Dainty Sichuan
176 Toorak Rd
South Yarra, 3141
(03) 9078 1686
Google map
Every now and then, we like to set ourselves challenges which may cause us some pains. After our last outing at Dainty, we did disappoint ourselves by not going all the way and trying any 3 chillies dishes. Dainty Sichuan is famous for its super spicy hotpots and dishes covered in more chillies than meat. So we decided as a group that we shall have a “3 chillies challenge” at the Dainty.
Beer was the drink of choice but as I have a low tolerance to beer, I opted for the papaya milk drink to cool the heat that was to come. Soy bean milk drink is another good “cooling” drink to put off the heat.
Papaya milk drink
The first 3 dishes are similar to what we ordered the last time so I am not going to run them through in details but you can read the reviews here.
Tofu and century egg – Very refreshing and cooling dish to have! Highly Recommended.
Tofu and century egg
String bean and minced pork – Just another classic favourite
String bean and minced pork
Fish eggplant – This is a MUST have dish. Think about eggplant chips. A big hit with everyone on the table.
Fish eggplant
And since there were 11 of us, we ordered 11 dishes. Over-whelming? I think the staff were a little taken back by the amount of food we ordered and ate. This is not going to be the regular review because by the end of it, I was definitely over-whelmed by the heat. Plus, I forgot to take any notes. So I shall briefly introduce what we ate and the general consensus around the table.
The spicy tofu threads – Well liked by all. Not overly excited but it has a nice gently kick.
Tofu Threads
The green glass noodle – Green glass noodle are usually made from either green beans, broad beans or pea flour and makes them gluten-free! This is not spicy and gives a great cooling contrast to the heat that we were experiencing.
Green glass noodle
The spicy beef tendon – Another thumbs up from the table. It was well cooked, not chewy and very tasty.
Beef tendon
The beef tripes – I think by now you think we were just a bunch of carnivorous. I have to admit we love our meat. This dish may look tame but it did bite.
Beef Tripes
The BBQ chilli pork ribs - This was a thumbs down from all of us. This dish sat right in the middle of the table and took up too much space. We are unsure why it needed to be on a portable stove. It is a 3 chilli dish. It was really spicy but some of us thought that there may be too much five spice in it and the meat was too dry and a little chewy. I did take a doggy bag home and thought it might taste better the next day. No, my opinion did not change.
BBQ chilli pork ribs
The chilli prawn was our next 3 chilli dish. Temperature were rising very quickly. We kept ordering bottles of Tsingtao and drinking it as water. The prawns were deep fried and sauted again with all those chillies. By this time, I had soaked up a few paper tissues and was asking for more.
Chilli prawn
The chongqing chicken – It was served with a mountain of dried chillies. The chicken pieces were deep fried. Do not deceive by the size of each piece. My lips were burning at this stage. My eyes were starting to tear. And my nose was starting to run. I was a total mess. Eat, sniff, sniff, sniff, drink liquid, wipe perspiration. Most of us on the table had very glassy eyes and conversations started to dwindle to nothing. We were definitely feeling it.
Chong qing chicken
The spicy fish hotpot - When this hotpot was placed on the table, I believe that most of us were feeling quite intimidated. All we saw was a almost boiling hotpot of floating chillies in chilli oil and sichuan peppercorns. This was the star dish. Just make sure that you do not attempt to eat any of those chillies and drain the liquid off before consumption. The pieces of fish was swimming deep int the hotpot. I do like this dish despite the burning sensation and half a dozen of tissues that I had to go through. This is hot. Very hot. But very addictive.
Spicy chilli fish hotpot
A special shout to @stickifingers – Great job on the sweatband, headband and tea towel! We were all talk but you actually had yourself fitted out for the occasion. I do recommend at least a sweatband. I ended up with paper tissue bits sticking on my face. But I have to say that kudos to @Rippingyan for being and looking so calm, cool and collected throughout the whole meal. And another shout to Ms W. She was the last one standing and claimed that the fish hotpot was not as hot as she liked it to be! And of course, big thumbs up to everyone that rose to the occasion – @tomotom, @th0i3, @divinepurple, Ms I and all the partners that came along. We did well. 
I was not sure how many bottles of Tsingtao and Papaya milk we went through that night. And for these dishes, it came to about $30 a head! What a hot and affordable experience. It was hard for conversations when our lips felt like it had grew and burning at the same time. Will I do it again? Hell yeah!
What is your most food challenge to date?
sold. i’m going next week.
Good for you hon – taking one for the blog. I can’t believe you all got through all that food in the heat!!!!! I want to see pictured of the paper tissue bits sticking on your face
I was in a chili high for about 3 days1 Seriously, after the burn subsided, I had more energy than puppies on E!
I don’t think I could have eaten that much chili so well done and great pictures! I particularly like the tofu with century egg dish!
Wow Penny, that is lot of food. Good thing I ate already.
No food challenge yet at this time. Hopefully soon.
Any side effects?
I still remember the chong qing chicken and the spicy chilli fish. My mouth craves for them but my stomach couldn’t handle it.
I would be out by the first round of this challenge! I am such a wuss with chilli! Sounds like fun though!!
i love hot hot hot food!
everything looks so delicious! totally my kinda food!
i hd that spicy fish hotpot once when i visited beijing, and i loved it!!!!! completely fell for it!
Szechuan food is like drugs to me. I NEED to go back there again, anyone?!?
Looks like fun! Let me know if you ever do a 4-chilli challenge
Jetsetting Joyce
what amazing food good times with friends cant beat it
Wow-the Tofu Threads and the Eggplant dish are calling my name. The hotter the better for me!
Too good Penny! I love the way you have fun while you blog. Keep going girl!
It was HOT! Trust me.
That’s a lot of good food. I don’t think I can stand so much hot spicy stuff. You must be a chili queen. I think eating raw meat is a big challenge to me.
The last picture had me shouting HOT HOT HOT!!
I love chilli but I am not taking that.
Except for the meat, this is my kind of challenge!! I wonder how the heat level compares to the pepper soup (as in hot pepper soup) I had at a West African restaurant … that was pure heat, but delicious. Hottest thing I’ve ever had, but those peppers floating in liquid look incredibly hot!
wow I am even overwhelmed by all of those great dishes! That would be hard for me to decide which one I like best.
@Kat – let me know how you go
@Mardi – It was a fight till the end but we all enjoyed it…. heh. Torture but great fun. Er.. no photo. I hold the camera
@pg – Thanks for visiting
@Trissa – Those were great which is why we ordered it again.
@Divina – I know! We always order so much. heh
@Willis – Yes to the side effects. Not going to share on the blog… mwuahahaha!
@Sarah – It was just for fun but I am happy to do it again. Very addictive.
@lululu – Cool! I found another fellow chilli addict.
@Wendy – Did you say there was a place that served a hotter version of the fish?
@Jetsetting Joyce: If there is one, I am sure I can round up the people.
@rebecca – Yes. I love this type of gathering
@Debi – Same same! Only too bad for the consequences the next day
@Shirley – that is what food and bloggin is all about. having fun and having friends to share it
@th0i3 – Yes. You were perspiring so much!
@MaryMoh – Spicy and raw, my 2 favourites
@Ellie – It looks and taste scary. But I am sure you can do it too!
@foodlovee – heheheee…. not everyone’s cup of tea
@Trix – Not sure. Not had hot pepper soup before…Maybe similar?
@Jessie – Just as long as they are spicy!
OMG I LOVE LOVE LOVE sichuan food!! I just had some this weekend because the weather was so cold — I love the way the peppercorns numb your tongue. And the robust flavors of chilis immersed in the delicious chili oil mixed with all the different cuts of meat, seafood, bean curd *exhales* sooo goooood. Thank you for taking me with you on your sichuan adventure…if only I could lick my computer screen and experience the glory of this wonderful feast
Wow, what an awesome spread. 11 dishes!
Yes! This is totally my kind of challenge, love it!
What a brilliant idea to get kitted out in sweat gear. Sometimes if I’m on a chilli-binge I am tempted to just shove tissues up my nose but not only would this look pretty rank but I’m sure I’d have to replace them in a matter of seconds anyway!
could go for some of that right now mmm i can just smell it
I’m having so much fun reading these posts! I can’t believe you know 11 people who can take spicy food (All my friends start sweating at the mere “medium” level), and I can’t believe you ordered a dish each! What a feast
Yeah.. it’s called tooraking, on toorak road and chinatown. More flavour or tastier i reckon than dainty
WOW.. lots of yummy spicy food..I love spicy food, I wish I was there..love, the pork, the chicken and the prawns..everything, well not so much the tripe..I’m salivating..Thanks for sharing Penny
@Joy – You are spot on. It is so addictive. It burns but we keep going back for more. I am glad that you love the journey as much as I did
@Cheah – Yes. 11. We are gluttons.
@Conor @ HoldtheBeef – we will have much fun if you come here to play
@odinger mitchell – Make sure you do not tear!
@Shelly @ Experimental Culinary Pursuits – We all tend to push ourselves when there are more people ard
@Wen – Let’s go but I think when you get back. We are running out of time this year.
@Olive – Always a pleasure to share
That’s why I love going out in groups! haha…. It’s all about food… But you guys can really take spicy food huh! None of them are not spicy. I noticed lots of dried chillis used in every dish. Anyone explode!!!??? hahaha….
There are a few dishes that are not but it was a chilli challenge. Almost of us looked like we were going to explode!
Mmmm i haven’t been there in ages… I didn’t know there was a Dainty Sichuan in South Yarra! I hope the one in the CBD is still there. Nice post
Daniel´s last blog ..Kung Pao Chicken
Yes it is still there! Such an addictive challenge isn’t it?
[...] not the only one who thinks Dainty Sichuan is HOT – check out Addictive & Consuming’s 3 chillies challenge and a review by The Age’s [...]