To celebrate the publication of our sister book EAT: Los Angeles 2012, we’ll be posting regular listings chosen from the book’s many San Gabriel Valley destinations for food lovers. First up: A San Gabriel spot to get your chile on.

WHY A place for chileheads to give their palate a thrill ride.

WHAT Light years beyond kung pao, the Sichuan fare at this nicely designed little storefront is the winning contender for capsicum artistry in a city filled with peppery stir fries and incendiary noodles. The fresh fish hot pot has a fan club, but don’t let it obscure the other mouth-tingling goodies, like fried chicken cubelets—as crunchy as chicharones and spicier than jalapeño kettle chips, buried under an inch-deep blanket of dry-fried chiles.

WHO Serious fans of western Chinese cuisine of every age and nationality.