Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Spicy Charm

    3.0 (54 reviews)
    ModerateHot Pot, Szechuan
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Spicy Charm Photos

    Business Info

    SPICY CHARM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Spicy Charm

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    麻辣烫 (spicy soup)
    Hendra W.

    My experience here yesterday was so different compared to my previous ones, in a bad way! Their food was delicious, yes. We ordered the dry pot and spicy soup. I am giving a 2-star rating because of how bad the service was and how the waitress (whom I believe is the owner of the place) was constantly making us feel uncomfortable. The first thing I noticed is they don't have their menu up on the TV above the counter (that's where the menu used to be), I have a reason to believe this was done on purpose as she is a liar. She then told us to help ourselves with the drinks but we only wanted water and she was unhappy about it because now she can't sell her extremely overpriced drinks! While we were working on our food, she constantly made uninteresting conversations with us and my girlfriend stopped responding to her. Fast forward, when we were done with the food, I asked for the check and to-go boxes, she then asked what payment method we would be using, we used credit card and she charged us $3.50 for it! Wow, great! Now, after she swiped our card and I brought the check to our table and she kept telling us to sign the check (at least 5 times in 1 minute) my Gosh!! Can't you see we have to put our food in the to-go boxes first? We didn't have the space on the table to sign it! Oh did I mention we ended up spending $96 for the 2 dishes we ordered??? Rip-off! Lesson learnt and I am NEVER coming back here again! P.S. I think this restaurant had a change of ownership, it used to be good and now is run by a mad lady. PLEASE DON'T COME HERE OR YOU WILL REGRET IT! 你要是来这家店,你真的会后悔的!

    Justin C.

    I'm giving it five stars to offset all the negative reviews so far... I fail to see how someone paid "$40 for a little bowl". No way. regardless, know that I actually think this place deserves 3-4 stars. My coworker finally brought me here on a lunch break. We were going to get four orders to go. We got there at about 12:30ish. TLDR: Ma la tang (numbing spicy soup) option is the way to go. It's delicious. However, ingredients aren't so delicious so you kinda have to mix it. Amazing to have on a cold day or if you're sick. They need to hire more workers. It took me 1 hr 40 mins to get my food. Also, bring someone who preferably reads and speaks Chinese. So how this place works is you buy the soup fo $1.50? and then you pay a base price for what meat you want (lamb, beef, pork?) and then you can add more toppings like veggies, noodles, tofu, and fish / meat balls and pay PER POUND. It's a bit hard for me to understand how this place works, everything was written in Chinese and I'm illiterate in that language. My coworker immediately noticed that they were low / out of quite a few ingredients. I think there were only two workers that were there when we went. One cooking in the back, one manning the register. They were out of lotus root, wood ear, spam, tofu.... squid strips? I'm not entirely sure. The list goes on and on. There were two or three tables of people eating already and a party of two ahead of us. I picked out what I wanted... I wasn't to sure what to get so I got fish balls, shrimp balls, beef balls, fried tofu, three types of mushrooms, pig blood, and some cellophane noodles. Was hoping they would have glass noodles like the ones at boiling point but nope. The other choices were something that looked like homemade pasta or ramen noodles. Oh yeah. you can either get it gan chao (dry fried) or ma la tang (numbing spicy soup). I opted for the latter. Mild spicyness Anyways finally, after my coworker waited to restock the ingredients, we gave them our orders. We weren't sure if we should get another order for another coworker and we finally decided to about 10-20 mins later. Even though people came in after us, I'm very thankful that they had the foresight to bump that order up so we could get everything at the same time and get out of there... Despite their efforts, it took about an hour and forty mins (1 hr 40 mins) to get our food. Finally. THE FOOD! They separate the ingredients from the soup. I was so excited to eat that I forgot to take pics... but the soup is basically liquid broth with a millimeter of chilli oil floating on top. Despite my efforts to mix the oil with the soup, the coat of chilli oil would float back on top... Pretty weird. I constantly mixed it the best i could to get a good ratio of soup and chilli oil on my spoon. Man the soup was absolutely amazing. Super spicy, full flavored, not extremely salty but I'd say above average in saltyness. The ingredients were pretty dry and tasteless so you kind of have to drink the soup as you eat the ingredients. For my personal tastes, the only thing I liked was the beef balls and the variety of mushrooms they had... plus the meat. They need to figure their stuff out... they need to hire / train more workers... and maybe get some menus and translate to english.

    a woman holding a bowl of food
    Kyung Sun M.

    Best mala xiang guo I've ever had. Seriously deserves 5 stars. I come here every 2 week or so with my friends. Recommend!!!! 10/10!!!!

    Shannon H.

    A little hole in the wall but do not let it fool you. It is pretty good. They are known for their dry pot & crawfish rice. I enjoyed both of them. Crawfish rice: delicious!! A lot of crawfish sit over the bed of rice. I recommend adding an egg on top of it. I ordered it very spicy but I couldn't really taste the chili. Overall a good dish. Only thing is that it is a bit oily though. Drypot: this is what they are known for. So you go in, tell them you want a drypot & they give you a bowl to fill up on your own. You basically get to customize everything you want inside your pot and they charge you based on the weight of the contents inside the giant salad bowl. I love love popping fish balls and fish tofu so I have tons of that inside my order. You choose your spice ness level after. Drinks are self serve. Recommendation: check this place out! It's neat how you can customize your own pot.

    Mandy W.

    It was someone that recommend this place for me. And she said they have really good spicy soup that I need to try it out. So I finally got a chance to come by for Togo. It was $8.99 per pound of the topping that you choose l. I didn't know how it came up to be $18 with these. I didn't add any meat not sure if that's extra charge. I have mostly veggie. And also I didn't have enough cash with me, but the girl told me NO CREDIT CARD so I went out to my car to check if I have more cash. I came back and told her I really don't have enough cash, can I minus the item that I have, and she said, It's okay I can charge you on the card. By the way, I speak Chinese with her. She didn't let me know that there's a limit on the credit card usage and there wasn't anything to inform the costumers. And lastly. The taste is ok.. not too impressive that I will come back next time. A little bit pricy too.

    Mixed Tofu and veggies

    See all

    Photo of Debra C.
    544
    132
    242

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Juyoung O.
    186
    42
    62

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tiffany C.
    2533
    1445
    9888

    6 years ago

    Helpful 43
    Thanks 0
    Love this 27
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mandy W.
    207
    9
    25

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ling C.
    121
    105
    586

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kris W.
    567
    586
    1055

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris K.
    6
    102
    52

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    I love this place!!The food is very good. And the "spicy" really means spicy!Love it!It is a home-like restaurant for me.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 127
    Thanks 0
    Love this 102
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    There is a problem with the store network. No cash, etc. Waiting for half an hour, it is recommended to bring cash.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Wow, $50 for a dry pot bowl that sells $20 elsewhere. What a rip-off. Be alert if you have to order here.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mocha L.
    11
    60
    39

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vivian C.
    269
    12
    3

    6 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mark W.
    11
    21
    10

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kl W.
    165
    54
    47

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Xing Y.
    33
    44
    7

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 2

    Spicy Charm Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Spicy Charm

    Review Highlights - Spicy Charm

    The dry pot is sooooo goooood I got to choose all the foods I love (a lot fish tofu) I'm really surprised with how low the ratings are.

    Mentioned in 11 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hot Pot 96,822 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Sichuan Impression - Tea Smoked Pork Ribs

    Sichuan Impression

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$
    7 years in business
    Speaks Mandarin

    My friends and I came to Swan impression on a Sunday night around 7:30 PM. They were still pretty…read morebusy during this time and I was not surprised by it. We've been at their location in Tustin and I heard this one was better than that location I was really excited about it. Teson is really good too, so I had a pretty good expectation on this location. Upon arrival, we were immediately seated by the staff member and she was pretty efficient and on top of things. I have attached here, but the ambience is pretty lively, but also not too loud. It was an enjoyable experience where you can talk with each other and be able to hear one another. At the same time, they had a clean and classy decor to their interior design. We ordered the stirfry lamb with cumin, shredded potato, and the chili oil fish fillet. The Lamb - 5/5 was perfectly cooked and seasoned with a very nice heat to it. Be careful because this is not for those sensitive to spicy food, but if you do like spicy, this has such a nice kick to it. The shredded potato - 5/5 one of my favorite dishes to substitute for the rice. Don't be deceived by how it looks. It definitely has a kick and can numb your mouth; however, you can still taste the pickled flavor in each bite. The chilli oil fish - 5/5 one of my most favorite dishes from both locations. Although the spiciest of the dishes, you taste the flavor through each bite. The dish is perfectly cooked and just dissolves in your mouth. Overall I am extremely satisfied with our visit and recommend coming here if you're ever in the area!!

    Came by Sichuan Impression and had a pretty mixed experience overall…read more We ordered the spicy squid tentacles dry pot, which honestly was a bit disappointing. The squid tentacles were tiny, and the dish felt like it was mostly filled with mixed vegetables. For $25.99, it definitely felt a little like a rip-off. On the brighter side, the Tea Smoked Pork Rib was really good--super flavorful and probably my favorite dish of the meal. That said, most of the menu is on the pricier side, and the portions aren't very generous, so value-wise it's a bit questionable. Service was just okay. No one really checked in on us, and we had to wave our hands a few times to get attention when we needed something. Overall, solid flavors in some dishes, but the portion size and pricing hold it back from being a full 5 stars.

    Photos
    Sichuan Impression - Boiled Fish with Ratton Pepper

    Boiled Fish with Ratton Pepper

    Sichuan Impression - Juicy Steamed Chicken in Chili Sauce

    Juicy Steamed Chicken in Chili Sauce

    Sichuan Impression - Mapo Tofu

    See all

    Mapo Tofu

    Xiang La Hui香辣汇 - Spicy Roasted Fish w/Red Pepper

    Xiang La Hui香辣汇

    4.2(357 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Yum! We were actually on our way to another sichuan food restaurant close by and drove by this…read moreplace and decided to give it a shot. I'm so glad we did! Most of the food here is delicious and authentic, and it definitely has more of a homey feel. We got the mapo tofu (delicious), wonton in chilli oil (delicious), golden corn (basically deep fried corn with salted egg) was the surprising standout, and deep fried intestines/ offal was good too. The happy chicken was a tad on the dry side, will skip. The pork belly dish was good too and a nice respite from the stinging heat of all the dishes. Don't get me wrong, the spice was strong, but in a good way. Ordering is done via QR code and service was quick. Great option for a quick meal!

    Since I no longer truly reside in the 626 on a permanent basis, my search for new Asian restaurants…read moreputs me in many areas to find the latest delicious food venues, and Xiang La Hui is one of them. This place is not for the faint of heart, if you're afraid of spicy food. However, if you're adventurous and like a little kick to your dishes , this is the place to be. I did ask for my kung pao chicken to be less spicy, but I ordered the Dan Dan noodles to be regular spicy, and it was quite delicious. The noodles had the requisite springiness in its bite. The Jamaican lady sitting at the next tables shared a spicy Tin Foil pork rib with me, it was also delicious. She also recommended the Happy Chicken dish. Finding out the best dishes is easy, if you manage to talk to the regular customers. Generally, it's really hard to find people like me who occasionally like to adventure out for spicy food, but this place hits the spot when you have a dried chili craving. It's a good restaurant to bring your good friends, there are several large round tables available, several rectangular tables with booth seats or chairs, and the portions are very good for sharing. There is parking lot located at the back of the restaurant, and also some limited street parking. In the dining area, there's a mounted television showing you the chefs who are cooking Szechuan dishes, twirling around the red dried chilis in the wok pan, dishing out the food, and you see people enjoying and eating the food, great entertainment if you're eating by yourself. Do check out this restaurant when a craving for delicious spicy food comes upon you, this place won't disappoint you!

    Photos
    Xiang La Hui香辣汇 - Kung fu boiled beef

    Kung fu boiled beef

    Xiang La Hui香辣汇 - Grilled lamb chop

    Grilled lamb chop

    Xiang La Hui香辣汇 - Happy Chicken

    See all

    Happy Chicken

    Szechuan Delicious - Dried noodle (dan dan) after it is mixed.. yum

    Szechuan Delicious

    4.5(68 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    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.

    The Kung Pao Chicken at this establishment is simply divine. Service is impeccable, especially…read moresince it's just this one older super friendly (and so patient) gentleman running around taking care of all the tables; that man is a saint putting up with likely one of the rudest group of diners who walked in as we were finishing up. Of note, their mild spicy feels like more a medium spicy/numby to me lol, as are most authentic Sichuanese dishes. Loved the mom and pop shop vibe. Would recommend!

    Photos
    Szechuan Delicious - Inside

    Inside

    Szechuan Delicious - Fried Sauce Dry Noodle (Dan Dan Noodles) - post mixing - excellent

    Fried Sauce Dry Noodle (Dan Dan Noodles) - post mixing - excellent

    Szechuan Delicious

    See all

    Sichuan Street Food - stir fried celtuce

    Sichuan Street Food

    4.5(101 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$

    I've been coming here at least once a week for the past five months, and this place continues to…read moreimpress every single time. The service is consistently great... attentive, efficient, and genuinely welcoming. Fair warning for anyone new to Sichuan cuisine, the dominant flavor is "spicy". That said, the dishes are not just about heat... they're layered, aromatic, and incredibly well-balanced. Every dish I've tried has been outstanding, both in flavor and presentation. If you're a fan of bold, authentic flavors and reliable service, this spot is definitely worth visiting. Tip - If you're new to the cuisine, I strongly recommend getting everything MILD spicy. I've been told by some of my colleagues that MILD spicy is still pretty spicy, so be warned. With that said, strongly recommend the dishes below. Lamb with Cumin 11/10 - My favorite dish here by far. Aromatic, flavorful, and the spices are just on point. Dan Dan Noodles 9/10 - Solid and consistently good. The sauce is properly seasoned and truly compliments the perfectly cooked noodles. Shredded Cabbage with Pork 9/10 - Not to be confused with twice cooked pork. This dish is so simple and bland looking, but it's packed with flavor... so good! Garlic Pork Belly 8/10 - This is a cold dish. The meat was perfectly cooked and properly coated in chili oil. Solid and consistently good. Kung Pao Chicken 8/10 - In my opinion, it's an elevated Kung Pao Chicken. Solid and consistently good.

    This place is crazy good. When you think of Szechuan food you're probably thinking SPICE, but you…read morecan adjust the heat of most of the dishes here so you're not frying your tongue off. It can get really busy, though, so expect to wait or just call in your order and take your food to go. I recommend the soy sauce tofu with beef dish. It's fire. Massive W. Gen Z words. Good.

    Photos
    Sichuan Street Food
    Sichuan Street Food - Orange Chicken

    Orange Chicken

    Sichuan Street Food - Rice- comes with the dish

    See all

    Rice- comes with the dish

    Spicy Charm - hotpot - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...