TLDR: Maybe try a different place if you don't like spicy food. SMH is my favorite restaurant of all time and I've tried a LOT of restaurants. Best appetizer is the pork belly swing (w/cucumber). The La Zi Ji Chicken will change your life and I recommend getting the Ma-Po Tofu (with a side of rice) too. Get the Pepper Lover's Chicken too if you can handle real spice.
I'd rate this 6 stars if I could.
I don't know how to start this review... I am a non-Asian guy who was introduced to many foods at a kid, but for some reason none have shaped my palate as much as traditional Szechuan cuisine. Somehow, it takes me to a place so foreign, but one that feels just like home. This place is the greatest Szechuan place of all time, in my opinion. The greatest PLACE of all time, for that matter. From the incredibly tasty to the friendly servers who I say hello to every time I come in, this is undeniably my favorite restaurant... OF ALL TIME (tied with their NYC location; I come here a lot more though).
Do NOT believe I'm not credible for saying this either... I've tried pretty much every single Chinese place in Flushing over the last 7 years and all of the significant ones on the rest of Long Island too. After all this time, I can confidently say that nothing comes close to Szechuan Mountain House. When I say this is the best, I absolutely mean it.
The first thing brought out is a spicy little salad, full of cabbage and spicy peppers. Yummy sour flavours in there too. Perfect, absolutely perfect.
The best appetizer is easily the pork belly swing with cucumber, which comes with a bunch of raised swinging (as the gimmick suggests...) thinly sliced pork pieces (I think 8?) each paired with a cucumber with a spicy, salty pool of garlic sauce below to dip each piece in. I salivate just conceptualizing the dish. This thing is AMAZING for group dinners because everyone can try one and there are enough for seconds. Great.
Now for the main courses... I'd recommend sharing them too.
It is so difficult to describe the emotions that La Zi Ji chicken sends me through from the first bite to the last... the crispiness but juiciness of each piece, matched perfectly with the hard hitting classic numbing spice from the green peppercorns. It's a must-have for anyone who claims to like spicy food. It will change your life, each piece being a gateway to a world of your most delicious dreams...
I haven't even gotten to the Ma-Po Tofu yet, my other favorite dish. It's less spicy than the La Zi Ji chicken, but it's just as good. Some advice with this one: it's great with rice. You scoop rice a spoonful of rice out of your bowl & put it on your plate, and then put Ma-Po Tofu in there. It's an incredible mix and contrast between flavour and texture. I'm getting tears in my eyes just thinking about thay beauty of a dish. Its elegance... size-able portioning... unique flavours... there is truly nothing like it and my favorite Ma-Po Tofu EVER. And yes, I've tried a million other places. Believe me, if I could find a replacement closer to my home, I would've.
The fish stew is not the greatest I've ever tried, as there are better alternatives, including B2J Tasty Pot in Bayside. But, it's incredible. I was told you're not "supposed" to drink the spicy fish broth. Screw that, haha, it's a masterpiece. Sometimes I take it home to drink the soup there.
In the Pepper Lover's Chicken, which is a non-crunchy chicken dish, the small pieces of chicken are glazed in spicy sauce. What makes this dish so spicy isn't the chicken alone though... the point of it is to eat it with the absurdly hot whole peppers. They add so much context to the dish and, from a critic standpoint, I honestly do not think the unbelievable spiciness takes away from the taste. From an average food enjoyer standpoint, however, if you can't bear crazy spice, just get something else. This dish is not to be messed around with.
I'll admit... the non-spicy options are lacking here. There's a decent cabbage dish and a few others, but the point of this place is to be a haven for spice lovers. If the majority of your group likes spicy food, I'd recommend. I had this situation before and the non-spicy food guy was fine here...
Alright, the conclusion. Am I romanticizing this restaurant a little? Maybe. But, it's soooo good, TRUST ME. COME HERE!!! And, if you're craving spicy fish instead of meat, go to Hot Space across the street. Also sooo incredible... omg, I love Flushing! read more