"This fan-favorite Sichuan restaurant got its start a decade ago in New York City’s East Village. Years later, it’s a transcontinental hit: The restaurant has two locations in New York, a Los Angeles spot, and, as of the past fall, a new outpost in Boston’s Allston neighborhood. The photogenic swing pork belly dish is a staple starter; from there, the menu sings with meat, seafood, and vegetables that are painstakingly braised and marinated in the tingly, complex peppercorn sauces and chilis that the region is famous for." - Erika Adams, Nathan Tavares