Z and Y is a no-frills Chinese restaurant in the heart of Chinatown, serving up high quality Szechuan dishes. They have racked up awards and recognitions, including a spot on the Bib Gourmand List. Z and Y is the perfect balance of authentic Chinese food and quality eats, but definitely runs on the pricier end compared to some of their Chinatown counterparts. The restaurant itself is always packed- I pass by it on my way home from work and always see a large group of people waiting to be seated. They also run quite the takeout operation. While Z and Y is a more traditional, no frills Chinese restaurant, their interior definitely feels more ‘upscale’ than other nearby options, with fancy entryway furniture and dim lighting.

I’ve had Z and Y for takeout and dine-in, and have loved it both times, although I did find the food fresher and tastier while in-restaurant. I find it hard to differentiate simple dishes like chicken fried rice, but theirs is notably really good. We also tried staples like sautéed string beans and soup dumplings and found each dish to be well done classic Chinese, but noticeably elevated in flavor and quality. 

I would definitely recommend Z and Y to anyone looking for a more authentic Chinatown experience that’s high quality and doesn’t stray too far from the traditional takeout options visitors may be used to.