Sanku Maots'ai 三顾冒菜 (Newmarket) is a Sichuan malatang restaurant at 23 Nuffield Street, on the corner of Nuffield Street and Nuffield Lane, in Newmarket, Auckland. It has a 4.9 rating from 511 Google reviews. It is described as known for authentic mala flavour and fresh ingredients, with a large variety of soup bases, rice options and toppings. Reviewers praise a well-balanced spice level, mushroom broth for children and Sichuan-style broth for adults, a wide choice of fresh ingredients and a flavour that one Sichuan-born diner calls authentic.
Malatang is a build-your-own bowl: you choose raw ingredients, they are cooked in a broth of your choice, and you add sauces and rice if you like. Mala combines numbing Sichuan peppercorn with chilli, so pick a spice level carefully and ask for a milder base if you are new. Choose a mix of meats, tofu, vegetables and noodles, and add heavier items such as dumplings and mushrooms gradually. Ingredients are usually weighed, so choose with care. Lunchtimes and evenings are busy, so a slightly off-peak visit is easier.
For malatang and mala broths in Newmarket, Sanku Maots'ai is a highly rated spot