Yangguofu Malatang launches first central London flagship in Chinatown this summer

Yangguofu Malatang, a renowned hot pot-focused restaurant chain, is poised to make its West End debut this summer with the opening of its first central London flagship in Chinatown. Located at 47-49 Charing Cross Road, the new venue spans over 3,200 square feet and will accommodate more than 100 diners. This move marks a significant milestone for the brand, which operates nearly 7,000 restaurants worldwide, making it the largest malatang chain globally.

Originating from China’s Sichuan street food tradition, Yangguofu Malatang offers a modern twist on the classic hot pot experience by allowing customers to fully customise their bowls. Diners can select from a wide variety of meat, fish, and vegetable toppings, as well as choose their preferred noodle type and broth flavour. Signature broth options include the traditional herbal beef bone broth, a sweet and sour tomato broth, and a distinctive peanut butter spicy dry mix known as malaban.

Emma Matus, Head of Restaurant Leasing at Shaftesbury Capital, highlighted the importance of this addition to Chinatown London, describing the area as a vibrant hub for authentic East and Southeast Asian cuisine. She noted that Yangguofu Malatang’s entry is a testament to the neighbourhood’s appeal for proven international concepts at an early stage of their UK expansion. Neil Ping, Europe General Manager of Yangguofu Malatang, expressed confidence in the brand’s alignment with Chinatown’s rich culinary heritage and the strong appeal of Sichuan cuisine trends among the local customer base.

This new opening follows the recent arrival of Songhelou, a venerable Suzhou noodle institution with a 250-year history, underscoring Chinatown’s growing stature as a centre for authentic ESEA food culture. The Songhelou restaurant offers traditional soup-based noodle dishes in a spacious three-floor venue, highlighting Chinatown’s draw for heritage-rich dining experiences.

Yangguofu Malatang’s expansion is part of a broader European growth strategy. Since its first European store launched in Spain in 2023, the brand has established outlets across ten countries, garnering widespread acclaim for introducing the malatang tradition to diverse markets. In Germany, where five outlets are already operational, the brand enjoys robust performance with solid monthly sales figures, and its appeal crosses cultural boundaries, attracting both the Chinese diaspora and local consumers eager to explore new culinary experiences.

Established in 2003, Yangguofu Malatang has built a reputation for innovation within its category, including enhancements to its soup base recipes and the unique ‘drinkable Malatang’ concept. The brand’s focus on quality and authentic flavours has resonated globally, with stores in locations as varied as Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Singapore, Malaysia, Italy, and Japan, alongside its expanding European presence.

As it embarks on this London chapter, Yangguofu Malatang is poised to enrich Chinatown’s culinary landscape with a popular, customizable, and authentically rooted dining format that celebrates the vibrant flavours of northeastern China and Sichuan’s iconic street food culture.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated August 4, 2025, and pertains to an upcoming event this summer. No earlier publications of this specific announcement were found. The content appears original, with no evidence of being recycled or republished across low-quality sites. The presence of updated data, such as the specific location and opening details, suggests a high freshness score. However, the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets may indicate limited dissemination.

Quotes check

Score:
8

Notes:
The quotes from Emma Matus and Neil Ping are unique to this narrative, with no identical matches found in earlier material. This suggests the content is potentially original or exclusive. However, the absence of these quotes in other reputable sources may raise questions about their authenticity.

Source reliability

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative originates from Hospitality & Catering News, a specialised publication in the hospitality industry. While it is a niche source, it is not widely recognised as a major news outlet. The lack of coverage from more prominent media organisations may affect the perceived reliability of the information.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The details about YangGuoFu Malatang’s expansion into London’s Chinatown align with the brand’s known growth trajectory, including previous openings in Europe. The specific location at 47-49 Charing Cross Road and the restaurant’s size are plausible and consistent with the brand’s operations. However, the absence of similar reports from other reputable outlets may raise questions about the event’s prominence.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents recent and specific information about YangGuoFu Malatang’s planned opening in London’s Chinatown, with unique quotes and plausible details. However, the lack of coverage from more prominent media outlets and the absence of identical quotes in earlier material suggest the need for further verification. The source’s niche status and the absence of similar reports from other reputable outlets may affect the perceived reliability of the information.