Authentic Not, Don't Be Deceived.

[Boredbyit]

My girlfriend and I were drawn to the window when we walked pass by, then decided to order ourself some authentic Chinese food. The owner claimed to use authentic Szechuan spice. What a Disappointment! The stirred fried chicken with capsicum was a letdown, the chicken had no flavor and it was not spicy. It looked like they are a lot of spice in it, but you don't taste them at all. The Szechuan tofu and string beans tasted old, the tofu was too dry and hard. Chicken and Broccoli tasted bland, the sauce felt like a modified soy sauce with msg and other seasoning. I grew up with americanized chinese food because my uncle used to operate a restaurant. The scallion pancakes were soaked in grease, which we couldn't even finish them. We felt cheated by the duck with truffle and mango sauce which we paid over 18 dollars for , there were barely any meat with a bedding of veggies. We were chewing on layers of duck skins and fat. So never will go back to that restaurant, an awful experience that I won't forget for a long time.

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Szechuan Garden
463 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[diprey11]

There is no such a thing as an authentic Chinese recipe for chicken and broccoli: you have been taken for a ride.

I would agree that authentic does not necessarily imply delicious, but at least you have to be be able to try it so that you can make your own judgement. And there are so many restaurants with horrible food, both ethnic or Americanized.

If you would like to learn, I suggest you start with a reputable restaurant, such as Sichuan Gourmet, tell them you want to learn, seek their advice, tip generously, and try to be open-minded and enjoy the moment. I especially recommend you seek an advice from Paul, their senior staff member.

Even if you conclude that you don't care much for Sichuan food, you will most certainly have a great time.

[AubWah]

duck with truffle and mango sauce?

[Boredbyit]

It sounded really interesting when he recommended it. Won't make that mistake anymore

[SamScaff]

Yeah seeing any dish with "truffle and mango sauce" on a chinese restuarant menu, let alone at a place that claims to be authentic, is just a HUGE red flag right there...

[secondbecky]

A lot of people have raved about Tofu's new sichuan menu and on their advice I tried it. The dry-pot chicken was awesome. The mapo tofu wasn't the best that I've ever had, but it's just about the best you can find in the immediate delivery area.

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Tofu on 7th
226 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[Glendale is hungry]

Hi Boredbyit,

It seems the vast majority of Chinese restaurants in this city that are NOT located in or near one of the City's five Chinatowns SUCK beyond the telling of it.

It's as though almost all chinese food in non-asian majority neighborhoods in the city has become the replacement for crappy fast food.

I wish it were not so...

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

[ForestHillsFresser]

Manhattan's touristy Chinatown, Flushing, Elmhurst...what are the other two?

[birdsandtogs]

8th Ave in Sunset Park, Ave U/Homecrest Ave in Sheepshead Bay. You can also make an argument for 86th St between 18th and Stillwell along the D subway line in Bensonhurst.

FWIW, I noticed that menu prices are a bit cheaper in Brooklyn over Queens/Manhattan. There are a couple Fuzhou restaurants on 8th Ave where you don't have to tip, either. They just brought that custom from China.

[Boredbyit]

I go to Sunset Park a lot, and there are a lot of good restaurant out there. My friend told me there is a new Szechuan restaurant opened up, and it's suppose to be really good. There are a couple restaurants serve really good noodles.

[TheDescendedLefticleOfAramis]

love u/homecrest
what would u recommend here or further out toward bensonhurst (dim sum?)

[Sluggo1407]

I live in the Chinese section of Bensonhurst (Bay Parkway in the 60's). I'm sorry, but I can't recommend any Chinese restaurants. There are a couple of excellent Chinese grocery stores here though, if you can cook that way.

[TheDescendedLefticleOfAramis]

i cook ... any store u could recommend would be appreciated ...
i like the shops out on ave u ... prefer them to the city.
dining-wise, the likes of, say ... east harbor doesn't appeal?

-----
East Harbor
714 65th St, Brooklyn, NY 11220

[AubWah]

Manhattan Chinatown may be touristy, but you don't think there are worthwhile places?

[Bob Martinez]

I don't think that's entirely true. In fact there are lots more good/great Sichuan restaurants out of Chinatown than in it. Offhand, I can think of 11. I'm sure there's more.

Lan Sheng

Szechuan Gourmet (39th St location)

Legend

Great Szechuan

Hot Kitchen

The 4 locations of Grand Sichuan International

Grand Sichuan on 2nd Ave & 55th St. (formerly part of the chain)

In Queens, Little Pepper moved to College Point.

[Glendale is hungry]

Hi Bob Martinez,

It's not entirely true but sadly, it is MOSTLY true. Most (meaning a LOT more than 50%) of the "Chinese" restaurants located away from the major Asian neighborhoods in the city serve really mediocre Chinese-American food. Most of them are take-out joints.

The menus are almost exactly alike and the food is almost always bland and extremely greasy. And, I'm not being a purist here.

I would be perfectly okay with a General's Tso's chicken that is crispy, not overly sweet or greasy, and carries a spicy kick when I ask for it. In fact, I would be more than okay. I would be delighted. But it just ain't how it is 90% of the time.

For those who think I'm exaggerating and being overly harsh, please find ONE, just ONE, "Chinese" restaurant anywhere along the entire length of Myrtle Avenue all the way from Fort Greene to Richmond Hill.

That's about eight miles in length through several neighborhoods without a major Asian community. By New York standards, that's a big area and you won't find one "Chinese" restaurant worth its soy in it.

So, let's hear a rec for at least one decent "Chinese" restaurant in the chunk of real estate I described. I'm all ears.

Ciao,

Glendale is hungry...

[Bob Martinez]

I was speaking specifically about Sichuan restaurants. I agree with you about the rest.