Top 100 Regional & Specialty Chinese Cuisines (2009)
Comments(25)
Reviewed by:
Angela F. W. on:
3/26/2013 10:20:00 PM
This place offers some authentic Chinese cuisine for sure. The reason why I am not giving it five star is because I only visited once so I can't comment on whether or not the flavor is consistent. But based on my one time experience last year, it was definitely one of the best Chinese I've had in the area. I took my dad there who was visiting me from Beijing at the time. Even he thought the food was pretty legit. If I am ever in DFW, I will certainly visit this restaurant again.
Reviewed by:
Elaine A. on:
3/9/2013 1:05:00 PM
coming here you need to know what to order, otherwise, it can be a disaster. things like noodles which they make themselves - good choice, things that are spicy because it's the origin of Sichuan - good choice; anything else, you are ordering is at your own risk. My main complain is that they do use a lot of MSG, so prepare to be downing gallons of water after your meal. The reason I gave this place a 4 stars, is because, again, if you know how to order, your meal will be excellent.
Reviewed by:
Anthony C. on:
2/22/2013 1:30:00 AM
...not sure how this place has 4 stars. I came in to eat with the impression it would be great given their banners of 'top 100 chinese restaurants'.1st impression walking in looked clean, until i went to the restroom... holy cow it made me lose my appetite. dingy, humid, and disgusting. Washed my hands with the soap available and got the hell out of there in fear i may get tetanus or contract an STD by breathing.2nd impression on the ordering, while talking with the asian waiter and waitress, yes we were served by not one but two different people who blankly stared at us after we placed our orders in mandarin. I'm baffled why they couldn't understand us, because earlier while i was heading to the restroom they were speaking fluent mandarin.3rd impression. the food. the dandan noodles, the second worst I've ever had...way too much peanut sauce, not sure but this could be the new trend...salty peanut paste noodles = dan dan noodle? even Pei Wei can get this closer to the real deal. then we also got a plate of the green onion pancakes. WHERE WERE THE GREEN ONIONS? after looking for them i found a patch and sunk my teeth into them...SALTY as the sea! The last dish we ordered was the beef noodle soup not spicy, we wanted a clean soup this time, but presentation what were they thinking? The rim of the bowl came up maybe 2.5 inches...cool but seriously not practical or conducive to happy eating.overall 1 star, wish I could say I'm a fan because i like sichuan style foods. I think this is more catered towards the typical american chinese fans and not the secret menu chinese food fans....p.s. there was only one menu + the white board....but even though we didn't order the white board menu items, how do you screw those three dishes up...those are CLASSICS!
Reviewed by:
Michael W. on:
2/8/2013 9:38:00 PM
Nice place. Clean. Friendly and attentive staff. Food was good.
Reviewed by:
Steve M. on:
1/25/2013 11:19:00 PM
Since I am a fan of sichuan spice I was told to give this place a try. For the benchmark I ordered what i usually order at sichuan restaurants, the boiled beef in fiery sauce which is called the napa cabbage beef here. The service was good and the food came out fast. This place is definitely worth a visit if you love spicy dishes but for sichuan my favorite is still Royal Sichuan in Richardson.
Reviewed by:
Neena W. on:
12/14/2012 4:58:00 AM
To be honest, this is one of those places that I was having difficulty to rate, since I had much better Sichuan food elsewhere. However, for the DFW area, I believe this place deserves at least 4 stars. A good effort to provide some authentic Chinese Sichuan-Style Cuisine at least.For example, I always come here for the appetizers, especially the famous Sichuan appetizer called husband and wife's lung slices (in direct translation, sounds scary I know). This cold appetizer is made with thinly sliced cooked beef tongue and tripe, and then marinated in the roasted chili and peanut vinaigrette. If you are a true foodie, and a dare devil, please do try this dish. You won't feel regret for trying it, because you will find it is very pleasant and complex in both flavors and textures.Of course, not all dishes here are authentic, since not all clients came here were for authenticity. If you really want good Chinese food, then do the following:- toss the menu;- look around;- point and order the common dishes that every table were ordering;- and, lastly, don't be afraid.
Reviewed by:
Shariq A. on:
11/27/2012 6:28:00 PM
Food is ok - very, very oily.Place is absolutely filthy!
Reviewed by:
Dan R. on:
11/27/2012 8:24:00 AM
Very busy for Sunday lunch!I've now moved away from the Dallas area, and of all the restaurants I crave, this tops the list. Having lived in Sichuan, China for three years, we frequented this restaurant for a great reminder of the food we ate and loved. Like many of the other reviewers have noted, don't come here for Americanized Chinese food. This place serves up authentic Sichuan cuisine. The best way to enjoy this place is family-style: a large group (4 or more) with many dishes to sample and share.
Reviewed by:
Shraddha C. on:
8/27/2012 9:56:00 AM
Place is ok in terms of ambiance ....Food was tasty but too oily, we got the boiled fish & it was yummy.
Reviewed by:
Catherine D. on:
8/20/2012 9:25:00 PM
Finally got to try this place today. I had the eggplant with garlic sauce (due to reviews). My companion had the string beans with chicken. Both were very good, as well as the eggdrop and sweet and sour soup. I'll be back!
Reviewed by:
Hussein J. on:
8/5/2012 2:01:00 PM
The best Chinese food in North Dallas. The food here is so good - don't think about another chinese restaurant. The Napa Cabbage Beef, Shrimp in Garlic sauce, Cumin Beef are some of my favorites. The owner, Jane, will select dishes based on your desired flavors.
Reviewed by:
A S. on:
8/4/2012 5:01:00 PM
Seriously, folks, if you come here for the Americanized menu, then all you'll get is subpar Chinese food. If the extent of your Chinese vocabulary consists of sweet and sour pork, beef with broccoli, orange chicken, or Happy Family...please dont cry about how Little Sichuan's version is not true Chinese--it's because you really grew up knowing only the fake stuff. Really!Live a little; set your tongue on fire. Little Sichuan specializes in--get this--Sichuan cuisine. If you don't know what that is, go check out the Wikipedia entry on it.Tongue-numbing hot peppercorns and chili oil is the specialty of the house. You'll find it in their hot pots, dumplings, cold noodles, and fried dishes. You want a sneak preview? Order the Chengdu dumplings, the ox-tongue/tripe with chili sauce or the beef tendon with chili sauce? You want milder, try the steamed bacon with garlic sauce. Your lips will be blushing by the time you're done with the first course.Now order yourself some eggplant with garlic sauce, coz what it lacks in heat, it makes up for in temperature. Let it sit and cool on the table while you feast on other dishes when they arrive. If your palate can't stand eggplant, there are other veggie options you can order. Pick up Mapo Tofu, the signature dish of Sichuan cuisine, then branch out to some other protein choices like...Hot and Spicy Chicken (watch out for those peppercorns), Shredded pork with garlic sauce, fish fillets in sichuan chili sauce.Still not fiery enough for you? Then order anything that comes with Napa Cabbage and spicy chili sauce (pork, fish, tofu, etc). I guarantee you won't see the bottom of the bowl before you wish you hadn't ordered it. If it ain't hot enough, then send it back and get another bowl! But this isn't about atomic level spiciness--it's about balancing the heat with flavor. You want nuclear hot? Bring a bottle of pure capsaicin with you and be done with it.Not daring enough? Pork bung and blood cake, nuff said!Not exotic enough? Try konjac with pickled cabbage or duck; but let me warn you that your delicate Americanized palate isn't strong enough to handle it. You'll hate it; you'll probably want to throw it up...but in the end you'll have tried something new. And you'll have expanded your horizons by a tiny fraction.I've rarely had any issues with service at Little Sichuan. Maybe it's because they sense I'm a big chili-head and appreciate their food. Maybe it's because I don't point at the lunch menu and order something as low-brow as egg drop soup and pepper steak. Maybe it's because my white fiance eats with chopsticks and not with flatware...I dunno why everybody else doesn't experience the same thing I've experienced at Little Sichuan. Therein lies the victory--I'll take Little Sichuan any day over your Pei Weis and PF Changs.
Reviewed by:
Renato G. on:
8/2/2012 4:55:00 AM
Loved it.Large, expansive menu in English and Chinese (which was much appreciated by my wife and I - it removes a lot of ambiguity!), lightning-fast food, and polite service. Fair, reasonable prices.The wait staff are happy to answer questions about the food, and they're reasonably easy to flag down if you need anything. The food came out minutes after we ordered it,Plano is quite a drive from Arlington, but I think we'll be driving down once a month to get our Chinese fix here!
Reviewed by:
David K. on:
4/8/2012 9:54:00 AM
Don't listen to the reviewers giving fewer than three stars. I noticed they seem or order things like lo mein, egg rolls and crab rangoon. These are fairly americanized dishes and if this is what you like, then go eat at Panda Express :P Sugary, saucy dishes drenched in soy sauce are not authentic Chinese. On top of that, Sichuan Chinese is a bit of a different style in and of itself. The dishes served are quite different from most Chinese restaurants in the DFW area, depending on what you are used to. In general, flavors are spicier, but even if you don't care for spicy food, they have plenty that is mild in flavor.Regarding service: the staff is friendly and attentive. Don't be afraid to ask questions - most of them would gladly explain menu items if needed.We go on a monthly basis and the food has never been anything short of fantastic! Everything is loaded up with spices, garlic and sichuan peppercorns (an unfamilar flavor for some - it actually gives a tingly sensation in your mouth). Any dish containing fish or meat of any sort simply melts in your mouth. I don't know how they do it. It's probably magic.If you go, don't miss out on their Chengdu Dumplings. They are great. TONS of garlic and they are not as spicy as they look. I should also mention that there really aren't any "bad choices" on the menu. Daily specials are written in Chinese on a whiteboard up front. The waiters and waitresses will gladly tell you what is being offered and it is always good.FIVE STARS. Best Sichuan Chinese cuisine in the area!
Reviewed by:
Rudy W. on:
3/19/2012 7:36:00 AM
I think this place is just ok.claiming this place is one of the top 100 restaurant, .. over rated.their food is just average for TX chinese food.their price is about right.
Reviewed by:
Tim S. on:
2/7/2012 5:13:00 AM
I have been here a few times now for the lunch special. I really like this place. The soups are rich and much more flavorful than run of the mill Chinese places. So are the entrees. Kung Pao chicken is just hot enough and has so many delicious subtle flavors in it. I also had the General Tsao's Chicken and slowed down my usual quick eating to enjoy the wonderful texture and flavor of the dish. So much better than what is usually served close to here. Service is quick and efficient, prices very reasonable. Thumbs up!
Reviewed by:
Phyllis P. on:
1/22/2012 4:21:00 AM
I thought I'd wait to review this place until I'd visited a second time. On my first visit I ordered a lo mein which was thoroughly underwhelming, but I thought maybe lo mein just isn't their forte. They have a large menu - I could try something different. After our second visit last night, Little Sichuan is still failing to impress and hanging on to a fairly tenuous 3 stars.I ordered an assortment of appetizers - the eggrolls were very good and I wish I ordered more of them and less of other appetizers. Crab rangoon was so-so, but then I can't think that I've had a really stellar crab rangoon from a Chinese restaurant since I was a kid (I know it's gotta be out there, I just haven't found it yet!). The house dumplings tasted ok at first, but after eating several, they started to taste a little 'off.' My husband deemed his Chicken with Vegetables very mediocre (2 star), but I ate his left-overs for lunch and thought it was pretty decent.So, on the whole, a fairly unremarkable dining experience. I'd consider another visit, but only because it's so close to home I could walk there.
Reviewed by:
Timothy N. on:
1/21/2012 2:19:00 PM
I absolutely love this place. It isn't the absolutely best Chinese food I have ever had but it is certainly one of the best.I enjoy most of the menu. Most everything was delicious. The one disappointment was the Hot and Spice chicken. While it was good, I was expecting something completely different. It was kind of like a hot and spicy popcorn chicken (only smaller bits of chicken). There was no sauce with the meal and was very dry.Other than the one dish, I love the place.
Reviewed by:
Aisha J. on:
1/15/2012 10:01:00 AM
Try the Beef with the napa cabbage.. it will blow your mind. Spicy, garlicy, and oh soo tasty! The beef with cumin is also excellent, though heavy on the cumin (duh). If you like garlic you will love this place.When you walk in there is a white board on the wall with their daily specials... written in Chinese. How much more authentic do you want??? Don't fret, the waitress there is super friendly and based on your taste, will recommend items for you to try.Awesome, authentic and tasty. Nothing wrong with that!!!
Reviewed by:
themowys on:
3/24/2013 6:41:26 PM
My husband and I developed our appreciation of Sichuan cuisine during our travels to China. We love the authenticity of the dishes at Little Sichuan Cuisine so much that we drive to North Plano from near DFW airport just to dine here. The menu has nice variety so you can order dishes which are tongue numbing spicy or calming to your palette. Whenever we visit, we order so much food so we can try new dishes, enjoy our favorites, and have plenty to take home to savor during the week. There are only two things I could wish for improvement: 1) you would open another restaurant closer to the airport so we could visit more often and 2) the daily specials are also in English so those who are open to trying new (adventurous) dishes can
Reviewed by:
hmbnn on:
12/22/2012 5:05:58 PM
I am from the west coast and my husband from the east coast. BOTH places have great authentic Chinese food... BUT THIS little place in little Plano Texas BEATS THEM ALL!!!
Reviewed by:
Onehornarmy on:
2010-11-27
Excellent food and some great spicy dishes. Try the chilled cucumber, cumin dried beef, fish with napa cabbage and chili sauce, shrimp with yilbin sauce, pork with green chilis and brown sauce. Delicious!
Reviewed by:
Rjkeele on:
2010-10-03
Excellent food, excellent service. Maggie is the best most thoughtful waitress that I have every had.
Reviewed by:
Rjkeele on:
2010-10-03
Excellent food, excellent service. Maggie is the best most thoughtful waitress that I have every had.
AVG:(5.0)
