Sichuan Gourmet
| Address: | 502 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA 01821, USA |
| Phone: | +1 978-670-7339 |
| Site: | laosichuan.com |
| Rating: | 4.4 |
| Working: | 11:30AM–9:30PM 11:30AM–9:30PM 11:30AM–9:30PM 11:30AM–9:30PM 11:30AM–10:30PM 11:30AM–10:30PM 12–9:30PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 6
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Zan Hecht
Best Restaurant in Billerica. You might at first be thrown off by this tiny restaurants appearance, crammed in a tiny strip mall with a liquor store and a laundromat, but dont let that fool you. Sichuan Gourmet has, hands down, the best food in Billerica, and for Chinese food beats any of the Chinatown places Ive been to. The trick is to not order typical "American" Chinese dishes like Beef and Broccoli or Sweet and Sour Chicken, which are not very good here, -- the dishes youve never heard of are going to be the best. I should at this point mention that because the cuisine is from the Sichuan region, much of their food is spicy. Unlike many places, when they put those pepper symbols on the menu, they mean it. However, the spiciness is never a raw overpowering burning -- they dishes carefully balance "Ma" (a tingly, electric sensation), "La" (spicy), and "Tang" (a hot burning sensation) with sweet and savory flavors that can convert many people who think they hate spicy food. They arent just adding cayenne to their dishes like so many other places do. They also have plenty of non-spicy dishes, and are happy to make any of their menu items less spicy. For spicy dishes, my favorites are the "Pork and Eggplant with Yu Xiang Sauce" which appears on their separate specials menu (it has perfect balance of spicy sauce, sweet eggplant, and savory pork), the Dan Dan Noodles (which the waiter should warn you need to be mixed before eating), any of the "with Spicy Chili Sauce" dishes (which are meat or fish served in a red spicy sauce with Napa Cabbage), the "Old Sichuan Chicken" (a dried fried chicken with an interesting crust -- the house specialty), the "Gangou Dry Fish Filet" (similar to the Old Sichuan Chicken but with fish), the "Sliced Roast Beef & Tendon w. Chili Sauce" (if you like tendon), and the "Hot & Sour Wonton Soup" (listed under "Sichuan Delicacies" not "Soup", and very different from a typical Americanized Hot & Sour). For non-spicy dishes, I would recommend the Scallion Pancake (the only Americanized appetizer I would recommend here),"Sichuan Cold Noodles - none spicy" (cold noodles in a vinegary peanut sauce), "Sichuan Style String Beans" (a Sichuan classic, and done very well here), "Meat Ball Sichuan Style" (A soup-like hot pot with huge meatballs and lots of vegetables), and the Sesame Sweet Potato Cakes (A hot soft sweet-potato pancake that is stuffed with a sweet bean paste, coated in sesame seeds, and drizzled with a sweet sauce). This restaurant also has fancier locations in Framingham and Brookline, but the food is much better in Billerica. If youre looking for authentic or spicy food, its worth the drive.
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Anthony Martorina
After working and traveling in China, I am always searching for authentic Chinese food and this place delivers it. I found this place about three years ago and when Im working in the area I always have a meal here. My favorite dish is the spicy shredded chicken with cayenne peppers. It is so spicy but delicious. I get a nice little sweat going at the end of my dish. I wish I lived closer because I would order this once a week it is that good. My second favorite dish is the Dan Dan Noodles. Again this is another spicy plate of yummy goodness. I typically will get this instead of rice with my shredded chicken. On a recent trip the waitress recommended the spicy lamb and it was perfect. I have a new favorite on the menu. I also tried the green beans they were good but werent spicy. They seemed bland when compared to what I just ate. I will tell you that I knew the beans were fresh because the family was sitting at a table in the restaurant hand sorting and cutting cases of fresh green beans. I love seeing that. It makes the food seem like its made at home with love by the whole staff. Its also great to have fresh vegetables and not frozen crap. You can really taste the difference. So thanks to another amazing meal. I can hardly wait for my next business trip. It cant come soon enough.
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Simon Sarris
Some of the best chinese food in the state of Mass. Dont be fooled by the outside appearance, its an absolute gem. First time here? Go with a group and get several things. Some recommendations: * Fresh bamboo with spicy sauce: Great fresh tasting bamboo. In spite of the name its not very spicy! * Dan dan noodles: A staple of street food cooking, these noodles come in a chili oil and sichuan peppercorn sauce with shredded pork on top. (I think this dish also contains peanuts). * Wontons in chili oil: These arent fried, they are delicate, chewy dumplings in a chili oil sauce. * Mapo tofu: Silk tofu cooked in chili oil with pork. * Shredded dry beef with chili: Very spicy but one of the greatest dishes of all time. Thin beef strips, bamboo and other vegetables fried with very little oil and scorched red chilis. The frying method produces a chewy texture. Absolute must have if you like spicy food. * Basil Eggplant: Chinese eggplants are very small, and cut a few times to make them chopstick-capable. These are marinated in a basil and garlic sauce. * Baby bok choi: In a garlic sauce. Simple dish if youre feeling like you need more vegetables * Sichuan string beans: Very popular sichuan dish.
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Beej Das
Im a big fan of Sichuan Gourmets food. Authentic cuisine from Chengdu isnt the easiest to find; this place delivers. I commend their kitchen and service staff -- the food is good, delivered to the table hot and quick. The Kung Pao (Kung Bao at Sichuan Gourmet) is very good and they may have the areas best pork dumplings (Peking Ravioli). Despite its lackluster decor and location next to a laundromat, I would still have given Sichuan Gourmet five stars, but the restaurant manager is unpleasant enough that one star must be deducted. We arrived at 9:00pm on a night they close at 9:30pm. Their kitchen closes at 9:15pm. They were rather unpleasant about seating us despite our long drive to get there. We rushed through our meal and left by 9:20pm. They should change their hours to reflect when they really close and welcome people until they do. Food is about compelling cuisine and hospitality. Their kitchen delivers, but the manager and front desk do not.
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Yan Tran
The Sichuan Gourmet is well known in the area for the most authentic Sichuan food. There is a small dining area, but take-out is the option I usually choose. This restaurant is top-notch when it comes to typical Sichuan main dishes. If you like spicy food, you will be pleased. You cant go wrong with kung bao beef or chicken. Their ma po tofu is the best in the area, but I recommend it with pork. Where Sichuan Gourmet struggles is with appetizers and non-Sichuan / American-Chinese dishes. Their lo mein is only so-so; lower-caliber restaurants actually do a better job. Their scallion pancake is pretty tasteless, like the cook was just going through the motions. The crab rangoon is sugary, making it seem like dessert youd get a county fair.
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William Shepherd
Weve been enjoying Sichuan Gourmet for the past few years since moving to the area. The food here is as good as it gets, everything either of us gets has been fantastic. Im just chiming in now to add my 2 cents on the Chicken & Cayenne pepper (J2) I really love hot, spicy food and this dish was actually hot! Almost never do I get to say after leaving a restaurant that their definition of hot was similar to mine. Excellent job yet again. This place has a huge Asian following. Ive never gone when it wasnt completely packed wall to wall and 90% are typically Asians. Favorite Asian cuisine around, hands down!
