Little Szechaun Hot Pot; great spot

by Rachel Zou features editor

Little Szechuan Hot Pot in Saint Paul offers an authentic look into one of the most unique Chinese cuisines. Claiming to be the first and only 100% authentic Szechuan hot pot restaurant in the Twin Cities, Little Szechuan hosts a wide variety of traditional and cultural foods.

lot itself was difficult due to the abundant number of potholes. However, my initial lack of interest ceased when I left the car and smelled the delicious scent of cooked meat.

While it may look small, the interior is spacious, with plenty of room for large parties. Throughout the time I was there, two groups of around eight to 10 people showed up, yet the restaurant did not feel crowded.

Customers have two hot pot options when ordering: a la carte style or the all-you-can-eat buffet. The buffet includes a soup base, ingredients to put into the broth and barbeque skewers. The price per adult is $35.99. While this is a high price tag, it is also sensible, especially with the addition of the barbecue skewers and the large number of different ingredients available. On the other hand, the a la carte menu allows customers to pick and choose what ingredients they want in the broth and then pay for each individually.

I decided to go with the buffet because of the unique options it offered. The order came with octopus, clam, muscles, fried tofu, chicken gizzard, calamari and my personal favorite, barbecue skewers. The skewer options include chicken gizzard, standard lamb, beef and calamari. While they are all great, I highly recommend the shrimp skewers, which have a perfectly crunchy shell, yet a tender inside. The only menu item I had an issue with was the fish balls, which were relatively small and not chewy.

When arriving at the restaurant, my first impression was: unimpressed. The parking lot was flooded due to the lack of storm drains and a worker was sweeping water onto the street. As well, driving in the parking

While Little Szechuan Hot Pot is small, it sure comes with big reasons to like it. With many options to choose from, there is undoubtedly something for everyone. It’s a perfect spot for any occasion, whether with a large party or a small group of friends.