Szechwan Kitchen — Restaurant in Phoenix

This restaurant has unfilled potential. It's a decent space (formerly one of my favorites, Diamond) but the interior sits empty pretty often. A bar sits in one corner with no tap handles and no tender. When I visited I saw maybe six or seven people within the hour and a half show up and either pick up orders or place them to go. If that's how these folks make their money then ok, get after it. Stay in business. They're not GREAT but they're a FAR cry from bad. The other Chinese offerings downtown are less. The service was attentive, although hesitant. Almost like they weren't sure how to handle folks eating at a table. Fine though. The Mongolian Beef was velvety smooth and was basically beef with onions. The lunch portion was generous if not memorable for any other reason than the attention to the beef. If you know what "velveting" or "washing" is when it comes to Chinese food it felt like this dish was handled in such a way. The Kung Pao Chicken was sweet. Peanuts were diced which I don't prefer but it adds to a creaminess that some like. I prefer the occasional crunch. No heat, so ask for it if you desire. Chongking Spicy Chicken. True Szechwan spots should have something like this. Hot/numb and fried, no gloppy sauce. It was good. I love this dish a day later as the centerpiece to a fried rice. We also got chicken chow mein. Above average wok hei. All in all I'd LOVE to see this place be a spot that catered to downtown folks who want a go-to Chinese spot that they can take out of town friends or have an above average dine in experience on their own. Also, their lunch portions are...

Szechwan Kitchen | Review by Tony $

Rating: ★★★★☆

I recently dined with my family of 6 at Szechwan Kitchen and had a delightful experience. This restaurant is an excellent choice for group settings, making it perfect for family gatherings or meals with friends. The atmosphere is welcoming, and the seating arrangements accommodate large parties comfortably.

The food was fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the shrimp 🍤 with lobster 🦞 sauce, which was rich and flavorful, and the sweet and sour chicken, which had the perfect balance of tangy🍊and sweet. The portions were generous, and each dish was beautifully presented.

The service was very friendly and attentive. The staff made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in and were quick to address any requests we had. Their hospitality definitely added to the positive experience.

The only downside was that the restaurant was a bit hotter than I prefer, which made it slightly uncomfortable at times. However, this was a minor issue in an otherwise enjoyable visit.

Overall, Szechwan Kitchen offers delicious Chinese food with great service, and it's definitely worth a visit for anyone looking for a satisfying...

Constructive criticism......As another reviewer mentioned there's something very off about the Chongqing (spicy chicken). The dish was a huge pile of thin, small, battered chicken pieces surrounded by fried and burnt Szechwan red chilis. There was only the flavor of what I can describe as a bitter, metallic taste. We didn't make a dent in it as it was inedible. My husband ordered a side of fried rice. He is a fried rice lover. Traveled all over Asia and lived in Malaysia for three years. So, I trust his opinion when it comes to this cuisine. He said it was some of the worst fried rice he has ever had. Lacked any flavor. The orange chicken is mediocre at best.

I will say the saving grace was the staff. They were pleasant and accommodating when I requested a side of steamed broccoli. This restaurant needs a refresh. The food is subpar and they should really work on addressing the atmosphere. There was some type of dead plant creeping out of the ceiling tiles in the back corner where we sat. I hope the owners read these reviews and make some much...