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What a wonderful experience we had in this best kept secret in Ellicott City... The dishes were authentic Szechuan food. We met the owner, and the staffs who were so hospitable and caring. The place is small but cozy.
I learned when they say hot, they really mean it. Since i have never had Thai food, this was a new experience. I had been forewarned about the heat that comes from these peppers. The higher the pepper symbol, the higher the degree of heat. We asked the server how high of level of heat could she take. Admittedly, she was on the basic level like us beginers. We both tried to order soup without any spice or heat, but found it impossible because it is the oil base has heat. The cook made it as mild as possible, still neither of us could eat and enjoy it. Just too spicy. It comes down to a learning curve. Some people love this and handle the heat.
What an amazing unique Asian restaurant. It's very small. There are 2 long tables. One fits about 4 people. Other may be 6. Plus some seating by the window. It is super casual place. In shopping center. Easy parking. I first heard of it from Yelp event which i didn't get into. So. Off i go on my own. And it's really fantastic. Food is phenomenal I got beef noodles. Which cokes with broth. Spicy oil. Beef cubes. Good quality. Some book Choi. And noodles. I also got cucumbers and garlic. They come with spicy oil as well. Very fresh and delicious My partner got shrimp fried rice. Very very flavorful and delicious. Mango freeze was splendid I want to come back and try different dishes Service very efficient.
I went originally for a yelp event but I keep coming back! The Dan Dan noodles are just so yummy. The dumplings are also a must! Nice kick and very fresh and flavorful. I would try something new but these dishes just impress me every time. Def recommend!
Pepper House will see me again! Not super big, so prob not the best idea for more than 4 people to dine-in. A hole-in-the-wall spot serving amazing food with fast, no-fuss service. Star of the night was the dan dan noodles. Rich, nutty, and unapologetically bold. The sesame-peanut base comes in smooth and creamy, while the chili oil brings a slow, satisfying heat that lingers without overwhelming. The ground pork adds a savory depth, and those chewy noodles hold onto every drop of sauce like they know their job. There's a slight tang and maybe even a numbing kick depending on how authentic the spot goes, which keeps each bite interesting. It's comfort food. Singapore mei fun keeps things light and flavorful with fragrant curry, tender shrimp, and a smoky wok finish. The perfect balance of cozy and vibrant in one meal.
Come here for the spice. And yes you'll need some extra napkins! Had the Chengdu Malatang and ooof that numbing spice got me. Tons of tripe and veggies. Wish that the bowl was wider or bigger because I felt like I was going to spill it. Same for the rice. I enjoyed my food there and had plenty leftover for takehome to add more noodles/veg. A bit crowded seating and quaint little place. Ladies upfront were nice, checked in, and helped us with our togo boxes. cant wait to try other things like the dumplings. A full thing of malatang is a bit too spicy for me even less than the traditional one.
TLDR: Bold Sichuan flavors, fantastic noodles and big heat in a tiny, unassuming space. One of the best noodle bowls you will find in the area. Pepper House is a small noodle shop tucked into the bottom floor of an older shopping center in Ellicott City, and it is quietly serving up some seriously good noods. I stopped in for Saturday lunch and the place was already bustling, which is impressive considering the interior only has a few communal tables and a window ledge style counter for seating. Would not recommend for groups as it can get tight in there. The menu features a variety of Chinese dishes from different regions, with a strong focus on Sichuan cuisine and its signature numbing spice. For an appetizer, I ordered the Sichuan Savory Cold Jelly, made with mung bean noodles and that signature mala heat. It was a totally unique eating experience and an easy recommendation for anyone who wants to try something different. For my main, I went with the Tianjiao Lamb Noodles, which came with lamb broth, sliced lamb, spiced egg, bok choy and green onion. The portion size was just right and the flavor was out of this world. Spicy, numbing and deeply warming, it was perfect for a cold winter day. The noodles themselves are excellent, with a great bite and the ability to cling to the broth so every slurp delivers full flavor. Pricing is very reasonable, and you can easily enjoy a satisfying lunch for under $20. Pepper House is a fantastic find for anyone who loves bold flavors and authentic noodle dishes. I will absolutely be back.
Tip: order ahead or be prepared to wait for a table Pepper House is a top favorite of mine! Their chili oil is a staple for their dishes and a must to have a little spice. If you don't get a little spice you won't experience the full effect of the flavors of the dish. I can't handle a lot of spice, however, when it comes to certain dishes; I absolutely opt for spice. This is one of those times. At a bare minimum, ask for the lower level of spice. Starting off either their dumplings in chili oil; chef's kiss. These are the best dumplings I've had and the chili oil drizzled over them is the icing on the cake. The chili oil isn't spicy so there's no need to adjust the spice level. Trust me; they are highly enjoyable! Each bite gushing in your mouth full of deliciousness. Beef Noodles is my favorite. It comes with cubes of tender beef, rice noodles and bok choy in a soup that includes their signature chili oil. If you order to go; the chef preps the fillings in top with the hot soup on the bottle. This ensures the noodles don't be soggy during transit. The customer service is always superb from the time you walk in to the time you walk out. If you haven't tried Pepper House, do yourself a favor and add it to the next spot on your list.
Good food/portions, and great service! My friend and I love getting malatang and Chongqing noodles from here. We also have loved their housemade chili oil since they first opened. Good gift too!
Upgrading my review to 5/5 because it was even better this time. Loved the Chengdu Dan Dan noodles/ super spicy!
The food is so good. When you first arrive, the area looks really sketchy lol. From the outside I want sure if I wanted eat there. However.... I've heard so many great things I had to try them for myself. The restaurant is very quaint, with maybe 5 tables total. The woman who took my order was nice and explained things to me on the menu. My favorite dish that I would come back time and time again for is the Smashed cucumber salad.. OMG.. why would it be so good... slightly sweet, and nice kick of spice from the chili oil. Just perfect.
We were on a road trip and happened to be in the area when we heard that this place made 11th best Chinese restaurant out of 100 in the US. A little hard to believe a lil' ol place here in Maryland can get that high, but we were intrigued enough to stop by. It's definitely cozy... and cozy is codeword for small. It's small to the point where it's a little bit uncomfortable since people are waiting in line right behind you whjle you're eating. Food came out pretty quickly, which was nice. However, I was a little disappointed to see that the dumplings were using factory-made wrappers rather than hand-made ones. And yes, I'm spoiled, my mom makes dumplings with handmade wrappers, so I judge restaurants for using factory wrappers. It's not the same. And I get it, this is a small operation, mostly for takeout, so they need to run a tight ship. The chongqing xiaomian were piping hot and absolutely delicious, and same with the mala dry pot. My partner, on the other hand, found all the food to be quite spicy and could barely handle it, although she really loved the soup even though she thought it was really spicy, she couldn't stop drinking the soup. I thought it was fine! It could have been spicier, haha. 11th best is a bold claim that is hard to beat considering how many delicious restaurants are out there. All in all, Pepper House is a great stop, so don't hesitate to stop by.
The service was excellent and friendly, the restaurant was super small but very cleaned. Each dish has a different flavors profiles, I like all the dishes; although, it's a Sichuan restaurant they have different spicy level. My favorite dish was the first fish with the dried Sichuan spicies, crispy, tender; and full of flavors.
1 month ago
Everything we ordered was so good! We tried the Dan Dan Noodles, Soybean Noodles, Cold Jelly, Wontons in Numbing and Spicy Soup, Chengdu Dumplings, and Chicken Fried Rice. The noodles were definitely the highlight for me. The sauce was incredibly flavorful and aromatic, with a very authentic Sichuan taste. The flavors here really reminded me of the kind of noodles and dumplings you would get in Sichuan. I would come back just for these! The staff at the front were really friendly, and our takeout order was packed very carefully, which I really appreciated. Also loved the cute artwork on the walls, it gives the place a lot of character. read more
It was our first time at the Pepper house and they did not disappoint! It's a tiny place and you will share spaces with others. The food comes out in plastic to-go containers so it's easy to take home if any leftovers. Hands down they have the best dumplings. Their noodles are authentic and extremely flavorful. The owner knows what's she's doing. She's will come and help you how to mix noodles properly to maximize and uniform the flavor across the dish. I am definitely going back to try more. read more
11 days ago
1 day ago
What a wonderful experience we had in this best kept secret in Ellicott City... The dishes were authentic Szechuan food. We met the owner, and the staffs who were so hospitable and caring. The place is small but cozy. read more
4 months ago
I learned when they say hot, they really mean it. Since i have never had Thai food, this was a new experience. I had been forewarned about the heat that comes from these peppers. The higher the pepper symbol, the higher the degree of heat. We asked the server how high of level of heat could she take. Admittedly, she was on the basic level like us beginers. We both tried to order soup without any spice or heat, but found it impossible because it is the oil base has heat. The cook made it as mild as possible, still neither of us could eat and enjoy it. Just too spicy. It comes down to a learning curve. Some people love this and handle the heat. read more
What an amazing unique Asian restaurant. It's very small. There are 2 long tables. One fits about 4 people. Other may be 6. Plus some seating by the window. It is super casual place. In shopping center. Easy parking. I first heard of it from Yelp event which i didn't get into. So. Off i go on my own. And it's really fantastic. Food is phenomenal I got beef noodles. Which cokes with broth. Spicy oil. Beef cubes. Good quality. Some book Choi. And noodles. I also got cucumbers and garlic. They come with spicy oil as well. Very fresh and delicious My partner got shrimp fried rice. Very very flavorful and delicious. Mango freeze was splendid I want to come back and try different dishes Service very efficient. read more
I went originally for a yelp event but I keep coming back! The Dan Dan noodles are just so yummy. The dumplings are also a must! Nice kick and very fresh and flavorful. I would try something new but these dishes just impress me every time. Def recommend! read more
Pepper House will see me again! Not super big, so prob not the best idea for more than 4 people to dine-in. A hole-in-the-wall spot serving amazing food with fast, no-fuss service. Star of the night was the dan dan noodles. Rich, nutty, and unapologetically bold. The sesame-peanut base comes in smooth and creamy, while the chili oil brings a slow, satisfying heat that lingers without overwhelming. The ground pork adds a savory depth, and those chewy noodles hold onto every drop of sauce like they know their job. There's a slight tang and maybe even a numbing kick depending on how authentic the spot goes, which keeps each bite interesting. It's comfort food. Singapore mei fun keeps things light and flavorful with fragrant curry, tender shrimp, and a smoky wok finish. The perfect balance of cozy and vibrant in one meal. read more
Come here for the spice. And yes you'll need some extra napkins! Had the Chengdu Malatang and ooof that numbing spice got me. Tons of tripe and veggies. Wish that the bowl was wider or bigger because I felt like I was going to spill it. Same for the rice. I enjoyed my food there and had plenty leftover for takehome to add more noodles/veg. A bit crowded seating and quaint little place. Ladies upfront were nice, checked in, and helped us with our togo boxes. cant wait to try other things like the dumplings. A full thing of malatang is a bit too spicy for me even less than the traditional one. read more
TLDR: Bold Sichuan flavors, fantastic noodles and big heat in a tiny, unassuming space. One of the best noodle bowls you will find in the area. Pepper House is a small noodle shop tucked into the bottom floor of an older shopping center in Ellicott City, and it is quietly serving up some seriously good noods. I stopped in for Saturday lunch and the place was already bustling, which is impressive considering the interior only has a few communal tables and a window ledge style counter for seating. Would not recommend for groups as it can get tight in there. The menu features a variety of Chinese dishes from different regions, with a strong focus on Sichuan cuisine and its signature numbing spice. For an appetizer, I ordered the Sichuan Savory Cold Jelly, made with mung bean noodles and that signature mala heat. It was a totally unique eating experience and an easy recommendation for anyone who wants to try something different. For my main, I went with the Tianjiao Lamb Noodles, which came with lamb broth, sliced lamb, spiced egg, bok choy and green onion. The portion size was just right and the flavor was out of this world. Spicy, numbing and deeply warming, it was perfect for a cold winter day. The noodles themselves are excellent, with a great bite and the ability to cling to the broth so every slurp delivers full flavor. Pricing is very reasonable, and you can easily enjoy a satisfying lunch for under $20. Pepper House is a fantastic find for anyone who loves bold flavors and authentic noodle dishes. I will absolutely be back. read more
Tip: order ahead or be prepared to wait for a table Pepper House is a top favorite of mine! Their chili oil is a staple for their dishes and a must to have a little spice. If you don't get a little spice you won't experience the full effect of the flavors of the dish. I can't handle a lot of spice, however, when it comes to certain dishes; I absolutely opt for spice. This is one of those times. At a bare minimum, ask for the lower level of spice. Starting off either their dumplings in chili oil; chef's kiss. These are the best dumplings I've had and the chili oil drizzled over them is the icing on the cake. The chili oil isn't spicy so there's no need to adjust the spice level. Trust me; they are highly enjoyable! Each bite gushing in your mouth full of deliciousness. Beef Noodles is my favorite. It comes with cubes of tender beef, rice noodles and bok choy in a soup that includes their signature chili oil. If you order to go; the chef preps the fillings in top with the hot soup on the bottle. This ensures the noodles don't be soggy during transit. The customer service is always superb from the time you walk in to the time you walk out. If you haven't tried Pepper House, do yourself a favor and add it to the next spot on your list. read more
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Feng L.
Hi Athena,…
2 months ago
Upgrading my review to 5/5 because it was even better this time. Loved the Chengdu Dan Dan noodles/ super spicy! read more
The food is so good. When you first arrive, the area looks really sketchy lol. From the outside I want sure if I wanted eat there. However.... I've heard so many great things I had to try them for myself. The restaurant is very quaint, with maybe 5 tables total. The woman who took my order was nice and explained things to me on the menu. My favorite dish that I would come back time and time again for is the Smashed cucumber salad.. OMG.. why would it be so good... slightly sweet, and nice kick of spice from the chili oil. Just perfect. read more
2 days ago
We were on a road trip and happened to be in the area when we heard that this place made 11th best Chinese restaurant out of 100 in the US. A little hard to believe a lil' ol place here in Maryland can get that high, but we were intrigued enough to stop by. It's definitely cozy... and cozy is codeword for small. It's small to the point where it's a little bit uncomfortable since people are waiting in line right behind you whjle you're eating. Food came out pretty quickly, which was nice. However, I was a little disappointed to see that the dumplings were using factory-made wrappers rather than hand-made ones. And yes, I'm spoiled, my mom makes dumplings with handmade wrappers, so I judge restaurants for using factory wrappers. It's not the same. And I get it, this is a small operation, mostly for takeout, so they need to run a tight ship. The chongqing xiaomian were piping hot and absolutely delicious, and same with the mala dry pot. My partner, on the other hand, found all the food to be quite spicy and could barely handle it, although she really loved the soup even though she thought it was really spicy, she couldn't stop drinking the soup. I thought it was fine! It could have been spicier, haha. 11th best is a bold claim that is hard to beat considering how many delicious restaurants are out there. All in all, Pepper House is a great stop, so don't hesitate to stop by. read more
The service was excellent and friendly, the restaurant was super small but very cleaned. Each dish has a different flavors profiles, I like all the dishes; although, it's a Sichuan restaurant they have different spicy level. My favorite dish was the first fish with the dried Sichuan spicies, crispy, tender; and full of flavors. read more
2 months ago
Food is delicious, looks good. The food I ordered is not very spicy, I tasted good. I recommend more people to eat here. read more
I finally was able to try this restaurant today. We got there right as it opened so we could get a seat. We ordered the dan dan noodles, shrimp dry pot, beef noodle soup and spicy chili wontons. My favorite was the dan dan noodles and beef noodle soup. The flavor was tasty and not super spicy. This is a casual place where you order at the counter and either sit at the table or picnic table. I will definitely come back to try the other dishes and the prices are reasonable. read more
Some of the best Chinese food I've ever had! Bold Sichuan flavors with adjustable spice levels. The noodles are incredibly high quality, fresh, and al dente -- complementing the sauces and soups perfectly. No notes. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu, and can't wait to come back. Small space with limited seating, so it can get packed, but the service is efficient and the food is so delicious that customers eat quickly to allow steady seating turnover. Family restaurant feel. Take out options available. read more
My wife and I frequented Siroo and Juk Story, but never knew Pepper House was ranked 11 in Yelp's Top 100 Chinese Restaurants 2024 in America, located in the same shopping plaza. The space is small with a few benches. It was super busy when we came. I ordered the beef noodle soup and my wife got the same thing with rice noodles and no spice. She also ordered the mung bean jelly with the spicy sauce on the side. I also ordered a cabbage. At first I wasn't sure why the cabbage was $16, but when it came out, the portions were huge. Everything had great flavor. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the jelly was delicious as well. This meal definitely hit the spot. The staff would frequently check on us to make sure everything was to our liking. We will definitely be back. read more
This restaurant made it on Yelps 11th best Chinese restaurant list. The Szechuan food here is next level. Located in a small shopping center off I40. When you enter they have 2 long tables. 2 walls have all of the recent awards and accolades. My friends stopped by on a busy weekday. We ordered everything from the Chengdu dry hot pot, Tianjiao beef noodle soup, Tianjiao lamb noodle soup, Sichuan savory cold jelly, garlic smashed cucumber, Chengdu Dan Dan noodles, and the Chengdu wontons in chili oil. Wow everything was delicious. The noodles, broth and hot sauces were so fresh. Even on a hot summer day we enjoyed our soups. The broths were rich in flavor and the meats were so tender. This place is well deserving of all of their awards. I will definitely be back to try some of their other traditional dishes. read more
My friend told me about this place, and all they had to say was how oily it was. And they were right. I couldn't even reach the soup because theres an inch thick layer of oil. I ended up asking for another bowl just to pour out the oil, and trust me I am not scared of eating oil. Even my dan dan noodles had a pool of oil on the bottom. Like yea chinese food is oily but this place was too much. I'm also not a fan of the plastic containers even when eating in, especially for the hot malatang I got. But nevertheless food tastes so good and the flavor is amazing... its just not enjoyable to eat. read more
4 months ago
The service is outstanding here! I like that there are multiple vegetarian menu options. I would recommend the vegetarian dan dan noodles and the cucumbers - both so full of flavor. I also had the vegetarian malatang, although the spice level really knocked me out whew! Chili oil was the featured ingredient in our dishes - it's delicious but I wasn't expecting every dish to be so oily. We came early on a Saturday afternoon and were able to get seating, but take out is probably a safer bet. read more
Rated one of the best and for good reason. Came here after it was rated one of the best spots on Yelp. Got their beef dry pot and savory spicy cold jelly. Honestly a great pairing. I really liked how they did not skimp out on the spice level at all, without sacrificing the flavor. Honestly it was worth the hype. Service was super friendly and accommodating. Warning- the space is smaller, so be prepared to share your table with strangers or take your food to go. read more
Went here with some friends on a weekday, it wasn't too crowded inside. There was one other table of people dining in. The waitress was nice and explained a lot of dishes to us. I wish the dan dan noodles had more spices in it but thats a preference thing on my part. It's tasty overall and worth trying if you're in the area. read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
Fast, good, food and not that expensive. Small dining area though. I got the beef rice noodles, mild,. Well mild is different here at, PEPPER HOUSE, than say Longhorn Steakhouse. I got a plentiful portion with a nice balance of meat noodles and broth. Would have love o few more leaves of bok choy, but oh well. The peach green tea was excellent again another mouthful to wash some of the latent heat away would have been nice. Overall, staff ambiance, food 5 My mouth now knows to get no spice My friend got vegetable Malatang and mango green tea read more
Been wanting to try this place since a guy from work recommended. If I'd never had good Sichuan before I'd probably think the food was better. Everything had a slightly off flavor. I was thinking it was because we were eating hot food out of so much plastic. SO MUCH plastic. The smashed cucumber was good but it wasn't smashed. The dan dan noodles weren't bad but were swimming in oil. The beef noodle soup was ok. For 2 of us the bill was $68 which surprised me. The dumplings in chili oil were tasty. I'd rate it 3.5 stars. The spouse didn't like the food. So prob won't be back. Service was great and friendly. Tiny place and hard to nab a table when busy. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
Great service. The food is delicious!!!!! We will be back for more fried rice and shrimp noodles!! Everything was fresh and cooked to perfection. Check them out! read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
5 months ago
we ordered mapo tofu and Sichuan peppercorn fish. Both are super fast and taste very good. I'm Chinese and think both are authentic. The restaurant is lovely too, very pretty decor and atmosphere. Waiters are friendly and laid-back. Will visit again. read more
There was nothing subtle about this place, nor what I expect this type of food to be. The name is Pepper House, and it bears keeping in mind that the English word refers not just to the many varieties of chili pepper or bell pepper, but also black pepper, and even more intriguingly the Sichuan pepper native to this cuisine. The place is tiny and is dominated by one communal table, which I figured was worth putting up with in exchange for the chance to try a vegetarian mala hot pot. Ordering a peach tea was a good decision, although water did not come by default, and this is the kind of place where you might need some water. My hot pot came in a to go container, and despite the fact that I had not eaten much, it was so substantial in terms of pure volume that I did not quite finish it. I asked for extra spicy and insisted that I did not drive from some six hours away to get an average spice level. The result would be best described as caustic, but for those that can tolerate the heat, the flavor experience is profound. The base pleasures of salty and savory flavors clash with a weird astringent taste, and a hint of numbing sensation. While these places have many non-vegetarian ingredients that are bizarre from an American perspective, I found the vegetarian bowl quite nice. In addition to two different kinds of tofu, it did have some seaweed, lotus roots, and what seem to be thinly sliced radishes. Also plenty of Napa and a little bit of rice on the side. I got a bit of a taste of some of my party's dishes that were not ordered at the maximum spice level. These were also quite tasty. I did didn't see the house chili oil for sale, but if I had, I would've bought some. read more
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More info about Pepper House
10176 Baltimore National Pike
Ste 105
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Directions
(410) 418-8866
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https://pepperhousemd.com
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Ask the Community - Pepper House
Do you deliver?
Yes! You can order delivery through our website or other delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Chowbus.
Does your chef make spicy pigs ears in Chilli oil?
Yes! We sell Shredded Pig Ear in Chili Oil.
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