Prologue -12
Fish cake made from the shiny scales of silver hairtail -14
Dried Tofu -76 - Dried Tofu ...
Epilogue -132

A restaurant discovered by a child spending his 'birthday' alone.
What wish will the magic mala tang grant?

A birthday should be the happiest day.
But, Dahyun, who had to go to school on her birthday without even receiving a birthday greeting or eating seaweed soup, noticed a spicy hot pot restaurant.
A sign that says 'Mala Tang for Birthdays' and balloon decorations that look childishly bright.
When I went in, there was only one table.
It's unclear whether they're doing business or not, and a woman wearing a crude tiara and large jewelry appears.
Words that came out of the mouth of the woman who called herself Mama.
"happy birthday."

Aren't these the words most longed to be heard by those who, like Dahyun and Dongjun in "Birthday is Mala Tang," celebrate their birthdays alone? This book is a fantasy tale centered around birthdays, a time we all celebrate once a year, and mala-tang, a popular food item these days.
Although mala-tang is not originally a Korean dish, it has now become a well-established dish in Korea.
Although the unique taste and aroma of mala-tang are attractive, the advantage of being able to choose your own ingredients greatly appealed to Koreans.
This book contains an episode where a special ingredient in mala-tang becomes the key to granting children's wishes.


Than a wish easily granted by magic
What is more precious and happy?

The children's wish to eat mala-tang came true.
Dahyun, who is timid and doesn't have many friends, monopolizes the popularity of the class and becomes the class president.
After receiving praise from the teacher, the children continued to ask Dahyun for help and expressed their gratitude.
Dahyun feels great happiness in acting confidently.
The same goes for Dongjun in the second story.
Dongjun, who was forced to diet because he was fat and was teased by his friends for not being able to run, easily wins a running bet with his friend.
And I was able to eat whatever I wanted without gaining weight.
This wish, which was easily granted just by eating mala-tang, has side effects.
We usually like the four-leaf clover as a symbol of good luck, and the three-leaf clover, which is commonly seen as a symbol of happiness, is often looked down upon.
The splendid magic displayed in 『Birthday Mala Tang』 paradoxically makes us wonder if we are missing something precious, like a three-leaf clover that is right nearby.
If this wish wasn't easily granted by a magic mala-tang, but rather achieved through consistent effort, would there have been any side effects? Perhaps "Mala-tang for Birthdays" will serve as an opportunity to recognize the precious things in our daily lives that we often overlook or know we haven't done yet.


A handkerchief soaked with children's sweat.
What is Mama's true intention?

No matter what, the central character of 『Mala Tang for Birthday』 is Mama.
Mama, who looks like a very large woman, is a mysterious person.
She looks like an old woman, but you can't tell who she is by her laughter. She is adorned with a flashy tiara and large rings and earrings.
You can also see that children's wishes are somewhat different.
The children didn't come looking for 'Mala Tang for Birthday' because they desperately wanted to make a wish come true.
I just wanted to celebrate my birthday and eat some delicious mala-tang.
Rather, Mama's wish is more earnest.
(The reason for that longing has not yet been revealed.) The existence of Mama who appeared from nowhere, the reason why Mama collects the sweat of children, and even the surrounding magic shops that gossip with jealousy.
The mystery surrounding this mama will be solved as 『Mala Tang for Birthday』 continues to add volumes.
"Mala Tang for Birthday" is another good fantasy story that is fun to read along with these curiosities.