Chengdu Taste

Like some of the best (but not all) restaurants in Chinatown, Chengdu Taste is more about the food than the atmosphere. The business occupies a small, plain, unassuming space in an out-of-the-way corner of a strip mall. Yet the unremarkable dining room remains busy, due to its authentic take on casual Chinese -- specifically, Szechuan-style recipes that favor hot, mouth-numbing seasonings.

"If you like SPICE then buckle up and strap in for some next-level Szechuan deliciousness," raves Bryan Bass, vice president of marketing for Carver Road Hospitality. "Seriously though, if you don't like spicy food you cannot go here."

The diced rabbit and cumin lamb (with each piece of meat attached to a toothpick for easy nibbling) are among the most popular dishes. But don't overlook the soups, which are packed with sweat-inducing power. Chengdu Taste does strong takeaway business too, with an easy online ordering system.