Cheng Du Bo Bo Ji’s fried chicken is a ma la head’s fever dream.

PLEASE NOTE THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED

“Are sure you can handle it,” the kid behind the counter at the newest stall in Flushing’s New World Mall Food Court said skeptically. “Yes, yes ma la,” I replied, indicating that I was down with the classic Sichuan numb-hot flavor that combines fiery chili heat with the floral and tingly Sichuan peppercorn. The dish in question was listed on the menu as Chong Qing Spicy Chicken ($10.99), but he referred to it as house spicy fried chicken.

La zi ji ding, shot through with chilies and Sichuan peppercorn.

The house in question has no English sign, but the Chinese name, Cheng Du Bo Bo Bo Ji, references the capital of Sichuan and a special bowl for chicken. The spicy fried chicken is quite special indeed. The hacked up bits of bird showered with fried red peppers and shot through with sesame seeds, mouth tingling Sichuan peppercorn, and the occasional fried garlic chip is my new favorite fried chicken in Flushing’s Chinatown. The portion was huge, but I polished off the whole thing, alternating between salty spicy bites of chicken and rice. When the bird was done I continued to pick at the peppers.

Cheng Du Bo Bo Ji marks the return of a strong Sichuan player to the food court. There’s lot of ambitious restaurant level stuff on the menu too, including three preparations of whole fish. It’s tucked between Nutritious Lamb Noodle Soup and another new addition to the food court, the Chinese-Korean dumpling ladies. It’s become quite the delicious power corner in the food court.

Cheng Du Bo Bo Bo Ji,  New Word Mall Food Court, 40-21 Main St, Flushing