It was only by chance that we found out about Youxia Malatang, as we happened to be driving by a few months ago and were curious about its offerings. And when we found out it's a joint where you pick out your own components for a bowl of soup, we were extremely intrigued and excited to eventually check it out.
So it was that we popped in for a meal on a recent Saturday. The place is quite small inside, but the man behind the counter was very friendly and explained how everything worked. We were given a large plastic bowl and told to fill it with the various components we wanted, which proved to be no small task as there were dozens of options available.
I wound up cramming my bowl with different kinds of meat and sausages, along with a few standard veggies like bok choy and mushrooms. After that was done, I took my bowl back to the aforementioned man and requested the bone broth and the spiciest level of heat they had. (I was urged to go with medium instead, which I did and which turned out to be the right move, because the medium was more like very, very, very spicy.)
The finished soup was brought to the table a short while later and it looked quite tasty. I wasn't expecting much but I'll admit that my socks were properly knocked off. This is one terrific, flavorful bowl of soup. The broth is so rich and layered, and it's enhanced by a heaping helping of garlic and chili oil. I'd put this right up there with the best ramen on offer in the GTA.
Did I need quite so many components in the soup itself? No, probably not. When I return (and I certainly will), I'll definitely be a bit more conservative in terms of adding in ingredients. But wow, I am so impressed by Youxia Malatang. read more