Foreigners flock to Chinese malatang eateries, host birthdays, believe rich soup is healthy

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A growing global craze has seen foreigners flock to malatang restaurants to celebrate birthdays and go on dates.

The trend has sparked widespread online sharing and lively discussions on Chinese social media.

Malatang, which literally means “numbing, spicy and hot”, is a popular Chinese street food originating from Sichuan province in southwestern China.

It consists of various self-selected meats, vegetables and noodles boiled in a broth.

Often described as a “personal hotpot”, diners choose their ingredients by weight or skewer, making it a quick, affordable and comforting meal.

Since 2025, malatang has been going viral worldwide, taking over streets across the globe.

In Japan, visiting malatang shops has become a trendy activity among young women.

On social media it is widely claimed that the broth contains more than 20 kinds of spices and Chinese herbs that can enhance beauty and even help weight loss.

“There are more than 20 spices in this soup. After drinking it, your skin will glow,” said one Japanese woman.

In Germany, some people have even skipped traditional birthday banquets and opted for a malatang restaurant instead.

A Chinese netizen known as “Egg Fried Rice Without Egg” said that when she went on a date with a British man, he took her out for malatang instead of drinks.

“He asked me if I wanted to try Zhang Liang Malatang. He said it was the best restaurant in all of London in his opinion. I was shocked that he actually knew Zhang Liang Malatang.”

Another netizen, known online as Biligue, said she and her boyfriend enjoy exploring Chinese cuisine in Paris and that her boyfriend has become skilled at ordering.

“He does not need any guidance when picking ingredients any more and he even mixes the dipping sauce himself,” she said.

Others said that dining with foreign colleagues can sometimes be stressful due to various food allergies and dietary restrictions.

A varied selection of malatang dishes is presented on a menu / Courtesy of ifeng.com

However, malatang, much like a salad bar, is transparent and highly customisable, allowing diners to clearly see what they are choosing yet offering far more flavour than a typical salad.

“My German colleague never orders Chinese takeaway because of all sorts of allergy concerns. The first time I took him to eat malatang, he stood in front of the refrigerator for 10 minutes carefully selecting ingredients and finally checked out with a bowl full of vegetables,” said one person.

“After finishing, he said it was the first time he felt completely at ease eating Chinese food,” the person added.

As malatang helps break foreigners’ stereotypes that Chinese food is greasy and unhealthy, Chinese netizens are surprised to see the dish taking the world by storm.

One person said: “So when they celebrate birthdays at a malatang restaurant, is that like us celebrating birthdays at McDonald’s?”

Another wrote: “I just had it a few days ago. The whole restaurant was full of Germans. I suddenly felt oddly proud.”

Read the article at SCMP.