Finding a restaurant that offers authentic Chinese cuisine with the right spice level can be a delightful experience for those who prefer the traditional flavors and heat. It's interesting to note that the preference for spiciness in food can vary greatly from region to region in China, with some areas favoring extremely hot dishes. This regional diversity is part of what makes Chinese cuisine so rich and fascinating. For those who enjoy the fiery kick in their meals, a restaurant that doesn't shy away from authentic spice levels offers a taste of true Chinese culinary traditions. It's always a pleasure to discover such places that cater to a more diverse palate, providing an experience that's both culturally genuine and personally satisfying.
Eric Li
I’ve been to China. The food is great! But boy, when I say this is the spot for some of the best Chinese food you’ll ever have, I mean it. It’s better than most places in China. Come here only if you dare have great Chinese food that will set an impossibly high bar that will never be met.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veggie Stir Fry, Chili, Just Like, Dry Hot Pot, Hot Spareribs, Mala Dry Pot
Brian Tran
very good. always had good times here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Siva C.
I would say they have the most delicious and authentic Chinese food. Capturing the essence of Sichuan cuisine . Mala dry pot and Twice-cooked pork are noteworthy.
Andrew Adams
The best and most authentic szechuan food between NYC and Buffalo's 'Home Taste.' Probably even better than home taste. As with any restaurant seeking to replicate the experience of dining in China, the service and atmosphere are not prioritized - the food is. Wow, was the food good. Mala dry pot, sliced fish in chili oil, hot and spicy shrimps all on point. If your idea of Chinese food is general cho's chicken on a white tablecloth with effusive service in English, you may not like this place. Myself, I will return whenever I'm anywhere close to Syracuse.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mala Dry Pot
Casey Johnson
Tasty no-frills
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Kat W.
4.5 stars. Very small, unassuming hole in the wall type of place. Most customers are international students from the nearby university campus. Decorations are sparse and if you don't speak Chinese, you may have to do some pointing at the menu. But all of these clues point to signs that things here are tasty and authentic! There is a maala dry pot menu (you can pick your ingredients, they weigh and cook for you) as well as other dishes. I have been here a few times and have tried several of their dishes including spicy boiled fish, stir fried eggplant/potato/pepper, mapo tofu, string sour potato, szechuan chicken, stir fried eggplant/pork, stir fried intestines (accidentally ordered thinking it was beef slices). Everything is tasty and well done. My favorites always include the boiled fish which has other delicious things in it including bamboo and black fungus as well as the stir fried potato/eggplant/pepper. Things did get a little greasy by the end, but that is expected. Good place for some very authentic Szechuan food. Perhaps not a place to take a new date to impress them if you're going for ambience.
Kathleen S.
Drawn by other Yelpers' vote of confidence in their authentic Sichuan cooking, my husband and I ordered takeout from Hometown Memory Szechuan Cuisine. The ordering experience was one of the most bizarre and frustrating I've had in recent years. But the food itself was delicious. Since we were driving with young wailing kids in the backseat, we called the restaurant 20 minutes out to place our order. The lady who picked up the phone told me in Chinese that the restaurant was very busy, so I should place the order when I was 10 minutes away, or better yet, when I was at the restaurant. I tried to explain that the whole point of placing the order by phone was to avoid waiting, but she had put a male Chinese-speaking colleague on the phone, who told me to just order at the restaurant because he was too busy to take phone orders. With that, he promptly hung up on me. Ten minutes out, I called again and tried to order eggplant in garlic sauce and fish in chili oil. The same man I had spoken to before had tried to get me to just place the order when I arrived at the restaurant, but I again told him that we were trying to avoid waiting for our food since we had young children (now screaming) in the car. He reluctantly took my order (I was told that my third request--vermicelli with spiced minced pork--was not available). Frustratingly, when we arrived at the restaurant, they had not even started cooking our food, so we had to wait about 15 minutes. The food itself was superb. The eggplant is some of the best I've had. The fish in chili oil was also wonderfully tender, though there was a slightly higher ratio of Napa cabbage to fish than what I've usually experienced for this dish at other restaurants. The interior of the restaurant was modest and cafeteria-like. I can't comment on the service quality for dining in. If it weren't for the rough phone ordering experience, I would be keen on ordering takeout or dining in there again.
Yifan Cheng
Very friendly home-own restaurant. You can always call ahead to order and save sometime.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
kittana19712
Very VERY RUDE... I suspose some ppl have ruined it for DECENT people ? ?. I mean IGNORED AND DISMISSED when I asked a question. Food display isn't very appealing. Looks unclean w/ noodles out for anyone 2 touch. Unsanitary as well.
Very authentic and great food. We’re amazed by how large the portion is at such fair price. Like the food more than Red chili and even Yang Di Chun!
Robert B.
We just taught at an international school in china for 8 years and this place doesn't look like much but very authentic which in America it's pretty difficult finding authentic Chinese. Lotsa Chinese students here so ya know it's good!
Wenhan Guo
Probably the most authentic Chinese food in upstate NY!
passerine
Can't overstate how extremely good this place is. The place is hard to find. When you get inside it's packed with Chinese people and the husband and wife team who run the place don't speak English, so I relied on menu pointing, pantomime, and other patrons translating here and there. All those things are how you know a place is going to be good, and omg this food is AMAZING. I was so sad when I was full because I didn't want to stop eating, the food is that good. Really captures the authentic szechuan flavor profile without killing you with spiciness. Please go here, treat yourself!!!!!!
Finding a restaurant that offers authentic Chinese cuisine with the right spice level can be a delightful experience for those who prefer the traditional flavors and heat. It's interesting to note that the preference for spiciness in food can vary greatly from region to region in China, with some areas favoring extremely hot dishes. This regional diversity is part of what makes Chinese cuisine so rich and fascinating. For those who enjoy the fiery kick in their meals, a restaurant that doesn't shy away from authentic spice levels offers a taste of true Chinese culinary traditions. It's always a pleasure to discover such places that cater to a more diverse palate, providing an experience that's both culturally genuine and personally satisfying.
I’ve been to China. The food is great! But boy, when I say this is the spot for some of the best Chinese food you’ll ever have, I mean it. It’s better than most places in China. Come here only if you dare have great Chinese food that will set an impossibly high bar that will never be met.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Veggie Stir Fry, Chili, Just Like, Dry Hot Pot, Hot Spareribs, Mala Dry Pot
very good. always had good times here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I would say they have the most delicious and authentic Chinese food. Capturing the essence of Sichuan cuisine . Mala dry pot and Twice-cooked pork are noteworthy.
The best and most authentic szechuan food between NYC and Buffalo's 'Home Taste.' Probably even better than home taste. As with any restaurant seeking to replicate the experience of dining in China, the service and atmosphere are not prioritized - the food is. Wow, was the food good. Mala dry pot, sliced fish in chili oil, hot and spicy shrimps all on point. If your idea of Chinese food is general cho's chicken on a white tablecloth with effusive service in English, you may not like this place. Myself, I will return whenever I'm anywhere close to Syracuse.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mala Dry Pot
Tasty no-frills
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
4.5 stars. Very small, unassuming hole in the wall type of place. Most customers are international students from the nearby university campus. Decorations are sparse and if you don't speak Chinese, you may have to do some pointing at the menu. But all of these clues point to signs that things here are tasty and authentic! There is a maala dry pot menu (you can pick your ingredients, they weigh and cook for you) as well as other dishes. I have been here a few times and have tried several of their dishes including spicy boiled fish, stir fried eggplant/potato/pepper, mapo tofu, string sour potato, szechuan chicken, stir fried eggplant/pork, stir fried intestines (accidentally ordered thinking it was beef slices). Everything is tasty and well done. My favorites always include the boiled fish which has other delicious things in it including bamboo and black fungus as well as the stir fried potato/eggplant/pepper. Things did get a little greasy by the end, but that is expected. Good place for some very authentic Szechuan food. Perhaps not a place to take a new date to impress them if you're going for ambience.
Drawn by other Yelpers' vote of confidence in their authentic Sichuan cooking, my husband and I ordered takeout from Hometown Memory Szechuan Cuisine. The ordering experience was one of the most bizarre and frustrating I've had in recent years. But the food itself was delicious. Since we were driving with young wailing kids in the backseat, we called the restaurant 20 minutes out to place our order. The lady who picked up the phone told me in Chinese that the restaurant was very busy, so I should place the order when I was 10 minutes away, or better yet, when I was at the restaurant. I tried to explain that the whole point of placing the order by phone was to avoid waiting, but she had put a male Chinese-speaking colleague on the phone, who told me to just order at the restaurant because he was too busy to take phone orders. With that, he promptly hung up on me. Ten minutes out, I called again and tried to order eggplant in garlic sauce and fish in chili oil. The same man I had spoken to before had tried to get me to just place the order when I arrived at the restaurant, but I again told him that we were trying to avoid waiting for our food since we had young children (now screaming) in the car. He reluctantly took my order (I was told that my third request--vermicelli with spiced minced pork--was not available). Frustratingly, when we arrived at the restaurant, they had not even started cooking our food, so we had to wait about 15 minutes. The food itself was superb. The eggplant is some of the best I've had. The fish in chili oil was also wonderfully tender, though there was a slightly higher ratio of Napa cabbage to fish than what I've usually experienced for this dish at other restaurants. The interior of the restaurant was modest and cafeteria-like. I can't comment on the service quality for dining in. If it weren't for the rough phone ordering experience, I would be keen on ordering takeout or dining in there again.
Very friendly home-own restaurant. You can always call ahead to order and save sometime.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very VERY RUDE... I suspose some ppl have ruined it for DECENT people ? ?. I mean IGNORED AND DISMISSED when I asked a question. Food display isn't very appealing. Looks unclean w/ noodles out for anyone 2 touch. Unsanitary as well.
Restaurantji Recommends
The best dry hot pot outside of NYC.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very authentic and great food. We’re amazed by how large the portion is at such fair price. Like the food more than Red chili and even Yang Di Chun!
We just taught at an international school in china for 8 years and this place doesn't look like much but very authentic which in America it's pretty difficult finding authentic Chinese. Lotsa Chinese students here so ya know it's good!
Probably the most authentic Chinese food in upstate NY!
Can't overstate how extremely good this place is. The place is hard to find. When you get inside it's packed with Chinese people and the husband and wife team who run the place don't speak English, so I relied on menu pointing, pantomime, and other patrons translating here and there. All those things are how you know a place is going to be good, and omg this food is AMAZING. I was so sad when I was full because I didn't want to stop eating, the food is that good. Really captures the authentic szechuan flavor profile without killing you with spiciness. Please go here, treat yourself!!!!!!