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Little Pepper
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
18-24 College Point BlvdFlushing, NY 11356
Neighborhood: College Point
(718) 939-7788
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sun 11:30 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
37 reviews for Little Pepper
Review Highlights
"Lamb with Hot and Spicy Sauce (with Cumin."
(in 4 reviews)
"Xiao La Jiao, this basement restaurant has great Szechuan..."
(in 3 reviews)
"Careful of the Sichuan peppercorns, they're seriously..."
(in 3 reviews)
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37 reviews in English
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Review from Caroline L.
New York, NY
11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm just ripping this off of my food blog. The food at Little Pepper is absolutely delicious.
Sliced Beef Tendon in Spicy Sauce
Cold, light, almost like an al dente pasta, salty and spicy. My friend laughed, "It tastes like it has the same spices as the Burger King spicy chicken sandwich!" Strangely enough, he was right... and it was a good thing.
Dan Dan Noodles
So. Freaking. Delicious. We destroyed this dish and were tempted to drink the remaining fire broth. But, we decided against it as we had four more dishes ahead of us. I would go back just to eat this again.
Lamb with Hot and Spicy Sauce (with Cumin)
This dish should've been called Cumin with Tender Lamb. It was a bit overpowering but fragrant and so good.
Sizzling Rice with Fish
We were trying to be healthy! Actually, we were trying to alleviate some of the heat on our tastebuds. The fish was perfectly cooked and the toasted rice in the neutralizing sauce and the vegetables were great!
Mapo Doufu
(Bean curd with spicy minced pork) I've made and/or consumed a considerable amount of mapo doufu in my lifetime. It was a staple in my house growing up as my mother is not exactly a stellar cook... wait, I never said that. DELETE. DELETE. DELETE.
The tofu was so silky and smooth. The sauce was complex and spot on. I wanted to eat this and only this for the rest of the weekend but I started getting full...
Shredded Tea-Smoked Duck with Ginger
If we weren't so completely full of beer (BYOB) and FIVE prior dishes, we would have eaten this whole plate. Tea-smoked anything can go horribly wrong but this was really spectacular. THE SMOKEY GOODNESS!
Overall, we had a great meal at Little Pepper. I highly recommend it as the drive out to Queens is irrelevant when it comes to Sichuan cuisine of this caliber. Service isn't quite there but if you're looking for Michelin-star quality, go see someone else. The food is all there is here... and it's worth it. -
Review from R Y.
Manhattan, NY
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Review for General Tso Chicken, Chicken and brocoli and Tofu house style.
Okay, so went in for their lunch special which are on average 5.50 per dish. Not bad for price. Also, this place has Michelin rating. Interesting right? Also, each dish comes with rice.
Well, General Tso, the portion was kind of small, maybe only 7 chunks of chicken came on. However, the sauce was delicious. Sweet and spicy. I scooped up the sauce on rice and ate it.
Chicken and Brocoli was mostly Brocoli, but their sauce was delicious as well. mostly soy-sauce based taste, but it did have a little spicy peppery kick to it.
Lastly, Tofu House style was extremely spicy. The tofu was thinly sliced, soft and limp. If you like tofu and like spicy, I highly recommend this dish.
Personally, their rice seemed NON-CHINESE. It was more sticky, rather than the usual spread apart rice you get at other places. Also, our waiter barely spoke any english. I had to point to things on the menu and point at my empty rice bowl to indicate I wanted more rice.
So, Why is this 4 stars? The price is modest and the food was freshly made. The sauce was what got me to give them the high rating. The meat and the vegetable are about the same as other Chinese restaurants, but their sauce is delicious. I wish I had just ordered a bowl of their sauces and a large bowl of rice to dump them in... -
Review from Norma S.
Flushing, NY
10/10/2011
Little pepper is a good little shinning star! I never would have known of this place if it wasn't for my friends looking for something new! Place is clean and roomy. The location is not the best in college point. I don't think I would ever cruise around there. But glad I did!
Won tong soup! How can that be WOW? Well how about if it's fresh! Simple? But not many place do such things! Yeah gross!!! But when you taste the food at little pepper you say "this is how it should be!". Sooo good! I wish I could do a drive by just for the soup but after tasting a variety of dishes I know I would end up getting more food than my hips need! Price is very good. Service friendly with a smile :0)
Stop by you will end up doing a few drive bys and actually stopping a few times. -
Review from Jen C.
New York, NY
8/4/2011
Although it's way out there for many bound by the (pretty) far reaches of the subway, you'll be rewarded with a roomy, light and airy dining room -- not commonplace for most Chinatown spots in my experience.
The garlic sauce is tasty and fits any cut of meat and, for the veggie crowd, eggplant just as well. Go for the kick of the spicy cold noodles. The shrimp with peanuts and hot peppers is also worth a mention.
$5.50-$6.50 lunch specials daily until 4, except Thursdays since it's closed. -
Review from Mel C.
Los Angeles, CA
Spectacular Chinese food, no longer will I settle for anything less than Little Pepper. Simply amazing and so incredibly inspired. It's absolutely one of my favorite places to eat.
The service is great, the hostess is very kind, friendly and helpful. She informed me that the head chef began learning to cook when he was 15 years old and after 30 years experience he is one of my food heros.
All of these dishes come highly recommended:
Appetizers: Dumplings in Hot Sauce, Sliced Pork Belly in Chili Garlic Sauce, and Pork Dan Dan Noodles.
Main Courses: Peanut Chicken, Crust of Cooked Rice with Pork, Lamb with Cumin. -
Review from Patti C.
College Point, NY
10/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food was super spicy which I love, but also VERY salty and I could not finish it. I will have to try it another time in person and ask if there's any way to make it with less salt.
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Review from Danielle G.
Brooklyn, NY
4/17/2011
Note: New Address for this killer Sichaun food temple-
18-24 College Point Blvd
Outstanding food and Nora, the hostess is incredibly helpful with her excellent English!
Fabulous appetizers included: Thin sliced Beef tendon with Chili sauce - unbelievable; silken tofu with fresh scallion was just that; fresh cucumber with mashed garlic sauce; spicy cold noodles.
Dishes we ate today:
Dried Sauteed String Beans - terrific, Fried Potato in Hot Sauce, Enhanced Pork with salt and pepper, braised lamb and beef in spicy soup base (menu category: braised dishes), lamb in hot and spicy sauce (w. cumin)- lovely meatballs; house special griddle cooked rabbit and braised whole fish with spicy hot chili and scallion.
Bring a team and order extravagantly! Balance spicy dishes with other dishes - we didn't and hence we ate rice to cool our palates down! -
Review from Grace L.
3/7/2011
Little Pepper has moved! The new location is brighter, cleaner (not hard compared to the last place) and shinier, with a disconcertingly large amount of space between tables. It's now at 18-24 College Point Blvd, a spot that is not convenient to any substantial public transportation, on a block chock full of generic Chinese takeout joints.
The hostess and her staff are still as welcoming and lovely as can be and do their best to make sure you're having a great time. The food is good and spicy. We've always liked their water braised beef and fish (the name is misleading, it doesn't prepare you for neon red broth and oil that accompanies the protein) and the dumplings, but our love for the hot pot was dampened by this last visit. Instead of being able to order hot pot items a la carte when they were at their last location, you are given zero choice and two heaping plates of stuff you may or may not want. We were of the latter sentiment.
But no matter, if you're in the area or are feeling adventuresome, check this place out. It's worth the haul. -
Review from Christine H.
New York, NY
6/27/2010 3 photos
I've been coming here periodically for the last two years, first introduced by a Chinese friend and now I can drag my coworkers here too! This place is authentic and spicy and NOT for the faint of heart.
The staff are friendly and the proprietress has always been great in suggesting other dishes we should try. I'm illiterate in Chinese and can only manage a few words, but they're really patient to make sure you enjoy the meal. (I've even had to pull out my iPhone to show them pictures of the dishes I wanted.) I'd come out a lot more if Flushing wasn't 2 hours away from WashHts ...
My reliable dishes:
- ma la yu / shui zhu yu - both are braised fish filets in spicy chili oil. The first dish is larger and also includes bean sprouts and tofu (?) slices. Careful of the Sichuan peppercorns, they're seriously tongue-numbing.
- sauteed cowpeas with minced pork - tangy pickled string beans with juicy bits of meat. Occasionally a little over-salted, but hands-down my favorite thing to spoon over rice and chow down on.
- sichuan liang mien (sichuan cold noodles) - tangy, cold, vinegary, peanuty noodles. mmm.
I've also stopped in for takeout and they're super-speedy about it, less than 10 minutes waiting for two noodle dishes and one vegetable.
A tip for combating the spiciness: if water and beer don't do it for you, make a stop for milk tea boba at Ten Ren (half a block east) before heading in. It does wonders. -
Review from Frances L.
Brooklyn, NY
7/27/2010
The fact that I left with my lips on fire is always a good sign that the Sichuan restaurant is doing a good job.
My recommendation is to bring someone who speaks Chinese with you. It was hard enough being a Chinese-American to read the menu and try to remember which dishes I like, but it helped a lot to ask my mom what Sichuan dishes are famous. Plus, the waitress pretty much only talked to me (the lone Asian in the crowd) because she assumed I was the only person who could speak Chinese. I'm just glad I can at least say dish names ha ha.
Two dishes that my mom recommended that are famous are Mapo Tofu and Gan Bian Si Ji Dou.
1. Mapo Tofu = spicy soft tofu in a spicy sauce ... I LOVED it, but my American friends didn't. I'm not sure what that tells you ... but this dish is probably one of my all-time favorites and I thought this restaurant did a decent job.
2. Gan Bian Si Ji Dou = dry spicy fried green beans were EXCELLENT. This was probably the majority favorite. I think most people would look this over on the menu b/c who wants to eat green beans, but they are awesome.
We also ordered Kung Pao Chicken which was excellent. Very large portion and very spicy. The spicy fish stew was awesome and even spicier. And the lamb was the cherry on top to burn your face off. If you need to cool off, I would recommend the cold noodles and the chinese spinach.
For 10 dishes and a beer or 2 for all 9 of us, we only paid about $15 each including tax and tip. I'd say that's a pretty good deal. I wouldn't pass this place up just because it's a little dinky and lacking with the A/C. I've decided the dirtier the restaurant, the better the food is.
Just try it out and I think you'll leave satisfied. -
Review from george t.
Long Island City, NY
7/13/2010
If this restaurant is in China it would just be another below average joint you run into on the block. But then again we are talking about flushing and it surely is glorified by americanized taste buds. I will explain why Little Pepper and me dont see eye to eye..
Came here on a hot satruday afternoon and found this place.
The AC is literally non-existent. Although its a small restaurant holding about 6 tables, they only had 2 waiters juggling between tables and the customers waiting for tables. Needless to say our service was SLOW. She was apologetic though.
Anyways we ordered 4 dishes - wayyyyyy too much food for 2 people.
Cuming Lamb - The flavor of the lamb is totally lost in the spice, It is spicy I assure you that, is just that underneath the spice and cuming there isn't much substance to it.
Saliva chicken - I'm not sure if there is an english name for this dish as it literally translates to Saliva chicken. The portion is impressive. the meat is tender. It's just a little sweet for my taste. I have ordered this dish countless times whenever I go to a sichuan restaurant, and this is the first time I've had it sweet. It's spicy and had layers of flavors, its just the sweetness I can't get over.
fried pepper - Not sure if this is the exact name for the dish. But its pepper deep fried and pan fried. The flavor is right on but they left the seed in the pepper... which totally ruined the texture and the left a bad after taste in my mouth.
Water boiled beef - This is where shit hit the fan. No matter how much seasoning and pepper you put into that dish you just can't mask bad beef. The beef smelled foul and tasted sour. It was subtle but both me and my partner had trouble swallowing this dish. I say avoid their water boiled section all together. This dish made both of us sick that night...
4 dishes was wayyyy too much food for 2 people and we had enough for a second meal. but the bill for 4 dishes was 50$, now thats not too bad for a normal restaurant. But for flushing and a basement establishment I expect the bill for 2 people not exceeding 35... while going over the menu, alot of the items had increased prices, they just wrote the higher price over the older one. and all of their 'signature' dishes are 30$... wtf ?
So why is this place overrated again?
New yorkers have a tendency to overrate hole in the wall places. It gives them a sense of accomplishment and entitlement for 'discovering' a restuarant not many people notices. but come on now... you are in flushing, theres just too many other fine places you can spend your money on instead of here. -
Review from Jamie S.
4/5/2009 2 photos
Down the stairs we went, following the peppers in the window. Our waiter boasted of the chefs talents and of the braised fish dish that had been written up in the NY Times. He was not wrong. The flakey swai fish was amazing in a fiery pot of broth. We also ordered the wood ear mushrooms and pork. I would also highly recommend this dish, the funky looking mushrooms and pork came together with layered flavors and a kick of spice. The kitchen did a good job at toning down the spice for us, though there was enough to provide that szechuan mouth burn.
Note: they are moving in 3 months to 18-24 College Point Blvd
bigger location apparently, but that will be a big loss for this neighborhoodListed in: Flushing: The Best Chinatown
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Review from Brian H.
Astoria, NY
3/5/2010
Little Pepper (or Xiao La Jiao) is a misnomer. They might be small tiny particles of crushed peppers and spices, but they don't just put a little on their Szechuan dishes. They load them with lots and lots of pepper. I speak of one dish in particular, but this cuisine as a whole is not for the little of stomach.
I had been to this basement restaurant in Flushing a few years ago and I remember that it was the first time I had a crazy sensation from spicy food. What happened was this: The spice (I think particularly the Szechuan peppers) was so overwhelming that when I drank tap water, it felt like it was carbonated. My taste buds had actually gone numb. I felt like I was on some sort of drug. It was both a very neat and alarming sensation. I had the same experience when I returned to Flushing a few years later and ate at the Golden Mall. I think I had a chili rabbit dish both times.
As tempted as I was to try a little sparkling tap water again,we skipped the rabbit and instead ordered the much-publicized Lamb with Hot and Spicy Sauce (with Cumin). When this finally came to the table, wrapped in aluminum foil, the overwhelming aroma of cumin filled my nose, my mouth, my eyes. It was really intense. I generally like cumin but it felt like I had fallen into a vat of cumin quick sand.
I could also see the meat was covered with tons of crushed red peppers and a garnish of cilantro. I took maybe two bites and didn't get much lamb flavor. I only got heat. Lots of heat. And I found myself crunching on what felt like seeds but I knew were those pepper flakes. They were attacking my mouth like an army of fire ants. And the charming non-English speaking staff were too busy to refill my water.
I wanted to like this, but truth be told, I couldn't finish it. I could barely get a quarter of the dish ingested. And the lack of balance to me really turned me off. I was surprised that this dish is so well-received all over the internet. I guess some people have bionic taste buds.
We got a few other dishes (which we had to order by pointing to because of the language barrier) and they fared a little better. The pork dumplings in soup were sort of the opposite of the cumin lamb. They had no flavor at all (or had my tastebuds all been destroyed?) and tasted like bland wontons. The Chinese broccoli helped cool the heat a bit - even though I could see some Szechuan peppers hiding among the green. But the Spicy Sichuan Cold Noodles were the winner. They definitely had quite a bit of heat, but were balanced well with a touch of cold savory sweetness.
I am pleased to inform you all that my tastebuds have since recovered and I think I will still be able to taste and write Yelp reviews. It was a close one there.
-eatthisny -
Review from Christopher I.
New York, NY
6/8/2008
Oh Little Pepper--I'm so sorry. I can only give you four stars. I was actually going to give you three but I had a flavor flashback of your beautiful lamb in spicy cumin and bumped you up one.
Yesterday three friends and I took the long, long ride out on the seven train to Flushing with one goal in mind--Little. Pepper. I had been here once before, about a year ago.
Now this is a very important part of the story, so listen up. When I came here the first time, I hadn't been to any other Sichuan places. And this wonderfully masochistic spicy dinner blew my mind and my scalp was sweating all night. (my sister gets the nose-sweats, I get the scalp...same root--pepper oil) But since last June, I've been a regular customer at Grand Sichuan down on Canal. And I think it corrupted me.
You know how it's hard to go back to Jim Beam when you've been drinking Johnny Walker Black for the last year? Well, it's kinda like that. Little Pepper is just Jim Beam next to Grand Sichuan's Johnny...but you still get the spicy aftershocks the next day, regardless of quality.
Yes, I was a bit disappointed last night. The pork with crispy rice cake was not very good. In fact the meat tasted like that weird unidentifiable rubber you get at Panda Express. The wontons in spicy oil were quite good, but, again, I'm crying for you Little Pepper, they paled in comparison to Grand Sichuan's. Even the cucumber with mashed garlic didn't seem as fresh as it could have been. And cucumber always seems fresh.
So you're probably wondering why the hell I rated this place four stars. Well, it's almost exclusively for the lamb in spicy sauce (with cumin). You will find it identified on the menu as such. It is really great. The taste actually hints at lamb halal street meat, but it's better since it's not some weird compressed meatloaf that's been gyrating all day exposed to the elements. It's real meat, and the difference here is a light sifting of sichuan peppercorns on top.
We tried to get the rabbit (and my friend was lobbying for bullfrog) but they were out of rabbit and we were feeling more like comfort food than experimentation so we didn't try either.
When all is said and done, I don't know if I'm coming back to you, Little Pepper. I may just save myself the $4 and the long train ride and venture down to that little smoky hole-in-the-wall on Canal. I won't rub it in again by saying its name. Sorry.
((Oh--and LP--one more thing before it's over. Don't tone down the spice for the out-of-towners. The spice factor in your food left us wanting more...we don't go to sichuan for fun. We go for serious capsaicin comas. You just didn't deliver.))Listed in: Craving Chinese
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Review from Gary V.
New York, NY
7/19/2011
So glad that they moved and not close. I would've cried...
Been coming here for almost 4 years.
Favorite Orders: Chicken Sichuan Style - crunchy, spicy, so good. Shredded beef with peppers - spicy, tasty, juicy, and so damn good I could eat a whole plate. Sauteed watercress - refreshing.
If I still lived in Queens, this would be my weekly go-to spot. But this is a reason to go to Queens and enjoy fire in your mouth. -
Review from Darwin G.
2/28/2010
Confused about entering this place, it actually is downstairs. A basement restaurant, interesting. Following my foodie cravings, I wanted to check this place out for myself.
We obviously had to go for the spicy cumin lamb that everyone seems to suggest. Not killer spicy, but still left me sweating. Served with sauteed onions, people are right that it's a must order. The lamb is fatty and delicious. My only complaint is that it's a bit oily.
Then the cauliflower and pork. A decent dish, definitely helped by the thinly sliced fatty pork.
To add onto the weight, we also had Chinese sausage and leeks. If you've never had Chinese sausage, try this out. It's smoky and probably different from most sausages that you've tried (that's what she said.) Leeks went very well with the dish, but again, a bit too oily.
In the end, the three of us were pretty stuffed from the three dishes and even had a little bit to take home. A good meal, but not the cheapest when you're in this area ($15 a person with tax/tip). -
Review from Dick G.
Syosset, NY
6/19/2011
Went last night to reincarnation of Little Pepper and was pleased with what I found. Location is way off beaten path of Flushing and at 9:00 pm it's kind of desolate. New digs are larger, cleaner, air conditioned and bright (too bright). Ordered Hot spicy cold noodles and porkbelly in a garlic hot oil brew.....delicious!!!! Lamb in spicy sauce with cumin was perfect as was the garlic crab. Despite any shortcomings we will be revisiting many times for our FIX! Tab for 2 $48
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Review from Larry Y.
New Providence, NJ
5/14/2007
A.k.a. Xiao La Jiao, this basement restaurant has great Szechuan food. My particular favorite is the lamb with cumin and Szechuan peppercorns. The cumin and chili powder-laced french fries are also pretty unique. Other good dishes are cold noodles, ma po tofu, dan dan noodles, twice cooked pork, and pig's ear. Best Szechuan around, IMHO.
It's authentic, so it's very spicy and has the unique taste of Szechuan peppercorns. And some of the dishes can be fairly oily, swimming in brilliant red colored chili oil. They also have more unusual dishes available: lamb, frog and rabbit.Listed in: Szechuan
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Review from Emily C.
Long Island City, NY
1/28/2009
I spent a summer in China and I thought I would never again feel the delicious sting of being bitch-slapped by Sichuan cuisine- and then I discovered Little Pepper. I am no expert but man this food is spicy and yummy and CHEAP.
I recommend the braised fish in spicy soup base, homemade pork dumplings, homemade tofu, and the lotus root with chilis (the dry one- the one with sauce is a little too cloying). I can not emphasize how delicious fresh tofu is with some chili oil and boiled peanuts and scallions. If you've only ever had that brick deep fried and covered in sticky sweet chili sauce you need to try the real thing. And in case you have any reservations about the fish- I can honestly say that it is some of the freshest I've had in all of NYC. Lotus root is pretty much a more interesting potato. I like it's subtle flavor and crunch even after being cooked. If you haven't had it before give it a try.
I can't speak for every dish on the menu but the ones I mentioned are all winners. I only wish that I could get bigger groups of people to go with me so I could do the hot pot or order about ten other things.
P.S. Most of the time the servers don't speak English but I've never had a problem just pointing and smiling. If you're a stickler for service this is not your place- I usually just help myself to a second beer from the cooler -
Review from carol h.
New York, NY
3/15/2010 3 photos
Wow-- came here on a whim after reading all the raving reviews here. The food burns so good.
Had: Cold spicy chicken appetizer, $7.95- pretty good sized dish with chilli oil, peanuts, scallions, cilantro, sesame, sichuan peppercorns-- spicy and great on rice
Cumin lamb, $13.95- bite sized pieces of tender lamb with cilantro and onion, very tasty and smelled like roofer armpits
Cumin crab, $11.95- 4 whole crabs with a lot of spice! eating this was so delicious and messy!
Note: 2 people with plenty of leftovers
Overall, really enjoyed the meal. It was very good. Everything was obviously spicy, but never overpowered the flavor. My taste buds weren't overloaded on heat, but my body started to perspire somewhat & my sinuses cleared.
After reading about it in T Magazine, I have to say I regret not trying the 'Crusts of cooked rice with pork' and I will definitely be going back to have that. -
Review from Tony M.
Forest Hills, NY
11/21/2008
3 and a half stars . . .
Little Pepper is one of those places that you pass by . . . turn to your friend and say... "look at this dump . . . who wants to eat here" Well we decided to waddle down the stairs on a Thursday night and what do you know. . .it was packed!
As we wandered in on a frigid November night we noticed 75% of the tables have ordered their hot pot. We were tempted try it but screw it, we were here to try some spicy Szechuan home cooked type of meal and we definitely experience that. The food is tasty (above average) and damn spicy (as expected). They also serve Tsing Tso beers for only $2 a pop!
This place is a mom & pop run business so expect to receive attentive service.
Next time - I'll be here w. a bunch of friends to try out the hot pot!!
Definitely worth a try if you live around the area....Is it worth the trek to flushing for this spot... Nahhhhh -
Review from Radford T.
Manhattan, NY
Little Pepper is yet another restaurant in the neighbourhood I've told myself to try, only to time and again succumb to my yearning for the food at other restaurants which I already know to be good. One Friday night I finally resolved to march my ass over there and have dinner. This restaurant is located in a very non-descript location with a relatively small amount of foot traffic for Flushing, and at the basement level, no less. It's very easy to miss unless you were looking for it, but I actually get my hair cut every three or four weeks at a barber shop just a couple of doors from it, so I've took mental note of this restaurant for a while now.
Little Pepper is appropriately named since it serves Sichuan cuisine, which is known to be spicy. It was about 9 o'clock at night when I walked in, and it was clearly very busy inside. In fact, all the tables were occupied. The dining area was served by a middle aged woman and a young man who could be the woman's son and was probably drafted into working at the family business. Though I did not ask, so I could be wrong. This team of two was basically running around taking orders and fulfilling their requests without a second to even take a breath. They clearly needed to hire more people to work there on weekend nights. At various times the cooks even brought the dishes out from the kitchen and asked one of the waiters which table the dishes should go to. They have four or five small tables that can sit four people, and three big round tables. One of the big tables was only occupied by two people, and after about five minutes of waiting, I was finally sat down to share the big table with the party of two.
Now maybe it is boring of me, but everytime I go to a Sichuan restaurant, I order the Shui Zhu Niu - literally translated as "Water Cooked Beef". At Little Pepper, this dish is listed as Braised Beef in Spicy Soup Base. In one of my previous reviews of another restaurant in Flushing, I have described this very spicy dish of braised beef soaked in a big pot or bowl of peppery sauce. It is one of my favourite dishes and also the dish with which I measure how good or authentic a Sichuan restaurant is. I also noticed they have rabbit meat dishes and I had wanted to order the Diced Rabbit Meat in Red Chilli Sauce, which is listed as an appetiser on their menu. Unfortunately they were out of rabbit meat. Instead I settled on the Shredded Potato with Pickled Cabbage, which the people I was sharing the table with were eating and assured me was very good.
About ten minutes of waiting, the Shredded Potato with Pickled Cabbage was served. This is a simple dish of stir fried shredded potatos and pickled cabbage. The Chinese name of the dish indicated this should be a sour dish, but instead it was spicy. The potato itself was not spicy, however, it was the pickled cabbage that was spicy. Taking a bite of both the potato and the spicy pickled cabbage together made for a great contrast of flavours, though ultimately, this dish was not something that really stood out. The dish was not very spicy at all, it was only spicy enough to tingle your mouth. But I have a feeling that's how it was supposed to be. A little while later, the Shui Zhu Niu came out, and to my relief, they served it correctly with the beef literally swimming in a big bowl of spicy peppery sauce. I have been to other Sichuan restaurants where they do not do this, and only served the beef on a plate. They also had the spiciness level right, which was extremely spicy, to the point where you could feel the spiciness by simple contact of your tongue to the beef. The beef was also very tender as it ought to be. I was sweating embarassingly while eating this dish as I usually do when I eat very spicy dishes. At this point I was noticing that since the team of two waiters were so busy, some of the customers simply went to the cooler in the back of the dining area to get cold drinks for themselves. So I followed their lead and got up to get myself a cold bottle of Budweiser to soothe the spiciness in my mouth. In my opinion there is really very few eating experiences as enjoyable as eating a very spicy dish while drinking cold and bitter beer. It's a feeling that I can only describe as "tong kuai" in Chinese - I don't think there is a direct English translation for this phrase, but it describes a sort of carefree feeling of joy. It's a feeling that you might experience if you were driving down an empty highway in a convertible at 100 miles per hour, or if you were out partying with dear old friends till 4 in the morning without a hint of being tired, or if you were eating a very spicy dish with a cold beer to wash it down.Listed in: Flushing Chinese Eats, ROTDs!
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Review from George M.
Brooklyn, NY
7/10/2009
This is one of those places that makes you so very happy you know about it. The sign is chinese with a friendly cartoon pepper. It's down some stairs. It's tiny. The food is great. I've been a few times now and it's consistently great, which is even better. They've yet to serve me something average. They serve beer.
Be advised, the entree portions are pretty big. Of course, you should still order as if it's your last meal, as the food is so solid. Take the leftovers home, wake up the next morning, make some fresh rice and enjoy round two.
You need to try the pork dumplings in hot sauce. SO damn good. I'm a fan of the Smoked pork with leeks as well. The spicy chicken dish mentioned in an earlier review was the winner of the first meal I had here, which, considering it's chicken, is something of an accomplishment.
As an added bonus it's south of the 7 station so you avoid the crowds if you're not in the mood to deal. -
Review from Monty C.
Dix Hills, NY
1/21/2010
I have been frequenting Little Pepper for several weeks (often) and have to say I'm a huge fan.
Not pretentious in the least. People are nice, food is awesome, portions are good size, beer is cold and cheap. What the hell else do I need?....
The first few visits I thought the food could be a bit spicier, but now that they have seen us a few times, the heat is definitely there.
Some favorites (so far):
- Cucumber in Mashed Garlic Sauce (I'm a big pickle fan)
- Spicy Lamb with Cumin (tops)
- Pork Dumplings
- Braised Sliced Fish in Spicy Soup
Rabbit and Bullfrog are next up for me to try.
All hail the Pepper!!! -
Review from Brian W.
8/20/2008
Extremely solid Szechuan food. Ironically their best dishes aren't even 100% native Szechuan versions, the noodles in spicy brown sauce with beef felt more Taiwanese (but oh so yummy once mixed up), and the cold cucumber with garlic... mmmm, just the right amount of crunch and large amounts of garlic.
We also had the pork intestine that was perfectly chewy and seasoned, although it wasn't spicy at all. That might have been my biggest issue-- dishes that were supposed to be spicy really weren't that spicy. It's probably a nice blend of spice level, though, so you don't scare the unwashed masses away. It is also distinctly possible that I enjoy spicy food way too much and that's why the heat barely registered...
And for a little basement hole in the wall, the charm is just about right. -
Review from Michael L.
New York, NY
1/11/2009
Quite good Sichuan food. The chong qing spicy chicken (la zi ji) is outstanding, definitely try that. The water-cooked spicy beef (shui zhu niu) is decent, but not as good as at some of the other Sichuan places around NY like Sichuan Gourmet. Also, not much (i.e. nothing) in the way of ambiance.
Definitely enjoyable, but not worth the trip out to Flushing versus the Manhattan Sichuan places. I do want to come back and try the hot pot here though. -
Review from Jan Y.
Long Island City, NY
11/5/2010
VERY SPICY just how I like it! The blue crabs with hot pepper was so hot I was dripping sweat as I was picking for the meat. The lamb in foil was good but oily. I was not expecting it to taste like the $1 lamb skewers on the street but it did.. don't know if I would order it again. Can't wait to try all the other goodie dishes.
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Review from Lindsay L.
Queens, NY
12/18/2010
I love it, almost everyhing tasty; )
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Review from Sean M.
10/3/2008
3.565 stars
I'm feeling that Taiwanese/Szechuan fusion vibe here others mentioned. We tried some staples like the Cold Spicy Beef Tendon, thin sliced and creamy in texture, with the hard high fastball heat (spiciness). That was possibly the best dish we sampled. Although not on the menu in the Braised Section they made the dish with thin sliced pork for us, you can get it with pork intestine too, but having had chitlens early in the week in Boston we opted for just the pork. We had a split decision on the Pork with Dry Bean Curd, I thought it was quite good but the cut of pork was quite fatty. For the veggie we tried the Napa Cabbage with Dried Pepper Szechuan Style. It was not quite spicy enough for me and I found myself dunking the cabbage in the Braised pork sauce, which did enhance the flavor. If this place was in Massachusetts it would be in the top 3 Szechuan establishments, in Flushing, they need to keep pace a little better. The staff was very friendly and helpful and that does count for something. Xiao La Jiao deserves a 2nd, and probably 3rd visit before final judgement.
* I'm a sucker for basement venues, my first apartment was subterranean.
* Prices have risen significantly, about 30% but that's a sign of the times
I suppose.
* Wide and deep offerings should be something for every spicy food lover.
* they didn't have rabbit this visitListed in: Non Cantonese Chinese Food
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Review from Jordan H.
ASTORIA, NY
4/6/2010
This is some next-level Szechuan food. I'd rate it above Spicy & Tasty and Grand Sichuan; the location and crowd are also refreshingly low-key and authentic. Top dish was the Chongqing-style spicy chicken. The enhanced salt&pepper pork seemed an awful lot like double-cooked pork but was very tasty so we didn't mind. And the shredded stir-fried eggplant was pungent and delicious. We'll definitely return soon.
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Review from J C.
Brooklyn, NY
5/30/2010
I love this place! The food is beautifully spicy and the Tsingtaos are only $2. My favorite dishes are the lotus root with dry pepper, the spicy fries and the pork with sweet bean sauce. Based on yelp recommendations, I'll have to try the lamb with cumin next time I visit Little Pepper. The basement location is not luxurious, but it is comfy and unpretentious.
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Review from kathy l.
Flushing, NY
4/2/2010
4.5...
0.5 for improvement.. that said.. i seldom have craving for it's mala fish!
Mala fish is in a big metal pot with vegetable (mushroom etc) on bottom and fish on top, inside this spicy soup/oil... it's awesome! Fish is so tender, very tasty and the hotness doesn't kill the taste!
The boss is very nice, if she knows you are first timer there, she'd introduce you their specialties, and you should trust her! She's the only lady waitress there... -
Review from Judith C.
Philadelphia, PA
2/17/2009
This place is super dumpy but it doesn't matter. The beautiful pepper is all I need to see. I haven't eaten here in a while, but it's good. Go for the hot pot. Nowhere in Manhattan compares with Sichuan places in Flushing. Please. Do not speak if all you have to say is nonsense.
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Review from Phil L.
Astoria, NY
10/31/2010
Came here on a late Sunday night for dinner. Don't live in the area, but definitely a ways off from main street in a kinda sketchy neighborhood (right across from the projects). This place is pretty unassuming since their restaurant is in the basement. The owners are a husband and wife duo with the wife working the front of the house and the husband in back cooking. Was welcomed right away by the wife as she warned me (in Mandarin) that there was only an hour left before they were going to close. Being illiterate (or nearly so), I told her I wasn't sure how to say it but just pointed to a spicy fish and tofu dish on the menu. The dish came out very quickly and just looking at it, I knew it was going to be spicy. The plate was steaming and a nice red film of chili oil was floating on top. The dish had cilantro on top, fish, tofu, and some peanuts. It was pretty spicy and it tasted great. After eating my bowl of rice, the woman asked "was it spicy enough for you?". Obviously my face was red, a slight sweat going, nose running, and I'm sure my lips were a bit inflamed :). Since it was closing time the husband came out from the kitchen and we chit chatted for awhile. So overall? Great service, prices are ok, and certainly authentic chinese food.
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Review from Shirley H.
Flushing, NY
8/23/2008
The best hot pot place in flushing. Their plates come in big serving and are very fresh. Some dishes such as beef inner stomach can't be found in any other hot pot places.
If you're looking for a spotlessly clean place, go somewhere else. -
Review from April W.
Oakland, CA
9/25/2009
Spicy cumin lamb and scallion fried rice. And cold beer. Go there and eat it.
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Review from J G.
Brooklyn, NY
8/3/2010
Whoa. WHOA. First, let me say that I'm no Chinese food expert and am unfamiliar with what authentic Sichuan cuisine should taste like. That being said, Little Pepper serves the best Chinese food I've ever had. I'll admit that I was slightly apprehensive as I walked down into the basement space, but I had a feeling that I'd walk out very satisfied. My gut was correct. Everything I tried was incredibly flavorful and interesting. I was sweating and sniffling from the copious amounts of spice, but it was never overwhelming and actually felt great. Honestly, it was like I was on some sort of drug (if I find out the food was laced with crack, I'll be super pissed). I know I sound certifiably insane, but I've gone here with two different people and both had the same exhilarating experience. For starters, the bamboo shoots (soft but not mushy, in a pleasantly spicy sauce) and beef tendon (surprisingly appealing texture and a great, cool contrast to all the heat) are both excellent. As for entrees, the absolute must have, in my humble opinion, is the lamb in hot and spicy sauce with cumin. That shit is transcendental. This is followed by an almost-as-good braised fish in spicy soup. The portions are gargantuan and two starters and two mains are more than enough for two people and would probably be more appropriate for four. The staff is warm and inviting despite some negative comments I've read. I know Flushing is out of the way for many of you, but I promise it's worth the trip. You can hop on the 7 or, if you drive, there are plenty of inexpensive public lots nearby. Gather a few people and prepare for an amazing meal.
