辣掌柜 Spicy Master

Jen - a month ago

I used to say there is no good Chinese restaurant in Irvine, but no, after eating at this restaurant, I withdraw my word - this is literally the best Irvine Chinese restaurant you can have! The food is really spicy, if you can’t take it i recommend asking the waiter to reduce the spicy level. The manager Jennifer is super nice, she explained the best food in this restaurant and we are having a really good time!

Kai He 2 months ago

Amazing food. Really full of flavor. We ordered multiple dishes and there were no misses. High recommend the eggplant and intestine.

Carrot L 5 months ago

Got some other dishes too, but all these dishes were legit Sichuan food! They had great flavor, authentic and confirmed by the in-laws from Chongqing. Portions were massive, 5 of us ended up taking 3 dishes home and having enough for 2 more meals.

Cathy Sun 5 months ago

I visited 辣掌柜 Irvine recently and was honestly surprised—in the best way. The food was unexpectedly good, and the portions were huge. We ordered several dishes and none of them disappointed: Fresh Pepper “Jumping Frog” The restaurant mentioned they only have a limited amount each day, and the frogs are freshly prepared to order. You can really taste the freshness—the meat is incredibly tender. It’s spicy and flavorful without being overwhelming or harsh. Highly recommend if you enjoy spicy food. Crispy Eggplant Strips This dish was a standout. The outside is lightly fried, giving it a crispy texture without feeling greasy, while the inside stays soft. It almost tastes like taro pastry, which was very unique. I don’t usually like eggplant, but I couldn’t stop eating this. Stir-Fried Liver & Kidney (Chongqing Style) Very authentic Chongqing-style flavor—bold, aromatic, and spicy, but not overly salty. The cooking is on point, and it pairs perfectly with rice. Grandma’s Fried Rice I usually go for noodles over fried rice, but this one changed my mind. It looks simple, but the wok hei (that smoky “breath of the wok”) really comes through. The small sausage pieces inside are pleasa

Chelsea Yang (Chelsea) 7 months ago

Just tried this new Jianghu-style Sichuan spot in Irvine and it was a really solid experience. We ordered the “Yi Tian Tu Long Rabbit” and you can smell the fresh peppercorns as soon as it hits the table. The rabbit was crispy on the outside, tender inside, and the pickled greens on the side added a nice crunch. Definitely a must-order. The crispy eggplant was another highlight. Super crunchy coating, but the inside stayed juicy. The sweet, sour, and mild spicy flavors balanced really well and didn’t feel heavy at all. The stir-fried pork liver and kidney were surprisingly tender, not overcooked or grainy, and went really well with rice. We also got the pork trotters soup, which was very soft and rich — the meat basically fell off the bone. Even the kids liked this one. Overall, the spice level is more “fragrant and flavorful” than burning hot. The kind of place where the more you eat, the better it gets. I’ll definitely be back with friends who love spicy food.