Red N' Hot

I love spicy food.  No, not the food that British men seem to order in a curry house after 10 pints as a challenge.  Just really good spicy 'mouth tingling' food.  Thus, Szechuan cuisine is one of my favourites. 

Szechuan food is from the Sichuan province which is in South West China and it is well known for its use of garlic, chilli and of course Sichuan peppercorns.  My favourite choice for Szechuan food in London is Red n Hot which is just around the corner from Leicester Square Tube station on the Charing Cross Road.

It has all the indications of an amazing Chinese restaurant - hideously rude staff and most customers being Chinese - so I knew that it was going to be good when I walked into its red and black interior for the first time.  Tables are black with a hot plate in the centre which you can use if have hot pot - a Chinese delicacy which involves cooking your own meat in a lovely spicy broth.

I tend to go towards the menu and some of my favorite things are

• Deep Fried Chicken on the bone in Dry Chilli - This is like KFC with kick (and I say that as high praise).  It arrives in a pile of red chillis and you get to dig through to find the pieces of chicken which are hot, cruncy and soo spicy.   
• Mouth Watering Chicken with Lip Tingling Sauce - This starter is disconsertingly cold but once you've gotten over that, the chicken is juicy and the sauce soy based with garlic and bamboo shoots.
• Dry fried green beans with pork mince - So very good,  hot and spicy with lovely crispyness to the beans.  

The restaurant is a haven for those who like tripe and more alternative meats.  Pig ears, intestines and duck tongue are all on the menu and worth a try.  Be prepared to leave the restaurant full, slightly sweaty and satisfied.

Lxx

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