Cinq Inc. (Headquarters: Kita-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Daiki Nagai) will open the first store of the mala soup specialty restaurant 'Baobao Malatang (Paopao Malatang)' in Tojouju, Kita-ku, Tokyo on Saturday, July 4, 2026.
Baobao Malatang is a mala soup specialty store born from the concept of 'Graduating from tomorrow's guilt. A new bowl to replace ramen.'
As a new choice for those who think, 'I want ramen, but I want to feel a little lighter tomorrow'—during lunch, after work, or after a night out—the store offers a customizable dining style where customers can freely mix and match 30 carefully selected ingredients, including vegetables, and three types of soup to create their own unique bowl.
Baobao Malatang aims to transform mala soup from a 'trendy occasional dish' into a 'new everyday meal' that people choose regularly. The brand aspires to create a new dining culture as an alternative to ramen.
To celebrate the opening, an opening campaign offering 50% off the total bill will be held for three days only, from Saturday, July 4, 2026, to Monday, July 6, 2026. We invite you to experience this unique new bowl at Baobao Malatang.
Brand Concept: 'Graduating from tomorrow's guilt. A new bowl to replace ramen.'
### Brand Concept
'I want ramen. But I want to feel a little lighter tomorrow.'
Baobao Malatang was born from this feeling that everyone has experienced at least once.
In recent years, mala soup has gained popularity in Japan. However, while it is recognized as a 'trendy cuisine,' there are still few restaurants where it can be enjoyed as an everyday meal.
Under its brand concept of 'Graduating from tomorrow's guilt. A new bowl to replace ramen,' Baobao Malatang aims to evolve mala soup from a 'trendy occasional dish' into a 'new everyday meal' and create a new food culture as an alternative to ramen.
Whether as a casual lunch, a satisfying dinner after work, or a late-night meal after drinking, Baobao Malatang proposes a new dining style where you can choose your own bowl based on your mood and physical condition each day.
Baobao Malatang’s Three Key Features
### ① 30 Carefully Selected Ingredients
※Ingredient availability may vary depending on season and supply.
Unlike typical mala soup restaurants that offer dozens of ingredients, Baobao Malatang has deliberately selected around 30 popular items based on customer preferences.
We prioritize a menu that allows quick decisions and consistent satisfaction, rather than overwhelming variety.
### ② Not Just Mala Soup: Three Delicious Soup Bases
Mala Tang (Spicy Numbing Soup), Pai Tan (Milky Broth), San La Tang (Sour and Spicy Soup)
We offer three soup bases:
Mala Tang (Spicy Numbing Soup)
Pai Tan (Milky Broth)
San La Tang (Sour and Spicy Soup)
In many mala soup restaurants, Mala Tang is the main attraction, while Pai Tan and San La Tang are often offered as side options.
At Baobao Malatang, we treat each soup as a star in its own right, carefully crafting each flavor. The ability to say, 'Today I want Pai Tan' or 'Today I want San La Tang,' makes Baobao Malatang uniquely appealing for daily visits.
### ③ Customize Your Perfect Bowl with Tabletop Condiments
Tabletop condiments set
For Mala Tang and San La Tang, customers can choose spiciness levels from 1 to 3 stars.
Additionally, the table is equipped with chili flakes, chili oil, Sichuan pepper, sansho oil, black vinegar, and garlic. We also provide POP displays with instructions for creating 4-star spiciness or recommended combinations.
Whether you want to increase the heat or fine-tune the flavor to your liking, you can freely customize your bowl using the tabletop condiments.
The joy of completing your own perfect bowl based on your mood each day is a unique feature of Baobao Malatang.
Soup Recipe Supervision
Lin, Chinese Home Cooking Researcher
Lin
Chinese home cooking researcher. Born in Fujian Province, China, currently based in Tokyo. Lin shares authentic Chinese home-style recipes adapted for Japanese households and has 115,000 followers on Instagram (as of July 2026). For Baobao Malatang, Lin supervised the development of three soup bases that preserve the authentic aroma and flavor of China while being approachable for Japanese palates. Her book, 'Daily Chinese Home Cooking: Authentic Flavors That Even Japanese Will Love,' is published by Kadokawa Corporation.
Instagram: @lin.gohan
TikTok: @lin.gohan
Grand Opening! 50% Off—Only for These Three Days
To celebrate the grand opening of 'Baobao Malatang,' we will run a special opening campaign offering 50% off the total bill for three days only, from Saturday, July 4, 2026, to Monday, July 6, 2026.
This is a special campaign held only for these three days to mark the brand's launch. We do not plan to run a similar large-scale discount campaign in the future.
Take this opportunity to enjoy Baobao Malatang at the best possible value and experience a new bowl of soup.
### Campaign Details
Period: Three days only, from Saturday, July 4, 2026, to Monday, July 6, 2026
Details: 50% off the total bill
Location: Baobao Malatang Tojouju Main Store
Future Outlook
In Japan, mala soup still carries a strong image as a 'trendy food' and has not yet become a common everyday meal.
Starting with the Tojouju Main Store, Baobao Malatang aims to establish mala soup as a 'new everyday meal' that replaces ramen in Japanese daily life and to create a new food culture.
We aim to grow into a beloved brand for as many customers as possible and, as a leading mala soup brand in Japan, spread this new food culture nationwide.
Store Overview
Store exterior
Store Name: Baobao Malatang (Paopao Malatang) Tojouju Main Store
Opening Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
Address: 1F Takahashi Building, 4-1-2 Tojouju, Kita-ku, Tokyo 114-0001
Access: 1-minute walk from the North Exit of Tojouju Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line
Business Hours: Lunch 11:00–15:00 (Last Order 14:30), Dinner 17:00–23:00 (Last Order 22:30)
Regular Holiday: None
SNS: Official Instagram, Official TikTok, Official X
Contact
Cinq Inc. Public Relations
Email: paopaomalatang@gmail.com
Phone: 03-5944-6622
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: New Product