Sunday noon opening run at a Suwon malatang restaurant: Rahongbang

I was craving malatang again after a while, so I went to Rahongbang Malatang Suwon Cheoncheon Branch for weekend lunch! Honestly, a lot of malatang places turn out to have so-so ingredients and watery broth once you actually go, so I'm pretty picky about which malatang spots I visit. This one, though, I think I'll be back.

Sunday 12:00 opening run and parking at Rahongbang Malatang

Rahongbang Malatang Suwon Cheoncheon Branch only opens at 12pm on Sundays, so I timed my arrival for opening. Somehow I ended up doing an opening rush for... malatang, of all things haha.

With a few minutes left, I checked the menu posted out front and thought about what to order before heading in.

Sehwa Plaza's own parking lot is paid, so we parked at a nearby lot and walked over. For reference, roadside parking is allowed from 11am to 2pm, so if you're planning a quick meal, that window could come in handy.

We walked in right at opening and were the first customers, but before long quite a few more people came in. There were groups of kids, families, and solo diners too. It gave off the impression of a Suwon Cheoncheon-dong malatang spot you can visit comfortably no matter the time or how many people you're with.

Inside the Cheoncheon-dong restaurant and how kiosk ordering works

The inside of Rahongbang Malatang Suwon Cheoncheon Branch felt extra clean and comfortable, probably because we came right after opening. Ordering is done via kiosk, and takeout is also available, so it seemed convenient depending on the situation.

Here's a low-key useful tip: if you leave a video photo review, you get a free iced black tea or soda. If you're planning to leave a review after your meal, don't forget to grab it.

Ingredient bar and the panda and watermelon fenzi noodles

Besides malatang and mala xiang guo, Rahongbang Malatang Suwon Cheoncheon Branch had quite a varied side menu lineup.

While browsing the ingredient section, a panda-shaped fenzi (glass noodle, 분모자) caught my eye. There was a watermelon-shaped one too, which was pretty fun to see haha.

When filling the basket, there was even a separate fridge for picking between beef and lamb for the meat.

What we ordered and which spice level we picked

Egg fried rice ₩7,000 Garlic mini quabaorou ₩13,000 Malatang level 1 (price varies)

There was a clear explanation of each spice level when ordering, so I picked level 1, about as mild-spicy as Shin Ramyun.

How does level 1 malatang taste with egg fried rice?

I grabbed peanut sauce and pickled radish from the self-serve corner first. The peanut sauce was kept in the fridge and you could take as much as you wanted.

Egg fried rice, 7,000 won

The egg fried rice came out first, and the portion was more generous than I expected. The rice grains were fried up nice and fluffy, so the distinct savory aroma of the egg really came through.

The malatang came out quite hearty, probably because we packed in a wide variety of ingredients. It was plenty for two people, and what made this place unique was that they even had toppings like buldak cheese rice cakes and baby octopus. With such a wide range of ingredient choices, it seems like you could mix things up differently every time.

The panda and watermelon fenzi we'd picked earlier were almost too cute to cook, but the texture turned out chewy and well-cooked like any other fenzi. I ordered level 1 spice, about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, which was just right for a spice wimp like me. The broth had a milky, deep flavor like bone broth, so I kept scooping up spoonful after spoonful.

When the spiciness felt a bit much, dipping into the peanut sauce made it much smoother.

Garlic mini quabaorou, 13,000 won

The garlic mini quabaorou (a sweet-and-sour crispy meat dish) was also a dish you shouldn't skip.

Even in mini size, each piece was pretty big, and the garlic flakes on top doubled up the crispy texture.

The sauce had a tangy flavor, so alternating it with the numbing malatang kept my appetite going strong.

Rahongbang Malatang Suwon Cheoncheon Branch: address, hours, parking

• Location: 6 Manseok-ro 5beon-gil, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 1st floor unit 102, Sehwa Plaza
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00 (Sunday opens 12:00, last order 20:30)
• Parking: Paid parking in the building; roadside parking available weekdays 11:00–14:00; nearby paid lots also available
• Ordering: Kiosk ordering, takeout available
• Event: Free drink with a video photo review

Is this Suwon malatang restaurant worth an opening run?

In short, this was a Suwon Cheoncheon-dong malatang spot I got to enjoy at a relaxed pace thanks to the opening rush. With such a wide range of toppings and such a deep broth base, next time I want to bump up the spice level and try it again. If you're looking for a Suwon Cheoncheon-dong malatang spot, timing your visit for opening could be a solid choice.