Spices 39

Spices 39 - Review - The Heights - Houston - The Infatuation

"The Sichuan and Cantonese restaurant Spices39 in The Heights has a heavy hand when it comes to spice, and we like it. The Spices39 chicken is served cold and smothered in a peppercorn-heavy sauce that numbs your mouth with electric heat, and the boiling beef almost renders one unable to speak between bites. But that doesn’t matter because you’ll probably be too busy loading your plate with more to even notice. photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen photo credit: Quit Nguyen Pause Unmute The food is the focus here, not the ambiance. People are just enjoying a casual but great meal with their kids or having a mid-week double date with friends. Even though the windows in the second-floor dining room let in some camera-worthy sunlight, the view of a parking lot isn't all that exciting—but the food is. When you find yourself in The Heights and want a satisfying sit-down meal without forking over an entire week's paycheck, stop by Spices39 for Happy Hour and go all in on Sichuan-flavored peanuts and $8 house cocktails. Food Rundown Spices 39 Chicken Thanks to the surprising spice, this small appetizer captivated us for the entire meal. Sliced chicken arrives cold—standard for this particular Sichuan dish—and doused in buzzy chili sauce. Often referred to as “mouth-watering chicken,” it delivers as named with a delicious numbing effect. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Chengdu Dandan Noodles This version of dan dan noodles offers less spice and oil than others we’ve tried, but it’s just as good. Especially with the added texture of just-softened bok choy that crutches alongside the soft noodles. photo credit: Quit Nguyen Boiling Beef This dish may not be for everyone because the tingling sensation from the overwhelming peppercorn spice never relents. It builds on itself like a snowball until your tongue almost ceases to function. It’s savory and earthy, and we can’t get enough. photo credit: Quit Nguyen" - Chelsea Thomas