A local's favorite! I have been to Tang Bar a handful of times now and I appreciate the consistency of the standard they hold for their broths, freshness of ingredients at the bar, timeliness that your food is ready, and cleanliness overall in the restaurant. I usually get the chicken broth which is my favorite-- feels very clean and soothing. Today, I tried the laksa broth which was good! I like making a sesame sauce, so their sauce bar has all I need, including sesame paste, sesame oil, soy sauce, chili sauce, garlic, green onion, and cilantro. They also have salt, pepper, black vinegar, etc. The flavor was on point and doesn't feel too greasy, oily, or heavy. Meat quality is 8.5/10 and their vegetables always seem fresh. Large selection of noodle options! They also have toothpicks, hand lotion, and to-go boxes at easy access for their customers. Extra bonuses! For a malatang bar style, the workers keep the bar, tables, and bathrooms all pretty clean and even feeling fancier. The sauce bar also has sago with coconut milk, crystal jelly, brown sugar boba syrup, chrysanthemum syrup, lemon tea, and hawflake bits ! Feels like a nice sweet dessert included. We came on a Sunday night around 7 pm and it was crowded for sure, so waiting around for our food and staking out a table was a little awkward since there isn't too much standing room available past the bar selection, but they keep a good flow so we did get a seat in time for our food to come out! read more

I decided to give this place a second chance because the first time I ordered the soup-less version, it was extremely salty. This time, I specifically requested no added salt and asked for it to be not salty, but unfortunately it was still overwhelmingly salty. The service was friendly and very quick, which I appreciate. However, the food was so high in sodium that it was almost inedible for me. If this is their standard seasoning, it just isn't for my taste. Sadly, I won't be returning. read more

I love Tang Bar! I tried their laksa broth this time and it was wonderful! Not too spicy, creamy, and super flavorful. I'd definitely get this again! I love that they have a self service for coconut mango sago (+some toppings like sichuan jelly, hawthorn flakes, osmanthus syrup) and lemon tea. Really rounds out the entire meal at $16.99/lb. Service is relatively quick too. Came on a Tuesday for lunch and most tables were occupied! Definitely come check them out for a solid experience whether it's dry pots or soup broths! read more

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I've tried multiple malatang spots in the South Bay, and this was my first time at Tang Bar. I usually order a tomato-based broth, but since they didn't offer it, I went with the Hot & Sour. Unfortunately, it was way too spicy and quite oily for my taste. The spice levels were on a separate sign that was pretty hard to read, so I wish they would add clear chili pepper icons directly to the main menu. On the bright side, their ingredient selection is big and seems fresh. My minor complaint is that some items in the back row--like the quail eggs--are hard to get when they sit far back and blocked by veggies that take space. They actually have a much larger broth selection than most other places, so I'd be willing to come back and try a milder option next time. read more

Tang Bar - Hot & Sour ( very spicy !) - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

The first time coming here, the spicy mala broth was super flavorful and too salty. This time around, I got the mild mala broth which wasn't as flavorful. PROS: - large variety of ingredients - free dessert bar - efficient order number process - self service togo containers CONS: - hard to find a table during busy meal times since people claim tables before they get their food - tables near bathroom are smelly - parents let their kids wander around - parking can be hard to find - paid parking Mon-Sat read more

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Tang Bar is easily my favorite malatang spot in the Bay Area right now. I've tried quite a few places, and this one really stands out in terms of both quality and flavor. First off, the ingredients are noticeably fresh. The veggies are crisp, the meats taste clean, and everything looks well-maintained at the self-serve bar, which already sets a good impression before you even start cooking. There's also a great variety, so it's easy to customize your bowl exactly how you like it. I went with the Szechuan classic soup base, and it was honestly one of the most authentic versions I've had outside of China. The broth had a deep, rich flavor with that perfect balance of spice and the signature numbing Sichuan peppercorn kick. It wasn't just spicy for the sake of it--it had real depth and complexity. Another highlight is the value. If you spend over $20, you get free dessert, and they offer coconut milk sago and bingfen. Both are super refreshing and help cool things down after the heat from the malatang, which is a really nice touch. Overall, it's well worth the price for the quality you're getting. Great food, solid portions, and a satisfying experience every time. I'll definitely be coming back again in the future and would recommend it to anyone craving authentic malatang. read more

Tang Bar - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

One of my favorite places to go on a cold day. Everything about this spot is on point and makes it somewhere I recommend everyone check out, especially hot pot lovers. The selection is huge, and everything is consistently well stocked. They have many of my favorite items, including fish tofu, a variety of mushrooms, and bean curd skin, along with plenty of other options. Their meat selection is wide, and everything tastes high quality. The hot and sour soup is my go-to broth. It has a nice level of sourness, and the spice is perfect for me. The first few sips always make me choke a bit, but once I adjust, it becomes the ideal balance. On a cold day, it warms you up fast and even gets you sweating while still being super flavorful. This location also stands out because of the sauce bar and the free tea and toppings included with your malatang, which the SF location doesn't offer. Everything about this place keeps me coming back: the quality ingredients, the flavor-packed broth, the quick service, and the added extras. I've been here more than three times, and I definitely plan to keep that streak going. read more

Tang Bar - Hot and Sour - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Good for my heart? Probably not with all the sodium. But good for my soul? 100% yes. With a lot of different chains offering their spin on malatang, this one is definitely up there for me. I came after kicking off the flow state with some Molly Tea and this was the perfect savory complement to the experience. They have your standard offerings of meat, noodles, veggies, mushrooms, and seafood to build a bowl to your liking, and a self-serve sauce bar to wrap it all together. For flavors, their "just a kick" was the perfect amount of spice without too much oils or the risk of biting into a peppercorn. They also check for any allergens at the cashier. At the end, there's a nice addition of free dessert next to the sauce bar with coconut sago, clear jelly, and brown sugar syrup to finish your meal on a sweet note. The pickup system can be a little tricky since it's a big place and not always easy to hear your number called from the counter, but if you check in every so often you'll eventually get your food. Plenty of family booth seating and a more modern ambience that makes the experience feel like a treat. read more

Tang Bar - Malatang (Just a Kick, with chickpeas on top) - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Tang Bar is one of my go-to choices for a casual dinner out. I love having the freedom to build my own hot pot/dry pot with fresh ingredients. I always opt for the "just a kick" soup base for a mild mala spice that's not too overbearing. It hits the spot every time! Once you've weighted your pot, the staff will prepare the order which takes about 15 mins. During peak hours, this is enough time to wait out an empty seat but I've also had the staff help flag down seats for me which I appreciate :) There is also an option for those in a rush to order ahead of time so their order is ready upon arrival. I'll have to try this next time! read more

Tang Bar - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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food was good but service is terrible the shop is so hot inside and they raised the curtains up we couldn't eat properly bc everyone was sweating. never going back to this location. it was colder outside than inside. read more

Tang Bar - Build Your Own 1.3 lb. Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Tang Bar in San Mateo is not cheap - especially if you add noodles, but it is worth it. I skipped the noodles because they're heavy and you pay by weight - and loaded up on meat with "lighter" veggies instead. I also added a few choice mushrooms haha :) The line can be long, but it moves. You grab a bowl, add meat first, then veggies, then carbs, hand it to the cashier, and wait for your number to be called after it's cooked. Great selection of meats, vegetables, noodles, and mushrooms. The broth is actually excellent, and they provide take home containers plus a free sauce bar, lemon tea, and taro sago dessert (which I love!!!) Would definitely come back - just skip the noodles :D read more

Tang Bar - uncooked version - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Very friendly and efficient malatang location! You have 8+ broths to choose from and plenty of different veggies, meats, and noodles to pick. Service was relatively fast even with peak lunch rush. The only concern I had was that my meats were a bit overcooked. You will also have jelly desserts available, and water and lemon tea free! read more

Tang Bar - Interior - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Solid malatang spot with some great options for broth! My dad (who is from Malaysia) was a huge fan of the Laksa broth so you know it's the real deal. I ordered the mala spicy broth, which I didn't realize came with cilantro so if you have the no-cilantro gene make sure to specify! The meat was decent quality and there's an especially good selection of seafood (baby octopus, squid, various fish tofus, etc.). I'd recommend adding mostly seafood and chicken to your bowl as they cook it for a while which results in the pork, beef, and lamb slices getting overcooked pretty quickly. It gets crowded during dinner so it could take a while for your malatang to come out after you hand it over. You can make a reservation in advance to secure a spot in the cooking line, though it's a bit weird since you seat yourself typically but with a reservation you check in first, get shown to your seat, and then get your bowl? I'm not sure we did it right last time since our bowl still took 10-15 minutes to come out, so the reservation process is a little confusing. You can also pre-order with a reservation, but I prefer to be in control of the quantity of each ingredient that I'm adding. read more

Tang Bar - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

The food was yummy and there were lots of choices on both broth and the BYO bar. Not the most amount of choices on sauces but they had the main ones (soy sauce, chili oil, sesame oil, etc). They don't call out the order number however it appears on a screen with a ding. everything came out as the estimated time showed which was about 20 minutes. I got the hot and sour soup base which was a bit oily for my taste however some people may enjoy. We had leftovers and was easily able to pack it since they leave to go containers out for people to grab easily. read more

Tang Bar - Build Your Own 1.3 lb. Malatang Build Your Own 1.3 lb. Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Tang Bar is a good option for customizable, tasty food. We waited about 20 minutes in line before beginning our food selection. The line was organized and there were many different ingredients (meats, vegetables, noodles, other toppings) to choose from. The price of your meal depends on the weight of your ingredients ($16.99/lb for dinner). Lastly, you get to choose whether you want it cooked in soup or as a stir fry. I chose soup with their chicken pork broth. My husband chose the stir fry with sweet & spicy sauce. On a busy Friday night, it took about 15 minutes for our food to come out. Seating is first come, first served with a mixture of tables and counter seats. The sauce bar is mediocre compared to other malatang or hot pot restaurants in my opinion. Thankfully the broth and stir fry sauces are very flavorful, so you don't even really need sauce. I loved the chicken pork broth. It was rich and comforting. I like that it is boiled over a long time from actual bones, instead of made from artificially flavored powder. I did not try any of the desserts. Something about the jellies and sago right next to a bunch of soy sauce and garlic didn't sound very appealing. The complimentary lemon tea was extremely sweet. It was like drinking straight syrup. Overall, I would come back for the broth. read more

Tang Bar - Love the chicken pork broth - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Yummy build it yourself noodle bar! I am usually hesitant about places that have ingredients out in the open but this place seemed clean and the ingredients seemed fresh too. I enjoyed the food and I got the just a kick broth and let me tell ya, it felt like a little more than a kick but it was so delicious! read more

Wow, I highly prefer this newer Tang Bar in SM over Stonestown. This location is much nicer, brighter, cleaner, and feels bigger. They also have a new *free* sauce/fruit/drink bar and I def took advantage; they had green tea that was pretty legit! To me, Tang Bar has honestly been elite in terms of broth flavor. I always get the szechuan spicy and it has a great kick, numb, and saltiness to it that I find others can't really match. But if you're not a szechuan lover, it might be a bit too spicy/oily for you. Another highlight is that the quantity is substantial; you could take home the leftover broth and make yourself another malatang! The only nitpick I have though is with their fishcake variety; the cheese fishcake tasted a bit off and they didn't have the mochi one that Mala Town has. Still, it's more of a nice-to-have and I think broth quality trumps side add-ins. read more

Tang Bar - szechuan spicy - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

This Tang Bar is soooo much better than the Stonestown one, I was shocked! The space has nice decor, is much larger and more open, and offers a complimentary sauce bar and dessert station. I like being able to see the livestream of the orders cooking while eating free ice jelly with boba :) This place used to be $1 cheaper than the Stonestown location, but now it it is all $16.99/lb so use a light hand when grabbing your ingredients, or else you'll be paying $30-40 per bowl easily. Fortunately my boyfriend I have got it down pretty good and now can get our meals for under $30 total. Hacks I've learned: grab the lean meat since it's all overcooked anyway, get just a few fish balls if you want them, go for lighter veggies like spinach and crown daisy, and get the dry ramen puck (expands like crazy) or bean thread. Soups: Pickled veggie is good but you need to like pickled veggie (so maybe not for first-timers), chicken is a safe choice but tastes like ramen-style creamy chicken vs real chicken soup, just a kick is great if you like a little spice (would say it's maybe a 3.5/10 on spiciness). The wait time is still pretty long even though there were 3-4 people ahead of us, maybe 20 minutes but it's way more acceptable because they have complimentary snacks. Bathroom is small and could use some cleaning. Overall really prefer this location, esp during off hours! read more

Tang Bar - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

In the drafts since March.. This location isn't it; there's more selection of things to choose from here than the OG in SF, but the quality of the food isn't good - not sure if it's just where it's soruced or because the doors open up a whole wall (bifold, etc) that the ingridents go down in quality with air exposure, etc. I would skip. There is another Malatang place downtown SM and it's lit. read more

I love malatang so much! My favorite spot would have to be Yintang in Southern California, but Tang Bar would have to be my favorite one here in the Bay Area! This was my first time at the San Mateo location and it is so nice inside. We got there at around noon on a Sunday and there was still a decent amount of seating. I love that they have duck blood as an option, and the veggies/meat options are great too! However, I do wish they had lamb shoulder and shiitake available. I usually order the malatang with their "just a kick" broth and it is so delicious! The additional spices/nuts they add to the broth really ties everything together. Bonus points for the complimentary sauce and dessert bar :) read more

Tang Bar - Malatang (Just a Kick) - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Fresh hot pot spot with great ingredients and vibes. Tang Bar is a hot pot restaurant where you cook your own ingredients in flavorful broth right at your table. The ingredients here were super fresh, which makes all the difference when you're doing hot pot. The ambiance was really nice and bright, giving the place a clean, modern feel. We also grabbed some dessert, which was a nice touch to end the meal. The freshness of everything and the overall experience make this place worth it. I'll definitely be back. Good spot if you're craving hot pot and want quality ingredients in a nice setting. read more

Came here on a rainy day and it honestly hit the spot. I ordered the Just a Kick broth and the portion was massive, definitely enough for two meals, so I left with plenty of leftovers. I'm personally not a huge fan of mala spice, so next time I'd probably go a different route, but the overall quality of the food was great and everything tasted fresh. One thing I really liked was the sauce bar in the middle of the restaurant. You can customize your flavors, and they also had desserts and free tea available, which was a nice touch. The space itself is casual and comfortable with lots of seating. When I went on a Monday for lunch it was easy to grab a table and relax. That said, I've seen this place get really busy at peak times. The only downside for me was the price. My bowl came out to around $25, which feels a little on the higher side, but given the portion size and the fact that it stretched into another meal, it balanced out a bit. read more

popular malatang place with a sleek interior & fresh ingredients! the vibe here is more self-serve, as you pick your malatang ingredients, then grab your own water, utensils, and sauces. once you've given them your bowl to be cooked, you'll find a spot to sit and pick up the food when it's ready. it can get crowded here, so try to grab a table as soon as possible! a few things set this place apart for me - i like how fresh the ingredients look and the variety of soup and dry pot flavors. they have the standard malatang broths, but they also have a spice-free chicken broth, a pickled veggie broth, and four dry pot flavors. they also have no minimum weight limit so you can get a really cheap meal if you're a light eater or just not hungry! unfortunately, i do think their ingredient bar is set up kinda weird - it's a little strange that the veggies and other non-meat items come after the meat and seafood. it feels a little gross to me, but everything still looked clean? the food itself was quite good though. i got the chicken broth and i really enjoyed how savory and deep the flavor was. it wasn't too greasy or heavy either. the ingredients were all very fresh tasting and i always enjoy the customizability of malatang. solid spot with great ambiance for a lunch or dinner, especially for groups or individuals with diverse tastes/preferences! read more

Tang Bar - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Tang Bar was so filling that I did not need to eat when I immediately hopped onto a 10 hour flight after going! I loaded up my malatang bowl with thinly sliced beef, a block of udon noodles, mushrooms, potato slices, and broccoli. I got the Sichuan spicy base, and it was really delicious. The rate is rather reasonable, I'm glad they show that the scale is tared prior to weighing because it is really heavy! I was worried that I'd spill it on the way to my table. Maybe offering a cart or taking the bowl out to the customers would prevent this from happening? The sauce bar was also excellent and added extra flavors of umami and salt to our experience. The interior is so clean and there's zero scents, even though they make such a wide variety of orders and soup bases! Very unpretentious but also an elevated feel throughout the restaurant. read more

Tang Bar - Sichuan malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Really enjoyed another do-it-yourself hotpot place that had way more ingredients and unique soup bases to choose from. The food choices that were displayed were super fresh and were always fully stocked. I like that they subtract the bowl weight when calculating the price! Soup bases are different from Mala Town which I appreciate and would definitely like to come back to try the other flavors. It was basically self service once you order and pay at the front. They provide free tea and water at their little station. One thing I would like would be an added sauce bar. There was a sign saying they are making one so hopefully it's up soon for others to try! Inside is also super modern and a lot of space for seating but it does get packed fast so come early! read more

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Quite an experience if you have not tried a mala bar. This is NOT to be confused with an all you can eat (AYCE) restaurant, but rather a build your own meal and eat it with broth or without broth. You can easily go overboard by 'eating with your eyes' but just remember the price you pay is based by weight and is still $15.99 per lb. You can easily walk away with a $40 bowl if you are not careful. Once you select your proteins and veggies, you have your choices of carbs, primarily different kinds of noodle types and finally you get to decide if you want it in a soup or dry and you can pick the level of spiciness. Hand your bowl over, you get a receipt with your number and monitor the teleprompter board for your number. Then you return to the front counter and pick up your bowl. It's not as crowded as when it first opened, but sometimes there can be a short line before you reach the food selections--protein is the first choice you see. The restaurant is brightly lit and open and airy. You also have the option of sitting outside on the patio--which is 4th Ave, but plant boxes separate the diners from the pedestrians. It's definitely a fun experience and worth checking out. read more

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I can't even blame them for the slow dessert refill. I literally watched someone roll up with a massive to-go container and clean out the entire coconut sago like it was their life mission. Mystery solved. read more

My friend recommended getting Tang Bar after pilates at BODYROK nearby! The decor is bright and clean with lots of seating. It's basically like Sweet Tomatoes but make it hot pot haha. You grab a bowl and tongs, and pick whatever meat, seafood, veggies, noodles, etc. for $16.99/lb so I recommend going more meat and fewer veggies. I got a massive bowl of mostly meat my friend thought it was going to be well over $30 but it was only $25 lol. For the base, you can choose either broth or sauce. I got the sesame sauce which was tasty but got a little heavy towards the end. After you order, they give you a number and you wait for it to come up on the screen. We got there around 6:30pm on a Thursday and waited maybe 15 min. There's also an area with condiments (e.g. garlic, green onions) and more sauces, and also a section for Asian desserts like sago and jelly. They had lemon tea as well. Standard downtown San Mateo parking -- free after 6pm. read more

Tang Bar - sesame sauce - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

Wow! Wow! Wow! I can honestly say I have NEVER EVER had a meal last 4 days! The portions of my prepared soup at Tang Bar San Mateo lasted me 4 delicious meals over four days! Incredible. My mother-in-law had been walking by this restaurant several times since she goes to Dean's Produce a few doors down on 4th Street in San Mateo so my wife and I decided to take her there on a late afternoon for some "linner". Now, I must admitted I am a self proclaimed "Soup Connoisseur" and could consume just about any soup every meal and be happy! So when we got in line, I was blown away by the enormous size of the stainless steel pots we picked up along with the tongs to fill select our meat, 8 types of fish, 20 types of tofu, vegetables, various fish, meat & cheese balls, mushrooms & noodles galore! The offering is overwhelming but both fun and adventurous! After we made our individual choices loaded in our pots, the cashier weighs your selections and we determine if you want a "soup" or "sauce". I of course requested the hot & spicy. My wife and mother-in-law choose ginger and miso sauces. After a few minutes of cooking our items were ready at the counter for pick up. I think I may have gotten a hernia from the size of my soup! Wow! It was delicious, right amount of spice and unique flavors you determine. Wow! Needless to say rarely can Anyone finished their dish and there an ample amount "to go" containers for taking home. We each filled two 20 once containers with our "leftovers" to be enjoyed over the next 4 days. I was in heaven. So if you are in San Mateo looking for a culinary adventure, make sure to seek Tang Bar with its mini water fall running across one of the tables. Enjoy! Again, and Again! Again & Again! As we did! Yum! We read more

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DH insisted on going to Tang Bar, thinking it had more variety than ZhangLiang (my favorite). Since it was just the two of us, I went along with it. We got lucky with parking, right in front of the restaurant on a Friday night at 7pm. But once we stepped inside, the heat hit us. It was stuffy and borderline uncomfortable. There was a long line at the food bar, and we waited at least 20 minutes. It's not because we were indecisive, but because the line barely moved. There's no real air conditioning, or if there is, it must be set to 70°F. I started sweating just standing there. After paying, DH grabbed a table near the entrance, where there was some breeze when people walked by. But imagine eating a bowl of piping hot malatang in a hot, sticky room. Sweat was dripping. DH was drenched by the end. If you're looking for a sauna experience with your malatang, Tang Bar delivers. Otherwise, I'll stick with ZhangLiang. It has strong AC, friendly servers who bring the food to you, and equally tasty dishes, minus the sweat. read more

Tang Bar - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

I wish I was closer to this location! It's so much nicer than the one in Stonestown :') It feels more upscale and has a lot of seating inside with a shorter line. The broth/flavor options were the same with some minor differences in the ingredients you can choose for your pot. What made this location truly stand out though was the DIY sauce and dessert bar as well as the rewards system! I probably went to the Stonestown location last year at least 7-8 times and would have really benefited from earning points, so maybe I'll have to come down more often! read more

Tang Bar - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Love the concept of DIY making your hot pot!! I absolutely love the plethora of toppings. For someone who doesn't like red meat, I loved that I could choose fish and tendons (still beef but it's such a yummy form of collagen)!! Love the many choices of mushrooms, tofu, veggies, seafood, and noodles! Something to note: noodles do get overcooked because they cook it for you (so the veggies like cabbage are super flavorful and soft!). So I recommend the sweet potato noodles that stay chewy. I've also seen others get rice on the side! The interior is also clean, bright, and pretty; it feels like I've teleported to a nice restaurant in asia. The jellies are also a refreshing, interesting dessert and went well after the hot pot! Things that could be improved: - I'd be great to have more broth choices that doesn't have numbing spice. So far the only non-spicy option is chicken broth, and I found it too be too salty. It also doesn't gel either. It'd be great to have a plain bone broth flavor! read more

Tang Bar - lots of veggies + chicken broth! - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Such a pretty space! There are SO many ingredients to choose from, make sure you pace yourself as you're filling your bowl or you'll end up with too much food. I personally thought that the "Just a Kick" flavor could've used a bit more spice, but it was still tasty. read more

Tang Bar - interior - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

I like this place a lot, but a few things could definitely be improved. It's 12/24, and the weather is super rainy. Friends and I decided some hot soupy noodle would make the perfect dinner. Since it's Christmas Eve, I called in to double check their hours. Person I spoke with on the phone said to come in, that as long as we get here by 8.30, we can eat. We arrive at 8.10 and are told they're closed. What happened? We drove quite a bit in the rain, only to be turned away despite double checking the hours. Hugely disappointed with their communication failure. Also, don't get takeout here. I did it once and was shocked that they straight up pour their scalding hot soup into cheap plastic containers, to the point that the containers became extremely misshapen due to the high heat. Given their business is built around piping hot soup, the least they can do is get higher quality containers, but they choose to cheap out. It's literally in the name (tang = scalding hot in Chinese). read more

Great spot for build-your-own hotpot! The interior is clean and bright. Lots of seating but it can also get busy during the weekends. Service is efficient despite being busy. After grabbing a bowl and a pair of tongs, you pick your own ingredients-there are lots of options for meats, seafood, vegetables, and noodles. I always grab a ton of lotus roots, quail eggs, and sweet potato noodles. Along the way, there's a scale on the side that you can use to gauge how much your bowl is weighing before you reach the register. At the register, they weigh the food and you pick a broth/sauce mix. Price is $15.99/lb. I got the hot & sour broth while my parents got the chicken broth. Both were delicious! The chicken broth and mushroom broth are the two non-spicy broth options. The rest have varying levels of spice. There is free tea (cold) available, which I found very enjoyable to have with the hot meal. There are also free takeout containers available which is very nice, in case you can't finish your meal. read more

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Never disappoints! Just gets a bit dirty sometimes. Seating can be hard to find sometimes too.

My friends really like this spot. You grab a bowl and a pair of tongs, go down the line and grab what you like. They weigh your bowl and ask you what soup base you would like. The sauce and soups are good and go well with the food. This spot is casual and good for groups read more

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I'm usually not a fan of all these build-your-own malatang places that have been popping since they usually are greasy and full of questionable ingredients in the broth, but Tang Bar is by far the best one we've tried! We stopped by on a cold Saturday night and it was busy but not crowded. You select amongst the usual assortment of hotpot ingredients and it's priced based on the total weight. Certain ingredient minimum portions are too big though, like the udon, bok choy, and cabbage -- I just want a few leaves of cabbage, not half the entire head! Then there are several broth and stir fry options + spiciness levels to choose from. I got the Szechuan soup, which surprisingly was not overly greasy and was the most natural-tasting one I've had out there. The soup penetrates into all the ingredients, kissing them with its fiery and slobbery mala breath! And I like how they add some extra toppings like peanuts -- what a nice touch! I also like the interior a lot -- it's squeaky-clean white with lots of fake greenery and bright lighting, perfect for photographing your food (see my pics below)! Overall, best malatang I've had in the Bay Area and already planning to come back! read more

Tang Bar - BYO Malatang - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I was pretty shocked when I walked into this location because it's so much nicer than the one at Stonestown! It's very modern, open, and bright. There is also a complimentary tea & dessert station with toppings and syrups! Great options for protein, veggies, and soup. I usually get mild since I can't handle toooo much spice, but the only thing I'll say is that the "just a kick" was not spicy at all. I'd pick something else the next time I go. I came on a weekday for lunch, so there was no wait, but not sure how busy it gets during peak times. Overall, a really nice space and I definitely enjoyed eating here. read more

Very nice interior and layout. You build your own bowl with any toppings you like, charged by weight. There was a good variety of fresh ingredients. Lots of options for meat, fish ball, veggie, noodle, etc. It was pretty quick to get my bowl on a weekday. The mala tang was very flavorful and tasty, though quite salty. Definitely would pair well with a side of rice. Because the portion of soup is quite generous, it's fantastic for taking home leftovers. You can definitely add more ingredients to this broth at home and make it another meal! There is also self serve lemon tea which is nice and refreshing with the meal. The utensils and to go containers are also by this, making it easy to help yourself. read more

Tang Bar - mala tang, lemon tea - Hot Pot Near Me - San Mateo, California