House of Three Gorges (三峡人家)

"House Of Three Gorges is home to the best Chinese food in Austin. Not just the best value or the place with the best portion sizes—though it’s certainly strong in those fields, too. It’s at its strongest with Sichuan classics, but along with chongqing chicken and mapo tofu, you’ll find a solid beef with broccoli. You’re not here for the ambiance of a bare-bones dining room in a North Austin strip mall. You’re here for great food, including the spicy eggplant in garlic sauce that could go toe-to-toe with any vegetable dish in the city." - nicolai mccrary

"The casual North Austin Sichuan restaurant offers some of the best regional Chinese in the city for lunch and dinner. Find specialties like red braised pork belly, spicy jumping fish, and brisket in a tangy radish soup. The small dining room is normally filled on weekends, so consider getting there early. Uber Eats and DoorDash takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury, Erin Russell

"This North Austin Chinese restaurant focuses on Sichuan fare, from pepper jumping fish to spicy boiled beef to mala fish with soft tofu. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are third-party deliveries (Uber Eats, DoorDash); and there are indoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury

"The soups — hot and sour, egg drop, spicy wonton, and spicy rice noodles with brisket — are highly recommended at this Sichuan restaurant in North Austin. There are third-party takeout and delivery orders via DoorDash and Uber Eats; there are indoor dine-in services." - Nadia Chaudhury

"House Of Three Gorges in North Austin has an extensive menu of classic Sichuan dishes, ranging from popular items like chongqing mala chicken and mapo tofu, to less common specialties like Sichuan fish with pickled mustard greens or Yangtze sauteed pork intestines. Make sure to order the cumin lamb, Sichuan dry stir-fried chicken, the homemade pork wontons in spicy soup, and arguably the best eggplant side dish in town. The space is pretty humble and lo-fi, but if you dine in, you can get the large-format hot pot dishes that will more than feed two people. Find it near 183 and Ohlen, in the same shopping center as Din Ho, Julie’s Noodles, and Ramen Tatsu-Ya. If there's a long wait, stroll across the parking lot and grab a drink at Mister Tramps Sports Pub. Food Rundown photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Mapo Tofu With Ground Pork This classic Chinese dish made with tender ground pork looks supersized, but we guarantee the table will want to finish every smooth, peppery bite. photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Eggplant In Garlic Sauce One time we went to House of Three Gorges, ordered far too much food, and asked our dining companions to choose their favorite dish. Most people picked the eggplant. It's hard not to be hyperbolic about this vegetable plate coated in garlic sauce and scallions, but euphoria deosn't happen every day. photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Dry Pot Lamb The menu has seven dry pots to choose from, including a couple of vegetarian options. We'll gladly eat any of them, but the lamb is our favorite. photo credit: RICHARD CASTEEL Pork Wonton in Spicy Soup That red broth tastes as devilish as it looks, giving the wantons a fiery kick." - Raphael Brion