The Bottom Line
Spicy and Tasty Restaurant in downtown Flushing, Queens, serves Sichuan-style Chinese cooking. It's spicy, it's tasty, and it's consistently good.
There's no doubt that you're in Chinatown, at a restaurant that doesn't simply cater to Westernized palates. The Sichuan-peppercorn flavors and the red of the chili oil that slick many of the dishes bear little resemblance to your typical Chinese takeout joint; but it's still an approachable restaurant.
Pros
- Authentic Sichuan tastes
- Clean, nicely decorated space
- Lunch specials
- Regional, unusual Chinese cuisine, but approachable and accommodating
Cons
- Can be very spicy and oily
- Difficult to find parking
- Very difficult to find parking -- better to take the subway
Description
- Address - 3907 Prince St # 1H, Flushing, NY 11354
- Phone - 718-359-1601
- Subway - 7 subway at Main St (2 blocks)
- Train - LIRR at Main St (2-3 blocks) on Port Washington line, connects to Penn Station
- Sichuan peppercorns!
- Not cheap, but not expensive. Expect $10 for most main dishes.
- Cash only
- Open daily, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Guide Review - Spicy and Tasty Restaurant - Review
Love strong tastes? The authentic Sichuan taste is peppery, but not over-the-top like Thai stir-fry. The Sichuan peppercorns in a dish like the dan-dan noodles is more tingling than blazing. The heat can build over a meal, but it doesn't linger the way Indian curry can. Look for anything labeled Sichuan or with chili sauce on the menu. I recommend the appetizer of pork dumplings, which come swimming in a peppercorn and chili oil sauce. Yummy.
Worried about the heat? The tea-smoked duck is succulent and authentic, but not spiced with Sichuan peppercorns. There are more familiar dishes like chicken with cashews, which won't scald.
The counter in the front of the restaurant usually holds a selection of dishes served at room temperature. Go up front and pick a couple, or order off the 100-plus item menu.
The restaurant's gold-accented decor and comfortable chairs are a big step up from its original basement location, but it's too bright and functional. Come to Spicy and Tasty for the food, not the atmosphere. Service isn't lacking, nor is it at all charming.
Prices are wallet-friendly ($10+ for most). You can't beat that for a taste experience so different from most of what passes for Sichuan food in NYC. You're in for a treat.
