A Rare Gem of Authentic Sichuan Cuisine Yesterday, I…read morediscovered a hidden gem: Chuan Wa Zi (川娃子)!Szechuan Delicious! Every single dish I tasted--from the authenticity of the flavors to the freshness of the ingredients and the precision of the wok heat (huohuo)--absolutely blew me away. Usually, entering a Sichuan restaurant means being blasted by "spicy, spicy, spicy" and "numbing, numbing, numbing," with choices limited to just water-boiled, sour soup, or mala flavors. However, the chef at Chuan Wa Zi uses only the freshest ingredients to create dishes that are pure and original. My friends were all full of praise! The Highlights of the Meal * Morel Mushroom & Chicken Consommé: Served in a double-boiled stew pot, the unique sweetness of the morels combined with the delicate fragrance of the chicken was so addictive I couldn't stop at just one bowl. * Braised Lamb with Radish: This featured skin-on young lamb--tender and perfectly cooked yet retaining a delightful chew. The radish was braised until deeply flavorful, and the cilantro garnish was the perfect touch, elevating the aroma without overpowering the richness of the lamb. There was zero gamey smell. Eating the lamb skin provided a boost of collagen--a truly nourishing and warming dish. * Chengdu Baby Cabbage (Er Cai): Stir-fried in a rich broth, it was incredibly sweet with a hint of bitterness that perfectly balanced the richness of the lamb. According to traditional wisdom, "five flavors nourish the five organs." Sichuan's baby cabbage is only in season for one month during spring. It's known to clear "heart fire," refresh the mind, and improve sleep. * Sautéed Pork with Celtuce (Lettuce Stem): The pork was incredibly silky and tender, achieved not through baking soda or heavy starch, but purely through masterly knife work and heat control. Paired with the crisp celtuce, it was a perfect harmony of "silky" and "crunchy." * Sichuan Jelly Noodles (Liangfen): Added at the last minute, Jing (host of Oushang Beauty Spa) claimed these are the most authentic and smooth jelly noodles in Greater Los Angeles. Made purely from mung bean starch with no additives, the texture was clean and soft. The seasoning was light and balanced--just a simple blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, chili oil, garlic, and cilantro. From start to finish, there was no overwhelming spiciness or discomfort--just a comforting and refreshing dining experience that leaves you wanting more. House-Made Specialties It's worth mentioning that the owner personally prepares all the cold appetizers, such as the Smoked Pressed Duck and the platter of Handmade Sausages, Cured Pork (Larou), Cured Ribs, and Spicy Pork Head Meat. They were fragrant and meaty without any of the oily aftertaste often found in over-dried meats. We saw many people calling in to order these platters to go as snacks for drinks (xiajiu), and we definitely plan to do the same next time! Chef's Recommendations & Hidden Menu They offer a variety of other specialties like Pork Tripe in Golden Soup, Spicy Eel with Glass Noodles, and Basu "Glutton" Bullfrog. Some dishes, like our Lamb and Chicken Soup, must be pre-ordered by phone. Their classic Sichuan stir-fries--Flash-fried Kidney, Mao Xue Wang, Laziji (Chili Chicken), and Twice-cooked Pork--are all spectacular. They even serve Xian Shao Bai (Savory Steamed Pork Belly), a nearly lost classic that requires incredible knife skills and offers a perfect balance of sweet and savory. A Sweet Ending To wrap up, the owner's wife treated us to their Handmade Fermented Rice Soup (Laozao) with four-colored mini tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). Each color had a different natural flavor--sour fruit, rich sesame, and red bean--with no artificial coloring. The soup had a delicate fermented aroma and silky egg drops, providing a perfect ending to our feast. Closing Thoughts It has been a long time since I've had food this authentic that wasn't "scary spicy." I am truly grateful to find a restaurant that treats cooking as an art and operates with such a strong conscience and craftsmanship.

What a nice surprise! Authentic Sichuan dishes, delicious flavors, and very reasonably priced…read more Definitely worth a visit.

My favourite Szechuan place. Me n my colleagues all love it here! Great food and good service.read more

Busy spot for spicy Sichuan lovers! I think it's important to preface that there will likely be a…read morewait, even at odd hours. It's worth it if you can take the heat. The shop is small and service is alright but I'm here for the food anyway. My fav dish is the Sichuan kung pao chicken. It's got the tang and spice that the Cantonese version doesn't have. Another great dish is the kidney stir fry, but it's extremely spicy and there is no option to adjust spice level. They use the same base for beef throat and kidney stir frys. The stir fry beef was a disappointment due to lack of interesting flavor and soupiness. Also everything is quite oily, so be prepared to feel heavy after eating. Lastly, it's quite pricey compared to a lot of other Sichuan restaurants in the area.

My friend Jordan H. turned 50 last month, and I told him I'd take him out for a belated birthday…read morelunch. We'd been talking about getting Chinese food, and he picked Xiang La Hui, his go-to spot for classic Sichuan. I'd never been before, and was more than happy to try a new spot in the SGV. We met up at noon and stayed until the restaurant wrapped up lunch service and gently pushed us out the door, sometime around 2:30. The space was nice, instantly recognizable as a Chinese restaurant in Alhambra. It was pretty quiet the whole time, a good place for a leisurely catch-up. Service was fast and polite, though the combination of QR code ordering and poor Verizon service was a bummer. I had to cross the dining room to take down the wifi password posted on the opposite wall. We ordered a sizable spread for two people: Chong Qing fried chicken, dan dan noodles, wontons with chili oil, and pea tips with garlic. Everything was delicious, most of all the Chong Qing fried chicken, crispy nibbly bits of breaded chicken stir-fried with green onion and hot pepper. I love dan dan noodles and wontons, and thought both were great, if not the best I've had in the area. The pea tips were lovely, bright green and not spicy, but abundantly flavorful. I'd love to come back to Xiang La Hui and try more of the menu. It seems like a restaurant that does everything well, and I'll keep it in mind whenever I'm craving Sichuan.

Grab a meal here with my friends, and there was street parking in a small parking lot in the back…read more The food was delicious and spicy. We grabbed a few items to share across eight people, and it was more than enough. We definitely had to request for more water, but it wasn't mind numbingly spicy and could still taste the flavor of the food. Love that they have beer towers to share. When we went, it was an evening on a Sunday night so it wasn't that full, but it was a warm night so the doors were open.

This is a restaurant that serves Hunan cuisine, which is similar to Szechuan cuisine, but differs…read morein that their dishes do not have the fiery heat or numbing profile from peppercorns spices. Hunan cuisine relies more on fermented and pickled ingredients. 1. Silky Smooth Steamed Egg (5/5) I was initially thinking "jeez, $12 for eggs?," but when I saw the size of this dish, I immediately changed my mind. It's served a a very large casserole that can maybe serve 5-6 people. The egg was indeed silky and smooth; steamed to perfection without any "eggy" odor. The soy-like sauce that's served with it was light yet, added enough savory flavor to make the dish feel comforting and complete. 2. Braised Tenderloin and Potato in Casserole (4.5/5) The tenderloin was tender and braised in a sauce that gives it both savory and sweet flavor notes. The potatoes were fresh and they too absorbed the braised sauce well. The sauce I think is a combination of dark soy sauce, Shaoxing rice wine, and a bit of oyster sauce, which gives it that subtle sweetness. 3. Hunan Stinky Tofu (5/5) I must say... one of the BEST stinky tofus I've had in the U.S. Hunan stinky tofu is slightly different from Taiwan stinky tofu in that it has a black hue to it. I am not sure if it's squid ink dye versus the coloring that comes from the natural fermentation in brine. Taiwanese Stinky tofu is not black, but tends to be more pungent in smell. The Hunan stinky tofu did not have that distinct stink tofu odor upon its arrival at the table. However, after you bite into it and the tofu juice from within the crispy walls flow out, you do taste the "stinky tofu flavor." It's paired lightly with garlic spice green onion and cilantro, which neutralizes the stink and adds a zestier flavor profile. 4. Hunan Live Fish with Perilla Soup (3.5/5) I'd say this is an OK, light soup, but was not a fan of the fishiness. 5. Green Pepper & Poached Eggs (4/5) This dish was lightly savory and a great way to get some veggies and protein in. Despite the name being "green pepper," the pepper didn't look or taste like the traditional green peppers or horn peppers that you'd think of. It almost looked like a cucumber variety. Anyway, the peppers were tender, not spicy at all and when paired with the light savory broth, it's quite a good dish. 6. Spicy Chili Oil Tofu Strips (10/5) This is usually served cold, but their version is slightly warm, which was not an issue for me. I have to say ... this has got to be one of the BEST spicy chili oil tofu strips I've had. The spicy chili oil nailed it and had the perfect balance of heat and garlic to give it that robust flavor. The top strips were cooked well - bouncy and fresh. Definitely a must get!!! Service was "so-so." That's pretty typical for most Asian restaurants, so do not come here expecting the traditional American service. They were friendly enough IMO. Once the 1st dish came out, all the rest soon followed one after another - came faster than we can eat lol.

Been searching around for this type of black stinky tofu, I finally found it all the way down to…read moreTemple City.. :) the restaurant little compact is more likely an original family style. I'm hoping the food would meet my expectations as a long commute from where I live and worth the drive. To Go order Service is quick about 10 minutes. I will update more on how it tastes once I get home. It's actually tasty and flavorful than it's looked. Plenty of parking inside the big plaza.

I placed an Uber Eats pickup order for the Double Cooked Pork today (10 orders). After picking it…read moreup I I was kind of disappointed with the portion size. The amount of meat and veggies provided were not enough to feed 11 people for the price and quantity paid. Other than the quantity I thought the flavor of the dish had very authentic Szechuan spices. It goes well with rice. And I appreciated that they included complementary chili peanuts. This is probably a restaurant you would go for the flavors but not one for a large party.

Good thing I knew Chengdu is the capital of sichuan or i'd have totally missed this place. They…read moredon't put spicy or sichuan in their title and rest on their excellent food, and boy do they know how to numb! Dan dan noodles were excellent, as were the veggies. Quite the hidden gem.

Tea smoked duck! Order it! It's smoky, crispy, juicy and , savory…read more My go to order: numbing spicy chicken nuggets, stinky tofu, and duck. The spicy chicken nuggets has the right amount of numbing spice, paired with the crunch of the chicken, and filled with crispy chili pieces. The stinky tofu is fried and pairs perfectly with pungent garlic dipping sauce. The portions are generous and the price is super affordable. Most dishes range from 12.99 -15.99. The duck is around $28 for the whole duck, which is amazing in this economy. It's a small store so seating is limited. I've never personally dined in and always ordered takeout. And the boss lady that runs the front of the house? She is cool, sassy and a multi-tasking queen. You can tell she puts heart and pride into serving the customers and food. When placing the phone order, she will try to make sure that the food is ready when you arrive. And she will always say in mandarin in an almost scolding tone: "hurry up and go home and eat the food. It won't be as good if you wait to long to eat it! " Honestly...the scolding makes the food taste better.

4/5 vegan and vegetarian options are plentiful:…read more Lin's Club is a small family owned restaurant located in that cramped plaza at the intersection of Sixth Street and Duarte near the border of Arcadia and Monrovia. They have many classic Chinese dishes at a truly affordable price point. The food: We ordered four different dishes: green beans (v), stir fried egg plants (v), mapo tofu (v), and chicken with rice. For the first three dishes, we clarified with the owner to make this vegetarian (also vegan), which she was able to do very easily and without question. We communicated with her in Chinese, but she also spoke English to us, when we discovered that our Chinese was likely not as fluent as native speakers. Everything was flavorful, without relying on just an overwhelming amount of salt, and we really enjoyed the green beans that seemed to be cooked in fermented bean paste. I found the eggplants particularly tasty too! The service: This small store had so much business, so we did spend some time waiting before we could actually order our meal. The restaurant itself was filled with folks dining in, and there were multiple parties waiting for take out. Even so, once we did order our meal, it didn't take too long for all four dishes to come out. For these reasons, I can't say service was particularly attentive, but they were still polite and I felt like they did try to make it a good experience for us, even if it was so busy. Everything else: They accept credit card with a small surcharge. Parking exists, but during dinner time on a Friday, expect it to be full and very cramped.

I revisited during the week for lunch before they close at 2:30PM…read more For two people, we asked for two bowls of rice, but they brought out a red rice bin with lid. We ended up having leftover rice, and they let us pack it home. Farmer style pork Beef dry pot Boiled Fish with tofu (fish filet, not snakehead) The food is just as good as I remembered. This time the server lady didn't speak English. She offered cold vermicelli or cold noodles on the house for spending $50+. I opted for noodles, which had some cooked bean sprouts. They came to our table to collect payment on their iPad, so I used Apple Pay.

I called in beforehand at 5 o'clock to ask for the wait time - the server is happily made me a…read morereservation for 530 just in case there was a wait. As my family and I arrived for dinner, we were seated right away. Between the four of us, we ordered five dishes (forgive me I do not have all the names listed on the top of my head)- mapo tofu, string beans, broiled fish, garlic chicken, & spicy bite sized chicken! Each dish was absolutely delicious. If you like spicy food - it was a great balance between numbing and spice. The service was absolutely amazing as well - they always insured that our tea pot was refilled, and that we were tended to. As the check came, our servers kindly wrapped up our food for us! We'll definitely be back next time

WOW the beef noodle soup here is phenomenal!…read more I got the house beef noodle soup with a mild spice level, and it definitely had a nice spicy kick. The beef is sooo tender and the meat quite literally fell off the bone. The noodles were cooked perfectly too. The cilantro and bok choy were an excellent addition to the bowl for a nice refreshing crunch. The broth was spicy, hearty, and comforting. I'm definitely coming back!

Great place if you love spicy food The service was quick and…read moreeasy Definitely a cozy place for a meal with family or friends