Zhangliang Malatang is considered a second home by many UC Berkeley students, acting as a social center and a post-exam comfort meal. With the mesmerizing photos on enticing food posters, the restaurant draws people in with promises of relief in the form of soup. After spending a semester on campus, it doesn’t take long to realize the important milestone of taking a malatang run with friends. Simply hearing the utterance of “Malatang?” is enough to shift the entire mood of a room into happiness. Even on an unassuming weekday, the restaurant will be filled with students and residents hoping to take a break that balances their heavy workloads.
What Is Malatang?
Derived from the southwestern Sichuan region of China, known for their spice, malatang packs a punch of spice and delivers the warmth of traditional street foods. Meaning, “spicy numbing soup,” the soup captures the signature combination of chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorn to create a tingling heat sensation. Zhangliang Malatang, standing as a chain restaurant from China, began opening doors in 2008 and then expanded to the United States in 2019. In China, Zhangliang is one of the most popular locations for malatang, making their move to America understandable. In 2024, the restaurant opened in Berkeley, followed by the openings of other Bay Area locations.
The Menu
At Malatang, there is a significant DIY element. Customers choose a base and which ingredients to add, determining the flavor profile of their soup. Let’s start with the bases. Each base has a different spice level to accommodate a wide range of tolerances. As a classic start, the classic bone broth soup allows for customization of mild, medium, hot, and extra hot. Although the cashier may not directly ask, the customer can say their preferred levels. For an earthy taste, the tomato broth presents a more tangy sensation, and the mushroom broth gives a creamy umami. Both broths produce less intense heat options while still holding incredible flavors. The tom yum adds a zesty, more seafood-ish taste, providing a Thai fusion to the broth. Examining the most intriguing format, the spicy dry wok includes no actual broth and cooks the ingredients in a stir-fry style.
In creating the soup, there are a wide range of various textures and ingredients that make up the entirety of the soup. With a selection of rice cakes, tofu, meat, and vegetables, the soup can be tailored to reflect the interests of the individuals. Each category holds multiple of its kind, such as many versions of tofu with distinctive textures.
My Experience
Despite the seemingly complicated concept, the actual process of malatang-making is easy for us. I recommend eating it for lunch instead of dinner, since the wait time can get extremely long in the evening, leaving customers to stand outside in the cold. Walking in, there are buckets full of different tongs and bowls. Ignoring the blaring pressure of the line to keep moving, we grabbed ingredients to our heart’s desire, but kept in mind that the weight of 14.99/lb would determine the bill. Once we reached the register and finished choosing, there were different bases to choose from, and the staff took our bowls. After sitting down, our freshly cooked soup was delivered.
Sticking with the most popular base, I ordered the classic bone broth with a medium spiciness. For ingredients, I collected rice cakes, thinly sliced beef, bok choy, enoki mushrooms, and a massive amount of tofu. With a layer of sauce, the broth added a rich and deep flavor for the tofu to soak up without an overwhelming amount of spice. My favorite inclusion would have to be the enoki mushroom, because of its soft yet slightly crunchy texture. They soak up the soup nicely without becoming soggy. The tingling feeling near my lips, paired with an enjoyable numbing effect, made every bite of my soup addictive.
Bonus
After the malatang visit, the path to Heytea brightens, and it felts as though my feet brought me there. Since the Heytea line becomes irritatingly long, I would recommend ordering ahead, during the malatang meal. To balance the heat from the soup, the coolness from the tea sublimates the entire experience. Overall, Zhangliang definitely offers an affordable and convenient stop for students to enjoy a customizable bowl of flavorful and numbing soup!