Bites Nearby: Hu's Szechwan Restaurant

Hu’s Szechwan Restaurant has been a family favorite of ours for years. In fact, my mother—who was born in Shanghai—always likes to have this delicious Chinese food when visiting from out-of-town. I must say, it takes a lot to impress my mother! 

This family-owned restaurant has been a staple in the Palms neighborhood since it opened in 1977. Manager, Eric Hu whose brother Derek owns the restaurant,  says Szechwan food is spicier than other types of Chinese food and is more flavorful. If you like garlic and chiles, you’ll like Hu’s.

Eric Hu’s favorite dishes are two of the most popular items on the menu: Kung Pao Chicken, diced chicken fillet, dried hot pepper and peanuts, sautéed in a secret sauce, and the Cheng Pi Chicken “orange chicken,” dried fried chicken with black hot pepper and orange flavor. Either dish can be made with beef instead of chicken. The shrimp with Szechwan hot sauce is also a popular item consisting of shrimp with wine and spices, dry braised with tomato sauce.

The portions at Hu’s are generous and are reasonably priced. My favorite items are the Country Style Bean Curd, deep fried tofu in a light garlic/chile sauce, vegetable fried noodles and the famous garlic green beans. If you head to the restaurant any day of the week at 5 p.m. you can see hundreds of green beans being prepped for meals to come. Hu's goes through 200 lbs of green beans a week.

I also like the Mushu Mandarin pancakes, filled with your choice of shredded pork, chicken, beef, shrimp or vegetables, and fried with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and egg, with a delicious plum sauce.

"Everything is made to order and we can customize any dish," says Hu. I take him up on this and add broccoli to the Country Style Bean Curd.

Parking can be a bit of a challenge, but the food is so good, it’s worth the extra effort. Hu’s now delivers and charges a small delivery charge ($2-3) in a limited area. I usually just pick-up my order, take it home and always look forward to having leftovers the next day.

Lunch Special: (before 2:30 p.m.) - $5.95. Choice of six entrees, egg roll and fried or steamed rice. Pay an extra dollar and you get a Mandarin chicken salad instead of the egg roll and a few more choices of entrees.

Dinner Special: - $8.95. Egg roll, hot and sour soup, choice of nine entrees and fried or steamed rice. Upgrade for a buck and get wonton soup instead and a fried shrimp appetizer.

Hu’s Szechwan Restaurant,  10450 National Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90034. Tel: 310- 837-0252

Hours: Lunch:  Monday - Friday - 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Saturday 12p.m. - 2:30 p.m. No lunch service on Sundays.

Dinner: Sunday  – Thursday – 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays  – 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.