Drooling over McD’s new Szechuan Sauce? Forget about that. Hop off that train and get yourself a one-way ticket to Long Island. Take your secret desire for Asian cuisine to Chef Wang’s, located in New Hyde Park, a fusion restaurant serving only the best traditional Szechuan food for over 40 years. With cultural foods ranging from insanely spicy to mild, your taste buds are cordially invited for an unforgettable experience that will have you yearning for more!
The Ambiance
Upon entering the silver-rimmed glass doors, you’ll find a relatively large indoor fish pond to the right teeming with Japanese koi and turtles. Next to it is a slightly sloped wooden bridge leading up to the restaurant where the maître d’ greets you with a warm smile. One step into either one of two dining rooms and you’ll be surrounded with wooden structures, framed Chinese characters, painted partitions, and even Chinese artifacts such as pottery and paintings. Indeed, this restaurant aims to provide fellow diners with a little oomph beyond just the epic food, truly instilling an Asian aura among its guests.
The Goods
Ahh… now comes the mouthwatering part! One of my favorite appetizers at Chef Wang’s is the Wontons in Chili Oil Sauce or if you prefer to be more traditional, 紅油抄手. It features seven delicately wrapped wontons packed with loads of minced pork and the greens- chives and scallions. Drizzled with a special spicy sauce consisting of soy sauce, chili oil, vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and topped with cilantro, the wontons soak in happiness and eagerly await your mouth. Usually, when you roll something this good, it’s illegal!
You wouldn’t go to Italy and not try their pizza. This is no different. The most notable dish at Chef Wang’s is the Szechuan Numbing Spicy Sliced Chicken. Although the name may sound intimidating, the dish will probably scare you even more. Loaded with fried chunks of golden-battered crispy chicken, it’s smothered with only the reddest Szechuan dried peppercorns and chili peppers. It’s then garnished with leeks, peanuts, scallion, and sesame seeds to provide a truly exhilarating view. If I’ve been scaring you, I have good news! This dish doesn’t taste nearly as spicy as it looks. In fact, the most this decadent combination of chicken and peppers packs is a little zing into your mouth, a numbing sensation that can only be experienced after savoring it. Are you ready for the challenge?