Yanji Malatang — Restaurant in Munich

I have eaten at Yanji 3 times, and this was my 4th time. I was the first customer this morning, and since we’ve had malatang many times, we already know how to estimate roughly how many grams to take so that it’s just enough and not too much. I was really shocked when my friend and I weighed our portions, both of them were over 760g, even though the amount of food was the same as in my previous visits (~350–450g).

Right after that, I asked to remove some food from our bowls, but the female staff seemed a bit annoyed. We removed quite a lot, and in the end, there was very little food left (really very little). But when it was put back on the scale, it still showed around 700g. I am 100% sure the scale was wrong, because this time the food was even less than the 3 previous times I ate there (always around 350–450g). Yet I was charged more than €23 for 1 portion.

I wanted to ask again, but honestly, the staff there didn’t speak German or English, and they always seemed annoyed (except for the kitchen uncles, who were nice). The next customer after us had double the amount of food we had, but their bowl was only around 580g… I was really confused, because normally my meal there costs around €14, and this time my portion was even much smaller than that.

A while later, maybe because they noticed I was upset, they called me back and gave me €20, only saying one word: “falsch, falsch”, without giving any explanation. Honestly, the portion I had at that point wasn’t even worth €10. I left feeling really...

I’ve tried Malatang in several countries, and I never thought I’d say this, but this one deserves an award — for the worst service experience ever.

First red flag: no spice level options. Okay, fine. I ordered dry Malatang, and guess what arrived? A bowl swimming in tomato soup. When I pointed it out, the cashier’s reaction was… silence. No apology, no offer to fix it — just pure indifference.

A few minutes later, they gave me my “new” order. I can’t be sure, but it honestly looked like they just poured out the soup, rinsed my noodles and toppings, and threw it back together. The cherry on top? They served it with the sauce in a separate tiny bowl — like a DIY Malatang kit I never asked for.

And the cashier? Let’s just say she was so rude that if attitude could be a spice level, this place would finally have one. I also read other reviews saying the owner mentioned she’s “new but has improved.” If that’s the improved version, I can’t imagine the original. And you don’t need experience to be polite.

All in all, Yanji Malatang — not my cup of soup. Or in this case, not my bowl of Malatang. Definitely not...

「愛國情懷還是國籍審查？德國中餐館的荒謬事件」 ⬇️See below and the comments for the English and German translation.

坦白說，他們的麻辣燙味道確實不錯，相當道地，與我在中國東北吃到的味道很相似。然而，老闆娘的待客之道實在令人不敢恭維！就好像你享用了一頓很美味的料理結果有隻蒼蠅🪰飛到你嘴裡一樣噁心！我在歐洲去過這麼多中國人經營的餐廳，從未遇過如此令人不愉快的經歷。我僅是前來用餐點餐，老闆娘卻劈頭一句『你是不是中國人？』我回答她：『我是不是中國人，與您有何關係？我只是來用餐。』

她竟在背後指示廚師『他不是中國人，別跟他講中文。』我頓時怒火中燒，與她理論。我說：『這裡是德國，如果您如此熱衷於辨認中國人，大可回到中國，那裡有十四億你的中國同胞。』就連店內的越南顧客都看不下去，出面勸阻我別與她爭執。此人真是莫名其妙，我僅是來用餐，難道還要審查我的國籍？

難道中文只有中國人才能說？台灣人、馬來西亞華人也說中文，他們並非中國籍，真是豈有此理！如此愛國，何必遠赴德國？請您回到您偉大的祖國吧！

「Patriotic Sentiment or Nationality Check? The Absurd Incident at a German Chinese Restaurant」

To be honest, their Malatang is quite good, very authentic, and similar to what I've had in Northeast China. However, the owner is simply appalling. It's like enjoying a delicious meal and then having a fly 🪰 land in your mouth. Having been to numerous Chinese restaurants in Europe, I've never encountered such an unpleasant experience. I merely came to order food, and she immediately asked, 'Are you Chinese?' I replied, 'What does my nationality have to do with you? I'm just here to eat.'

She then instructed the chef behind my back, 'He's not Chinese, don't speak Chinese to him.' I was instantly furious and confronted her, saying, 'This is Germany. If you're so keen on identifying Chinese people, you can go back to China, where there are 1.4 billion Chinese compatriots.' Even the Vietnamese customers in the restaurant couldn't stand it and tried to dissuade me from arguing with her.

This ridiculous woman is truly absurd. I'm just here for a meal, do I need to have my nationality verified? Does only Chinese people speak Chinese? Taiwanese and Malaysian Chinese also speak Chinese, and they're not Chinese citizens. It's ridiculous! If you love your country so much, why come to Germany? Please return to your glorious motherland!

Patriotism or Nationality Verification? The Ridiculous Incident in a German Chinese Restaurant.

Ehrlich gesagt, ihr Malatang ist ziemlich gut, sehr authentisch und ähnlich dem, was ich in Nordostchina gegessen habe. Allerdings ist die Besitzerin einfach entsetzlich. Es ist, als würde man ein köstliches Essen genießen und dann eine Fliege 🪰 in den Mund bekommen.Nachdem ich zahlreiche chinesische Restaurants in Europa besucht habe, habe ich noch nie eine so unangenehme Erfahrung gemacht. Ich kam lediglich, um Essen zu bestellen, und sie fragte sofort: 'Sind Sie Chinese?' Ich antwortete: 'Was hat meine Nationalität mit Ihnen zu tun? Ich bin nur hier, um zu essen.'

Dann wies sie den Koch hinter meinem Rücken an: 'Er ist kein Chinese, sprich nicht Chinesisch mit ihm.' Ich war sofort wütend und konfrontierte sie, indem ich sagte: 'Das ist Deutschland. Wenn Sie so darauf bedacht sind, Chinesen zu identifizieren, können Sie nach China zurückkehren, wo es 1,4 Milliarden chinesische Landsleute gibt.' Sogar die vietnamesischen Kunden im Restaurant konnten es nicht ertragen und versuchten, mich davon abzuhalten, mit ihr zu streiten.

Diese lächerliche Frau ist wirklich absurd. Ich bin nur hier, um zu essen, muss ich meine Nationalität überprüfen lassen? Sprechen nur Chinesen Chinesisch? Taiwaner und malaysische Chinesen sprechen auch Chinesisch, und sie sind keine chinesischen Staatsbürger. Das ist lächerlich! Wenn Sie Ihr Land so sehr lieben, warum kommen Sie dann nach Deutschland? Kehren Sie in Ihr glorreiches...