The ‘Mayor’ of Chicago’s Chinatown Opens Lao Sze Chuan in Houston | Eater Houston

"I attended the grand opening of Lao Sze Chuan’s Montrose outpost on June 21, 2023, which featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a dancing dragon performance, and remarks from U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (delivered via representative) and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who proclaimed June 21 “Lao Sze Chuan Day.” Hu Xiaojun (Tony Hu) — the restaurateur known as the unofficial mayor of Chicago’s Chinatown — opened this location after nearly 10 years of planning and says it offers about 70 percent of the Chicago menu, with both traditional and modern takes on Sichuan cuisine; popular dishes I noted include dry chili chicken wings, crispy shrimp in a sweet-and-savory mango sauce, mapo tofu, cumin lamb, Sichuan string beans, and smoked tea duck. The name loosely translates to “traditional Sichuan,” and Hu said he was drawn to Houston because of its booming, diverse dining scene and new local partnerships." - Brittany Britto Garley