Providence’s Fox Point neighborhood, home to many popular eateries like Pizza Marvin, Jahunger, and Aleppo Sweets has a new star: Rong Chic, which celebrated its grand opening on June 14, 2025.
Rong Chic specializes in Sichuan (sometimes written as “Szechuan”) food, hailing from the southwestern province of China known for its bold, spicy dishes. Sichuan food is one of the most distinctive and popular cuisines in China. It is famous for its signature “mala” spice seasoning, which causes a numbing and tingling sensation. Mala sauce is made from Sichuan peppercorns and chili and can be found in many dishes including stir-fries, soups, and stews. Sichuan food is growing in popularity in Rhode Island. Chengdu Taste (495 Smith St) and Chong Qing House (188 Taunton Avenue, E. Providence) have been in the Providence area for years and Mala Noodles recently opened on Thayer Street.
At Rong Chic’s grand opening, Jeannie Salomon, founder and executive director of the new Asian American and Pacific Islander Museum in Providence’s Jewelry District, gave celebratory remarks and lauded Rong Chic owner Yao Liu’s achievements: “Liu is doing something wonderful for our city – she is sharing her culture, creativity, and fostering community in this space.” The grand opening drew more people than Liu had anticipated, proving just how much the community supports and values her. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley was also in attendance and cut the official red ribbon.
Yao Liu, always brimming with warmth and enthusiasm, infuses an infectious energy into running Rong Chic. Born in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, Liu was a practicing lawyer in China who moved to Rhode Island in 2022 for her son to attend Moses Brown. While she quickly fell for Providence’s strong culinary scene and sense of community, she found herself often missing the flavors of home.
This yearning, combined with her innate entrepreneurial drive and love of food, sparked the inspiration to open her own restaurant. Around this time she fortuitously met a seasoned chef with decades of experience cooking Sichuan cuisine right here in Rhode Island. Chef Xiao-Zhong would then become her trusted business partner and play a key role in bringing the flavors of Rong Chic to life.
Although Liu has no prior restaurant experience, it is remarkably hard to tell that she is a newbie to the business. From the outside, the restaurant looks cozy and stylish with its neutral, Scandinavian style furniture, warm wood accents, and cozy lighting. This thoughtful balance of delicious, comforting food in a sophisticated setting allows Rong Chic to provide a unique offering among the city’s existing Chinese restaurants.
Rong Chic’s menu offers traditional Sichuan favorites as well as unique desserts. Their handmade pork and cabbage dumplings are delectably juicy and flavorful. A must-try is mapo tofu, a beloved Sichuan dish where tofu cubes and minced pork are simmered in a rich and savory chili-garlic sauce. For a real kick, their “Boiling Spicy Fish” dish features tender fish nestled in an intensely flavorful and bold Sichuan “mala” broth infused with chilis, garlic, and punchy Sichuan peppercorns. Rong Chic’s house-made noodles are exquisitely chewy and the perfect vehicle for saucy goodness. Their portions are generous and definitely made for sharing (or leftovers!).
Desserts at Rong Chic are far from an afterthought. For instance, while it may sound unusual, their Tofu Cheesecake is a delightful triumph. Liu and her team tested and perfected their recipe and the result is a refined cheesecake with a delicate, custard-like texture, while remaining satisfyingly indulgent. The cheesecake is lightly brûléed on top and served with blueberries.
Despite the already amazing achievement of opening a restaurant, Liu is always thinking about new projects. During the school year, Rong Chic offers lunch boxes geared for students with busy schedules that they can easily and conveniently pick up on Thayer Street (for details and updates, follow Rong Chic’s Instagram). At the grand opening, Liu shared that she’s just getting started. She is planning on traveling to China for a few weeks this summer to learn new recipes to bring back.
She is excited to grow her dessert and drinks menu, providing contemporary, yet distinctly Chinese offerings that are “not too sweet” (a level of sweetness often favored in Asian cuisine). She would also like to feature artwork at her restaurant made by RISD students and provide them a space to use for community events. Beyond providing exceptional food and warm hospitality, Liu’s relentless creativity and passion for her community are reimagining what a modern Chinese restaurant could be.
Rong Chic is on Instagram (Rong_Chic) and located on 388 Wickenden Street in Providence.
Amber Ma lives on the west end of Providence with her husband and two cats. She loves gardening, shopping at farmers markets, and cooking with local and homegrown ingredients. She is also passionate about transit, sustainability, and pollinators. She is a volunteer at the Community Cat Center in Johnston. She and her husband went car-free in 2022 and are always exploring new restaurants in the city by foot, bike, or bus.
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