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Written by Shirley T
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Tuesday, 27 October 2009 08:05 |
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Sichuan or Szechuan cuisine is a style of Chinese cooking originated from Sichuan Province in southwestern of China. It is famed for bold flavors, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from sparing use of garlic, chili peppers and the unique flavor of the Sichuan peppercorn.
I had been to Sichuan twice in the last 5 years but I do not recall anything great I have had there during my trips. My friend jokingly said 'it must be you were visiting only the restaurants recommended by the tour guide!'. He could be right, I did not have much time to go for gastronomical adventure. One being the reason, I could not speak Chinese very well and secondly, I was not sure what was good to try!
And now, here am I in Austin and we have just found a place to dine Sichuan nearby where we live. Cited as serving unaldultered Sichuan cuisine, Asia Cafe is also the best venue to dine authentic Chinese. Formerly operating behind Asia Market (an Asian grocery store), it is now opened just next to it and a stone throw away from the intersection of Research Blvd and Spicewood Springs Road.
Besides serving dishes of family style, Asia Cafe also offers an individual serving like fried rice, stir-fried noodle or noodle soup. We opted for sharing basis of family style - Spicy Fish Fillet, Seafood Combination Pot (contains pig's intestines), Sweet and Sour Pork Chop, Mapo Tofu and Stir-fried Pea Leaves.
By the way, Asia Cafe is a self service restaurant (save on the tipping!) so everything comes and goes via the counter. After we had decided, two of us queued at the counter to make the order and paid in advance.
In return, the counter staff would give us a number. When your number is called, it means you have to go to the counter again to pick your dishes.
Rice bowls, drinks and cutlery are available next to the counter as well. Help yourself.
When we were there, it was a Saturday night and the restaurant was three-fourth occupied. However, the dishes came speedy. In less than 15 minutes, our first dish had been announced.
Find out what we had.
Seafood Combination Pot - Don't judge the book by its cover!
The dish may look hot and spicy but when I tried the broth, surprisingly it was awesome! Hot, spicy and tangy flavor were just a perfect. Lovely to go with steam rice. Plenty of baby bok choy and Chinese cabbage cooked with it as well.
Mapo Tofu is highly recommended when I was googling of what's good to have at Asia Cafe. Yes, now I recall that I did have this dish for a few meals in Sichuan but they never tasted as nice as this one!
Spicy Fish Fillet was pretty good as well.
Sweet and Sour Pork Chop - it would be perfect if the meat is less rubbery. Flavor and spices were great though.
Stir fried Pea Leaves - go green for some fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Overall, we are very satisfied. All the above cost us about $53 (for 8 people). If you ask me whether I would be back, the answer is 'ABSOLUTELY'!
Getting there?
8650 Spicewood Springs Rd #114-A,
Austin, TX 78759
Phone: (512) 331 5780
Website: www.asiamarketaustin.com/restaurantHome.html
Estimated Meal Cost Per Person: <$10
Business Hours: Daily from 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Click here for Google Map
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Austin Spicewood Springs Road | Asia Cafe - Sichuan Cuisine
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