Fatman Kitchen — Restaurant in Tucson

Okay, before I get started I will say there were things that I would normally deduct a star or 2 for. One of the water glasses was dirty & had oil sheen on the water surface (forgivable dish washer issue). No decor or mood setting ambiance, very basic tables. Kinda grungy but not dirty. Limited drink variety.

HOWEVER, the food is some of the best Asian food I've ever had. Not your common Chinese restaurant variety. In house made noodles. Their texture is perfect. My daughter actually said: "I'm obsessed with these noodles & I can't stop eating them." This was dish #1 on the menu a spicy brisket noodle soup. There was some kind of floral note in the spice profile & it left an unfamiliar kind of spice tingle in my mouth. I asked what it was from & he said Sichuan pepper. I had #11 the Xian oil splashing noodle. Ribbons of noodle an inch wide dusted with some kind of spices that reminded me a little of Tajin. There were bean sprouts & chili oil on the dish as well. The texture of the noodle was nothing short of perfect. My husband ordered the crispy tofu & pork dish. Thin ribbons of fried pork in a savory sauce with chewy tofu strips & spring onion to garnish with a bright flavor. As a table we also added a 4th dish the garlic eggplant. Fresh large chunks of garlic tender sauteed eggplant in a savory/sweet sauce. Potent but well balanced. Every bit of food was so good. I can't wait to go again & try some of the...

This is my favourite Chinese food in town. All the dishes are incredible. It's all so authentic and titanically portioned. Depending on who's working, the English of the employees is hit-or-miss, but their menu is very clearly laid out and numbered, so ordering is still easy. For spicy lovers:

-the Xian Oil Splashing Noodles are a must. Huge, long noodles- almost like lasagna noodles- made in-house and topped with fiery chilis, garlic, and green onion, then drizzled with hot oil to make all the flavours bloom. Try it with a little black vinegar!

-the Griddle Cooked Chicken Wings, while pretty intense, come out in a big bowl tossed with a heaping portion of vegetables and a ton of very spicy chilis and Sichuan peppercorn. The skin is always perfectly crisp and the wings are juicy

For the milder set:

-the Eggplant in Garlic Sauce (aka Fish-Fragrant Eggplant) is rich, garlicky, and sweet, with just a touch of spice, and the eggplant melts in your mouth

-the Sweet and Sour Pork, very different from the usual American Chinese fare! Strips of pork belly in a rich vinegar and sugar sauce. Breathtaking!

But you truly can't go wrong. Everything we have tried, we have loved. Do yourself the favour and go. Go tonight. Open up your sinuses with the chili and Sichuan peppercorn and be delighted by two of the most enchanting cuisines...

Having no Chinese restaurants in Bisbee we wanted some good Chinese food while visiting family in Tucson. Fatman was rated 4.7/5 and best Chinese restaurant in Tucson by a local foodie magazine so we decided to dine there. Our party of 4 were very disappointed. First impressions count and upon entering we immediately noticed the windows and walls were dirty. (Not a great start. ) The food was at best mediocre. (Overcooked veggies and oversauced). Both appetizers, crab puffs and eggrolls had hardly any filling and way too much breading. However, our server was very nice and responded quickly to our requests for iced tea refills, soy sauce ( 2 of the entrees were bland ). It seems that the vast majority of their business is takeout. . We will look elsewhere for Chinese food next time...