Chuan Tian Xia

"New York’s rising appreciation for Sichuan food hit Sunset Park in 2018 in the form of Chuan Tian Xia, a restaurant bedecked with colorful masks. It became famous for stellar versions of the cuisine’s classics and a long menu that includes lesser-seen options like spicy frog. Its liangfen dishes, a mung bean noodle, are also popular, as is a smoky, spicy sprouting cauliflower dish that arrives sizzling in a wok." - Robert Sietsema

"Fish is the main draw at this Sunset Park restaurant. Come with a group and build your meal around a whole grilled tilapia, lates, or grouper. It’s served on a big sizzling tabletop grill, swimming in a broth packed with chili peppers, and you can add vegetables as well as adjust the spice level to your liking. We’d also recommend the crispy whole fish, poached fish slices in chili oil, Chongqing sour fish stew, or a paper-wrapped fish that steams in its own juices with mounds of mashed garlic. There’s plenty of room, and it’s never hard to get a table here. " - neha talreja, hannah albertine, diana kuan

"This fashion forward Sichuan restaurant electrified Sunset Park when it opened on Seventh Avenue in 2017, providing a decidedly modern take on the sometimes-fiery regional cuisine. Recommended selections that hit the spot include Chengdu dragon reading hands (wontons in chile oil), Chongqing spicy chicken, griddled cauliflower, fish filets in green broth, and mapo tofu, in which the tofu appeared sturdy but fell apart quickly in a soft mess of salty, spicy, garlicky goodness on top of white rice. Phone to order: 929-295-0128." - Robert Sietsema, Eater Staff

"Fish is the main draw at this Sichuan restaurant in Sunset Park, and it’s best to come with a group and make a whole grilled fish the center of your meal. Choose between tilapia, lates, or grouper, served on a big sizzling tabletop grill, and swimming in a broth packed with chili peppers. You can add tons of vegetables and adjust the spice level to your liking. Or choose the crispy whole fish, poached fish slices in chili oil, Chongqing sour fish stew, or paper-wrapped fish that steams in its own juices with mounds of mashed garlic. There’s plenty of room, and it’s never hard to get a table here. " - neha talreja, bryan kim, will hartman, sonal shah, willa moore

"At Chuan Tian Xia, the fish breathe fire. You’ll see a lot of whole fish here, like groupers and tilapias, skin on with their mouths agape, sitting in a menacing red chili oil or pickled yellow broth. This Sichuan spot in Sunset Park is known for their big, shareable trays of Wanzhou grilled fish, which you can get with hot, numbing, or a mild tomato broth and any number of other hot pot toppings like enoki mushroom, noodles, and sweet potato. Coming with a group and a strong gut is ideal, but if we’re only with one other person, we’re just as excited to eat the fish fileted and boiled in their addicting green pepper stew instead. " - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja