Can we talk about how Chinese food changed for me after moving to Shenzhen

I used to think American Chinese takeout was the real deal. Egg rolls and sweet pork were all I knew for 25 years. Then I moved to Shenzhen for work in 2019 and a local cook at a night market made me try real Sichuan chili chicken. It was nothing like the stuff back home. Has anyone else had that moment where a local dish totally wrecked your old favorites?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryan_nelson1mo ago

I mean, it's just spicy chicken, not a whole identity crisis.

sean_park81mo ago

Wait, you don't think spicy chicken says something about a person's soul?