Spicy Szechuan

It seems that the last time I had written a review here (long time ago and it’s not on Unilocal anymore) I gave it some pretty decent thumbs up. Then it was more Shanghai than Szechuan. Now with new owners (@late July ish /​August 2014) it’s real spicy and really good.
If you can’t handle the heat, don’t bother. You need to have an iron stomach.
If you can’t smell the cooked chilies permeating the air. No more like if you can’t smell the burning sensation of the chilies being fried in the air, so strong that you could cry.
Then you know you’re in the right place.
1-​Cumin Mutton — Fragrent and spicy good chunks of assorted sized meats coated in cumin and pan fried on a bed of onions and chilies.
2-​Hot n Sour Soup — this version is a bit starchier than I usually like but still good.
3-​Pan fried black fungus — «ma-​lat» and spicy. Will numb your toungue and lips and bun your goozle.
4-​Double cooked pork slices — imagine bacon, but spicy fried with cabbage
5– Ma Po Tofu Szechuan style — lots of Szechuan peppercorns for that ‘ma-​lat’ heat.
This version is a bit dryer than others, but it’s good.
Szechuan food can be salty so drink lots of water and eat each bit with rice.
In hot regions in the world spicy and salty are great combinations when your «woking» up a sweat or just when your eating.
Advice? it’s good to eat spicy foods when you’re feeling a cold coming on.
For the Japanese — they have a waitress who speaks Japanese. Other than that, expect basic Chinese service. If you know what I mean.

Well, has potential to be a 4-​star since only tried the diced, spicy chicken over roasted seaweed, have to say it’s worth eating again!
Next time will order the more authentic stuff.
Clean décor, simple white tablecloths but not high-​end like a Kirin.
Free parking in mini-​plaza, there’s a Dairy Queen :)
Closed Tuesdays.

The food at this restaurant is generally quite good and the service is decent, but the some of the item’s prices are a little bit on the high side. I felt that a small order of the hot and sour soup was not worth $ 9.95 and the small plate of jellyfish was $ 7.5, much higher than similar restaurants. Otherwise, the pastry, dumplings and noodle dishes are price on par with other restaurants. I felt that this restaurant is worth a try if you order their reasonable priced dishes and you should be satisfied.

We had 5 people came to a quick dinner on a late Monday evening at 8 pm. Place was not busy at all.
We ordered a set dinner for 6 with 1 order of the pork dumpling (8), and an extra dish of spareribs with chestnut (not as good as I expected.) The other duck and string bean dish were just OK.
I only like their dumplings which was comparable with those in Ding Tai Fung. We have had much better Szechuan foods elsewhere.

I always remember Richmond for having GREAT xlbs and I usually compare other xlbs from CA and NY to the one’s I’ve consummed here. So naturally, my visit to Richmond had to start off with some xlbs and that it did!
Here’s the lo-​down of what was ordered:
–pork xlbs: 8 in an order with thin skin, clear broth and a good amount of meat. Fresh tasting meat with no MSG flavor.
–pot stickers: good skin but oily and surprisingly with juice inside
–scallion pancake: lightly salted with more than enough green onions. Very flaky and light.
–pan fried pork bun: dense and salty meat
Overall, the food was great and I was very happy with the xlbs. I would definitely come back. Not sure how much the items were since I didn’t pay. Service was standard.

My large extended family feasted in the back room where I had the unfortunate experience of sitting at the table where the waiters wanted to place our food on the lazy Susan. With utter disregard for my presence, they all pushed me aside and squeezed against me as they set our dishes down.
The food was pretty good, but I’ve had better. I particularly enjoyed the soup and the fried crabs!