Why you need to try Malatang Express, Durham

By Ania Askwith

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Malatang Express, Unit 38a The Riverwalk, Durham DH1 4SL

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Best for: Customisable Asian cuisine, Malatang, fresh food, unique dining experience, Durham restaurants, Asian food, dining in Durham

About Malatang

Malatang is a Chinese street food that is all about choice. You get to hand pick your ingredients (literally) and broth to create a dish that’s uniquely yours. Super mild, super spicy – and anything in between.

You start by selecting your base – this could be protein (meats, seafood, or vegetarian options),  vegetables, and noodles in any combination – and then choose your broth or a dry mix to create more of a stir fry dish. Your chosen ingredients are then cooked freshly in the broth of your choice, making your dish a complete one -off!

Why choose Malatang Express

Pan Asian and Malatang is my happy food and I think it’s very obvious by the choices of restaurants we’ve been visiting recently, with places like Nudo Malatang and Umai Mi.

And last week we added a new spot to our must visit list – Malatang Express in Durham.

It’s express by name – but it shouldn’t be confused with a rushed or compromised experience. 

It is a really cute restaurant right on the lovely Riverside in Durham. The first thing you notice when you walk in is how bright, airy and big it is! And I adore the wall art – it is super cool.

The menu at Malatang Express Durham

They have a selection of 85 ingredients (yes, you read that right!) and 9 bases – soups and dry mixes – to choose from. So the amount of combinations is absolutely endless!

I went for my favourite Tom Yum base with all the seafood choices, some veggies, mushroom and seaweed, and of course Udon noodles. 

Our other option was a Tonkotsu base which we have never had before; it was mild and salty, perfect with a mix of meats and veggies we paired it with. 

And we also made full use of the condiments tray where you can add things like garlic, chillies, sesame seeds, crushed peanuts, spring onions, soy sauces, and my favourite – coriander – which I pile on top of my Malatang. It is STUNNING.

I absolutely loved my Malatang. The seafood was super fresh and the veggies were delightful. Even though I kind of selected what I usually go for, it tasted familiar but not the same, which I really appreciate about the Malatang experience. Every visit really is a different experience.

More than just Malatang

And if the endless amount of Malatang combinations still aren’t quite enough for you (or maybe you just fancy something else), they have other menu items which are equally delightful and tasty. 

We tried, and really enjoyed, their Bento Box which we had alongside our soups. 

For £6.95 you get a delicious base (we went with rice) and a choice of protein (we went with a Kung Poo chicken). There are sooo many options to choose from, you could have it for lunch every day and make it different every time. 

And what I really like is that the menu has pictures of the items, so you can just go with what you like the look off – super effortless and easy!

Why I loved our visit

• Everything is customisable which I really love about this place! Endless choices and you never end up with an ingredient you do not want in your dish. For me, it is incredible!

• You can have a dish from a different Asian country each time – Chinese, Thai, Japanese… perfect if you go with a group, to keep everyone happy. 

• Friendly and helpful staff. A big shout out to the manager, Magda, who looked after us so well. If you’ve not visited a Malatang restaurant before – try Malatang Express and the staff will be more than happy to explain the ordering process and even let you sample the soup bases so that you can choose the one you want to go with. 

• The decor and the overall feel of the place. It feels like spring – it is so airy and bright. 

• Great drinks choices. They serve the standard drinks (I am a diet coke girl), as well as some fun Asian choices you don’t get everywhere (we always try something we’ve not had before, this time it was plum juice and it was lush)

• Fast service means you don’t have to wait long to enjoy your delicious creation. Perfect for when you’re hungry and in a hurry!

Location:

Malatang Express is located at Unit 38a The Riverwalk, Durham DH1 4SL. We use the Riverwalk car park which is super convenient.

Tips for visiting:

• Opening hours: The restaurant is open daily from 11:30am to 9pm, so whether you’re grabbing lunch or a late dinner, you’ve got plenty of time to get your Malatang (or Bento) fix.

• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try new ingredients or mix and match broths. The beauty of Malatang is its flexibility, so go wild and create your perfect bowl – you’ll be surprised at what flavours work together.

• Grab a window seat if you enjoy people watching while tucking into your Malatang. It is the simple things in life…

If you love discovering things to do, places to go, and the best spots to eat and drink in the North East and beyond, be sure to follow my blog for more reviews, recommendations, travel tips, and hidden gems. And for a closer look at my day-to-day experiences, follow me on Instagram @ania.askwith for behind-the-scenes content and even more discoveries! Let’s explore together!

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