Nestled only a couple of blocks away from the heart of Times Square at West 46th Street and 9th Avenue, Mountain House provides a break from the lively entertainment scene where bright advertisements, skyscrapers, and glamorous restaurants attract millions of tourists. Unlike most of its neighbors, the restaurant has a cozy charm. The restaurant doesn’t rely on extravagant signs to attract guests; instead, Mountain House incorporates bamboo scaffolding, wooden lanterns, a stone fountain decorated with rocks and branches, a wooden name plate, and a medium-sized banner that simply says “Mountain House, Authentic Szechuanese Cuisine.”

When you walk inside, you’ll notice the bamboo aesthetic continues. There was a conscious decision to curate an establishment that serves authentic Sichuanese food in a setting that resembles traditional Chinese designs: the traditional wooden furniture, hay that resembles the ancient huts, and cloth lanterns that light the room.

Beyond this Zen ambiance lies a path of fiery spice that has guests salivating. The chefs prepare a variety of dishes from traditional Sichuanese delicacies to “modernist cuisine.” Though the restaurant maintains its traditional dishes, it also appeals to a greater crowd by creating a menu that distinctly separates the “traditional cuisine” from the “modernist cuisine.” Some notable modernist dishes include salted egg yolk corns and fish fillet with crispy rice.¹ Every bite is an ode to Sichuan’s traditional cuisine and modern trends!

1. Mountain House, “Midtown Menu,” accessed May 14, 2025, https://www.szechuanmountainhouse.com/_files/ugd/1542d3_26f6a91c9be542589082dae3a5addfee.pdf ↩︎