This is a short review based on my first (but definitely not last!) visit. Will update in the…read morefuture. Was heading home from airport after a long flight. Was feeling hangry because I had planned on stopping at Hard Times for a bowl of chili -and found out they were closed on Mondays. So, pretty much pulled a name out of a hat and would up at Chuan Tian Xia because, well, Szechuan cooking uses chiles, no? Yesssss! I ordered Signature Dumplings and a bowl of Beijing-style Beijing-style Zhajiang Noodles. The dumplings were outstanding: a mix of shrimp, pork, and chive that were plump, juicy, fragrant with the herbaceous flavor of chives. The accompanying sauce was not too sweet, not too hot, just right as a complement to the dumplings. Yowza. I was a happy camper... ...and then I dug into my noodles. Double yowza! Thick wheat noodles topped with a rich sauce made from (I think) fermented soybean paste and braised pork belly, garnished with cucumbers. The portion was way to big for me to eat after my flight, but I really, really enjoyed it (and the remaining dumplings) for lunch today. Did I say yowza? I'm an adventurous eater so the menu's less Americanized items were what I would have ordered given more time (like Maoxuewang: can you say "pig's tongue, spam, pork intestine, and beef tripe"? Protein is protein, baby!). Just means I need to come back, and I will, as quickly as I can.

Came here after a long day from a convention. My friends and I were hungry and wanted to give this…read morea try and it did not disappoint! Everything was so flavorful and was great! We had the Ma Po Tofu, chive dumplings, sesame chicken, and noodles and out of all of those, the noodles and Ma po tofu were our favorites! Service was quick and the restaurant was very spacious and accommodating.

This restaurant has been on my radar for some time. The food and service were good. The restaurant…read moreis 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.

We have been here for lunch several times and have always enjoyed the food. We usually have several…read moreorders 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!

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.

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.

I'm not sure how I haven't left review for this place where I've visited many many times. Have…read moredined in prob 2-3 times and most of the times it's my pick up place after a long day at work and did not feel like cooking. From their crispy fungus with pickled pepper, , spicy oil wonton, beef noodle soup, chicken leg soup, spicy dry noodles, soup dumplings, I can basically make a lot of things I've ordered and liked from the menu! Service, packaging for to go always consistent. :)

Dropped off vehicle for service and this place was very close - plus I've been wanting Chinese food…read moreand it came up in a Yelp search. :) I treated DD and overall it was very good. We were seated immediately and given water and menus. Orders also taken quickly and the food came out piping hot in a very short time. The Yibin spicy dry noodles were just at the verge of spice level for me, and I did enjoy them but DD said she thought that was all they had going for them - the spice. No flavor profile to speak of. The best thing we shared were Peppercorn spicy soup dumplings, which were truly excellent. Very flavorful and tender. The lamb stew pot was a disappointment; there were far more bits of bone than lamb, and only a few lonely vegetables. We both just had water, although I thought about a smoothie, deciding in the end that it would be too filling. At just under $32, this was a very reasonable cost for lunch for two. It's nowhere near home, though, so when I'm next at the dealership to service my vehicle, I'll try a new spot.

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.

I came here with my girlfriend, and prior to visiting, I was very eager to dine based on all of the…read morepositive reviews on this site. We came on a Friday night, and had to wait about 30 minutes for seating. The dining area is basically wooden chairs and tables. Not much ambiance, but that's not why you come here. We ordered scallion pancakes, soup dumplings, eggplant with basil, and noodles with chicken. I never had scallion pancakes. Nothing I would order again. I have nothing to compare, but I assume they're good. The dumplings were fantastic. The eggplant, which comes in three varieties, appeared to be a popular item with other guests. I guess it was good. I'm not a fan of saucy food. The noodles were fantastic. I feel like we ordered wrong, although my girlfriend picked everything except the noodles. This is not a place to visit if you're looking to lose weight. The hard sugar in the eggplant alone was more than I consume in two months. I'm probably not in the best position to rate our dinner as I avoid carbs and sugar. If I were to come back, I'd stick the noodles and revisit the menu to see if there is a solid chicken option. I came here hungry and left hungry as the food was not filling, and the sugar content sent my system into a bit of a shock. Nonetheless, if this cuisine is your thing, you won't be disappointed.

East Pearl is consistently the best Chinese food in Rockville. From their hearty selection of lunch…read morespecials to the hot tea - it's fantastic food at a reasonable price. My go to foods are Hot & Sour Soup, Singapore Rice Noodles, Sesame Chicken, Buddha's Delight (add chicken), Fried Squid Scallops & Shrimp (ask for a bowl of sweet & sour sauce to go with it), and Kung Pao Shrimp & Chicken. The service is amazing and the food fresh.

This is our Chinese friend's go-to for Chinese food. She always asks for Linda and always orders…read morein her native language. This was from our Christmas/New Years dinner and a feast it was! She ordered the garlic chicken ahead (this is one of a few special dishes that need to be ordered at least a day before you come. It was the favorite of the meal. We also had snow pea shoots, mapo tofu, crispy beef with snow peas and more. Check the photos for the complete list. This place is always buzzing and the service is great. Most of our food was mild, not spicy... may have been ordered that way to accommodate those who don't like heat. Those who like heat put the crispy pepper sauce on the table to use.

The food here is very tasty and the service is quick and cordial. My son is an expert at finding…read morethese hidden gems. We really enjoy the food here and have been here a few times. My favorite dishes so far are: Beef cubes with seven spices (appetizer) Fish with Plum Sauce - this is deep-fried fish with a plum sauce, and it is better than your typical sweet-and-sour fish dish Shredded Beef with scallions Shredded pork with bamboo Yu tsai with garlic Eggplant with basil Spinach with garlic I didn't particularly like the crispy stinky bean curd or the steamed fish with soy beans. I think these are an acquired taste. We will be back to try other dishes as well!

Very good Taipei restaurant in the area. I love the street iron pan chicken with black pepper…read more Remind me of my childhood. All other dishes are authentic. The restaurant is in old style decoration. Service is good. I will be back again.

Amazing noodle spot in Rockville. The noodle soups are so delicious and comforting, the popcorn…read morechicken and wood ear mushrooms appetizers are also delicious. Trust me, try the popcorn chicken. Staff are always really nice and welcoming and price can't be beat.

I was in the area, and was recommended Shi Miaodao if I liked noodle soups. I didn't have time to…read morestay and eat, but was able to order takeout. I called and ordered the R1 Crossing Bridge Rice Noodle and R15 Spicy Beef Tendon Rice Noodle. I was quoted a wait time of 15 minutes, however when I arrived 8 minutes after placing the order, found my order was finished just upon my arrival. I picked up my order, and hoped that the soup would still be hot and noodles still bouncy even after my 45 minute drive home. I was pleasantly surprised the noodle soups were packaged to separate the noodles from the broth to ensure the noodles maintained optimal texture. To my surprise, the soup was also still hot and didn't need to be reheated. Both broths were delicious, but be careful with the Szechuan spicy noodle soup because it was definitely spicy! I will definitely return again to try the other soups.

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

Sichuan Jin has easily become my most-visited restaurant since moving here from NYC--and that's…read moresaying a lot. As someone who truly loves authentic Sichuan cuisine, I came in with high expectations. Word of mouth brought me here, and I am pleasantly surprised. I knew it wouldn't be easy to find the same bold, complex flavors I was used to in Flushing and other NYC Chinatowns, but Sichuan Jin comes impressively close. I feel lucky to have a spot like this nearby. Kevin and Judy put so much care into what they do. It's the kind of place that feels both personal and consistent. My go-to dishes are the flounder with Sichuan peppercorns--satisfying and flavorful--and the eggplant with minced pork in garlic sauce, which is homey and comforting. Pro tip: skip the Americanized Chinese options and go straight for the Sichuan Specialty, Ordinary Home Style, or Chef's Specials sections of the menu. That's where this place truly shines.