A numbing but not spicy, sweet-and-sour broth with five flavors—Tainan’s popular à la carte spicy hot pot restaurant!

Text & photos byHu Li Xiao Hai Hai

This Ma Hua Chongqing Hot Pot is a highly recommended eatery by my colleague. It offers an à la carte dining experience and requires advance reservations to dine here. The hot pot broth is incredibly delicious, and the ingredients are very fresh. It’s served as a set meal. I absolutely love their Chongqing Spicy Old Hot Pot—the broth and side ingredients are both delightful ^^ Shali and my other colleagues are also raving about the Xinjiang Secret Tomato Hot Pot—it’s perfect for those who enjoy tangy and savory broths. The atmosphere here is great, and Ma Hua is a fantastic spot for a post-work gathering with good friends or colleagues!

▲ Ma Hua offers five different broths (?д?≡?д?)—so hard to choose!!

Chongqing Spicy Old Hot Pot, Shanghai Spicy Curry Hot Pot, Xinjiang Secret Tomato Hot Pot, Guizhou Miao Red Sour Soup, and Mongolian Fennel Health Hot Pot. Local foodie expert Olive (aka Brother Ou—always recommends us places that have crazy-long queues or are so hidden you can’t even find them on Google Maps…) especially recommends the Spicy Old Hot Pot and the Xinjiang Secret Tomato Hot Pot. He almost convinced Hu Li and me to go crazy =.,=

▲ Xinjiang Secret Tomato Hot Pot (introducing this flavor first for Brother Ou): The sweet and tangy taste of fresh tomatoes pairs perfectly with beef. It’s not overly salty, and after tossing in lots of vegetables, the broth becomes even sweeter—I ended up drinking several bowls without realizing it (o´R`o) Soup lover Hu Li couldn’t resist it at all ><

▲ Chongqing Spicy Old Hot Pot: The spicy base here is simmered with plenty of dried chilies. It tastes numbing but not overly spicy, with a rich and aromatic flavor. Don’t worry if you can’t handle too much heat—the numbing spice is more prominent than the actual spiciness.

▲ The broth can be refilled unlimited times. The blood tofu is made from 100% pure duck blood—not chemically processed, so it’s very safe to eat. The tofu has a delicate and tender texture, soaking up all the essence of the spicy old hot pot. We refilled it many times (Q´∴Q)

▲ Vegetable platter for four people (chef’s daily selection): The owner goes to the market every morning to buy fresh produce—whatever looks good that day. There are around ten different types of vegetables, including leafy greens, root vegetables, mushrooms, and some unidentifiable ones (suddenly made the whole table feel like they needed to go home and shop with their moms XDD). The selection changes every visit—like a Kinder Surprise egg. This is the kind of fun you can only experience at Ma Hua.

▲ Pork platter for four people—one included per table / additional platter NT$200

After work, Hu Li rushed to Ma Hua with all her might, but our two colleagues finished their rounds way too fast… (we suspect she didn’t stop at a single red light). By the time we arrived, the table was fully set. We were so grateful that the couple running the place could hold back from eating (! ´•%%%ω•%%%`). The pork slices were so thinly sliced they were starting to wilt. To see the full “pork hero” look, you’ll have to make a reservation at Ma Hua XDD

The pork slices have evenly distributed fat and are generously portioned, though it might still feel a bit light for big meat lovers. Additional platters are NT$200—still decently priced. Definitely worth getting more if you’re a meat enthusiast!

▲ Vegetable and beef platter for four people

▲ Beef slices soaked in flavorful, numbingly spicy broth

▲ Homemade fish pastes (curry fish paste, cilantro squid paste, cuttlefish paste). Once cooked, they taste amazing—each one shows the chef’s dedication.

▲ Mixed dumpling platter

▲ Seafood platter (live shrimp, squid, milkfish belly slices). When this came out… it was honestly terrifying!! Terrifying!! Terrifying!! The shrimp were flailing their legs for dear life!!!! (V绠... okay okay, I need to calm down—shrimp don’t drink milk growing up)

▲ Live shrimp in the spicy hot pot (actual photo)... Can’t the chef just knock the shrimp out before serving? (%o 5□′)%o?┴─┴ I didn’t record it because it was too scary—if the images moved, imagine that shrimp sprinting like it’s in a 100-meter dash, those little lightning-fast legs… T,,T. But no denying, once cooked in the spicy broth, it’s super delicious XDDDDD

▲ Steamed clams with Thai basil (only served for groups of four or more). Juicy, plump clams with the aroma of Thai basil—we polished off the whole plate in no time.

▲ Osmanthus black tea—you can really taste the strong fragrance of osmanthus. Shali loves it~

▲ Dessert after the meal. This ice cream tastes a bit like the soda candies from our childhood. After asking the staff, we learned it’s their newest ice cream flavor—made with soda and milk, and the texture is quite unique.

▲ When we left, we found the courtyard packed with people. It’s clear this place is pretty popular. Only when you see it in person do you realize how crowded it gets—guests even spill out the front of the shop. I had a 6:00 PM reservation, and when we left after eating, the next group for 8:00 PM was already waiting in line.

For me—Ma Hua’s broth is top-notch, and the effort put into pairing it with fresh ingredients makes it well worth a return visit. Hot pot lovers should definitely come here for a meal ^^ Must-tries include the tangy and flavorful Xinjiang Secret Tomato Hot Pot, and the signature numbing-but-not-spicy Chongqing Spicy Old Hot Pot. But remember to make a reservation in advance!! Ma Hua Chongqing Hot Pot fills up really quickly.

Recommended for all of you who love spicy hot pot and fresh ingredients &a(*´∀｀*)人(*´∀｀*)&a

Ma Hua Chongqing Hot Pot
Facebook
Phone: 0931693286
Address: No. 66, Datde St., West Central District, Tainan City
Business hours: By reservation only, 6:00 PM or 8:00 PM (depending on customer flow)
500 RMB per person – Free refill of soup base, additional dishes available (cash only / no menu)

Hu Li Xiao Hai Hai – Life is about experiences, and living is about trying new things. “Taste” is highly subjective; only when expectations are met and emotions are stirred can the flavor of love be truly savored.

Blog、Fan Page

Deliciousness non-stop from morning to night
Download the “ETtoday News Cloud APP” for the latest food updates →
iOS:https://goo.gl/rmIDdx
Android:https://goo.gl/XPe8Uj