
I tried a new Glasgow restaurant where food is priced by weight
Before reaching the counter, they're distracted by the multi-coloured world of the pick and mix station and soon find themselves bonding over a shared love for gummy snakes as they shovel scoop after scoop of processed sugar in different shapes and sizes into their bag.
That's all fine and well. Heartwarming, even, to think of them sharing a mix of all of their favourite sweets while the crashes and bangs of the latest Marvel blockbuster push our ageing speakers to their limits.
The problem is, in my time here, I've weighed up hundreds of these sneaky, priced-by-KG parcels and know long before this one settles onto the scales that it's going to be costly.
Cue a cold sweat as whoever's paying realises they now have to part with a tenner's worth of SAAS loan to save face in front of a new potential love interest.
Pictured: Zhangliang Malatang on Sauchiehall Street (Image: Newsquest) I'm having intense flashbacks to these awkward exchanges after picking up a pair of tong and what looks like a large plastic mixing bowl at Sauchiehall Street's latest chain restaurant.
Opened this summer, Zhangliang Malatang is a build-your-own soup spot where diners take charge, choosing from an impressive selection of noodles, veggies and proteins before handing the whole lot over at the till to be cooked in a broth of your choice.
Whether you play it safe with chicken breast, mushrooms and leafy greens or get adventurous with bull frog, ducks' blood and fungus is up to you, and there can be as much or as little of each component as you desire. Like a savoury, grown-up version of a pic and mix.
Just the same as with those jelly babies and liquorice wheels at the cinema, however, the trick here is to avoid getting carried away or face a nasty shock when your ingredients are priced up by weight at £2.95 per 100g before being whisked into the kitchen.
Read more:
Although this place has just arrived on Sauchiehall Street, it is not a new concept.
If you're a keen TikTok user, you might be aware of a trend in which diners make a game out of guessing at the final cost of their dishes before receiving their bill at similar hotpot restaurants.
This usually ends with each of the shocked participants paying at least a couple of quid over what they anticipated.
Last week, a Herald colleague faced the same fate, underestimating the weight of his ingredients at Zhangliang Malatang and swiftly texting me a photo of his soup to debate whether the £17 price tag was fair.
I bear that in mind while picking out a mix of tofu, enoki mushrooms and rice noodles that will form the base of my lunch, wondering if this concoction will match his total.
Putting concerns over the end cost aside, the freedom of choice here is a lot of fun. I pinch at a generous bunch of coriander that would turn any herb-hater's stomach without a second thought, knowing that this meal has to please no one other than myself.
The staff are also extremely helpful, walking customers through how to navigate each step of the process from first picking up a bowl to hitting up a sauce station where they can create a dip with sesame oils, peanut pastes or chopped spring onions at no extra cost.
At the till, I hand over my final choices and request a spicy Tom Yam soup to top it all off before waiting for the grand total.
All in? It's a total of £12.75 with £10.25 for the weighted ingredients and £2.50 for the broth.
Pictured: My finished creation of fried tofu, mushrooms and vermicelli noodles (Image: Newsquest)
A competitive streak means I'm thrilled to have beaten my co-worker's bill, but I would be lying if I said I had held back all that much to achieve this.
When a deep orange bowl arrives at the table, there's a decent portion there, and though the broth is scalding hot, it contains a brilliant hodgepodge of some of my favourite foods like springy fried bean curd and thin vermicelli noodles.
Summer might be the wrong time to indulge in piping hot soup, but I can see myself returning here when the Autumn chill begins to bite in Glasgow.
Read more:
A wee bit of digging back at the office later reveals that Zhangliang Malatang originated in London and now operates somewhere close to 6000 stores across the globe.
A mega-chain though it may be, something in the self-service set-up and range of fresh ingredients helps to inject a sense of novelty into the experience and sets it apart from other big names in the area.
And truthfully, in the current climate, any fresh sign of life on Sauchiehall Street is encouraging.
Be mindful of your measurements, and this new addition to the city centre will surely rival the fun factor of any sugary pick and mix you might have had before.
Zhangliang Malatang is located at 258 Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


STV News
7 hours ago
- STV News
Full list of road closures as filming for Spider-Man 4 gets underway in Glasgow
Multiple roads are set to be closed as filming for the blockbuster Spider-Man 4 gets under way in Glasgow. Filming for the latest instalment in the Marvel franchise will begin on July 31 and continue across the city until August 15. Tom Holland will return as the web-slinging superhero in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Shang-Chi and The Legend Of The Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton. Glasgow City Council have confirmed multiple roads will be impacted when production for an undisclosed film gets under way next week. STV News understands this is Spider-Man 4. 'Glasgow welcomes a huge number of film, broadcast, streaming and advertising productions, and we work with them to ensure the filming goes as smoothly as possible while minimising the impact on the daily lives of residents and businesses,' a spokesperson for the council said. 'These productions bring a significant economic boost to the city every year, and have helped develop the film and broadcast sector in the city over recent years, with the creation of the studios at the Kelvin Hall complex being just one example of that.' The following roads will be impacted by the production: From 3pm on July 31, until 11.59pm on August 15 Bothwell Street between Pitt Street and Hope Street Wellington Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street West Campbell Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street Blythswood Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street Douglas Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street Pitt Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street (southbound closed) St Peter's Lane for its full length Bothwell Lane between Blythswood Street and Wellington Street St Vincent Lane between Hope Street and Pitt Street Waterloo Lane for its full length From 5am on August 1 until 10pm on August 9 Bothwell Street between Pitt Street and Hope Street Wellington Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street West Campbell Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street Blythswood Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street Douglas Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street Pitt Street between St Vincent Street and Waterloo Street St Peter's Lane for its full length Bothwell Lane between Blythswood Street and Wellington Street St Vincent Lane between Hope Street and Pitt Street Waterloo Lane for its full length From 3pm on August 7 until 11.59pm on August 9 Blythswood Street between Waterloo Street and Argyle Street Cadogan Street between Wellington Street and Douglas Street West Campbell Street between Waterloo Street and Argyle Street Prohibition of waiting, loading and unloading From 3pm on August 8, until 11.59pm on August 10 Queen Street between Ingram Street and George Square South Frederick between Ingram Street and George Square St Vincent Lane between Wellington Street and Hope Street West Nile Street between West George Street and Gordon Street Ingram Street between Queen Street and Glassford Street From 3pm on August 8 until 11.59pm on August 13 Bothwell Street between Wellington Street and Hope Street Drury Street for its full length Hope Street between Waterloo Street and West George Street Renfield Lane for its full length Renfield Street between West George Street and Gordon Street St Vincent Lane between Wellington Street and Renfield Street St Vincent Street between George Square and Wellington Street Waterloo Lane between Waterloo Street and Bothwell Street West George Lane between Wellington Street and Hope Street From 3pm on August 8, until 11.59pm on August 13 Prohibition of vehicle movements West George Street, north side between Hope Street and Renfield Street From 12.01am on August 9, until 11.59pm on August 10 Bothwell Street between Wellington Street and Hope Street Drury Street for its full length Hope Street between Waterloo Street and West George Street Queen Street between Ingram Street and George Square Renfield Lane for its full length Renfield Street between West George Street and Gordon Street South Frederick between Ingram Street and George Square (northbound closed) St Vincent Lane between Wellington Street and Renfield Street St Vincent Street between George Square and Wellington Street St Vincent Lane for its full length Waterloo Lane between Waterloo Street and Bothwell Street West George Lane between Wellington Street and Renfield Street West Nile Street between West George Street and Gordon Street Ingram Street between Queen Street and Glassford Street (westbound closed) From 12.01am on August 9 until 11.59pm on August 13 Drury Street for its full length From 12am on August 11 until 6pm on August 13 St Vincent Street between West Nile Street and Wellington Street Bothwell Street between Wellington Street and Hope Street Drury Street for its full length Hope Street between Waterloo Street and West George Street West George Lane between Wellington Street and Hope Street St. Vincent Lane between Wellington Street and Hope Street Renfield Lane for its full length Renfield Street between West George Street and Gordon Street St Vincent Lane for its full length Waterloo Lane between Waterloo Street and Bothwell Street Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


STV News
7 hours ago
- STV News
Spider-Man 4 starring Tom Holland to be filmed in Glasgow
Filming for Marvel's upcoming blockbuster Spider-Man 4 is set to take place in Glasgow. Tom Holland will return as the web-slinging superhero in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Shang-Chi and The Legend Of The Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton. The 28-year-old has played the character in multiple projects across Marvel's Cinematic Universe, including Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Zendaya is also slated to return for the fourth film to reprise her role as love interest MJ. PA Media His father confirmed earlier this year that the couple had become engaged. STV News understands that filming for Spider-Man 4 will begin at the end of July and run until mid-August. In the most recent movie, released in 2021, Holland and his fellow alternate Spider-Men, played by Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire in other movies, came into contact due to a multiverse event. The movie smashed box-office records in its opening weekend and nearly surpassed Marvel's Avengers movies. Marvel Studios confirmed in April that Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released on July 31, 2026. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country


Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Everyone's talking about Pedro Pascal's 'hot girl anxiety'...but is there any real science behind it?
is everywhere lately. Headlining TV and film's biggest projects like The Last of Us and Materialists, the 50-year-old actor has had his share of viral moments this year. Now, ahead of his Marvel debut as Reed Richards in Fantastic Four: First Steps, Pascal has gone viral yet again for having what his fans have dubbed 'hot girl anxiety.' In a 2023 interview, Pascal told The Last of Us co-star Bella Ramsey that he places a hand on his chest or reaches out to someone close to him to help manage his anxiety during high-stress moments, like red carpets and press tours. But social media users have recently branded his so-called coping mechanism PDA with female co-stars like Vanessa Kirby as 'creepy.' However, psychologists speaking with said physical touch with oneself or another person is 'one of the most powerful and natural ways' to cope with anxiety disorders, which affect nearly one in five US adults. They explained a hug or holding a loved one's hand releases 'cuddle hormones' that help form social bonds and reduce the body's stress response. Even putting a hand on your chest stops the release of stress hormones and stimulates the vagus nerve, signaling to the body that it's time to relax. And while a hug is no substitute for medications and therapy for those suffering from anxiety disorders, touch could help ward off an anxiety attack before it starts. Eagle-eyed fans and critics pointed to several instances of Pascal's touchiness. In one recent interview, he and Kirby were shown holding hands, hugging, and even touching each other's faces during the press tour for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. And on the red carpet earlier this month, Pascal was seen with a hand on Kirby's pregnant belly. The appearances have drawn criticism. An X user reacted in one tweet: 'me wondering why Pedro Pascal never has 'anxiety' around his male co-workers.' On the flip side, fans came to his defense, with one writing: 'I think most of the anger directed at Pedro Pascal is men not knowing what consent is.' has reached out to Pascal's representatives for comment. Dr Susan Albers, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, told 'Touch is one of the most powerful and natural ways to calm anxiety, and it can include anything from a hug, holding hands, even placing a hand over your heart.' She explained the 'key ingredient' is oxytocin, a hormone and neurotransmitter nicknamed the 'love hormone' or 'cuddle hormone.' This is released by the hypothalamus - the brain's hormone control center - during childbirth and lactation but also during physical social interactions to form a sense of trust. Dr Albers said: 'It makes us, when it's released, feel safe. It makes us feel connected and grounded, not only to other people, but also to your body.' This sense of security for many people dates back to infancy, when babies are best soothed by a parent holding, rocking or patting their back. 'These patterns, early on, regulate your nervous system and as an adult, we remember these calming pathways and they can be activated,' Dr Albers explained. She pointed toward psychologist Harry Harlow's experiments on monkeys in the 1950s and 1960s, in which baby monkeys were taken from their mothers and raised in labs. Many of them clung to cloth diapers, which researchers believe was to stimulate comfort that would have been provided by a mother's touch. Stopping an anxiety attack might not always require another person, though. Dr Michael Wetter, clinical psychologist at Wetter Psychological Services in Los Angeles, told 'Touching one's own chest—particularly in a slow, intentional way—can be a form of affective touch, a self-soothing gesture that promotes feelings of safety and groundedness.' Self touch stimulates the vagus nerve, part of the body's parasympathetic nervous system, which controls vital functions like digestion, heart rate and the immune system. When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it slows the release of cortisol, a hormone released during stress that sends the body into 'fight-or-flight' mode. This promotes relaxation and stress release. 'It essentially signals to the brain, 'I'm okay. I'm here. I'm safe.' This internal cue can interrupt the spiral of anxious thought and help re-anchor someone to the present moment,' Dr Wetter explained. Erica Schwartzberg, a psychotherapist in New York City, told that parasympathetic nervous system response, along with slow breathing, 'mimics the comforting feeling of being held, and it can be especially effective for people with anxiety who may feel overstimulated or out of control.' Someone with anxiety may notice physical side effects as well, Dr Pamela Walters, consultant psychiatrist at Eulas Clinics in the UK, told 'It's not all in the mind; it's in the body too,' she said. The release of oxytocin and slowing of cortisol has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce heart rate and calm the digestive system. In addition to small gestures like someone's hand on your shoulder, psychiatrist Dr Carole Lieberman points to specific moves. She recommended to a butterfly hug, which involves crossing your arms over your chest and tapping your shoulders or upper arms while slowly breathing in and out. Dr Lieberman also pointed to grounding, when 'someone puts their feet on top of your feet' to help you feel closer to the floor. And while self touch can be effective for those who don't have a friend or loved one to grasp on to during an anxiety attack, Dr Albers also points toward weighted blankets or stuffed animals, which simulate physical contact. Whether you have another person to hold hands with or prefer self soothing, Dr Wetter told this website touch can be applied to most situations, even if you're not a famous actor. He said: 'For many people—whether they're performing on camera, sitting in a boardroom, or simply trying to get through a difficult day—these small, intentional physical gestures can be a surprisingly effective way to manage anxiety.'