SXY Szechuan is great Sichuan / Szechuan in Honolulu, conveniently located in Ala Moana Center. They have all the good classic Sichuan dishes like pork belly with spicy garlic to dan dan noodles and pickled fish fillets in broth. Great for any occasion from a quick solo lunch to dinner with friends.
SXY Szechuan (Oahu)
We don't have too many Sichuan options in Hawaii, but I the ones we have are pretty good. SXY Szechuan is a reliable spot that I return to over and over again. They do all the classics well and you always leave satisfied. Make sure to get the pork belly and cucumber with garlic sauce!
SXY is fitting for many occasions. Sometimes I come for lunch on my own, other times for lunch with a friend or two. And sometimes we come for family dinners.
It's one of my go-to sit restaurants for a meal when shopping at the mall (Ala Moana Center).
Location
SXY Szechuan is in Ala Moana Center, which is a super popular mall. It's not just a "regular" mall. It's a beautiful outdoor mall with lots of good food and it has everything from supermarkets to bookstore and bakeries and of course, all the popular retail shops and department stores.
SXY is on the 2nd floor of the mall, right by Longs Drugs and Jamba Juice. It's tucked off to the side so not many people even know that it's there! But those who know, know. It's often packed with regulars at lunch and dinner.
What To Order
Pork Belly with Garlic.
Definitely my favorite dish here. This one is SO good. Thin slices of pork belly and cucumber are folded together. The slices are arranged on a plate and a spicy garlic sauce is poured allll over. You can pick how spicy you want it. There's also lots of sesame seeds in the sauce. It's served just slightly warm.
Sometimes I come by myself and order this pork belly dish, plus a bowl of rice and stir fried water spinach (aka ong choy). Very ideal lunch for one! I really want to learn how to make this dish...am working on a recipe. Hopefully coming soon ^_^
Mung Bean Jelly Noodles with Chili Sauce.
Most refreshing on hot days (of which there have been many lately). You might also know these noodles by their Chinese name, liang fen. The chilled mung bean noodles are like a delicate jelly strips and go very well with the chili sauce.
Mapo Tofu.
A good classic. Their version is really saucy so I often take home the leftovers and add a block of cubed soft tofu. Enough for another full meal!
Fish fillets and pickled vegetables in Szechuan chili broth.
It's like half soup and half main dish. Silky fish fillets and tons of pickled vegetables are cooked together in a spicy chili broth. You need a lots of rice to go with this dish. Super comforting.
Spicy Fried Chicken Wings.
Great for groups. It's a small order for the price but good and tasty. Also love how spicy this one is and all the crunchy stuff they sprinkle on top.
Stir Fried Water Spinach (pictured above)
Chinese water spinach is also called ong choy. We make this a lot at home (here's our recipe) but I still love ordering it when we go out. Super tasty, nice and garlicky.
Dan Dan Mian.
A good classic that always hits the spot. The portion for this one is pretty small so with big groups we sometimes order two.
Hometown Tofu.
This dish is also sometimes called Home Style Tofu. Nicely fried and then braised with other vegetables. I love this but never make it at home because you have to deep fry the tofu and then braise it (too much work for me haha). So I always make sure to order it when we dine out 🙂
Stir Fried Shredded Potatoes
Simple and straightforward. Shredded potatoes, stir fried and served hot! I like it this plain, but you can also order it with green peppers or as hot and sour shredded potatoes.
Green Onion Pancake.
Sooo tasty. Who doesn't love green onion pancakes? Nicely fried and not too greasy. Big and puffy. This is best when you go with 2 or more people because green onion pancakes are best fresh but one order is too much for a single diner.
Insider Tips
- Parking - there's plenty of free parking at Ala Moana Center. You can often find parking in the area that's super close to the restaurant.
- Looking for other Sichuan restaurants? Check out Mian and Chengdu Taste (both are located nearby).
- Most restaurants at Ala Moana are open throughout the day but SZY has limited hours so double check the time before you go. They open on the later side for lunch and close for an hour in the afternoon.
SXY Szechuan: Info
- Website: sxyszechuan.com
- Address: Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814 (located on the 2nd floor near Longs Drugs and Jamba Juice).
- Prices: About $40 per person without drinks.
Mahalo for Reading!