Sichuan Da Ping Huo 四川菜大平伙

Da Ping Huo has been around for some time and since I am always happy to try out new spicy places I went with C one night. The food was pretty good but not good enough for me to go back since Sichuan House is the best ever! It was also quite empty and quiet when we went. I hear that the owner sometimes sings opera which is quite cool but that did not happen when we were there. I really did enjoy the spicy noodles though. I think it is worth a visit if you like spicy food! The reviews on openrice are quite bad but I don't think it's warranted... the price wasn't too unreasonable either!

Sichuan Da Ping Huo

49 Hollywood Road

Central

Hong Kong 

Szechuan Gourmet

New York has been freaking freezing and I knew that some hearty spicy food would be the ideal dinner for a cold snowy night. Szechuan Gourmet had pretty decent reviews on Yelp so we decided to check it out. It was Friday night and there was a slightly wait (15-20 mins). Once we were seated however, our food came out SUPER fast and I was very satisfied with my meal.

Sautéed Veggies 
Decently made veggies, not too oily.

Marinated Jellyfish
I liked how they cut this into relatively thick strips. The jellyfish was marianted very well and the texture was crunchy and refreshing. 

Scallion Pancakes
Nom.

Beef Slices in Hot Chili Oil
This was another well executed dish. The flavors were extremely bold and I enjoyed how the dish had lots of enoki mushrooms also. However, I usually prefer this dish made with fish filets. 

Deep-fried Cumin Lamb
This dish was not bad, but I did not realize that the rest of my table did not eat lamb and this was WAY too much for one person. The flavor was very interesting but I think the breading was a tad too thick and the meat had that fake tenderizer texture. 

Mapo Tofu
One of my favorite dishes! The tofu was very silky and smothered with a meaty chili sauce. This went perfectly with white rice and I would definitely order this again! 

Overall it was a very solid meal and I think that Szechuan Gourmet is a solid choice if you are in the mood for a spicy feast! 

Szechuan Gourmet

21 W 39th Street

New York

NY 10018

Sichuan House

I am a sucker for spicy food. My favorite fish cooked in chili oil was from Golden Valley in Happy Valley but recently C told me that Sichuan House in Central had a even better one! I've been to Sichuan House when it first opened and was not too impressed as I found a bone in my fish (I cannot handle fish bones AT ALL), but C guaranteed that I will love it so I decided to go again. The food was pretty decent the first time, just not too memorable.

The second time was definitely much better and I will be returning with my Dad who also loves spicy to this restaurant! The atmosphere is modern and sophisticated and service is polite and professional. I could tell that this restaurant really cared about their food and the experience of the customer because during my first visit they really took the effort to get feedback from customers.

口水雞 Chicken in Chili Sauce
While this is a very tradition Sichuan dish, Sichuan House put a little refined spin to it but deboning the chicken and making it into perfect little bite sized pieces. The chicken was very juicy and tender and the sauce was great.

夫妻肺片 Beef Slices and Beef Offal in Spicy Sauce
Another classic dish, well executed and visually appealing!

Pork Ribs with Celery, Onions, and Chilies 
The ribs were melt in your mouth and the spices that utilized in this dish was extremely appetizing and robust.

水煮魚 Fish Fillet Cooked in Hot Chili Oil with Potato Starch Noodles
There was no bone this time! The flavor profile was on point and I loved how the noodles were broad and plat instead of being thinner which is the norm in most places. This was extremely spicy and while I love spicy, this was definitely off the charts. We were all suffering slightly but recovered soon and continued eating. A definite must order for spice lovers!

Dumplings in Sesame Sauce
The dumpling skin was soft and tender and the filling was very generous and juicy. I loved the sesame sauce as it was very aromatic and delicious! I would definitely order this again. 

I was really glad that C convinced me to give Sichuan House a second chance! It is really close to my house so this will be a perfect and convenient place for me to get my spicy fix!

Sichuan House

7/F

M88

2 Wellington Street

Central

Hong Kong

Xian Famous Foods

Xian Famous Foods is one of my favorites in NYC! I was soooo happy when I found out that they were opening a branch 2 streets away from me. I even printed out this coupon and got a free noodle on that day (free food woohoo!).

I haven't tried a lot on their menu because all I do is munch on the oxtail noodle (extra spicy) but I really should push myself to try other items. I have also tried the spicy noodles in soup and the spicy cumin lamb burger but the oxtail noodle have been my ultimate favorite. I also went here with T when he visited and we had the lamb face salad. I did not like that at all, the pieces of the lamb face were too hard to chew for me and the greens also did not suit my tastebuds. They do advise against having it to go because the noodles really do get softer but I usually speed walk to my place and it takes literally less than 5 minutes. If you do plan to have it to go for longer distances you really should try to eat in at least once because it really is much better fresh as the noodles are much chewier. The staff is always friendly and this is a great place for a quick and delicious meal! The price is also unbeatable at around $6-8 a meal.

Remember that it is cash only!

Lots of yummy Chinese drinks! I love the soy milk

Spicy and Tingly Beef Hand-ripped Noodles in Soup
The noodles got a tiny bit soggy by the time I got home even though I was speed walking like a mad woman. This was really good but the extra spicy with the soup was a bit overwhelming and I much prefer it without the soup (like below). The beef was also good and was cut to a ideal thickness that could stand up to the noodles. This was good, but not as good as the oxtail noodles! 

Stewed Oxtail Hand-ripped Noodles
Ahhh my love. This is so so delicious. The noodles are so chewy and each noodle is different since it is hand-ripped. Some bits are thinner and some are thicker and wider. This makes each bite different and allows the noodles to maintain different textures and soaks up more or less of the amazing spicy sauce. The oxtail is slightly sweet and stewed to perfection. I only wish they gave me more of it! Just remember to pick up the nasty cilantro and celery bits! I am definitely missing this right now and can't wait to go back to NYC and eat it! 

Xian Famous Foods

Multiple Locations

New York