Award-winning cuisine at Chengdu 23 makes taste buds come alive

by Andrea Adams | Originally appeared in Special to NJ.com | Posted on April 26, 2017

Before visiting Chengdu 23 in Wayne, prepare to have your taste buds awakened. The restaurant serves authentic Sichuan-style Chinese cuisine, which is characterized by hot and spicy flavors derived from marinated or oil-fried chilies and Sichuan wild peppers. Though Sichuan food has a reputation as “ma”– tongue numbing — there is a delicate range of tastes to savor once you get used to the spicy fire.

Triple Pepper Chicken

“Sichuan is a kind of Chinese food,” said Kevin Lin, owner of Chengdu 23. “Usually, Sichuan food is very spicy and it is made using very high-quality ingredients. The spiciness can depend on where and when you eat it. If you have it family-style with a large group or at a wedding, that kind of food is usually not spicy.”

Lin said that in America, about 80 percent of Chinese restaurants are Cantonese — the type of Chinese food with which most people are familiar.

Maple Crispy Duck

“This restaurant used to be a Cantonese restaurant,” Lin said. “We took over 10 years ago and changed to Sichuan cuisine. We have become very popular in this area.”

Chengdu 23 is located near the intersections of Route 23, Route 46 and I-80 in Wayne, next to the Willowbrook Mall. Lin recognizes that many people are unfamiliar with Sichuan cuisine, and that some prefer mild and sweet dishes, so the menu provides a little something for everyone. Hot and spicy items are rated on a scale of one to three chili peppers.

Sichuan Spicy Pot

“We are serving real Sichuan-style food, but we do have some Cantonese/Chinese-American dishes, like General Tso’s Chicken and Chicken and Broccoli,” he said. Egg rolls, Wonton Soup, Sesame Chicken and Chicken Chow Mein are other familiar items on the award-winning menu.

While enjoying these dishes, Lin says diners can look at Sichuan entrees at the next table and get ideas for what they might try on their next visit, such as the Sichuan Spicy Pot with shrimp, beef, chicken and fish filet.

Flounder Filet with Whole Garlic and Hot Bean Paste Sauce

Lin said his favorite dish at Chengdu 23, the Maple Crispy Duck, isn’t spicy at all. “We add maple syrup to the skin and make it crispy and sweet. The meat is so tender and flavorful,” he said. “It’s very popular in the restaurant and sells out quickly.”

Also popular is the Sichuan-style Triple Pepper Chicken. “That one’s a spicy diced chicken sauteed with hot long peppers, dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppers,” he said. “We also make a dish called Whole Fish with Hot Bean Paste and Chili Sauce. We use Branzini, which is a popular fish in Italian restaurants now.”

Braised Flounder Filet and Mushroom With Soybean Paste Sauce

In addition to the delicious entrees, Chengdu 23 offers an extensive variety of soups and hot and cold appetizers. “Sesame Cold Noodles are very popular in the summertime,” Lin said. Steamed Juice Buns — also called Xiao Long Bao — are made with steamed pork inside of a bun. “They are very juicy and they are homemade,” he said. Sichuan Pork Dumplings with Roasted Chili Sauce are another popular selection.

Chengdu 23 is a BYOB establishment. It is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The last order of the day is taken at 9:30 p.m., and the kitchen is closed Monday through Friday between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. for a lunch break. The restaurant is located at 6 Willowbrook Blvd. in Wayne. To make reservations or place a take-out order, call (973) 812-2800. Visit www.chengdu23.com for more information.