We discovered China Sichuan restaurant while browsing through Time Out's 2024 Amsterdam Restaurant List. To be honest, the list had its share of hits and misses, but this place stood out as the sole Chinese restaurant listed, catching my attention. Although I've known about this restaurant for a couple of years, I had previously dismissed it as just another mundane chain establishment.
We found out that the restaurant had several branches, with three located around Chinatown and one at Sexyland in Noord. Uncertain of which location to choose, we opted for the original one.
Upon examining the menu, we noticed that their prices were significantly higher compared to other Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam, with most main dishes priced at over 20 Euros. Despite the steep prices, the restaurant seemed to be quite popular, so we decided to make a reservation.
Their menu resembled a book, featuring options in both English and Chinese, accompanied by pictures for every single dish, which aided us in making our selections. Given that Sichuan cuisine is renowned for its fiery spiciness, the restaurant conveniently rated the level of spiciness for each dish using a scale of chili symbols.
The restaurant boasted a red interior adorned with prints of Buddhist paintings. While Sichuan China restaurant first opened its doors in 1993, it appeared that they had recently renovated the place, adding a few touches to the interior that gave it the ambiance of a Buddhist shrine.
For more details, please check the YouTube video below.
The three of us ordered three main dishes and a serving of fried rice. Our selections comprised chicken, pork, and beef dishes, each offering a unique level of spiciness. While most dishes were spicy, the intensity varied across the board.
The first dish we sampled was the Mongolian Beef. Infused with Sichuan pepper, it offered a distinct level of spiciness compared to the other dishes. Combining both heat and saltiness, it left us craving for rice, which was promptly served when our fried rice order arrived.
Their fried rice was indeed very good. I found the frying technique to be the best among all the Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam. However, considering they charged almost 10 Euros for the basic vegetable fried rice, one would expect it to be of high quality.
We ordered the Sichuan Chicken, but it arrived quite differently from what was depicted on the menu. It lacked the expected amount of sauce shown in the picture. However, it was generously garnished with fresh chilis, adding a fiery spiciness to the dish.
The final dish we tried was the Sichuan double-cooked pork, although it was referred to as Sichuan Royal Pork on the menu. It was exceptionally well-prepared, even surpassing my favorite version from Wanshun. Given that this was their regional specialty, they handled it with superior skill. The taste was perfectly balanced, the texture was delightful, and overall, it was flawless.
However, our overall enjoyment was dampened by the restaurant's rushed atmosphere. It was evident that they were too busy, and their explicit desire for customers to finish their meals quickly and leave soon was apparent. Throughout our meal, they constantly asked if we were finished, and without any inquiry, they brought the bill along with the portable credit card machine and requested payment. This approach made us feel utterly uncomfortable.
China Sichuan Restaurant / Chengdu
Lange Niezel 24, 1012 GT Amsterdam
+31 020 624 1137
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