8ppy麻辣湯（ハッピーマーラータン）
(8ppy Mala Tang (Happy Mala Tang))
■Osaka / Chinese Cuisine / Price per Person: ¥1,000-¥1,500
※Prices are based on my visit and may vary by location or time.
The founder of 8ppy Mala Tang (Happy Mala Tang) first discovered mala tang in 2013 and instantly fell in love with its unique flavor. Fascinated, the founder began making it every day, experimenting and refining the recipe — eventually leading to the opening of the restaurant.
Mala tang allows you to create your own original bowl, choosing from over 60 ingredients — your favorite noodles, toppings, and preferred level of spiciness. It’s also a great way to enjoy plenty of vegetables and meat in one nutritious meal.
Believing that mala tang could surpass Japanese ramen, the founder devoted countless hours to experimentation, eventually creating 8ppy Mala Tang’s rich and flavorful soup. Its chili base blends more than 20 types of medicinal herbs, offering not only the spicy kick of capsaicin from chili peppers, but also the healthful benefits of various medicinal herbs.
How to Order Mala Tang
The basic set includes 4 ingredients in soup for ¥890 (tax included). From the 5th ingredient, an additional ¥140 per item will be charged. Noodles also count as one ingredient, and if you choose 8 or more ingredients, the amount of soup will be increased accordingly.
1. Check the order sheet
Mark your choices on the order sheet provided on the table.
2. Select your ingredients
Choose your favorite vegetables, meat, and noodles.
※Noodles are counted as one ingredient. Some customers enjoy mala tang with plenty of ingredients and rice instead of noodles.
3. Choose the level of spiciness
The shop’s recommended spice level is Level 1, and Level 0 is not spicy at all.
4. Call the staff
After you finish filling out your order sheet, hand it to the staff.
※Water, wet towels, and aprons are self-service and available near the entrance.
This is a Japanese-language order sheet. There are an impressive 107 ingredients available, including various types of noodles, vegetables, meats, and even drinks — allowing you to freely choose and create your own original mala tang.
In addition, Chinese and Korean order sheets are also provided at each table, so even if you don’t understand Japanese, you can easily place your order without any worries. Selecting and combining your favorite ingredients to create your own mala tang is part of the fun that makes this restaurant special.
This is a menu with photos of various ingredients. Each ingredient is clearly shown with an actual photo, making it easy for first-time visitors to see what each item looks like and choose what they want. In addition, each ingredient has a corresponding order number, which makes it even easier to fill out the order sheet.
Reference photo of the mala tang menu. It can help you decide which ingredients to choose and serves as a great guide when creating your own mala tang.
Enjoy Your Own Mala Tang with a Variety of Sauces
At 8ppy Mala Tang, each table is stocked with condiments such as osu (vinegar), huajiao (Sichuan peppercorn), kurozu (black vinegar), and shio-dare (salt-based sauce).
Osu and kurozu add a pleasant sour note, while huajiao gives a tingling sensation to the lips and enhances the spiciness of the broth. Shio-dare is perfect for adding extra depth to the rich soup flavor.
This is the mala tang I ordered. Recently, many mala tang restaurants have opened across Japan, but 8ppy Mala Tang (Happy Mala Tang) truly stands out with its clean yet rich and flavorful soup. You can really taste the depth of flavor that comes from years of dedication and refinement by the founder.
Located on the 6th floor of Namba Parks, one of Osaka’s most popular shopping and entertainment areas, the restaurant is also very easy to access. If you love mala tang, be sure to visit 8ppy Mala Tang at Namba Parks when you’re in Osaka.
■8ppy Mala Tang (Happy Mala Tang)
Comments