Spicy City Chinese Restaurant

The restaurant is a bit small, but it is where I like spicy food - when I am able to eat it. Due to recent food restrictions, can't do spicy food, but definitely reminscing about the spicy food here! They have prepped side dishes nearby the register, which you can get a bit cheaper if you pay in cash. They have jerky that they prep, which sells out quite fast, so you would need to go in the morning to try to get it. Other popular items include their spicy cured meat and Pork Ears. My favorites to get here are the Szechuan Style Spicy Fish, Spicy Fried Lamb with Cumin, and Deep Fried Chicken Cubes with Hot Pepper. Their dishes have a nice kick, and sometimes you just want that spicy fried indulgence with a bit of heartburn/mouth-searing bliss. I will honestly admit I need to eat my favorites with rice to survive. This place is not for those seeking gluten free/less oily options.Service is okay. Parking is a tad harder as the parking lot is small, unless you come during their off rush hours or look for street parking on the side.Understandably LA/Monterey Park/San Gabriel/New York/San Francisco have a plethora of more options in Asian food and probably more cheaper. However I would say that Spicy City is alright in San Diego, as we don't have the same plethora of options like other places.

I recently visited this Chinese restaurant for lunch with my teammates, and we had a great experience overall. The menu offered a wide variety of dishes, catering to different tastes and preferences. The pricing was reasonable, and the service was attentive and friendly. However, the restaurant was quite empty during our visit, which was a bit surprising. Nonetheless, it made for a quiet and peaceful dining experience. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a good Chinese meal with excellent service.

In my opinion, spicy city is one of the best Chinese restaurants in San Diego. Usually we order the Mapo Tofu, the fried fish, and another dish that we are craving. This can be the eggplant, the panfried buns or the shredded pork. The food always comes out very quickly after we order. One gripe that I have regarding the food is the lack of consistency regarding the spice levels. I personally really enjoy the numbing flavors and sometimes the food is really numbing which I enjoy and other times, the food does not have that much spice. The service is very good. The staff is helpful and welcoming and quick.The restaurant's interior is on the smaller side however there are plenty of seats. It does get busy if there are a lot of people. Parking however is very difficult to find. There are so many restaurants in the plaza however there are not many parking spots so you may have to park a little walk away.

Food here is amazing. Don't worry about the service. String beans are a must. My favorite is the local flavor lamb. I also remember loving the boiled fish here although it's been awhile

I was planning take my son to Lanzhou Noodlelicious but we hit during the time they are closed between lunch and dinner, so had to figure out a Plan B. Spotted Spicy City and the rest is history. No problem getting seated, friendly service. Ordered a bunch of different items -- from Dan Dan noodles (spicy!) to the onion pancake to dumplings and much more. All very good to excellent.We'll be back.

I've been wanting to try Spicy City for a long time now, and I'm so glad I did. We had the fried cumin lamb and sizzling beef. The presentation of the beef being transferred onto the sizzling plate really gets your appetite going. Food was served quickly, and it was easy to get the attention of servers for things like to-go containers. The price isn't bad for the quantity of food you get, as we had plenty of leftovers-- enough for the two of us to have another meal. The food isn't too salty, seasoned just right to be flavorful. I definitely want to come back and try the Szechuan style spicy fish that everyone raves about.

And oldie but a goodie!I first dined at this restaurant when I was in college in the area many moons ago. Since leaving the area after college, I haven't had the opportunity to return much. But on a recent work trip, I was actually visiting another establishment in the same place. I saw that Spicy City was still there and decided I would come back on another day to see if it was just as good as I remembered.I was very happy with my order of shredded potatoes with green pepper, dry sauteed string bean and homestead kidney. The portions were sizeable and the dishes did not feel overpriced. I had plenty to take with me for a meal the next day. Everything I ordered came out quicky and piping hot. The staff was friendly and attentive. It was a packed house at about 7pm on a Wednesday which was great to see.If I'm in the area again, I will definitely want to come back to venture into the cheek numbing options.

I will start by saying that the food here isn't as spicy (or numbing) compared to the szechuan food in LA! BUT it was still very flavorful and delicious.We came on a Tuesday night (after Christmas) and it was BUSY! Every restaurant in the plaza had a wait and the parking lot was full. Luckily, there was a lot of street parking available if you're okay to walk a bit. We waited about 30 min or so and were seated at 8pm. They closed at 8:30, so once we sat and ordered, the food came out super fast!It's a pretty small place, but we were able to fit a high chair at our table with 4 adults. The ladies seem very stressed, could come off as rude. But a couple of the other male servers were more friendly. We tried the Mapo Tofu with "regular" spicy and it was barely spicy at all -- an enjoyable amount of spiciness, not much of the numbing feeling. The string beans with garlic were also good, super flavorful and the fried garlic was amazing. The eggplant with spicy garlic sauce was good, but I could probably skip it. The fried salt and pepper fish was super good! Big pieces of fish and super crispy.Overall, a good dinner spot if you're craving Asian food! And it's not too spicy at all, so I think anyone could enjoy it.

The steamed WHITE RICE is very good. Not like the usual Chinese restaurant rices. This one is fluffy and bouncy. Service is very good. Staff is helpful and welcoming and quick. Extremely FAST kitchen. Food came out in literally 2 mins. Food was all well made. Classic Chinese restaurant.

Came on a rainy Saturday night without making reservations, and managed to secure the last table large enough for 5! The restaurant's interior, on the smaller side, exudes a classic charm reminiscent of family-owned Chinese establishments, sparking a nostalgic feel. Portion sizes were great, and the menu was a bit smaller/less varied than other Sichuan/Chinese restaurants I've been to, but still had a decent amount for diverse tastes at very fair prices. Value is definitely their strong point. While the spice level didn't quite match up to the intensity of Szechuan food in SF/Bay Area, the flavors were still rich and savory. The eggplant with spicy garlic sauce, while good, had a unique twist with a strong vinegar flavor that might not be everyone's preference. However, the cumin beef stole the show with its bold, savory taste. My only wish is for the dishes to pack a bit more heat and intensity of flavors.