Mala Tang - Panda Chinese Streetfood — Restaurant in Karlsruhe

A small, bright spot specializing in build-your-own spicy mala noodle soups. You choose your ingredients and toppings from the counter, then a broth to match, and the price is based on weight, it’s perfect when you want a customized bowl just how you like it.

Sadly, reservations are not accepted.

The menu also includes bubble teas and some juice drinks, which pair nicely with the soups. Outdoor seating is available, and the casual space works well whether you’re dining solo or with friends .

One of the best things about Mala Tang is how spicy and aromatic the broths can be particularly their signature mala soup, which many reviewers say is “rich and bold,” and a draw especially when it’s chilly out. Portions scale based on your ingredient picks, so you can go light or hearty depending on appetite.

The service: it’s noted as fast, friendly, and efficient, and the staff handle both dine‑in and takeaway orders smoothly. You can pay by card or cash, and the restaurant is accessible to most, though street parking nearby can be limited.

Personally, I visited recently on a rainy afternoon and chose a medium‑spice broth with beef, lotus root, pak choi, mushrooms, and noodles. The soup was warming and flavorful, though the meat toppings seemed slightly less fresh than expected on that day. The watermelon “lemonade” was surprisingly well made and refreshing.

Be aware: the shop is quite compact and fills up quickly during lunch, which means it can get a bit noisy and crowded. Still, food comes out fast, so turnover is high.

All told, Mala Tang – Panda Chinese Streetfood is a solid pick if you’re craving customizable, spicy noodle soup in Karlsruhe with good value and friendly service. Just pop in early or avoid peak hours for a...

Gotta say this might be the best Mala soup restaurant I've ever stepped into. The various soup options are so fresh and delicious (sorry to compare, but definitely better than One Bowl (Teespresso) in Europaplatz). I've tried all the soups here and my favorite is the medium spicy (Mittelscharf) which is a combination of spicy and just pure broth. The green pepper one is very fresh. The korean one is kinda sweet and so not korean. The thai is not bad. So basically you take all the ingredients in the bowl and choose the soups, and at the end choose the finishing toppings like peanut cream, garlic, etc which I prefer to put in another small container as a dip.

For drinks, i think the bubble teas don't taste good because of the tapioca which is definitely not as chewy and sweet like OneZo. Therefore, better choose the blueberry smoothie cheese foam or strawberry or pineapple smoothie cheese foam. Since the cheese foam is on the top of the smoothies, you shouldn't drink it with straw but directly from the cup and adjust the angle to get the best combination of both cheese and smoothie parts.

Although in Karlsruhe, this might not be the best restaurant, with all the foods and drinks and super friendly service - this is the restaurant closest...

Update: 15.07.2025 I was told by a frequent that the shop seems to be taken over by a new owner recently and the offer/ quality has suffered. If this is true, then it would be a real pity.

We are coming back!

Small shop front with limited seatings. But the taste is GREAT!!! Mostly noodles in spicy soup with variety of ingredients to pick and mix. Non-spicy soup available as well. We tried it from our kid’s order and was equally impressive.

Beverages are surprisingly well prepared. Juices to delicious bubble tea.

In my observation and opinion, a fraction of food ingredients of Asian origin could I wish to be of a better freshness and quality level. Probably the long transport under refrigeration and the sourcing bears a mark.

Overall, we like the cooking here very much. Indeed, it reminds me of the street-food...