Spicy Village, formerly He Nan Flavor, is a hole-in-the-wall spot that opened in 2010. Spicy Village specializes in cuisine from Henan, a province in east-central China known for its wide noodles and milky soups. However, Spicy Village is most known for its Da Pan Ji, or "Big Tray Chicken," a mouthwatering dish originating from the Xinjiang province.

Wendy Lian and Ren Fu Li run the restaurant alongside their two children. Originally from Fujian, China, the couple worked various restaurant jobs before saving up enough money to open their buffet-style restaurant. However, they soon pivoted to selling Henan food due to Li's love of the regional cuisine. They had learned how to make authentic Henan food while working at Henan Feng Wei, a restaurant in Flushing.

Over the years, Spicy Village has garnered a massive cult following. Fans have made T-shirts for the restaurant, and even Danny Bowein, the chef of Chinese Mission, has admitted to borrowing recipes.

A typical order for us consists of their cucumber salad, pancake with beef, and Big Tray Chicken with hand-pulled noodles. Comment below what your typical order at Spicy Village looks like.

Tip: This restaurant is BYOB.

📍 Spicy Village
68 Forsyth St B, New York, NY 10002