Old Street Malatang — Restaurant in Seattle

I think there’s soy on all their broths there is definitely dairy in all their broths for some reason.

Cons: Cannot list allergens in broth Sauce bar sucked don’t even have sesame oil?! Less selection (compared to YGC) Paid Street parking Unknown Soy content in the broth upset my stomach

Pros:

Good broth In seattle $10 min Affordable price per lb I could order it less cooked so the vegetables weren’t obliterated

I got the bone broth which is solid. I asked cashier which broths don’t have dairy and she said they all do. Also I suspect soy products in the broth due to how it reacted to my stomach afterwards. Also means it’s probably a cheaply made premade stock they buy and mix.

I was able to request that they do not overcook my meat and vegetables and it came out really good. I am glad that they could put in notes so my food wasn’t overcooked. I went to a similar place in Tukwila YGC and they overcooked everything which was disappointing, even though I asked.

The seating arrangement and inside ambience is weird. I wish there was more selection. There didn’t seem to be as much items compared to a competitors place that I went to.

I like that The prices were reasonable since parking is so high in the area.

Both refrigerators where I was grabbing food from had a bad odor coming from them and it was really a turn off. I don’t know if something leaked into the bottom or what but it just didn’t smell right All the food seemed fine and I smelled it when I put it into the bowl but something about when I stuck my nose closer to the both coolers there was a stinky smell.

Overall I enjoyed my solo meal while watching videos. I wish they had WiFi access. The food was good but there’s a lot of things they could do to make this place great vs just...

The folks who gave us FOB Poke and Sushi have really done it again with Old Street Malatang. Their highly customizable style works surprisingly well with this traditional Szechuan dish.

Fresh ingredients, dozens to choose from--leafy greens, mushrooms, meat, seafood, tofu, noodles--cooked in your choice of broth or stir fried in Szechuan spices. You gather as much or as little as you can pay for per pound, then they'll cook it behind the counter.

My partner got the bone broth, which was light and savory. I got the sa cha broth, which was briny and aromatic. I got 3 star spicy, but I did not find it particularly numbing. If you like mala, I would definitely get it spicier than that.

As far as service and atmosphere, it's a counter-service, self-bus, hole-in-the-wall. The staff was helpful. The layout is peculiar, but makes sense given the space used to be a conveyor belt sushi restaurant. A section of the bar is stuck behind the ingredients fridge. Really unfortunate seating. I wouldn't let any of that stop you from getting food from here though. If you do dine-in, the neon lights might charm you enough.

I look forward to going again, especially to try their...

Old Street Malatang is an absolute gem for anyone who loves bold, customizable flavors!

The build-your-own bowl concept is both fun and satisfying. With a wide variety of fresh vegetables, meats, tofu, and seafood, there’s something for everyone. The spice level is completely customizable, and the staff is super helpful in guiding you to your perfect balance of heat and flavor.

The broth is the real star—deeply flavorful, aromatic, and absolutely comforting. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, perfect for a casual meal with friends or a solo comfort food fix. *Note that everything is self serve, including busing your own table.

I can’t wait to come back and experiment with new ingredient combinations....