Tang Bar — Restaurant in San Francisco

Tang Bar is a restuarant that specializes in paying how much your bowl weighs.

You grab all the items that you want in your dish, weight it, choose a flavor, and then they’ll make the dish for you. They have broth flavors and non-broth flavors along with a few vegetarian options, as well.

It can get really busy even on weekdays, which can cause the meals to take around 30 to 45 minutes to be ready. I recommend going shopping, grabbing boba, or even getting groceries while you wait LOL. There were times where I would visit a few stores, grab boba, and my dish still would not be done yet. Seating can also be limited. There are communal seats, but it can be limited when they are busy.

There are a lot of options to choose from, and I have only tried the soup-based ones. I have tried the chicken broth, pickled veggies, just a kick, laksa, and hot and sour.

My favorite soup bases are the pickled veggies and the laksa. The laksa is coconuty and not as spicy as the just a kick flavor. The pickled veggies is not spicy at all and like its name, has a pickle taste kind of like Asian pickled sour mustard vegetable taste. The chicken broth was milder and not as flavorful as the others but was good for days I felt a bit sick. I think the hot and sour was spicer than the just a kick and was like a spicy version of hot and sour soup with a thicker broth than the others.

Usually, my bowls are around $20 or so, and it fulls me up pretty well. They also have a scale in the middle where you can preweigh your bowl to gauge your weight before reaching the checkout line.

Overall, the broths are very flavorful, and I really enjoy the different options they have or the broths and non-broth flavors. I also like that there is a lot of variety and options of toppings for your bowl. However, it can take quite some time for the food to be done, but it means they’re...

If you're a fan of bold flavors and customizable dishes, Tang Bar is the spot you need to try. My visit here was a feast for the senses, from the moment I walked in to the last bite of spicy, savory goodness.

The Customization Experience What sets Malatang apart is the ability to craft your own perfect bowl. The selection of ingredients at Tang Bar was impressive, with an array of fresh vegetables, thinly sliced meats, seafood, and noodles. You can choose your own adventure—whether you’re craving something light and fresh or hearty and filling. It was fun to grab a basket and fill it with all my favorites: crunchy lotus root, tender beef slices, enoki mushrooms, and glass noodles, just to name a few.

The Flavor Explosion Once you’ve made your choices, it’s all about the broth. Tang Bar offers different spice levels, from mild to fiery, and a variety of flavors like numbing Sichuan peppercorns or rich, savory pork bone broth. I went for the medium spice level, which brought the perfect balance of heat without overpowering the ingredients. Every bite was packed with flavor—each vegetable and meat absorbed the broth beautifully, giving every mouthful a different texture and taste.

Atmosphere and Service The cozy atmosphere at Tang Bar made the experience even more enjoyable. With friendly staff guiding you through the process if it’s your first time, and quick service to get your custom creation boiling, it felt both personal and efficient. The decor had a modern vibe with subtle nods to traditional Chinese aesthetics—definitely a place where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a meal with friends or solo.

Verdict Overall, my experience at Tang Bar was everything I love about Malatang: flavor-packed, customizable, and fun. Whether you’re a Malatang enthusiast or a newcomer looking for something exciting, this spot should be at the top...

UPDATE 2/24/23 Friday early evening about 545pm, and it was already packed. If you come after 630pm, you'll be facing a line and struggle with finding a seat. Food is still really good. I prefer Hot 🔥 & Sour broth, which is really spicy. I can't imagine the szechuan spice level......mist be super fuego 🔥 🔥! Food is solid. Service isn't rated high because you don't really interact with the staff. I think they could improve the way seating works. Regarding atmosphere, it's vibrant. Not a place for a romantic date, but for a casual meal.

The dish I customized was really, really good! I chose the Hot & Sour broth to cook the proteins and vegetables. The way it works is this:

Pick your proteins, vegetables, noodles and other ingredients Pick among 4-5 different broths: that include "just a kick", "hot & Sour", and "Szechuan Spicy", or dry using spices that include Szechuan pepper Pay for the food, and the cooks prepare the meal for you fresh in about 15-20 minutes depending on how busy it is Sit your own self, and wait for the goodness!

The dining area is clean, fun, and modern. We sat at the communal long table that featured a "river-like" area full of water down the middle of the table that houses live fish....so cool!

My wife's bowl was huge! Given she spent about $30 on her meal that weighed 2lbs before the broth. I spent $19. The cost is $14.99/lb before the broth or spices.

Definitely worth the cost, and I guarantee I'll be back time and time again.

Great place to bring groups of 4-5 people given that it has some larger tables.

Great concept, and I'll...