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Authentic hot pot

Tacoma Szechuan serves up traditional and adventurous dishes

A lot like fondue, hot pot packs a bigger punch at Tacoma Szechuan. Photo credit: Dutch Randall

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One of the cool things about living in the Puget Sound is the access to great Asian cuisine, and the South Sound is not short on options. The best part of having such an abundance of choices is that one does not have to settle for inferior or Americanized selections. Though I will fully admit that I love a good sweet and sour dish with fried rice and spring rolls, having worked in China, I find myself craving something more.  And Tacoma Szechuan's hot pot absolutely feeds that craving.

If you've never had hot pot, it is essentially a meat and vegetable stew that you cook at your own table. Traditionally this will include platters of frozen, thinly sliced meat, leafy vegetables, and noodles or won tons alongside a boiling pot of broth and assorted dipping sauces.

Tacoma Szechuan has this down to a science offering both a mild or spicy broth, and even a split pot that houses both options.  The meat choices of beef, lamb, chicken, pork and seafood, can make it difficult to decide.  Fortunately, Tacoma Szechuan also offers a family pot that includes chicken, pork, beef and lamb.

Since I of course could not make a choice, I went with the family pot; half spicy, half mild.  Half and half is the way to go as you have essentially given yourself three options: spicy for those that like it hot, mild for those that do not, and for those that like some spice can fill their plate with both for a good balance of spice and flavor.  Mix in all the meats, fresh cabbage, sliced potatoes, both Chinese long wheat noodles and the more common Vietnamese-style thin rice noodles, and you have yourself an actual feast.

Add to this the fact that if you run out of an item ... simply ask for more, no questions asked.  I loaded up on the lamb, cabbage and long noodles once I found the exact balance of hot pot for me.  The full offering of bubble teas also left me with plenty of options to cool my mouth after testing out the spicy broth.  

Give Tacoma Szechuan's hot pot a shot and you will see why it is one of the best around the South Sound. However, if you're not feeling adventurous, it offers well over 100 other traditional offerings that are just as sure to satisfy you. Then add in its close proximity to Joint Base Lewis-McChord and a 10 percent discount to all military, and it will quickly become a favorite for you as well.

TACOMA SZECHUAN, 9701 South Tacoma Way #102, Lakewood, 253.581.0102

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