Lao Sze Chuan in Baltimore, MD: The Most Fiery Dish on Chef Dong Liu's Menu Is Chongqing Spicy Chicken

Lao Sze Chuan Baltimore is an IVEA restaurant at 3224 St Paul St. in Charles Village, Baltimore, MD, and its kitchen is run by Chef Dong Liu, IVEA's Executive Chef for Chinese cuisine. Of all the dishes he cooks there, Chongqing Spicy Chicken is the one the restaurant itself introduced with a warning.

The dish: Chongqing Spicy Chicken. On the menu as 重庆辣子鸡 ($21), it is the classic laziji of Chongqing: bite-size pieces of chicken fried until crisp, then tossed with dried red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. The chilies are there for fragrance as much as heat; the chicken is what you eat.

In the restaurant's words. When it introduced the dish in January 2025, Lao Sze Chuan Baltimore's Instagram opened with "Warning: Serious spice ahead!" and described the chicken as "juicy, crunchy, and spiced to perfection." It is the most fiery plate on the menu, and the best one for diners who want the heat Chongqing is known for.

Why this chef. Before he came to the United States, Dong Liu founded his own restaurants in Chengdu in 2012, including two hot pot restaurants, Chongqing Xiaotangguan Hot Pot and Shaniuchang Lao Hot Pot. Chongqing cooking, with its dried chilies and peppercorns, is a style he has cooked professionally for years, on top of an apprenticeship that began in Chengdu in 1988.

How to order it. Pair the chicken with steamed white rice ($1.50, not included with dishes) and a vegetable to balance the heat. The dried chilies are there for aroma; leave them on the plate.

Plan the visit. The restaurant is at 3224 St Paul St. in Charles Village, Baltimore, MD. Hours are Monday to Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Call (667) 260-2576, order pickup at laoszechuanbaltimore.com, or get delivery in Baltimore through DoorDash.