I visited the restaurant on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 for lunch. All the staff were Chinese, and even the customers were Chinese, which is rare around Shijo Kawaramachi. There were two other customers when I arrived. You can choose your ingredients, and if your total goes over 1000 yen, noodles come with it. I heard about this chain of restaurants on the TV show "Matsuko Deluxe" and it was playing on repeat. I chose mostly meat for my meal and selected the level of spiciness for the soup before paying. I waited for about 10 minutes at an empty table. The soup was spicy but perfect for summer! It seems like the key is in choosing the right ingredients. I finished my meal sweating profusely.

For those who have been to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, this is a nostalgic soul food. You can choose your favorite ingredients and noodles, put them in a bowl, and the price is determined by the weight. Of course, order it a little spicy with the ma la soup. After it's done, you can adjust the taste with vinegar and spiciness yourself. You can feel like you're traveling in Southeast Asia. It's the authentic taste that is not Japanese-style. ⭐︎

Today, I visited a new restaurant near the Kawaramachi Takoyakushi intersection called "Yang Guofu Ma La Tang". This restaurant is a popular chain in China specializing in Ma La Tang, and it has recently opened its first branch in Kyoto. Upon entering, there was a buffet area where you could choose your own ingredients and pay based on the weight (400 yen per 100 grams). I selected various ingredients such as vegetables, mushrooms, meats, seafood, and noodles. I opted for a mix of colorful items for a visually appealing dish. After paying 1,070 yen for 268 grams of ingredients, the staff cooked my Ma La Tang with a spice level of "medium". The dish consisted of spicy soup with chewy knife-cut noodles, fish paste, and tofu skin, providing a unique and enjoyable dining experience. Overall, I had a great time trying authentic Chinese Ma La Tang at this restaurant.