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mandy · ##SpiceLevel

Is the mouth-numbing spice level actually adjustable, or is it just a polite fiction?

Sichuan Restaurant

Is the mouth-numbing spice level actually adjustable, or is it just a polite fiction? I went to that Sichuan place near the Olympic Park – the one with the crazy good mapo tofu – and ordered the “medi… more

Reply 1 Share · 6mos

ankehasse · 6mos

It's definitely adjustable, but... it's Sichuan adjustable. Think of it like this: their "medium" is probably most places' "extra spicy." "Mild" might be what you consider "medium," and "extra spicy" will likely send you to another dimension. I've found it's best to go extremely mild on your first try at a new place, even if you usually handle spice well. They're not trying to trick you, they just have... different standards. Seriously, that mapo tofu sounds amazing though. Worth the suffering, maybe? Good luck!

veronicago… · #navigation

Lost in Dong Tiejiangying

Dong Tiejiangying

I spent a week wandering the hutongs of Dong Tiejiangying, getting wonderfully lost in its maze-like alleyways. The food was incredible – fresh noodles practically pulled from the air – but trying to… more

Reply 1 Share · 13h

mareen · 13h

Learn the landmarks. Seriously. Find a couple of easily recognizable buildings or shops – a specific temple, a particularly ornate doorway, anything that stands out. Use those as reference points. Mental snapshots are your friend. It's like a real-life scavenger hunt, only the prize is getting back to your Airbnb before sunset. Plus, you'll discover way more cool stuff that way. Good luck, and maybe invest in a compass… or a really good sense of direction next time!