Borough Vegetarian

Little Pepper - Very Good Szechuan in College Point, Queens

Little Pepper is a widely reviewed Szechuan restaurant that made the move from Flushing to less transit friendly College Point a few years back.  We’ve been to the new College Point location a few times, mostly because a) we have a car, b) we are often in Whitestone, which is next to College Point, and c) it’s easier to park in College Point than downtown Flushing.  

None of this is to say that Little Pepper isn’t good - it is very good, though the uneven service and weekend crowds are a bit of a disincentive to add it into our more regular rotation.  The food is also slightly oiler and slightly less nuanced than Cafe China, which is our top Szechuan choice at the moment.  

The vegetarian favorites I have had at Little Pepper to date include:

(Dan Dan Noodles - which they will make without meat)

(Ma Po Tofu - which they will also make without meat)

(Scallion Pancakes)

(Vegetable Fried Rice)

So if you are ever in northeastern Queens, craving Szechuan food on the way to Long Island, or looking for an alternative to Cafe China, would highly recommend checking out Little Pepper!

Little Pepper

18-24 College Point Blvd.

College Point, Queens

Accessible via the Q65 bus, which connects at the Flushing-Main Street 7 street subway stop.  Driving is highly recommended, with ample street parking available.

Han Dynasty - A Guilty Sichuan Pleasure

Han Dynasty has easily become one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Manhattan, despite it’s status as an outpost of a Philadelphia-based chain.  The waiting crowds for this relatively new restaurant can easily take up a good chunk of their 3rd Avenue block, but thankfully not only will the restaurant take your phone number to call when your table is ready (so you can get a drink elsewhere), but also the food is really good.  Not the best or most refined Sichuan-style food one can find in NYC’s boroughs, but certainly a spicy, greasy, and sometimes messy, indulgence.

My favorite vegetarian dish at Han Dynasty to date is Pickled Chili Style Tofu - a dish with the slightly sour and spicy flavor of pickled vegetables.  I don’t think I have ever had a dish like it before, and the picked vegetables add this flavor that to me is addicting.

Another strong, albeit very oily dish, is the Hot Sauce Style Tofu (pictured below), which is quite spicy though lacks some of the familiar flavors of Ma Po Tofu, another greasy version of the Sichuan favorite that can be made vegetarian.

Finally, there are a range of vegetable options that can help break up the sauce-laden tofu and meat dishes, including the wonderfully spicy Chinese Cabbage with Dry Peppers (pictured below).  The only downside of this particular dish though is that it really accentuates the over-oiling of Han Dynasty’s dishes - half the oil and it would not only probably taste better, but also make one feel less guilty after eating it!

So if you can’t make it out to Little Pepper in College Point, Queens, or to Cafe China in midtown Manhattan, definitely check out the East Village location of Han Dynasty.

Han Dynasty

90th 3rd Avenue (between 12th and 13th Streets)

Easily accessible from the 4/5/6 and N/Q/R trains at 14th Street/Union Square, and the L train from the same stop or 3rd Avenue stop.  10 - 15 walk from the F/M at 14th Street.

Lan Sheng - The “Other” Michelin-Starred Szechuan Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan

We finally made it to Lan Sheng last summer, Cafe China’s competitor in the midtown Manhattan Michelin-starred battle of Szechuan restaurants.  

Given how much I love Cafe China, I had mixed feelings about venturing to Lan Sheng.  Yes, on the one hand, it could be better than Cafe China which would be a major boon.  On the other, it did feel like both a bit of a betrayal to Cafe China and I had an odd feeling of trepidation about what the food would actually be like.

Ultimately, I have to say that Lan Sheng was very good - and our waiter did not flinch at making a few courses vegetarian for me, which of course was sincerely appreciated by this vegetarian food blogger.

I did not stray from my favorites on this first trip to Lan Sheng - Dan Dan noodles (pictured above), MaPo tofu (below), and some other small plates to share like scallion pancakes.

While everything was very good, I think that Cafe China may still be my preference, especially on the ambiance and cocktail fronts.  For the non-vegetarian, Lan Sheng did seem to be more varied and have more “unique” meat options than most other Sichuan restaurants.  That being said, I will almost absolutely return to Lan Sheng for more delicious, spicy vegetarian food in the future!

Lan Sheng

60 W. 39th St.

Midtown, Manhattan

Most easily accessible from the B/D/F/M/7 trains at 42nd Street, but also not a far walk from the 4/5/6/7 trains at Grand Central

Cafe China - Best Szechuan for Vegetarians in NYC?

Cafe China is definitely a favorite of ours.  We have been going there fairly regularly for two years now, and whether it’s small dinners for two or family dinners for twelve, Cafe China’s wide range of Szechuan food has never disappointed.  And for a vegetarian, there is the added bonus that they mark which of their dishes are vegetarian (and gluten free) and they will make their dan dan mian without pork upon request.  Their cocktails are also superb.  Below are some of my favorite dishes, though sadly I am missing a picture of the dan dan mian because I consumed it too quickly on my last visit!

(Ma Po Tofu - SO good!)

(Fresh, Garlicky Bok Choy)

(Scallion Pancakes)

Cafe China

13 E. 37th Street

Manhattan, NYC

Accessible from the B/D/F/M/N/Q/R trains at 6th Avenue or the 6 train at 34th Street