Hongdae Malatang Skewers: Xiaomala Review & Menu 2026

My friends and I were exploring Yeonnam-dong recently when one of them, who's completely hooked on Malatang skewers these days, dragged me to Xiaomala Hongdae!

Xiaomala has several branches, but we visited the original one near Yeonnam-dong's Gyeongui Line Forest Park.

We went on a weekday evening, after dinner, for more of a late-night snack vibe, so it wasn't too crowded.

I hear it can get quite busy with long waits on weekends or during peak hours!

The spot is quite small, so only one group can enter at a time, and any waiting queue forms across the street.

That tells you just how popular it is!

Xiaomala Menu & How to Order

Xiaomala is famous for its Malatang skewers, made with a special seasoning blend of 14 ground ingredients and homemade mala chili oil!

Just reading that description makes my mouth water, doesn't it?

Stepping inside, it feels similar to a typical Malatang restaurant, but the key difference here is the incredible variety of skewers.

You'll find everything from spiral potatoes and 'sotteok sotteok' (sausage and rice cake skewers) to fried tofu pockets, plus a wide selection of meats and seafood. There are easily over 20 different skewer options!

They also have basic Malatang ingredients like vegetables and glass noodles, so you can order Malatang as well.

Malatang skewer plates and Malatang soup bowls are clearly separated.

A crucial point: some ingredients are ONLY for Malatang soup (like glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms, napa cabbage) and cannot be added to your skewer selection.

We wanted to try a little bit of everything – vegetables, meat, seafood, mushrooms – so we filled two plates!

My friend highly recommended the fried tofu skin wrapped enoki mushrooms!

The Mala Tteokbokki also looked tempting!

It comes with basic ingredients like rice cakes, fish cakes, and cabbage, and you can add extra toppings.

Once you've picked your ingredients, head to the counter.

For the Malatang skewers, you can choose your spice level and seasoning.

We followed their recommendation: level 2 spiciness, with regular seasoning and mala flavor!

The prices were surprisingly affordable, so we didn't feel bad loading up!

This plate came out to ~$9.

(We ordered another plate which was also around ~$7, so prices are quite reasonable!)

Once your order is complete,

you can wait briefly in the designated waiting area next to the shop.

Our Malatang skewers arrived shortly after, in about 5 minutes, served in individual cups!

At the self-service bar, you can customize your seasoning with black vinegar, mala oil, hot seasoning, chili oil, sesame seeds, and scallions.

If you like it extra spicy, definitely add some of the Malatang skewer-specific hot seasoning!

It was fascinating to see the detailed list of ingredients used in their sauces!

The seasoning, in particular, delivers an incredibly addictive umami flavor, much like instant ramen seasoning – I totally agree!

Xiaomala Malatang Skewers Review

Right away, the aroma of mala hits you, and the skewers look fantastic!

I was genuinely surprised by how incredibly crispy the fried texture was!

My absolute favorite was this shrimp Malatang skewer!

The plump shrimp paired perfectly with the mala seasoning 😋. Eating it with some garlic chives or enoki mushrooms was a delicious combo.

The fried tofu skin also had the seasoning perfectly absorbed, making it super tasty.

Even the vegetable skewers were fried to a delightful crisp, so even if you're not a huge veggie fan, you'll probably enjoy the texture.

Especially since the vegetable skewers are only ~$1 each, I highly recommend trying a variety and experimenting with different combinations!

I went along with my friend without much expectation, but these Malatang skewers were unexpectedly delicious and incredibly intense! They're seriously addictive – I found myself drawn back there on my next visit to Yeonnam-dong. I'll likely be stopping by whenever I'm in Hongdae.

With their affordable prices and the fun of choosing your own ingredients, I highly recommend Xiaomala to any mala lovers out there! 😉

Xiaomala Malatang Skewers

Wellness Archive Index

A powerfully addictive combination of crispy texture and special mala chili oil!

Expectation before trip: ★★

Experience during trip: ★★★★

Memory after trip: ★★★★

*What is the Wellness Archive Index?