUST try for spicy soup lovers. They offer beek and lamb as extras in the soup.
TangHwa Kungfu Malatang
010-4821-1714
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 평택로 60-1
PRO TIPS: To learn more about how to order this dish, click on the South of Seoul blog link below. It will help you feel more comfortable. English unlikely The first place the South of Seoul folks tried this delicious Sichuan soup, and still a favorite. Be sure to try to sweet & sour pork here. Its crazy legit, but not at all like the US or Korean versions. Its also just across the street from AK Plaza. This location offers beef and pork meat options.
TangHwa KungFu Malatang Songtan
010-2486-7565
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 지산로11번길 35
PRO TIPS: To learn more about how to order this dish, click on the South of Seoul blog link below. It will help you feel more comfortable. English unlikely They have an additional location near AK Plaza. This is one of our favorite chains for this soup. Be sure to also try their sweet and sour pork. It's far more sour than sweet.
WonSungi Malatang
031-8054-7887
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 평택1로19번길 3
PRO TIPS: To learn more about how to order this dish, click on the South of Seoul blog link below. It will help you feel more comfortable. English unlikely. Delicious build-your-own Sichuan Chinese soups. Perfect for people eat alone and groups
Mabu Malatang
010-2349-3219
Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions
Hangul Address
경기 평택시 특구로23번길 42
PRO TIPS: To learn more about how to order this dish, click on the South of Seoul blog link below. It will help you feel more comfortable. A delicious Sichuan Chinese hot-pot style soup.
Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.
Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.
Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.
When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.
