The spicy shrimp with sizzling rice at Chengdu Taste is a platter of deep-fried shrimp with clusters of puffed rice, green onions, chiles and garlic. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)
The Chinese Cuisine Festival menu at Chengdu Taste. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)
The cumin-scented, spicy “toothpick lamb” at Chengdu Taste. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)
The specials board at Chengdu Taste in Alhambra. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Mapo tofu at Chengdu Taste, fiery with chile sauce and Sichuan peppercorns. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)
Boiled fish with chiles and Sichuan peppercorns. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Chengdu Taste in Alhambra is always packed. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Chicken with green onions is served chilled, with a mouth-numbing Sichuan-pepper-packed sauce. (Betty Hallock / Los Angeles Times)
