Ren 稔

Flavor builds in layers—aromatic scallions, tingling spice, the deep warmth of wok-fired dishes. The space is narrow, intimate, and understated, much like the food itself: well-executed but holding back on some of the boldness that could elevate it. Service is meticulous, the kind where your water glass never dips below a quarter full. The scallion pancake arrives first—golden, crisp, the kind that makes a sound when torn. No chewiness, no excess dough, just light and flaky. The pork soup dumplings are neatly pleated, the filling tender, though the broth inside could be warmer, more deeply flavored. Shredded beef with chili brings a nice kick, and while the beef itself isn’t the highest quality it still works. The kung pao chicken plays things too safe. It lacks the punch and spice that should make it addictive. Split pea shoots offer a healthy and straightforward dose of greens. Ren is still settling into its rhythm. The flavors lean a little subdued, but the execution is solid. If nothing else, that scallion pancake alone is worth the trip.

I was so happy to be able to try this new szechuan spot in the neighborhood. We came on a Saturday night and it was nice and quiet. The decor is lovely- I love all the rounded arches. The bars on the window did give off a prison vibe 🤣 and the windows weren't well insulated- we did feel a breeze coming through on a windy March night. The food was delicious. I think you can get away with ordering a bunch of small plates and feeling satisfied. The scallion pancake was so perfectly crispy and soft at the same time. The cucumbers are always a classic. The squid was excellent!! I love squid. The fries surprised me the most because it was fried just right. I don't normally like crinkle cut but these were amazing. The spicy hand shredded chicken was so yummy I kept dipping my fork back in to get some sauce. The pea shoots and mapo tofu were delicious as well. I didn't love the Garlic Pepper beef though, the sauce was too sweet for my liking. We finished off with the ginger ice cream which tasted like vanilla ice cream and you get a hint of ginger on the back end- so good! I can't wait to come back!

Absolutely beautiful place! Food was beautifully prepared and my favorite was the eggplant - amazing!!! Service was efficient and they were so kind and friendly. This place is going to explode! So happy to have them here on Leonard Street

This place was fabulous. The food was delicious. We love the squid tentacles and the smoke fish fillet. The staff were also wonderful. Will be returning!

I stopped by during their soft opening since I saw photos of the interior and fell in love! They serve Szechuan tapas and everything was amazing. I especially liked the crispy eggplant which stayed crispy and didn’t get soggy due to how they’re cut & fried. The rice wine panna cotta and pumpkin cakes were desserts I haven’t tried before but ended up loving both since they were so unique. The service and quick and efficient but we did not feel like we were being rushed. It’s a super cute spot for a date night. I will definitely be coming back when they get their liquor license since it’ll be the perfect pairing for the spice. I tried: - Pickled Cucumber - Crunchy Golden Tofu - Golden Eggplant - Crispy Rice with Duck Confit - Rice Wine Panna Cotta - Pumpkin Cakes