Five Spice — Restaurant in Boulder

I saw a few negative reviews and decided that the record need to be set straight.

A Chinese co-worker of mine introduced us to Five Spice several years ago and we have been regular customers since. She said it was her favorite Chinese restaurant in all of Boulder. She ordered for us from the special Chinese menu, which is what I recommend to everyone reading this. Luckily that menu is also in English now, but you have to ask for it. I also noticed recently that they have incorporated many of the Chinese menu dishes on the regular English menu under "Chinese Traditional".

Here is what to order: Pan Seared Tofu Fish Filet in Szechuan Bean Sauce Vermicelli w/ Ground Pork Shredded Bead Curd w/ Pork West Lake Beef Soup Hot & Sour Seafood Soup

Lastly I want to reiterate what someone else said. Every time I stop by the majority of the tables are filled with native Chinese folks including both families and CU...

This post is based solely on one dish because it was my first time tasting their food. This review is for the szechuan style boiled beef. Being an Asian-American from NYC/NJ but also having been to Taiwan, I would say I have a sharp palette for authentic Chinese food along with the rest of them (Japanese/Korean/Thai/Viet/etc). This dish truly resembles a genuine Szechuan dish characterized by the numbing peppercorns and the red peppers in chili oil. In terms of the price and value, I do not think even the places I know back home could compete with this- truly well done. I even called the restaurant back to tell them how satisfied I was. I will most likely try all the staple "traditional Chinese dishes" or at least everything in the Szechuan region. Sure, the website and name seem lackluster and unimpressive, but who cares about that when the food is straight up fireeeeeeee (Guess that's an asian...

I go there very often. It's the only place I'd call authentic Chinese food in Boulder area especially if your order food from the Chinese menu. The food is always good in my experience as Chinese. From what I have seen there -their(the ladies at the front and the whole staff) English is not very good and the restaurant is often very busy with diner-in and take-out orders so they appear to be "rude" as some of the reviews said, but my understanding is that when the language is in the way, they don't know how to explain things well in English then they are a bit anxious and worried. They are frustrated too sometimes by not being able to satisfy every customer simply because they don't understand what people say. It's fair to say that they need to improve the service to make it right but we as customers could be a little more patient and kind, give them the chance to help...