Last Updated: 27 days ago
Phone: (718) 321-8180
Address: 353 WEST 46 STREET 10036
Authentic Sichuan delights, from numbing spices to unique dishes. A top-tier choice for bold flavors.
Sonal Shah reviews Szechuan Mountain House's new Times Square location, a convenient spot for pre-theater dining and experiencing top Sichuan flavors in NYC.
This Sichuan restaurant in Midtown offers a vibrant and authentic dining experience. Known for its bold flavors and extensive menu, it's a popular spot for those seeking genuine Sichuan cuisine. The ambiance is lively, making it suitable for both casual dinners and impressing guests.
The restaurant is celebrated for its authentic Sichuan dishes, particularly those featuring intense numbing spices (mala). Popular recommendations include La Zi Chicken, Mapo Tofu, and various crab dishes with peppers. While many dishes are highly praised for their bold flavors, some diners note that the spice can be extreme and suggest caution with certain items. There's also mention of a beloved 'Szechuan Style Sour Tomato Soup with Beef' no longer being on the menu.
"Highly recommended dishes include La Zi Chicken, Mapo Tofu, hanging pork belly, and the 'triple delicacy' for its intense numbing spice. Non-spicy options like cauliflower stir fry and sweet and sour pork are also mentioned."
Customers overwhelmingly praise the authentic and flavorful Sichuan cuisine, with many highlighting the intensity of the numbing spices and unique dishes. Some reviews suggest it can be an acquired taste due to its authenticity and spice level.
Important Note
Some dishes can be extremely spicy, and the menu features unique animal parts that might not appeal to all diners. A previously loved dish, 'Szechuan Style Sour Tomato Soup with Beef', is no longer available.
"This commenter, who is vegetarian, recommends Szechuan Mountain House for pre-show dining. They note that while the menu isn't explicitly vegetarian, the staff can make vegetarian versions of many dishes upon request. They specifically praise the vegetarian mapo tofu, emphasizing the need to ask for the vegetarian option to avoid beef."
Positive"The commenter believes Szechuan Mountain House is overrated and extremely average."
Negative"Mountain House is mentioned as a restaurant option in Hell's Kitchen."
Neutral"This comment suggests trying the mala pork intestines, stating it's the same dish as the laziji but with pork intestine instead of chicken."
Neutral"This user describes the triple delicacy's numbing effect as borderline psychedelic, causing a strong physical and almost mental reaction, overshadowing any perception of spice."
Positive"The cabbage dish, specifically not the complimentary one, is considered one of the best in the city."
Positive"This comment notes that the triple delicacy dish was available last week and found to be delicious but spicy."
Neutral"Recommended dishes include okra salad, pickles, sweet and sour pork, fried eel, pickled pepper fish, mama hot fish, stir-fried cabbage, and stir-fried lotus root."
Neutral"Regarding the triple delicacy dish, it was located at the Flushing branch and described as 'stir fried triple crispy delicacy'. It appears to have been removed from the menu."
Neutral"The triple delicacy is highly recommended for the unique, intense numbing sensation from Szechuan peppercorns, which can be almost psychedelic."
Positive"This comment directly states that the laziji is the best dish on the menu."
Positive"This comment describes the restaurant as great but notes that the menu is very spicy and contains many unique animal parts, suggesting it might not be suitable for beginners."
Neutral"The Fu Qi Special is considered the best in the city by this commenter."
Positive"The boiled beef is described as sublime and also spicy."
Positive"The mapo tofu is highly recommended. The sour cabbage fish soup, particularly with fluke, is a favorite and melts in your mouth."
Positive"The laziji (Sichuan chicken with peppers) is a highly recommended dish, noted for its delicious flavor despite its appearance with many peppers."
Positive"The salted egg corn is a personal favorite dish."
Positive"A warning that the sour beef soup can become more intensely flavorful or spicy as the meal progresses."
Neutral"Must-try dishes include swing pork belly, ma-po tofu, and fish filet in spicy broth. For non-spicy options, the egg yolk corn kernels, beef slices in sour soup, and stir-fried vegetables like cabbage are recommended. Kung pao chicken is also a good choice for a more conventional taste."
Neutral"The cauliflower stir fry and twice cooked pork are recommended as they are flavorful and not spicy. The sweet and sour pork is also a hidden gem with a pleasant zing. For spicy options, the sour beef soup, ma po tofu, mala prawns, and Fu Qi Special are highly praised."
Neutral
