Most people associate Chinese food with fried rice and takeout, but Little Szechuan is a great option for authentic Asian cuisine. Little Szechuan serves authentic Szechuan food and dim sum.

Little Szechuan has reasonable prices, great service and delicious food. The menu shows the great variety of authentic Chinese food, and the collection and opportunities with dim sum, a Chinese dish of small steamed or fried dumplings containing vegetables or meat, are endless.

The dim sum combo for lunch is only $7.25 and comes with four pairs of different steamed dumplings. The four types of dumplings that come with the dim sum combo are pork shrimp Sil-Myl, shrimp dumplings with mixed vegetables, shrimp dumplings and pan fried dumplings with shrimp chive. The individual dumplings are a great value. The prices range from $2.50 to $3.75. Little Szechuan offers over 30 dim sum dishes daily.

If you have never had dim sum before, keep in mind that the food is good, but some need an acquired test that may vary from Western culture.

The menu does not just limit itself to the steamed dumplings. Little Szechuan also offers a large variety of authentic Chinese dishes. Entrees come in a variety of shapes and sizes from the Americanized General Tso chicken to Chong Qing Hot Chicken.

The entrees are not limited, with options in chicken, duck, beef, pork, lamb, seafood and vegetarian. Little Szechuan offers several noodle options, too. Keep in mind, the serving portions are large, so you may be able to bring food home or share with friends.

Szechuan cooking is a style of Chinese cooking that is particularly spicy, oily and especially peppery and rich in flavor.

Little Szechuan also has a great variety of drinks. Bubble tea is a Chinese favorite and can be served either hot or cold. The base of the tea is either a jasmine tea or a black tea and can be flavored with nearly any kind of fruit.

To accompany the food and drink, the interior of the restaurant also gives a great vibe. Located in the Walker Springs Plaza on Kingston Pike, the restaurant offers a lot of seating options. Every Saturday afternoon, the restaurant offers a buffet for customers.

The service is speedy and efficient, even during lunchtime on a weekday. The servers are helpful and patient for the customers who are not used to more authentic Asian options.

Little Szechuan is the only authentic Szechuan and dim sum restaurant in Knoxville. The prompt service and great prices give students an experience outside of the normal Knoxville cultural boundaries.

Break away from the average Americanized Chinese food of the Strip and go on an adventure to help discover authentic Chinese cuisine.

The full menu for lunch, dinner and dim sum is available online at www.littleszechaun.com.