Yumei Tianshui Malatang Hot Pot

James spotted this Yumei Tianshui Malatang Hot Pot at Pan-Asia and brought it home and the smell alone had us intrigued before we even cooked it. Yumei is one of the larger food brands in China and this Tianshui Malatang Hot Pot flavor is inspired by malatang, the popular Chinese street food of mixed ingredients cooked in a spiced broth. This one leans dry rather than soupy but it doesn’t lose anything for it.

Produced in China.

What’s in The Package

Six packets including a noodle and vegetable packet, a sauce packet, an oil chili pack, and seasoning powder. The vegetable packet includes an impressive variety of lotus root, bamboo shoots, kelp, potato and auricularia mushrooms. That lineup alone sets this apart from most instant noodle products.

How to Prepare It

Add 500ml of water to the pot along with the noodle and vegetable packets and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes then drain the water. Add all the seasoning packets and stir well to coat. You can also add side dishes according to your taste.

How Does It Taste

The first thing that hits you is the smell and it is genuinely outstanding. I kept coming back to it throughout the whole cooking process. The noodles are made from potato starch and come as wide flat sheets rather than the long strands you’d expect, think closer to a thick rice cake shape than a noodle. The texture is incredibly satisfying, chewy and substantial in a way wheat noodles simply can’t replicate.

The included toppings are a real highlight with lotus root, mushrooms and what appears to be konjac or tofu skin all rehydrating beautifully and giving every bite a different texture. The sauce coats everything in a spiced reddish oil that delivers a nice spice. There is no broth so all the flavor comes from that sauce and it does the job well.

How Does It Compare

This sits in its own category compared to most instant noodles because of the potato starch noodles and the generosity of included toppings. If you’ve had other malatang inspired instant products this one feels more authentic and substantial than most. The noodle texture alone sets it apart from anything wheat based.

How To Level It Up

Adding meatballs is the natural move here since the dish is already loaded with vegetables and just needs a protein to make it a complete meal. They fit the malatang concept perfectly since meatballs are a classic malatang ingredient. Fish balls or beef balls from an Asian grocery store would be especially authentic. If you want something quicker, thinly sliced beef works beautifully here too — check out my Spicy Sauteed Beef for an easy prep method that pairs really well with this dish.

Final Verdict

One of the more impressive instant noodle products I’ve come across. The smell is exceptional, the potato starch noodles have a texture that wheat noodles can’t replicate, and the included toppings make this feel genuinely substantial. Worth seeking out at your local Pan-Asia or Asian grocery store.

Where to buy Yumei Tianshui Malatang Hot Pot

• Yami