I like this place and first heard about it on Check Please Bay Area. Oddly enough, the dish the woman was raving about, the soup, wasn't my favorite. It was OK, a bit sour, and not to my taste. But my husband's dish was the bomb. He got the cabbage, stir fried with smoked pork. It was quite good and gluten free. I really liked it. They have some other dishes that I like. I like that everything isn't bathed in soy sauce which means that a gluten free girl, like myself, can find something to dig into. The people who work there are quite knowledgeable about the addition of wheat to items. This is a place that I look forward to visiting. read more

Our family's favorite COVID takeout place! This restaurant has the most consistently good takeout, unlike many good restaurants whose food has gone downhill lately. The portions are generous too. They have very authentic northern Chinese food, but also some Americanized Chinese food on the menu. The sesame green onion pancakes are a must. Crunchy and fragrant with sesame. Prawns with honey glazed walnuts are my husband's favorite. The hot and sour soup is comforting and pleasantly peppery. The mushu is good, but the order doesn't come with many pancakes so I highly recommend ordering extra pancakes. The dry sautéed green beans are crispy and fresh, with lots of garlic. The tea smoked duck had nice, crispy skin, and was yummy. I call in my orders and the wait is usually about 30 minutes during the week and slightly longer on the weekends. They have a table set up at the entrance so you don't need to enter the restaurant to pick up. They were featured on Check Please Bay Area, years ago. You can see the video on the restaurant's webpage. read more

Ordered the chicken mu shu and green beans. The mushu is not very traditional. It was a stir fry of cabbage, chicken, and eggs. There werent any mushrooms, bamboo, etc. things that are traditionally in mushu stir fry. It still tasted alright. The green beans were good. However, i think it was both too sweet and too salty at the same time. If the dressings were held back a bit, i think it wouldve tasted much better. I could only eat it because i paired it with rice, which eased the saltiness and sweetness. read more

A CUT ABOVE This restaurant is top-notch in every respect, a cut above most other Chinese joints in the Bay. The food is scrumptious, with a wide variety of specialty noodle dishes and delicious seafood offerings. The service is impeccable. We eat here often; it's delightful place in every respect. read more

tl;dr: Hands down the best Chinese noodles in the Bay! They are handmade (some pieces are slightly uneven in size). They have six specialities and my favorite is the spicy pork brisket which has a strong vinegar taste. Tried: Spicy pork brisket noodle soup: First off the handmade noodles are very chewy and a great consistency. They absorb the broth flavor well which is perfect for this soup which has a strong vinegar taste along with the spicy oil. It's a rich broth but also not sickly rich as the vinegar helps to cut through it. The pork is also in generous chunks and very tender and flavorful. The portions are also big (think a medium to large at a pho restaurant) Lamb and pickled cabbage noodle soup: The soup flavor is a lot milder but still spicy. The lamb comes through strongly in the soup base and I loved that. Generous chunks of lamb but I wish there was more pickled cabbage as the tanginess of it complemented the lamb well. Spicy pork noodle soup: Similar to the lamb in mildness but with more chili oil and Szechuan peppercorns. I coughed a bit when I tasted the soup as the chilis went straight for my throat. The soup base is also strong with pork flavor and this comes through in the noodles. Definitely a win if you like that tongue numbing spice. Smoked pork with cabbage: Not anything special but made well. We got this entree to try with our noodle soups. The cabbage in this was great and well seasoned with the chili oil and peppercorns. The smoked pork was tender and flavorful. read more

See all

Best hand pulled noodles I've encountered. Once I first tried them I couldn't get enough. Highly recommended.

This is our absolute favorite Chinese restaurant! The veggies are bright and crisp and the proteins are of the highest quality. The food is not greasy at all. Delicious! We always order sweet and sour chicken cooked crispy and it pairs well with a spicy dish such as Generals chicken. The won ton soup is awesome with lots of veggies, white meat chicken, and shrimp. This high end family owned eatery is a must try! read more

Everything was a bit under-seasoned and boring. However, I enjoyed the fact that none of the food was overly greasy. Also seems like they use quality ingredients. I would be open to coming back if I ever find myself in North Berkeley, but it won't be at the top of my list otherwise. We ordered: spinach dumplings, noodles with pork brisket, and orange chicken. read more

This place is not our "cup of tea". The food wasn't good to us. My family never wasted food, but we couldn't eat this the second Day.

Fresh noodles, whenever it's on the menu, are always what I order. The lamb noodle soup ($10.95) was very fragrant. The seasoning tastes similar to Mongolian lamb. In general, it was a nicely done bowl of noodle soup. You get a lot of Meat and noodles. But I did have to ask for hot sauce as the ma la wasn't spicy enough for me. And even with the hot sauce it still didn't quite do it. Would get again. read more

Dalian - Noodle options. All hand made/fresh! - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

My food: Sizzling rice soup-ok, lots of spinach, chicken had been tenderized with baking soda, whatever. Shrimp tasted "off". Combo chow mein- again, the shrimp tasted "off", not much meat or veggies, huge noodles, not too flavorful. Broccoli beef (added Bok choy and shiitake mushrooms)- mushrooms tasted "off", beef was tenderized with baking soda, broccoli was crunchy. This place wasn't special at all. The servers/owners didn't check in on me to see how the food was. One worker had her crying baby there during my entire meal. I'm irritated about three things: 1-my hands are swollen from the salt and msg 2-my soup dishes were left on the table through my entire meal despite the server/owner walking by twice 3-I didn't tip because I was bothered by my dirty soup dishes and lack of service. The server/owner was very angry ( despite the bigger picture of me possibly wanting to dine there again.) so she basically shunned me out of there by ignoring my existence, not thanking me or saying bye, and ignoring my SO's request for a lollipop before she madly turned her back and walked away. He didn't take a lollipop and we definitely won't be back! Oh, ps, there was a hair in my chow mein too.(pic added) read more

See all

After a long day of Yard work . I was famished . I felt like eliminating something from my Book Mark list . I hopped in the Weekend Whip and rolled to the Ghetto!!! Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto LOL the area of Shattuck avenue that houses some of the Bay Areas finest eateries. I was cranking little Johnnies Disco Saturday and rolling with the groove when I arrived at Da Lian. I parked my Whip and rolled in to Da Lian and was greeted and seated immediately. I was impressed with Da Lian it was a nicely Decorated and a Clean place. It would make a great Date place. They play jazz music over the sound system. I was presented with a menu ,glass of water and a pot of Jasmine Tea. I perused the menu and was happy to see Tea Smoked Duck and Seafood Soup so I ordered both with a bowl of Brown Rice. I was brought the Seafood Soup first . It came in a Huge Bowl it was packed full of Shrimp ,Calamari ,Peas ,Cucumbers and Egg in a Hearty Broth it was very Hearty , Filling and Flavorful. Next came my Platter of Tea Smoked Duck . It had 4 White Steamed Buns and Bowl of Plum Dipping Sauce. The Duck was perfectly cooked . The Skin was Crispy and the Meat was Tender and just Yummy. Da Lian is definitely Top Notch . They accept Visa and Master Card. read more

|| B A C K G R O U N D || A dinner set for Sportivo turned into dinner at Da Lian, but my friend said that it was a place that was recommended to him. I'm down with that. When we entered, there was no one in front of us and the restaurant was not that busy. Nevertheless, we had to wait a few minutes after being noticed for a waitress to seat us. Which was fine. Standing is cool. The ambiance is mellow and soothing, the layout is spacious, but the service isn't that remarkable. The waitresses aren't very attentive, and they're a bit slow. || F O O D || SIZZLING RICE SOUP: A quick brew of shredded chicken, shrimp, mushroom, zucchini, and spinach in a light chicken broth with pieces of sizzling rice crusts [Small (1 - 3 people): $6.95] - They place the soup on your table and pour a plate of sizzling rice into your soup. THAT was cool! However, after some time the rice got kind of soggy, like soggy Rice Krispies. Guess it's inevitable though. The soup itself was light in flavor, which I enjoyed. - Two pieces of shrimp, and a few shreds of chicken breast. Since the broth was light, the meats were lightly flavored too. - Lots of MSG. Not cool. SPICY GARLIC EGGPLANT: Wedges of eggplant, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and mushrooms sauteed and braised in a hot wok seasoned with traditional Sichuan spice and chili, completed with our house blend of spicy garlic sauce [$8.95] - Our veggie dish, which I chose because we both love eggplant. The eggplant was well-cooked and soft, and the sauce was great (albeit spicier than I normally like). - I would have preferred if they had used Asian mushrooms instead of normal mushrooms. The Asian mushrooms would have have complemented their own flavor to the dish well. CHEF ZOU'S SMOKED PORK: Cubes of lean pork cured and smoked in our own kitchen, sauteed with big hunks of European leeks, crunchy cabbages squares and quartered mushrooms in a pleasing smoky and spicy sauce [$9.95] - My least favorite dish. The pork was too salty for me. But the cabbage was tastier than I expected! Also a bit spicier than I normally like (then again, that's a characteristic of this province's cuisine haha...) || C L O S U R E || The food was well-prepared and, to steal another reviewer's term, authentic. The subpar service kind of dulled my experience, and I don't think we picked the best dishes to showcase this restaurant's culinary prowess. And don't forget the uncool MSG. I don't think I'd return. read more

See all

Taste: 4 Value: 4 Service: 3 I came here for my graduation lunch (Sunday afternoon at 1:30pm). I made a reservation about a week and a half before for a table of 7. At first, my parents asked me why we didn't go to the Taiwan Restaurant, but I said that this place had better reviews and I wanted to try it out. Especially since my family's from Beijing, and this is a Northern China restaurant, at least supposedly. We ordered a number of different dishes (about 7-8), including the sesame bread with green onion, prawns with honey glazed walnuts, san-shen soup, a couple vegetarian dishes, a fish dish, and lamb buns. They were all quite good, although I didn't like the lamb buns that much since I don't like Chinese lamb. Overall, pretty good Chinese food, pretty comparable to Great China. The service wasn't bad for a Chinese restaurant either, and they were pretty quick with the food. read more

First of all, let's define what real Chinese food is. It's NOT what you are served at a $1 "Chinese" buffet, or what is only offered at Panda Express. It bugs me to no end when people generalize like that. I'm sure Italian people aren't any more pleased when the only food they are associated with is spaghetti and pizza, or Mexican food that is only burritos and tacos. ALL of our ethnic backgrounds offer so much more! This restaurant specializes food specifically from Da Lian, hence the name. So come here with the intent of ordering their specialties. Their menu is vast, so ask the servers for assistance. Surefire bets are: -- sesame bread (think of it as an appetizer) -- lamb soup (I'm not even a lamb fan, but this is a clear broth soup that is light and flavorful) -- steamed dumplings (don't forget the dipping sauce!) -- Black bean asparagus -- any of their seafood dishes. (Da Lian is a sea port) And if you're vegetarian, you will also fare very well here. Scrumptious selection. The restaurant is clean, pleasantly decorated and the service is warm and friendly. read more

Not sure why there are some really bad reviews of this place. IT WAS AWESOME. Had a dinner date with boyfriend, but our fav sushi place was closed. Wonderful roommate calls and joins in. Best Friend calls and joins in too. We stumble upon this AWESOME CHINESE FOOD PLACE AND WE WERE IN HEAVEN. Hot and Sour Soup? The best. Sichuan Beef? DELISH. Chicken & Glazed Walnuts? pretty good. the walnuts were AWESOME. This is great chinese food man. The service isn't super friendly, but WORTH IT CONSIDERING THE FOOD IS WELL PRICED AND DELISH. 4 dishes for 4 people (ate family style) + tip = 50. YOU CANT BEAT THAT MAN. YOU JUST CANT. OMG NOW IM GETTING HUNGRY. P.S. It looks nice so totally date / big family friendly :) read more

It has been awhile since I've been to this restaurant. Surprisingly it wasn't busy when N and I stopped for an early dinner on Sunday. The food is still really-really good. N and I enjoyed sautéed beef with cilantro and garlic. The beef was tender and spicy. We also had sautéed green beans with tofu; the long green beans were not over-cooked ant the tofu was crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Happily, the service wasn't as slow as it was the last time we had dinner. The food was on the table almost has soon as we ordered. read more

From the reviews in Yelp, we narrowed down our dinner choices to Da Lian and Great China, both rated 4 stars. We eat ourt pretty regularly and especially in Chinese restaurants so we have a pretty good idea of what we expect and like. Our group of five arrived about 5 minutes late for our reservation but were seated promptly. The restaurant was not full so there was plenty of room. This space used to house Yangtze River, my favorite restaurant for Shanghai Thick Noodles. The dining room is reasonably sized and the tables aren't packed tightly together like so many other restaurants. The food we ordered and the score that my wife and I gave them based on a scale of 1 - 5: (2) Hot & Sour Soup - wasn't particularly spicy or sour (5) Potstickers - we ordered these soon after sitting and they were spot on! (4) Smoked Tea Duck - could have been a (5) had the buns not been hard (3) Hot Fried Whole Fish - flavorful rock cod and sauce but fish was slightly overcooked. (4) Lamb with Cumin - tender and flavorful though more lamb would be nice. (5) Asparagus in Garlic Sauce - i thought was even better than the potstickers! (2) Zha Jiang Noodles - looked great when served but turned out to be oversauced and the noodles were gummy. Our selections were served quickly and hot in temperature. Service was okay. Maybe we caught them on an off-night but there are enough restaurants within a five mile radius that we won't be giving them a second chance. On the way out, I grabbed a take-out menu and found that some of the dishes on the dinner menu weren't on the take-out menu. read more

I've lived in a lot of places and traveled a lot, and what I've learned is that each city has cuisines that they've mastered and others that are really just horrid. Well, Berkeley, you suck at Thai food but goddamn do you rock Chinese. I haven't eaten Chinese in.... what... 2, 3 years, no thanks to LA and New York... and, have you ever been stuck in bumper to bumper traffic with no sign of it ever ending when suddenly as if with a flick of the wrist the cars magically part in front of you and you ease into the gas pedal for the first time in an hour and rocket back up to 65 like you were never stopped at all and though you don't drive a convertible the wind is blowing through your hair, Don't Stop Believin' suddenly plays on the radio and you swear the dog in the next car over just winked at you... yeah, that's what coming to Da Lian was like. We were the only people there when we came in, but it wasn't awkward, it's like they were expecting us. The lady serving us was like everyone's favorite grandma (don't lie, you know you have one); warm, inviting, caring. And the food shows it. So often, Chinese food ends up being this oversauced under/over-flavored greasy DISASTER. Not here. Ohhhh no, not here. Everything is super fresh, the textures are damn near perfect, and the flavor is spot on. The spicy items have a nice kick. The veggies are crisp tender. The sauces aren't spiked with corn starch like bad Christmas punch. It just works. The Ma Po Tofu is my go-to Chinese dish and I judge a place solely on their preparation of it. Theirs is pretty darn good and I'm STUNNED that it's actually not my favorite dish here. I never order anything else anywhere. Like ever. I've been burned too many times by bad cuts of meat, disgusting goopy sauces, and an overabundance of onions. But I actually order other things here! No lie! The Da Lian Kung Pao Fish is wonderful, as is the Hunan Beef. You really just can't go wrong here. There's no way. read more

Dalian - Hunan beef, kung pao fish, chicken chow mein. - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

super big portions and everything we tried was great, especially the garlic pork brisket noodles and mongolian beef. authentic and nice indoor seating as well. would recommend! read more

Hands down my absolute favorite Chinese cuisine spot in Berkeley. I always order the Combo Fried Rice, Beef Chow Mein, Kung Pao Chicken, and Walnut Honey Shrimp. Everything is cooked perfectly and each bite brings me back memories from when my grandparents took me to Chinese restaurants to eat in Chinatown when I was a little boy. read more

I've been here twice now, and I'm definitely a fan of the food here! Sizzling rice soup: Soooo good! It has many vegetables as well as prawns and fish filets, and the portion size is perfect. Homemade noodles: I tried the spicy pork one with jalapeños and Sichuan peppers. The noodles were perfectly chewy and it wasn't too spicy, since we asked for them to make it mild. I definitely wanna try the normal spice level next time! Potstickers: Not my favorite -- I found the wrapper to be a little thick for my liking, and it was almost like a meatball wearing a jacket LOL. But the flavor was good, and the potstickers were moist! Velvet fish entree: My boyfriend loved this dish but I found it to be a little salty. The fish was tender without falling apart though, which I liked a lot, but I definitely have to eat this one with rice. Braised tofu with veggies: I thought this dish was alright. The sauce had good flavor, but because tofu is a very bland food, I feel that the sauce should have been a little saltier. This entree has a lot of veggies and was a refreshing change from all the meat I usually eat. read more

See all

3.5/5. Da Lian is one of the nicer Chinese restaurants in town (up there with King Yen), though not as expensive as Restaurant Chu. It's also one of the better Chinese restaurants in an area lacking in Chinese culinary chops and best known for its Indian cuisine. The décor is nicer than at most of your cheaper Chinese restaurants (e.g. Shang Dong, Happy Valley, etc.) though not as modern as at Chu or the actually cheaper Holly's Mandarin. Food was fine: Black bean sauce noodles are good, but the noodles are often on the softer side and the sauce chunkier than I'd like. Tea smoked duck was meaty and not chewy. Chow mein mein was so-so; I probably would skip this in the future. My dining companion really enjoyed the Mongolian beef, which came with a generous portion of beef. Service is very hit or miss. Even if you're one of only four tables in the restaurant, you may end up waiting ages to order or for your dishes to arrive: On many occasions, there was only one waitress for the entire restaurant. That's why I prefer ordering take out here. Nothing was bad, and certainly not doused in MSG or soy sauce as you'd expect to find at many one $ restaurants by campus, but nothing really stood out either: It's certainly no San Tung, Great China, or Shang Dong. Speaking of Great China, when is that place going to open up again? read more

See all

Big fan of handmade noodles. Based on one visit my expectations were not met. Chinese invented pasta and it shows +'s: + Great range of noodle selections that include za jian mien which is black bean and ground pork dish with slice zucchini or lamb meat with pickled vegetables. + Spinach dumplings (6) steamed to perfection. The spinach was well seasoned. + Good service and no complaints when we asked that our dishes be reheated. Chinese invented pasta but -'s: - Noodle entrees delivered lukewarm. - Noodles were somewhat overcooked. They were soggy as if they had been precooked and sitting on the side waiting to be reheated. - Tea also sitting in pot and lukewarm. Everything except the dumplings were served at a lukewarm temperature which resulted in this tepid review. Not sure if our Saturday evening visit was atypical but I can't laud the place given this experience. However I am willing to try again. read more

Zhangcha Tea Smoked Duck: Moist, tender, and delicious. Pretty presentation. Lots of fatty pieces, but that's duck. Better than Taiwan Restaurant on University. Ma Po Tofu: No meat. Spicy so get plenty of water ready! Asparagus Beef: Big chunks of asparagus. The beef was nothing too special. Sizzling rice soup: Very appetizing. I always get this! About six servings. Service: Not many waiters. Minimal service. Atmosphere: Sound echoes off the tiled floor and walls. Can get loud. Good for small to big groups. Modern-ish decor. read more

See all

I'm really impressed by this new place--it's great to have a go-to Chinese restaurant in the Gourmet Ghetto. They remodelled in Fall 2007, and completely banished the ghosts of the old, sad Yangtzee River restaurant which used to occupy this spot. Now the food is great, the decor is modern, and the service is very eager to please. The dishes are attractive and well prepared in addition to being tasty and reasonably priced. I've been about 10 times and I have yet to order something that failed to impress. It's great to see them offer so many vegetarian selections--even among the daily specials. I especially liked the eggplant. We tried the "vegetarian three ingredients" special which included peppers, eggplant, and--get this--potatoes. This marks the first time I've had potatoes in a Chinese restaurant, and what a pleasant surprise. The dish was savory yet light. Business is definitely starting to pick up for them, and it's well deserved. read more

Everything we ordered was delicious, except for the duck (it was steamed then fried?). The restaurant looked very clean, and they seemed to be going for a "hey, we're a cool up-scale-ish Chinese place that has wine." The food, however, is worth going back for... -Spicy eggplant: I am not a huge fan of spicy food, but this was by far my favorite dish. -Honey walnut chicken: Though I've had honey walnut shrimp, honey walnut CHICKEN was a first. I have to say I'm glad I tried it here because the sauce (which can be a heavy, creamy, mayo based sauce) was actually quite light and delightful! -Beef chow fun: "This is what I dream of when I'm trying to cook noodles"-my boyfriend. Though I thought they were just okay, my boyfriend was impressed with the sticky chewiness of the noodles. -Duck with plum sauce: Perhaps it was overwhelmed by the deliciousness of the other dishes, but this dish didn't quite make it in my eyes. It was half a duck, steamed then fried (with bone). As a word of warning: this is not peking duck. The buns are a bit heavier and there are no crispy chips. To me, this dish was simply acceptable. In summation, I would definitely go back again. This place is a bit pricey for Chinese food, but I guess they need to be able to afford the rent, since they're in North Berkeley and the space is pretty sizable. read more

They got both orders wrong but the food was really good so I'm not complaining too much. Was craving chinese food and this satisfied it pretty well. Noodle soup had a good amount of spice and the meat was fried well before being covered in the sauce. Portions were much larger than expected -- definitely worth the price. Will return again -- and hopefully get what I actually ordered next time! read more

Dalian - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Always great food. It's still take out only, which is fine by me. Since the takeout is short staffed, be sure to phone your order in ahead of time and be patient at the table. read more

Very overpriced for the quality and portion. This is one of those places that locals without a high standard in the neighborhood go to. If you have even remotely functional tastebuds, I'd stay away. read more

best Chinese restaurant at Berkeley Downtown! 东北菜 unbelievable! 好吃不贵！very recommended！ read more

See all

Solid! We came here on Christmas Day and had consistently yummy food even though they were very busy. The noodles really stood out.

An honest review: I've been coming here for years, fairly more often during the quarantine, (they still do take out) and I have learned that I always get what I pay for. Yes, the food is a bit more expensive if you're comparing it to chinese takeout shops, but this is high quality cuisine that took some effort and care to make. I'd recommend the honey walnut chicken, paired with one of their fresh garlic noodle dishes. Everything is always delicious and the quality is excellent, but I've noticed some people complain about how traditional the recipes are followed. Don't get it confused, this is chinese food catered for an american palate. The staff is always very friendly and courteous, and I have yet to experience a time I was greeted without a smiling face. read more

The Zha Jiang noodles tasted pretty good and the pickled zucchini added a nice sweet/sour touch but the main sauce wasn't that fresh / authentic. Furthermore, the noodles were a bit too starchy, and I noticed a starch water taste while eating. read more

Dalian - Zha Jiang Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

Had a great dinner with the fam here last night after learning that Great China had a 1.25 hour wait. Da Lian does not disappoint. Nice ambience and fantastic food from someone who looooooves Chinese food authentic and western style. We ordered: - green onion beef - garlic shrimp - garlic spinach - chicken with honey walnuts - zhaijiang noodles All were cooked to perfection using high quality ingredients, chicken breast meat, crisp walnuts, tender beef, fresh veggies. Good portions too. The Zhajiang noodles were the standout. They have a different take on it using this amazing smoky, saucy lean pork meat sauce covering nice "q" noodles. I'm craving them as I type this up the following day. SEND NOODS. End of meal they brought out your standard fortune cookies plus... PIPING HOT FRESH MINI SESAME BALLS WITH RED BEAN PASTE. What a lovely surprise! I was so happy. Forgive the photo for we fiends ate half already. read more

See all

We've been here maybe 4 times. Fire glazed tofu is my fave and I've gotten it every time, and all of the homemade noodles are great and they will make anything vegan for you (they'll replace meat with tofu). The place is nice inside and the staff are very nice and polite. read more

Best Chinese in Berkeley (sample size of 3). The perfect place to have a massive, affordable meal of all delicious things. We didn't drink, but who needs to when the shrimp and pork are so spot-on...I'll be back. Good for large parties -- and for the soul. read more

Food: 2/5 Price: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Ambience: 5/5 Pretty decent Chinese restaurant that's famous for their hand made noodles. However I have to say their dishes are way more impressive than the noodles... The dinner menu is extensive and lots of American and traditional Chinese options. Lunch specials are $9 for entree, rice, soup, and salad!! I'll be back to try it out. Lamb with Cumin - Thin-slices lamb or beef tossed in a hot wok with bounteous quantity of chopped cumin and delicately infused with garlic and Sichuan red pepper. LOVED this dish! The lamb were slices instead of shreds. The cumin flavor was delicious and well infused. Spicy Garlic Eggplant with Tofu - Wedges of eggplants, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and mushrooms sauteed and braised in a hot wok seasoned with traditional Sichuan spice and chili, completed with our house blend of spicy garlic sauce. Eggplant was soft, oily, and delicious. Very traditional! The tofu, however, was over fried and very dry and tough... Braised pork brisket noodle soup - dissapointed....The noodles were SOGGY, not chewy at all, and very bland. The soup was way too sour and the entire flavor was just weird and off. Favorites: * Lamb with Cumin ($13.95) * Spicy Garlic Eggplant with Tofu ($11.50) Others: * Braised pork brisket noodle soup ($11.45) read more

See all

Da Lian is one of the better Chinese restaurants in Berkeley by our standards. My husband and I stopped by here when we wanted a quick bite and this place was packed and super busy. I ordered the mixed vegetables with tofu and my husband ordered vegetable chow mein. Both were excellent and had great flavor. Service was a bit slower but they were really busy so we can't really complain about that. read more

as soon as I walked into this restaurant, I said [aloud] 'wow! It smells clean in here' fresh, well-ventilated and downright clean - you could eat off the floor at this place. I ordered a prawn dish, the prawns were huge and fresh and cooked just right. sizzling rice soup was full of fresh veggies and white meat chicken. it was delicious. the prices are fair, the service is pleasant and I have no complains whatsoever. even the menu is attractive at this restaurant, I'm a big fan! read more