Located at the end of the cobblestone alleyway near the Hofbrau Shanghai and O'Malley's, Pin Chuan is great spot for nouveau Sichuan cuisine. The menu is diverse and affordable with beef, poultry, assorted seafood and vegetable dishes, all worth a try.

For starters, Pin Chuan offers some great cold selections, including braised eggplant, sweet-soaked tofu with mushrooms, and cucumbers with vinegar, but the real treat comes with the main courses.

The Sichuan-style beef strips with sliced red and green peppers and grilled string beans with fried pork bits are absolutely delicious, while the mala tofu adds spice to a well rounded meal.

Pin Chuan is divided into three main dining rooms, and aside from the first hall, the rear two seem rather dark; however, once seated, every table has a nice amount of light (but not obtrusive) and minimal background noise from surrounding tables making conversation easy and offering a more intimate experience.