Since I moved to Orlando, the Taste of Chengdu always came up in conversation about good Chinese food. So it's been on my list for a long time. So when it hit the Michelin Guide, the urgency of my visit grew exponentially. So, in between shows at the Florida Fringe Festival, I took my chance and struck.
Ambiance is perfect. It's tucked away off of the Baldwin Park main street, meaning you basically have to be specifically seeking it out to find it. Inside, it's classically, mildly Chinese, and it has those awesome circle tables that have the giant Lazy Susan in the middle. I'm sure those have a real name I'm not aware of.
Service was very nice. The lady asked us what we like, what spice levels we're comfortable with, and gave us recommendations. It was hard to choose, since there were so many different options. It was hard to find a proper, current menu online, so we were basically seeing the menu for the first time.
We started off with the Dan Dan Noodle (Minced pork, veg). This was a warm up, only two Sichuan peppers for spice level. And it was lovely. Tons of noodles, completely slathered in the oily sauce that is customary with Sichuan cooking. Lot's of well-seasoned minced pork, and some steamed bok choy. A great little app.
We moved on to Dumplings Sichuan Style (Pork). And these were also good! A lot of the same flavors from the pork, but the dumplings were expertly crafted, holding their shape. And that's saying something, because with how slippery they were, we were dropping them left and right with our chopsticks. Just very yummy.
Onto the main entrees.
I personally ate the Pork in Garlic Sauce (Sauteed w. celery, bell pepper and wood ear mushroom). Very good! The pork was super succulent, and the veggies were all cooked through, just a touch of al dente. The zingy garlic sauce was paired well with the earthy mushrooms. Just a nice dish.
I also got to try the Beef in Hoisin Sauce (Beef Flank Steak with sweet hoisin sauce). These veggies had a little more of a bite to them, FYI, but slathered in all that hoisin, they were excellent. The texture the dish needed, because that beef was just tender tender. Very delicious and only slightly spicy meal.
Overall, this place did not disappoint. Given the reputation of Sichuan cooking, I was looking forward to being at least moderately uncomfortable with the heat levels of the meal, but it seems like they spotted us gringos from a mile away and took it easy on us. I'm gonna be more explicit next time with my desire for heat. And yes, next time, because I will be back. Soon.
Gladys Recagno
I loved this place, the food was exquisite and the service was excellent.
Mei
As someone born in Chengdu, I can confidently say the food here truly tastes like home—absolutely delicious! If you’re Chinese, you can rest assured this is the real deal, nothing like those pre-made dishes. And if you’re not Chinese, you’re more than welcome to come try it—Sichuan cuisine is one of the most famous and beloved cuisines in China, and you shouldn’t miss it. This is the only place in Orlando that offers truly authentic Sichuan food, and they’ve really perfected it!
Tay Jenkins
A beloved local-spot where the food is always perfect and service is also the best.
Thank you guys.
Dean Orrison
Excellent Food. High quality taste. I've eaten authentic Chinese in Hong Kong and this food was even better!👏👏
Livelife 2the fullest
Food was delicious. I got the whole fish
Joe Lee
I've been a customer at the colonial location since they opened and finally gotten around to visiting this location. This place doesn't offer things like rabbit meat or frog legs due to the clients in the area but the food quality is still superb. The atmosphere is also nicer here and the service is excellent. They still offer a lunch menu which has more american chinese
Pier F
Fantastic Sichuan food
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Milton Dorsey
Spectacular food plus really nice hospitality. Trust that the food is worth the bit of wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Green Tea Fried Rice
lin jianying
Compared to other Sichuan and Hunan restaurants in the city, the spice level here is much higher. Next time, I might ask for a milder . Perhaps other Sichuan restaurants in town have toned down the heat ? Of course, as a Southerners, we don 't have much authority to judge the spiciness of authentic Sichuan cuisine. However, after the first bite, my tongue went completely numb, making it difficult to taste anything else.
That being said, the dishes were well-cooked, with an aromatic flavor. The service was average, and the cups were too dirty.
Compared to several other Sichuan or Hunan restaurants in the city, the spiciness here is significantly higher. Maybe ask for it to be less spicy next time. Or maybe other Sichuan restaurants in the city have toned down the spiciness to cater to popular tastes. Of course, as a group of southerners, I am not qualified to comment on the spiciness of Sichuan food. However, after the first bite, my tongue was completely numb and I could no longer taste other flavors.
However, the vegetables were very dry and fragrant and tasted good. Service was average, cups were too dirty.
Quite authentic and the boss sounds like he is from Chengdu. Support fellow countrymen.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jamie McWilliams
Baldwin Park location. My husband and I had reservations at the Baldwin Park location about 3ish weeks ago. We had never been and we decided to sample several of the dishes that looked good, figuring we would take the leftovers home for dinner the next night. We probably spent about $200+ tip. The food was really good. My husband loved the Dan Dan Noodles and dumplings. I loved the hot and sour soup (actually the best I've ever had), the Dumplings and the crispy beef. We live about 40 minutes from there and it was definitely worth the drive.
So earlier tonight, we decided to get a to go order and get the items referenced above only. We started the drive and decided to just eat there if the had availability; if not, we would just order to go there and wait for it. We got there about 745P. The restaurant was busy, but certainly not completely filled and there were only 2 people at the bar. Tons of open seating there.
We were greeted at the door by a young man and we asked for a table for 2; he asked if we had reservations. I said we didn't, as initially we were getting a togo order. He walked over to a woman with medium/short hair and spoke to her, for what felt like forever about seating us. He came and said he wasn't going to seat us. I said, well can we sit at the bar. He spoke broken English and essential said something along the lines of closing. I said, Ok, then we'll just sit here and get a to go order. He went over to the woman again, and said it would be an hour for our to go order. My husband was livid and we left.
We walked outside and decided to try the West Colonial location. So I called and spoke to the sweetest girl. They were open until 930; we didn't need reservations and we could just walk in. We drove to the restaurant and it turns out to be super cute, renovated and the vibe was completely different. Great and attentive staff, food was excellent. The bill was about $65 and my husband left Annie a 25% tip, which she earned for her sweet persona and the great service she provided.
In all fairness I think the young man was embarrassed that he essentially turned us away. The woman at the bar, never looked over at us. We won't go back to the Baldwin Park location again; we will however, go back to the West Colonial location soon. I don't do rude well in my old age.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Andrew Li
This place is the real deal. As someone who eats Chinese food religiously, it is -without exaggeration- one of the best (if not THE best) Sichuanese place I’ve tried outside of China.
It executes the tried and true staples at an incredibly high level. The mapo tofu, boiled fish fillet, string beans, and cabbage were phenomenal. Flavors and textures were all 100% authentic and on point. My dad said the twice cooked pork is better than most versions he’s had in China (where he still lives). The value for money is unbeatable. $30 pp will leave you feeling stuffed.
Service was also great. Just a note that they have another location that supposedly caters to more “native Chinese” tastes. But from our experience, you really can’t go wrong with either. Can’t wait to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodle, Sichuan Cold Noodles, Mapo Tofu, Laziji Chengdu Chicken, 家常鱼片 fish with spicy chili sauce
Ana Connery
Chicken was slimy and pink, totally undercooked. Will not be back.
Since I moved to Orlando, the Taste of Chengdu always came up in conversation about good Chinese food. So it's been on my list for a long time. So when it hit the Michelin Guide, the urgency of my visit grew exponentially. So, in between shows at the Florida Fringe Festival, I took my chance and struck.
Ambiance is perfect. It's tucked away off of the Baldwin Park main street, meaning you basically have to be specifically seeking it out to find it. Inside, it's classically, mildly Chinese, and it has those awesome circle tables that have the giant Lazy Susan in the middle. I'm sure those have a real name I'm not aware of.
Service was very nice. The lady asked us what we like, what spice levels we're comfortable with, and gave us recommendations. It was hard to choose, since there were so many different options. It was hard to find a proper, current menu online, so we were basically seeing the menu for the first time.
We started off with the Dan Dan Noodle (Minced pork, veg). This was a warm up, only two Sichuan peppers for spice level. And it was lovely. Tons of noodles, completely slathered in the oily sauce that is customary with Sichuan cooking. Lot's of well-seasoned minced pork, and some steamed bok choy. A great little app.
We moved on to Dumplings Sichuan Style (Pork). And these were also good! A lot of the same flavors from the pork, but the dumplings were expertly crafted, holding their shape. And that's saying something, because with how slippery they were, we were dropping them left and right with our chopsticks. Just very yummy.
Onto the main entrees.
I personally ate the Pork in Garlic Sauce (Sauteed w. celery, bell pepper and wood ear mushroom). Very good! The pork was super succulent, and the veggies were all cooked through, just a touch of al dente. The zingy garlic sauce was paired well with the earthy mushrooms. Just a nice dish.
I also got to try the Beef in Hoisin Sauce (Beef Flank Steak with sweet hoisin sauce). These veggies had a little more of a bite to them, FYI, but slathered in all that hoisin, they were excellent. The texture the dish needed, because that beef was just tender tender. Very delicious and only slightly spicy meal.
Overall, this place did not disappoint. Given the reputation of Sichuan cooking, I was looking forward to being at least moderately uncomfortable with the heat levels of the meal, but it seems like they spotted us gringos from a mile away and took it easy on us. I'm gonna be more explicit next time with my desire for heat. And yes, next time, because I will be back. Soon.
I loved this place, the food was exquisite and the service was excellent.
As someone born in Chengdu, I can confidently say the food here truly tastes like home—absolutely delicious! If you’re Chinese, you can rest assured this is the real deal, nothing like those pre-made dishes. And if you’re not Chinese, you’re more than welcome to come try it—Sichuan cuisine is one of the most famous and beloved cuisines in China, and you shouldn’t miss it. This is the only place in Orlando that offers truly authentic Sichuan food, and they’ve really perfected it!
A beloved local-spot where the food is always perfect and service is also the best.
Thank you guys.
Excellent Food. High quality taste. I've eaten authentic Chinese in Hong Kong and this food was even better!👏👏
Food was delicious. I got the whole fish
I've been a customer at the colonial location since they opened and finally gotten around to visiting this location. This place doesn't offer things like rabbit meat or frog legs due to the clients in the area but the food quality is still superb. The atmosphere is also nicer here and the service is excellent. They still offer a lunch menu which has more american chinese
Fantastic Sichuan food
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Spectacular food plus really nice hospitality. Trust that the food is worth the bit of wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Green Tea Fried Rice
Compared to other Sichuan and Hunan restaurants in the city, the spice level here is much higher. Next time, I might ask for a milder . Perhaps other Sichuan restaurants in town have toned down the heat ? Of course, as a Southerners, we don 't have much authority to judge the spiciness of authentic Sichuan cuisine. However, after the first bite, my tongue went completely numb, making it difficult to taste anything else.
That being said, the dishes were well-cooked, with an aromatic flavor. The service was average, and the cups were too dirty.
Compared to several other Sichuan or Hunan restaurants in the city, the spiciness here is significantly higher. Maybe ask for it to be less spicy next time. Or maybe other Sichuan restaurants in the city have toned down the spiciness to cater to popular tastes. Of course, as a group of southerners, I am not qualified to comment on the spiciness of Sichuan food. However, after the first bite, my tongue was completely numb and I could no longer taste other flavors.
However, the vegetables were very dry and fragrant and tasted good. Service was average, cups were too dirty.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
Quite authentic and the boss sounds like he is from Chengdu. Support fellow countrymen.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Baldwin Park location. My husband and I had reservations at the Baldwin Park location about 3ish weeks ago. We had never been and we decided to sample several of the dishes that looked good, figuring we would take the leftovers home for dinner the next night. We probably spent about $200+ tip. The food was really good. My husband loved the Dan Dan Noodles and dumplings. I loved the hot and sour soup (actually the best I've ever had), the Dumplings and the crispy beef. We live about 40 minutes from there and it was definitely worth the drive.
So earlier tonight, we decided to get a to go order and get the items referenced above only. We started the drive and decided to just eat there if the had availability; if not, we would just order to go there and wait for it. We got there about 745P. The restaurant was busy, but certainly not completely filled and there were only 2 people at the bar. Tons of open seating there.
We were greeted at the door by a young man and we asked for a table for 2; he asked if we had reservations. I said we didn't, as initially we were getting a togo order. He walked over to a woman with medium/short hair and spoke to her, for what felt like forever about seating us. He came and said he wasn't going to seat us. I said, well can we sit at the bar. He spoke broken English and essential said something along the lines of closing. I said, Ok, then we'll just sit here and get a to go order. He went over to the woman again, and said it would be an hour for our to go order. My husband was livid and we left.
We walked outside and decided to try the West Colonial location. So I called and spoke to the sweetest girl. They were open until 930; we didn't need reservations and we could just walk in. We drove to the restaurant and it turns out to be super cute, renovated and the vibe was completely different. Great and attentive staff, food was excellent. The bill was about $65 and my husband left Annie a 25% tip, which she earned for her sweet persona and the great service she provided.
In all fairness I think the young man was embarrassed that he essentially turned us away. The woman at the bar, never looked over at us. We won't go back to the Baldwin Park location again; we will however, go back to the West Colonial location soon. I don't do rude well in my old age.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
This place is the real deal. As someone who eats Chinese food religiously, it is -without exaggeration- one of the best (if not THE best) Sichuanese place I’ve tried outside of China.
It executes the tried and true staples at an incredibly high level. The mapo tofu, boiled fish fillet, string beans, and cabbage were phenomenal. Flavors and textures were all 100% authentic and on point. My dad said the twice cooked pork is better than most versions he’s had in China (where he still lives). The value for money is unbeatable. $30 pp will leave you feeling stuffed.
Service was also great. Just a note that they have another location that supposedly caters to more “native Chinese” tastes. But from our experience, you really can’t go wrong with either. Can’t wait to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodle, Sichuan Cold Noodles, Mapo Tofu, Laziji Chengdu Chicken, 家常鱼片 fish with spicy chili sauce
Chicken was slimy and pink, totally undercooked. Will not be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 3
Food was pretty good but a little overpriced
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
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