# Hwaseong hotpot: Chengdu mala beginner spice vs. beef rib soup

- By Sera (https://superchart.com/en/@window-seat-cafes-2/)
- Written Sep 9, 2026
- Local places › Restaurants › Hwaseong, Gyeonggi
- Sponsored: This visit was sponsored by the business.
- English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@window-seat-cafes-2/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/
- Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@window-seat-cafes-2/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/index.md)

## In short

Lao Chongqing Hotpot is a hotpot restaurant near Dongtan's north plaza in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi. On a Sunday evening, two diners split a Chengdu mala hongtang (beginner spice level) and beef rib soup broth with lamb shoulder, dried tofu, and cotton tofu for ₩75,400, and even the 'beginner' spice level turned out hot enough to fish out the peppercorns and chilies. If you're weak with spice, order the Chengdu mala hongtang at the mildest level — the beef rib soup broth was the more satisfying one anyway.

## Good to know

- **Visit time**: Sunday evening around 7pm, reserved via Naver
- **Order**: Chengdu mala hongtang (beginner spice) + beef rib soup broth, lamb shoulder, dried tofu, cotton tofu
- **Total for two**: ₩75,400
- **Sauce bar**: ₩3,000 per person
- **Parking**: Building parking, 4 hours supported

*as written by the visitor on Sep 9, 2026*

I was craving hotpot and wondering where to go, so I ended up at Lao Chongqing Hotpot in Bansong-dong, Dongtan. My boyfriend had been going on about hotpot for a while, so I looked up good hotpot spots.

![Visit photo of Lao Chongqing Hotpot in Bansong-dong, Dongtan](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-01-yz57h-900.webp)

Haidilao is the famous one for hotpot, right? My friends said it was delicious so I considered going there, but it was way too far ㅠㅠ

![Interior atmosphere of Lao Chongqing Hotpot](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-02-1wcmi-900.webp)

So I looked for hotpot places in Dongtan instead, made a Naver reservation, and visited Lao Chongqing Hotpot.

We went around 7pm on a Sunday and the total for two of us came to ₩75,400.

## Parking and reservations at Lao Chongqing Hotpot in Dongtan

![Parking guide for the Lao Chongqing Hotpot building](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-03-1664z-900.webp)

We drove, and you can park in the restaurant's building with 4 hours of parking support, which was convenient. There's plenty of parking space in the building so you don't need to worry about that!

![Table setting at Lao Chongqing Hotpot](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-04-3p1ut-900.webp)

![Broth selection menu at Lao Chongqing Hotpot](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-05-ujoyr-900.webp)

You have to choose two broths, and if you only want one kind, they said you can pick plain water for the other. We ordered Chengdu mala hongtang (Sichuan spicy red broth) + beef rib soup broth.

## Chengdu mala hongtang: a beginner-friendly flavor if you're spice-sensitive

![Split pot of Chengdu mala hongtang and beef rib soup broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-06-jz3mw-900.webp)

Lao Chongqing Hotpot has two red broths — Chongqing mala hongtang and Chengdu mala hongtang. I'd been stressed lately and wanted something spicy, and Chengdu mala hongtang was described as the more straightforwardly spicy option, so I picked that one haha. You can choose the spice level for Chengdu mala hongtang, and I agonized over whether to go with entry-level or beginner.

![Beginner spice level broth of Chengdu mala hongtang](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-07-7b0lm-900.webp)

We're both pretty weak with spice, but figured beginner level would be fine — it was way too spicy lol

![끓고 있는 청두마라홍탕](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-08-1huk2-900.webp)

![Ingredients added into the mala hongtang](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-09-1o7xj-900.webp)

At first it was delicious, but as it kept boiling the broth got spicier and spicier ㅠㅠ

So we ended up fishing out almost all the Sichuan peppercorns and chilies.....

![Mala hongtang with Sichuan peppercorns and chilies fished out](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-10-16c5f-900.webp)

If you're not usually good with spicy food, I'd recommend ordering the entry-level spice. If it gets too hot while you're eating, just fish out the peppercorns and chilies like we did.... The staff explained that since the Chengdu mala hongtang broth is quite oily, it's best not to drink too much of the broth itself.

## The beef rib soup broth was actually more my style

What I liked best while eating was the beef rib soup broth haha. It's a rich broth like galbitang (beef rib soup), and since vegetables simmer in it too, the flavors from the vegetables add to it, making the broth rich and delicious.

I tried adding cilantro and chives from the sauce bar, and it even tasted a bit like pho broth haha.

![Beef rib soup broth with cilantro and chives added](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-11-19d8a-900.webp)

We both kept drinking the beef rib soup broth, marveling at how genuinely good it was haha.

## Lamb shoulder and the tofu options pair well too

![Plate of lamb shoulder at Lao Chongqing Hotpot](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-12-sabvl-900.webp)

We ordered lamb shoulder, and the meat was tender and soft.

The gamey lamb smell wasn't strong, so it was easy to eat. I think lamb suits hotpot better than beef.

![Dried tofu, cotton tofu, and other tofu options](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-13-152cc-900.webp)

If you like tofu, try adding the dried tofu and cotton tofu too. They soak up the broth and have a different texture from the meat — really delicious.

## We made our own sesame sauce and garlic sauce

![Sauce bar at Lao Chongqing Hotpot](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-14-byhfp-900.webp)

The sauce bar is ₩3,000 per person and had a wide variety of sauces.

We made the sesame sauce and garlic sauce that were suggested at the sauce bar.

![Homemade sesame sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-15-1m4km-900.webp)

![Homemade garlic sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-16-tasla-900.webp)

Sesame sauce goes really well with the Chengdu mala hongtang! Its nutty flavor tones down the spiciness, which was great for us spice-weak folks.

The slightly spicy garlic sauce paired well with the beef rib soup broth. There's also soy sauce and sesame oil sauce suggested at the sauce bar, so have a look around and make whatever suits your taste haha.

## If Haidilao is too far from Dongtan? Lao Chongqing Hotpot!

![Full hotpot spread at Lao Chongqing Hotpot near Dongtan's north plaza](https://img.superchart.com/images/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth/dongtan-laochongqing-hotpot-chengdu-mala-broth-17-nnhrf-1200.webp)

If you want hotpot like us but Haidilao feels too far, Lao Chongqing Hotpot near Dongtan's north plaza is a solid option. It was nice being able to have both Chengdu mala hongtang and beef rib soup broth somewhere close to home.

Next time I'd definitely go with the entry-level spice for the Chengdu mala hongtang..... And I'll order the beef rib soup broth again with lamb shoulder, dried tofu, and cotton tofu haha.

## Where it is

- Lao Chongqing Hotpot (라오충칭훠궈)
- 172 Dongtanbanseok-ro, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 149,150ho
- 경기도 화성시 동탄구 동탄반석로 172 149,150호
- 37.2041319, 127.0727959
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EB%9D%BC%EC%98%A4%EC%B6%A9%EC%B9%AD%ED%9B%A0%EA%B6%88/@37.2041319,127.0727959,17z

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