X Kitchen 川香阁 — Restaurant in Houston

X Kitchen by H Mart in Sterling Plaza at Chinatown is a culinary gem in Houston, especially for Sichuan cuisine. The extensive menu feels like a delightful challenge, with unique and authentic Sichuan dishes that set it apart from other restaurants in the area. The freshness of the ingredients shines through, elevating the bold and spicy flavors, making each dish a memorable experience.

The standout feature, beyond the diverse Sichuan menu, is the excellent service. Bella's friendly and detail-oriented approach, coupled with her attentiveness and humor, enhances the overall dining experience. The restaurant's cleanliness and organization further contribute to its inviting atmosphere.

During Chinese Lunar New Year, X Kitchen goes the extra mile by offering special Sichuan items, catering to those who may not be able to prepare certain dishes at home. The commitment to ensuring orders are delivered promptly and correctly adds an extra layer of appreciation.

One must-try Sichuan dish is the grilled whole fish, a substantial and delicious option with perfectly balanced spiciness. The versatility of adding extra noodles or vegetables to transform it into a hot pot is a thoughtful touch, reflecting the creativity of Sichuan cuisine.

X Kitchen keeps things exciting by regularly featuring new Sichuan items and innovative ideas, encouraging patrons to return and explore a variety of unique Sichuan offerings. Overall, X Kitchen stands out as one of the most remarkable Sichuan restaurants in town, making it a highly recommended destination for those seeking an authentic and unforgettable Sichuan...

Worst experience I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Our waiter (the one with dyed hair) lacked customer service skills and was very impatient with me taking the time to look at the menu. It was apparent that she viewed me as a novice customer and immediately noticed how different she treated my husband and I in the restaurant because of it. She got one of my orders wrong and recommended me to try the beef sticks. I do not recommend them for anyone since they were full of chunk fat (I’m not even joking). When she came to my table to ask if I liked them, I kindly said no and the reason why. She just said “oh” and blatantly walked away. I was disappointed by her response since her lack of manners and ignorance as a server continued in my experience being there. Her passive aggressive attitude towards me after expressing my dislike for the food was demonstrated when my husband returned to the restaurant to pick up his forgotten AirPods and she handed them to him with her head turned away from him, rolling her eyes.

It’s very clear that she is a close minded person with little to no experience in the service industry and lacks the ability to care and improve in her workspace.

I did not eat any of the food I ordered after trying the “beef” sticks and the order of the eggplant (the order she got wrong). The eggplant smelled and tasted like garlic- one bite of that (which I didn’t consume) made me sick.

The food lacked presentation and no genuine effort. It was full of grease as it shows in the parchment paper. Everything was definitely overpriced and not...

Nut allergy friendly: They have options on the ordering app to highlight a nut allergy. Some dishes do have nuts, so I'd highlight this with the staff.

Time to Food: 12 minutes (crispy chicken) to 35 minutes (squid and green beans)

We arrived with a party of five around 1PM and there was plenty of seating. Order through an app pretty easily.

For five people, we ordered and had a decent amount of leftovers:

Sichuan Spicy Crispy Chicken (4.5/5): Extremely crispy yet not too battered. They nailed the texture and meat to breading ratio. A hint of ginger threw me off for a bit, but it was delicious. Lamb Dry Pot (5/5): Awesome blend of meat and vegetables. We loved the lotus root and cauliflower here. I'd come back and order this any day. Twice Cooked Pork Belly (5/5): A classic Sichuan dish executed very well with perfectly tender pork and leeks. Sizzling Squid (4.5/5): We were expecting something different and this was a bit too saucy for me, but the texture was fantastic and the squid was cooked well! Dry-Fried Green Beans (4/5): Flavors were there but the green beans were a tad too soggy, like they got steamed a bit.

X's Kitchen / Tasty Sichuan is comparable to Mala in many ways, such as having leeks in the twice cooked pork, but they do dishes in a different style. I look forward...