Auntie Tang - Halal Malatang — Restaurant in Sydney

Overall had a good time but didn’t quite hit the mark for me and my friends.

Condiments - overall I think the basics were there, chilli oil, pepper oil, sesame sauce, soy. I would prefer fresh garlic over the garlic sauce, it tasted a bit watered down. I would have also much preferred fresh spring onion as a condiment as a garnish and in my sauce but it was only available to be cooked. I appreciate there is a cost aspect here hence maybe why chopped spring onion was not available freely but I guess it’s not what I am used to.

Cutting ingredients in half or removing the inedible parts - I would have preferred my fish balls (no filling ones) to be cut in half, that includes the beef balls. The big mushrooms should be cut smaller too, not just thrown in whole. I don’t think anyone eats those things in one bite and most other malatang places I’ve been to cut it in half. Also, the shiitake mushrooms didn’t not have the stems removed, so we did not end up eating them as it was too much hassle despite paying for them.

Missed ingredients - my friends loved baby corn and saw it advertised and in other photos but unfortunately when we got there they said it had run out. As we finished eating we saw an employee opening 2-3 new giant cans of baby corn. They were most excited by the baby corn since not many malatang places offer this but seeing it being made available after we eat was quite a gut punch and disappointment. In addition, would be great to see some fresh tofu options (not the fried ones) and also Korean rice cakes 🙈

Broth/dry based - overall seems pretty flavourful however we all thought it was a bit sweet, not sure why but it felt consistent across bases 6, 7 and 8.

Beef brisket - personally wouldn’t get this again, was quite dry and not enjoyable.

Ingredient selection experience - overall it was ok, but I don’t think it is the best. The ingredients are a bit far to reach, getting the back ones but could be made easier with longer tongs. I also think the category of foods could be organised better. Noodles, veg were spread evenly throughout. I think a better approach is to go veg noodles seafood meat. This is so that anyone who is veggo or otherwise doesn’t get something which may be contaminated by meat or seafood (I personally am not vegetarian). I also think the drink section doesn’t make sense, I think it is ok to offer it at the cash register and instead, have more ingredients or options at the corner. Also, most of our friends prefer Coke Zero and not Diet Coke, sorry, not sure if everyone else is like us. Sorry one more thing, it would be good to have better lighting over the ingredients.

Rice - do you offer a rice option to eat with my dry hot pot? If that’s ok but would be good to offer it, it is a good option especially with summer coming around.

Arrival experience - we were confused when we arrived as no one greeted us but there was no sign to help ourselves however there was a waiting list with 2 names not crossed out while half the restaurant was empty and the kitchen was busy. So we were just standing there waiting to grab the attention of someone to ask whether we should just grab a bowl to get started or wait to be welcomed. I think a sign could help with this or replace the waiting list with a “Help yourself” sign when it is not busy.

The good stuff - we loved the spring rolls, many broth/dry base options, many noodle options, and the staff were very friendly. We came at 2pm on a Saturday and it wasn’t really busy (which I prefer!)

Overall - the experience itself was enjoyable however personally for us and our friends it missed the mark a bit. We are used to visiting No1 Malatang and Fun house Malatang so far but they are a bit far for us. I hope the feedback was helpful and looking forward to coming back in the future, glad there is a malatang place that is not far from us now! (I hope feedback wasn’t too much sorry but wanted to share our thought so we can look forward to coming back!)

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YUCK! The noodle soup left much to be desired – it arrived luke warm and my scallop was still frozen. Oddly, my bowl seemed to undergo a magical transformation as the corns, prawns, and coriander mysteriously disappeared. Similarly, my friend's noodle soup contained veggies and meat, despite her not adding any. Another friend received tripe slices and meat, though he didn't add any or request for them.

Despite my familiarity with malatang, I found myself questioning the system. Midway through, I weighed my food and was shocked to find it significantly heavier than usual – 750 grams instead of the usual 500 grams elsewhere. Upon inquiring, the lady confirmed that they weigh the bowls too. Who weighs the bowls at malatang?!

Our dissatisfaction wasn't isolated; other customers expressed their disappointment, leaving comments about the subpar service and food. Orders were mixed up and incorrect soup noodles were served. To top it off, when I complained, the solution was to microwave my frozen food, which remained unchanged. This experience was shocking and I won't be returning. I regret not requesting a refund.

Reponse to your message below: I confirmed with the cashier 3x if the bowl was weighted and she assured me it was, she also asked her collogues and they confirmed, YES. I also requested a refund because I was put off by the frozen meals and lukewarm dish, but instead of addressing the issue properly, the staff member proceeded to instruct the chef to microwave my meal. I am appalled by the presence of a microwave in your kitchen. The meal was microwaved for 7 minutes, resulting in severe burns to my tongue. This shouldn't be my responsibility to teach your chef or staff to provide me with a new dish. I urge you to review the CCTV footage showing me and my friends weighing the empty bowls on the scale and seeking clarification from your staff. Despite this, I still insist on receiving a refund due to the unsatisfactory service and low-quality food. You should spare yourself further embarrassment and refrain from gaslighting the situation. It's time to take responsibility for your actions, especially considering the little reputation your restaurant has left to uphold. Frankly, this has been the most disappointing dining experience...

Aunty Tang has always been one of my kids’ favorite restaurants. Whenever we eat out, they always ask for malatang here. The food is excellent — in fact, I’d say they serve the best halal malatang in Sydney. Since we live just a 2-minute walk away, we’ve been loyal, frequent customers from the beginning.

When they first opened, the staff were so warm and welcoming. The service used to be amazing, and it made the whole experience enjoyable. Sadly, the service has changed.

Last night (Thursday), I went with my two young kids. We sat at a table for four (two small tables joined together) so we could eat comfortably — especially since malatang is soup and kids need a bit more space. Just before we started eating, a server came and told us they needed one of the tables for another customer. We politely explained that we really needed the space, but the server was very rude and still removed the table.

We ended up squeezed at a tiny table, eating uncomfortably. What made it worse was seeing other customers (even just two people) at joined tables without being asked to give them up. And to top it off, the table they took from us stayed empty for quite a while, and only later did someone sit there. It felt targeted and deeply unfair.

My kids were upset, and the whole experience was so unpleasant that I couldn’t even finish my meal — I just packed it up to take away.

It breaks my heart to write this, because Aunty Tang has been such a special spot for my family. The food is still excellent, but the way we were treated was the worst experience we’ve had there, and I sincerely hope the management looks into improving the...