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Z & Y Restaurant

Szechuan Restaurant$$$$

Chinatown, San Francisco

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Z & Y Restaurant

8.4^/10

670

ratings

Ranked #5 for Szechuan restaurants in San Francisco
The experts at Eater and Serious Eats recommend this place
"Tan tan noodles and the green beans are both awesome choices."(14 Tips)
"Explosive chili chicken is amazing, but also try the Dan Dan noodles"(7 Tips)
"Spicy fish with flaming chili oil - yum! ♪( ´θ｀)ノ"(4 Tips)
"explosive chilli pepper"(4 Tips)

180 Tips and reviews

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spicy food
explosive chili
casual
lively
chicken
chili
explosive chilli
good for groups
wontons
restaurants
green onion pancakes
beef
great value
pork
good for singles
soup
tea
stir fry
eggplant
good for a quick meal
(15 more)

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Amy WangJuly 30, 2016
The most authentic Chinese food in the US! Make sure to order 沸腾鱼- a spicy yet very flavorful fish dish, dry sautéed string beans, 辣子鸡，a spicy chicken dish diced, crispy, delicious.
Serious EatsOctober 29, 2013
Serving "elegant mouth watering dishes," Z & Y serves up spicy favorites such as Chicken with Explosive Chili Pepper and Spicy Fish with Flaming Chili Oil. Pretty self explanatory.
Upvoted 3 days ago
EaterJuly 25, 2016
Though it's known for the spicy "Chicken with Explosive Chile Peppers," Z & Y has a deep bench of dishes from mushu pork to ma-po to frog in flaming chile oil. Read more
Jamie LesleyNovember 14, 2016
Authentic tasty large portions - all the food I had here was great. Felt the spice was dulled down a bit - worth noting for next time. Prepare to queue, worth it.
Paul FarrellMay 17, 2017
An institution worth travelling for. Superb food & great atmosphere. Order the spicy fish that is roasted or baked, forgive me for not knowing which. Heck order any whole fish, you are on a winner.
Lewis KJanuary 13, 2013
I've been to so many Chinese restaurants in SF and this has been this best. Fantastic balance of spice and flavor. Go for the chili chicken, hot and sour, and peanut dumplings.
Hannah NicdaoNovember 14, 2018
Absolutely delicious. Sensitive to spice but surprisingly really enjoyed the explosive chicken buried in chilies!
Adrienne WoodlandSeptember 9, 2018
I was slightly disappointed. I had high hopes the chicken with explosive chili. Food cake fast and was nice and spicy. The quality was slightly off. I would go again and try something else though.
Hanan MalSeptember 6, 2019
Truly amazing food! The stir fried crab, chicken with explosive sauce and shui zhu yu are excellent. The stir fried beans are a must!!
Alex ChiritescuJune 13, 2017
Service not that good. But food was quite tasty. The chicken chili explosion was full of flavour and not that spicy. Also very good was the shrimp with honey and nuts. To come back and try some more!
Tasting TableOctober 17, 2014
The fried chicken here knows how to make an entrance: It's served on an enormous, Sichuan pepper-laden platter. And it's up to you to dig out the juicy morsels of boneless fried chicken. Read more
Michael BelluardoJune 28, 2016
Very authentic Szechuan. Food was great, And love that they have the option to share a table with other people to cut down on the wait time.
Rory ParnessMay 18, 2017
Been here 5+ times
If you don't have a reservation and don't want a long wait, agree to share a table. You'll get seated quicker and who knows, you may make a new friend. Oh yeah, get the chicken over hot chili
Paul CunninghamMarch 9, 2014
The best szechuan I've ever had. Very authentic. Seafood soup with szechuan pepper corns, szechuan beef, hot and sour soup. Best if you have a native language speaker to get the "good" menu.
Ana Filipa NevesAugust 6, 2014
I ordered 2 small soups, pork dumplings and some other pork dish. Two much food for 2 people! :) 1 small soup is enough for 2 people! Pork dumplings with peanut were great!
Ali AltafMarch 8, 2018
Beef in flaming oil, fish in flaming oil, spicy dumplings, chicken with explosive chill peppers, cumin lamb
Balint AcsMarch 31, 2016
The wait was not bad, but have your party members with you. The chow mein was quite tasty along with the cashew chicken and the eggplant w/ garlic though it was very spicy.
Priyanka KanseOctober 7, 2019
Been here 5+ times
#2 (fish in chilli) is a must, also the garlic eggplant... all the typical Chinese restaurant stuff - chow mein, scallion pancakes - is pretty unremarkable.
Kristján OddssonOctober 24, 2016
Everything is good here. We must have ordered 9 courses and everything was delishios. Garlic shrimp, wontons and chow mein stood out though.
Caroline BlackSeptember 26, 2016
The tan tan noodles and wontons in spicy peanut sauce are the tasty winners here. Long queues so com early!
Fernanda BonninMay 12, 2019
food is great! Be prepared to wait for a bit since there is a big line or tell them it’s ok to share a table so you get in faster
Zeke KochDecember 31, 2016
Pretty good Szechuan. We had spicy crab (so-so), fish fillet with tofu and pickled greens (which was nice) and pea sprouts with chili (nice). We'd go back, but it's not worth the 45 min line.
EaterJuly 28, 2016
The explosive chicken is a showstopper presented atop a terrifying pile of chili. However, the heat isn't overwhelming and the chicken is flavorful. Just reserve a table ahead of time. Read more
Les WSeptember 14, 2018
Hot and Spicy authentic Sichuan dishes in Chinatown. Often a line but worth the wait. It is even Michelin recommended.
Erica LovelaceJanuary 8, 2016
The wontons in spicy peanut sauce, dry-fried green beans, hot and sour soup, and ma pao tofu with pork!
Ting SFebruary 6, 2016
So glad Michelin Bib recommends this Sichuan Food restaurant. Very authentic Sichuan food, as a girl come from Sichuan, I do love this restaurant very much.
KorenFebruary 20, 2017
Skip the chicken w/chilli peppers platter. Its umbearably spicy amd I love spicy. Hot sour soup was the best I've ever had.
Andrew ArmstrongMay 2, 2017
I really enjoy the stir-fried crab at Z & Y. The servers are always pleasant with me and my wife.
Shri LJanuary 15, 2017
Huge wait but worth it. Tip: Say 'yes' when asked if Ok with combining parties to get in quicker.
Alex DobyanFebruary 26, 2018
Amazing Sichuan food. Spicy green beans (四季豆) and cumin lamb were standouts on par with anything I had in China.
Daniel MejiaSeptember 13, 2018
Tan tan noodle and Chicken with explosive chilli pepper were both incredible!!!
Zoe WongAugust 29, 2013
If you can take the spice, go for the Fish in Flaming Chili Oil! The Kung Pao Chicken, Hunan Beef and Sauteed String Beans are also good.
Shirley LiuSeptember 7, 2014
Def get the tan tan noodles and peanut wontons. Was less impressed with the explosive chicken.
SF WeeklyMay 31, 2012
SF Weekly’s Best Of 2012 Winner – Editorial Pick – Best Dish to Sear Your Eyebrows Off. The next time your best friend pretends she’s not dieting but “cleansing her body of toxins” with a little bout… Read more
Will AgnewAugust 26, 2019
Well worth it. Chicken with explosive chilli pepper an obvious standout.
Rich ParkDecember 5, 2015
Come here with a group, and order a variety of incredible dishes. Wash it all down with a bottle of Tsingtao or two..
Kyle OlivoMay 29, 2016
Delicious. Lots of peppers. Go with friends and eat family style. The Cashew Prawns and Pea Shoots are delicious.
Heather WilliamsAugust 12, 2019
The spicy pork and cabbage dumplings are a MUST!!! Also the dry sautéed green beans are amazing!
Lynne 🐰 QuAugust 29, 2014
Been here 5+ times
Online ordering on yelp for quick lunch. Tan tan noodle and spicy oil wonton are my favorites, string beans is great as well.
Joshua BerkJanuary 3, 2016
My favorites: Hot & Sour, Tan Tan Noodle, Peanut Dumplings, Green Onion Pancakes, Sautéed Spring Beans
Tyee DApril 27, 2017
Mapo tofu, tan tan noodles, yummy fried chicken buried in dried red chillis.
Lears FoolApril 8, 2016
Spicy Fish with Flaming Chili Oil and Chicken with Explosive Chili Pepper is just plain fun to order!
Cheryl HuangJuly 12, 2014
Worth for the long wait. I think it is one of the best Szechuan restaurants in the states.
Kseniya MakarovaDecember 6, 2015
All the dumplings are next level. Salt n pepper shrimp are great and obvs anything in a pool of chili oil
Simon TanNovember 16, 2016
Tan tan noodles have that numbing spiciness. Pancakes are great too
Benjamin Earl EvansSeptember 24, 2017
Top ranked Chinese eating in Chinatown. It's run down on the inside, but definitely worth the wait
Anna KaminovaMay 11, 2017
My favorite was the orange crispy beef. Sweet, sour and crunchy.
Daniel WongAugust 21, 2015
The fish fillet in Szechuan spicy broth. I think I eat that almost 52 times a year 😛
Gwen DobsonSeptember 30, 2011
Hot chili oil beef may be the best Chinese dish I've ever had. That mixed with the amazing steamed pork dumplings were more than worth the 20min wait for 1
Curtis ShoungMay 11, 2018
Spicy beef noodle soup is a great lunch option in the area. Get there before the lunch rush

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