Make the request you actually mean
- Want less heat? Ask for less chili: 少放辣椒.
- Dislike the tingling sensation? Ask for no Sichuan pepper: 不放花椒.
- Want to control a finishing condiment? Ask whether chili oil can be served separately: 辣椒油可以另放吗？
Separate the two sensations
Là, 辣, is the word to recognize for spicy heat. Má, 麻, describes the numbing or tingling quality associated with Sichuan pepper. A dish described as málà can bring both. Red color alone does not measure either one reliably.
If you enjoy chili but dislike the tingling sensation, say so. If you prefer neither, ask about both chili and Sichuan pepper. One generic ‘mild’ request can leave too much room for interpretation.
Why removing visible chilies may not be enough
Kung Pao chicken includes dried chilies, while Chongqing xiaomian uses a seasoned bowl with chili oil and Sichuan pepper. A dish may carry heat in the oil or sauce as well as in the pieces you can see.
Ask before ordering whether the kitchen can reduce the seasoning, serve it separately or suggest a different dish. A prepared chili paste cannot necessarily be taken out at the end. If the answer is uncertain, choosing another preparation is more useful than repeatedly asking for the same dish to be milder.
Use heat ratings to compare, then confirm
A guide’s chili scale is an editorial description of a version of a dish. It does not calibrate every restaurant or account for your personal tolerance. Use it to compare options, then confirm the current version with the staff.
For a shared table, choose a mix that lets people enjoy different flavors. Keep a less chili-focused option on the shortlist, such as a roast-meat preparation, and ask how it is seasoned. Less chili does not automatically mean vegetarian, allergy-safe or suitable for every child.
Before you order
- Ask about chili and Sichuan pepper separately.
- Check the sauce and oil, not only visible chilies.
- Ask whether seasoning can actually be changed.
- Use ratings as a starting point, not a restaurant guarantee.
Phrases to show at the table
请少放辣椒，辣椒油另放。
Please use less chili and serve the chili oil separately.
可以不放花椒吗？
Can it be made without Sichuan pepper?
Turn curiosity into a shortlist.
Pick one food you are curious about and keep its Chinese name with your notes. Use the questions above when you compare it with a restaurant menu.
Compare dishes in the food guide
