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    Chuan Tian Xia

    4.4 (62 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Chongqing La Zi Ji
    Philip L.

    We have been coming here quite regularly. It's never really busy here. They have a lot of seating space and it's spacious inside. The one thing that really draws us back isn't the decor or the service per se, but the food. If you're into Sichuan spicy and really authentic type of Sichuan spice then this place hits hard. Typically, you'll find Chongqing Laziji in so many Chinese restaurants that you can compare them with one another. This place has the spiciest one to offer if you order their regular. You can ask for a bit more mild but their mild is more spicy than others around. Another one I rank high is in Gaithersburg. But even so, I drive further out just for this one and I tend to pack up the chili, the ginger, garlic and crushed peanuts so I can make a second batch. Their other dishes are also flavorful and they tend to use less oil than other places, especially for a soup based Suan cai. The parking is a bit weird because you have to call in to enter and call to get out. It would be nice to have another person in the car to help with this. It's free parking if it's within 2 hours I believe. I haven't paid for parking once here. If you're craving for some no frills type of Chinese food and want that spicy oomph factor then this is the spot. It is a bit pricey compared to other places, but the amount on some of the dishes make up for the price.

    Wanzhou Griled Fish in a soup/stew of your choice. We chose tomato - so tasty!
    Gloria L.

    Absolutely delicious!! And the service was on point too! This is my new favorite Chinese restaurant. I will be back to try more dishes! My son and I ordered the Wanzhou Griled Fish in a soup/stew of your choice. We chose tomato - so tasty! I think it's possibly deep fried rather than grilled and then put in the soup. So good! The fried cauliflower and thousand layer tofu were ah-mazing!! And they had just the right amount of spices! I'm looking forward to coming back to try other dishes on the menu, in addition to revisiting these dishes. Yummy yummy in my tummy.

    Mariyam S.

    Second time trying out this place while visiting Rockville. They no longer have hot pot but serve Sichuan style Chinese food. We tried their spicy pork dumplings to start which was really good but it comes in a lot of oil. Mapo tofu is one of our go to dishes when eating at a Sichuan place... unfortunately their mapo tofu was fairly bland and had a ton of tofu but less pork than we are used to. My favorite dish and the one I would recommend is the fragrant tofu (there is some meat in there) - this was excellent!

    Eggplant
    Karen Y.

    I kept seeing this restaurant pop up a bunch of times on my suggested pages and finally decided to try it out. Normally I don't like spicy which is the signature of Szechuan cooking, but this is definitely doable for some dishes. We ordered the cucumbers which had a lot of garlic, the eggplant with dish (couldn't taste the dish but this sweet, a lightly vinegar dish was my favorite!), salt and pepper chicken, and the paper wrapped tilapia with pickled veggies. All of the food was excellent as well as the service. Definitely will come back to try out other cool items like the frog! Parking is a little weird, there's garage parking, and you have to call in order to get in, and get out. It's around 1.5 hours(? Can't remember) of free parking otherwise it's $3/hr.

    Emily H.

    Very spacious and comfortable seating inside! Here's what we had: Cucumber 5/10 - I thought it'd come out seasoned with oil and spices - a bit bland even with the topping Xiao Long Bao 6/10 - friend says they're serving the bibigo Costco dumplings since it looks and tastes exactly like it Stir Fried String Beans 7.5/10 Spicy Fried Fish 10/10 - LOTS of fish fried w/ a light fried crust and flaky inside - topped with garlic, cauliflower, red and green bell pepper, onion, and green onion - loved this dish! Tomato and Egg Soup - won't rate since my friend ordered this dish and I'm not a fan of egg soup Service was super quick with our dishes. When we were finished, they packed our leftovers nicely for us!

    Fish
    Eastie T.

    Loved the food and the service. The place has multiple names associated to it, must be new management of sorts. The fish dishes are amazing, so was the chicken. Staff was very patient and checked upon us multiple times. Space is huge and good for groups too. Must visit once if in the area

    Amazing
    Benjamin T.

    This restaurant is in twinbrook. Use the parking garage in the same complex. Free 2 hr parking. You have to enter and exit using your cellphone which was the first for me but after exiting the garage worked well. The staff were really nice. Soft spoken, kind, and thoughtful. They have picture on iPads if you want to see what the dishes looked like. We were hot at one point and they noticed we were taking our jackets off. They turned on a fan and pointed it at us. When my wife got cold another staff saw and turned it off. New dishes and napkins were brought out periodically. Our waiter even came by to help debone the fish. The food was really good. My wife and I love Szechuan food in the winter time. We don't take our whole family to B2J because of the limited menu. Our kids don't eat very spicy. This place has a larger menu with non spicy items for those in your party who would rather skip the heat. They have specials for free dishes if you spend a certain amount. Great deal for larger parties! Few restaurants would trigger a longer than 25 minute drive for a meal. I would take the long trek with the family to come back again! Easy 5 stars!

    S
    Catherine C.

    Both main dishes are so spicy, other than that the veggies and desserts are delicious. I wanted to try their signature dishes but they really are just too spicy for me. Service is nice. Cute and good restaurant overall. But probably won't be back because I can't take that much spice.

    Chongqing chicken
    Jasna R.

    This is my new favorite local Sichuan place. The restaurant is spacious, clean, and welcoming. A little strange that the tables are still set up for hot pot (its former cuisine, I suppose), but no complaints. Service: 5/5. The servers are so nice and attentive! They are ready to refill water pitchers, adjust spice level, show pictures of menu items, explain menu items, and provide complimentary chili oil if you wish. Complimentary peanuts (not pictured): 5/5. I love the sichuan peppercorn spices on these. So good, so difficult to stop eating / hording from my other meal friends. Wanzhou grilled fish (sea bass, spicy broth): 5/5. Delicious!!! I would have at least 3 people in your party to order it, as it's quite a lot -- and then still expect leftovers. I love the broth and all the vegetables that come with it. We get this at medium spicy, but could probably try higher level. Chongqing spicy chicken: 5/5. Banger!!!! Soooo good. Crispy, juicy, full of flavor. We get this at extra spicy. Green beans (not pictured): 5/5. Yum! Though the menu has a spicy icon on it, they were able to make it not spicy for our friend who prefers it that way. The restaurant validates parking in the garage nearby, but there is also street parking that is free after 6 p.m. (or relatively cheap before then).

    Fish in sichuan chili oil
    Olivia C.

    Do not be deceived by the signage when you get here because you are indeed about to embark on a culinary spicy journey here. Place was clean, looked like it could be a casual place but I could definitely see a nice dinner here as well. Service was impeccable; they made sure our plates were constantly changed and brought water/napkins/anything we needed promptly! When you're having oily spicy food, you know a matter of seconds make a difference when you need that cool drink of water or need to wipe off that Sichuan oil. We came with some friends who I would consider Sichuan/Szechuan food experts and they said this place was probably the most authentic in the area. I spent about a week in Chengdu and I felt this place was on par with the spicy goodness I had there. I can't wait to go back to try some other dishes but I would not be upset if I went back for the same dishes we had before. Parking is nearby in the garage and the short walk is not bad after a big meal here.

    Griddle Shredded Cabbage 干锅手撕包菜
    Ailun H.

    Chuan Tian Xia seemed like a promising Sichuan restaurant with higher-end interior (for Chinese restaurants) so my Sichuanese friend and I decided to splurge (surprised that he wanted to eat at a Sichuan restaurant since he always talks about how he can "make more than half of these dishes at home", lol). Our server was nice and we got our food within a reasonable time. Somehow still spent more than an hour and half at the restaurant this past Thursday evening. GRIDDLE SHREDDED CABBAGE 干锅手撕包菜 - 14.99 Always good to have some vegetable option (even if you can make this at home). I always think it's worth getting vegetables, and the cabbage was a decent option that isn't spicy (there are some chili peppers in there, but you can pick it out if you don't like it). Good alternative if you're tired of green beans and want to try something new. FISH WITH HOT CHILI OIL 水煮活鱼 (徹魚/龍利魚) - 36.99 You can choose between tilapia or flounder, but flounder is my preference for this dish. The portion here is large, the bowl is like a big fish bowl. There's a lot of chili oil and all the ingredients and toppings swimming in it. There are some napa cabbage and cucumber (? confused why but it was fine), lots of chili peppers, bean sprouts and flounder. For how big the bowl was, I expected more flounder. But the flounder was so tender and soaked up the chili oil super well. This was a delicious option and I'm glad my friend and I decided to splurge on it. Even he was pretty impressed with the quality ("for Rockville standards, okay") and he normally doesn't approve of much. 木耳炒牛肉 - 19.99 This is stir-fried beef and wood-ear mushrooms off of their "Chinese only" menu. This is a pretty standard, savory dish. I love my wood-ear mushrooms and the beef was tender and seasoned well. There's also some peppers in here. Overall, this was good but nothing to write home about. 茶树菇鸭汤 - 7.99 This translates to "tea tree mushroom and duck soup", also off of their "Chinese only" menu. It's been awhile since I had some brothy Chinese soups so I was down to splurge on one. They definitely add MSG/umami seasonings in here to enhance the flavor of the soup, but it was clean and very flavorful. Definitely pretty authentic. They don't give you that much duck or mushrooms here, rip. But you're paying for a flavorful broth that's warmth for the soul. Solid Sichuan food. It is officially my favorite Sichuan restaurant (in terms of quality of food and taste) in Rockville. I'm glad my friend and I had a good eating experience here!

    Cynthia M.

    My husband and I have been here a couple of times now and the food we've tried never disappoints! Everything is delicious and for dishes that we thought were a bit too pricey, their generous portion definitely makes up for it! We especially love the fish dishes here. Great service too. One of our favorite spots whenever we're in the area!

    Frog  - tastes like chicken with a softer texture
    Gloria C.

    Pretty traditional Chinese food! This place used to be a hot pot place, but it closed during COVID and reopened as a Sichuan Chinese restaurant. They haven't had the chance to change their signs, exterior and interiors. But the place is cutely decorated! It's a large space and they have a party room with a table that seats 10-12? as well as one large table that can seats 16. Food was enjoyable but be ready for spice! I have a terrible tolerance with spicy foods so unfortunately I couldn't enjoy those, but for the foods I did get to try, I enjoyed the flavors! I couldn't figure out what the non spicy soup we ordered was but it had like brisket in a delicious soup! Not pictured is a large white fish(you can pick tilapia or sea bass), that was marinated (you can select what type of marinade you want), wrapped in foil, and then brought out on a burner to cook at our table. Pretty fun experience! They also have a carafe of carrot and apple juice, which if you haven't had, is a delicious combination! My mom used to make it for me all the time! There's free parking in the parking garage nearby as long as it under 2 hours.

    Cabbage dry pot

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    authentic sichuan food with good portion and sustained quality over the last gew years.

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    Ask the Community - Chuan Tian Xia

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    Sichuan Jin River

    Sichuan Jin River

    3.8
    (512 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Very authentic Chinese food! Highly recommend the flounder with black bean sauce. I will be coming…read moreback and try out the noodles, general tsos chicken, spinach with garlic and beef fry. Portions are big, you could just share one dish if you wanted. One con would you have to pay for parking (park mobile) which I think is crazy since you already are paying for a meal. But definitely coming back and will update as I try more dishes

    Authentic Sichuan Chinese food. Went here per rec of a md local. Very traditional Chinese interior,…read moreservice was simply ordering and bill, and the food is something I'll be thinking about got the next few days... sijidou -sichuan green beans: I don't know what they put in this - and was honestly very skeptical at first - but it was a huge flavor bomb and I ended up liking it a lot more than I expected. suancaiyu sour fish: this restaurant does the dish very well. The portions are huge and the sourness is on point. ziranyang cumin lamb - extremely tender lamb; it was super super cumin forward. Big fan of cumin personally but will say also a little on the overwhelming side if you didn't stagger it with rice Fuqifeipian cold tripe and beef - very solid cold appetizer. Would love more of the chili oil they put in this. Not too spicy but very aromatic's Overall made a super big impression on me asa first meal in Rockville. Coming from the west coast where it's predominantly canto food I really enjoyed how well season everything was. We will be going back especially for the beans

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    Sichuan Jin River
    Double cooked pork
    Double cooked pork
    Smoked duck

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    Smoked duck
    Bob's Shanghai 66

    Bob's Shanghai 66

    4.0
    (1.7k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    TLDR: Great handmade soup dumplings and well-executed home-style dishes, though a few items lacked…read moreseasoning or portions. A solid spot for sharing with a group, and I'd happily return to explore more of the menu. I really wanted to love this place. The soup dumplings are among the better ones in the area. While the wrappers aren't as thin or chewy as the very best, you can tell they're handmade, and I'll always appreciate that. I'd recommend sticking with the pork soup dumplings since they were rich, savory, and full of umami. The crab version unfortunately didn't have any noticeable crab flavor and tasted almost identical to the pork. The duck came in a generous portion and is a great choice for anyone who enjoys sweeter flavors. The watercress was fresh and plentiful, but it could have used much more garlic. We ended up adding the wonton chili oil and dipping it for extra flavor. The cucumber was delicious, but the portion was way too small. The bean curd was cooked well, though there wasn't enough pork for a dish that was supposed to feature it. The fish was another highlight with light spice, a crispy exterior, and perfectly cooked, tender meat. Overall, I'd definitely come back to try more dishes. I enjoy the home-style cooking, and it's the kind of restaurant that's especially fun to visit with a larger group so you can sample a variety of dishes.

    A local institution - be prepared to wait…read more Bob's is a model of efficiency. When you have to wait for a table, you receive a plastic menu and grease pencil to create your order. You can watch the food being prepared behind a glass window. The Soup Dumplings are hot and flavorful. The dumpling skins have the right amount of chewiness. There are many other items on the menu. The Scallion pancakes, Spicy Tofu, and General Bob's Chicken were favorites. The room is large and simple. BRING CASH - there is a 10% service charge for credit card payments.

    Photos
    Waiting for the service not too long.
    Waiting for the service not too long.
    Minced pork?
    Minced pork?
    Eggplant with garlic sauce

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    Eggplant with garlic sauce
    A & J Restaurant

    A & J Restaurant

    4.0
    (1.2k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Benn coming to A&J for years. It's a hole in the wall off Rockville Pike with parking that can be…read moreaccurately described as "limited". It's usually packed with Asian folks who come for A&J's dim sum-style food. The food is described as "Northern style" Chinese, and it's definitely not Americanized. I've eaten many a bowl of noodles here, but my favorites are the Dan Dan Mian (with hot spicy sesame sauce and peanuts) and Xue Cai Ro Si Mian (shredded pork and mustard green noodle soup). I've also enjoyed Ma La Er Si (sliced pigs ears with hot and spicy seasoning) and Pi Dan Dou Fu (tofu with Thousand Year Egg) - things I doubt will EVER show up on a menu in my hometown. And the dumplings: oh my. I think I've tried them all, and haven't found one yet I wouldn't order again. The only downside to A&J (besides it being a drive for me) is their cash-only policy. Fortunately there are lots of nearby ATMs, but beware if it's your first visit. Prices are very reasonable and portions are perfect, so overall value is great. If you haven't been, go now, and work your way through the menu. Trust me, you'll thank me!

    If you like Taiwanese food, this is your place in Rockville! Back in the day, circa early 2010s,…read morewhen Baltimore did not have much of an Asian food offering, my friends and I would make the long drive to Rockville to have lunch here and do some grocery shopping nearby. I have kept this place in the back of my mind, with fond memories, however, have not visited in some years due to multiple moves around the country. Recently, my friend was organizing a casual gathering for our friend group, and asked ChatGPT if there were any good recommendations for food in the area that was affordable and delicious, and A&J came up as a top choice. So I came back to A&J after almost 10 years, and the food was just as good as I remembered. The decor remained simple and unchanged, but this is very typical of Asian restaurants. The menu was large, and it's easy to order by circling items you want on the paper menu. We had a mix of noodle soup bowls (so many different flavors and styles) and appetizers, and everything we tried was delicious. Our bill came out to less than $25 per person with tip. I could imagine more pretentious Chinese restaurants downtown upcharging a lot more for lower quality Chinese food (Queen's English, for example). It was so good and affordable, that I actually ended up coming back the next day with a different friend. Overall, excellent experience, and I will be back again soon! One interesting tidbit, my coworker who grew up in the Midwest and only eats meat, potatoes, absolutely no vegetables, started going here for lunch and loves it. I think flour-based items (noodles, dumplings, buns) are really the star of the restaurant, and this can be enjoyed across different taste palates! I hope you will give this place a try.

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    Inside
    Inside
    Hong Shao Niu Ro Tang
    Hong Shao Niu Ro Tang
    Spicy Beef Noodle Soup

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    Spicy Beef Noodle Soup
    Kungfukitchen

    Kungfukitchen

    3.6
    (517 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    We had a nice lunch today. Came at 2 pm and the restaurant was pretty much empty. (Restaurant…read morecloses at 3 before reopening at 4:40 pm for dinner.). I got the King Pao Chicken and my partner got the Szechuan double cooked pork. Both were very good each cost $13, and came with a soup and a spring roll. For most of the entrees, you can get your choice of protein with a cost of plus or minus a dollar or two depending on what you choose. The entrees don't come with rice. White or fried rice is 50 cents. Brown rice is $1. Not unreasonable. Some people don't eat rice. We shared one fried rice and it was plenty. And it's good. I got the hot and sour soup and my partner got the egg drop. The hot and sour emphasis here is on pepper and spice. The egg drop had a nice, rich egg flavor. The entrees each were good. The kung pao dish comes with asparagus, green/red pepper snd mushrooms. The peppers were nice and crunchy. Very good. The pork dish is heavy on the ginger, but very good. The spring roll was "ok". The service started out well. We were warmly greeted and the food came out promptly. But our water glasses were empty for a long time, to the point where I was going to ask the cashier for help finding water. With us being the only customers in the place and Staff walking around (and I placed my empty glass at the edge of the table facing the center of the room), it was pretty disappointing and annoying. It's a nice restaurant with a nice vibe. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on the service - maybe there's a lot to do in the back to prepare to close after lunch.

    Service and food preparation were really good…read more That said, there was a lot going on with the menu, and I wasn't sure what to order. The server didn't have any recommendations, nor could they sufficiently describe any of the dishes to me. Every entree I mentioned, I was told was food, which wasn't helpful. I ended up getting a special with pork belly. I asked it be made extra spicy. Additionally I had to order rice (because this entree did not come with rice) and an egg drop soup. The soup came out right away and was really good. My entree took an extremely long time though. And I was immediately unimpressed with the pork belly. I've realized now pork belly should only be fried. The way it was cooked in this dish left it chewy and bland. The potatoes and onions and other flavors in the dish were nice, so I took the food to go. I don't make it out to Rockville often so it's unlikely I'd return here again.

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    Kungfukitchen
    General Tso's Chicken
    General Tso's Chicken
    Table Top

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    Table Top
    Far East Restaurant

    Far East Restaurant

    3.5
    (640 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Far East Restaurant for dim sum recently and was so happy to see dine-in seating fully…read moreback again after COVID -- it really brings back the classic dim sum experience. We arrived right when they opened around 11 AM on a weekend and were seated immediately since it wasn't too busy yet. One thing to note is that the entire party needs to be present before being seated, which they enforce, but it helps keep things moving smoothly once you're inside. The service felt traditional and efficient, with attentive push carts circulating constantly, making it easy to see what's fresh and grab dishes as they come by. The staff were also accommodating with a baby seat, which made the visit comfortable for families. The steamed cart is always my favorite, and Far East does it well. Standouts for me were the shrimp rice crepe (silky and delicate), shrimp dumplings (har gow) with plump, juicy filling, and the steamed ribs, which were tender and flavorful. The chicken feet and tripe were also well prepared -- classic dim sum staples done right. I also loved the sticky rice, which was fragrant and satisfying, along with two must-order bakery items: the pineapple buns and egg tarts. Both were fresh and comforting, with the egg tarts having that perfect balance of flaky crust and smooth custard. Overall, Far East delivers a solid, traditional dim sum experience -- lively carts, reliable favorites, and a welcoming environment for groups and families. Great spot to gather, share dishes, and enjoy a relaxed weekend dim sum meal. Definitely glad to have seating back again.

    TL;DR - A onetime favorite Dim Sum favorite in MoCo, is now subpar, overpriced, and has horrible…read moreservice. Far East is a longtime staple in the DMV food scene, having been in operation since 1974. I was a few times a year patron leading up to 2019, and the last time I was there was in 2023. During my 2023 visit, the place was showing it's age with dingy matted carpeting and cramped dining room. Against my better judgement, I made the trek into Rockville to meet up with some folks for Sunday dim sum. IMHO, while it's true at one point, VA dim sum was inferior to it's MD siblings across the river, I'd say there are plenty of comparable if not BETTER places in VA. Our group was large (15), so we had to dine at two tables, as the largest table could only accomodate12. And note, for dim sum, Far East does not seat incomplete parties, so everyone arrive early. Also note, if you do choose to dine here, the parking lot is fairly small - but there is additional parking towards the back past the dumpsters. My recollection from 2023, was the selection of dishes was quite limited, and the 3-4 ladies who were pushing the steam carts, were peddling the same items over and over. That experience has not changed in 3 yrs. Upon sitting, our hungry group ordered dishes of shrimp dumplings (har gow), shumai, tofu rolls, rice rolls w/shrimp and beef, etc. Everything was fine; but nothing really stood out. The items were lukewarm, and cooled within a few minutes of being passed around the Lazy Susan. To me anyway, I found many of the dishes to be underseasoned...and when does a person characterize Chinese food as not being SALTY enough? The table chili oil was also quite bland. There was a good mix of fried chilis combined with oil, but there was just a hint of spice/heat with the predominant flavor being a heavy greasiness. Perhaps the worst part of the experience was the service. Even accepting that Chinese restaurants are notorious for "providing" legendary bad service, Far East exceeded that reputation. I understand that it was Sunday and the place was busy, but it took over 10 minutes for water and tea to arrive. And a few times, I literally had to get up from the table to flag down servers to refill empty water glasses and tea pots. Piles of dirty dishes kept piling up to the point where a few of us, took them to the bussers and food runners ourselves to make space for new dishes at the table. However, the worst incident was at the end when the servers and what I assume was the manager, rushed us to pay the bill since they needed the table, one of the staff was hurriedly cleaning the table, and spilled an entire glass of ice water on my friend's dress! He didn't even apologize, and when she went to complain to the manager, the only thing he said was, "it's only water, it will wash out." Wow! even by Chinese restaurant standards, that's bad!!! When the bill arrived, the total came out to roughly $35/person with tax and tip (gratuity is already included for larger parties, so be sure to double-check the bill). The meal was definitely NOT worth the $35, and for that amount, I could've had a much better and filling meal at Peter Chang Herndon - https://www.yelp.com/biz/peter-chang-herndon?osq=Peter+Chang This will undoubtedly be the last time I travel to Montgomery County for dim sum...and especially to Far East Restaurant.

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    Egg tarts

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    Egg tarts

    Chuan Tian Xia - szechuan - Updated July 2026

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