This restaurant has been on my radar for some time. The food and service were good. The restaurant is a little on the loud side between the music on the background and catters among people. Decorations is on a classy side. The prices varies. We started with a few cocktails and couple starters. Sesame Balls were perfectly fried and delicious. The Shuimai was good as well. We ended up with 3 dry Chili dishes: chicken, cauliflower, and tofu. All same flavor but different at the same time. The tofu was soft inside with a nice crispy outer coating. Both chicken and cauliflower were tasty as well. Then there is the chicken with cashew nuts. I liked this one more than I thought I would. Good flavor. Lastly, wow. The Spicy Sour Fish Filet. It came in a HUGE bowl. A little spicy, a little sourness, fish, noodle... what is there not to like. Overall, a good experience. read more

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The food flavors range from Sichuan to other local dishes popular in China, like roasted duck from Beijing , Yangzhou fried rice from Yangzhou, mainly the Sichuan food. The location is good and restaurant environments are wonderful, limited parking space nearby. read more

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We have been here for lunch several times and have always enjoyed the food. We usually have several orders of dim sum and they are very good. The dim sum menu is somewhat limited but it's great for a quick lunch. The staff is always very helpful. We ordered: pork soup dumplings, beef bun, and har gow, all delicious! read more

10 of us (3 families) hit up Lao Sze Chuan in March which coincided with their Peking Duck promo -- spend $100, get 1/2 order free ($48 value). We ordered $200+ and were able to score a full order! ($88 value). All the other dishes (listed below) were solid. Plenty of free street parking around the block. Friendly service, clean bathroom. Professional online pics look a lot "fancier" than IRL. Will definitely consider Lao Sze Chuan again if we have a large party in the mood for Chinese food in the Rockville/N Bethesda area. Stir Fried Eggplant w/ String Bean Fried Rice (shrimp) Fried Flat Noodle (beef) Sauteed Peapod Leafs (savory broth) Sweet & Sour Chicken Peking Spare Ribs Mongolian Beef Crispy Shrimp w / Lemon Sauce Mapo Tofu Birthday Pear **1 Whole Peking Duck** read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Peking Duck (full) - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

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Honestly, probably the second best Peking duck I've had in my life. This place is a chain, so don't expect it to be like a family restaurant. The meat of the duck itself, is rather dry, but at least you have the accommodation of the Chinese tortilla with cucumber and green onion, with the oyster sauce. The skin itself, was rather oily, pretty oily, that every bite gets you a load of oil on your mouth. I think that's why I would put this at the second, Peking duck is rather hard to perfect. But, at least they don't mislabel this. The last thing I want is to pay for a regular roasted duck, at Peking duck price. That being said, it was $44 for half of a Peking duck. It comes chopped for you, so you don't have to go through the hassle of having to pick out the meat from the bones. So I think it's pretty good. The service itself was pretty standard and quick, and the ambience itself, it's pretty upscale. I do wish that the noodles were a bit more saucer. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

Absolutely fabulous dining experience!!!! We celebrat3d two family birthdays. The food was exquisite and the service was stellar! read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

Always a delicious and elevated spot! Tucked away near Pike & Rose, this a nice spot with beautiful interiors and wonderful flavors. I've been here with small group, large dining, and a simple date. This beautiful venue can accommodate it all. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

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The ambience is amazing literally one of the best looking restaurants I've been in my server Cesia was really fantastic. She recommended specific items and did not miss in her suggestions. The duo of her and Arfa really made the difference in an average meal and a great experience. The lo mein was by far the best Ive had in the area. The orange chicken coops have had more seasoning and been cut smaller for consumption. The cashew chicken was good and the beef fried rice looked good although I didn't have any. The disappointing piece was the duck spring roll the inside was mushy read more

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Had been by here a few times but decided to give Lao Sze Chuan on a late afternoon. Very nicely appointed venue - a bit classier than the Chinese restaurants in my area. Wasn't overly busy, but we came at an off-time. Server took care of us quickly and the wait for food was not overly long. Girlfriend had Peking Duck & I had Chicken & Cashews - both were great. This is a great place to come for a more relaxed dining experience where you can hang out, have some good food, then head back out to the bustle outside - recommended read more

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Came on a Monday night so it was pretty empty - but I hear this place can get super packed on the weekends so I was glad!! Everything was so good. We ordered a ton of food: pork soup dumplings, beef bun, peking duck, cucumber salad, lo mein, Mongolian beef... all SO good. The dressing on the cucumber salad was especially delicious, and I really enjoyed the beef buns as well. I will definitely come back!! The seating is also so lovely and spacious. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

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The restaurant was huge, bright, cleaned; and beautifully decorated. The server was excellent and knowledgeable. The dim sums were good, I had better but the ratio fillings to dough were perfect. However, the Salt & Pepper Shrimps and Snow Pea Leaves were the BEST i ever had, the roasted duck; was excellent too. I will definitely go back! read more

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Went for dinner on a Tuesday night at around 6. Virtually empty. There was one other family dining. The booth seats have been reupholstered since my last post but seems the place needs regular dusting around decor. Food remains top notch and one of my faves, but given the lack of traffic I've seen the past couple of visits, I wonder how much longer this place will keep its doors open. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Dusty lamp - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

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We were there 7/18/26. Very good foods. We loved the stir fried eggplant, sour pickle fish soup, never forget chicken.

Great ambience for a high end Chinese food. They served the Peking duck with great pride- skillfully carving layers of skin and meat at the table, which is something that you don't normally see. Interesting pairing of duck skin with brown sugar that comes with whole duck. You can ask to take the bones with you after they're done carving. That goes great with instapot soup or porridge. Tofu and stirred fried baby cabbage didn't standout as much as the Peking Duck. Overall it was an enjoyable meal. Although the price is slightly on the high side, it's well worth the relaxed environment and good service. read more

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For how nice it looked on the inside, the food and service weren't really that up there in quality. I was pretty surprised at how small the portions were, especially the whole peking duck which seemed like it was only half. It's not like the taste of the food was bad. It just wasn't amazing enough to be that different or better where I would go out of my way to eat here again. The price for everything was also a bit too much. Our server was fine, but I think she disappeared for too long towards the end and it took a long time to be able to ask for our check. The restaurant was not full or that busy and it was on a Sunday around noon. I came here with a party of 10 and not a single person thought differently. At least the parking is convenient, though. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

Wow, what a disappointment this restaurant was. Was looking forward to eating here and and elevated Chinese dining experience and it just did not live up to any expectation. Understaffed and waited too long to have our order taken, given water and food served. Probably the worst old fashioned I ever had. Ordered soup dumplings which were decent even though a little thick. How do they not have proper soup dumpling spoons. We had western soup spoons that were too small for the dumplings and could not hold all the soup. Onto half a Peking duck which was what we came for. Duck was at least moist and had good flavor but how was the skin just completely the opposite of crispy skin. The prices here are outrageous. There are much better places to have Chinese food and Peking duck for a lot less. I probably will never be back. Just not worth it at all. read more

This restaurant does NOT honor legit delivery information. We ordered via their direct website for delivery and after placing the order we received email/text messages for "Pick Up" time not delivery. We called the restaurant and spoke with the male mgr on duty who apologized that they do NOT deliver although their website and Yelp show that they do. Do not re read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

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Amazing restaurant with the best Peking duck you can get in the US. I knew of Lao Sze Chuan because I thought it had the best Peking Duck in the US when I visited the ones in Chicago. When I found out that there is one that I can order Uber Eats while in DC I decided to give it a try and it was so good I decided to come to the restaurant the next day to try the duck while it's warm. The restaurant is huge and very very well decorated. I almost felt like I was in China when I stepped in because of how well decorated it is. The people working here are interestingly not Chinese but I think they did a great job and you can tell they try their best even if they can be inexperienced at times. I'm surprised how much I liked the non Chinese servers here because I usually am picky about that for Asian restaurants. The duck is phenomenally roasted and extremely authentic. It's pretty much the best you can get here in the US. The skin is crispy with the right amount of crunchiness. The cuts are well balanced between meat and skin even though it's not done by a Chinese duck cutter. The girl did decent job even if there are cuts that should look more effortless but I like that she is certainly trying her best. Overall it didn't distract from the amazing taste. The price is also extremely reasonable. The spicy appetizer of beef tendon is also on point. It has the correct amount of spiciness. I know Lao Sze Chuan sometimes is a fusion restaurant and sometimes do mix some Cantonese food such as dim sum and Chow fun but I don't recommend them. I think you should order the duck and some Sichuan food here only. Overall I'm super glad it's expanding to more places and hopefully someday it will come to NorCal. I do hope they can survive because this location is amazing but I'm worried it's not as popular as it should be. read more

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I haven't tried a single dish here that I didn't enjoy. The ambiance is whimsical and beautifully decorated almost like being at a resort. The servers are friendly, the restaurant is spotless, and even the plates they use are elegant, not what you see at a typical Chinese restaurant. Paid parking is available, though there's no validation. Now, let's talk about my favorite part: the food. My top dishes include: Crunchy cucumber salad - incredibly refreshing and perfect for cleansing your palate between dishes. Chengdu Dan Dan noodles - flavorful and comforting. White bean and pork trotter soup - hearty, rich, and perfect for colder days. Mapo tofu - amazing over rice. Peking duck - carved tableside; the crispy skin served with rock sugar is surprisingly delicious. Dry chili cauliflower - if you enjoy a little numbing heat that tickles your throat and lips, this is the one. There are so many other dishes I love, but not enough space to list them all. This is a great spot for a girls' night out, a romantic dinner, a family gathering, or simply when you're craving exceptional Chinese food. Make reservations you'll be glad you did. read more

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Gorgeous interior! This is such a large and beautiful space. I tried the pork soup dumplings and dan dan noodles. The noodles were served on a spicy sauce so you could mix in however much you prefer to your spice level, it had a really good flavor and heat. The lilliet spritz was refreshing and not too sweet. read more

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Came here for Galentines lunch and had such a great time! The atmosphere + food was on point and service was spot on. Shout out to Juana for being so nice and accommodating as our server. A couple highlights were Chef Tony's chicken, dan dan noodles (pretty spicy for one "chili pepper" rating), and the snap peas. The triple delight was super light and lacked any flavor/seasoning. Steamed rice cake dessert was bland and not too sweet, but it was light. Otherwise I really enjoyed the other dishes and I would come back to try more. They do sing for your birthday in Chinese, which also makes an outing here really special for a celebration! read more

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Had a wonderful experience here! The place was clean, the vibe was relaxing, and the food tasted homemade and authentic. Loved it!

The food here was pretty good. The peking duck skin was nice and crispy and the wraps were appropriately thin. But a traditional peking duck has the fat carved out that's between the skin and the meat. I would've preferred that, but then again, peking duck is not szechuan food so I get the lack of tradition element I guess. The fish was really good but compared to the amount of pepper and peppercorn, it was not as spicy as I thought it would be... The interior of the space is really nice and definitely a fancy place you can bring a date or for a family celebration. The service was also great- everyone was very attentive. read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

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Been to this place a few times on dates but came today as a group of 7, at my suggestion. Waiter is very nice and the service is great. One my friends did comment how it is aiming more fancy style asian food with decorations etc which I agree. However, unlike some places where the food is more american chinese, this place is more traditional Chinese with some fusion mix. The friend is right that the portion could be a little bigger for the price though. But the food is definitely top notch! read more

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This restaurant seemed to be managed and created by a restaurant group that also financed many other new local Asian restaurants. I found all these restaurants are more superficial than having solid dishes. Decor is modern and sleek, presentation and the dinnerwares are more upscales. The roast duck come with some different side dishes but the duck skin isn't crunchy at all, which is the most important part of the roast duck. Other dishes are okay,portions are average. It's a bit far from us. Won't go back again. read more

An upscale restaurant in Bethesda. My only meal was peking duck and basically the only entree I get. I love the presentation. I discovered this restaurant through a Yelp event. This is definitely a date night place. I love the ambiance. You need to plan ahead as this place gets packed on weeknights and weekends. read more

My uncle who is a picky eater said he loved this restaurant so I had to try it out for myself. Let's just say that my uncle is rarely wrong. I was a bit skeptical at first since nicer Chinese restaurant tend to not be as good as a mom and pop shop, but this place was really good! Service and flavors were great! The seafood stew was hearty and a nice mild/subtle seafood flavor with tiny bits of crispy rice. My favorite dish was the Dry Chili Kobe Beef - super tender and packed full of flavor. A great Chinese restaurant to impress. Apps: Slices Beef and Tripe Sze Chuan Style Entrees: Peking Duck, Chengdu Crispy Rice Seafood Stew and Dry Chili Kobe Beef Sides: Beef Fried Rice and Sautéed Peapod Leaves read more

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The first time I walked into Lao Sze Chuan, I was in awe by its decor and menu. The menu featured fresh seafood, classic Sichuan dishes, Cantonese dim sum, and even some Chinese American favorites. Years later I am still impressed by the quality of food and beautiful setting. My go to dishes are the Peking Duck and Dungeness Crab (prepared with salted egg yolk). The Peking Duck is served 2 ways: a plate with some of the crispy skin seasoned with sugar and a plate of the duck sliced perfectly for wrapping or eating on its own. The accompaniments have never let me down. They are always fresh and crisp. My favorite Peking Ducks in the DMV area are Mama Chang and Lao Sze Chuan. Both prepare the duck very well. Lao Sze Chuan, however, inches ahead because of presentation. The crispy skin with sugar is just a delightful bite. The Dungeness crab is a family favorite. The salted egg yolk adds a nice savory seasoning that's not overpowering. And the crab is always fresh and sweet. We've tried other dishes on their menu, and while very good, we always have these 2 dishes on our table. Overall, an excellent Chinese restaurant and one well worth the drive from Virginia. read more

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Updating my review to round up from a 3 to 4 (but overall still a 3.5). While the value from a cost to food taste remains average, the service was much better than the last time I went. We were a rowdy crowd and we went for an early dinner at 5pm and stayed over 3 hours chatting with only a few of us still drinking, but they continued to service us and refill our waters. We went for a birthday and the staff came over to sing in Chinese as well as serve a complimentary Cherry Blossom-inspired Layer Crepe Cake that was light and delicious and pretty! They have a large dining area and the ambiance is great for celebrations. read more

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Creamy and Delicious many flavors you should buy the ice cream after done also recommend getting salt and pepper shrimp for kids read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Ice cream - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

This restaurant has an elegant ambiance and is very spacious. I liked the manhattan cocktail that I had. The food was great too. I liked the soup dumplings- the meat and soup filling were tasty. The crispy beef was delicious. I liked how crispy it was and the sauce that the beef was tossed in. I had the crispy golden pear for dessert. It was a bit oily but it was still good. I liked the filling and I also liked the crispy sticks it came with. The service was good and I enjoyed my time here. read more

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Great food!! Our go-to for take out. Have been getting food at this place for years. My favorite dish is eggplant with rice. The spicy green beans are amazing also. Have tried several appetizers and meat dishes also. Just go and try. You will love it. read more

We visited here on my mother's birthday. Food was decent service not so great. It was pretty empty around 4 PM. There were eight servers standing two tables away from us chitchatting. Felt odd eating our dinner with eight other strangers near our table. Even the Manager joined in, and they were chitchatting Food was decent. Because of that, I will try one more time. read more

I love Chinese food. Wanted to treat my family to a great meal and from stars, photos and reviews we came here. Restaurant was pretty empty on a Tuesday night. Huge, cavernous, not a lot of charm or great atmosphere IM0. Food fairly mediocre/average. Shrimp dumplings; average with watery tasteless dipping sauce. No sauces on table. No Splenda for my tea. (Don't judge, lol) . Peking duck was good. Didn't come with buns, but crepes. Dry chicken with chilies was ok, extremely spicy. Fat noodles with shrimp sub par. Tasteless, ordinary, with not great quality shrimp. Service was pretty bad. We had to find this guy for everything, didn't take plates away, never came by to see if we needed anything, and forgot one of the dishes we ordered . Not a place we'd return to. read more

Been here a few times now. It's a beautiful upscale Chinese restaurant that also serves alcohol. I'm not sure the concept works for me, but that shouldn't stop you! Maybe it's the right vibe for you Whole peking duck - although the meat was perfect, the skin could have been crispier. It's not much better than others restaurants but way more expensive. Also, you would think they could at least give more of wraps and vegetables for this price Yangzhou fried rice - good basic fried rice Lobster with ginger and garlic sauce - it's like wedding lobster. Should have tried one of the other sauces Tibetan lamb chop - too much cumin for my palate Dry chili kobe beef - my favorite dish from what we ordered Mapo tofu with beef - first time having it with beef; not a big fan Sauteed peapod leafs savory broth -first time I've seen this smart tip option. You can add 2%, 3%, 5%, or 7% to the automatically added gratuity (because of our party size) -great service for a Chinese restaurant, which is apart of their upscale theme read more

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We got take out and they forgot the rice and crunchy noodles for the soup. Both entrees had no flavor and no rice to accompany them! We will not go back. read more

Really nice menu, elegant setting, good service, and great food. I really enjoy dining here...

We had a spectacular lunch at this beautiful, upscale restaurant. The service was exceptional. The food was absolutely delicious and the restaurant has many unique sumptuous options. We particularly enjoyed the ginger lobster. We have this restaurant at 12 out of 10 and I am a a foodie for sure! read more

Lao Sze Chuan - Ginger lobster... - Szechuan Near Me - North Bethesda, Maryland

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I came here for lunar new year with my family and extended family and upon first entering, you feel like you're transported to an elegant restaurant straight from China The decor, music, ambiance... everything just seems so authentic and makes me feel like I am in mainland. The food is super tasty, with all the right flavors. The staff was attentive and the overall experience was nothing but exceptional. The duck was cut right in front of you, and each piece had the perfect balance of the fatty skin and tender meat. My favorite dish was the lamb chops with potatoes. Each piece was coated in a numbing spice that made me go for seconds! I wish I lived much closer, but i definitely want to come back! read more

This was an interesting restaurant with a contemporary vibe, which mostly focuses on Chinese cuisine. Food - Great, their xiaolongbao were good. the Peking duck as well as their fried flat noodles were great as well, but their crispy golden pear was not good, and I personally didn't think their sesame balls were worth the price. Service - Good Parking - They do not have their own parking lot, but there is parking on the streets nearby. Overall, this place is good. read more

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