Five Spices House – Chinatown

Five Spices House on Beach Street gives you a long Sichuan menu to work through. Dan dan noodles come with ground pork and peanut sauce; other choices include twice-cooked pork, tea-smoked duck and chicken with dried chili peppers. Add a vegetable dish such as garlic pea shoots or dry-sautéed string beans if you’re ordering for the table.

The customizable spicy dry pot is another option. You pick the ingredients and the kitchen stir-fries them in chili seasoning, with the order priced by weight. There are also dishes such as tomato with egg and chicken with broccoli for anyone who wants a different direction from the hotter Sichuan plates.