What is the best szechuan restaurant in Chicago?

[echoparkdirt]

I'm a hound living in LA returning to Chicago. In between Barnaby's Pizza and Wings and Cheddar Fries at Buffalo Joes, I will be searching for a great szechuan place. Is there one?

thnx!

[chicgail]

If you go to Lao Sze Chuan, especially with a group of people, also consider the wonderful hotpot. I am unfamiliar with whether Double Li has one.

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Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

Double Li
228 W. Cermak Rd., Chicago, IL 60616

[nsxtasy]

My favorite is Double Li, in Chinatown. I like Lao Sze Chuan as well, but I like Double Li more. The staff is more helpful, the decor is more pleasant, and I like the food better too; not only do I like how it tastes better, but it seems to offer more variety. But both places are excellent.

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Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

Double Li
228 W. Cermak Rd., Chicago, IL 60616

[foodieprm]

Lao Sze Chuan
2172 South Archer Avenue

Hands down the best szechuan restaurant in Chicago!

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Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

[kathryn]

Agreed. Lao Sze Chuan is excellent.

Try the:
Twice cooked pork
Lamb with cumin
Tony's chicken with three chili
Szechuan Smoke Tea Duck
Mapo Tofu
Garlic Peapod Leafs
Dan Dan Noodles
Chengdu Dumpling

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Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

[jayh]

Another enthusiastic vote for Lao Sze Chuan. You can BYO wine for a modest corkage fee.

I recently tried another Szechuan place in Chinatown, Double Li. Food was inferior to Lao and the owners are rotten people. I went at lunch, and got the regular menu. Then a Chinese couple came in and got the lunch menu (after I ordered). Guess what -- lunch menu had $5 options, and regular menu had $10 options and up. Hostess kept the lunch menus hidden underneath a stack of regular menus. Shameful.

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Lao Sze Chuan
2172 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60616

[nsxtasy]

My experience at Double Li has consistently been the exact opposite. The food is far superior to Lao Sze Chuan (many of whose dishes taste alike), and the servers and owners are far more friendly at Double Li. The servers at Lao Sze Chuan are generally unfriendly and unhelpful, and don't always speak English well. Whereas the staff at Double Li are consistently friendly, and the owner, Mr. Li, is often available to help with menu selections. This is based on numerous visits to both places. I've always had great food and a great experience at Double Li, whereas Lao Sze Chuan can be hit or miss.

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Double Li
228 W. Cermak Rd., Chicago, IL 60616

[jhojati]

Also agreed, and recommend the boiled beef in spicy sze chuan broth. Super spicy, very tender beef. Also love their dry chilli chicken and most items posted in kathryn's post