My friends took me here since they said the food was really good. I was visiting them for the evening, so we decided to stop by and give it a try. We got the Boiled Fish in Green Pepper Sauce, Toothpick Lamb, and Mapo Tofu. Everything was definitely super delicious. The dishes weren't too spicy for me, and I actually wish they had a bit more heat, but they did have a nice numbing kick to them. I do have a pretty high spice tolerance, though, so my experience may be different from others. My friend thought the dishes were pretty spicy, so keep that in mind if you're more sensitive to heat. The fish was super tender and soft, and honestly pretty addictive to eat. The Toothpick Lamb was pretty much the same--you just pop one in your mouth and then immediately want another. It had a nice salty, spicy flavor that made it really easy to keep eating. The only downside is, well, the toothpicks! They definitely slow you down. I also really enjoyed the Mapo Tofu. It was nice and flavorful and went really well with the other dishes. Overall, everything we tried was really good, and I can definitely see why my friends recommended this place. read more

Food-wise, this place is easily a 4/5 stars. Service-wise, not quite there. When we first walked in, everyone was friendly and we didn't wait long at all, especially considering how packed the restaurant was. They definitely know how to get people seated and keep the crowd moving in, but getting out was another story. Kept getting passed up when we were done and simply trying to leave. The food did take a while, but I can understand that when everything is being made fresh. Just know that if you're on a time crunch, this probably isn't the place for a quick meal. The gentleman who seated us and took our order was really nice, but after that, we pretty much felt forgotten about. Once the food arrived though, it was Good. Very flavorful, authentic Chinese food, and definitely worth trying. The atmosphere is loud and busy, no music, just the sound of a completely packed restaurant, so don't come expecting a quiet, relaxing dinner. Also, fair warning, some of these dishes are Spicy, and I mean actually spicy. If you love some heat, you'll probably love this place. Overall, I'd recommend giving it a try for the food. Lots of dishes to choose from. A good variety too of proteins, vegetables, noodles and Wonton soup. read more

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I revisited during the week for lunch before they close at 2:30PM. For two people, we asked for two bowls of rice, but they brought out a red rice bin with lid. We ended up having leftover rice, and they let us pack it home. Farmer style pork Beef dry pot Boiled Fish with tofu (fish filet, not snakehead) The food is just as good as I remembered. This time the server lady didn't speak English. She offered cold vermicelli or cold noodles on the house for spending $50+. I opted for noodles, which had some cooked bean sprouts. They came to our table to collect payment on their iPad, so I used Apple Pay. read more

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We truly enjoyed the food here, it's been a while since I've had real authentic Szechuan food - heavy with the famous peppercorns. This place earns its Michelin Bib Gourmand recommendation. Go early and make a reservation, it fills up quick! read more

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I called in beforehand at 5 o'clock to ask for the wait time - the server is happily made me a reservation for 530 just in case there was a wait. As my family and I arrived for dinner, we were seated right away. Between the four of us, we ordered five dishes (forgive me I do not have all the names listed on the top of my head)- mapo tofu, string beans, broiled fish, garlic chicken, & spicy bite sized chicken! Each dish was absolutely delicious. If you like spicy food - it was a great balance between numbing and spice. The service was absolutely amazing as well - they always insured that our tea pot was refilled, and that we were tended to. As the check came, our servers kindly wrapped up our food for us! We'll definitely be back next time read more

Chengdu Taste - Ma Po Tofu / 麻婆豆腐 - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

Chengdu Taste never fails. If you are craving real spicy Sichuan food, this is the place to be. Every time I come here, the flavors are bold, authentic, and consistently amazing. My favorite dish that I just tried was the red oil wontons. The sauce is so good and honestly reminds me of the ones at Din Tai Fung, rich, savory, and perfectly balanced with that spicy taste. The eggplant was also incredible and pairs so well with rice. We also ordered the toothpick lamb and the deep fried intestines, which truly never disappoint. Everything is super flavorful, and I love that the toothpick lamb even comes with bell peppers. It's not a Chinese place if they don't serve hot tea. It helps cleanse your palate and balances out all the oil and spice, which makes the whole meal even more enjoyable. I have been coming here since high school and have brought family, friends, and out of town guests, and I have never once been disappointed. Chengdu Taste is a classic for a reason and will always be one of my go to spots. read more

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I love Chengdu taste! I usually go to the one in Rowland Heights but was closer to this one. Service is so so quick! And food is always delicious and great portion sizes. I came during the weekend and found parking right in the font. I had a lot of food to go also. read more

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I'm super new to this style of food and was pleasantly surprised. I found them on the Michelin website and made my way over on a Friday evening. It was bustling but not too busy just the right ambiance for a casual night out. We had the ma po tofu, red chili wontons, and lamb on skewers. It was an exciting new palette for me while still feeling like a really hearty traditional dish. Portions were extremely generous for 2 people and they nicely packed us our leftovers to go. It was about $48 for two read more

Chengdu Taste - Ma Po Tofu / 麻婆豆腐 Wonton with Red Chili Sauce / 红油抄手 & the lamb - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

Back to 5 stars! This place has gone through various phases and so I'm happy to see this place back to good flavor! We got the lamb skewers, spicy fish bowl, chicken pieces in medium spice and green beans. All great! The place is a lot more modern now so I'm glad it looks great too! Great staff as well. Will come back! read more

i like this place, the price is reasonable, and the service is really good. everytime i came here i can always get the rest of the food to go, the size of the plates is large enough for 4 people. read more

Chengdu Taste - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

If you can handle prolonged spicy/chili food, then this is your place. When I say prolonged, I mean the chile flavor lingers in your mouth turning it into a temporary furnace. All the food was flavorably great with each bite desiring another but you got to go slow or else the heat turns up in your mouth. We ordered: Ma Po tofu, Huang Gua, Yaqian Yangrou, and the Shui Zhu Yu. I thought the cilantro is excessive, but to each their own. I like the fact how the host keeps providing napkins so in case you are a sweater, then you can wipe down which I saw a few people doing often. We were told that ordering again after your initial order would take an hour. I was like really?! An hour, for a bowl of rice? We began to joke about that saying we should get a fork...oh wait, that will take an hour. Hold on! Where's the waiter? Oh yal, that will take an hour... Should I ask where that bathroom is...hmm, that will be an hour. I underestimated the long haul of spicy food in you mouth and I wanted to order more rice, but you know how that goes...that'll be an hour! Translation, we are a busy place so we don't want you staying longer by ordering more food. I thought that was despicable since we are buying the great food we want to be a part of at your establishment. The inside was like any restaurant and I would say nothing stand out except watching all the uber or food dash people coming in and out along with other people. I felt that we were a bit rushed to eat and to get out. I mean eating all that spicy/chili food is no easy task and I need time properly consume it while enjoying it. We came to the place because the last place had no parking at all--some place that was a parking lot for a hotel and the restaurant. That will be another story. read more

I'm feeling lucky to have stumbled upon this restaurant. The foods were really good. We ordered the skewered lamp、spice boiled fish fillet、stir fried curd bean and meat. Everything was made very flavorful and delicious. Service was friendly and attentive. Very clean and neat interior deco. Over all the experience was very positive. read more

i've been wanting to try this place for a while now and i must say i really like this spot! came here with a friend. i'm not someone who would normally order fish but i liked it. my stomach can sometimes react a certain way to spicy food, but surprisingly i was okay. the servers were relatively attentive, walking around to see who needed more napkins and water. read more

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First time here! We have four people in our group. It's very authentic and made me felt like I was in China! You order by scanning the QR code and submit it from your phone. Staffs are attentive and very helpful. Food is excellent and does not break your bank! Fair warning though as it's very true to Sichuan style and spice level can be overwhelming! I enjoyed every dishes but was also teary throughout the entires meals! Highly recommend getting the skewers as they're on every tables there! read more

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I visited Chengdu Taste on the evening of February 8th. Although Los Angeles has many excellent Sichuan restaurants, I have been bringing my family and friends to this location for years whenever I drive to LA. Unfortunately, this time the experience was extremely disappointing. Setting aside the hygiene issue of finding a small insect in one of the dishes, what truly upset me was the service at the end of the meal. After finishing dinner, I walked to the register myself to pay, knowing the staff were busy. I also requested a few to-go boxes and offered to pack the food myself to make things easier for them. A shorter manager wearing a hat (as later confirmed by another employee) told me to leave my card at the counter and that they would process the payment and bring the receipt to me. He told me to grab the boxes myself. After packing the food for my family, I returned to the counter because I needed plastic bags. I simply stood there quietly waiting. I did not say anything, did not rush anyone, and did not show impatience. Suddenly, the manager asked me what I was standing there for and told me not to "push" them because they were busy. I calmly responded that I was not pushing anyone. He then became visibly impatient, gestured with his right hand in a dismissive motion for me to leave, and refused to communicate further. I returned to my table feeling extremely disrespected. What made this more troubling was that at the same time, this manager was actively assisting another table of young white customers with their payment and packaging. I chose to be polite and self-sufficient, and the response I received was hostility. After years of supporting this restaurant, I am deeply disappointed. I will not be returning. read more

Enjoyed lunch with friend a few weeks ago. Chengdu Taste has been on my list of LA spots for years...and I can't believe I've waited so long to stop by! We had the spicy beef dry pot and the spicy eggplant. Both were incredibly flavorsome, fresh, and well-portioned. Service was quick and efficient. Decor is traditional and no-frills. Can't wait to come back to try more of the menu! read more

Chengdu Taste - Eggplant, Beef with Red and Green Pepper / 双椒牛肉 - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

Disclaimer: our visit was a few years ago. Restaurant was dark, decor is very standard for an Asian restaurant and the food was tasty. But we felt like we weren't welcomed due to not being able to speak Chinese. The reason I'm writing this review now is because we've passed by this restaurant countless times and every time I tell myself, "I'd love to go back but they really seemed to look down on us for not knowing Chinese". For that reason alone I don't see myself ever going back. Hopefully it's better now but that left an incredibly sour taste in our mouths that years later we still won't go back due to the service even though it was tasty. Would rather just go to Sichuan Impression. 2 stars for tasty food and minus 3 stars for the service and never wanting to return read more

Authentic Sichuan food Rapid service and generous portions clean ambiance and well remodeled interior staff were pretty friendly and spoke good English. read more

Had a great experience at Chengdu taste! If you are craving spicy, numb-y and flavorful Szechuan food - this place is a must! Everything we ordered here was awesome. I came in a group of 3 and we ordered an array of dishes - popcorn chicken, mapo tofu, spicy eggplant, bobo chicken, tan tan mien etc. Service was quick as well - our table was full of food within 10 mins or so of ordering. I recommend also ordering a neutral dish (aka not szechuan spicy) if you need a spice break in between the dishes. They are located on a busier street but were able to find street parking right outside. Definitely worth the visit when in the area! read more

the food was amazing! decently spicy so be prepared for the numbing spice LOL! I was so surprised by how big the portions are, perfect for sharing!! the service great and the servers kept checking up on us! Food came out quick and the ambiance was as great! read more

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This place is heaven for anyone looking to push their limits with extreme levels of spice and mala. If you're seeking both pleasure and self-destruction through spicy food, this is the spot for you lol. Our group of six waited for over an hour on a Saturday night, which shows just how much people crave food like this. I wish I could've handled the heat, but me being a weak sauce, I ended up starving while my friends devoured every dish. I highly recommend this place for those who can handle serious spice and numbing sensation. PS: Parking is very limited. Your best bet is to park near the residential area and walk to the restaurant. read more

Chengdu Taste - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Loved this place. Busy with locals and late night visitors, we were greeted kindly and quickly. Not a single miss on the menu, ordered Mapo Tofu, Sauteed String Beans, Chicken Wonton Soup, and Spicy Popcorn Chicken-- all delightful and perfect. The Numb Taste marker on some menu items shouldn't be a deterrent; you'll barely notice that your tongue has lost all feeling after just a few sips of hot tea. 10/10 cannot wait to go back! read more

Chengdu Taste - Mapo Ma Po Tofu / 麻婆豆腐 with beef Green beans - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

This place has a special spot in my heart. It was my first real awakening into Szechuan. The food is so delicious and so unapologetic I really love it. read more

The fish and cabbage are sooo good. I ate in store before, the catering are as good as them in restaurant. read more

Chengdu Taste - How can they make the catering so delicious! - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Service is hit or miss. Street parking in the front. If you're into the numbing spicy stuff, this is your place. Prices are a bit higher but it reflects the large portion size. read more

Chengdu Taste - String beans/ vinegar potato/ stir fry kidney - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Spicy food, great taste, friendly staff. Got the fish in green pepper sauce and the cold noodles as well as the dumplings in chili oil. Fantastic ! read more

Chengdu Taste - Fish in Boiled Fish with Green Pepper Sauce / 藤椒鱼 - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

The food was the best ever! Our children wolfed down every single meal that came, might come again!

Came here on a weeknight and there was no wait. There is street parking so can be difficult if it's busy. You order from a QR code and the food gets delivered after sending it in. There are pictures so it helps with deciding what you want. Most of the food has that Szechuan spice so you will get that numbing goodness that is pretty additive. The inside has a couple of tables good for groups between 4 to 6. I highly recommend the Toothpick Lamb and Cold Noodles as they complement each other very nicely. The Kung Pao Chicken was pretty spicy but was delicious with white rice. Overall, enjoyed the food and how quickly everything came out! read more

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They have a large menu so we got a variety of dishes to share. We got the couple's sliced beef in chili sauce, shredded pork in garlic sauce, toothpick lamb with cumin, boiled fish with green pepper sauce, and wontons in chicken broth. Needless to say, we had a lot of leftovers... All the food was good but the standout was definitely the shredded pork! It was one of the best versions I've ever had of this dish. I loved that they added chayote, which added a crunchy texture and break from the richness. Surprisingly, the wonton soup was my second favorite. The wrapper had a nice chewy texture and the soup was a nice complement to all the spices. FYI once you sit down, you use a QR code to place your order, so there's minimal interaction with the staff. With that said, they were attentive and great about filling our waters and bringing napkins. read more

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Everything we ordered was delicious! Some dishes were numbing spicy but it paired well with rice! You place your order through a QR code on your phone. We ordered garlic A choy, toothpick lamb, stir fried kidney, and sautéed eggplant with spicy garlic sauce. The spiciest dish out of all was the stir fried kidney. It's the numbing kind where it grows and lingers in your mouth and doesn't go away. Would come again. read more

Chengdu Taste - From top left to bottom right: Sauteed Eggplant with Spicy Garlic Sauce, Pig 's Kidney, garlic A choy, Toothpick Lamb with Carrion - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

Occasion: Friday night with coworkers. Reservation: they do not take Wait: 30 min ish. There are some hit and miss of these dishes we've ordered. We all agreed that orange fish? (Middle in the picture) was delicious which was a little surprising for me because I thought it's like Americanized?lol Based on the reviews mung bean noodle is good so we got it but it was OK Over all the food was good and my personal favorite is the lamb. I don't really like lamb but I like this one. Lots of cumin. Many servers are not fluent in English so there's the ordering system but if you make a mistake on that it's gonna be hard to fix. I recommend to ask first. They are not fluent but you'll be able to understand. read more

Chengdu Taste - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

I only first came to Chengdu Taste for Dan Dan Mian and had a strong first impression. That was my personal gateway to mala paradise. I am now a hopeless addict to the mapo tofu with extra peppercorn powder sprinkled on top, the Phoenix claws in their sweet-savory chili oil base, those lustrous green beans stir fried with a little pork and bright red chili, and the hardy toothpick lamb that reheats perfectly a day or two later. It is very difficult to eat it all in one serving, even with another person. Sometimes I fly too close to the sun/numbing Nirvana. The chili and peppercorn elements work together to make my stomach think I've had more than I think. Every time my partner and I come in to chase the dragon, the staff remembers us (because we always ask for this so they get it out of the way now LOL) and gives us a little cup thing of extra peppercorn powder before anything else. It's great! And we ALWAYS put it to use. Yelp is prompting me to describe the Ambiance, which I have never given a fuck about. I guess adding the wall of masks as a Pokéstop is on my to-do list. Don't come here and get all ignorant because you finally understand what it feels like to receive a Listerine enema. I personally think my life is made better for that battery acid tingling. It keeps me humble. Stay away and stop shitting up the rating with your "waahh I couldn't handle the heat" complaints. I don't know how some of you respect yourselves if you are showing your ass like this. THE FIRE IS IN THE NAME if you have any initiative to research what you eat. I miss the pre-pandemic days where my party could end up awkwardly sharing the round tables with strangers. But it wasn't that awkward, because both parties need to be open to the idea first. We're all there to enjoy the food. read more

I love this place! Food and service is very fast paced, but you never feel rushed. They actually allow you to sit and enjoy you meal without coming every 5 mins to see if they can clear a plate. I come quiet often and each time , their food is always season so well! My top dishes are Boiled Chicken with Green Pepper Sauce: it is a light spicy salt broth that poaches your chicken to perfection! Chicken is always cooked perfectly and not rubbery. Also comes with some cucumber and bean sprouts In it. It is a hot dish so it is different than the ones that are skewered. Arden Lettuce: something refreshing and none spicy Dry Stir fried potatoes with the chili and vinegar option! Even though it says chili, it really isn't spicy! It is so good! Sour soup with shredded pork: comes with vermicelli too! Last time I had it, it was extremely spicy, which is weird because it normally isn't that spicy! But the acidity is what makes it soo good. Enough to wake up your sense and palate to enjoy more numbness! Twice cook pork, great for NON spicy lover! If you are down for some funky stuff, get their Dry stir fried, pig intestine! Super crispy, you don't get that funky intestine taste. read more

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Such good Szechuan food'!! Get the lamb, mapo tofu, chicken, and green beans. Also nice service

Probably the closest you'll get to a true Sichuan meal in LA. If you know what to order, you won't leave disappointed. I do wish they brought a bit more heat to the table, but based on other reviews, this is about as spicy as it gets in LA - and that seems fair. Service and facilities are solid, and street parking is usually easy to find. read more

I've been ordering takeout from here for years. But Tonight, it totally ruined it for me and my husband. it's not even that the oil didn't taste fresh or if there's a fly or one hair, which happens understandable. But from the dishes we ordered tonight, we found UNCOUNTABLE amount of small hairs in the Couple's sliced beef in chili oil dish. We called the business, was told that they are unable to give us a refund for the dish unless we go back. Doesn't seem like there's anyone in charge or this is taken as a serious food safety problem. I'm not sure if I'll ever go back to Chengdu taste ever again. This was very very disappointing. As a fellow Chinese person, I've always supportive of Chinese businesses, however somehow I have just been disappointed by the inconsistency over and over again. Super disappointed... read more

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LA宝藏川菜馆！物美价廉！ 第三次吃他们家了。霸王肘子、猜猜虾，每次必点，味道真的绝了！ 老板还送了饮料，服务态度特别好，搞得我们都不好意思了。 满满一大桌菜，吃得超满足，还多给了小费，一共才 $90，吃完打包第二天接着吃一天，性价比炸裂！ 个人感觉比融合川菜强太多了，从评分也能看出来。可能位置有点偏，也不怎么打广告，平时人不是很多。 建议老板安排座位时优先让客人坐窗边，不要都安排进小包厢。窗边坐满了人，看起来会更热闹，也更吸引路过的客人！ read more

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Came for their numbing Szechuan dishes and the food was good, but pricey. We got their most popular item, toothpick lamb, and the Kung pao chicken for takeout. These two dishes totaled over $40 and the portions were quite small. The toothpick lamb was a bit dry but was very flavorful with the cumin and Szechuan peppers. The Kung pao chicken was also delicious, but the chicken meat was cut to bite sized pieces which took more effort to eat with chopsticks. It also came with peanuts and peppers and I enjoyed the Kung pao sauce a lot. This spot is great if you're looking for good Szechuan style dishes, but be aware that they are on the pricey side. read more

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This place never disappoints! If you're craving really good spicy food, this is the spot to go. The flavors are bold, the spice level is just right, and every dish is packed with heat and authentic Chinese flavors. If you love spice and real Chinese cuisine, you won't be disappointed! read more

Chengdu Taste - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California

tl;dr don't be deterred by the painfully absent service -- you can't afford to miss the heavenly Couple's Sliced Beef in Chili Sauce or the electric Boiled Fish with Green Pepper Sauce When it comes to Sichuan cuisine in Los Angeles, there are few bigger names in the game than Chengdu Taste. The mini-chain opened in 2013 and put mala on the map, and it was among the favorites of beloved Angelino food critic Jonathan Gold. Now, Chengdu Taste boasts locations across the US -- but the original Alhambra outpost remains approachable and unpretentious. Cross your fingers for street parking on this busy, mostly industrial block of Valley. The square space is modern and compact. Immediately upon entering, a select assortment of reviews are framed to the left. Cushioned dark-wood chairs are tightly pressed up to white-clothed tables. The scarlet half-booth, the wall of colorful theater masks, and the vibrantly hued dishes each pop against an otherwise gray-shaded backdrop. Low-volume Mandarin-language music is mostly drowned out by the respectful din of chatter. Among the dishes, plenty are unambiguous hits. My favorite is the Couple's Sliced Beef in Chili Sauce: thinly shaved meat mixed with a unique combination of chili oil, black vinegar, salt, and garlic. The meat is effortlessly tender and served cold, offering a refreshing complement to Chengdu's numbingly hot dishes. The Boiled Fish with Green Pepper Sauce is also a must-try, sporting large filets of white fish and lots of crunchy bean sprouts, swimming in a light, briny broth with an electrically piquant, pickled taste (of note, the Sliced Fish with Tofu Pudding in Hot Sauce is a similar albeit less exciting version of this). The Guess Guess Shrimp has an enormous portion of crispy, shell-on shrimp swimming in a sea of addictively garlicky fries. The crunchy Cucumber Salad is sesame-forward and leaves a mild, lingering spice; the Mung Bean Jelly Noodle in Chili Sauce is sweet, sour, spicy, and chewy in each bite; the Tan Tan Noodle will be among the most flavorful in LA; and the melt-in-your-mouth Ma Po Tofu is extra rich, between the bean paste and the ground pork, and feels warm to the palate without being overwhelmingly spicy. The veggies are no slouch either. The Garlic Arden Lettuce is soft, oily, and garlicy; the Sauteed String Beans, tossed with diced meat, are rich and salty, although they could be a tad crisper. Even the Chengdu Style Fried Rice is a winner -- oily, salty, and as enjoyable as fried rice can be. Only the signature Toothpick Lamb with Cumin has been a letdown for me: the meager portion of meat is, tough, chewy, and one-dimensional. Chengdu is consistently busy for dine-in, even on slower weekday evenings, and there is always a steady stream of takeout customers. Ordering through the buggy QR-code app is admittedly a pain, and service is mostly uninvolved -- the staff only will approach the table armed with food or the check. As with most Chinese sit-down restaurants, the portions are generous, and a larger party can indulge in a wider selection of dishes. Appetizers go for about $10, while the pricier appetizers may cost upwards of $30. Expect to spend around $30 per person (after tax and tip) for a heavy feast, with a strong possibility of leftovers. I've visited all of the popular Sichuan spots around SGV, and I can safely say that Chengdu is the tastiest of the bunch -- even if service leaves something to be desired. read more

Chengdu Taste - Ma Po Tofu - Szechuan Near Me - Alhambra, California