I had a very nice first time experience at Szechwan Chinese Restaurant in Orinda. I saw this place cross my Yelp feed a few times, so I decided to stop by and try their Wor Won Ton Soup. I also saw that they served "house made" Potstickers, so I had to try them. I was there on a Tuesday evening at around 5pm. This place has a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere. Their Wor Won Ton Soup is served with a rich, brown broth. The satisfying soup is loaded with veggies, meats, shrimp and 9-10 dumplings. The potstickers came after my soup, but they were worth the wait. They were fresh, plump and tasty. While I was waiting for them to be served, I heard a familiar sound coming from the kitchen.....a rapid chopping sound. It brought back memories of my grandmother making dumplings, and finely chopping the meat for the filling. Service was prompt and attentive. Much attention to detail. For dessert, at no extra charge.....a unique way to serve orange wedges. I plan to return and try their lunch plates. read more

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The food was ok, the rice does not come with food and for refills you get charged The eggplant tofu I ordered was not in the menu and was sweet but it was ok read more

Szechwan Chinese Restaurant - Eggplant with tofu - Chinese Near Me - Orinda, California

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It's been a while since my last visit. This place is my friend's favorite Chinese restaurant.so today is our regular luncheon. Browsing their lunch menu, I ordered the spicy eggplant shrimp with white rice. It came with a small coleslaw salad, fried wonton skin strips, and hot & sour soup. I had enjoyed the eggplant though I found it to be a bit overcooked. Together with the sauce and rice made a nice meal; and the dish was not spicy contrary of to its name. The hot & sour soup had the necessary peppery, vinegary tangy favor. It also was enjoyable. At the end of the meal, fortune cookie and chocolate mint candy were distributed where previously orange segments were provided. It was fun. Dishes were fairly priced. For fairly Chinese American fare in this community it was par for the course. read more

Szechwan Chinese Restaurant - Hot & sour soup - Chinese Near Me - Orinda, California

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The Food was fine. It seems to be quite a favorite among the locals. However, the male owner of the Restaurant seems to have an attitude when I spoke with him. It turns out that during our conversation he gave off signs that he is Gay. Perhaps, some Gay Customers can come in and brighten his personality. I will go try some other places that are more Straight friendly. read more

Great food Great service Great ambiance Like the small town feeling Still have old school flavors read more

Szechwan Chinese Restaurant - Food - Chinese Near Me - Orinda, California

First, despite the name, this is not a restaurant that serves food in the style of the Szechwan region of China. The style of Chinese food is more typical, hunan style, though perhaps a little Americanized (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that). We do like their mushu and their "hot" and sour soup. These items taste fresh, flavorful, and not too greasy. Please note that nothing is particularly spicy on the menu, even when labeled as such, or when we've asked for things to be spicy. That said people working here are kind and hospitable, and the space itself is beautifully decorated. read more

Szechwan Chinese Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Orinda, California

Food was OK. Service meh. Ambiance NA. Will go elsewhere in future. Want to try orange chicken.

Always excellent There are lots of great choices for lunch plus wine and beer, super service read more

We haven't come here in a while because we live further now but when we were passing by the area, we decided to check it out again. The vibe is still pretty chill. The food is good as expected. The calamari was good although a bit on the greasy side with the breading but the calamari itself was very tender. The beef chow fun was well mixed with the seasonings. The mixed vegetables and the wonton soup has a well balanced taste. Our server was Mary and she was very polite and attentive to us which made the experience wonderful. It's as if you were just at home eating dinner. Definitely would go back here for Chinese food if we are ever in the area. read more

Came back to this spot in Orinda for my favorite seafood noodle soup and it felt like home. It was raining outside perfect soup weather and that first bite brought back so many memories. Warm, comforting, and just as good as I remember . Service is always good here. read more

Szechwan Chinese Restaurant - Seafood noodle soup (top photo) and wonton soup (down photo) - Chinese Near Me - Orinda, California

This was a new place for us as we have only recently moved in on the town of orinda. We went for a wonton soup ( serves 1 or 2 - actually more like 3). Orange chicken ($18) that was very zesty ; again enough for three. And we ordered the mix chow mein which did not disappoint. What a find. Delivery was $1.92 , so no need to start up the engine for that kind of price. Food was tasty, enjoyable and portions were very copious read more

Whoever cooks here is really good. What they serve is good. Some of their black board choices are very unusual and delicious. Even familiar classics can take on a new take. One time I ordered Kung Pao Chicken because it is my Go To Chinese dish. Before I was getting other things there. When it arrived, it did not look like Kung Pao Chicken. It was delicious, but not familiar. Then I picked at it and realized it was more finely diced that I'd had it before. It was good. read more

Now I've seen it spelled 'Szechuan' and 'Sichuan', but I never understood how a restaurant decides to spell it. Presumably it comes from how they spelled it in the old country or maybe by what name the liquor license is registered. They spell it 'Szechwan' here, and I say more power to them. If I open my own Chinese restaurant, I'll just call it 'Bun Yo Tun' 'cause it gonna be spicy. I was on my way to Briones Reservoir to try the Ousman Trail for a brisk hike. But I was starving and really didn't know Orinda well, especially on the northern side of 24. This family-run restaurant showed up on my Yelp search, and I found it in the shopping area in Orinda Village. I came in with zero expectations and frankly thought what I had was good, taste and value. They were offering their extensive Lunch Specials menu when I arrived (photo: https://bit.ly/3hJ5Uat). I settled on the $14.25 Spicy Eggplant Shrimp Lunch. Arriving first was a cup of Hot & Sour Soup which came fully spiced with slivers of tofu (photo: https://bit.ly/3UXdUCQ). My main plate came with a scoop of brown rice, a tiny salad, a couple of deep-fried wonton crisps. The eggplant shrimp had plenty of flavor and kick. I didn't bun my tun, but it was satisfying. FOOD - 4 stars...dishes you expect but with solid execution AMBIANCE - 4 stars...light and spacious enough SERVICE - 4 stars...pretty efficient TOTAL - 4 stars....Szechwan it is then RELATED - Exploring east of the Caldecott Tunnel? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2x1rlsD read more

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This is a very nice neighborhood-ish, family-owned(?), Chinese restaurant. The owner was very nice and the rest of the staff was as well. The restaurant and tableware was clean and have some sense of being Chinese. The food tasted fresh and looked pleasing. The prices are a tad high but the portions are ample. The parking is free and convenient, plus the location is quiet and pleasing. The only letdown is the taste of the food - too sweet. And I have a sweet tooth. We had King Pao Chicken and pot stickers. The flavor reminds me of a chain called Pick Up Stix which also is sweeter than I like. Everything was a bit sweeter than I like except the tea. It was not bad at all but sweeter than I like. read more

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Always helpful and friendly. Best Chinese food in the area. Hot and sour soup and the fried tofu are always on our order.

The food was really good. The tea was good too. The service was fast. It was nice and cozy inside.

Our family has been dining at Orinda Szechwan for more than 30 years. We have always remarked that it is consistently excellent. The owners who took over the restaurant from other family members several years ago do their best to maintain a very similar menu and quality and freshness of food. We have always been treated with kindness and outstanding hospitality. On occasion we try another chinese restaurant but we always return to Orinda Szechwan. read more

Terrible dinner tonight. Flavorless Chow Mein with raw broccoli and extremely tough Cherry Pork. Will not be going back. Barely edible. I used to like this place, but will not go back. read more

This restaurant has been around for as long as I can remember, which is about 35 years. I can no longer support them because the food has been so substandard since the pandemic. I;ve tried several times in the hopes that their food would rise to the level that it once was, but no luck. The takeout food yesterday was so bad, I threw it out. The pot stickers were filled with some type of super ground up, mushy meat that had no flavor. The consistency was so off putting that my son and I ate one and shook our heads. The Mongolian beef was flavorless. There were onions and sliced beef in a bland sauce. The Schzewan shrimp was not hot or spicy. The battered shrimp was soggy and the sauce was thick and gelatineous. There were four peas that were mixed in with the shrimp and not much else. I won't return and I'm so disappointed that my once favorite Chinese restaurant has lost it's way. read more

Very fresh and flavorful. I had the beef chow fun and it was perfectly cooked and seasoned and came with lots of veggies. The hot and sour soup was also very delicious. Service was nice and efficient! And a lovely atmosphere. read more

Food was on par with what I expected, fresh very hot and cooked just right . Larger portions than most Chinese Lunches and reasonably priced. Service was quick and courteous! read more

Szechwan Chinese Restaurant - Piping hot perfectly cooked sweet n sour shrimp ! - Chinese Near Me - Orinda, California

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Love the tomato beef chow mein Hong Kong style-crispy noodles! Easy to order over the phone and pick up. read more

The food and service are unbeatable. We're very grateful to have Szechuan as a great neighborhood restaurant.

This place is going down and going down fast. Flavorless, tasteless food. Almond chicken has no almonds, shrimp Kung Pao sent with chicken instead of shrimp. I think they should let someone else takeover the space as they have lost the motivation it takes to run a successful restaurant. This is a disgrace to Chinese cuisine. read more

Szechwan prawns, customizable hot and sour soup (I'm a pescatarian, and they will make it special with vegetarian broth. Plenty of shrimp inside.) I don't think it's possible to have a bad meal here. Too, it's super clean with linen table cloths and has comfortable booths in addition to tables. It's always a pleasure to eat here or take out. read more

Ordered the lunch combo the fried rice was bland I was expecting a bit more flavor. The egg rolls are freshly made so they are super delicious. The salt and pepper fish was good just was expecting more than 2 jalapeños. Their hot sour soup has never disappointed me. For Orinda it's ok if you don't want to drive to Oakland or the City. read more

I was in this area today running errands, then I got hungry.. I found this place, and was surprised at how much I enjoyed my experience. The food is very typical American Chinese food. But it was good, everything came hot and fresh. I got lunch special kung pao shrimp. It had Crisp veggies, fresh shrimp and a very good fried rice. What I enjoyed most was the view of the golf course, it was a rainy day but the trees and wet green grass just made me feel tranquil and relaxed. I have a family, I'm a mom of a young kid. Sometimes the highlight of my week is running errands and enjoying a quiet meal by my self. This restaurant is the perfect place to sit quietly, eat and enjoy a pretty view. The waitress was just attentive enough, polite and friendly. Ill definitely be back to try other things read more

The food is always good here. Sometimes the staff aren't that friendly and you overlook it because they are busy.

This has been our go to restaurant for Chinese Food since moving to Orinda over twelve years ago. The owners and staff are super friendly. The owners recently bought Geppetto's Cafe down the street and the new owners are relatives - they are just as nice! Food is consistently good and the prices are fair. My favorite is the tomato beef chow fun. But all the dishes we have tried over the years have been delicious. read more

I went to the Szechwan Chinese Restaurant for the first time on the recommendation of a friend and ordered take out. The two people at the front desk were pleasant and my order arrived quickly. When I arrived home, I was surprised that my spicy eggplant plastic to-go container had leaked all over everything in the bag. After transferring the food to a more substantial container, I turned over the plastic to-go container only to find a huge rip in the bottom; about 4"x 1". The plastic was very cheap. When I tried to open my second order, chow fun, the plastic broke off at the corner. I thought the first was a fluke, I guess not. Thinking I could prevent this mess from happening to another customer, I called the restaurant to tell them about the container but the man who answered seemed unconcerned about my predicament. No apology, nothing. I will not be back. Ironically, my fortune cookie fortune read: "As long as you don't sign up for anything new, you'll do fine". I shouldn't have gone to this (new to me) restaurant! read more

Szechwan Chinese Restaurant - The huge rip in the take out container from Szechwan Chinese Restaurant. - Chinese Near Me - Orinda, California

We bring take out to my adult daughter & her husband as they are a busy young couple with a 2 year old. They have a very selective palate so I know it's good when the dishes we buy them are gone in one night. Their favorite? The sizzling rice soup and mushu pork. Sorry I forgot to take pictures. They love it. The mushu pork comes with pancakes but my daughter skips the pancakes because the mushu pork is great without them. So my husband eats the pancakes. The pancakes should be eaten the same day as it does get hard overnight. The soup is soothing and the mushu pork just the right flavor. Price is comparable with other restaurants. I usually call it in and its ready in 20-30 minutes. We just love helping businesses in town. read more

Food is excellent. Ambiance good, Service is good. Take out service needs improvement. The War Won Ton is off the chart excellent. The "large" size for to take out is enormous. Enough for at least three peeps. My suggestion by far. Very friendly and helpful staff. read more

Food was good. We ordered egg rolls, veg chow mein and chicken chow mein. Food was tasty and not too oily. Service needs improvement. Our server assumed we wouldn't be able to use chopsticks and never offered us we could see other patrons being offered chopsticks though! read more

This was my first time ordering off the lunch menu, usually I get the dinner portion. I ordered sweet and sour chicken which also came with white steam rice, miso soup, salad, and fried bread. Of course, a fortune cookie. One thing about Szechwan, is that they don't skimp you. A lot of places overload on the veggies and the meat is lacking. Here they give you a ton of meat and sauce. You don't have to worry about being hungry. The portions of all the food was great, I had enough to make the lunch turn into my dinner as well. The flavors are all there. If you are in Orinda, I reccomend. read more

Excellent American style Chinese food. A new family favorite I expect the in-laws to demand when they visit as the new standard, which is decently high praise. I recommend anything fried. read more

Everything in this restaurant is delicious, I love their soups are very flavorful and rich. I also enjoy the ambiance very calm clean and they are always nice, I have never felt like if not at home. They are always cheerful and makes me feel like am home. I always go there I must have the sizzling rice soup. I order so much I always bring home. Portions are very generous. Sometimes people place the wrong order and they send me home with extra meals. I have to go because I need to start driving their way. read more

Szechwan Chinese Restaurant - Delicious chow main I will share more photos later. - Chinese Near Me - Orinda, California

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This could be the best Chinese food in the east bay. They are always consistent and accurate, and just plain delicious! Love the honey walnut shrimp, to die for. You really can't go wrong with any of their dishes. read more

The food was served hot, fresh and as I requested. The service was excellent Old school chinese restaurant over looking Orinda Country Club Recommend read more

I tried their crispy noodle chow mien. It was absolutely scrumptious!!! The noodles, pork, and the rest of ingredients combined made the dish over the top yummy! I will definitely be back to try other dishes . Kathy read more

Singapore Noodles and Mongolian Beef were excellent! Service was quick and courteous.