Malatang one RMB each. Customers keep the used wooden sticks by their plates, and when a customer finishes eating, the price to pay is determined by counting the number of empty sticks. In the mid-2010s "malatang" shops became popular in North China, especially Beijing. In these shops the ingredients are usually displayed on shelves, and customers pick their desired ingredients into a bowl. Behind the counter the selected ingredients are cooked in a spicy broth, usually at very high temperature for 3–4 minutes. Before serving, "malatang" is typically further seasoned with lots of garlic, black pepper, Sichuan pepper, chili pepper, sesame
Hot and sour soup depending on what is available locally to the cook. Possible ingredients include various combinations of pineapple, tomato, ngo gai, fried garlic, papaya, lotus root, Thai basil () and Thai chili. "Tom yum" is a Thai soup flavored with lemon grass, lime, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, fish sauce and chilis. Sour curry (Thai: แกงส้ม, RTGS: Kaeng som) is a soup-like spicy and sour Thai curry. "Sinigang" is a Filipino soup or stew characterized by its sour and savoury taste most often associated with tamarind. "Canh chua" (literally "sour soup"), a sour soup indigenous to the Mekong River region of southern Vietnam,