I was visiting Syracuse for work and I typically seek out authentic Szechuan places when visiting new cities, so when scoping out my options here I found a few places that seemed to be legit. I did find a person who visited this one and another one, Jianghu Café and so I asked her if I could only visit one, which do I do, and she said Jianhghu was the winner winner Szechuan lunch. I did go there and it was great! But I found myself having one additional dinner time without plans, so I came here as well. Walking in, I noticed what appeared to be a common Asian Massage Parlor next door, yo uget to it via the entry way that bring you here as well. Kinda odd, but it didn't bother me. Walking into this restaurant, it's very nicely laid out and beautifully décor'd! The servers and staff spoke great English and were very helpful, especially when answering questions about their menu. I started with their Garlic Cucumbers, but I asked for them to be spicy and Wow, they did a GREAT job with them! They weren't very hot, but so much spiciness and flavor - I loved them! Next up was to get their cumin chicken. They do cumin style in all their proteins, which makes for some great options. I chose their basic fried rice to come with this. The fried rice and cumin chicken were both amazing... Perfectly spiced and loaded with flavor. There were several Szechuan peppercorns in the dish, which added to the aroma and flavor of the dish. Overall - I really like this dinner! While I do feel Jianghu is slightly better, this is amazing as well! read more

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This was my first time here. The customer service was good, but unfortunately I was disappointed with the food I ordered. I wish the menu provided more details about what was included in each dish. When I tried the Kung Pao Chicken, I bit into something twice that caused a strong burning sensation in my mouth. I'm still not sure what it was, because it looked like chicken at first. I also ordered the Orange Chicken and the General Tso's Chicken (extra spicy), but neither dish was spicy at all, or fresh tasting. All chicken dishes were drowned in bland sauce. Since it was our first time and we weren't sure how the food would be, we decided to order from the lunch menu. In hindsight, we all regretted that choice and felt we should have tried something else instead. read more

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As a Chinese person, I don't think I can find anything remotely close to being as delicious as red chilli in upstate New York. 10/10 would recommend the dry pot, the mapo tofu, the Szechuan pepper diced fried chicken and overall everything else! It's good enough that we drive an hour away almost 2-3 times a week to eat over there. read more

Red Chili is a great place to go for a group with multipe dining options. Ideally the food is shared family style, portions are great and you'll want to taste multiple dishes off of their large menu. Rhere are more classic american-chinese dishes but many dishes that are more authenitc as well (those are the best). Service is generally pretty fast and the restaurant is bright but cozy and well decorated. Highly suggest the pork-cumin style, the green beans, chicken-garlic style, and potatoes (surprisingly refreshing). Dishes can be on the oily side but theyre yummy. Can't wait to get back and share a whole fish. read more

Red Chili - Brocoli with chili sauce, squid in red chili sauce, chicken garlic style, potatoes, pork cumin style, soup dumplings, green beans - Szechuan Near Me - Syracuse, New York

My first time at Red Chili was fun and a good time! I went with a group of people which was a great way to try a lot of their menu. We all ordered and shared both appetizers and entrees, I like the spinning table in the middle to make it easy to share. The restaurant is also super nice and has cool interior and decorations. Some of the things we tried didn't have a lot of flavor and other things were super delicious and flavorful! I was glad to come with some friends who have been here before to order their favorites and I also ordered some extra stuff that sounded really good. The staff were also so kind and quick to bring out the food. I have a sesame allergy and all the waiters could easily tell me right away what I could and could not eat which I always appreciate. They also gave us a nice to go bag which could also be reusable! read more

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Lovely restaurant. The atmosphere is calm but there is a steady buzz when it's busy. Not too loud! The prices are definitely higher than what you might see when ordering typical Chinese takeout. However, the quality of the food and portion sizes make it worth it. I recently went with a large group and we were seated at a big table with a lazy Susan. It was so fun to eat family style and pass everything around. We all got to try something new! The Crab Rangoons (although not an authentic Chinese dish), were some of the best we'd ever had. The menu is expansive and the staff were very happy to give us recommendations. I ordered takeout last night. The ordering process was so easy and simply. The order was fresh and hot when I arrived a minute or two before the estimated time. Everything was packed nicely. We ordered the spicy crispy style beef which was delicious. My sister really enjoyed it. I got General Tso's chicken - I was craving some comfort food - and it didn't disappoint. Definitely more spicy than I was used to but I knew that was a possibility ordering from a Chengdu style restaurant. I also ordered some pork buns which were very good and even better leftover. Probably one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Syracuse area. I recommended it often! read more

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Red chili never disappoints. Other than it being absolutely beautiful in the restraint, the staff are so kind and helpful! I ordered a mango slush and wanted the tapioca balls added and the server was happy to do it, no questions asked. For appetizers, we had the crab wontons and soup dumplings - both DELICIOUS. For the main we had the soupy fish dish and added soft tofu (again, not a problem) and that was amazing and spicy. The place was filling up by the time we finished, around 6pm, and yet the noise level was not too loud and everyone seemed to have a great time! I love it at red chili! Never dissapointed! read more

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Ok so we came back and we tried the dry pot fish and let me tell you WOW that was so dang good. I will say though it was so spicy I thought my life flashed before my eyes but the spice and numbing was worth it 10/10 no notes read more

My friend, who lived in China and is a Chinese studies Ph.D suggested we go to a Chinese restaurant. He had been here many times and said it was the best Chinese food in Syracuse. It did not disappoint! I got the chili chicken which isn't what I tagged, it is on the "F" series and is a traditional sichuan dish. They asked if I wanted it mild or spicy and I said mild but not too mild since Sichuan is spicy food and I love spicy food. And WOW it was the hottest food I've ever eaten, but had great flavor and wasn't just gratuitously hot. But the volume of red peppers I ate was nuts. It was delicious and my friend loved his food as well. Highly recommended if you're in the area of it. Service was fast and friendly and they have a decent selection of beers as well. Many green plants contribute to great ambiance and they also feature hot pot warmers at the table if you want the traditional Sichuan hot pot experience. read more

Red Chili - chili chicken. - Szechuan Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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Place is the bomb. I really can't get enough. Ambience is on point. The soup dumplings are excellent but the hot crispy sichuan fish is unbelievable. It's making my mouth water writing this review. I want to explore the menu more but I can't not order the hot crispy fish. It has an unnatural hold on my palate. read more

Red Chili - Soup dumplings Hot crispy I4.Fish Spicy Crispy Style - Szechuan Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Hidden gem in Syracuse! Staff was welcoming and very friendly. Asian decor reminiscent of places you'd find in NYC. The dim sum menu is small but everything was tasty. The shrimp balls and shrimp rolls in tofu skin as well as the scallion pancakes were nice and crispy with good flavor. The Peking duck bao buns were ok, wish it was hotter. The diced chongqing chicken was amazing! Extra crunchy and spicy, definitely made my tongue go numb! The Chinese broccoli was good but also wish it came out more hot. Overall a good meal with great service! read more

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Flavorful, Fresh and authentic. Quick and attentive service. Relaxed ambiance. This is our second time here and definitely a place to stop. You're sure to comeback!! read more

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We ate here with friends who live locally and eat here often. The inside is quite large and the decorations are very nice. Since our group including the little ones was 8 people, we were seated at a large round table in the back of the restaurant. I kind of felt like the staff forgot about us, bc it took a really long time for someone to finally come take our orders. It was a week night so I don't think it was even as busy as it could have been. The menu is pretty extensive and looked to comprise of pretty authentic Szechuan food and Cantonese dim sum. Once the food finally arrived, I thought it was pretty tasty and flavorful but it was kind of a long time in coming. The restroom was clean and had a changing table which is helpful for those with young children. read more

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Unfortunately a bit of a miss here. Tried the wonton soup, shrimp in tofu skins, and a dry pot with shrimp, fish, spam, and veggies (asked for no beef). The wonton soup was decent but could have been a bit more flavorful in the wontons. Broth was hearty and well brined. The shrimp in tofu skins was extremely bland and dry. The tofu was flakey and stuck onto the shrimp and broke off as shards which made it unenjoyable to eat. The dry pot was flavorful but might have had too many peppercorns. My mouth was numb. Spice level was good. The portion was huge and came with one white rice. As two people, we probably left 1/3 behind. The fish fillets were good as were the vegetables (cauliflower, lotus, potato, some green knots which may have been kelp). The shrimps were deveined and butterflied in the middle but the shell on made them difficult to eat. The spam was okay. Overall, this was the best dish. Another pro is the portions are huge! Maybe would try again with different items but this meal was a bit of a miss. read more

My favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. But like the Red Hot Chili Peppers it help if you like it spicy. The dim sum is serviceable (I like the Peking Duck with Bun) but where they excel is the Szechuan menu. I love the beef soupy style (it's going to make you sweat), pork cumin style, and the Mapo Tofu. I wouldn't order from the American Chinese menu. Sometimes a robot brings your food to the table which is cute. read more

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After a foot massage next door, stopped in for a light dinner of Dim Sum. The menu was HUGE! I really wish I tried soup or a hot dinner, but as for what we did get, it was quick & flavorful. Definitely one of the best authentic spots in Syracuse, with so many around the area. read more

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When we said it was our first time here, the waiter acted as if we'd never been to a restaurant before. He pointed out the four most popular items, my wife got the pepper bowl in those four (replacing the beef with shrimp). I just got the garlic sauce chicken. My wife's bowl was boiling hot when it was served (think burning hot coffee levels of temp). We waited over 20 minutes for it to cool down, but because it was in a metal pot, we were unable to eat it until we put it on another plate to cool. The shrimp didn't taste very fresh and the fried rice she got with it was sub-par. My dish was ok, I'm at least glad they put the spicy sauce on the side because it was a lot. Unfortunately that left the chicken, peppers, and onion unseasoned. We wanted a hearty meal, but the only thing that had any togetherness were the 8 tiny dumplings we got. We'll just go to a take-out Chinese place next time. read more

Red Chili - Szechuan Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Red Chili was the most delicious Chinese food we've had in a long time. The dumpling soup was sooo good, I wish I had gotten the large. The duck was amazing as well. The beef dry pot was very spicy but my husband was a huge fan. The fried spare ribs were his favorite - came with a lot of meat, extremely tender and crispy. Lots of flavor, and great service! The bathrooms are nice, and ambience all around is nice and bright. read more

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Always delicious! This restaurant is clean, service is friendly and you don't wait long for your food. The ambiance is calm and they have beautiful decorations. The menu is large with great selections for everyone! They also have a pretty decent size drink menu with fun bubble tea options. The whole fish is delicious, love the lo mein, the rice is always cooked perfectly, and every single we have gotten has been delicious. Nice dim sum options! read more

This restaurant has ambience. But I went for food. Prepare to be underwhelmed by the low level CNY typical Chinese food. Disappointed.

We had a mighty fine lunch here of cumin pork and crispy beef with plenty of Szechuan peppercorn. Tasty! If we lived in the area this would definitely be on our list for regular visits. read more

I've known of Red Chili for a long time and its solid reviews of the food offerings. I finally said to heck with it and go. As you walk in you can see a wall fountain with gold fish! Entering the restaurant is easy unless you are mobility impaired that would be difficult because of the stairs. There's a table the to go orders get placed on. The decorations were amazing! So many cool things to look at very very clean! Some tables with looks like cook tops I'm guessing for hot pot and plenty of regular seats. The menu has so many options! We ordered several dim sum options. The egg custard buns stole the show! We ordered chive and shrimp pan fried dumplings they were outstanding! We ordered soup dumplings also very good, sesame chicken and house special lo mein. Food came out very fast and all at once! Throughly enjoyed the meal with lots of leftovers! read more

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An Absolute Must-Try: The Crispy Szechuan Lobster at Red Chilli, Syracuse! If there's one dish that defines indulgence with flair, it's the Crispy Szechuan-Style Lobster at Red Chilli. The moment it arrives, you're greeted by the intoxicating aroma of toasted chilies, garlic, and peppercorns that promise both fire and finesse. The lobster itself is perfectly cooked--tender and juicy inside, encased in a thin, golden-crisp shell that crackles at first bite. What makes this dish unforgettable is the balance: the numbing warmth of authentic Szechuan peppercorns dancing with the sweetness of fresh lobster meat, all glazed in a glossy, slightly smoky sauce that clings lovingly to every piece. Each mouthful is a symphony of crunch, spice, and ocean-fresh flavor. Pair it with steamed rice or simply savor it on its own--it's the kind of plate that makes you slow down, close your eyes, and appreciate how perfect seafood can be when prepared with mastery. Red Chilli's presentation is stunning, too--the deep crimson chilies scattered like jewels, the lobster gleaming beneath a light dusting of scallions and sesame. It's a show-stopping dish that feels festive yet refined. Whether you're a spice lover or just someone who appreciates fine seafood, this Crispy Szechuan Lobster is reason enough to visit Red Chilli. Once you try it, you'll find yourself planning your next trip back before you've even finished the plate. ---Mark read more

Red Chili - Crispy lobster (authentic Szechuan style) - Szechuan Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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I've been to Red Chili a handful of times since moving to Syracuse. It's good, but I think pricier than what Chinese food should be or the Chinese food I have had in the past. This is why I typically go at lunch... A friend wanted to meet here for dinner so I got something not on the lunch menu. It was about $20 for the entree and was very good. I asked for it extra spicy and there sure were a lot of chilis! Service was more attentive than it has been at lunchtime. It's always pretty busy with good people watching! If you went with a group that is into sharing (which is how Chinese food typically is served...) you could probably split an entree and a few appetizers to try things out and perhaps be a bit more economical. read more

Red Chili - F19. Diced Chicken with Pepper and Dried Chili in Chongquig Style (extra spicy) - Szechuan Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Every time I come I am underwhelmed. The ambiance and way the interior is decorated is truly beautiful. The service has always been friendly and quick. However, when it comes to the food is where I get disappointed. I had some hot and sour soup and it was difficult to eat it due to the acrid taste. I get hot and sour soup everywhere I go, so I appreciate the sour but this soup was off. The soup dumplings tasted fine but I was a bit underwhelmed with them. I feel they could have more flavor as well as the dipping sauce. I had their fried dumplings and though small the taste was good but again the sauce was lacking any real flavor. I see such rave reviews so maybe I am just picking the wrong dishes. read more

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Our family reserved the "back room" for a private birthday party. Service was hit and miss, but the food was spot on. We do wish that they had more options for traditional alcoholic beverages. They only offered hot sake, instead of a range of traditional cold versions. And no Baiju, which would have made the meal sing. Aside from that, the food was well prepared, and the portions were excellent. we also love the table which allowed us share our meals with one another by simply rotating the glass "Lazy Susan" top. Overall, we were satisfied, but with a few tweaks, this could be a highlight of Syracuse world cuisine. read more

We just moved to NY and we head great things by Chinese colleagues. My wife is Chinese and if her people say it's great= it's great. So we went and have gone 3 more times in the short period we've been here. All 4 times have been great everything from hot pot to their main dishes. We've tried the entire menu almost and our colleagues were spot on. I've been to China and it's very comparable. Top of our list thus far read more

Eat in, don't order takeout from here. Every time I've eaten in the food has been great. The atmosphere there is really fun to be in and I have nothing bad to say about the service. However, the food is always subpar when I order takeout. Today was especially sad. The taro milk tea I ordered today had gelatinous goop at the bottom as opposed to boba pearls, I was not expecting this and gaged. They texture was awful. The stir fried baby bok choy was decent, definitely my go-to vegetable. The diced chicken with pepper & dried chili in Chongqing style was somewhat soggy and had several chewy overcooked pieces. This is my favorite chicken dish and it is so much better when you eat in, I was expecting some sogginess from sitting in the container, just not the overcooked pieces read more

Red Chili - F19. Diced Chicken with Pepper and Dried Chili in Chongquig Style - Szechuan Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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We stopped without a reservation and they were very happy to take us in. We had 7 people. The server was very polite, fast and got everything spot on. Had the round table in the middle so we could share all the food we order. We had the 1/2 roast duck and 1/2 smoked duck both were amazing. Then add another 6 dinners, appetizers, drinks.. wow so much food and it just kept coming. I had the Mango Smoothie and it was amazing. Everyone enjoyed the entire dinner and not a bad thing could be said. My son's in-laws were in from Long Island and they were very pleased. We don't get to Syracuse often but would stop by again for sure. The outside doesn't do the inside justice so don't drive by this gem of a place. David Cruger - Utica, NY read more

Excellent food, especially good and authentic dim sum! Homemade chili oil is a special touch. Service and atmosphere fantastic and friendly. This is a must-go place!! read more

One of the best restaurants in the area! The amazing thing is how they put out so much delicious food, so quickly! One highlight, They have a cute robot to bring your food Plenty of parking in the lot of this restaurant, and takeout is speedy! Every time I go here I get these three staples: Pork Soupy Style Dry Pot Dim sums read more

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Red Chili for another great meal. While I normally would have ordered a different appetizer, I was glad I tried their wonton soup. I can't remember when I've had such a flavorful broth! I love Mapo Tofu, soft ,silky tofu in a spicy red sauce. It is normally very spicy, but I asked if it could be made milder, and it was perfect. Just a touch salty today, but the perfect white rice took care of that. Service was quick and efficient, and I love the Robot server! read more

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Don't let the exterior of this place fool you. Red Chili is the best Asian cuisine in the area, in my opinion. Sadly I have never eaten in the restaurant, but I have plans to soon! I want to try their hot pots and steamed buns! For our recent takeout order, we ordered diced chicken with pepper and dried chili, orange chicken, wonton in chili sauce and spring rolls. My husband LOVES spicy, so the chili pepper chicken was perfect for him (I'm a wimp when it comes to spicy). My orange chicken had good flavor and the spring rolls were very crispy, even after sitting in the bag for the drive home. I think the wontons would have been better if we ate at the restaurant, but overall they were good. The portions are large and gave us enough for lunch the next day. read more

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I was quite surprised to find this authentic Chinese restaurant is Syracuse and very happy to have ordered some home-style dishes. The moment I walked into the redressent, the decoration made me think of the restaurants back in some small cities in China. The northern Chinese food and the spicy Szechuan food, like the spicy noodle and sliced potato in the sour sauce, were done in the right way with an authentic flavor brought out. The dim sum though, were not very good and tasted like the ones sold in the supermarket. I would interpret it as the chefs maybe mostly coming from the northern or central parts of China. If you are looking for the American Chinese food for someone in the group, it also has a wide choice. In general, pretty awesome restaurant in Syracuse (and maybe one of the best Chinese food you can find). They also have hotpot which can be really attractive during winter time. read more

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Food is delicious and served very fast. The servers are non attentive and not at all welcoming. When asked if we could get condiments we were told to get them ourselves and were pointed where they're at. Asked for napkins and the server just reached across the table and gave them. Over all totally not happy with the way we were treated by the serving staff . read more

In A Nutshell: -Red Chili is right next door to Lucky Foot Spa. -You can come here after you get a foot massage or vice versa. -I am pretty impressed w/ the depth of the Chinese cuisine here. -You can order XLB soup dumplings & even roasted duck. -Their baby bokchoy stir fry is very good. Overall, normally in small towns like this you don't get good Chinese food, but you will find 100% authentic cuisine here. read more

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TL;DR: Amazing food. We have been back 20+ times at this restaurant. Highly recommended ***Ambiance*** Family-friendly location with large seating space. The seating location was clean and the tables were well-separated. Majority of the tables were booths with options for seating 4 or 6 people. They also had a few round tables for circular tables. They have special tables with buit-in heater if you are ordering hot-oil pot. ***Staff*** The staff is extremely friendly. We have been going there for 3 years now, averaging 2 vists per month, and we have always found the staff to be super friendly and couteous. Unlike other places, all servers work all tables on the floor. That means that you don't have to wait for the server who took your initial order to make subsequent requests. ***Drinks*** They have very limited selection in terms of alcoholic drinks. Five different types of bottled beers (Corona, Blue Moon, Heineken, Tsingtao, and I forgot the last one) and nothing on tap. Wine by the glass, one red, one white. Very recently, they have introduced Sake to their menu. I haven't tried it yet, and I don't plan to either. ***Food*** The food is amazing here and since it opening, we have stopped attempting to make Chinese food at home. Their soupy style chicken is an all-time favorite with us and holds the record of being ordered every single time we have eaten their. Chicken kung pao, special dry pot, cumin chicken, and shredded lamb and some of our other favorites. Overall, this is a wonderful family-friendly restaurant. Good authentic chinese food. Would highly recommend. read more

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This is probably the best authentic Chinese restaurant I've ever tried. It's our third time going there since we moved to Syracuse 3 months ago. Amazing service, efficient timing. My daughter loves the fish and turtle water fountain there, nice ambiance. read more

We were back from from our Canadian trip! We didn't feel to have a big dinner, but we decided to stop by this Chinese restaurant for some appetizers! Their decorations were very authentic with so many lanterns! Their staffs were so nice and friendly! They didn't criticize when we didn't order big meals like others. Moreover, their menu is full of so many tasty dishes! If I get another chance back to Syracuse, I will definitely visit the place again! read more

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I cannot believe that I'm writing this review I've been coming here for the last six or seven years when I come into town and I look forward to it every single time I'm in town. The food is always amazing I walk in today I'm seated and I wait probably five minutes before anyone takes my order. They bring me a water I asked for a Coke they brought me the Coke they brought me my food after they brought me my food they did not check on me not one time someone else came in with their family and they waited on them hand and foot and I asked the lady to please give me the check to go box to go bag And to please fill up my Coke. I got out of there I didn't even leave a tip because I don't feel like I was waiting waited on I have never went to an establishment in my whole 37 years of life while I've been an adult and never left a tip no matter what. This is so sad I don't know what has happened but I will never step foot back into that establishment. read more