Little Szechuan
524 W University Dr, Tempe, AZ, 85281
Little Szechuan Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Tempe for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tempe for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Tempe for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
524 W University Dr
Tempe, AZ, 85281 - Phone (480) 966-7660
- Website https://www.littleszechuanaz.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Lisa K.
My boyfriend and I skipped the restaurant scene for Valentine's day and decided to order carry-out later on in the night. I have heard good things about this place but was surprised to see such negative reviews on Yelp. It seems, though, that people review based on the most amazing Chinese they've ever had and tend to get snobbish about it... I love Chinese food but I am certainly not an expert on places in the area so we decided to give this place a try anyway. I'm glad we did. The lady who took my order on the phone was very nice and courteous and seemed very warm when she greeted us in the restaurant. I ordered the Chicken Chow Mein and my boyfriend ordered the Sun Devil Spicy Chicken. I am always weary about ordering chicken dishes from chinese restaurants because sometimes the chicken can be just weird and disgusting but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the chicken tasted in the Chow Mein. The noodles were really thick, which is just the way I like them to be and the sauce tasted awesome as well. My boyfriend really liked his dish and was satisfied with how spicy it was... usually he orders a spicy dish and it is no where close to being spicy. Although we did not dine in the restaurant, we thought it looked cute and cozy, even though it looked a bit outdated. I'd like to see what it's like to dine in next time... and I will definitely be ordering carry-out again!
(4)Stefan K.
The food is best described as boring. I've tried 3 different dishes and they all were below average at best. One member of my party even walked out after taking a sip of his soup and a bite of his food. Funny thing was that i went in on 4/20 once and the owner said "remember! 4/20 today, don't party 2 much!" The interior is dated, but that isn't as big of a problem as the boring food. I'm surprised they have been in business for soo long.. I wish I could give them 3 stars but I just can't :(
(2)Jeffrey O.
Even though I'm Chinese American, I'm not that bad of a "Chinese Food" snob. I've eaten my share of "bad" Chinese Food at buffets, cafeterias, and even the garbage I try to make at home. Sometimes, eating out is all about "MPD" -- Mass Per Dollar -- where can I fill my belly the most by paying the least. Little Szechuan is the closet neighborhood Chinese restaurant, however I've been too scared to eat here. Why? From the outside, it looks like a porn shop. (Can I say that here?) It is a freestanding nondescript white brick building with all the windows blacked out, and no menu posted at the door. I like to look thru the windows before entering a place, so I at least know what I'm getting myself into. The only identifying thing about the outside of the restaurant is their sign. They just installed a new sign, which looks exactly like the old sign, but different color. But both signs exclaimed, "Open since 1976." Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Most Chinese restaurants are family owned and operated, with high staff turnover rates. If you have a successful restaurant, you may move on to Bigger and Better things, fix up your old place, or sell your business to someone else. Is this porn shop Chinese Restaurant circa 1970s some hidden Tempe gem of an institution? And what does it mean that only one other Yelper has reviewed this restaurant in its 30 year history? I finally convinced a friend to go with me. He told me to get used to the porn shop aesthetics, because there are plenty of other places in AZ that look like this. Its not about privacy, he assured me, its about that gosh darn summer Sun. Thus, I was comforted with the inside of the building, because it had the look and feel of the Chinese Restaurants I know and love in the SF Bay Area. 1970s wood paneled walls, "Orientalized" promotional knicknacks from Bud or Tsingtao, and other Asian artwork. I chatted with the friendly server, who informed me that she moved to AZ from China to attend ASU in the early 1970s, and eventually opened the restaurant after graduating. Indeed, there was history in this restaurant and on the walls. The menu had a lot of choices, including lunch specials. Did we find a hidden gem? Our first dish, Mu Shu Vegetables were great, so we remained hopeful for our main dishes. Then, our hopes were dashed. The Hunan Beef was spicy (actually, too spicy for me, but I'm a wimp), but the sauce had a weird texture, flavor, and color. Their House Special Chow Mein was very unspecial, and I forgot what was wrong with the homemade dumplings. Needless to say, I did not finish my dinner nor did I bring leftovers home. What a rollercoaster! --Looks bad from outside --Looks nicer inside --Food terrible --Service nice and friendly. The restaurant seems to have regular customers, and I applaud them. Maybe the restaurant makes some other dishes really great, or they like the ambiance, or whatever. I may try one of their lunch rice plates someday if I'm desperate, but alas, I'm still hunting for the best hole-in-the-wall Tempe Chinese Restaurant.
(2)Irene A.
I had a craving for chinese and wanted something in a pinch. I was looking for cheap but good. I found Little Szechuan. It was a short drive from my boyfriend's and still open on a Sunday night. I think the price for the food was set high for the amount of food we got. The service was also great. The lady behind the counter was very nice. She offered me water while I waited for my take out. I didn't have to wait long. I ordered chicken fried rice, orange chicken and crab puffs. The crab puffs were a bit on the skimpy side, but tasted good. The fried rice was a little dry and the orange chicken was cooked well. There are a few other chinese restaurants I want to try, but I'll keep it on my list of possible places to go back to if I really want chinese.
(3)Roger K.
One of our valley favorites! The spicy Szechuan noodle soup is a must with each meal. Everything we have tried has been good Chinese food, although somewhat Americanized to entertain the palates of their customer base. The owner is very nice and attentive and remembers our names and our favorite dishes despite the fact that we make it in only once a month or so.
(4)Sean T.
I'm giving this restaurant a full 5 stars because they definitely earned it. I must admit, though, that the food was not necessarily memorable. From what I can remember, it was decent and I felt perfectly fine the next day. Not sure what previous reviewers ordered there, but my stuff was fine! Unfortunately, it was not necessarily memorable either... Although I did have this cool rice soup (?) what was extremely steamy and came out sizzling! They had decent plum wine and hot green tea, too :) What really made us enjoy this place was the service, though. We came for a friend's birthday, and her sister originally planned for Oregano's. However, when we all *finally* found parking at Oreganos, we found out that there was an extremely long wait time (it's always packed, and I don't believe they take reservations there.) Also, there was a huge fight between some customer and the staff at Oregano's, which kind of scared us away. Since we had a relatively large group, we figured it would pretty much be midnight by the time we actually got any food--and we were starving! Luckily, our birthday friend is not a huge fan of crowds, so she pointed out Little Szechuan across the street. We all wandered over there to find that it was pretty empty, but it was also close to closing time (which we discovered later and felt very bad about--but they never complained or rushed us in the restaurant, and were nothing but kind to us the entire time!) We had a great time and were able to relax and enjoy ourselves. There was no stress, and our server/lady who runs the place was extremely friendly. She almost became a part of our birthday celebration :) Very kind and charismatic lady, as others have noted on here. Overall, we definitely enjoyed this place. The food was nothing extraordinary, nor was the restaurant itself in terms of space or decor, but it definitely had its charms and we felt very comfortable and welcome the entire time... even if we did stay way past the time they were closed. :)
(5)Z Z.
We were in town for Pat's Run and were craving Chinese good. It was between PF Changs and Little Szechuan. Glad we chose LS. Good, solid Chinese food at a very reasonable price. AND the owner/ hostess was very nice.
(4)Ava K.
I am sorry to say, we did not eat here, my friend and I went in Saturday evening, we were waiting to be seated, and had time to look around...dirty...we left.
(1)Brandon D.
This is really great food, great location right by the college, really affordable awesome authentic cuisine! The Kung Pau beef is my favorite along with the orange chicken... If your are vegetarian this is also the place for you with so many dishes ranging from noodles to soups to vegetable stir fry using only the most fresh ingredients.. Also my waiter Eddie request him awesome guy with a great sense of humor... Kept my drinks full and my food was hot and ready to eat in no time...this is family owned restaurant and they do only the best Chinese food in town!
(4)Leticia d.
Quick, tasty, and affordable. Restaurant staff and owner are super friendly.
(4)Shannon W.
This is THE best place in the whole country for Chinese food. My husband and I have been going there for 13 years and will never go anywhere else for Chinese. The owners are the best! They are so friendly and they treat us like family every time we come in. Lunch time gets really really busy but they handle it well and get the food out quickly. We eat the Kung Pao Beef. It's one of the few places in the valley that deep fries the meat. OMG it's sooooooo good! We like their crab puffs and eggrolls too. Their hot and spicy soup is bar none the best we've had. Our kids get the beef lomein and it's great too.
(5)Ian B.
I've never had a bad meal in this place. Quite the contrary actually, I've always had great eats in this place. My girlfriend's family is a chore to go out and eat with, and my food allergies tend to compound this complexity even further. Her mom and dad have recently gone Vegan, she's a vegetarian, and I can't eat chicken or fish due to some pretty industrial allergies. So most places just aren't options for us to all go out to eat. One of us will always slight the deal, making it so we can go get water as a group. But Little Szechuan takes care of all of our various and complex dietary needs like champions. The food is delicious, the service is funny and gets the job done, and the decor is vintage 1970's Jewish Christmas. If you want a great meal, and you like to eat as a group, drive out to Tempe and make it happen. Keep local business alive instead of going to a chain!
(5)Beth S.
Two thumbs up for yet another dive here in town. This little place is located directly across from Oreganos so the next time you find yourself waiting in an endless line there, look across the street and you'll find some delicious Chinese food! We found this place after attempting to go to Oreganos and were delightfully surprised. It is a stand-alone restaurant--not part of a strip mall. The decor is tacky and gaudy, but there is a warmth there because the family who owns and operates the place makes you feel welcome from the start. The food was very good. I had the moo shu pork and my son had chicken lo mein. The lo mein noodles are homemade and are thick! The moo shu was well done and the owner hand wrapped them for me herself. We also had the BoBo platter which is their version of PuPu and it was the typical fare but just seemed more fresh tasting. Everything was served piping hot which as we all know is a rarity in restaurants these days. Everything was flavorful and delicious. The service was excellent. The owner is sweet and kind and her son is the cook. They did great work and the next time I go to Gammage, I'm making a point to hit up Little Szechuan for our meal!
(3)Josh K.
2 stars because it's cheap. Other than that, it was the worst meal I've had in a while... Tried this place for lunch last week. I'm still getting over the separation anxiety from being so far away from my favorite Chinese spot. It was walking distance from my last office, but too far away now to do for lunch...It's been a challenge for me, but I'm working through it. So anyway, I come here with a coworker and we sit down. The place is pretty busy, which seemed like a good sign. It took a while to get our order taken, but once we did, the food was out in a matter of minutes. Not a good sign. I ordered the kung pao chicken...It was awful. There is just no other way to say it. Wet, gross chicken drenched in a bland sauce with listless vegetables and clumpy white rice. Terrible. Here's the thing: My dish was $5. The tab for the two of us was $12 with tax, so it's really, really cheap. Of course, you pay a pretty dear price later with the way you feel... I will never come back. Ever. But, if you're looking for really cheap, really crappy Chinese food, this is an option that you could try. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did.
(2)Amber M.
I've been coming to Little Szechuan for years and I am never disappointed. I wouldn't say this is authentic Szechuan but it is actually Chinese food. This place is owned by a family and the parents moved to the States from China. The decor is cute and includes many art in the style of china, the food is pretty typical dishes of seafood, chicken, beef, pork, and vegetarian options. If you're a food snob, probably not the best place for you, if you want a nice warm meal and looking for Chinese, this is the place for you. Wide verity of options, only type of restaurant like this I've seen with Salads. That's right, salads. Soups, fried rice, many appetizers, and meal options. I've brought many friends to this place to show off, and it's gone over well, they've all returned or gone with me again. The women who is always there is very kind and gets to know the frequent customers as well. Highly recommend.
(5)Tyler B.
A great family owned restaurant that serves up some authentic Chinese food. As a vegetarian, I will have to agree with what I saw in other reviews - get the spicy eggplant. Great for takeout if you live in the north Tempe area.
(5)Seth F.
If you have not tried the Moo Shu Pork, you are really missing out! I have been to this place on a number of occasions and always left wishing I had a bigger appetite. Every time I have been there, the service is impeccable! This is my favorite place in town to go for Chinese food.
(5)Andrew K.
I used to eat here every few weeks and I really enjoyed it. I'm no connoisseur of Chinese food, but this place is far and away more authentic, at least, than the American chain places, and the prices are really affordable. The service is great and the menu substantial. Try the Sun Devil Chicken, if they still have it on the menu. A bit spicy, but I always enjoyed it.
(4)Katie D.
It's just horrible, the worst food I've ever had in a restaurant. It bears no resemblance to any Chinese food I've ever eaten. And I was dying for good Chinese, not having any in my own small town! The decor is really just ugly, I can't even give credit for it being "kitchy", it's as bizarre as the food. The place has a sticky dirty feel to it, and the food is really inedible. I read good reviews somewhere, evidently not here. They have to be ringers, no reasonable person would recommend this food.
(1)Krislord E.
So, before heading out to Phoenix Zoo Zoolights, we figured we go eat dinner and usually that means Thai food. But out of nowhere I had an idea to eat something else. We narrowed it down to Chinese but not the usual places that I like or he likes. We wanted to try something new, a little adventure in our relationship, lol. I don't know how we decided on this place (searched Google) but we usually stay away from places close to ASU because sometimes reviews are from students who probably thinks anything above ramen noodles is a 5 star. No offense, I've been there. But off we went. First off, I like the place once inside. Asian lamps hanging, big mural masterpieces of Asian scenery. Most tables have lazy susans which ahhh home. The waitress/owner was great. She was lively, funny, engaging and overall nice. Before I get to the food, we noticed that alot of older people (meaning over 30, like me) came in and they all seemed to know the waitress/owner so we thought this place must be great if local patrons are coming in by the numbers. Everything that we ordered was pretty good. But I really loved my friends' dish which was the House Special Chicken. When I go back I will def get that. Yummy! And to top it all off, the waitress/owner gave us a wrapped gift saying thank you for coming. Wha-what? A box of cookies for a gift! Ginger cookies and they were good.
(4)Billy R.
I reather enjoy this place. The food is overall pretty damn decent and it's not expensive. The crab puffs are really good. I wanted to crawl inside of it, camp for three days and eat my way out like a tarantula wasp larva, but I had work.... It goes without saying, but the service is incredible. Everyone mentions it. The lady who works there gave me soup on the house simply because my girlfriend ordered a meal with it and I didn't and didn't want me to be lonely and without something to eat. That's rad. As I was leaving she also gave us free cookies. Fuck yeah! Each time I've been here, there've been loud-as-hell people for some reason. One time I went and there must've been, a World of Warcraft convention in town or something because there was a table full of kids with plastic battleaxes telling jokes with such punchlines as, "Wookie bowcaster," and "Purple light sabers!"
(4)Mike in CT N.
The best chow mein in Tempe (screw PF Changs!!). Whenever I go I look across the street to the Oregano's and just want to shout, "Sheep!" I get take out there at least 2-3 times a month. The food is great, the service is great. Yes, the place is a hole, but the best places always are!!! pv from Portland OR can suck it!!! Little Szechuan rocks!
(5)Jill V.
I usually order take out here and usually it is good. I SAY that lightly. Recently, I was craving chinese and figured hey- this place is usually good why not try it out as a sit down? My boyfriend and I went on our long travel.. approx 5 minutes down the road and sat down. The hostess was really sweet. And got our drink order and refills quickly. They had a vast beer selection which the boyfriend LOVED. His beer was ice cold just the way he likes it. We ordered. We first got our soups. Mine was pretty good. He liked his. That is where things hit the fan. The eggrolls were satisfactory. I make better ones. Secondly, the crab puffs which I asked intially if they used any or fake crab they said- No just cream cheese which I thought was great until I cracked it open. Had FAKE crab, which will end me up in Tempe St. Lukes quicker than Tempe PD arresting an underage drinker. Then our dishes arrived already hungry from the teaser of a soup. I got the beef and broccoli that was tough. My boyfriend got the orange beef which I thought was significantly better... even cold. So over all everything minus the crab puff incident. It was a 4 star place. But that definitely knocked it down a notch, and it would of been lower if I actually ate it.
(3)sophia c.
This is the closest Asian food I can find in my area, I figure give it a shot. I call in and ordered the chicken chow mein togo. For an order that's under $8 the portion is not too bad. I would like a little bit more flavor in it, but maybe I didn't order the right thing. I'm sure I'll try it again when I don't want to go far.
(2)Troy J.
I have often enjoyed Chinese food from a variety of places but this has to be one of my favorites. The owner is almost always in the front of the house and friendly and attentive. The food is pretty good and it is priced well. Dinner is better than lunch and though I have never tried the take-out option i have heard it is excellent. The food is authentic and prepared fresh. There is a bevy of options and everything I have ever eaten was tasty. If you are looking for good authentic, though slightly simple, Chinese food then Little Szechuan is the place for you. If you are looking for more Americanized style and are unwilling to give a small local owned business then there is a PF Changs at Mill and Uni.
(4)M E.
The food was excellent. I ordered Chicken Chow Mein and the noodles were thick and delicious. Though I'm giving it 3 stars because it looks like a complete dive - you cannot see in the windows from the outside and the door even is whited out. I didn't understand. Inside it was good. We came about 2:15 and they were closing for a bit at 2:30 so I felt bad. The waiter was nice and friendly and prompt (for the most part) so that was assuring. Everything made my mouth water. We walked here from College & University so it was a bit of a trek. I felt the staff (or the ones I encountered) were occupied since they were beginning to close. We were the only ones there due to the time and at one point - locked in. But hey, if I feel like making the trek again, I'll go back.
(4)Guillermo G.
Food was not great at all. Go to CHINA CHILI for the best chinese food in town. Atmosphere not great either. Just dumpy
(1)Rob K.
It pains me to only give this place two stars, because it's locally/family-owned, and it's kitschy decor is a time capsule from the 70's (that's a good thing!) But man, it's just not anything special, and also overpriced. I'm a dumplings and hot/sour soup guy. Get those right and I'll forgive almost anything. They get neither right. The dumpling serving is meager relative to what they charge, and the hot/sour soup has no pork or chicken - then adding it is as an extra was crazy expensive! They also don't have what other Chinese places call a "diet menu" - essentially normal entree options that you can have steamed rather than stir-fried with sauce on the side and brown rice. Not only isn't there a specific menu option for this, they declined to prepare a basic chicken with mixed vegetables for me in this way. Just "no" - even though the restaurant was basically empty and the kitchen was slow. Plus no brown rice. Breaks my heart - I so want to like them -
(2)Mitch G.
I truly have tried to allow for room for improvement at this place because honestly the woman who must own this place is as sweet as can be. I think her sons help run it at times and they are really nice too. BUT... personality does not a good Chinese restaurant make. After various visits over the course of a year and a half, I find it hard to offer more than 2 stars. My last visit sealed it for me as I was ridiculed by my friend whom I had earlier convinced to partake of Lil Szechuan's offerings. I have been banned from restaurant selection within the group as a result of my attempt to find more good than not here. One thing I get here is the brown rice. It is not really brown rice. It is white rice made to look brown by adding soy sauce. It is good as a house special. One of my girlfriends always gets the mu schu and swears its the best ever...I swear that she does not eat out much! If you like won ton soup this one is just average...just nothing special at all about it. Yesterday, my friend ordered cashew shrimp in a "delicate white sauce". "The sum of its parts are not worth more", he murmured and tried to shovel a "no thank you portion" into his mouth while politely reminding me with his eyes that I had committed an epic fail. Banished from my throne and unable to select food options for at least a month ( my own personal hell), I must bring a few more things up that need to be addressed here. Never have a menu where its possible that the first three items that a person may ask for are "no longer available". I ask that you always have coffee and tea available even if it is not immediately ready. And don't play a squeaky radio with fuzzy reception from a back room against a competing television as diners are baffling over their other senses of sight and smell. So sorry. I need Tott's Asian Diner back FAST!!!!
(2)ben h.
The menu here is hit or miss, but when it hits, it definitely hits. I'd recommend trying the spicy eggplant and the veggie mu shu. the mu shu remains my favorite of almost everywhere i've ever eaten - and i got around chinatown in chicago, believe you me. the rest of the menu that i've tried is average-to-good, but those two dishes really are worth a visit, especially at lunch time. the restaurant itself? i love the unintentionally kitschy aspect of it. the superfriendly staff have been there a long, long time, and have obviously decorated how they want to see it. after ducking in there every couple months while going to school down the street, it started to feel like my second living room.
(4)Elle T.
I'm so sorry because your service is rather friendly but I have to say: Ew. No. Don't. One star for food and one for service but I will never go here again. I've had my fair share of horrible American Chinese, but this I would not even finish. And there is never a time when I will pay someone more than once to make me food I will only throw away.
(2)Frances L.
Cute little space just off the beaten path, but still on a main stretch of University Dr. Locally-owned and run by the nicest lady ever. They make a mean hot and sour soup and have a lot of options for vegetarians, too. While their menu consists mostly of oily Americanized Chinese comfort classics, they still have their own touches of authenticity to them. Comfortable, casual, and tasty. Not my first choice for Chinese food in the greater Phoenix area, but so glad that they're there.
(3)jeremy L.
Stuck in Phoenix for the night and we headed out to eat at a Mexican restaurant that happened to be closed being a Sunday. I checked Yelp and saw the reviews for this place were decent. When we walked in the hostess/owner was very nice. The decor a little dumpy and the lighting bright so far from romantic or cozy. Tsingtao beer was nice and cold. We were starving so ordered a combo appetizer. Pretty good but not great. Than had a couple entrees. Kung pao beef was brutally bad. Inedible. Shrimp in lobster sauce was decent. A little bland but the ingredients fresh and the shrimp quality. Overall if your in the area and craving Chinese I would give it a shot. Owner operated. Lots of locals so maybe it's the only game in town and they know what to order. From what I hear if Mucho Gusto is open across the street (Mexican), skip this place. The Thai food place across the street is supposed to be good too.
(3)p v.
Nice service, real Chinese people, nice interior - nothing special but nice. OK I have lived in Sichuan Province. Why they are Little Sichuan I don't know. Please note I am spelling Sichuan Correctly using Pin Yin. This place's food does not even remotely taste like Sichuan Food. The appearance does not look like Sichuan Food, and the Smell is nothing like Sichuan food. I asked them in Chinese if they could make my food Ma-La, which is numbingly hot. I did not ask for La si ren (kill people hot). Just if they do make Sichuan Food they would be able to do this. OK, they could not do and I appreciate the honesty of their telling me. I ordered Chicken Eggplant. Nothing to it, not prepared correctly and the chicken was stringy and dry. Yum YUm!!! OK I did not get sick + 10 hours from lunch. Now I ordered some dumplings. Well I took one bite and did not eat another. The meat tasted strange and I thought someone has put soap in my mouth. I have eaten dumplings in China all over the place, in USA and I have to say, those where .....no good. When they would not give me my money back for the dumplings (cold, late, and soapy) i decided next time I'd go to the culture center... For people to say Authentic etc. I'd just say, Sorry you don't know what you are talking about. More authentic than fast food places? They do have Chinese Fast food places in China too. Fast Food Hong Kong tastes like fast food Chinese in USA. Go to the Chinese cultural center on the 40's block in Phoenix if you want anything even close to Sichuan. I know some people will have issue with me on all this. that is OK. You won't die here as far as I know, but clearly they are not even Little Szechuan. yi dien dien Sichuan (little little) Sichuan.
(1)Robert O.
A great little take out spot or dine in, the folks who work here are beyond nice and really make you feel comfortable, should you chose to dine in, the interior reminds me of....hmmmm...got it: the scene in casino where Robert DeNiro tails Sharon Stone to a diner wherein she is meeting her former lover/pimp James Woods. DeNiro sits down and chats with the two akwardly before dragging Woods outside and beating his ass to a bloody pulp. Consequently i am always leery that someone will stroll inside sit at my booth, grab my crab puff take a bite out of it, and then proceed to give me the James Woods treatment. ANYWAYS Little szechuan, or as that pretentious douche "PV from Portland" calls it little little Sichuan, is a tasty cheap and campy little restaurant great for lunch or dinner with an easy location along university as mentioned previous the crab puffs and sun devil chicken are phenom, the kung pao beef wasnt too bad either i love little szechuan, but -* cause they never seem to be open when i try to eat there 8-(
(3)Anita W.
great food owner and waiter are sooo nice :) Try the curry tofu and crab puffs!
(5)Dawei Z.
cheaper than a pair of chop sticks. food wise: I have been to lots of Chinese restaurants in NJ, MA, GA and NY, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. and this one provides food that we call it "'Chinese food' for Americans". Even on that standard, i give it a 1 out of 5. service wise: the 5 of us were from out of town for a conference after which we thought we could have some snack food w/ beer back in hotel. therefore, we paid this place a visit. One of my friends is vegetarian so we ordered egg roll for him. we ordered 3 from appetizer menu and one dish. that takes them 30 minutes to make. Then before i left with my takeout, i checked the bag and there were only 2 pairs of chopsticks! I told the woman (mid-age) there we have 5 ppl. and she gave me 2 more pairs. I asked her for one more pair and she said to me "you don't need chopsticks to eat egg roll," in referring to my vegetarian friend. Out of disgust, i asked her "does one extra pair gonna cost you anything?" and she replied w/ her high pitch voice, "everything costs money!" I have never been to a restaurant which would argue w/ customers over a pair of chop stick.
(1)John P.
Big Trouble in Little Szechuan would be too harsh a review and it's not worthy of a great wail but I was totally underwhelmed by the food on offer and food wise it seriously is a step above the mall food court but even a Pei Way on a good day is more than a match for this evening's meal. Staff are great but everything else is pretty weak other than the noodles which are really really good. The spring roll, egg, hot and sour soup and the kung pao all look the part but it's all monotonous with little variation in texture and taste. E.g you could make this from Walmart ingredients and get the same kinda shiny sauce for about the same cost It's not going to kill you and for lunch at a reduced rate may get to 2.5 to 3 but there's just way too many good places nearby to consider this as a repeat visit.
(2)Geoff O.
I had greater hopes for Little Szechuan over the nearby Mr. Hunan as the latter is simply a carry out joint. However, despite the nice colorful dining room, the food at Little Szechuan was fairly bland. I suppose theoretically these two Chinese joints specialize in the regional cuisine of their names, but there is little difference in menu or taste. One thing I will say is that my waitress was extraordinarily nice at Little Szechuan. I was studying Arabic at the time and we had a really friendly, fun conversation about language. She helped make an incredibly dull meal an actually rewarding experience.
(2)Gretchen l.
This is my favorite place for Chinese food!! I have been going here for the past 6 years and i have never been disappointed. The hostess and owner is the sweetest and kindest women i have ever met, and funny too! The chicken chow mein and the vegetable fried rice are divine and the flavors are unlike anything I have ever had. People think this place is "dumpy" but i guess most people just don't understand mom and pop shops as well as Asian decor. The food is always hot, hot, hot and their service is fast. People just need to be willing to take risks when dining out because its usually the mom and pop restaurants that hold the best treasures and this is no exception.
(5)Jeremy C.
We had a great time getting to know the owner Swani. She and her husband shared how they have been in business here in Tempe for almost 40 years. The food and service are top knotch! They were even nice enough to accommodate our huge party of 30 people. Thank you for the great service and amazing food. We will be back again for sure.
(5)Debra T.
We've been coming here for a few years and have always had great service and great food. Swani is always happy to see returning customers and pretty much greets everyone by name and she'll let you know if she hasn't seen you in a while! If you like it spicy, my new favorite is the Sun Devil Chicken.
(5)Shaena R.
Placed a pick up order through grubhub and even called to confirm they got the order. Was told it would be ready in 20 minutes. Gave them a little extra time and got there 35 minutes later. As soon as I got there I had to wait another 15 minutes after the 5 minutes it took to pay. All I got was a vegetarian dish so I KNOW they didn't even start making it until I arrived. Well what's the point of placing a pick up order then??? Plus the extra time allowed me to assess how messy the place was. Definitely won't come here again.
(1)Shari G.
I love the fact that the woman that served us, is so friendly. I would guess she is the owner, with the care and attention she has shown us the three times we've been here. The food is the most important thing to me, and it's ok. I really would like business to thrive here, so it's really hard to say the food is "ok". (Blame it on the fact that I've gotten pickier over the years.) I had a combo of mu-shu pork, egg roll, rice, cream cheese puff and chow mein. The crepe for the mu-shu was too thin to pick it up (they were pre-rolled for the combo) without it falling apart. But I enjoyed it with the hoisin sauce. The combo also came with soup. I got the Hot and Sour Soup and enjoyed it with the fried chips. I love love love supporting local small businesses. The but, to that, is that small businesses don't always have the funds to redecorate and have everything look fresh and tip-top. The outside is poorly designed and the inside looks like it needs a make-over.... but really! What's important to me is the people and the food. So, stop in and give it a try!
(4)Jennifer H.
I got take-out with a friend about 3 weeks ago from here for the first and I got the Chinese Eggplant with Spicy Sauce with steamed white rice(they don't have plain brown rice.) The menu does not state this, but the dish has little carrot cubes and peas, which added some variety that I have not seen in eggplant dishes at other Asian restaurants. I would say this is one of the better versions of eggplant I have had, though I wish they had brown rice. The only problem that came up was that our order was mixed up with someone else's order at the cash register. So we paid for someone else's dinner and then had to void the transaction and repay. Also, it was about 8 PM when we came for pick up and the place was void of employees, so we stood around for a few minutes waiting for someone to help us. In short, I would go back just for this dish, but otherwise, there isn't much else on the menu that is interesting to me.
(4)Zach S.
The service here makes you feel at home. They are extremely warm and inviting and remember most of their customers. They make you feel special and happy to have you a customer. That alone makes me come back -- not enough places these days truly put customer relationships first. I usually get their house special chicken, which is a fried chicken with amazing seasonings. Everything here is pretty tasty - you can't go wrong. Their vegetarian egg rolls are delicious. Everything is extremely affordable, especially if you order a lunch or dinner special. Little Szechuan is a family-owned small business and it is a great part of the Tempe community. You'll enjoy your experience!
(5)John C.
My girlfriend and I have been going here for the past year or so and are absolutely obsessed. The Orange Beef is a must, perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, not absolutely drowned in sauce and overall just perfectly satisfying. We also frequent the chicken special, the house fried rice, kung pao and their crab puffs are the best in town. We're no slouches when it comes to Chinese either, she's from LA and I'm from a DC Jewish family that definitely upheld the Christmas tradition, except with a different restaurant ever year. All of this and Swani is the absolute greatest, always wonderful to speak to and takes care of her customers.
(5)Christy A.
Their ma-po tofu was excellent and I got take out for lunch.
(3)Ron A.
I've been coming here for at least ten years. It's one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the valley. Their food is always excellent. The family that owns it is very friendly and welcoming. Their lunch and dinner combination plates are a great deal. I highly recommend it.
(5)Anthony S.
Wow, I walked in around 6:30p Sunday and stood around for a few minutes waiting to be seated, but there was no employee in sight. I walked around the dining area, tried peering into the kitchen, and even walked behind the bar to see if anyone would come out and notice. And then... I just left, probably could have taken a few shots for the road.
(1)Kiera F.
My favorite place for Chinese near ASU. I have been a regular for four years and can't wait to come back after every summer. Fried rice is always a favorite, along with dumplings! Only thing I don't eat on the menu is the seafood due to my allergies! Swani is the best!
(5)Julie A.
Delicious vegan / vegetarian options. Clean, fresh, crispy, savory dishes and huge portions. Plus the owners are super nice and we are always excited to go there! Our favorite is the spicy eggplant dish. Try it with cashews and broccoli! :) Definitely the best restaurant in Tempe.
(5)Sue C.
The lemon white meat chicken ($8), Mongolian beef ($9), and chicken fried rice were excellent. Had lunch here with my daughter and all the other reviewers are right--Swani is super nice and the service is friendly. A pet peeve of mine involves Mongolian beef pieces that are too large for a single bite, and yet most Chinese restaurants only provide a plastic fork and no knife. Grrrrrrrr! The beef here was actually cut in bite sized pieces and they have REAL silverware, including a knife (didn't need it though). There are tables and chairs, one large table for larger groups, and a reasonably clean fish tank. Yep, you can be sure that your fish is indeed fresh. I definitely recommend this place.
(4)Bailey V.
We just moved in next door and we love this place! The owners are super nice and it's overall a wonderful vibe. Food is fantastic, our favorites are the fried rice, especially shrimp fried rice, orange chicken and lemon chicken. Would recommend this place to everyone!
(5)Miguel S.
My new favorite Chinese place to eat at. Delicious all around and the service is superb. If you eat here you won't regret it I promise. Lol
(5)Dana M.
The food here is fantastic and the owner, Swani, is the sweetest lady! The building is nothing too flashy, very casual atmosphere. The service is definitely top notch here and the house chicken is always delicious. They have a great lunch special, but make sure to check the hours before visiting, as they do close for a short period during the afternoon.
(4)Jasmine R.
Ordered the potstickers, spicy chicken wings and chicken chow mien. First time in Arizona and first time at this restaurant. Everything was excellent!!
(5)Cathy C.
The food is FANTASTIC and the portions are fairly large. Family run and they are so nice. I eat there almost every day for lunch and have been know to drive in from Maricopa for dinner. It's the best Chinese food around and Swani and her son Eddie are awesome!
(5)Trevor C.
Always great food, and fresh! Especially the shrimp. Service is always attentive and through.
(5)Kara B.
I love this place! The signage and building aren't flashy, but the food is always yummy and satisfying. My favorite is the hot & sour soup (good spice but not too hot, and a nice meaty flavor that is often lacking elsewhere), although I've had serious next day cravings for pretty much everything I've ordered here! The owner is super nice too. Previous reviewers have been wary of the place being empty, but usually when I'm there several people stop in to get their carry out too, so I think that's what a lot of their customers do. Mmm now I want to order more!
(5)Danny H.
Great little place West of Mill on University. Went in late after a class and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Food was great and very well priced. I will go back.
(4)Bonnie P.
So friendly and welcoming. The owner sent us some soup to enjoy while we waited for our order knowing we were from out of town and would probably never come again. The food was a little better than most Chinese food in this price range outside of china town in any city USA. I had the moo shu vegetables and the pancakes tasted like they were freshly made, not the usual thin hard ones you get with take out. Over all food was tasty and not greasy. The outside does look a little creepy, even my 12 year old commented on how unfriendly the door is. Well, maybe they are screening their clients. If I was a local I would make this one if my regular casual dining spots.
(4)Shane S.
I love eating here! The moo shu pork is my favorite, and the house special chicken is a great backup. And Swanee is always happy to see me and my friends when we come in. They are a great local business, downtown Tempe is lucky to have them.
(5)Zack K.
Perfect place for a first date. Skip Changs and go somewhere off the beaten path. I promise you won't regret it. The little Szechuan chow mein is full of greens, rich and delicious. Head over for lunch for less than the price of Panda Express. Support local cuisine. Super friendly staff and the place is magical. I will be going back!
(5)Hannah S.
It was nice and quaint. Delicious food especially the egg foo young pork dish. The owner was super friendly and fun to chat with.
(4)Danielle K.
This was a great place. Great decor and lots of light. We had the sweet and sour chicken and szeauchan shrimp, both were great. The Bo-Bo platter was great. The owner was a sweetheart and very nice. We will come back.
(4)Cheng Z.
not really Chinese food:( it is not Delicious . As a Chinese, 哦呵呵。but the service is really good.
(1)David L.
Really good "mom and pop" Chinese restaurant. People tell me this type of food isn't actually Chinese, but if you're like me you don't care. As it's a small business, the decorating and the building itself leave something to be desired, although they've recently re-done the interior. But who really cares about decorating when you want to eat good food?
(5)Ming P.
Used to come here back in the day and glad to see it is still around. Love the food and the owners. Their Mapo dofu is the best I've had since coming back from living in Asia, and it's not even on the menu. They'll do things in Chinese style if you ask, or make it so it matches your idea of Americanized Chinese food (which my husband likes). Still glad they are around and still awesome.
(5)Marc C.
First time here, but never to return. This place is Creepy! Got the runs the next day, ugh. :(
(2)Simi S.
Delicious lo mein and vey friendly family owned place. Would definitely order again
(5)Seaver S.
Best Asian food in phoenix, lady that owns the place has the best customer service. Prices are good and food is great. Defiantly worth a trip in.
(5)Casey K.
I really enjoy going here with my boyfriend for lunch cause its really cheap. It comes with very tasty hot tea and either egg drop or hot and sour soup and wontons (maybe filled with cheese and meat?) all for less than 10 dollars. I usually get their house special chicken which is very tasty but be sure to ask for extra yummy sauce since it tends to be dry without it. Wish their lunch hour would extend til 3:30 like most Chinese places. And its americanized Chinese. If you want authentic, go to the Chinese cultural center.
(5)Patrick L.
Couldn't of loved the woman in charge more! She was out going, kind, and passionate about her job. I highly recommend the house chicken, it was absolutely delicious!
(5)Brian S.
Special gem! Great small family restaurant, amazing food, terrific prices, and a very friendly staff. I went with a large group (20 people), we called at the last minute and they took great care of us. I would highly recommend this restaurant!!!
(5)Amber Elizabeth M.
The food here isn't too much to write home about, but the service was top of the line. Our server shared a very touching story in broken English after I mentioned I liked the crab rangoons. She pointed to a recently empty table and said that they couple were in the airforce and recently married and that Little Szechuan had made and gifted over 200 rangoons as a wedding gift for their service for "our freedom." I wish I had recorded it because her broken English made it that much more memorable and touching. I thought it was totally sweet and would support any restaurant with that kind of heart behind it. Plus, the beers were flowing and our food fresh and hot even though we were clearly the last customers on a Friday night. Score!
(4)John H.
Great food and service. The owner is kind and respectful and little Szechuan is everything you want out of a small family owned business. I will continue to come back time and time again!
(5)Neha J.
Very friendly owner, simple place with very delicous food! Went to have a quick dinner with my boyriend and had the egg rolls, shrimp sauté and spicy fried rice. Felt like I was a home with the warm welcoming service and simple food!
(5)Chrystalle B.
Im so sad to see so many negative reviews for this place! Ive been going here for years. Its the best (decently priced) Chinese food Ive found in the valley. I always get take out, but whenever I go in its empty. The lady who runs it is super sweet, she always puts extra hot mustard w/ my order. The real stuff too, not that packet disgustingness. My wonton soup is always flavorful and tasty. They have the best chicken fried rice Ive found out here, and their crab rangoons (puffs on their menu) always satisfy.
(4)Erika D.
I go to Little Szechuan about 6-8 times a year. Always pleased with my meal and service. Buddha Delight is probably my favorite entrée on the menu. Crisp, fresh veg and savory sauce. Owner is delightful. Atmosphere is calm and relaxing. Nice environment to have a quiet dinner or catch up with friends. My friends and family from out of town always enjoy this restaurant.
(5)Beth C.
I had the shrimp in lobster sauce and it was delicious! I wish there were more shrimps and less green peppers though. Also the egg flower soup was good but it was spicy. I'm not used to egg flower soup being spicy. I also ordered the crab puffs and those were divine! Especially with the sweet orange sauce!
(4)Anita W.
great food owner and waiter are sooo nice :) Try the curry tofu and crab puffs!
(5)Ava K.
I am sorry to say, we did not eat here, my friend and I went in Saturday evening, we were waiting to be seated, and had time to look around...dirty...we left.
(1)Brandon D.
This is really great food, great location right by the college, really affordable awesome authentic cuisine! The Kung Pau beef is my favorite along with the orange chicken... If your are vegetarian this is also the place for you with so many dishes ranging from noodles to soups to vegetable stir fry using only the most fresh ingredients.. Also my waiter Eddie request him awesome guy with a great sense of humor... Kept my drinks full and my food was hot and ready to eat in no time...this is family owned restaurant and they do only the best Chinese food in town!
(4)Leticia d.
Quick, tasty, and affordable. Restaurant staff and owner are super friendly.
(4)Beth S.
Two thumbs up for yet another dive here in town. This little place is located directly across from Oreganos so the next time you find yourself waiting in an endless line there, look across the street and you'll find some delicious Chinese food! We found this place after attempting to go to Oreganos and were delightfully surprised. It is a stand-alone restaurant--not part of a strip mall. The decor is tacky and gaudy, but there is a warmth there because the family who owns and operates the place makes you feel welcome from the start. The food was very good. I had the moo shu pork and my son had chicken lo mein. The lo mein noodles are homemade and are thick! The moo shu was well done and the owner hand wrapped them for me herself. We also had the BoBo platter which is their version of PuPu and it was the typical fare but just seemed more fresh tasting. Everything was served piping hot which as we all know is a rarity in restaurants these days. Everything was flavorful and delicious. The service was excellent. The owner is sweet and kind and her son is the cook. They did great work and the next time I go to Gammage, I'm making a point to hit up Little Szechuan for our meal!
(3)Josh K.
2 stars because it's cheap. Other than that, it was the worst meal I've had in a while... Tried this place for lunch last week. I'm still getting over the separation anxiety from being so far away from my favorite Chinese spot. It was walking distance from my last office, but too far away now to do for lunch...It's been a challenge for me, but I'm working through it. So anyway, I come here with a coworker and we sit down. The place is pretty busy, which seemed like a good sign. It took a while to get our order taken, but once we did, the food was out in a matter of minutes. Not a good sign. I ordered the kung pao chicken...It was awful. There is just no other way to say it. Wet, gross chicken drenched in a bland sauce with listless vegetables and clumpy white rice. Terrible. Here's the thing: My dish was $5. The tab for the two of us was $12 with tax, so it's really, really cheap. Of course, you pay a pretty dear price later with the way you feel... I will never come back. Ever. But, if you're looking for really cheap, really crappy Chinese food, this is an option that you could try. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did.
(2)Amber M.
I've been coming to Little Szechuan for years and I am never disappointed. I wouldn't say this is authentic Szechuan but it is actually Chinese food. This place is owned by a family and the parents moved to the States from China. The decor is cute and includes many art in the style of china, the food is pretty typical dishes of seafood, chicken, beef, pork, and vegetarian options. If you're a food snob, probably not the best place for you, if you want a nice warm meal and looking for Chinese, this is the place for you. Wide verity of options, only type of restaurant like this I've seen with Salads. That's right, salads. Soups, fried rice, many appetizers, and meal options. I've brought many friends to this place to show off, and it's gone over well, they've all returned or gone with me again. The women who is always there is very kind and gets to know the frequent customers as well. Highly recommend.
(5)Katie D.
It's just horrible, the worst food I've ever had in a restaurant. It bears no resemblance to any Chinese food I've ever eaten. And I was dying for good Chinese, not having any in my own small town! The decor is really just ugly, I can't even give credit for it being "kitchy", it's as bizarre as the food. The place has a sticky dirty feel to it, and the food is really inedible. I read good reviews somewhere, evidently not here. They have to be ringers, no reasonable person would recommend this food.
(1)Krislord E.
So, before heading out to Phoenix Zoo Zoolights, we figured we go eat dinner and usually that means Thai food. But out of nowhere I had an idea to eat something else. We narrowed it down to Chinese but not the usual places that I like or he likes. We wanted to try something new, a little adventure in our relationship, lol. I don't know how we decided on this place (searched Google) but we usually stay away from places close to ASU because sometimes reviews are from students who probably thinks anything above ramen noodles is a 5 star. No offense, I've been there. But off we went. First off, I like the place once inside. Asian lamps hanging, big mural masterpieces of Asian scenery. Most tables have lazy susans which ahhh home. The waitress/owner was great. She was lively, funny, engaging and overall nice. Before I get to the food, we noticed that alot of older people (meaning over 30, like me) came in and they all seemed to know the waitress/owner so we thought this place must be great if local patrons are coming in by the numbers. Everything that we ordered was pretty good. But I really loved my friends' dish which was the House Special Chicken. When I go back I will def get that. Yummy! And to top it all off, the waitress/owner gave us a wrapped gift saying thank you for coming. Wha-what? A box of cookies for a gift! Ginger cookies and they were good.
(4)Billy R.
I reather enjoy this place. The food is overall pretty damn decent and it's not expensive. The crab puffs are really good. I wanted to crawl inside of it, camp for three days and eat my way out like a tarantula wasp larva, but I had work.... It goes without saying, but the service is incredible. Everyone mentions it. The lady who works there gave me soup on the house simply because my girlfriend ordered a meal with it and I didn't and didn't want me to be lonely and without something to eat. That's rad. As I was leaving she also gave us free cookies. Fuck yeah! Each time I've been here, there've been loud-as-hell people for some reason. One time I went and there must've been, a World of Warcraft convention in town or something because there was a table full of kids with plastic battleaxes telling jokes with such punchlines as, "Wookie bowcaster," and "Purple light sabers!"
(4)Mike in CT N.
The best chow mein in Tempe (screw PF Changs!!). Whenever I go I look across the street to the Oregano's and just want to shout, "Sheep!" I get take out there at least 2-3 times a month. The food is great, the service is great. Yes, the place is a hole, but the best places always are!!! pv from Portland OR can suck it!!! Little Szechuan rocks!
(5)Robert O.
A great little take out spot or dine in, the folks who work here are beyond nice and really make you feel comfortable, should you chose to dine in, the interior reminds me of....hmmmm...got it: the scene in casino where Robert DeNiro tails Sharon Stone to a diner wherein she is meeting her former lover/pimp James Woods. DeNiro sits down and chats with the two akwardly before dragging Woods outside and beating his ass to a bloody pulp. Consequently i am always leery that someone will stroll inside sit at my booth, grab my crab puff take a bite out of it, and then proceed to give me the James Woods treatment. ANYWAYS Little szechuan, or as that pretentious douche "PV from Portland" calls it little little Sichuan, is a tasty cheap and campy little restaurant great for lunch or dinner with an easy location along university as mentioned previous the crab puffs and sun devil chicken are phenom, the kung pao beef wasnt too bad either i love little szechuan, but -* cause they never seem to be open when i try to eat there 8-(
(3)jeremy L.
Stuck in Phoenix for the night and we headed out to eat at a Mexican restaurant that happened to be closed being a Sunday. I checked Yelp and saw the reviews for this place were decent. When we walked in the hostess/owner was very nice. The decor a little dumpy and the lighting bright so far from romantic or cozy. Tsingtao beer was nice and cold. We were starving so ordered a combo appetizer. Pretty good but not great. Than had a couple entrees. Kung pao beef was brutally bad. Inedible. Shrimp in lobster sauce was decent. A little bland but the ingredients fresh and the shrimp quality. Overall if your in the area and craving Chinese I would give it a shot. Owner operated. Lots of locals so maybe it's the only game in town and they know what to order. From what I hear if Mucho Gusto is open across the street (Mexican), skip this place. The Thai food place across the street is supposed to be good too.
(3)p v.
Nice service, real Chinese people, nice interior - nothing special but nice. OK I have lived in Sichuan Province. Why they are Little Sichuan I don't know. Please note I am spelling Sichuan Correctly using Pin Yin. This place's food does not even remotely taste like Sichuan Food. The appearance does not look like Sichuan Food, and the Smell is nothing like Sichuan food. I asked them in Chinese if they could make my food Ma-La, which is numbingly hot. I did not ask for La si ren (kill people hot). Just if they do make Sichuan Food they would be able to do this. OK, they could not do and I appreciate the honesty of their telling me. I ordered Chicken Eggplant. Nothing to it, not prepared correctly and the chicken was stringy and dry. Yum YUm!!! OK I did not get sick + 10 hours from lunch. Now I ordered some dumplings. Well I took one bite and did not eat another. The meat tasted strange and I thought someone has put soap in my mouth. I have eaten dumplings in China all over the place, in USA and I have to say, those where .....no good. When they would not give me my money back for the dumplings (cold, late, and soapy) i decided next time I'd go to the culture center... For people to say Authentic etc. I'd just say, Sorry you don't know what you are talking about. More authentic than fast food places? They do have Chinese Fast food places in China too. Fast Food Hong Kong tastes like fast food Chinese in USA. Go to the Chinese cultural center on the 40's block in Phoenix if you want anything even close to Sichuan. I know some people will have issue with me on all this. that is OK. You won't die here as far as I know, but clearly they are not even Little Szechuan. yi dien dien Sichuan (little little) Sichuan.
(1)Dawei Z.
cheaper than a pair of chop sticks. food wise: I have been to lots of Chinese restaurants in NJ, MA, GA and NY, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. and this one provides food that we call it "'Chinese food' for Americans". Even on that standard, i give it a 1 out of 5. service wise: the 5 of us were from out of town for a conference after which we thought we could have some snack food w/ beer back in hotel. therefore, we paid this place a visit. One of my friends is vegetarian so we ordered egg roll for him. we ordered 3 from appetizer menu and one dish. that takes them 30 minutes to make. Then before i left with my takeout, i checked the bag and there were only 2 pairs of chopsticks! I told the woman (mid-age) there we have 5 ppl. and she gave me 2 more pairs. I asked her for one more pair and she said to me "you don't need chopsticks to eat egg roll," in referring to my vegetarian friend. Out of disgust, i asked her "does one extra pair gonna cost you anything?" and she replied w/ her high pitch voice, "everything costs money!" I have never been to a restaurant which would argue w/ customers over a pair of chop stick.
(1)Irene A.
I had a craving for chinese and wanted something in a pinch. I was looking for cheap but good. I found Little Szechuan. It was a short drive from my boyfriend's and still open on a Sunday night. I think the price for the food was set high for the amount of food we got. The service was also great. The lady behind the counter was very nice. She offered me water while I waited for my take out. I didn't have to wait long. I ordered chicken fried rice, orange chicken and crab puffs. The crab puffs were a bit on the skimpy side, but tasted good. The fried rice was a little dry and the orange chicken was cooked well. There are a few other chinese restaurants I want to try, but I'll keep it on my list of possible places to go back to if I really want chinese.
(3)Roger K.
One of our valley favorites! The spicy Szechuan noodle soup is a must with each meal. Everything we have tried has been good Chinese food, although somewhat Americanized to entertain the palates of their customer base. The owner is very nice and attentive and remembers our names and our favorite dishes despite the fact that we make it in only once a month or so.
(4)Bailey V.
We just moved in next door and we love this place! The owners are super nice and it's overall a wonderful vibe. Food is fantastic, our favorites are the fried rice, especially shrimp fried rice, orange chicken and lemon chicken. Would recommend this place to everyone!
(5)Miguel S.
My new favorite Chinese place to eat at. Delicious all around and the service is superb. If you eat here you won't regret it I promise. Lol
(5)Julie A.
Delicious vegan / vegetarian options. Clean, fresh, crispy, savory dishes and huge portions. Plus the owners are super nice and we are always excited to go there! Our favorite is the spicy eggplant dish. Try it with cashews and broccoli! :) Definitely the best restaurant in Tempe.
(5)Sue C.
The lemon white meat chicken ($8), Mongolian beef ($9), and chicken fried rice were excellent. Had lunch here with my daughter and all the other reviewers are right--Swani is super nice and the service is friendly. A pet peeve of mine involves Mongolian beef pieces that are too large for a single bite, and yet most Chinese restaurants only provide a plastic fork and no knife. Grrrrrrrr! The beef here was actually cut in bite sized pieces and they have REAL silverware, including a knife (didn't need it though). There are tables and chairs, one large table for larger groups, and a reasonably clean fish tank. Yep, you can be sure that your fish is indeed fresh. I definitely recommend this place.
(4)Johannah S.
I love this place! As a Tempe native that grew up down the street I have eaten here my entire life and am always excited to stop here when I'm back in town. My family still visits every week or two. I grew up eating the meat dishes and they were all amazing, but in the last couple years have switched to the vegetarian ones. My favorites are the moo shoo (veggie now, pork before), spicy chinese eggplant with this amazing sauce, and my absolute favorite is the spicy cabbage, it's truly a wonderful thing. The service here is also excellent, the owners are really wonderful people that go above and beyond to make you feel like family when you visit. They are also incredibly understanding about any dietary needs and have a very adaptable menu. They have even made my family things off menu to make sure everyone had something delicious regardless of dietary restrictions. I really can't recommend this place enough!
(5)Kiera F.
My favorite place for Chinese near ASU. I have been a regular for four years and can't wait to come back after every summer. Fried rice is always a favorite, along with dumplings! Only thing I don't eat on the menu is the seafood due to my allergies! Swani is the best!
(5)Brandon H.
Everything was pretty good. Dont know if i would go out of my way but if i am near would go again. Wife loved the vegitable egg rolls and the beef on a stick was yummy. Kids also enjoyed tne sweet and sour chicken.
(4)Dana M.
The food here is fantastic and the owner, Swani, is the sweetest lady! The building is nothing too flashy, very casual atmosphere. The service is definitely top notch here and the house chicken is always delicious. They have a great lunch special, but make sure to check the hours before visiting, as they do close for a short period during the afternoon.
(4)Jasmine R.
Ordered the potstickers, spicy chicken wings and chicken chow mien. First time in Arizona and first time at this restaurant. Everything was excellent!!
(5)Cathy C.
The food is FANTASTIC and the portions are fairly large. Family run and they are so nice. I eat there almost every day for lunch and have been know to drive in from Maricopa for dinner. It's the best Chinese food around and Swani and her son Eddie are awesome!
(5)Trevor C.
Always great food, and fresh! Especially the shrimp. Service is always attentive and through.
(5)Kara B.
I love this place! The signage and building aren't flashy, but the food is always yummy and satisfying. My favorite is the hot & sour soup (good spice but not too hot, and a nice meaty flavor that is often lacking elsewhere), although I've had serious next day cravings for pretty much everything I've ordered here! The owner is super nice too. Previous reviewers have been wary of the place being empty, but usually when I'm there several people stop in to get their carry out too, so I think that's what a lot of their customers do. Mmm now I want to order more!
(5)Danny H.
Great little place West of Mill on University. Went in late after a class and the staff was very friendly and helpful. Food was great and very well priced. I will go back.
(4)Anthony S.
Wow, I walked in around 6:30p Sunday and stood around for a few minutes waiting to be seated, but there was no employee in sight. I walked around the dining area, tried peering into the kitchen, and even walked behind the bar to see if anyone would come out and notice. And then... I just left, probably could have taken a few shots for the road.
(1)Jeremy C.
We had a great time getting to know the owner Swani. She and her husband shared how they have been in business here in Tempe for almost 40 years. The food and service are top knotch! They were even nice enough to accommodate our huge party of 30 people. Thank you for the great service and amazing food. We will be back again for sure.
(5)John C.
My girlfriend and I have been going here for the past year or so and are absolutely obsessed. The Orange Beef is a must, perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, not absolutely drowned in sauce and overall just perfectly satisfying. We also frequent the chicken special, the house fried rice, kung pao and their crab puffs are the best in town. We're no slouches when it comes to Chinese either, she's from LA and I'm from a DC Jewish family that definitely upheld the Christmas tradition, except with a different restaurant ever year. All of this and Swani is the absolute greatest, always wonderful to speak to and takes care of her customers.
(5)Christy A.
Their ma-po tofu was excellent and I got take out for lunch.
(3)Ron A.
I've been coming here for at least ten years. It's one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the valley. Their food is always excellent. The family that owns it is very friendly and welcoming. Their lunch and dinner combination plates are a great deal. I highly recommend it.
(5)Bonnie P.
So friendly and welcoming. The owner sent us some soup to enjoy while we waited for our order knowing we were from out of town and would probably never come again. The food was a little better than most Chinese food in this price range outside of china town in any city USA. I had the moo shu vegetables and the pancakes tasted like they were freshly made, not the usual thin hard ones you get with take out. Over all food was tasty and not greasy. The outside does look a little creepy, even my 12 year old commented on how unfriendly the door is. Well, maybe they are screening their clients. If I was a local I would make this one if my regular casual dining spots.
(4)Shane S.
I love eating here! The moo shu pork is my favorite, and the house special chicken is a great backup. And Swanee is always happy to see me and my friends when we come in. They are a great local business, downtown Tempe is lucky to have them.
(5)Zack K.
Perfect place for a first date. Skip Changs and go somewhere off the beaten path. I promise you won't regret it. The little Szechuan chow mein is full of greens, rich and delicious. Head over for lunch for less than the price of Panda Express. Support local cuisine. Super friendly staff and the place is magical. I will be going back!
(5)Hannah S.
It was nice and quaint. Delicious food especially the egg foo young pork dish. The owner was super friendly and fun to chat with.
(4)Danielle K.
This was a great place. Great decor and lots of light. We had the sweet and sour chicken and szeauchan shrimp, both were great. The Bo-Bo platter was great. The owner was a sweetheart and very nice. We will come back.
(4)Cheng Z.
not really Chinese food:( it is not Delicious . As a Chinese, 哦呵呵。but the service is really good.
(1)Debra T.
We've been coming here for a few years and have always had great service and great food. Swani is always happy to see returning customers and pretty much greets everyone by name and she'll let you know if she hasn't seen you in a while! If you like it spicy, my new favorite is the Sun Devil Chicken.
(5)Shaena R.
Placed a pick up order through grubhub and even called to confirm they got the order. Was told it would be ready in 20 minutes. Gave them a little extra time and got there 35 minutes later. As soon as I got there I had to wait another 15 minutes after the 5 minutes it took to pay. All I got was a vegetarian dish so I KNOW they didn't even start making it until I arrived. Well what's the point of placing a pick up order then??? Plus the extra time allowed me to assess how messy the place was. Definitely won't come here again.
(1)Shari G.
I love the fact that the woman that served us, is so friendly. I would guess she is the owner, with the care and attention she has shown us the three times we've been here. The food is the most important thing to me, and it's ok. I really would like business to thrive here, so it's really hard to say the food is "ok". (Blame it on the fact that I've gotten pickier over the years.) I had a combo of mu-shu pork, egg roll, rice, cream cheese puff and chow mein. The crepe for the mu-shu was too thin to pick it up (they were pre-rolled for the combo) without it falling apart. But I enjoyed it with the hoisin sauce. The combo also came with soup. I got the Hot and Sour Soup and enjoyed it with the fried chips. I love love love supporting local small businesses. The but, to that, is that small businesses don't always have the funds to redecorate and have everything look fresh and tip-top. The outside is poorly designed and the inside looks like it needs a make-over.... but really! What's important to me is the people and the food. So, stop in and give it a try!
(4)Casey K.
I really enjoy going here with my boyfriend for lunch cause its really cheap. It comes with very tasty hot tea and either egg drop or hot and sour soup and wontons (maybe filled with cheese and meat?) all for less than 10 dollars. I usually get their house special chicken which is very tasty but be sure to ask for extra yummy sauce since it tends to be dry without it. Wish their lunch hour would extend til 3:30 like most Chinese places. And its americanized Chinese. If you want authentic, go to the Chinese cultural center.
(5)Patrick L.
Couldn't of loved the woman in charge more! She was out going, kind, and passionate about her job. I highly recommend the house chicken, it was absolutely delicious!
(5)Jennifer H.
I got take-out with a friend about 3 weeks ago from here for the first and I got the Chinese Eggplant with Spicy Sauce with steamed white rice(they don't have plain brown rice.) The menu does not state this, but the dish has little carrot cubes and peas, which added some variety that I have not seen in eggplant dishes at other Asian restaurants. I would say this is one of the better versions of eggplant I have had, though I wish they had brown rice. The only problem that came up was that our order was mixed up with someone else's order at the cash register. So we paid for someone else's dinner and then had to void the transaction and repay. Also, it was about 8 PM when we came for pick up and the place was void of employees, so we stood around for a few minutes waiting for someone to help us. In short, I would go back just for this dish, but otherwise, there isn't much else on the menu that is interesting to me.
(4)Zach S.
The service here makes you feel at home. They are extremely warm and inviting and remember most of their customers. They make you feel special and happy to have you a customer. That alone makes me come back -- not enough places these days truly put customer relationships first. I usually get their house special chicken, which is a fried chicken with amazing seasonings. Everything here is pretty tasty - you can't go wrong. Their vegetarian egg rolls are delicious. Everything is extremely affordable, especially if you order a lunch or dinner special. Little Szechuan is a family-owned small business and it is a great part of the Tempe community. You'll enjoy your experience!
(5)David L.
Really good "mom and pop" Chinese restaurant. People tell me this type of food isn't actually Chinese, but if you're like me you don't care. As it's a small business, the decorating and the building itself leave something to be desired, although they've recently re-done the interior. But who really cares about decorating when you want to eat good food?
(5)Ming P.
Used to come here back in the day and glad to see it is still around. Love the food and the owners. Their Mapo dofu is the best I've had since coming back from living in Asia, and it's not even on the menu. They'll do things in Chinese style if you ask, or make it so it matches your idea of Americanized Chinese food (which my husband likes). Still glad they are around and still awesome.
(5)Marc C.
First time here, but never to return. This place is Creepy! Got the runs the next day, ugh. :(
(2)Simi S.
Delicious lo mein and vey friendly family owned place. Would definitely order again
(5)Seaver S.
Best Asian food in phoenix, lady that owns the place has the best customer service. Prices are good and food is great. Defiantly worth a trip in.
(5)Brian S.
Special gem! Great small family restaurant, amazing food, terrific prices, and a very friendly staff. I went with a large group (20 people), we called at the last minute and they took great care of us. I would highly recommend this restaurant!!!
(5)Amber Elizabeth M.
The food here isn't too much to write home about, but the service was top of the line. Our server shared a very touching story in broken English after I mentioned I liked the crab rangoons. She pointed to a recently empty table and said that they couple were in the airforce and recently married and that Little Szechuan had made and gifted over 200 rangoons as a wedding gift for their service for "our freedom." I wish I had recorded it because her broken English made it that much more memorable and touching. I thought it was totally sweet and would support any restaurant with that kind of heart behind it. Plus, the beers were flowing and our food fresh and hot even though we were clearly the last customers on a Friday night. Score!
(4)John H.
Great food and service. The owner is kind and respectful and little Szechuan is everything you want out of a small family owned business. I will continue to come back time and time again!
(5)Neha J.
Very friendly owner, simple place with very delicous food! Went to have a quick dinner with my boyriend and had the egg rolls, shrimp sauté and spicy fried rice. Felt like I was a home with the warm welcoming service and simple food!
(5)Chrystalle B.
Im so sad to see so many negative reviews for this place! Ive been going here for years. Its the best (decently priced) Chinese food Ive found in the valley. I always get take out, but whenever I go in its empty. The lady who runs it is super sweet, she always puts extra hot mustard w/ my order. The real stuff too, not that packet disgustingness. My wonton soup is always flavorful and tasty. They have the best chicken fried rice Ive found out here, and their crab rangoons (puffs on their menu) always satisfy.
(4)Erika D.
I go to Little Szechuan about 6-8 times a year. Always pleased with my meal and service. Buddha Delight is probably my favorite entrée on the menu. Crisp, fresh veg and savory sauce. Owner is delightful. Atmosphere is calm and relaxing. Nice environment to have a quiet dinner or catch up with friends. My friends and family from out of town always enjoy this restaurant.
(5)Beth C.
I had the shrimp in lobster sauce and it was delicious! I wish there were more shrimps and less green peppers though. Also the egg flower soup was good but it was spicy. I'm not used to egg flower soup being spicy. I also ordered the crab puffs and those were divine! Especially with the sweet orange sauce!
(4)Shannon W.
This is THE best place in the whole country for Chinese food. My husband and I have been going there for 13 years and will never go anywhere else for Chinese. The owners are the best! They are so friendly and they treat us like family every time we come in. Lunch time gets really really busy but they handle it well and get the food out quickly. We eat the Kung Pao Beef. It's one of the few places in the valley that deep fries the meat. OMG it's sooooooo good! We like their crab puffs and eggrolls too. Their hot and spicy soup is bar none the best we've had. Our kids get the beef lomein and it's great too.
(5)Ian B.
I've never had a bad meal in this place. Quite the contrary actually, I've always had great eats in this place. My girlfriend's family is a chore to go out and eat with, and my food allergies tend to compound this complexity even further. Her mom and dad have recently gone Vegan, she's a vegetarian, and I can't eat chicken or fish due to some pretty industrial allergies. So most places just aren't options for us to all go out to eat. One of us will always slight the deal, making it so we can go get water as a group. But Little Szechuan takes care of all of our various and complex dietary needs like champions. The food is delicious, the service is funny and gets the job done, and the decor is vintage 1970's Jewish Christmas. If you want a great meal, and you like to eat as a group, drive out to Tempe and make it happen. Keep local business alive instead of going to a chain!
(5)Sean T.
I'm giving this restaurant a full 5 stars because they definitely earned it. I must admit, though, that the food was not necessarily memorable. From what I can remember, it was decent and I felt perfectly fine the next day. Not sure what previous reviewers ordered there, but my stuff was fine! Unfortunately, it was not necessarily memorable either... Although I did have this cool rice soup (?) what was extremely steamy and came out sizzling! They had decent plum wine and hot green tea, too :) What really made us enjoy this place was the service, though. We came for a friend's birthday, and her sister originally planned for Oregano's. However, when we all *finally* found parking at Oreganos, we found out that there was an extremely long wait time (it's always packed, and I don't believe they take reservations there.) Also, there was a huge fight between some customer and the staff at Oregano's, which kind of scared us away. Since we had a relatively large group, we figured it would pretty much be midnight by the time we actually got any food--and we were starving! Luckily, our birthday friend is not a huge fan of crowds, so she pointed out Little Szechuan across the street. We all wandered over there to find that it was pretty empty, but it was also close to closing time (which we discovered later and felt very bad about--but they never complained or rushed us in the restaurant, and were nothing but kind to us the entire time!) We had a great time and were able to relax and enjoy ourselves. There was no stress, and our server/lady who runs the place was extremely friendly. She almost became a part of our birthday celebration :) Very kind and charismatic lady, as others have noted on here. Overall, we definitely enjoyed this place. The food was nothing extraordinary, nor was the restaurant itself in terms of space or decor, but it definitely had its charms and we felt very comfortable and welcome the entire time... even if we did stay way past the time they were closed. :)
(5)Z Z.
We were in town for Pat's Run and were craving Chinese good. It was between PF Changs and Little Szechuan. Glad we chose LS. Good, solid Chinese food at a very reasonable price. AND the owner/ hostess was very nice.
(4)Frances L.
Cute little space just off the beaten path, but still on a main stretch of University Dr. Locally-owned and run by the nicest lady ever. They make a mean hot and sour soup and have a lot of options for vegetarians, too. While their menu consists mostly of oily Americanized Chinese comfort classics, they still have their own touches of authenticity to them. Comfortable, casual, and tasty. Not my first choice for Chinese food in the greater Phoenix area, but so glad that they're there.
(3)Jill V.
I usually order take out here and usually it is good. I SAY that lightly. Recently, I was craving chinese and figured hey- this place is usually good why not try it out as a sit down? My boyfriend and I went on our long travel.. approx 5 minutes down the road and sat down. The hostess was really sweet. And got our drink order and refills quickly. They had a vast beer selection which the boyfriend LOVED. His beer was ice cold just the way he likes it. We ordered. We first got our soups. Mine was pretty good. He liked his. That is where things hit the fan. The eggrolls were satisfactory. I make better ones. Secondly, the crab puffs which I asked intially if they used any or fake crab they said- No just cream cheese which I thought was great until I cracked it open. Had FAKE crab, which will end me up in Tempe St. Lukes quicker than Tempe PD arresting an underage drinker. Then our dishes arrived already hungry from the teaser of a soup. I got the beef and broccoli that was tough. My boyfriend got the orange beef which I thought was significantly better... even cold. So over all everything minus the crab puff incident. It was a 4 star place. But that definitely knocked it down a notch, and it would of been lower if I actually ate it.
(3)sophia c.
This is the closest Asian food I can find in my area, I figure give it a shot. I call in and ordered the chicken chow mein togo. For an order that's under $8 the portion is not too bad. I would like a little bit more flavor in it, but maybe I didn't order the right thing. I'm sure I'll try it again when I don't want to go far.
(2)Troy J.
I have often enjoyed Chinese food from a variety of places but this has to be one of my favorites. The owner is almost always in the front of the house and friendly and attentive. The food is pretty good and it is priced well. Dinner is better than lunch and though I have never tried the take-out option i have heard it is excellent. The food is authentic and prepared fresh. There is a bevy of options and everything I have ever eaten was tasty. If you are looking for good authentic, though slightly simple, Chinese food then Little Szechuan is the place for you. If you are looking for more Americanized style and are unwilling to give a small local owned business then there is a PF Changs at Mill and Uni.
(4)M E.
The food was excellent. I ordered Chicken Chow Mein and the noodles were thick and delicious. Though I'm giving it 3 stars because it looks like a complete dive - you cannot see in the windows from the outside and the door even is whited out. I didn't understand. Inside it was good. We came about 2:15 and they were closing for a bit at 2:30 so I felt bad. The waiter was nice and friendly and prompt (for the most part) so that was assuring. Everything made my mouth water. We walked here from College & University so it was a bit of a trek. I felt the staff (or the ones I encountered) were occupied since they were beginning to close. We were the only ones there due to the time and at one point - locked in. But hey, if I feel like making the trek again, I'll go back.
(4)Guillermo G.
Food was not great at all. Go to CHINA CHILI for the best chinese food in town. Atmosphere not great either. Just dumpy
(1)Rob K.
It pains me to only give this place two stars, because it's locally/family-owned, and it's kitschy decor is a time capsule from the 70's (that's a good thing!) But man, it's just not anything special, and also overpriced. I'm a dumplings and hot/sour soup guy. Get those right and I'll forgive almost anything. They get neither right. The dumpling serving is meager relative to what they charge, and the hot/sour soup has no pork or chicken - then adding it is as an extra was crazy expensive! They also don't have what other Chinese places call a "diet menu" - essentially normal entree options that you can have steamed rather than stir-fried with sauce on the side and brown rice. Not only isn't there a specific menu option for this, they declined to prepare a basic chicken with mixed vegetables for me in this way. Just "no" - even though the restaurant was basically empty and the kitchen was slow. Plus no brown rice. Breaks my heart - I so want to like them -
(2)Elle T.
I'm so sorry because your service is rather friendly but I have to say: Ew. No. Don't. One star for food and one for service but I will never go here again. I've had my fair share of horrible American Chinese, but this I would not even finish. And there is never a time when I will pay someone more than once to make me food I will only throw away.
(2)Mitch G.
I truly have tried to allow for room for improvement at this place because honestly the woman who must own this place is as sweet as can be. I think her sons help run it at times and they are really nice too. BUT... personality does not a good Chinese restaurant make. After various visits over the course of a year and a half, I find it hard to offer more than 2 stars. My last visit sealed it for me as I was ridiculed by my friend whom I had earlier convinced to partake of Lil Szechuan's offerings. I have been banned from restaurant selection within the group as a result of my attempt to find more good than not here. One thing I get here is the brown rice. It is not really brown rice. It is white rice made to look brown by adding soy sauce. It is good as a house special. One of my girlfriends always gets the mu schu and swears its the best ever...I swear that she does not eat out much! If you like won ton soup this one is just average...just nothing special at all about it. Yesterday, my friend ordered cashew shrimp in a "delicate white sauce". "The sum of its parts are not worth more", he murmured and tried to shovel a "no thank you portion" into his mouth while politely reminding me with his eyes that I had committed an epic fail. Banished from my throne and unable to select food options for at least a month ( my own personal hell), I must bring a few more things up that need to be addressed here. Never have a menu where its possible that the first three items that a person may ask for are "no longer available". I ask that you always have coffee and tea available even if it is not immediately ready. And don't play a squeaky radio with fuzzy reception from a back room against a competing television as diners are baffling over their other senses of sight and smell. So sorry. I need Tott's Asian Diner back FAST!!!!
(2)ben h.
The menu here is hit or miss, but when it hits, it definitely hits. I'd recommend trying the spicy eggplant and the veggie mu shu. the mu shu remains my favorite of almost everywhere i've ever eaten - and i got around chinatown in chicago, believe you me. the rest of the menu that i've tried is average-to-good, but those two dishes really are worth a visit, especially at lunch time. the restaurant itself? i love the unintentionally kitschy aspect of it. the superfriendly staff have been there a long, long time, and have obviously decorated how they want to see it. after ducking in there every couple months while going to school down the street, it started to feel like my second living room.
(4)Seth F.
If you have not tried the Moo Shu Pork, you are really missing out! I have been to this place on a number of occasions and always left wishing I had a bigger appetite. Every time I have been there, the service is impeccable! This is my favorite place in town to go for Chinese food.
(5)Andrew K.
I used to eat here every few weeks and I really enjoyed it. I'm no connoisseur of Chinese food, but this place is far and away more authentic, at least, than the American chain places, and the prices are really affordable. The service is great and the menu substantial. Try the Sun Devil Chicken, if they still have it on the menu. A bit spicy, but I always enjoyed it.
(4)Stefan K.
The food is best described as boring. I've tried 3 different dishes and they all were below average at best. One member of my party even walked out after taking a sip of his soup and a bite of his food. Funny thing was that i went in on 4/20 once and the owner said "remember! 4/20 today, don't party 2 much!" The interior is dated, but that isn't as big of a problem as the boring food. I'm surprised they have been in business for soo long.. I wish I could give them 3 stars but I just can't :(
(2)Lisa K.
My boyfriend and I skipped the restaurant scene for Valentine's day and decided to order carry-out later on in the night. I have heard good things about this place but was surprised to see such negative reviews on Yelp. It seems, though, that people review based on the most amazing Chinese they've ever had and tend to get snobbish about it... I love Chinese food but I am certainly not an expert on places in the area so we decided to give this place a try anyway. I'm glad we did. The lady who took my order on the phone was very nice and courteous and seemed very warm when she greeted us in the restaurant. I ordered the Chicken Chow Mein and my boyfriend ordered the Sun Devil Spicy Chicken. I am always weary about ordering chicken dishes from chinese restaurants because sometimes the chicken can be just weird and disgusting but I was pleasantly surprised at how good the chicken tasted in the Chow Mein. The noodles were really thick, which is just the way I like them to be and the sauce tasted awesome as well. My boyfriend really liked his dish and was satisfied with how spicy it was... usually he orders a spicy dish and it is no where close to being spicy. Although we did not dine in the restaurant, we thought it looked cute and cozy, even though it looked a bit outdated. I'd like to see what it's like to dine in next time... and I will definitely be ordering carry-out again!
(4)Tyler B.
A great family owned restaurant that serves up some authentic Chinese food. As a vegetarian, I will have to agree with what I saw in other reviews - get the spicy eggplant. Great for takeout if you live in the north Tempe area.
(5)Geoff O.
I had greater hopes for Little Szechuan over the nearby Mr. Hunan as the latter is simply a carry out joint. However, despite the nice colorful dining room, the food at Little Szechuan was fairly bland. I suppose theoretically these two Chinese joints specialize in the regional cuisine of their names, but there is little difference in menu or taste. One thing I will say is that my waitress was extraordinarily nice at Little Szechuan. I was studying Arabic at the time and we had a really friendly, fun conversation about language. She helped make an incredibly dull meal an actually rewarding experience.
(2)Gretchen l.
This is my favorite place for Chinese food!! I have been going here for the past 6 years and i have never been disappointed. The hostess and owner is the sweetest and kindest women i have ever met, and funny too! The chicken chow mein and the vegetable fried rice are divine and the flavors are unlike anything I have ever had. People think this place is "dumpy" but i guess most people just don't understand mom and pop shops as well as Asian decor. The food is always hot, hot, hot and their service is fast. People just need to be willing to take risks when dining out because its usually the mom and pop restaurants that hold the best treasures and this is no exception.
(5)Jeffrey O.
Even though I'm Chinese American, I'm not that bad of a "Chinese Food" snob. I've eaten my share of "bad" Chinese Food at buffets, cafeterias, and even the garbage I try to make at home. Sometimes, eating out is all about "MPD" -- Mass Per Dollar -- where can I fill my belly the most by paying the least. Little Szechuan is the closet neighborhood Chinese restaurant, however I've been too scared to eat here. Why? From the outside, it looks like a porn shop. (Can I say that here?) It is a freestanding nondescript white brick building with all the windows blacked out, and no menu posted at the door. I like to look thru the windows before entering a place, so I at least know what I'm getting myself into. The only identifying thing about the outside of the restaurant is their sign. They just installed a new sign, which looks exactly like the old sign, but different color. But both signs exclaimed, "Open since 1976." Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Most Chinese restaurants are family owned and operated, with high staff turnover rates. If you have a successful restaurant, you may move on to Bigger and Better things, fix up your old place, or sell your business to someone else. Is this porn shop Chinese Restaurant circa 1970s some hidden Tempe gem of an institution? And what does it mean that only one other Yelper has reviewed this restaurant in its 30 year history? I finally convinced a friend to go with me. He told me to get used to the porn shop aesthetics, because there are plenty of other places in AZ that look like this. Its not about privacy, he assured me, its about that gosh darn summer Sun. Thus, I was comforted with the inside of the building, because it had the look and feel of the Chinese Restaurants I know and love in the SF Bay Area. 1970s wood paneled walls, "Orientalized" promotional knicknacks from Bud or Tsingtao, and other Asian artwork. I chatted with the friendly server, who informed me that she moved to AZ from China to attend ASU in the early 1970s, and eventually opened the restaurant after graduating. Indeed, there was history in this restaurant and on the walls. The menu had a lot of choices, including lunch specials. Did we find a hidden gem? Our first dish, Mu Shu Vegetables were great, so we remained hopeful for our main dishes. Then, our hopes were dashed. The Hunan Beef was spicy (actually, too spicy for me, but I'm a wimp), but the sauce had a weird texture, flavor, and color. Their House Special Chow Mein was very unspecial, and I forgot what was wrong with the homemade dumplings. Needless to say, I did not finish my dinner nor did I bring leftovers home. What a rollercoaster! --Looks bad from outside --Looks nicer inside --Food terrible --Service nice and friendly. The restaurant seems to have regular customers, and I applaud them. Maybe the restaurant makes some other dishes really great, or they like the ambiance, or whatever. I may try one of their lunch rice plates someday if I'm desperate, but alas, I'm still hunting for the best hole-in-the-wall Tempe Chinese Restaurant.
(2)John P.
Big Trouble in Little Szechuan would be too harsh a review and it's not worthy of a great wail but I was totally underwhelmed by the food on offer and food wise it seriously is a step above the mall food court but even a Pei Way on a good day is more than a match for this evening's meal. Staff are great but everything else is pretty weak other than the noodles which are really really good. The spring roll, egg, hot and sour soup and the kung pao all look the part but it's all monotonous with little variation in texture and taste. E.g you could make this from Walmart ingredients and get the same kinda shiny sauce for about the same cost It's not going to kill you and for lunch at a reduced rate may get to 2.5 to 3 but there's just way too many good places nearby to consider this as a repeat visit.
(2)