Red Pepper — Restaurant in Seattle

Red Pepper is a Szechuan restaurant that delivers bold, authentic flavors in a casual setting. From the moment the dishes hit the table, you can tell this is a spot that understands the art of spice, depth, and traditional Chinese cooking. I’m giving this place 4 out of 5 stars, primarily for its solid execution on flavor and standout entrées.

Ambiance: 3.5/5 The interior is simple and unpretentious, with the focus clearly on the food. It’s a functional and comfortable space, though nothing about the atmosphere particularly stands out. Still, it serves its purpose for casual meals and group gatherings.

Authenticity: 4.5/5 This place knows its Szechuan roots. The flavors are unmistakably traditional—from the tangy fermented bean base to the numbing kick of Szechuan peppercorns. You won’t find watered-down interpretations here.

Flavor: 5/5 The boiling fish (水煮鱼) was the highlight—intensely flavorful, spicy, and layered with that signature málà numb-and-tingle sensation that defines real Szechuan cuisine. The fish was fresh and tender, bathing in a rich, spicy broth that soaked beautifully into the accompanying vegetables. I also ordered the crab roe tofu, a softer, more delicate dish that balanced out the spice beautifully. The silky tofu with that crab roe umami richness was perfect over white rice and one of my personal favorites.

Service: 4/5 Service was friendly and efficient. Dishes came out hot and fast, and the servers were attentive without being intrusive. Nothing particularly exceptional, but definitely above average.

Cost: 4/5 Portions are generous and the pricing is very fair for the level of authenticity and ingredient quality. You’ll leave full and satisfied without feeling gouged.

All in all, Red Pepper is a strong choice for anyone craving bold, spicy, and authentic Szechuan food. I’ll definitely be coming back to explore more of the menu—especially if the rest of the dishes are as solid as the...

Hi my name is manpreet and I go in this restaurant last night for pickup a DoorDash order. I am doing DoorDash for one year and this order is the worst order of my life because I have to do wait for the order more than 1 hour and the people who come after me they get there order in 5 or 10 minutes because they are from there country and speaking same language that’s why they are serving them first and this is not only happen with me other delivery drivers who come before me they also said they are waiting for a long time and they have to cancel there order from this restaurant. When I ask them for my DoorDash order they said we are busy we let you know when it’s ready but when i was in the line for wait for my order the peoples come after me who speak same language they get there order early than me and other delivery drivers so I just want to request to the restaurant owner please tell your staff treat everyone as the same way you guys treat your peoples and give the order first to the people who come...

Decent sichuan food without having to go all the way to Bellevue. The portions are pretty good for the price. $72 for 3 rice portions and 4 dishes.

Dandan noodles - was made flat noodles and not very spicy. good amount of numbing flavor. Taste overall was ok, 3/5

Lazi chicken - just chicken and chilies. Tasty, but the chicken was a bit dry. Some other places I've gone to have had little bits of crispy green beans, and I usually prefer that. Spice level feels fairly mild for Sichuan food. No shortage of numbing taste though, 4/5

lamb cooked with peppers and cumin, probably the best dish we ordered. Strong cumin and peppery taste with good amount of lamb and peppers. Some cuts were fatty and not very good, but overall good 4/5

Mapo Tofu - the most disappointing order, dish was runny and seemed watered down somehow. Felt like it lacked the savoriness from meat sauce and also wasn't salty enough - definitely was in need of more broad bean paste. 2/5

Overall, would return if too lazy to drive out...