San Gu Hot Pot in Köln

Authentic, but far too expensive. 24 euros for a soup with a fast-food atmosphere.

This is the first time I went to a hot pot place and I have to say I fell in love with it. You get a small basket and you put inside the ingredients you want to put in your dish. Then, you give it to the cashier, select the type of soup you want as a base and after 5-10 minutes, voilà! You have your own recipe cooked and served by professionals! I was really impressed by the quality and variety of the ingredients they had (a little small variety of meat but great otherwise, possibly it was because of the late time). I went with a prawn and muscle soup with boc Choi, tofu, a slice of lotus and parsley, with the base soup D (little spice) and two portions of glass noodles. The soup was amazing and huge. Next time I will just choose another type of noodles (they were not the right selection for this type of soup imo) and a single portion because I couldn't finish my dish, despite being hungry! And I paid around 20 euro for this massive dish with high quality ingredients! Also, the buffet is really clean, the atmosphere is really simple and authentic, the people really kind and gentle (they allowed to finish my soup even though it was closing time), and the service fast. Oh, and I should also mention the really nice calming music! Perfect for a restaurant so close to the station!! What a great find, I will be going back there soon! PS. The only asterisk is they did not chop the parsley, maybe I should have asked for it specifically?

The food is great, the staff is incredibly friendly. And what I find most appealing is that 90% of the guests are of Asian descent. It's the perfect place for someone who wants to take a little "trip to Asia." 😉

I thought I was being scammed by Xiaohongshu again. It turned out to be super delicious!!! YUM ٩(๑❛ᴗ❛๑)۶

A very authentic restaurant with a wide selection—there's something for everyone. The prices are also totally reasonable; we paid €40 for two people (large portions) with drinks and rice. We'll definitely be back! 🤤

Ate there with five friends. A lot of Asian-style guests. The buffet presentation certainly wasn't that impressive, but the food was very tasty. You definitely shouldn't overdo the spice (if you're not used to it). The ambiance could be more elegant. My clothes (including my jacket) had to be washed afterward because everything smelled of food.

Very close to train station, the price is affordable, at least cheaper than the other 2 that I’ve went to during my Germany’s trip. The staff is very friendly and the must try is “San Xian” soup (you can ask to add some chili oil to add some spice), or red soup for spicy (I ask for medium, it’s not as spicy as China one), come with free flow rice. The style quite authentic! I refer as quite is because the variety of dishes they offered not as much as other Asia country. The restaurant is big and comfortable.

Very tasty and fresh. Highly recommended. 👍🏽

It's a place I always return to when I'm in the city. It satisfies my craving for a really spicy malatang, with that addictive mix of spices and flavors. They have everything: tripe, lamb, shrimp, tofu, and a ton of Asian vegetables. If you like spicy food and Asian food, this is an ideal place to enjoy leisurely, with a good beer and a good atmosphere.

I was quite satisfied with my lunch. A fantastic selection, very fresh ingredients, the sesame sauce was excellent, and the spicy soup was also very tasty. Really good value for money.

Update 2025: It's been pretty good lately. The lamb is quite fresh and delicious. ————————— Update 2024: The taste isn't as good as it used to be; it's just average. I've been going there every day since it opened, but I haven't been much since. I hope the owner can restore the original flavor. ————————— It's incredibly delicious 🤩. For just 10€ per person, you can eat all you can eat, and there's free flow of drinks during promotions. The ingredients are fresh, and the broth is incredibly fragrant! The spicy beef and sausage are especially recommended! Overall, aside from the long lines due to the high volume of customers, everything else is perfect 🌟 I hope this continues and helps Cologne overcome its reputation as a Chinese food desert! (The cashier is quite humorous 🤣 Thanks!)

I never expected to feel so taken care of by fellow Chinese people on my first visit to Cologne!!! We arrived in Cologne at 10:55 PM, having already taken a five-hour train ride. We were craving some hot Chinese food, so we called and ordered this maocai restaurant, planning to pick it up at 10 PM. Unfortunately, the train was delayed! We didn't arrive until 10:40 PM! The owner waited for us for over 40 minutes, even though we were supposed to get off work at 10 PM. As soon as we got off the train, we rushed to the restaurant and finally got our still-warm maocai. 🥰 I was so happy! Honestly, eating Chinese food is still the most enjoyable thing about living in a foreign country. The owner didn't mind us being late and even let us eat! And it tasted really good! The portions were generous! So fragrant! I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Cologne, hahaha😍

Not only is the food delicious, but the lady boss is also very kind and nice!

One of our favorite place to eat 💛

Delicious ma la tang right next to the main train station! Really fair prices, too. Exotic ingredients like frog and chicken feet are also available for those who like them.

It's so delicious! It makes me feel like I'm back home. It's right next to Cologne's main train station, so easy to find. I recommend ordering the quail eggs. For 13 euros, you can eat until you're full.

Have to say it’s very delicious. Staff also friendly. I like it a lot. I ordered mild spicy. But me and my boyfriend got diarrheas for the rest of the day after 20 minutes we left the restaurant. It’s horrible. We have been looking for the toilet everywhere.

Unusual concept, yes. Good broth... unfortunately, not. The soup lacked any depth and had too much Szechuan pepper. Otherwise, the ingredients were fresh and everything was clean.

The food was delicious. Signs at the selection counter would have been nice. Value for money 10/10

Delicious, the boss lady is very cute

It seems to have been open for two years, and I feel that the hygiene and quality are maintained very well. What touched me most was that even though it was closing time, they did not chase customers away. This is really a thoughtful gesture! Thank you very much

Super delicious and spicy food. You can freely combine your ingredients and then choose a broth, adjusting the spiciness to your liking. Highly recommended :)

Extremely dirty there. Dirty bowls, dirty cutlery. We left again.

Rel authentic chinese food. Malatang was delicious. Rice and drink refill for only few EUR

Great selection, food is addictively good. Been here at least 10x or more, and will keep being back!

Nice choice of ingredients and drinks! But make sure to not take too much 😓😓😓

Super authentic, extremely tasty, and fairly priced. I'll be back often 👍🏼

The best Chinese Malatang in Germany. Ingredients are fresh and clean, which is quite rare in Chinese restaurants in Germany.

This is the best spicy hot pot I've ever had in Germany. It tastes almost the same as in China.

It was delicious and the price was fair but you quickly take too much

I queued for half an hour, but they told me that those who ordered the right food would be seated first, and I was not informed in advance. This was too much!

The uncle at the front desk was very caring to the Germans, but he was indifferent to the Chinese. He ignored us when we talked to him, just like a robot. The food was not fresh, and I felt uncomfortable after eating. The meat was not fresh. I will not come again.

Very tasty. Self-service, then prepared by the kitchen. Very good value for money.

The best and most authentic hotpot restaurant I've tried in Germany. If you're really hungry, though, you'll be looking at around €30. Price is based on weight.

Delicious and inexpensive, 15 euros per person

😡😡😡 I just stood up to get some sauce, and it took less than ten seconds. When I came back, my spicy hot pot and beer had been taken away! There was still a lot of food and a full glass of beer on the table, and I didn't leave for long. I don't understand why they handled it this way. What's even more annoying is that the staff didn't apologize formally or offer any compensation. I have always liked this restaurant and often come here when I am on business trips, but this experience was so disappointing that I don't think I will come again. This text is written in Chinese using a translation tool. Please don't leave your seat, otherwise your food may be taken away directly.

San Gu Hot Pot is the best restaurant I've ever eaten at. The owner is very nice and friendly. Highly recommended.

The food is delicious, the boss is very nice, highly recommended!

It's delicious >< It's about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, with a medium spiciness like Mala Tang?

great portion with rice for 23euros, recommend！

An unusual Ramen restaurant. You choose your own ingredients and the broth you want, there are two types of bowls. Medium and large. It depends on how many ingredients you choose 😁 Interesting concept. Very good food. I highly recommend it to everyone. The photo shows a medium portion.

Anyone who loves authentic Sichuanese cuisine will be delighted. Good value for money, a snack-like atmosphere... And the huo guo: incredibly spicy—depending on the variety/level—and simply makes you happy!

Great place, you choose what you want in your dish, and the staff advises on the sauce. Payment is by weight. Good spice level, still tasty. The restaurant is clean, I really recommend it.

Friendly staff and original food

The food was very good and very reasonably priced for the price and there was a lot of choice and would come again if we were in Cologne again. Especially close to the train station, so perfect location and very tasty

Great place to eat, definitely recommended for people who like to eat quietly and at ease and are very hungry, I will definitely come back

Orders over 10💶, unlimited drinks 2.5💶, rice 1💶 all you can eat, you can season and mix by yourself, there are dry mix, red soup, sauerkraut and mushroom soup. The red soup is slightly spicy for fear of being too spicy, but I feel that the ingredients are a bit unappetizing ~ The store prefers to charge cash ~ If I order it again, I would recommend tomato/sauerkraut with a drink (sour plum soup, lemon juice, etc.) for 2.5 yuan, and make a spicy sauce yourself, which is equivalent to eating mandarin duck pot~

When I travel on business, I always eat the taste of home. The food in Germany is really not adapted to the local environment. The only drawback is the price. It is too high and it is difficult to eat as a takeaway every day. It would be great if the price is like that in China.

Amazing portions beautifully presented and delicious After a long day of traversing the many streets of Cologne this was the best Warms ya belly and heart with meaty and veggie goodness 🩷🩷 You literally pick what u like and is all custom made💜💜 Also the staff was very helpful and friendly even with the language barrier 🖤 Highly recommend to everyone!!!!

Great self-service hot pot. Very authentic. Many Asians eat here. The only important thing is not to take too much from the buffet 😁I can only recommend it.

One of the surprises of this visit to Cologne is that the mainland boss promoted Sichuan Maocai to Germany. As soon as I entered the store, the aroma of spicy food and Chinese medicine hit my nostrils, and my stomach immediately growled unsatisfactorily. The ingredients are very rich. Whether it is meat, seafood, vegetables or hot pot ingredients, they are weighed directly in the basket and all are priced at the same price. Then choose the cooking method, you can choose from red soup, dry mix, tomatoes, three fresh vegetables, etc. You can pay extra for all-you-can-eat rice, and for drinks, you can choose to buy bottled drinks or paper cups to drink all you want. The taste is so authentic that my friend went to the restaurant for three days in a row... Maocai is not as well-known as hot pot or Malatang. Let’s follow the trend and use Gemini to supplement it. Maocai is a traditional delicacy originating from Chengdu, Sichuan. Its characteristic is that various ingredients are boiled in a soup made with Chinese medicine and various seasonings, and then eaten. The following is a detailed introduction to Maocai: * The word "mao" is a verb, which refers to the process of boiling ingredients in boiling soup. * Early stores used bamboo baskets or sieve baskets to hold ingredients and lift them up and down in the soup to heat them evenly. * feature: * The soup base of Maocai is usually made with a variety of Chinese medicinal materials and seasonings, so it has rich and varied flavors. * Common flavors include spicy, green pepper, red oil, etc., which can be selected according to personal preference. * There are a wide variety of ingredients, including vegetables, meat, soy products, seafood, etc., which can be freely mixed. *The difference between Maocai and Malatang is that the soup in Maocai is usually drinkable. *Differences from other Sichuan cuisine: * Maocai is similar to Sichuan cuisine such as hot pot, Malatang, Chuanchuanxiang, etc., but there are also obvious differences. * Hot pot is usually shared by multiple people, while maocai is a meal for one person. * Malatang ingredients are usually skewered on bamboo skewers, while Maocai is not. * The ingredients of Chuan Chuan Xiang are also skewered with bamboo skewers. * How to eat: * Maocai can be eaten in various ways, you can choose a la carte or a set meal. * Ingredients are usually priced by weight, so you can choose according to your appetite. * Some stores will provide a variety of soup base flavors, which you can choose according to your preferences.

Very tasty, you can choose what you want to eat.

It doesn't taste good here.The kitchen is dirty

It doesn't taste good here.The kitchen is dirty

I ate maocai at Sangu and it was very delicious. The environment here is just like in China. My favorite is leeks + peanut butter + oyster sauce. It’s so delicious.

Last night I really missed Maocai and wanted to eat spicy food. Today I specially took the train from Aachen to eat Maocai. The food is fresh, the boss is very enthusiastic, and the other staff are also friendly. Highly recommended. I like to eat spicy red oil with rice and drinks. Have a great time eating 😊

Very tasty. Put everything together at the buffet, weigh it, pay, and it's time to prepare. You can take as much rice as you want.

Delicious hot pots - 100% customizable

It’s really a must-eat when in Cologne! ! This is very spicy

It's not as delicious as advertised. The spicy dry mix I ordered was just like that, better than nothing.

The taste is very good and the price is basically 15 euros and up. The boss was very enthusiastic and helped me charge my phone, but there are still areas that need improvement. For example, the food selection area is a bit small and it is a bit crowded when there are many people.

A new discovery when I came to Germany on a business trip. The boss is kind and the food is delicious! It goes well with Master Kong black tea!

Always cool. Authentic, good ingredients. Everything from seafood to offal, but also lots of vegetables, mushrooms and "normal" things.

Hi, if you are in for a nice Bowl/Soup/Hot Pot, this is your place to go. Its done as an buffet, choose your ingredients, let the nice people at the kitchen weight your tray and choose your soup flavour. BUT, please consider it can get pretty spicy pretty quickly so go easy on the spiciness on your first visit. (Unlike me) They also have nice dipps to add to your soup. The place is intended for a quick meal, but the atmosphere is nice to stay a bit longer. My go to Soup place near the Main Train station

It’s so delicious. I come here every time I come to Cologne and eat the dry mix every time! There is actually fresh coriander, and the vegetables and meat are very fresh! The store clerk is also very nice. Thank you :)

Very pleasant restaurant. Delicious food, quiet atmosphere and friendly staff. I can highly recommend it to everyone.

No black spots. That’s a lot for only 17 euros. Unlimited rice

The restaurant is highly recommended. It's slightly hidden, but it's easy to find with the map. When we asked, the system was explained to us again in an extremely friendly manner and there was a large selection of ingredients. The staff was also very friendly. Overall, the food is really tasty and it fills you up very well for around €20.

The first time you come here you’ll put way too mich in your basket but that doesn’t matter the leftovers are still gonna be delicious the next day.

Very tasty food at great prices

Incredibly great combinations possible. Large selection of ingredients. All I'm missing is a spicy vegan soup. But you can season it yourself.

I've been given the wrong type of soup several times! That's why I go there more often.🙃

Authentic malatang. We surely enjoyed it.

We were here for lunch and we really enjoyed it. The concept is as follows: you take a bowl and fill it with the raw ingredients you want to eat and the whole thing is then served with the desired broth. The selection of meat (including marinated) and fish is very large. And there are also things that you don't find everywhere, like frogs. Unfortunately, it's a bit inconvenient that everyone gets a pair of tongs and uses them to get into the bowl with raw meat as well as the other ingredients. Personally, I find it a bit unhygienic. It's also a bit of a shame that nothing is marked, so it's a bit difficult to tell what's what, especially with the sauces. The food itself is very tasty, the broth is nice and strong and you can specify how spicy you would like it. You can then mix your own sauce at the sauce station.

Great broth, great selection, fast service. There are also containers to take away, so everything you could wish for.

Best hotpot in Cologne! Delicious, authentic, and customizable with great proteins like beef, seafood, and sweet potato. The rice is fluffy, refillable, and everything is fresh and fast. Great selection of side sauces. Presented beautifully and you can choose the broth with its spice level and taste how authentic it is. The staff are amazing and helpful, and the restaurant is spotless, but some customers leave the ingredient area messy this isn’t the staff’s fault. Hope the guests can be more mindful and learn proper ettiequte this isn’t the staffs fault. I would just recommend separating the items with pork to a separate section :) Highly recommend and will definitely return!

The taste is good, the quantity is large, and the price is affordable. This is a store I frequent frequently. The taste of the red soup base is very authentic.

Delicious. If you like to eat, come here often.

This maocai is really delicious! The chili oil is very fragrant, but not stomach-burning. My friends who came to Sichuan with me said it was delicious. Recommend beef slices to everyone! very delicious

I go there regularly and it is my absolute favorite restaurant in Cologne and by far the best Malatang place I have eaten at outside of East Asia! It always tastes very tasty, a wide selection also for vegetarians/vegans. Everyone can eat whatever they want. The staff is super quick and accommodating. I always feel very welcome there and the whole atmosphere is just great. I always recommend it to friends and family, everyone has been thrilled so far without exception!

My classmates all said that the boss has changed! The ingredients are not fresh, not fresh, not fresh! It tastes terrible and tasteless!

A store recommended by several friends. It took about an hour to change trains and we rushed there for lunch together. The dishes are plentiful and fresh, the prices are affordable, and the store environment is bright and clean. The boss was super nice. Knowing that I was tight on time to catch the train, he helped us advance the train a few times. I wish the boss a prosperous business! ! I will also recommend it to more friends to visit in the future.

The spiciness of food is just right for people who like spicy food

Highly recommend! Very authentic Chinese Ma La Tang with so many choices! And good service!

The atmosphere is very pleasant and all the employees are very friendly. I always enjoy coming here. However, I have a little concern about the gentleman who cleans the tables. He doesn't seem very friendly.

This is the first time I have eaten at a Malatang restaurant with white rice. I had it once before when I transferred trains and I still remember it. It was still very good the second time. It is a must-try when transferring trains in Cologne. It is very close to the station. There are many varieties and the speed is fast. The soup is very fragrant and super delicious. Yes, and cheap!!

Tried the tomato soup and it was delicious! The fermented bean curd on the plate tastes great, you can try it

So far one of the best meals I ever had. The spiciness was perfect. I love the taste of the meat

Good environment, delicious food, and good service attitude from the store staff

I went to this restaurant today, and the experience was amazing. The boss was really friendly and the food was served quick, without neglecting the quality. The price was acceptable; it was 16 Eur for my portion, which I think is fair as I took quite a bit of everything. The soup was rich and excced my expectation on what a good Malatang should taste like. I would definitely visit this restaurant again the next time I am in Cologne.

The restaurant is very delicious. The seasoning is a bit salty for Asians but will suit Europeans. The selling price is very reasonable. However, the billing service has problems. I bought 2 meals and drinks for 43.33 euros. I gave him 3 20 euro notes. However, he only gave me back 1 5 euro note, 1 1 euro coin and 1 50 cent coin. I also told him but he used Chinese to talk. Being Asian, I understand what's going on. I also don't want to argue. This is the 2nd time I have eaten at the restaurant in 1 week of a business trip. Very good first experience. But the second time it wasn't like that.

A great soup kitchen with ultra-fast service. Very tasty and plentiful. Price/performance is reasonable.

Very nice staff with a very good atmosphere. The cuisine is authentic and not very expensive. I highly recommend

If you are looking for authentic Chinese food, this is the right place to go. Good service!

This was the best Chinese restaurant I ate at in Europe. My hotel is very close. Every time I passed by, I encountered many Chinese people. If they always go somewhere, it is the best. I prepared a plate with plenty of meat for myself. Everything was great. I recommend this place to everyone.

San Gu is a very authentic and delicious restaurant. Unfortunately, I've never been to China, but that's how I imagine it would be in a local restaurant. Price performance is great, especially because you can choose the price yourself, so to speak 👍🏼. The Chinese beer here also tastes good, the only drawback was that Tailor Swift was playing at one point 🤣🤣. We'll definitely be back 😎👍🏼.

Tastes good, strangely an old man stares lustfully at the customers. 🤢🥴

I didn't know hot pot in that form yet, so I didn't have any "work" of my own. But it also works very well. Payment is made by the gram or kilo for the greedy. And there are bowls that are big enough for them too. 😄

Great enrichment for Cologne. Good food for good prices close to the train station and Eigelstein. Many students at the music college. Fast, friendly service, everything was clean and appetizing.

100% recommended. Since we couldn't find a place nearby with typical German food we decided to come here and it is a great typical Chinese place. They treated us great in English, they explained everything to us in detail, they were super friendly and you can get rice from a rice cooker as much as you want whenever you want for free. I wish I had one like this near where I live.