Straightforward delicious Sichuan-style noodles dishes. This spot is very popular and after tasting…read moretheir dishes and experiencing fast, attentive customer service, I can see why. My sisters-in-law who live in the area highly recommended this spot when we were deciding on a Sunday dinner the night before we flew out. Among the four of us, we ordered: - Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) - Biang Biang Noodles: least numbing of the noodle dishes we ordered. If you LOVE carbs and not a lot of sauce, this one's for you! - Dandan noodles: this thin noodle dish is slightly more numbing than the Biang Biang noodles, but still bearable and tasty. - Chongqing Special Noodles: most numbing of the three! I had to pause eating this a few times as it was getting a little uncomfy! The noodles are side but thinner than the Biang Biang noodles. I liked that we ordered noodle dishes each with different noodle types, flavors, and spice levels. The Biang Biang noodles were respite from the Chongqing Special Noodles, while the Dandan noodles had the right amount of peanut flavor and "mala." We arrived 45 minutes before closing on a Sunday night (it was a holiday the next day though). We were surprised that there was still a line of people wait in for seats close to closing time! Thinking we weren't going to be seated, we decided to order for takeout. We ended up being the last party to be seated! The staff was kind to transfer our takeout orders as dine-in dishes! The staff had the right amount of customer service and attentiveness for a Chinese restaurant, if you know what I mean haha. For amazing noodle dishes, comfortable seating, and accommodating service, Chong Qing Special Noodles gets a solid five star rating!

Eh.... The prices were the best part…read more.. Heard a lot about this place, so we came to check it out. It was decently busy for a Wednesday lunch hour and had an old school feel. We ordered the cucumbers, chongqing special noodles and you po noodles. Cucumbers and you po were relatively flavorless. Cucumbers weren't garlicky enough, and again, minimal seasoning/sauce. We ended up dipping them a bunch. You po also relatively flavorless. The noodles seemed fresh, but were a bit overdone and almost soggy. They were enhanced by the best of what we ordered, and that was the Chong Qing noodles. Decent flavor, noodles were cooked well, and nice portion of meat and bok choy. We asked for spicy, and it wasn't that, but the sauce/soup base definitely saved the other dishes. Won't be going out of my way to come back, accordingly.

WOW the beef noodle soup here is phenomenal!…read more I got the house beef noodle soup with a mild spice level, and it definitely had a nice spicy kick. The beef is sooo tender and the meat quite literally fell off the bone. The noodles were cooked perfectly too. The cilantro and bok choy were an excellent addition to the bowl for a nice refreshing crunch. The broth was spicy, hearty, and comforting. I'm definitely coming back!

Great place if you love spicy food The service was quick and…read moreeasy Definitely a cozy place for a meal with family or friends

My friend Jordan H. turned 50 last month, and I told him I'd take him out for a belated birthday…read morelunch. We'd been talking about getting Chinese food, and he picked Xiang La Hui, his go-to spot for classic Sichuan. I'd never been before, and was more than happy to try a new spot in the SGV. We met up at noon and stayed until the restaurant wrapped up lunch service and gently pushed us out the door, sometime around 2:30. The space was nice, instantly recognizable as a Chinese restaurant in Alhambra. It was pretty quiet the whole time, a good place for a leisurely catch-up. Service was fast and polite, though the combination of QR code ordering and poor Verizon service was a bummer. I had to cross the dining room to take down the wifi password posted on the opposite wall. We ordered a sizable spread for two people: Chong Qing fried chicken, dan dan noodles, wontons with chili oil, and pea tips with garlic. Everything was delicious, most of all the Chong Qing fried chicken, crispy nibbly bits of breaded chicken stir-fried with green onion and hot pepper. I love dan dan noodles and wontons, and thought both were great, if not the best I've had in the area. The pea tips were lovely, bright green and not spicy, but abundantly flavorful. I'd love to come back to Xiang La Hui and try more of the menu. It seems like a restaurant that does everything well, and I'll keep it in mind whenever I'm craving Sichuan.

Grab a meal here with my friends, and there was street parking in a small parking lot in the back…read more The food was delicious and spicy. We grabbed a few items to share across eight people, and it was more than enough. We definitely had to request for more water, but it wasn't mind numbingly spicy and could still taste the flavor of the food. Love that they have beer towers to share. When we went, it was an evening on a Sunday night so it wasn't that full, but it was a warm night so the doors were open.

Busy spot for spicy Sichuan lovers! I think it's important to preface that there will likely be a…read morewait, even at odd hours. It's worth it if you can take the heat. The shop is small and service is alright but I'm here for the food anyway. My fav dish is the Sichuan kung pao chicken. It's got the tang and spice that the Cantonese version doesn't have. Another great dish is the kidney stir fry, but it's extremely spicy and there is no option to adjust spice level. They use the same base for beef throat and kidney stir frys. The stir fry beef was a disappointment due to lack of interesting flavor and soupiness. Also everything is quite oily, so be prepared to feel heavy after eating. Lastly, it's quite pricey compared to a lot of other Sichuan restaurants in the area.

One of the better Szechuan restaurants in the 626…read more Large portion size for good price. Definitely try coming with 3 or more people to share. Flavor and seasoning for some dishes was a little light. Especially the blood and chengdu inners. The stir fry potato was well seasoned. The pickled fish was also really good. Other reviews stated that the food is really spicy but I found it not that spicy. My husband who can't eat that spicy found it to be perfect. Wait time can be extremely long due to small location. Think they only have about 8 tables inside. To avoid long wait time come before 5:30pm or order takeout. Overall not a bad experience, would come back during non rush hours. Definitely wouldn't wait over an hour for a table.

I revisited during the week for lunch before they close at 2:30PM…read more For two people, we asked for two bowls of rice, but they brought out a red rice bin with lid. We ended up having leftover rice, and they let us pack it home. Farmer style pork Beef dry pot Boiled Fish with tofu (fish filet, not snakehead) The food is just as good as I remembered. This time the server lady didn't speak English. She offered cold vermicelli or cold noodles on the house for spending $50+. I opted for noodles, which had some cooked bean sprouts. They came to our table to collect payment on their iPad, so I used Apple Pay.

I called in beforehand at 5 o'clock to ask for the wait time - the server is happily made me a…read morereservation for 530 just in case there was a wait. As my family and I arrived for dinner, we were seated right away. Between the four of us, we ordered five dishes (forgive me I do not have all the names listed on the top of my head)- mapo tofu, string beans, broiled fish, garlic chicken, & spicy bite sized chicken! Each dish was absolutely delicious. If you like spicy food - it was a great balance between numbing and spice. The service was absolutely amazing as well - they always insured that our tea pot was refilled, and that we were tended to. As the check came, our servers kindly wrapped up our food for us! We'll definitely be back next time

Went here with a friend after a late movie and wow, perfect Late-night Bistro vibes for San…read moreGabriel. Tucked on Valley Blvd, super convenient if you're already in the area. The catering-style setup actually works great for groups - easy to share, big trays, no fuss. Portions were generous, flavors solid, and everything tasted fresh, not like sad leftover stuff. Staff was chill and pretty quick even though it was late, which I really appreciate. Overall, good spot if you're hungry late and want something that feels a bit more legit than fast food :)

Very authentic! My parents were from Sichuan and they enjoyed the food here. Five stars!read more

I'm really sad to see this location has closed! I was just reminiscing on their salted egg yolk…read morecrab - was so delicious!

3.5/5 Located on the third floor of the Hilton Hotel Plaza in San Gabriel, Tang Dynasty used to be…read moreChang An (and some of their signs are still up) and is essentially serving similar food. They offer Chinese/hunan dishes, appetizers, and fun cocktail drinks. The dining area is large, and they have a karaoke stage with a live singer on certain days. But contrary to the bright neon lights, the music was pretty mellow, which made it easier to talk to one another. I came here with a party of 12 for dinner and we were seated right away. They have an extensive menu, including a special lunch and dinner menu with dishes for $11.99 each. Our group got the party menu for 8-10 people for $328, which included 10 of their dishes. I enjoyed the variety and the display, but it may not be worth it if you don't enjoy all dishes. Some dishes include chicken gristle, steamed tilapia, hunan chili pork, frog meat. If these aren't your jam, it's probably better to select the dishes individually, especially if you can't handle spicy! Hunan dishes contain lots of chili and is often pretty oily. Overall, I would return and select just the dishes I enjoy, and perhaps try their alcoholic drinks to pair with the spicy dishes!

A Rare Gem of Authentic Sichuan Cuisine Yesterday, I…read morediscovered a hidden gem: Chuan Wa Zi (川娃子)!Szechuan Delicious! Every single dish I tasted--from the authenticity of the flavors to the freshness of the ingredients and the precision of the wok heat (huohuo)--absolutely blew me away. Usually, entering a Sichuan restaurant means being blasted by "spicy, spicy, spicy" and "numbing, numbing, numbing," with choices limited to just water-boiled, sour soup, or mala flavors. However, the chef at Chuan Wa Zi uses only the freshest ingredients to create dishes that are pure and original. My friends were all full of praise! The Highlights of the Meal * Morel Mushroom & Chicken Consommé: Served in a double-boiled stew pot, the unique sweetness of the morels combined with the delicate fragrance of the chicken was so addictive I couldn't stop at just one bowl. * Braised Lamb with Radish: This featured skin-on young lamb--tender and perfectly cooked yet retaining a delightful chew. The radish was braised until deeply flavorful, and the cilantro garnish was the perfect touch, elevating the aroma without overpowering the richness of the lamb. There was zero gamey smell. Eating the lamb skin provided a boost of collagen--a truly nourishing and warming dish. * Chengdu Baby Cabbage (Er Cai): Stir-fried in a rich broth, it was incredibly sweet with a hint of bitterness that perfectly balanced the richness of the lamb. According to traditional wisdom, "five flavors nourish the five organs." Sichuan's baby cabbage is only in season for one month during spring. It's known to clear "heart fire," refresh the mind, and improve sleep. * Sautéed Pork with Celtuce (Lettuce Stem): The pork was incredibly silky and tender, achieved not through baking soda or heavy starch, but purely through masterly knife work and heat control. Paired with the crisp celtuce, it was a perfect harmony of "silky" and "crunchy." * Sichuan Jelly Noodles (Liangfen): Added at the last minute, Jing (host of Oushang Beauty Spa) claimed these are the most authentic and smooth jelly noodles in Greater Los Angeles. Made purely from mung bean starch with no additives, the texture was clean and soft. The seasoning was light and balanced--just a simple blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, chili oil, garlic, and cilantro. From start to finish, there was no overwhelming spiciness or discomfort--just a comforting and refreshing dining experience that leaves you wanting more. House-Made Specialties It's worth mentioning that the owner personally prepares all the cold appetizers, such as the Smoked Pressed Duck and the platter of Handmade Sausages, Cured Pork (Larou), Cured Ribs, and Spicy Pork Head Meat. They were fragrant and meaty without any of the oily aftertaste often found in over-dried meats. We saw many people calling in to order these platters to go as snacks for drinks (xiajiu), and we definitely plan to do the same next time! Chef's Recommendations & Hidden Menu They offer a variety of other specialties like Pork Tripe in Golden Soup, Spicy Eel with Glass Noodles, and Basu "Glutton" Bullfrog. Some dishes, like our Lamb and Chicken Soup, must be pre-ordered by phone. Their classic Sichuan stir-fries--Flash-fried Kidney, Mao Xue Wang, Laziji (Chili Chicken), and Twice-cooked Pork--are all spectacular. They even serve Xian Shao Bai (Savory Steamed Pork Belly), a nearly lost classic that requires incredible knife skills and offers a perfect balance of sweet and savory. A Sweet Ending To wrap up, the owner's wife treated us to their Handmade Fermented Rice Soup (Laozao) with four-colored mini tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). Each color had a different natural flavor--sour fruit, rich sesame, and red bean--with no artificial coloring. The soup had a delicate fermented aroma and silky egg drops, providing a perfect ending to our feast. Closing Thoughts It has been a long time since I've had food this authentic that wasn't "scary spicy." I am truly grateful to find a restaurant that treats cooking as an art and operates with such a strong conscience and craftsmanship.

What a nice surprise! Authentic Sichuan dishes, delicious flavors, and very reasonably priced…read more Definitely worth a visit.