Gangneung malatang takeout at Tanghua Kungfu Malatang

I absolutely love malatang. And everyone already knows Tanghua Kungfu Malatang is a great spot, right?!

Visiting Tanghua Kungfu Malatang in Gangneung's Ponam-dong

Tanghua Kungfu Malatang (탕화쿵푸마라탕), a great malatang spot in Ponam-dong, Gangneung! It is so well known that anyone who likes malatang probably already knows it. It is one of my usual favorite malatang places too.

It can be surprisingly hard to find parking in Gangneung, but if you dine in or order takeout here, you get 2 hours free at Ponam Paid Parking Lot on the left side of the shop! I loved being able to visit without worrying about parking.

A spacious, tidy dining room and self-serve bar

The dining room was spacious and clean! The tables were nicely spaced apart too, so I think it would be great for eating alone.

We came around closing time, so we were the only ones inside, but delivery orders just kept coming in. This really is the place for great malatang in Gangneung!!!

The self-serve bar was kept really clean too! There were quite a few choices to pick from, and you take the meat from the refrigerator.

What ingredients do you like in malatang? I love regular glass noodles and enoki mushrooms most, and my friends have even asked if I am eating enoki soup...

There were udon noodles that would be delicious in mala xiang guo (dry stir-fried mala dish), too!

There were adorable panda-shaped bunmoja, plus the sausages that you simply cannot leave out! I picked lots of things, including panda bunmoja, bok choy, enoki mushrooms, and bean sprouts.

If you are eating in, you can help yourself to danmuji (pickled yellow radish), bowls, and water! Maybe because it was hot out, there was ice cream in the shop too. Such a thoughtful touch from the owner ✦

When you leave, make sure—really make sure!!!—to tell the counter your vehicle number for parking!

Menu and malatang takeout

They currently sell malatang, Sichuan hot-pot malatang, mala xiang guo, fried rice, cream shrimp, and guobaorou (sweet-and-sour fried pork). Tomato malatang and mala bibim are said to be coming soon! I really love tomato malatang, so I hope it comes out soon...

We ordered level 1.5 malatang for takeout!

This is how it came packed. They ask how many pieces of danmuji you need! But I was honestly surprised by how huge the takeout container was. We can finish all of this, right...?

It was carefully sealed again in a plastic bag, so I did not have to worry about the broth leaking or spilling.

A nutty, numbing level 1.5 broth

The second I opened the takeout, the smell of malatang was incredible. I tried the broth first, and yes, this is absolutely a great Gangneung malatang spot ✦ You know how you can tell just by tasting the broth, right?!

First up was my favorite combination: glass noodles and enoki mushrooms! The nutty flavor from the peanut sauce and malatang's signature numbing spice were perfectly balanced, and it was seriously so delicious.

When something is good, have it again! I love grabbing a huge bundle of glass noodles and enoki mushrooms like this and filling my mouth with it. They had soaked up the broth beautifully, so they were seriously delicious.

The lamb had no smell at all and was tender, which I loved! The panda bunmoja were so cute that I almost felt bad eating them, but... I ate them in the end. They were wonderfully chewy and so tasty.

Corn sausage is something I always put in my malatang! It is salty, snappy, and so good.

And dumplings!!! They are best when you soak them thoroughly in the malatang broth. The broth seeps right into the wrapper, so you get the dumpling juices and the malatang broth together—so delicious...

Not pictured, but there was also fuju (tofu skin), bok choy, and more! It was fun choosing and eating all the different ingredients one by one. The broth was spicy yet nutty and so delicious that I kept spooning it up.

The bunmoja were soft and chewy, with the malatang broth flavor soaked right in. Completely, ridiculously delicious!!!

Even at level 1.5, it was not too spicy—just pleasantly numbing. Ingredients matter in malatang, but the broth matters most, and this broth was truly delicious. I enjoyed it so much.

A Gangneung malatang restaurant with parking

I would recommend this to anyone looking for great malatang in Gangneung, anyone wanting to enjoy malatang comfortably without parking worries, or anyone looking for a clean malatang spot that is good for eating alone! ˘͈ᵕ˘͈