A pet restaurant in Shanghai has ignited lively online discussions among Chinese netizens for introducing a “dog malatang”, a self-proclaimed dog-friendly version of the renowned Chinese street food known for its spicy broth, sliced meats, and vegetables.

This “malatang” restaurant tailored specifically for pets has recently gone viral. It was founded by Hou Yi, the former creator of Hema Xiansheng, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, which also owns the South China Morning Post.

The first store opened in February, according to a report by Xinmin Evening News.

Traditionally, malatang, which translates to “tingly, spicy, and hot,” features a mix of meats, vegetables, minced garlic, and dried chilli peppers simmered in a spicy broth.

The canine version includes an impressive array of ingredients such as salmon, wild red shrimp, beef lung, beef liver, duck breast, chicken hearts, and blueberries, among 20 others, along with pet-friendly cakes and snacks.

Notably, in contrast to the typical method of boiling ingredients in water or spicy soup, the food is prepared using microwave heating.