If you love Chinese food and you enjoy spicy cuisine, there are a multitude of authentic Chinese dishes to explore. From different regions of China, these dishes offer bold flavors, using your favorite meats and culinary finesse. Here are a few dishes to try next time you visit a Chinese restaurant.

What Authentic Chinese Dishes Are Spicy?

1. Kung Pao Chicken, Shrimp, Beef, or Pork

Kung Pao dishes are stir-fried meats, vegetables, and peanuts cooked in a spicy sauce. Chili peppers give the dish its heat. Typically, it’s served with your choice of meat, and while each eatery puts its own spin on it, staple vegetables include celery, onions, bell peppers, whole or diced chili peppers, and broccoli.

2. Hunan Beef or Chicken

Hunan dishes are often more spicy than their Kung Pao counterparts. Chicken or beef is stir-fried with vegetables, ginger, garlic, and a spicy chili pepper paste. Other ingredients include chili peppers, baby corn, red bell peppers, zucchini, broccoli, honey, vinegar, and both oyster and soy sauces. 

3. Szechuan Style Dishes

Szechuan-style dishes can be varied — chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, or lobster served with rice or noodles and vegetables — but they all share the same spicy-sweet flavor profile. These authentic Chinese dishes use Szechuan peppercorn, but they also add a hint of sweetness to balance it out. 

4. Lobster With Hot Pepper Sauce

If you’re a seafood fan, try your Chinese restaurant’s spicy lobster dishes. Lobster in a hot pepper sauce may be different from place to place, but one of the best variations is in-shell lobster served in a sherry-based sauce that abounds in hot, savory boldness. Chili peppers, Szechuan peppercorns, and red pepper flakes are often used to give the dish its signature taste.

Ready to try the heat of these authentic Chinese dishes? Me Lyng Restaurant in West Homestead, PA, offers traditional Chinese food with an inspiring flair. From meat and vegetable entrees to seafood, their dishes are decadent and competitively priced. They boast extended hours and a comfortable dining area that makes the perfect setting for a family meal. Browse their menu online, and call (412) 464-1477 to ask about daily specials.