Dashi Sichuan Kitchen+ Bar

2895 Thousand Oaks Dr., (210)-562-3343.

colorful dining room at Dashi Sichuan Kitchen + Bar
in San Antonio, Texas

Hidden inside a nondescript building in an unremarkable little mall, Dashi Sichuan Kitchen+ Bar is a lovely surprise. Diners pull open the ornate door handles and enter another world. A dark, high-ceilinged interior room is offset by brightly colorful accents, conveying a touch of mystery.

Delicious Sichuan Chinese cuisine is on the menu. Cocktails include a classic lime daiquiri as well as several sakes and plenty of beers. Exceptional dishes include the Signature Spicy Cumin Lamb Lollipops, which are especially popular, as are the superb green beans and XL shrimp. With the exception of Spicy Garlic Eggplant, dishes tend to be dry rather than saucy, and most are smothered in fiery red peppers. Child diners have been known to play a bit with their food. One I dined with designed a unique dish of curly-hair noodles surrounding a dumpling face.