All food felt authentic to me, and even for my Chinese friend. I especially enjoyed mapo tofu, Szechuan style fish, and desert soup (tang yuan).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
lisa foodie
Stopped by The Mandarin Chinese while hoping for some great Chinese food in town. The location was convenient, and the space itself is quite nice, with the added bonus of upstairs seating. Service was smooth; we came on a Friday evening, got seated right away, and dishes arrived in a steady flow.
Unfortunately, the experience was a bit mixed. The sizzling rice soup was disappointing; it came out lukewarm and didn’t sizzle at all, with a watered-down broth. Definitely underwhelming.
That said, the rest of the meal was much better. We ordered Spicy Beef Tendon, Salt and Pepper Tofu, Garlic Snow Pea Leaves, Eggplant in Spicy Sauce, and Kung Pao Chicken. Every dish was flavorful, and the Szechuan-style seasoning really stood out. The beef tendon dish, in particular, looked and tasted great.
Overall, while not everything hit the mark (and prices felt a bit high), the main dishes were strong enough to make it a solid option for Szechuan cravings; just maybe skip the soup.
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ramesh KS
Might look like a hole in the wall but good eatery with very quick service. Food is good.
Theo Wiggin
Such a nice restaurant, with incredibly professional and attentive staff. Their food was so amazingly delicious!! We got pork and bell pepper, Mongolian beef, dan dan noodles, roasted green beans, scallion pancakes, and pork potstickers. They were all sooooo good. The inside is also very fancy and nice, there's tablecloths, and two different floors to eat at. I highly recommend it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Susan
The food and the service stand out here. Careful attention to dietary details. Knowledgeable and very pleasant waitress. And they serve Sizzling Rice Soup which we had never found elsewhere on the Peninsula. Highly recommended!!
Kylie
Food was super yummy!! Every dish was delicious but their dan dan mien had the chewiest most textured noodles I've had in a while!
Swing Zhou
Service was good, not much people l, the restaurant was pretty quiet. Food was decent, but not amazing.
elsa choi
The Chinese food here is incredibly authentic—every bite was bursting with flavor! The owner’s warmth and the team’s hospitality made us feel right at home. We came as a group, and the combination of amazing company and truly standout dishes made it a night to remember. The pan-seared sablefish, in particular, was a highlight—perfectly cooked and unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Joanna
Every friend I’ve taken here wants to come back. Excellent Szechuan dishes! This place is so good, a lot of China arrive in every day. My absolute favorites are cooked seafood, beef, or pork, but everything on the menu is wonderful. Among our friends, it is known as the House of Spicy Pain, and until you have ascended your endorphins you’ll never know the sweet nuanced fragrance of the Szechuan peppercorn. Skip the white people pages and go direct to the specialties.
katrina Barney
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 A Surprise Find with Fresh Seafood and Big Flavors I found The Mandarin by accident while passing through Menlo Park — and it ended up being one of the best meals of my trip. The spot prawn was incredibly fresh and perfectly cooked. You could tell it was live just moments before it hit the plate — sweet, juicy, and tender. The highlight for me was the boiling fish — spicy, bold, and full of flavor. The fish was soft and delicate, served in a bubbling chili broth that packed just the right amount of heat. Everything was made fresh to order, and it showed. No shortcuts, no reheating — just great ingredients and great cooking. If you’re anywhere near the area, this place is absolutely worth a detour.
Amazing! Chicken soup was insanely good and they were so friendly. They ran after me to give me back my credit card
Qiang Yang
Food was ok but very overpriced
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Umaru Shin
Had birthday party here. The dishes were presented incredibly flavorful and fresh with seasonal ingredients.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Foard
First time here and it won't be my last. This restaurant had great service with delicious, wonderfully presented Asian dishes. Vast selection of menu items. Beautiful upstairs and downstairs dining room. Great for small or large parties. Bar seating with an extensive collection of wines and some beer. A little pricey, but that goes without saying if you're located in Menlo Park /Palo Alto Bay Area. Honestly, the food and service is worth the price though.
All food felt authentic to me, and even for my Chinese friend. I especially enjoyed mapo tofu, Szechuan style fish, and desert soup (tang yuan).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stopped by The Mandarin Chinese while hoping for some great Chinese food in town. The location was convenient, and the space itself is quite nice, with the added bonus of upstairs seating. Service was smooth; we came on a Friday evening, got seated right away, and dishes arrived in a steady flow.
Unfortunately, the experience was a bit mixed. The sizzling rice soup was disappointing; it came out lukewarm and didn’t sizzle at all, with a watered-down broth. Definitely underwhelming.
That said, the rest of the meal was much better. We ordered Spicy Beef Tendon, Salt and Pepper Tofu, Garlic Snow Pea Leaves, Eggplant in Spicy Sauce, and Kung Pao Chicken. Every dish was flavorful, and the Szechuan-style seasoning really stood out. The beef tendon dish, in particular, looked and tasted great.
Overall, while not everything hit the mark (and prices felt a bit high), the main dishes were strong enough to make it a solid option for Szechuan cravings; just maybe skip the soup.
Food: 4
Service: 4
Might look like a hole in the wall but good eatery with very quick service. Food is good.
Such a nice restaurant, with incredibly professional and attentive staff. Their food was so amazingly delicious!! We got pork and bell pepper, Mongolian beef, dan dan noodles, roasted green beans, scallion pancakes, and pork potstickers. They were all sooooo good. The inside is also very fancy and nice, there's tablecloths, and two different floors to eat at. I highly recommend it!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and the service stand out here. Careful attention to dietary details. Knowledgeable and very pleasant waitress. And they serve Sizzling Rice Soup which we had never found elsewhere on the Peninsula. Highly recommended!!
Food was super yummy!! Every dish was delicious but their dan dan mien had the chewiest most textured noodles I've had in a while!
Service was good, not much people l, the restaurant was pretty quiet. Food was decent, but not amazing.
The Chinese food here is incredibly authentic—every bite was bursting with flavor! The owner’s warmth and the team’s hospitality made us feel right at home. We came as a group, and the combination of amazing company and truly standout dishes made it a night to remember. The pan-seared sablefish, in particular, was a highlight—perfectly cooked and unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Every friend I’ve taken here wants to come back. Excellent Szechuan dishes! This place is so good, a lot of China arrive in every day. My absolute favorites are cooked seafood, beef, or pork, but everything on the menu is wonderful. Among our friends, it is known as the House of Spicy Pain, and until you have ascended your endorphins you’ll never know the sweet nuanced fragrance of the Szechuan peppercorn. Skip the white people pages and go direct to the specialties.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 A Surprise Find with Fresh Seafood and Big Flavors
I found The Mandarin by accident while passing through Menlo Park — and it ended up being one of the best meals of my trip.
The spot prawn was incredibly fresh and perfectly cooked. You could tell it was live just moments before it hit the plate — sweet, juicy, and tender.
The highlight for me was the boiling fish — spicy, bold, and full of flavor. The fish was soft and delicate, served in a bubbling chili broth that packed just the right amount of heat.
Everything was made fresh to order, and it showed. No shortcuts, no reheating — just great ingredients and great cooking.
If you’re anywhere near the area, this place is absolutely worth a detour.
Restaurantji Recommends
Amazing! Chicken soup was insanely good and they were so friendly. They ran after me to give me back my credit card
Food was ok but very overpriced
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Had birthday party here. The dishes were presented incredibly flavorful and fresh with seasonal ingredients.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time here and it won't be my last. This restaurant had great service with delicious, wonderfully presented Asian dishes. Vast selection of menu items. Beautiful upstairs and downstairs dining room. Great for small or large parties. Bar seating with an extensive collection of wines and some beer.
A little pricey, but that goes without saying if you're located in Menlo Park /Palo Alto Bay Area.
Honestly, the food and service is worth the price though.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Coconut Walnut Shrimp, Honey Walnut Shrimp
Delicious food, excellent service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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