The food was very oily and very little flavor. I feel that the ingredients used were not good quality.

Worst Chinese restaurant I've ever been to, I am really sorry to say. I've had the best Chinese food in Dallas, NYC, Chicago (wow, I miss Chinatown), and even Germany. I just can't believe the rating on this place. The menu was overloaded with options (never a good sign). First, we ordered about 4-5 entrees. Our bubble tea came AFTER all the food had reached our table. The tapioca in the bubble tea was old and hard as a rock. The entrees were all bland and tasted like preservative. Canned bamboo shoots and baby corn, anyone? Nothing tasted freshly cooked, but like it was leftovers. Rice was really dried out and inedible. We took a spoonful of each and couldn't eat anymore. It was that bad. Customer service is also not a priority here. I'm still in disbelief that people think this quality of food is restaurant quality. I had hopes for this place, but sadly has fallen short on all levels. I hope that the restaurant owner puts more effort to serve FRESH ingredients and thoughtful, delicious sauces. For now, anyone looking for great quality Chinese food, spend less and get higher quality food at Xian. read more

I ordered delivery & the best thing I can say is that the service was friendly (both on the phone & at delivery), & it arrived quickly! However, the food was just ok. I was most disappointed by the "tofu & vegetable soup." It was broth, tofu, & bok choy. That's it. Just two ingredients in broth, & I was charged $8.75. NOT worth it. The vegetable fried rice was ok- not your typical soy sauce based fried rice. It was white & flavored with oil. I did like that it had more of a variety of vegetables besides your standard peas and carrots (like mushrooms, and bits of bok choy), but it wasn't that impressively tasty. On another occasion I picked up an order of garlic eggplant, which was WAY too sweet. There was so much sugar in the glaze it was gross to eat. If you are local within the delivery area, & more hungry & lazy than anything, you could have an ok meal here, but otherwise I would go elsewhere... as hard as good Chinese food in Austin is to find. In fact, you may be traveling for awhile. I haven't found any delicious places yet- even ones with high Yelp reviews. I miss the Bay & LA! read more

The food was really good. We tried it out for our Christmas Eve dinner. It was suggested we pick it up as they were busy. We did have a wait but to be expected on a holiday. We ordered general chicken and Mongolian beef. Both were very tasty, a little heavy on the onions compared to the beef but still good. I'd like to try items from the chef specials next time. Definitely worth a try! read more

Very unprofessional and horrible customer service. Was difficult to have a conversation with my friends with 2 employees fighting in the kitchen causing a female employee into the restaurant crying profusely. Our server, Micheal (doubt that's his real name. Took him a minute to think about a name when I asked him) was very rude in taking our orders. I asked him a few questions about the menu being my first time and he responded condescendingly. After the order arrived, I realized he hadn't completely informed me about the order I had placed. I didn't like it and I asked him if I could change it. He blatantly said "No". I asked him why and his response was "the food has already been cooked". I then asked to speak to the manager or whoever was in charge and he said there was no manager and no one was in charge and that he only worked there and if I wanted to change my order I would have to speak to the owner who was not available at that moment. Note to the owner: I have never seen such level of unprofessional-ism at any restaurant establishment in Austin for the 10 years I have been here. I doubt your employees have gone through any form of orientation. I will be taking this matter up and I hope you do something about your service. read more

We have been searching for good chinese food in South Austin for a while now, last night I think we found it!!! The interior is nothing special, just a slightly cleaned version of the old TJ, but the food was really good. Started with the Hot and sour soup, really nice spicy bite, sour came through well...ate seconds! Main course was kung pao chicken, pork lo mein and baby bok choy with garlic. The kung pao and bok choy were amazing, had seconds on both of these too! The lo mein was good, but just a bit salty for my taste, and s little on the oily side, but definitely better than that at lots of other places in the area. The staff was nice, but, they were very busy and stretched thin, so, they did well considering. I am going to be back!! read more

Best Chinese in south Austin by far! I should have snapped a picture of the salt pepper shrimp I had but i had to devour it too fast because of it's deliciousness. This place is authentic sichuan cuisine with proper chili spice and mouth numbing heat. Any spicy food fan should try this place. I like the chicken with bean sprouts, mala chicken ,dan dan noodles, fried rice and lo mein here. read more

Don't Judge a Book by It's Cover! Best egg roll I've had in YEARS, Poppa wanted to order another batch! ($1.50) Hot & Sour soup is very good and spicy enough to give hiccups, yay! ($1.50) Wonton soup had lots of wontons but broth needed more flavor. ($1.50) Hot & Spicy Jumping Fish is what I order every time--huge serving enough for three people as an entree, topped with minced jalapenos, fresh scallions & red pepper, served over warm cucumbers, has lots of light soy broth. The fish (tilapia probably) is tender and mild. ($18.95) Spicy Sauteed Pork Ribs were cut into 1" pieces with delicious peppered onions and jalapenos, another winner, very meaty. ($10.50) Shrimp Kung Pao tasted fabulous and fresh with lots of celery chunks and veggies and peanuts, yummy. ($11.95) Hot tea hit the spot on a cold day in March in Austin. Hardly any customers there and I felt very safe Covid-wise. Decor leaves something to be desired, but the food is excellent so who cares?! read more

I've enjoyed the food here in the past, but it isn't worth the terrible service. The staff were extremely rude for no discernible reason.

In one word: Authentic. Please do not order the american fast food dishes like General Tso anything. That would be like ordering a hamburger off the kids menu at a fancy italian place. Ever notice how in most chinese places none of the customers are chinese? Not this place... I was the only white guy. So its the real "chinese food". Ask the server for a reccomendation of real Sichuan food if youre not sure what to order. Its good. Very good. And cheap. I couldent cook it at home that cheap at those portions. My wife... she loved it too: great for a date with a tongue that will appreciate real food. Enjoy! read more

First time ordering, very good and did not forget my extra requests for sweet and sour sauce. They even deliver boba tea!! Yummy!! read more

Sichuan River - Veggie fried rice - Szechuan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Most Chinese food tier guides guides will send you all the way to round rock for the best Chinese in "Austin."I have spent a lot of time searching for the best Chinese restaurant on the south side of Austin and have finally found it. We ordered the egg foo young, chow mein, fried rice, egg rolls, orange chicken, Mongolian beef and crab Rangoon's. Everything was amazing and you receive decent sized portions. I am a major goon fan and I have to say this was my favorite order of goons in Austin. The staff was super friendly as well! This place is a must for anyone looking for good affordable Chinese on the south side. read more

My family was from Sichuan and I would say that this is one of the most authentic Sichuan restaurants I've been to in the states. They have american chinese food too so depending on what you order you get very different tastes. My favorites: - Dan Dan Noodles (like really really good) - Dry Pot Beef (and all the dry pot things) - Eggplant - Mapo Tofu - Spicy Fish Fillet - Chongqing Mala Chicken - Salt and Pepper Shrimp read more

peppercorn chicken and egg drop soup were good, although there was some greyish egg in the soup, and the peppercorn chicken is overpriced compared to other places. The "bubble tea" is awful, it tastes like canned coconut water with something metallic added, really left am awful taste in my mouth. I said something but they didn't offer to take it off the bill. No biggie, but I probably would not go back. read more

Sichuan River is the comfort you're always looking for in Chinese food. It never disappoints and for that reason has quickly become my go to Chinese restaurant in Austin. read more

Loved our takeout from here, everything tasted fresh and delicious. What made it even better was everything was still hot and crispy even after transit. Will be our Chinese go to! read more

Really, really solid Chinese for reasonable prices. Not the best in town but a great overall choice. I recommend the salt and pepper shrimp, or the sichuan roast chicken if you're looking for something even spicier. read more

My husband and I came here Friday for dinner. The food came out very quick and everything was good. The portions were huge. I'm giving this place one star because of horrible horrible horrible horrible horrible service. The old man who was waiting on us was just absolutely down right rude. He acted annoyed when he was seating us. The only time he spoke to us was when taking our orders. Other than that, he just ignored my husband thanking him EACH time-- for refilling the water, to-go box, etc... how can you run a business and ignore your customers????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????? if I could give this 0 star I would do it in a heartbeat. Won't be coming here ever again. read more

This place has wonderful food and is quite cozy. I've never had anything bad here. I suggest the green beans, they're amazing!!!

This place took me by surprise!! A little hesitant how closed off it looks (the steel red doors suggest the place to be an underground nightclub for gangstas) but the dry pot chicken was flavorful, spicy, and a big serving. Still eating it three meals later. As far as south Austin Chinese goes, I havent had better read more

I'm very sad; I had high hopes for this spot. The hot and sour soup was not good at all. The eggplant dish was okay. I like the sauce a lot but there is a strange flavor sometimes from the actual eggplant. I love eggplant too! But when the soup isn't good, I never go back read more

We love this place! It's no coincidence that the non-enthusiastic reviews mention general tso's or "king pao" chicken. (The table behind us, a group of nervous folks who found the menu baffling and seemed genuinely terrified of spice or "weird stuff" all seemed happy with their chicken and broccoli, fried rice, and eggrolls, though.) Get the good stuff: The spicy fish and tofu dish is amazing, the jumping fish is so light and fresh tasting, the garlic green beans are incredibly addicting, and the dumplings are homemade and delightful. The twice-cooked pork is great, too. read more

Very authentic Chinese food. Staff is super friendly and food is prepared quickly! A favorite for my co-workers and I as we work nearby. They have an especially tasty Kung-Pao recipe available in meat as well as tofu. Veggies are always fresh. It's also never crowded. Don't let the slightly dated decor run you off, this is a great place to try if you are looking for reasonably priced Chinese food that is tasty and fresh. read more

Sichuan River sustained me through the icepocalypse of 2021! The woman behind the counter was so friendly and put salt down in front of the door. But the food! Wow. Best egg foo young I've EVER had- it was crispy with a warm gravy but not mushy like most egg foo young I've had. The crab rangoons were excellent, the sauce was sweet and complimented them well! Egg drop soup was delicious, everything was delicious! Thank you thank you thank you for some of the best takeout I've had in Austin. read more

I don't know why the rating is below 4 stars. I have been to this place multiple times. The spicy fish and dry pot chicken are my favorite. They have a few big tables, a good place for family and friend gathering. read more

Sichuan River - Sichuan spicy lamb - Szechuan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We had a road trip to Austin last weekend, and we ordered on Uber from this restaurant. We did bot have any utensils to eat with so we called right away to make sure those utensils are included in the delivery. The person receiving the call promised to do so, but later when we received our food, no utensils were in there , AT ALL. So we called again, she said she forgot to put them in there and refused to do anything to make up for it. There were 16 of us just sitting there with no spoons, fork, nothing. This was just a terrible experience. read more

We had spicy fish pig ear and dry pot lamb. They were all very good. Dry pot lamb was very spicy but flavorful. Service was OK. Kind of slow. read more

Sichuan River - I added a little vinegar to the pig ear. It made it better tasting I think. - Szechuan Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's a tasty restaurant, don't get me wrong. Several dishes are great for the price. But just a tip - don't order the Godmother duck. Me, my sister and a few of her friends came here to share several dishes. The godmother duck was the worst unfortunately. No meat, all bone and gristle. We ended up leaving almost all of it on the plate. NOT worth $12 for that plate. I suggest for an above average experience to eat in the Chinatown complex up north. You won't be disappointed. :) read more

The service is great, but I haven't decided whether the food is just ok or if I need to order differently next time to better suit my taste. My meal started off with dumplings -- which I usually can't get enough of, and they were fine but not great. I tried lotus roots for the first time and didn't care for it -- even though there was nothing wrong with the preparation. It's just not my thing. For the main course, I had the szechuan fish and was disappointed because although the generous portion was swimming in oil and spice (usually a tasty combo!), the overall flavor was somehow watered down. So unfortunately I walked away from my experience with the slight discomfort typical of most decadent meals like this -- but without the pay off of having eaten deliciously satisfying food. I'll be giving this place another shot, but will order differently (probably trying the szechuan chicken which looked great at another table). read more

Let me just start this review by saying that I've never been to China either, but I'm from LA and I think I have a pretty good idea of what good/traditional Chinese food should taste like - when I lived in LA, I frequented a few traditional restaurants in Chinatown and the SGV, and if that doesn't say enough about my credentials for familiarity with Chinese cuisine, my wife is Chinese! Having said all that, the chef at Sichuan River definitely knows what he's doing and their taste is pretty close or as good as some of my favorite restaurants in LA - of course it can't compare to what I've had at my MIL's house, but that's a whole different ball game! We tried the shrimp egg foo young, fried rice with chicken, and some vegetable dish w green beans, I think it was the dried sauteed green beans - all delish, more than fairly priced and portions so big we had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. As a matter of fact, just looking at some of the pictures others have posted is making my mouth water and I think we'll be heading back there tonight! read more

HORRIBLE SERVICE and FOOD! I ordered the orange chicken with fried rice and the chicken didnt taste like orange at all and their excuse was "I forgot to add the oranges" and then I PAID EXTRA for fried rice for both of the orders, and didn't get either and when I called them to fix the situation they asked that i bring back all of the food so they can "see" it and that they couldn't do anything because I already got my food - even though I didn't get what I ORDERED and PAID for! Also when ordering the bubble tea, it didn't have any bubbles in it and they said they don't have bubbles - which then shouldn't it just be called MILK TEA??? so there was false advertisement on that and they refused to give me a refund over the food I DIDN'T RECEIVE or false drink order. I WILL NEVER GO BACK AND RECOMMEND YOU DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR TIME OR MONEY. I've tried speaking with the manager / owner and they said they are out until the Summer and there was nothing they could do. WORST EXPERIENCE AND FOOD EVER. Look for a better place to order chinese food from and save your money coming to this place. read more

Just ate here, first off the hot and sour soup was so damn good. All of the food was delicious, had a great lunch. The service was also great. I felt welcomed like family. Will definitely be going back, very often. read more

This placed used to be Tien Jin. I didn't even know that they were going to stop being in existence. I am going to miss the owners. That lady was always sweet to my daughter. Now, on to Sichuan River. We ate there last night. There were two women working everything outside of the kitchen. These two women were definitely working their tales off, but they needed help. The woman taking out order had a cordless phone in her pocket and it rang. And she answered it. At our table. Later, we heard her answer another take-out call and the people placing the order hung up on her. It's because the two women working have very rough English. We were fine when we were there because the menu is written in English and Chinese and we would point to the English and she would literally move our hand that was covering the Chinese and see what we wanted and say, "Ah yes, OK". For me, this is 110% fine. I am in a Chinese Restaurant, but I could see how placing an order over the phone would suck. The restaurant is in dire need of a makeover on the inside. There is a new menu. It has A LOT on it and some of it is full on authentic Chinese food. We order Hot & Sour soup. It was the spiciest Hot and Sour soup I have ever had and it didn't taste spot on. Don't get me wrong, it was good quality, but I think Din Ho's Hot and Sour soup is how Hot and Sour soup is supposed to taste. We ordered Egg Drop soup and that was good and typical. We ordered Mongolian Beef and that was exceptional. I ordered the Pork Slices with Enokitake Mushrooms. It was OK. Kind of a weird texture to the mushrooms. We ordered the Spicy Sauteed Pork Ribs. There were A TON of jalapenos on it. Check out the pictures. We promptly separated the pork. I do think the chef has talent here. I think more talent than when it was Tien Jin. I think they need to remodel, get some people on the floor with better English (especially answering the phones), and tweak the menu/ingredients a little (Sour Trotters??? Vixen Chicken??? Pig Elbow???) and they will be fine as I think the kitchen has a lot of talent. But................I don't think they are going to do any of that and I think this place is not going to make it. read more

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So delicious! One of my favorite Chinese restaurant in Texas! We went to there several times. It is worthy! read more

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South Austin's best kept secret! Pros: Portions are huge! Price! Customer service is amazing, make you feel at home. The food is amazing. Authentic Asian cuisine. The fried rice and noodles are perfect every time. Big menu still working my way to try everything. Bring friends and share, only way to do it! Food comes out fast and hot! Cons: Decor could use an update. Seats are not the most comfortable. Can soda only, no refills on soda. read more

O MY BUDA ,this food is delicious-the taste of the seafood and vegetables got me hooked on my first and second visits-i will definitely be back there maybe 3 times next week,lol...i love that food!!!! read more

They got stars for having an interesting menu but the food was very one dimensional around the core flavor ingredient e.g. cumin lamb was simply lamb in cumin which is ok but needed some kind of seasoning other than salt to balance the taste. Same goes for the pork in chilli oil, its pork in an oil soup but included celery which was over powering. The egg roll was bland and the dipping sauce cheap tasting. The dumplings also seemed cheap as the meat was like a tightly packed meatball but not in a good way. Overall the place lacks ambiance and the only I went was on the strength of the unusual menu items but the flavors lacked balance and ultimately let the place down. read more

My favorite chinese place in Austin. Best fried dumplings in town, egg rolls and great crab rangoon. Highly recommended this restaurant in Austin. read more

Best restaurant in Austin! I am vegetarian and can't get enough of the green beans, mapo tofu, mushrooms with bok choy, homestyle tofu, etc... read more

Great, authentic Sichuan Chinese food in South Austin! As rare as it is good. Really like the Mongolian Beef, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, and anything that is a Sichuan dish. Recommend going with a group of 4-8, so you can order more food and try more things. read more