Shanghai Mala Skewers: A Hongdae Street Food Adventure
Hello! I'm Journey :)
Have you ever walked around Hongdae and seen people holding red cups?
That's likely Shanghai Mala Skewers, a popular Hongdae spot!
I finally decided to check it out on my recent visit to Hongdae, and I was definitely curious.
It's a popular date spot near Yeontral Park these days.
It's a unique snack where mala seasoning is applied directly to fried skewers, making it fun to eat and watch being made.
Shanghai Mala Skewers
Address: 140, Building 101, 10 Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Hours: Daily 12:00 - 23:00
01. Location and Exterior
Located just a 3-minute walk from Hongik University Station Exit 9, accessibility is excellent.
You can't miss the eye-catching red sign; it's Shanghai Mala Skewer's signature.
02. Interior Atmosphere
The interior is mainly designed for takeout. As soon as you enter, you'll see a long showcase of skewers.
The ingredients are neatly arranged, which makes it hard for me to decide what to choose...because it was really hard for me to pick! ㅠ0ㅠ
Takeout is available, but there's also a small space to eat in. I went on a day when they were having a beer event, so I enjoyed my skewers with a beer like a solo drinker hehe.
03. Cooked Fresh to Order
Just put the skewer in the basket and you are good to go!
The cooking area is open, so they fry the skewers right after you order.
You can hear and smell the skewers being fried.
They fry → season → pack them into a cup right in front of you, so it's fun to watch while you wait.
04. Taste Review
Ordered Menu:
Fuju (Dried Tofu Skin) / Tteok (Rice Cake) / Pork Belly / Lamb Skewer / Heart / Mochi Tofu Pocket / Konjac / Chicken Gizzard / Quail Egg
I went for spice level 2 this time! 😉
You can definitely taste the numbing sensation compared to level 1.
I'd recommend level 2 if you like that numbing, spicy flavor.
The spicy oil aroma was strong and seriously addictive.
They fill the cup up, so it's quite generous.
The batter is thin and crispy, so it's not greasy at all.
Quail Egg / Pork Belly / Heart / Konjac
The quail eggs are savory and go well with the mala seasoning. The pork belly is crispy and juicy. The heart is chewy and savory, and the konjac provides a spicy and clean finish!
Shrimp / Fuju / Sausage / Chicken Gizzard
The shrimp is crispy, savory, and bouncy. The fuju is spicy and moist, and the sausage is packed with salty flavor. The chicken gizzard has a charmingly crunchy texture.
Mochi Tofu Pocket / Tteok
The mochi tofu pocket is chewy and savory, and the tteok has a crispy outside and chewy inside with the mala seasoning well absorbed. I personally highly recommend the tteok.
Lamb Skewer
The lamb skewer is fried, so the outside is crispy and the inside is juicy. The numbing mala flavor explodes in your mouth – amazing!
Overall
If you're looking for a place to visit near Hongik University Station, be sure to check out Shanghai Mala Skewers.
I had the level 2 spice and it was numbing and delicious.
The batter is thin and clean, and they must use good oil because it's not greasy at all.
The packaging is neat, so it's easy to carry around. It's a perfect snack for a date in Hongdae, eating alone, or drinking alone lol.
Would visit again!
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