I thought I came here a few months ago, but it was almost a year ago! This place never disappoints. A smiling waiter - who seemed super busy but had a huge smile on her face - just the right attitude for people ringing in the Easter weekend on a Good Friday. We enjoyed every dish! The chongqin spicy noodles, the salt and pepper shrimps, the sizzling cumin lamb, the fish in chili oil. Yum yum yum! We ordered the hottest version but it was not too spicy for us - it was very flavorful. The fresh cut red chillies they give you, was really spicy - the red bean spicy sauce was just right. We enjoyed the cool beers with the spicy food. It's a unique ambience for a Univ Ave restaurant- it's just a Chinese kitchen serving good food - like you came to a home and got served really well. Will come back again with more family members. Ps: another surprising thing - we were a party of 6 and they didn't automatically charge us the tip - I took care of them - because I was super satisfied and happy with my meal! read more

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It's hard to miss this one on the busy University Avenue with their bright red China elements -- and maybe really hard to beat too. This is probably the only Chinese restaurant around here with such an inviting outdoor patio, which makes it perfect for us since our dog babies can relax too. The menu strikes a really smart balance between authentic Sichuan spicy dishes and more Americanized Chinese classics, so there's something for everyone. The signature spicy fish fillet in flaming red oil is a must-try -- bold, fragrant, and so satisfying it might have just saved me an expensive flight back to China. The chili oil wontons are my personal favorite starter and never disappoint. This is an easy repeat spot for us, and we'll definitely go back around CNY days. read more

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I came here with a large group (9 or so people) and by the time everything was said and done, we had to be rolled out of there because we were so full! We started with two kettles of tea (chamomile and rose) and then went to town on their extensive menu. Although Im a vegetarian, I felt like they still had plenty of options for me which often feels rare at Chinese restaurants. I tried multiple things but my favorites were definitely the vegetables (pea shoots and green beens) and the scallion pancakes. The chowmein was also really good! While I didnt partake in the fish/meat dishes, from the looks around the table, it was pretty obvious that everything was delicious! The service was also phenomenal and the staff checked in on us often. At one point, it felt like a never ending revolving door of dishes being put on the table ans being taken away. The only thing I would love is if they served alcohol but despite that, everything was still fab! read more

If you love spicy food, this place does not disappoint. The Szechuan dishes are full of flavor with the perfect level of heat that keeps you coming back for more. Everything we ordered was super tasty and authentic! read more

Taste - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

A little hard to find street parking but there are parking garages around. Employees are exceptionally friendly. Food came out very quickly. Sesame chicken was a bit too sweet for me and could use more sesame flavor. Pea sprouts were nice and tender. Salt and pepper calamari had good flavor and crunch, however some were rubbery and chewy. House fried rice was our favorite but it only had 2 pieces of shrimp. read more

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These are two of my favorite Sichuan dishes, but was a bit disappointed with them at Taste. The prices are very inflated compared to other restaurants where the quality and taste is the same if not better. The bones in the chicken make it a bit difficult to eat. The fish cools down pretty quickly and isn't as enjoyable after a while. This place would be good for people who do not want as much spice and mala. Service and restaurant space is standard overall. Located on University Ave so it's nice to walk around and many places nearby. Overall, nothing especially wrong with the food, just felt very overpriced for any dish. Unlikely to return. read more

Taste - /Spicy Chicken Wing w/ Chili Pepper - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Here's finally some disappointment with Taste. I ordered the Yang Chou Fried Rice since they specifically say in the menu that it's Chinese Sausage and shrimp. But turns out it's just Spam/ Luncheon meat :( i was having high hope since they mention it so clearly. But i guess it's just any other Chinese restaurants that give Spam for chinese sausage. I'll give up Yang Chou for good :((. The Chong Quing Numbing Rice Noodle was just okay. broth is more bland comparing to the Spicy Braised beef. A few flaws from Taste but i will still come back considering so many good dishes ! read more

Taste - Yang Zhou Fried Rice - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Been coming here for more than half a decade and can't believe I never left a review. Don't be fooled by the location, this is an authentic Chinese restaurant! The food is surprisingly authentic Sichuan style cuisine. Yes, they do have some dishes to better serve their western audiences that are used to a certain type of "Chinese" food but the majority of their menu is authentic, flavorful, and prepared with care. Dishes that will pleasantly surprise you are the hot and sour shredded potatoes, spicy chicken wings with chilli peppers, and the eggplant with garlic sauce. The decor is modest and there are a lot of tables, both indoor and outdoor. It's very clean and well kept. This is a no frills place. The staff makes the whole place shine. They are always so attentive and thoughtful. Whether you are a bit of a regular and they know your order or it's your first time, they can help guide you through the menu and make sure you enjoy your time there. Many otherwise solid Chinese restaurants are notorious for having terrible service; this is a false dichotomy of course and one that thankfully this restaurant breaks. Overall, this is an authentic, no frills Chinese restaurant in the heart of Palo Alto that's always a solid choice! 4.5 stars read more

Went to Taste for dinner with a friend and ordered the boiled fish, shredded potatoes, and spicy chicken wing w/ chili pepper. The flavor of all three dishes were great, really well seasoned and satisfying. That said, the portion sizes felt a bit small for the price, which was a little disappointing. Still, I enjoyed the overall experience and would love to come and try the bobo chicken and picked fish next time! For dinner, I recommend coming around 5:30 before it gets super packed. read more

Taste - D6. / Taste Special Boiled Fish w/ Bean Sprouts in Hot Chili Oil - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

3.0: The tea flavored duck is OK. Kind of dry, and the tea flavor is not strong enough. But the duck flavor comes through. I recommend getting something more flavorful to go with it, like fried rice or fried noodles. I ordered regular white rice, and it wasn't quite enough. read more

Taste - Tea flavored duck $32 - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Met up with a friend for lunch and let her pick items as she's a bit particular and doesn't eat meat. Fortunately, as long as she can pick it out ordering isn't too painful. :) :: Hot and Sour Soup - I haven't had this soup in awhile as I'm sensitive to msg but their soup was flavorful, not overly salty, good amount of ingredients without a headache after. Major plus and GOOD Taste :: Salt and Pepper Shrimp - simple but a bit too much batter (for me) so 2 pcs was perfect. Friend loved it and took home leftovers - OKAY Taste :: Shrimp Dumpling - standard but props for thin skin. - YUMMY Taste :: Hong Kong- Style Chow Mein - it was okay and had better. Extremely crispy noodles (not tender inside) that softened with the bland gravy... MEH Taste Overall Taste rating: 3.5 stars Service ok and not sure if because we sat in the front patio and forgotten. Had to wave for service, go inside for containers, ask for the check and back inside to pay. - BAD Taste $45/person with tip and without drinks. Decent food and would only return if friend picked. Bathroom: unisex bathroom: clean and stocked read more

Taste - Late lunch - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Taste has been around university ave for a while and is popular among students and those work on or near campus. My friend always pick something to go before her ship: mala dry pot (they let you select veggies, meat and add on combos which is cool, overall not too expensive), plenty of appetizers some expensive some not (mouth watering chicken, scallion pancakes etc). service is quick. Staff is busy but very helpful and overall is nice. It is a bustling lunch and dinner spot with lots of turn over. The wait may not be too bad. Good comfort spicy Chinese food spot near campus read more

Taste - Mouth watering chicken - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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The Scallion Pancake appetizer is incredible! You have to try it! You'll probably reorder more of those, done very well here, in fact, best I've had!! read more

Taste - Scallion Pancake. Lots have mercy! This thing is so good!! Crispy! A bit drenched in oil.. but very tasty!! I loved it!! - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Delicious entrees, cumin lamb chow fun, yam and wood ear, excellent, fast service - I like that they let you enjoy the food without interrupting three times to ask how you like it! Lively, vibrant, noisy room, full of young energy! read more

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My friend craved for some Chinese food. So we dropped by here for a quick catchup. We ordered their signature fish dish, a stir fried pea sprout and a fried dough. Fried dough was okay. Pea sprout was tender and well seasoned. The fish was of a generous size and fresh. It was delicious! There were many other veggies hidden in the dish that tasted awesome along with the fish. Service was great! This place is not fancy but clean and cozy. We would love to come back again! read more

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A solid Chinese restaurant that I will be going to again. Decent vegetarian options and has a good mix of "safe" food options for kids and spicy foods for your adventurous friends. Food: great levels of flavors in each dish. The highlight was the tofu dish. I can't find it on the yelp menu, but you should be able to order it in person. Scallion pancakes were okay, not as flaky as I would have liked. The noodles were flavorful and good spice. Service: quick service but you did have to wave down your waiter. There was only one waitress that night so I'm sure she was busy working the whole restaurant. Waving down a waiter is also typical of most Asian restaurants so I didn't mind. They were on top of filling our water, which I appreciate! Ambiance: both indoor and outdoor seating. Comfortable restaurant and can fit around 40-50 people inside. Parking: lots of available street parking or parking lots nearby. If you come during dinner hours or the weekends it can be harder to find parking, so alott for an extra 5-7 minutes for parking. read more

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An exceptional dining experience. The presentation, flavors, and service all exceeded expectations. Each dish felt thoughtfully prepared, with fresh ingredients and bold, authentic flavors. The staff was knowledgeable and made excellent recommendations. This is not just a meal--it's an experience. Perfect for date night or special occasions. read more

Delicious!!!! Great lunch specials. I hear their sizzling beef is amazing ( I don't eat red meat). I love their: Kung pao chicken Mapu tofu Bo Bo chicken Dry braised green beans House special fried rice Bbq pork buns They have a cute outside patio which is awesome for summer. The service has always been perfection. read more

My go-to dish is the shrimp and pork shumai. Nothing fancy, but with each bite you get the pleasure of tasting shrimp. I tend to order appetizers and dim sum. I've enjoyed the potstickers ($12), Scallion pancakes ($7), bbq buns ($10) and Walnut Buns ($10) I keep coming back for the shumai ($10 for four). Parking can be a challenge, but so far I've lucked out and have grabbed a front door spot. I have yet to dine in, but my to-go order is always ready when promised. Here's What I Think...if you're in the area, give them a try. read more

Taste - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

They serve home taste food. Location is very convenient, downtown Palo Alto on University, but that also means high rent district, this is reflected on their pricing too. For 2 people we ordered soup, green bean, and Mongolian beef, before tips we were down $72. Wow!! Service is quick and friendly, and the whole place feels like typical Chinese restaurant, a bit cramped but clean. We came here before and we like their food. We would like to come again. This time around the green bean was a little overcooked. read more

Pretty authentic Chinese food. It is a tad overpriced but it's on university ave so that's what you're paying for. $10 for 3 crab rangoons is just a little too steep for me but it is good. The quality of everything is pretty good and fresh. The portions are decent as well. I will order from here again read more

Great food clean restaurant just a great experience, highly recommended. I grew up eating Chinese restaurant in San Francisco and there slowly going away but now I found this spot in University Ave. Palo Alto I can comeback to. read more

Taste - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Taste Restaurant has great food and delicious. Very reasonable price and great services . Tito N read more

Taste - Delicious food !! - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

The tan tan noodle is amazing, probably the best i've had. The flavor is deep and umami and the noodles have the perfect al dente, chewy texture. Will definitely come back specifically for this dish! read more

Taste - tantan noodle - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I ordered Lamb with stir-fried vegetable and fish. They came out within 15-20 minutes. I liked both dishes and you could ask for less chili oil and less spicy. The portion is big. It is good to share among people. Pricing is reasonable. The restaurant is located on a main road. You can easily find parkings in weekdays. The waitress was friendly and helpful. The restaurant also offers an outdoor seatings. I definitely come back to try other dishes in the near future. read more

Taste - Lamb with Vegetable - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Walking down University Ave and just enjoying the evening when we came across this place. And suddenly we were hungry. Amazing food! Definitely recommend this place! read more

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Ordered a spicy drypot through DoorDash. The good: beef is tender and flavorful. So are the other vegetables. The bad: the portion. I was shocked when I saw the size of the container. Will try dining in next time and see if it would change my rating. read more

Taste - Spicy drypot (delivery) with angus beef, ham, lotus root, imitated crabmeat, king oyster mushroom, bamboo shoots - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Very expensive for the quality of food. $60 for 2 dishes (including tip) We had the "sizzling" cumin lamb and beef chow fun. The lamb while having a good flavor had a lot of gristle and fat. It definitely didn't come out sizzling. The chow fun had very little meat and almost no flavor. We ended up mixing the lamb and chow fun together and created a decent dish. read more

Finally, we have decent szechuan food here in the south bay! We enjoyed everything we ordered: Bobo chicken, fish flavored shredded pork, salted egg yolk, fried pumpkin. Not cheap, but I'm willing to pay for the authentic szechuan taste (and big portion!) once in a while :) read more

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I got DoorDash from Taste and we were in the hospital starving from days of caring for our Mom. The food came with absolutely zero utensils for to-go/takeout food. Not even a napkin ... This is extremely inconvenient and upsetting for customers. read more

Best Chinese food in town, waitress are very polite. I like the traditional Chinese atmosphere, feels like back in China. read more

Taste - Best Chinese food in town! - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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Came here on CNY and was not impressed. -They had TONS of take-out orders that were stacked on 2 different tables for 4+ parties so big parties had to wait for smaller tables to become available. -I saw staff members straight up IGNORING delivery drivers. One guy stood for 20mins holding out his phone because NO ONE acknowledged him even though he kept saying "Hello?" Ambiance: Modern decor and casual vibes but it was incredibly loud inside. Food: Small servings for pretty pricey dishes. Ex: salt and pepper calamari had 10 pieces of calamari for a whooping $32. Taste was just fine... there are tons of alternatives that serve delicious dishes for much cheaper $$. I guess that's what you get for eating at downtown Palo Alto. Parking is also a nightmare around here too esp in the evenings and weekends. read more

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absolutely loved the scallion pancakes and mapo tofu! super spicy in the best way! I don't live close but would return in a heartbeat if I was nearby read more

Grabbed dinner here with my parents on February 15! Came around 6:15 pm and got a table for 3 right away, though it did get busy as the night went on. This is probably my 5th time visiting this restaurant. I haven't been back since before the pandemic. The dishes have noticeably decreased in quantity, but still such solid food! Taste has one of the BEST sweet and sour chicken dish I've ever had. It's a great balance, of obviously sweet and sour, and stayed crispy for the longest time! The other dishes to highlight are the mapo tofu, fried fish fillet with chili pepper, and woodear stir fried with Chinese yam. The mapo tofu was nicely seasoned! I'm not usually a fan of Szechuan peppers, but this one wasn't too numbing. The fried fish had A LOT of chili peppers on it, but was still nicely seasoned and crispy. This one was recommended to us by the waitress. Lastly, woodear mushrooms and Chinese yams are literally my favorite, so it's a must I go to a Chinese restaurant. The other dish we ordered was the pork wonton in chili oil. This was an OK dish. I wouldn't order it again. With that appetizer, 4 main dishes, and 3 orders of rice, we had a little bit left for to go. Overall, a solid Chinese restaurant, especially for Palo Alto! I would definitely come back, especially in a larger group. Service: 3.5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Atmosphere: 3/5 read more

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Ambiance is not anything special. We ordered the General Tso chicken (no good, tasted like the frozen heat up meals you can get at Trader Joe's) Beef and Broccoli (not satisfying, Panda Express puts it to shame) and the Veggie Chow mein. I wouldn't go back but if I had to I would order the veggie chow mein because atleast that was enjoyable. read more

The interior is modern, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I thought the wait staff were really nice and attentive! While the food at Taste is very good, I found the cumin lamb and the dry pot just a little too salty. When paired with rice, it gets a bit better, but it can still be a bit overwhelming. read more

Taste - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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We ordered the cumin lamb, green beans, and the tan tan noodles. All the dishes were delicious.

I ordered the Bo Bo Chicken, and I have to say I was pretty disappointed. After tax, it came to almost $50, which felt quite steep for what I received. The dish consisted of just a box of boiled veggies and a chicken breast with dipping sauce. For that price, I expected much more variety of meat and seafood. read more

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Horrible food, service and pricing. Overall 1 star as both appetizers were served room temperature, the quality of of the spicy bowl lamb was inedible (think tough, chewy, grisly), the flavor was decent, however the portions also so small for the high price. We went early so it was not busy so there was not a reason for the slow service. See the image of the bao -- to which is was glopped together and was undercooked. A definite skip forever. read more

Taste - Look how ugly the bao is... - Szechuan Near Me - Palo Alto, California

乡味老坛酸菜活鱼 4 whole fish, medium juicy, slightly bitter, noodles, minced pork, sour cabbage, flavorful 东坡扒肘子 3 huge portion, green veggies, meat slightly dry, sweet soy flavor 成都担担面 5 peanut flavor, not too spicy, enough sauce, flavorful read more