Tanghuo Kungfu Malatang brings the Chinese dish malatang to 113 Meadowland Drive in Howick, Auckland, holding a 4.8 rating from 237 reviewers who praise a rich, fragrant broth, fresh plump ingredients and a clean, warm, welcoming room. Malatang — the name means "numbing spicy soup" — is a choose-your-own feast: diners fill a basket or skewer with raw ingredients such as sliced meats, vegetables, tofu and noodles, and the kitchen cooks them to order in a simmering chilli-and-peppercorn broth. Most malatang counters price by weight, so it pays to balance hearty picks with plenty of greens. The broth is the heart of the dish; a good one is layered and moreish rather than harshly hot, and the numbing tingle of Sichuan peppercorn builds as you eat, so starting mild is a wise move. For a warming, build-your-own bowl in Howick, this well-loved little restaurant is worth seeking out.