We went for dinner the first night of CES (probably one of the biggest shows in Vegas). Every restaurant in the area was packed, including Emperor's Garden. We had to wait about 15min for our table. When we got our menu, we were surprised by the care the owner took to explain the background of the cuisine as well as origins of well-known dishes.
We were intrigued by the story of the Husband and Wife Beef Lung Slices (lung has been replaced by shank and tendon in modern times) so ordered that. It came in a deceivingly spicy red chili oil, which was just mildly hot and had a complex fermented flavor which we really liked. There was great contrast in texture between the tender shank and crunchy tendon.
I've been on a hunt for authentic Dan Dan noodles, which I was excited to find here. This one was perfectly spiced with lots of ground Sichuan red peppercorns that linger on your tongue making it salivate. This stuff is addictive if you like the sensation - I do.
The mini pork dumplings had silky smooth delicate skins which helped take away the spice of the other dishes.
The fish filets in Hunan sauce were super tasty with just the right amount of spiciness - enough to not overwhelm the other flavors.
The string beans were fried perfectly without any hint of greasiness and well seasoned, reminding me of good french fries.
A native Sichuan customer we met gave it a 7 out of 10, which is pretty good for this side of the Pacific. I've got to make a trip to Chengdu to find the 10/10 restaurant he's talking about.