soups and chowder, soup, chowder, food
noodles, noodle soup, ramen, food, ramen and noodles, noodle dish
noodles, noodle soup, ramen and noodles, noodle dish, ramen, food
a white plate of food on a table
food
Complimentary Drink
food, chicken wings and fried chicken
food
noodle dish, noodle soup, ramen and noodles, noodles, ramen, food
Phoenix Fish
Dry pot intestines
food
Yeah boy.
Young bamboo braised ribs. Photo by @martiwantsmore
oysters and mussels, mussels, oysters, food, shellfish
Dry pot frog. Photo by @martiwantsmore
ramen and noodles, food
Ken mei spicy shrimp. Photo by @martiwantsmore
a sign in front of a restaurant
food, ramen and noodles
two bowls of food on a table
Spicy Boiled Beef
Spicy braised beef noodles. Photo by @martiwantsmore
We ordered 5 dishes and they all really good!! Recommanded!
Heyoka Empath I.
Nov 21, 2024
The Husband was tasked with picking a restaurant tonight 11/20/24, and chose Spicy Kitchen (he chose it only because he said that it had a rating of 4.8). When I choose a restaurant, I read other reviewers' comments and their recommendations, then I look at the restaurant's menu online as to what else is offered.I can't do spicy, but because I'm a trooper I made the best of a difficult situation. I chose the following two dishes that sounded "safe": Spring Onion Protected Beef, and Yu Xiang Braised Eggplant. Also, you can't have Asian dishes without the requisite bowls of rice (I ordered a bowl each for us in lieu of ordering a fried rice or fried noodle dish).The Spring Onion Protected Beef was flavorful and delicious, and came with lots of sliced white onions and 1-inch pieces of spring onions (looks like green onions). This was right up my alley because I looove onions (red/white) and spring/green onions.The Yu Xiang Braised Eggplant was ABSOLUTELY divine. It kinda reminded me of eggplant in garlic sauce that you'd get in other Asian restaurants, but much tastier. Make no mistake, this dish came with TWICE the amount of eggplant that you'd receive in other Asian restaurants. It was a good thing I didn't order a third entree because these 2 dishes were just the right amount for 2 people - otherwise, a wheelbarrow would've been needed to wheel me home!When the bill came, I noticed that the eggplant dish was called "Fish-flavored Eggplant". I thought that that was a mistake because the eggplant did not taste fishy or have any fish taste at all. Later on at home I compared the Chinese characters on the bill/receipt to the Chinese characters on the paper menu I asked our server for (to take home), and the dish is correct. So keep in mind that if you're vegan, this eggplant dish does have some kind of a fish ingredient in it.The great thing about this restaurant is that its cuisine is VERY flavorful in comparison to Cantonese cuisine. The only drawback is that unless you speak Mandarin and/or can read and understand the Chinese characters (with English directly below the Chinese characters) on the menu, you'd be clueless as to what most of the dishes are. This is because there is absolutely no description for each of the dishes. For instance, there's a dish called "Millionaire" - I have NO idea if it was a meat or vegetable dish (or for that matter what kind of meat or what kind of vegetable). But if you're the daring and adventurous type, go for it!!! Let it be a wonderful surprise - or let it be a stupendous letdown for you haha.The restaurant was very clean and well-lit, and our server (attractive young man with glasses) was awesome. If you're in the mood for Chinese but are tired of the same-old, same-old Cantonese dishes, come here and treat your taste buds to a glorious adventure - because the dishes are flavorFULL - yes, emphasis on the FULL! In the end, I'm glad I came here and will come back to try other dishes!!!Advice for the restaurant when updating your menu in the future: It would help your customers to: 1) give descriptions as to what each dish is, or the ingredients involved in each dish, 2) separate the dishes into categories - for example: cold dishes, chicken dishes, beef dishes, pork dishes, lamb dishes, seafood dishes, dry pot dishes, house special dishes, fried rice/noodles dishes, soup dishes, other dishes (such as frog, intestine, duck blood, kidney, lung) and lastly, 3) pictures of the dishes (this is especially important).Regardless, based on my experience tonight, this restaurant rates a 5 out of 5 stars
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Yaowen Z.
Dec 21, 2024
Really delicious traditional Chinese restaurant! I love it! Would recommend it to all my friends
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Freya L.
Jan 19, 2025
Very authentic Chongqing style food, spicy enough to impress spicy lovers. The portion of dishes is pretty big. The Grilled Fish is very spicy, the size of fish is okay, but the foil container is extremely big and not so necessary. The Double Pepper Spicy Intestine has a good crispy texture, making it taste not fatty at all. The Stir Fried Lamb with Onions tastes savory, the lamb slices are thick but very moist and tender. The price is fair. I like here and will absolutely come again.
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Victor G.
Jun 26, 2023
Spicy Kitchen opened in the recently closed Newark Cafe's space, not in the alley space around the corner. Spicy Kitchen is still open despite being posted as closed on Y. hours not posted on Y...nor the eatery. It's also not Asian fusion. since when is an Asian fusion menu all in Chinese?the interior has been upgraded to a brightly lit, spacious, clean welcoming place from a darkly lit cramped one. upon entering, I was quickly brought menus in Chinese. reason being no one else was inside. I quickly gave him my order in Mandarin....offerings (entrees are scattered among various food groupings, not the ones I post): soups, soup noodles, fried rice, stir fried noodles, specialities, pork/beef offal, chicken, beef, whole fisheats: beef brisket noodles (14.99) no mention of spiciness-server inquired in Mandarin what spice level I wanted.me: (chung la-medium spicy) server: (Xiao la-lite spicy) me: (hao-good)-the spice is the notorious ma la chili sauce from Chongqing.didn't know it was adjustable. never had problems with it as it isn't accumulative. it's hotness comes from szechwan peppercorns which leaves a temporary numbing sensation, not a burning one. also no nasty discharge later. -beef brisket bits partly chewy, partly tender, not much. some veggies too-noodles tasted the usual, either fresh noodles or reconstituted dry ones, not housemade hand pulled noodles.4.5 stars too little beef brisket, not tender enough....leftovers:-food is typical Chinese village soul food. Northern Chinese, probably Sichuan and/or Chongqing...no way Southern Chinese or Asian fusion.-hearsay QR code has a translated English menu, my Iphone couldn't access.-server fluent in English, was translating for another table that came in later.-best to come dining with friend(s). portions are big thus not that pricey-got about 12% discount at checkout-not posted anywhere. unknown how long it lasts. -may return if I can decide what to eat...
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Michelle ..
Feb 28, 2024
We came on a weeknight and it wasn't too busy. Ordered 3 things:- A Choy- Water boiled fish - braised beef noodle All very delicious and good presentation. Will come again
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Chris M.
May 4, 2024
This place is really at the top of my list for really spicy Sichuan pepper flavors and foods. I have enjoyed especially the fish soup with pickled veggies and Sichuan peppers. Mouth numbing and just lovely. The service is absolutely awesome and the place is huge. Great for parties and also intimate. Great authentic Chinese.
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May L.
Apr 3, 2024
Drove from SF to try this place for lunch because my Chingqing (CQ) friend said this place is very authentic. We arrived at the restaurant at 11 and we were the first table there so we met the owner/chef. My CQ friend spoke in their native tongue therefore I know this place is authentic. We ordered 4 dishes and now they are doing a promotion (if you spent $55 or more you will get the Hunan style dry pot chicken). The owner gave us two extra dishes for free. All 7 dishes were DELICIOUS! Restaurant was clean, staff was friendly and the owner, chef and his wife were super friendly and talkative because our CQ friend is from the same neighborhood as the wife. This restaurant is in a mall so parking is not an issue. In this same mall you have 85 degree bakery, 99 Ranch, Feng Cha, Newark Buffet and a dim sum restaurant just to name a few. Will definitely come back to try other items on the menu. Newark sounds far from SSF but if you go during non-peak hours it took us 32 minutes so it's was not too bad. So far I think this is the most authentic Chongqing restaurant I've been to. Highly recommend this place!
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Mike S.
Mar 4, 2025
Normally horrible customer service means the food is gonna be amazing! This is not the case here! Avoid so many better options!
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Frank H.
Jan 27, 2025
Food was fine for what we ordered. But the service and experience were mediocre or worse. Do no go there unless you are good with Mandarin.
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Flora Z.
Jul 11, 2024
Amazing Chongqing food! I like all the 6 dishes we ordered.1. 辣子美椒牛排2. 重庆南山泉水鸡3. 青笋银杏炒培根4. 家常鱿鱼卷5. 腰缠万贯(猪腰)6. 干锅美容蹄
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