1200 REVIEWS?! What more can my lowly review do to boost up the rating? After all I'm, for the most part, reiterating everything the masses have said. Although 3.8 is pretty low in my opinion, I believe this place should receive more of a 4.5 if I could do half ratings. Why? - Food has been consistently good and I know because I've been here several times ordering pretty much the same things (green beans, mapo tofu, lamb ribs and fried chicken); they MADE me like lamb which is huge because the only place I only loved it was in New Zealand, not a fan of the aftertaste - Service is friendly, food comes out relatively quickly; only suggestion is making more stops to refill waters/tea and ask if we are ready to pay the bill because we kind of need to flag them down for those things - Price is decent, def not $$, more like $ just because I split 5 large dishes among 3 people with LOTS leftover and it amounted to $33/person and in the era of 2026 with skyrocketing gas prices this is really good for tax and tip included - Easy parking in the area All in all, I hope this business is here to stay because I will be coming back again and again. read more

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I ordered several dishes and enjoyed most The problem with my order was the Mapo Tofu which contained so much vinegar as to be inedible It ruined the plate I prepared and the remainder (as well as my plate) had to be binned read more

Delicious fried rice. We came by here just for the rice because the first place we went didn't have any. I'm soooooo glad we found this place because it is officially our new "spot" in the bay. To help you understand... we ordered the rice, ate it on the way to Dublin and drove back to place an additional order for dinner. We live 40 min away. For us it is better than Din Tai Fung for the fried rice. Less greasy. read more

Apparently this is one of the local venues that Olympic Medalist Alysa Liu and her father, Arthur frequent. So our group of 6 people decided to try this spot for lunch recently. Even though this is a Szechuan restaurant, not all dishes are mala spicy. Plenty to choose from, for those with palates that are more sensitive to higher hot/chili spice levels. There are plenty of rice plate specials under $14, as well as a family style combo of 3 dishes for under $40 (rice not included for entree dishes, extra $1.50 charge per serving). There's also some vegetarian dishes to choose from and even dedicated sections in their menu for stinky tofu (which is what they're known for), and Hunan cuisine. There are chili icons on the menu to show the spiciness level of each dish, so that you're not surprised by if or how spicy the dish is. We ended up getting the 3 entree family combo and chose the shrimp in garlic sauce, mongolian beef, and pork with shredded tofu (which is apparently one of Alysa Liu's favorite dishes from this venue). We also added the iron pot with chili and 3 kinds of tofu (vegetarian) and a pot of rice to share family style among the 6 of us. A pot of hot tea was also a standard pairing. There was a good mix in spice level between the dishes we ordered but they were all below the high/mala hot. Mongolian beef had more white onions than scallions, the pork with shredded tofu was a bit salty for my taste, and the shrimp in garlic sauce also came with bell pepper, onions, woodear mushroom and a few bits of water chestnut. The shrimp and Mongolian beef seemed to taste very similar to me, and was coated with their gravy/sauce. Unfortunately, these dishes didn't seem to have noticeable wok hei to me. Food was average and prices are reasonable. Our group tended to stick to less spicy dishes, so I may come back to try their specialty mala spicy Szechuan, Hunan, and stinky tofu dishes. It's a cozy restaurant. Indoor seating has about 6 to 8 bench style tables. Service was prompt and our dishes came out fast. Lunch for 6 of us came out to a little under $80. They are open from 10:30am on weekdays and 11:30am on weekends, they close everyday at 10pm. And as many others have mentioned, CASH ONLY. read more

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We have always liked the value. Today, though, we received an order of Mongolian chicken which was basically sauteed onions (not even green onions) with 3 tiny pieces of chicken. read more

Spices 3 - Mongolian chicken. Mostly onions (no scallions!) with 4 tiny pieces of chicken. - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

Went to Spice 3 with a few friends and wow the food definitely has some heat to it. If you like spicy food this place will deliver. We ordered a few dishes to share around the table which made it fun to try a little bit of everything. The flavors were really good and everything had a nice kick. It is one of those places where you take a bite and immediately reach for your water but still keep going back for more. The best part though was the price. After everything we ordered the total felt like such a steal for the amount of food we got. Definitely a great spot to go with friends and share a few dishes. I would come back again. read more

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Spices 3 is my new go to for take out Sichuan food in the Oakland/Alameda area. My go to orders at any Sichuan space are mapo tofu, spicy fish fillet in hot oil, and spicy fried chicken. The mapo tofu here is perfectly smooth, soft, spicy, savory, and numbing. Make sure you have lots of white rice to soak up all the sauce. I always overeat when I get Sichuan food but no regrets!! I haven't tried the fish fillet in hot oil here, but I got the spicy fried chicken once and didn't like it as much. They had it as whole chicken wings rather than bit size pieces like other spots. So instead, I've recently gotten the spicy fish fillet with explosive chili lol which is like the perfect combo of what I like about the soft and smooth fish in fish fillet in spicy oil and crispy fried chicken. read more

Spices 3 - Mapo Tofu with Pork, Spicy Fish Fillet w/Explosive Chili - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

Genuinely one of my favorite spots for Chinese food in the US. I dream about the garlic snowed tofu and dry fried green beans on the regular; nothing I've tried elsewhere even comes close. They're just so perfectly cooked, boldly seasoned, fresh, and always come out steaming hot. It's a great place for the whole family because they're very knowledgeable about vegan options, of which there are MANY to choose from. Almost too many, because I inevitably want everything. If you're fortunate enough to live nearby, plan to make many repeat visits, at least on my behalf, so I can live vicariously through you. read more

I decided to get Spices 3 for takeout based on a local recommendation and it 100% lived up to the hype! I can't speak to the restaurant service but will check it out for my next visit. My food was still warm when it arrived as well. This time, I tried the combo friend rice and the kung pao chicken. For myself, this was plenty of food and I was able to even save leftovers! What I liked about the fried rice are the bites of onion, the crunch of the sliced green onion, the tender pieces of pork and the flavor punch of the rice itself. This is one of the best fried rice dishes I've had! For the kung pao chicken, I expected it to be really spicy because of the sauce and the dried chili. It was more of a slow burn with hits of spice in each bite that kept me coming back for more. I loved the bites of chicken with the crunch of the peanuts as well. Overall, I'm excited to try more dishes next time! read more

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Service was pooopooo. Server was rage baiting. They have a sign that says cash only. Two of us left to grab cash, the server told us we could have used Venmo when we payed the bill lol. Then the server went retarded, saying he recognized a couple people from our 8 group party. He said that only after he told us Venmo was okay. read more

The food here is fantastic!! I got the szechuan plate and was astounded at how flavorful everything was. The scenery is all very nice as well, I have definitely found a spot worth returning to. read more

Nice Chinatown spot for Chinese food. I love their Mapo tofu. They also have a nice family menu that's affordable. Mapo tofu, green beans, bok choy, Shanghai noodles with pork, and mung bean noodles. The bok choy was salty but greens were fresh. I would definitely ask for low sodium if you are sensitive to salt. Service is ok - fast for the food to come out. read more

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I have been recommended this place several times and I finally gave it a try. It definitely was not a disappointing visit. The chicken wings were very tasty - love the spices in it - though surprisingly was not spicy at all! I don't have a high tolerance for spice, and this dish was definitely doable. Don't let the three chili pepper mark on the menu scare you away from trying this amazing dish! The tofu was another standout. The peppers, basil, and the glaze sauce were a great combination for a savory tofu. It really paired well with the rice. The restaurant is quite spacious. Lunch on a weekday was not busy at all. It is also cash only. read more

Spices 3 - Sizzling Tofu with Basil - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

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Food preparation and delivery all went extremely well. The duck was delicious and the calamari was spicy.

Clean, fast, kind, fresh. The waitress was busy and juggled everything effortlessly. The busser/ gentleman helping was also kind and super helpful- constantly checking on tables and offering napkins/to go boxes. I was happy to receive hot tea as soon as we sat. Very nice touch Í don't always see. Would highly recommend. Genuine service and delicious food! CASH ONLY read more

Spices 3 - Won top soup, spicy beef bowl and combo fried rice- all half eaten. We are FULL! - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

Note: cash only!! Came for weekday lunch and only a couple tables were occupied. They have a pretty large menu selection, so my friends and I took forever to decide what to try. We ended up sharing: Salt and pepper stinky tofu ($11.95) Sichuan fish with bean chili paste ($15.95) Tan-tan noodles with ground pork ($12.95) Of the three dishes, the fish was my favorite, as I found it very tender. I have very low tolerance for spicy food, so I wasn't able to eat much of the gravy, but I enjoyed the fish and soft tofu with rice. The stinky tofu was decent, but I was underwhelmed by the tantan noodles as I found them bland. They have a ton of other items on the menu, so I'd love to come back and try the other dishes! read more

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i came here in December craving something to warm me up and Spices 3 did not disappoint! My friend got a noodle soup and I got the hot & sour soup and pig ears. My friend's soup was good (I tried a bit) and it definitely hit the spot. The hot & sour soup was good, the right amount of spice and sour. I know not many people like it but I did. :) I think I've had better pig ears, but it was still satisfying. The portion size was extremely generous especially for my soup. A big note is that it is cash only!!! I did not have enough cash and it was night time so I was a little annoyed that there wasn't a sign or warning (might be my fault). The service wasn't anything special but we had come late at night. Parking was fine and free but I know Chinatown area is sketch at night so don't leave things in your car! read more

Spices 3 - Middle left: pig ears; bottom right: hot and sour soup; top right: friend's noodle soup (forgot which one) - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

Coming into Spices 3 I was told that I would like it. Sometimes raised expectations can lead to disappointment, but I'm happy to announce that was not the case here. The vegetarian dan dan noodles were some of the best I've had with the sauce containing a unique profile of Sichuan peppercorn and garlic. An amazing "MSG combo". The flavor on the napa cabbage was similarly great and for the fried tofu, they perfectly nailed down the texture. It's crispy on the outside yet silken on the inside. Highly recommend this place! read more

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Ordered to go and they gave me some rancid tofu side order. How does tofu even go rancid unless it has been sitting for a month. I will never recommend this place or go here ever again. Gave me stomach flu so f this place.. read more

I came to Spices 3 on a Monday in the afternoon and there were 7 ppl dining inside. Plenty of seats were available. I ordered the boiled fish fillet and the chicken wing with explosive chili pepper. The boiled fish was delicious and decently spicy. I had boiled fish fillet from other restaurants and those restaurants use cabbage in the boiled fish. This boiled fish had celery and some other veggetables inside, which I didn't know what it was. The chicken wings were really salty and not really spicy. There were so much peppers and not enough wings. The wings were on the smaller side and were chopped up unlike the wings you normally get. (See picture) I walked from the 12th st Bart station to the restaurant. After walking away from Broadway, The surrounding neighborhood feels dangerous, as there were homeless and suspicious people who might rob you if you are not watching your surrounding. Safest way is to get dropped off in front of the restaurant. read more

Spices 3 - Chicken wings with explosive peppers - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

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My favorite mapo tofu in the Bay Area! The Szechuan flavor is intense and not for everyone, but if you love that spicy numbing effect, spices 3 is your spot! Love all their "explosive" dishes and chili oil fish. They've got lots of seating inside with these big wooden tables and benches. Service is kind whether you're dining in or ordering out. They are cash only (for dine in) though. read more

Spices 3 - Mapo tofu and green beans - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

Got delivery from DoorDash and the food came still warm. I got their spicy chicken wings, spicy wonton, and sweet and sour fish. My favorite was the spicy chicken wings. The price is pretty reasonable for Chinese food with good size amount of portion. Look forward to trying another items in the future. read more

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I've been coming here since I was a kid. My dad would bring me, we would get the Spicy Fried Fish, Spicy Chicken Wing, Spicy Fried Rice and Spicy Green Beans. Yes, we love spicy. The spice is definitely a big burst of delicious flavors, not your typical "spicy". You will not be disappointed if you love a zang of spice. Overall, this restaurant has always served 10/10 food for me as a kid and growing up I still make a 45 minute drive just to taste those flavors once more. read more

Spices 3 - Regularly shrimp fried rice , and Salt & Pepper Chicken, spicy green beans. - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

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I wanted to try this place and even paid the long-distance fee on DoorDash because I figured a Sichuan place would have fantastic hot and sour soup, but the hot and sour soup is one step above bad Americanized Asian food. It's mostly broth. It wasn't advertised as vegetarian, so I'm a little surprised it came as vegetarian, but that said, it was a waste of money. So much broth, so little else. The tendon in chili oil, though very flavorful, was just _swimming_ in the oil. So if you get that, make sure you have plenty of rice with it. I do need to indicate here again that the chili oil is very flavorful. The pickled long beans were fine, if a small portion. Lots of chili pepper mixed in, so they are hot. The mabo tofu was more like soup. Good flavor, but very liquid. The really bad thing is that this was not packed well. The plastic containers were not wrapped in plastic, and the tendon in chili oil was in a paper box and was not wrapped in plastic, so I wound up getting red chili oil all over my living room carpet because it had leaked out of the bottom of the box. I don't even know if I'm going be able to get the stains up. read more

We really enjoy the food here! We haven't been on-site; just DoorDashed, so I can't speak to the service or ambiance of the location. We've ordered a number of dishes over the years, including lamb with cumin spice, kung pao chicken, combo fried rice, spicy fried rice, eggplant, etc. Last night, we ordered the lamb with cumin spice (our favorite, such a unique dish, I've never had it at another Chinese restaurant), the combo fried rice (luckily this is chicken, pork, and shrimp because I don't eat beef), eggplant with chili (it was very flavorful), hot and sour soup, and 2 orders of jasmine rice. We've tried the spicy fried rice before and it's a little soggy-- I'd go with the combo fried rice. The eggplant chili was very delicious, but had WAY too much oil. We had to pour out nearly a cup of oil. On the other hand, we'd requested chili oil, but unfortunately didn't get any. Wish they'd add chili oil, hot mustard, and soy sauce for their take out orders. read more

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Ive eaten here 18-20 times over the last 7 years. Food is consistently good. The hours are great - being able to get a decent meal in the US after 9 pm isn't easy. The seafood options are extensive. Especially good is the spicy salt and pepper fish (dry-fried) and the Szechuan fish (in sauce). Large portions. Rapid service. Decent prices. Remember to bring cash! read more

Spices 3 is unassuming from the exterior, but the food is top notch. The service was prompt and professional. While my partner and I prefer our stinky tofu on the more pungent side, it was still quite tasty. We both loved the spicy numbing cucumbers and the chicken wings with explosive chilis. The garlic Chinese watercress was cooked perfectly and the Tan Tan noodles (not pictured) had just the right amount of chew. We got extra rice and an order of mapo tofu to-go, which was delightfully numbing. Highly recommend to those looking for a delicious meal! We'll definitely be back. read more

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Wow, the portions here are crazy huge and it's so cheap as well. So imagine my surprise when the food was actually good too. Got the garlic eggplant and mapo tofu with rice and was really happy with my choice. They were so generous with the eggplant. I could've sworn they used 2 whole ones to make the dish. The flavor was a bit too sweet for me though. But their mapo tofu was everything that I've been searching for. Spicy, savory, and numbing. One of the best versions of mapo tofu I've had since Japan. There are so many items here, and great combos too. Will definitely be back. read more

Spices 3 - Garlic Eggplant. Huge portion, but a bit too sweet. - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

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Walked around the neighborhood looking for a spot to eat. My boyfriend knew where it was and was describing it to me but I just couldn't remember. We'd been here before once a couple years ago, and at the time I suggested it. This time, he did and it was worth coming back for sure. We decided to dine in. No one was dining in but don't let that fool you. After we sat we saw quite a few people coming in for pick up orders and to-go orders. Part of the reason I came here the first time is because I saw the constant traffic in here while passing by. After we were seated we were served hot tea. We ordered vegetable egg rolls, fried tofu with crunch garlic - light spice level but definitely NOT mild. I liked it on its own but wish it were served with some sort of sauce. Soy sauce was adequate, but it didn't quite do the full trick. Would I order again? Yeah, my boyfriend isn't a fan of tofu at all but it's definitely a shareable plate. The tofu was crispy with a slight crunch, followed by the ultra crispy garlic and peppers. There is a LOT of garlic, hence the name on the menu being Snowy Fried Tofu. It's a dish for garlic lovers, plain and simple. Next up I ordered the Sizzling Chicken with Basil, which came to the table hot and sizzling served on top of a wooden setting. They knew this was a dish that many take home because I'm having it for leftovers tomorrow. It coming in foil was also great, making it easy to pour into a to-go container but aside from its convenient serving to make it easy to pack up, lets get into the flavor. For one, the spice level indicated on the menu next to the item is one , but it is served with many deliciously sautéed jalapeños, onions and leeks. Again, I love spice so I tore those jalapeños and chicken up! You'll get spicy, but not too much if you don't eat the jalapeños but seriously what is the fun in that?! The leeks served to slightly milden the dish, but my nose didn't get the memo. The chicken was nice and tender. Had to be thighs. This dish is a YES from the rooftops. The eggs rolls were eggs rolls. Enjoyed em with sweet and sour sauce. Finally, he ordered a bok choy soup with shredded pork. It is served hot, and I can't imagine it being eaten any other way because of it's thicker soup texture. It was thicker than campbell's chicken noodle soup. It's also very light in flavor and there isn't any spice. He enjoyed it. We were served attentively. I love that they don't have paper straws. read more

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Omggg this food was very authentic and delicious. Our server jacki was such a fun time and smart. Will definitely be coming back with the the family. I forgot to take pics of the other food but this was all my family let me take before they got to it read more

Spices 3 - Orange chicken - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

I was hoping this would be incredibly declious, but unfortunately I was a tad disappointed. I was craving Chinese food, and I am not one to regularly eat Chinese. The fried rice didn't really have any flavor which was quiet a bummer. The orange chicken was good. But the spicy wings were chocoled very loudly shapped and kind hard to distinguish whether we were actually eating a wing. I probably would not order. read more

The fried tofu with garlic was (5/5), however the spicy combo chow mein was (2/5). Highly recommend coming here but skip the chow mein. It had tiny shrimps, very little meat and was dry. The fried tofu however was delicious! read more

Spices 3 - Fried tofu (5/5) - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

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370-372 12th St Oakland, CA 94607 I stopped by Spices 3 last night around 8:45pm for some takeout after work. Originally I was planning on going to the Noodle House across the street, but it was closed. Parking was easy, and it was nice to see people dining-in at Spices 3. I didn't look at the menu, I simply asked for "Combination Chow Mein" to-go. The nice lady asked the all important question....."How spicy you want it?" I decided on medium heat. In about 5-10 mins the chow mein was ready, and I grabbed a takeout menu on the way out. Menu Price $12.95, Spicy Chow Mein, w/ small shrimp, pork, chicken (#156 on menu) I like their spicy chow mein. It's not super greasy. The noodles are thinner than regular egg noodles, and held up well as takeout. Lots of small shrimps, shredded chicken, and pieces of pork. Not a huge serving, but enough for 1-2 people. I would stop by again if I'm in the area. FYI- 12th St here is a one-way street. read more

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Even though I genuinely enjoy a couple of dishes here and literally live right across the street, this is a place I will never step into again. When I began to place my regular order, the server repeatedly insisted that the dish did not exist. After being told the same thing five times in a row, I actually started doubting myself and asked to see the menu. I then pointed directly to the item listed on the menu. Instead of apologizing, he shifted to pretending he did not understand what I was ordering. When I even showed him a photo of the dish, he told me the chef who cooks it was "in China," so they would not make it. It is perfectly acceptable for a restaurant to be unable to serve an item for any reason. What is not acceptable is treating a loyal, long-time customer with confusion, dismissal, and disrespect. The behavior from both the server/cashier and the woman who is always present felt intentionally hostile and deeply unprofessional. I have worked in the hospitality industry for over a decade, and this kind of conduct would never be tolerated in any serious establishment. The way I was treated did not feel like a simple misunderstanding--it felt discriminatory, dismissive, and frankly insulting. No customer should be made to feel unwelcome or singled out, especially in their own neighborhood. You rely on customers to support your business. Respect should be the bare minimum. Unfortunately, that standard was completely absent here. read more

This is the best place to get a really good appetizers for not that expensive. I love szechuan food, and this stuff is bomb. I always order the salt and pepper calamari and the salt and pepper tofu, and these make such good snacks with a punch of spice. Please note, this place is CASH ONLY! Totally worth it if you have cash to burn. read more

Go to takeout spot! My friend put me on to the walnut shrimp which is a must when I order. Also like their egg drop soup, green beans, and chowmein - although it does run a little greasy. I don't care though I love it! lol, guilty pleasure for sure. Their chinese donut and sesame balls are yummy too. Staff is nice, and I've never dined in but looks pretty standard in there. Only con is parking. read more

Not sure if it's a culture thing but the lady the answered and helped me today was rude AF. I called in my order and when I was done, she didn't say anything, just hung up. Called again to make sure she got it and she said yeah yeah yeah and hung up again. I called back and asked how long she said 15 mins and hung up again. I should have took that as my sign to go somewhere else. But I placed my order and I gave them a try. I had the Spicy Chicken Fried Rice but there was little to no Chicken in my fired rice. When I picked the order up, it's cash only, so I gave her a $20 and she slammed my change on the counter and said nothing else. I've never order in China Town before so maybe I'm just use to people being courteous and appreciate my business. Definitely not worth $15 for not very good fried rice and rude service. Never going back and do not recommend. read more

Spices 3 - Spicy "Chicken" Fried Rice - Szechuan Near Me - Oakland, California

Had to try a few new things on my work trip. Spices 3 has such an extensive menu that it will take me another 10 more trips before I get to taste everything in the menu. And the food is delicious! As many reviewers observed, this is a CASH ONLY restaurant. However, you can order take out online and pay by card. That is what I did. The cubed deep fried tofu snowed with crunchy bits of garlic, dried red chilli, and jalapeño... this dish is what will tempt me into the vegetarian world. This combination works really well! The other dish is not everyone's cup of tea but one of my favorite: pork intestine sautéd with basil and garlic. Slightly crunchy, the intestine was clean tasting with the basil and garlic rounding up one glorious mouthful at a time! Portions are generous, and I have enough for a second round tomorrow. Thank goodness for a microwave in the hotel room! read more

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This is my go to comfort meal, I always grab some takeout from here anytime I come back from a trip. All of their spicy dishes and veggies are amazing. I particularly love their spicy chicken which has a great mala/numbing spice and theme spicy chow mein. I always have to get a side of rice and a garlicky veggie to cut the spicy and it's makes the perfect fest. I've never eaten at the restaurant but their pick up and delivery are always fast and the quality of the food is always great. read more

Spices 3 is a keystone restaurant in the Oakland Chinatown ecosystem that everyone should try once. While the Bay Area's boasts a plentiful array of spicy Chinese regional fare such as Szechuan, Hunan, Jiangxi cuisine, I think that Spices 3 does separate itself in terms of quality & value from the few times I have been there. During COVID times, I ordered here a few times and all of the things I tried were fantastic and flavorful. The combination fried rice was a great base for anything that you may order to pair along side it, such as the Mongolian Beef, Salt & Pepper Tofu, and the Salt & Pepper Fish Filet, which all have strong salty and umami-ness to them. Most recently, I have ordered take out for a potluck and the standout dish that got a ton of compliments from my friends was the hot and sour soup, which was a great price for how many people it fed. One of the better hot and sour soups that I have personally tasted and is definitely on my go-to list whenever the next rainy day, hot soup season calls for it. read more