四川麻辣湯

Sichuan Mala Tan, written in Japanese as Sichuan Mala-tang, is a malatang specialist on the first and second floors of the Social Murata Building near Ikebukuro's West Exit, about three to seven minutes on foot from the station. Its defining feature is a medicinal herbal broth built from more than thirty kinds of herbal ingredients brought from China, balanced so Japanese palates can still enjoy it, and sharpened with Sichuan peppercorn and chilli for the signature numbing-and-spicy character of the cuisine. Diners choose from more than sixty-five ingredients at all times, including noodles, vegetables, mushrooms and offal, selecting their own portions and spice level for a one-of-a-kind bowl, with malatang starting from 480 yen and each ingredient around 100 yen; ordering and payment are handled by a QR code at the table, and the shop is fully cashless, accepting PayPay and Chinese payment apps but not cash. Two floors of seating help manage the queues that often form. A rewarding stop for spice seekers, late-night eaters and anyone who likes to design their own bowl, Sichuan Mala Tan offers an interactive, flavour-packed taste of trending malatang just west of Ikebukuro station. Bring a phone for payment and a healthy appetite for the herbal heat.