The service is always great and they make every effort to make sure you enjoy the experience. Sometimes we went late after a ski trip and the owner stayed late for us. Food is great, especially the chef's recommendations. The food comes out really fast!
(4)
Zhi Z.
My parents and I love this place, my father especially loves spicy food. We been here a number of times and never disappointed. The food is authentic Szechuan style, and their servicing sizes are huge. We loved their Beef Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, Flounder, Spicy Chicken (cold) and Garlic Pork (cold). Be warn though, if you go during peak dinner time you need to wait for a seat.
(5)
P O.
At this place we ate some authentic Sichuan food. We had fermented soybean whole fish, onion stir fried pork, and Chengdu spicy chicken. Because our bill exceeds 22 dollars, we received a bowl of sweet rice wine with cubic rice balls for free, which is very good for the dessert. My girlfriend periodically has a craving for oily pork or beef, as she called, You You De Rou Rou, which is very cute for me. So we kept on hunting for authentic Chinese restaurants that make You You De Rou Rou. And Jin River didn't let us down today. The only downside is that the meat soup with sour cabbage is not that good. It's too salty as a soup but maybe some other people like it.
(4)
Hyun M.
Alright, I don't mind a great restaurant that has some semblance of customer service. That is not what you will get at the Sichuan Pavillion. I like a few others, was very excited about going here because of so many recommendations. I will say if you are not Chinese, do know what you are going to order. I ordered General Tso's Chicken for my 11year-old son and ordered Kung Pao Chicken for myself. Service was poor and the booths shook as people leaned into them, which is disconcerting. His came out almost immediately and mine came out a few minutes later. The General Tso's was good, not the very best. The Kung Pao was greasy and had no flavor other than hot. It did not have brown sauce. Instead it was swimming in oil. Despite my complaints about the Kung Pao, they did not offer me something else more satisfactory. I didn't eat the chicken and found the servers and manager to be rather unsympathetic about the situation.
(2)
Michael J.
I came here last night with a party of eleven Chinese friends. The restaurant was PACKED with people. A lot of families too, so they took up the larger sized tables. We waited for about 30-40 minutes before a large group table opened up. The food was amazing and the portions were pretty large. We definitely over-ordered and as we got around 10 dishes. The taste is pretty authentic as the spicy dishes really deliver the punch. They also serve really good Shanghai food since the owners are Shanghainese. The treat at the end is their . For those who lust after authentic Sichuan and Shanghainese cuisine, this is the place to be. Expect long waits for dinner as this place is super popular with the locals.
(4)
Peter G.
I love the spicy fish filet and beef. The steamed bums are tasty. Very friendly staff. This is one of the best Chinese restaurant in DC area.
(5)
Cameron B.
Like a spicy polished Jade gem, this hidden treasure in Rockville is the real deal and quite the steal. No frills decor means these people care about the food and not their looks! The majority language spoken by the patrons is NOT English, so you know you are on the right path. If you don't like your food to cause a runny nose, then there's still time to turn back, but once you're seated you are met with an extensive menu that is true to the rural Chinese roots of Sichuan style cooking! Everything from duck feet, to a meat dish named after a great General, there is everything right with the choices, all of which have at least one hot pepper symbol next to them!! I went with a group of 4 growassmen and we came in hungry. Opting to order one dish each the waitress asked us if we were sure???? I didn't realize until they dropped off the egg drop soup in a witches caldron that maybe we'd gone to far! Traditional Sichuan chicken was amazing and spiced just right while the diced pork with soft tofu was wonderfully runny and mild. The fried chili tofu had a kick that caused us to refill the free tea pot and the mushroom and beef dish was on point! We left in wheel barrels we were so full, and at $18 each WITH left overs....Jackpot!! Sichuan Jin River is the real deal and brings honor to the humble town of Rock-thrill!! Warning....this food burns twice! It's the gift that just keeps giving....if you know what I mean!!
(4)
Irene F.
I cannot believe how busy this place was on a Wednesday at 1 PM!! It was packed like it was a weekend with Chinese people! Luckily we got seated right away- for a table of 6. We ordered the following items: (I think) Spicy Chicken Gizzards $4.50 These were delicious. I'd never had gizzards before, to be honest, it tasted a bit like chewy beef chunks. It was a lot of gizzards for 6 people! Preserved Thousand Year Egg & Peppers w/ Sour & Spicy Sauce $9 I was surprised that this dish was actually sweet. Everyone at the table enjoyed it- but it was probrably my least favorite dish. Spicy Dan Dan noodles. I think I would come here JUST to eat these. They were MA (numbing) and LA (Spicy). Sweet and Spicy Garlic Eggplant. I don't generally like eggplant but this dish was tasty. It came with a LOT of sauce, so being completely Asian I took all the sauces home to cook them up with my own meat and veggies! There was enough for several new dishes...:p Whole Fish. The flavor was good, the sauce phenomenal- but the fish itself was not particularly meaty. More bones and sauce than meat. There was one last dish that was something like paper thing slices of roasted pork and tripe or something. That was also good, but there was an overwhelming amount of spring onions in the dish, which I didn't care for. Overall, although some of my friends thought the dishes were incredibly spicy, I felt like they were the perfect amount. I could still taste the flavor of the food and there was a good burn too. There are so many dishes on the menu, I feel like I have barely tasted the tip of the iceburg. I will definitely be coming back to get my burn on with some Dan Dan and a new array of dishes!!
(4)
Annie K.
This place is called "Sichuan Pavilion," but the sign outside says Sichuan Jin River. Regardless, it was one of the best authentic SIchuan places that I've been to! It's definitely a gem in this area. The menu consists one of side in English, and the other side in Chinese. There's a variety of different dishes that you can choose from. We came in a group of 4 for lunch on Saturday and it was busy, but we only waited a few minutes to be sat. We ordered the fried pork dumplings, fried scallion pancake, cucumber salad, shredded pork ear, chicken and corn soup, kung pao beef, fish in spicy broth, fried pork chops, and the dan dan noodles. Each dish was tasty and flavorful, minus the chicken and corn soup, which we sent back. My personal favorites was the fried pork dumplings, cucumber salad, shredded pork ear, and the dan dan noodles. The portions are huge, and everything is also reasonably priced. With all of the dishes we ordered plus 2 sodas, our total was only $79! We had plenty of food to bring back home as well. This is definitely one of my new top favorite restaurants in the area!
(5)
Mark W.
This restaurant was fantastic about a year ago. Since that time quality has dropped severely. The food is now oily and the people who run the place are money grubbers. The last time I went I paid cash, the women counted my money in front of me. She also mentioned that they would offer a "cash discount" if I pay in cash. In other words they are trying to avoid paying tax and reporting income to the government. If they are this sketchy, I can only imagine the "games" they play with my food. I'm not going back.
(1)
Will H.
Went here last Saturday for dinner. First (and last) time eating here. We called and made a reservation just in case, since we had no idea about how big the place was and how busy it got. Good thing, cause it was absolutely swamped ~30-45 minutes after we arrived, and we were early. Here's what we ordered (in order of presentation): - Dan Dan noodles - pork buns filled with chicken broth (this confused me cause there was no broth inside) - Ma Po tofu with Beef - Chengdu Spicy Chicken Review: (note: I asked them to make all of our food sans-MSG, but was told that the pork buns and dan dan noodles are made with pre-made, MSG-abundant sauces). None the wiser, I proceeded with the order, thinking that MSG is not something I'm unfamiliar with. The Dan-dan noodles came out first. The first bite or two was very good, but once the mega-MSG doses kicked in, I couldn't taste anything else. I've had plenty of MSG in one sitting before - ramen, Pho, other various asian restaurants, etc. Never have I experienced the side effects as I did on this day. Tingly/numb tongue, altered taste perception. It feels like when your foot falls asleep...but it's your tongue. I tried drowning it out with water, but the water tasted sour to me. Since this was the first thing to come out, I'm unsure how reliable my review can be of subsequent dishes. I waited until the MSG effect wore off a bit, before trying the pork buns. They were pretty tasty anyway and seemed to have a lot less MSG than the dan dan noodles. Good quantity of filling and decent taste. The chengdu spicy chicken was damn spicy, which is awesome, but again, I couldn't really taste much because of the whole numb-tongue thing. The mapo tofu was kind of disappointing, but at this juncture, I was already looking for the check. Next time I want good mapo tofu, I'll go to China Bistro. Bottom line: Don't ever get the dan-dan noodles. Also, to be fair, I'm sure there are some good entrees/dishes at this joint that we didn't order, but I'm not curious enough to go back and discover them. Also, one of the workers there with a mohawk was being a little diva. He needed a nap.
(1)
Rob N.
Awful service. very unfriendly and rude staff. They have no respect for their customers. food is good, but their customer service ruins the food.
(1)
Joanna C.
My parents are always on a quest for good, authentic Chinese food and two years ago, they discovered this gem and haven't stopped going (and taking me there every time I come home). With great prices, lots of spicy (and non-spicy) dishes, and decent service, Sichuan Jin River has yet to disappoint. I think this is definitely a restaurant for people who are looking for authentic Chinese food, so if you're more of a general tso's chicken or orange chicken kind of person (no worries if you are!), I wouldn't recommend it. Personally, I love the mapo tofu, eggplant in garlic sauce, beef with green peppers, and flounder with shepard's purse. My mom loves the seafood combination with crispy rice cake, though I could've used a little more flavor. I'm not a huge fan of the small plates, just because there are so many yummier things there and you can get the small plates everywhere. There's really no better authentic place for miles around, so if you want good Chinese food (especially spicy Chinese food), be sure to check Sichuan Jin River out!
(5)
Sina E.
I really can't believe a place this good exists in my backyard in Rockville. It's a little hidden behind the Town Center, and the Fire station, but food this good in Rockville can't hide forever. The menu here is vast, and every dish offers unique flavors and kicks with spices. I love spicy food, and there are many choices when it comes to spicy food here. A few of the dishes I sampled: Steamed dumpling in chicken broth - flavorful and pretty good; it's definitely not the best I've had, but still solid. Smoked Duck (entree) - Tender, flavorful, crunchy skin on the outside, salty, and comes with buns that are a little sweet that balances the saltiness nicely. Flounder and Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup - Holy hotness; the flavors really kick in. I love flounders, and it's a nice combo with the tofu. The spicy soup it comes in is very spicy, and has a bright red texture to it. This dish is literally enough for two people at least. "Mapo" tofu with minced beef - Another spicy dish; the tofu and minced beef work well together, and the flavors really come together. You can't go wrong picking this dish either. General Guan Chicken - Small pieces of chicken, seasoned and spiced that will numb your mouth. This dish was also large and could easily be eaten by two people. Overall, all the portions are large here, and you really get the bang for your buck, plus spicy authentic chinese food; highly recommend this place, and will be back for more authentic dishes.
(5)
Sathish P.
Awesome authentic Chinese food. Best bet is Order the following: Short Ribs with baby Taro Cumin beef One of their fish dishes with fried rice cakes. The thing i don't like is every time i am there i have to ask for water. I don't know why its not a normal thing to give water to every customer. And when you pay the bill, right next to the cashier they have bowl full of chocolates. Those chocolates are really good. Just take one they are complimentary.
(5)
Sheng Z.
This place is so good. I might even go as far as to say that it is some of the best authentic Chinese (more specifically Sichuan) food I have had in the DC/MD/VA region. The portions are HUGE and the prices are very reasonable. I came here with my extended family and we ordered off the authentic Chinese menu and was exceptionally satisfied. They have this amazing Tea Duck and their tripe is fantastic. If I lived in Rockville, I would definitely come here ever week. This is a definite must try
(5)
Sasha W.
This is an authentic chinese restaurant that my family had visited the most frequently in the past. The food is delicious and you can basically never go wrong. The portion size is great so you are guaranteed plenty of left overs! One of our favorite dish is the fried duck that combs with white flour buns that you can tuck them into and also put sweet sauce on. However, I have noticed that as this restaurant became increasingly popular, the quality of its dishes has became a bit less consistent. Nevertheless still very yummy! worth a visit
(4)
Christopher D.
5 Star for: *Being one of the most authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurants I've had since my return from China. *Having both an "Authentic Chinese" and "American Chinese" menu to please both sorts of diners. Get the 'Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup' if you're up for an utmost delicious and spicy dish with a numbing twist of fresh 'Flower Pepper' that will leave your tongue completely numb. The mixed Sichuan pickled vegetables were good yet nothing special. Highly recommended if you're in DC.
(5)
Jenn H.
I don't know what the hype about this place is, guys. We got the dan dan noodles (as highlighted), the hong you chao shou (wontons in red chili oil), and the niu rou mian (beef noodle soup). We also ordered scallion pancakes, but never got it (more on that later). We were there at an odd time of day (maybe 2pm or so), but there were still a fair number of tables filled. I was excited to try this place, I'd heard so much about it! We were seated, and we placed our order...then I noticed that my plate was cracked, and wasn't washed well (there were some stains on the front, and a piece of rice stuck to it). Hm. The wontons came really quickly--they were fine, a little overcooked (soggy skins), oily without being all that spicy...but nothing to write home about. They took their sweet time getting the other two entrees to us. When we finally got it, my dan dan mian was again oily, without much kick (c'mon, you're a sichuan place--excite me!!!), and very, very plain. I like the one at Michael's noodle house better (its a bit of a different style, but a lot more flavorful without all the grease). The beef noodle soup had crappy noodles, crappy soup, and tough meat. Not ordering that again. Service was not friendly, but polite enough...nothing to report there. Meanwhile, as we were getting more and more disillusioned with each bite, the waitstaff had totally forgotten about our scallion pancakes. Oh, except that they put it on our bill. Psych! They took it off our bill, we paid, and left--I think every place deserves two tries (unless you make me physically ill), but I'm in no rush to try this place again anytime soon.
(2)
Howard C.
This place is one of the better Szechuan restaurants I've been to. And I've been to hundreds of Szechuan restaurants all over the US, including NYC, LA, Houston, Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, etc etc. I recommend any dish with whole live fish, and they have a chili pepper with century old egg dish which is phenomenal. This hole in the wall also has excellent service, all the tea you can drink and abundant amounts of rice. It's located in the back of a shopping center so it's a bit harder to find but it is definitely worth looking for.
(4)
Fenny L.
In the interest of full disclosure...the chef of this place is the father of the driver who used to deliver flowers for my parents' florist. Who is actually a pretty cool guy (the driver...I don't know the dad). And my dad knows most of the servers...because, well, he knows practically all the Chinese in the area...but that didn't mean we got preferential treatment. In fact, my dad went out of his way to ask that our server not let the staff know that he was there, because he likes to dine incognito (also because my dad is horrible with names, so while everyone is greeting him, he really can't remember anyone else's name). Anyhoo... We've come to Sichuan Pavilion several times, and each time, it's been pretty busy...and if you're a fan of spicy...you'll soon understand why. This restaurant is hidden across the street from the Rockville Town Center, in a dark and aging strip mall, and hidden around the back corner. Yet, even with all this - it's a popular hot spot for Chinese who are fans of Sichuan style food. What is Sichuan style you ask? To put it simply, it's spicy spicy spicy. Chilis, garlic and mouth-numbing green and black peppercorns feature heavily in Sichuan style cuisine. Joe's Noodle House, up the Pike is a popular and pretty authentic Sichuan restaurant. And yet...somehow...Sichuan Pavilion out spices Joe's by a mile. For example, on our most recent visit, my husband, who is a huge fan of Ma Po Tofu (soft tofu cooked in a spicy red chili and peppercorn sauce) asked my dad to order some for him. And if at all possible, to make it extra spicy. When my dad relayed the order, the server's mouth dropped open and asked for confirmation. When my husband eagerly nodded "yes yes!", she shook her head and headed for the kitchen. Moments later, the Ma Po Tofu came out...and proceeded to be so spicy that my husband had sweat dripping off his EARS before he finished his second bite. DELICIOUS! The Spicy Beef with Cabbage was actually MORE delicious then the version at Joe's...and I'm a *huge* fan of Joe's version, but Sichuan's version is more tender, and while at the same time more spicy then Joe's, it's also more flavorful with more layers of flavor and complexity. Yum! Another family favorite here is the "Saliva Chicken" (yeah, no idea what it is in English)...and no, the chicken isn't made from saliva...it's just so spicy and just so tasty that it makes your mouth water when you eat it! SUPER YUM! Clearly, this is one of my new favorite restaurants. I am a huge fan of spicy and Sichuan delivers. Just know that if I get there and I need to wait because the place is packed...and you're there because you read this review...I may have to cut you. And steal your food. Because they really are just that tasty!
(5)
M H.
Greasy food that tastes quite mediocre. This place was recommended by quite a few locals. There are better places for Chinese food just a few miles down the road. Service: any place I have to make a special request for water and napkins gets a "does not meet" in my book. As we were paying for our check, the waitress said we'll get a special discount if we pay by cash vs. credit card. $3. Not saying that's a bad thing. Overall, wouldn't repeat.
(2)
Guada L.
Big portions, delicious food. I cried the first time I ate here, it was that good. Catfish fillet with peppercorn is amazing. Some dishes are better than others, but never something I didn't like. Waiters are the best.
(5)
S S.
Their food is pretty good! And despite the meh looking outside, the inside furnishings are pretty good. Most Asian restuarants look kind of blah inside, but the food tends to be good. This place has both! Though I'd stay away from their fried string beans dish. It is really not made the way it should, and the beans do not taste so fresh. Instead, go for any of the other dishes -- I've tried quite a few and they are all great. I recommend the Mapo Tofu, the seafood stew/soup, the scallion pancakes, and salt and pepper shrimp. Another dish to be aware of is the eggplant dishes. They have sweet and sour eggplant. But it is not eggplant in sweet and sour sauce. It is deep fried balls of eggplant in dough, with some sweet and sour dipping sauce on the side. If you like deep fried, this may be for you. But I do not like deep fried things, so will not be ordering that again.
(4)
James J.
We were traveling for work and arrived to town a little after dark. We wanted to get some good Asian food. We found a place nearby that had received some very good online reviews but we couldn't figure out how to get to there due to some local construction. We happened upon the Sichuan Jin River restaurant as we were making one of our many u-turns. "Let's give this place a try" she said. "They are busy so it must be good" I said. We noticed right away that it was very dirty; silverware, table, chairs, walls, etc. I went to use the men's room and it was in shambles, dirty and needed some serious attention. Our server came over and her phone rang in the middle of taking our order and the waitress actually answered her phone right in front of us. After that she apologized, she took our appetizer order. We got steamed dumplings and a couple of beers. When our dumplings arrived they gave us the dipping sauce tray. It was disgusting and dirty. There was something floating in every single sauce. We were very hungry so we ate the dumplings, skipping the sauces and praying that they did not make us sick. The people that were in there eating were all Asian. I figured that what ever part of their country they originally came from must not be too big on cleanliness because they all seemed thrilled. They have a lot of very gross stuff on the menu too like feet,and intestine, etc. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone, unless you are trying to get sick, or like to eat feet and butthole.
(1)
Weimew Y.
The same menu has two sections (opened from the opposite covers): American Chinese and Authentic Chinese. Of course I always go for Authentic Chinese. Personal favorites include soup with pork tribe and pickled vegetables, and mixed vegetables on crispy rice. If you pay cash, you receive 6%-10% discount; ask staff for explanation.
(4)
Farrell S.
This place is notorious for towing cars in the parking lot. They are jealous of the other Asian restaurants in Rockville Town Square so they will tow your car. They patiently wait looking through the window to see if anyone who parks in the parking lot walks off of the lot. Once you leave the parking lot, a tow truck comes in and tows your car off. There is a sign with very little print that says you will be towed if you leave that parking lot. I wouldn't patronize this place.
(1)
Shellie D.
Came here with my family and ordered the duck with the bread rolls. The duck was uneatable and cold. The flavor was harsh and pungent. We told the waitress and then the cook and her went back and forth. The cook told us that it was good and that she made it. We could have called the health department on them because that duck should not have been served. It was clearly spoiled.
(1)
Katie W.
Fried rice is great, but the place was dingy and sort of dirty. You had to ask for waters, but were given tea, which was great. I'm not sure if I'll go back, but the fried rice really did taste great. We got other things as well, but they weren't special.
(3)
Carol C.
Oh I so miss good Chinese food! (moved to MD from CA where access to really good Chinese food was easy) This place so hits the spot for great sichuan cuisine. Anything with hot peppers, peppercorn sauce, "ma la" taste in it is good. The fried tofu and pig ears are amazing - better than other places I've tried. Not too thrilled on xiao long baos, definitely had better elsewhere - but places that specialize in northern chinese cuisine and dumplings. Have to come back! mmmmm... I think they had spicy boiled fish on the menu, miss that from San Diego and Los Angeles.
If you are planning on taking your dog out to dinner here, don't let him order the Braised Duck with Konjak; it's full of bones and he'll choke to death. That's not to say the dish isn't delicious because it is; what little meat garnishes the plate is succulent and tender. You'll also want to steer your pup away from the Chinese Style Kung Pao Chicken. It's tastes basically of fried chicken with imitation maple syrup. All that sugar is not good for dogs. He'll love the long beans. They are perfect. The most disappointing part of this meal was the fortune cookies. They were unfortunate cookies. No really, they lacked fortunes and had imposter strips of paper with qualifications about the state of the world written on them like: "it's a nice day." Listen cookie, I know what today is like, what I wanna know is what tomorrow will be like.
(3)
Norman G.
This restaurant located behind the firehouse north of Rockville town center has a loyal Chinese clientele and it is frequently jammed. The Chinese customers know what to order and what's on their tables looks very appetizing. But a great many of the dishes are based on intestines from one animal or another and aren't likely to appeal to a good many westerners. The wait staff is of no use at all in explaining individual items. Dishes familiar to American patrons of mainstream Chinese restaurants are, unfortunately, not outstanding. So while you watch families at the next table relishing their meals, you may be disappointed by the choices you've made. I'll go here again with someone who is more familiar than I am with the intricacies--and ingredients--of Sichuan cooking. Plainly, there's a wonderful concert under way. I just happen to be deaf.
(3)
Lia M.
Not a fan. I was so excited to try Sichuan Jin River, based on all the awesomeness I had heard about it, but it just didn't live up. My group of five ordered: - Spring Rolls - Scallion Pancakes - Dan dan mein - Xiao long bao - Eggplant with basil - Chicken broccoli - Shrimp and scallops with black bean sauce - Shredded beef with hot dry pepper So, the scallion pancakes were good. No issue there. Dan dan mein was basically spaghetti in a hot sauce. Eggplant was good, very flavorful. Chicken and broccoli was fine, but it's not exactly a complicated dish. Shrimp and scallops were a bit overdone. Xiao long bao was a dumpling-I don't understand the craze. It had a little liquid in it. So? I am less the impressed. Service was fine though. With all the seemingly good Chinese places in Rockville, I am beyond mad that I ended up here.
(2)
James L.
This place is one of the few authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurants that we found in the Rockville / Germantown area. My wife is from Sichuan and she really loves it here. The dishes that we tried truly tastes like the way they are made in Sichuan. I would suggest getting the house dishes instead of the American Chinese food. The difference is huge. One reason for only 4 stars is because the facility is a bit old and not a flashy as some of the other restaurants in the area. But the food is superb.
(4)
Vinnie A.
I went here because it got pretty decent to good reviews and I was in the neighborhood. I ordered the General Tso chicken. It was disgusting. The chicken quality was very poor. I literally took one bite of the meat and spat it out. I also thought the customer service was not very good. When asked if I liked the food. I told the waitress (or manager) the chicken had a very bad taste to it. She told me that it's white meat, not dark meat and that I should eat since everyone around me was eating. So basically she tried to peer pressure me into eating poor quality meat. Hmmm no thanks! In conclusion I spent $8 on rice and a fortune cookie...should've just gone to chick-fil-A.
(1)
Wesley Y.
The food here is really spicy! I was here for a company party (where everyone kind of got laid off...) Whatever food was still good! we ordered some beers to start and they checked ID which was cute rarely do chinese restaurants check ID. We ordered a few non spicy dishes but after eating all the spicy dishes it was hard to tell the difference. After the tongue is numb it doesn't matter anymore! The beer doesn't help ease the spice. We asked for medium spicy levels. I can't really name the dishes we had =/ The deep fried pork chops was good, spicy duck, spicy tofu, the fish in the hot soup was awesome as always. The food prices here are all reasonable. It was a friday night and they close at about 10:30 we were kind of kicked out at around that time. They brought us free dessert as a Please pay your check and GTFO type thing lol.
(4)
Katy A.
The MSG was literally mouth numbing. I took two bites and it felt like my tongue fell asleep. The two of us who ate here threw our entire meals in the trash. Horrible food.
(1)
Alice W.
Sichuan Jin River used to be called Sichuan Pavilion (巴山蜀水). The restaurant is fairly inconspicuous to a wanderer's eye but has terrific Sichuan food. My favorite is their 豆花鱼 aka spicy flounder with soft tofu. The flounder is so tender and drenched in spicy juices. So flavorful and delicious! Another dish I recommend is the 海鲜é‹å·´ aka Seafood sizzling rice crust soup. It's appetizing and a bit of a show at first - you get these crispy rice-like cakes piled in a bowl and the server pours the seafood and the soup on top, making it sizzle. This is a Sichuan delicacy. I'm a big Sichuan food lover and this is one of my favorite Sichuan restaurants in the DMV area. Love the flavors and the heat. Now that's real Sichuan food!
(4)
Nate L.
I will start this review with this: DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO ORDER AMERICAN CHINESE DISHES, OR IF YOU ARE EXPECTING FOOD THAT ISN'T SPICY. This is the lowest common denominator of the poor reviews. I grew up in a Chinese family, and Chinese culture can be different if you aren't used to it. This place reminds me of my childhood. I imagine some not used to the demeanor of the women who run the dining area might initially be put off by it. They're friendly-- one just has to know how to be polite. Anyway, on to the restaurant. The food is exceptional. For a place with "Sichuan" in the name, I was expecting some really hot food. This place doesn't disappoint, if one knows what to order. Be adventurous and order from the "Chinese" menu. Leave the "American" style alone. If you feel inclined to order only "American" style, you'll be disappointed. These are Chinese people who are good at what they know best-- REAL Chinese food. Get anything rated 1 or 2 chilis, and you're in for a treat. I always get the tender beef in spicy soup, and then order different items to complement it. It's amazing. If you've never had real Sichuan, the heat is different to other cuisines. It causes more of a numbing sensation, rather than the burning heat most people are familiar with. Don't be scared. All this to say: the food is DELICIOUS. The service is fine, if a little slow. Not slow enough to move the chains for me. Five stars.
(5)
Lecheng Z.
This place made me write the very first review on Yelp. As a Sichuan food lover, I've had all authentic Sichuan food in Sichuan, and I have to say, this is the best Sichuan food I've ever had in East coast. The chilled spicy bean jelly salad and dan dan noodle are way beyond my expectation. They just cannot be more delicious. Zhong dumpling is a little different from the authentic, but it's still very good. I can't believe they serve yellow peas and pig feet soup-a very traditional style of soup in Sichuan. It's the best choice to go with after all the spicy food. For the main course, we had double cooked pork, sliced fish in fiery port and smoked duck. They're just awesome! Smoked duck is different from the authentic style, but what else can you demand! You can hardly find a restaurant with all these dishes to be perfect even in Sichuan! I really wish I could try 30 more dishes on their menu. Intestines, duck blood curd, soft tofu, spice chicken salad, pickled veggies and so much more! Forget about ma po tofu and Kung pao chicken, which can be made with sauce easily found in any Chinese supermarket. If you swing by Washington DC area and want to try some Chinese food, don't miss out this place. Otherwise you'll definitely regret.
(5)
Jack L.
I heard this place was good so I decided to take my family there for a nice dinner. I brought my wife and three children there. My youngest son, Daniel, is 8 years old and has Down syndrome, which has been a very difficult cross to bear for my entire family. When we arrived my son Daniel was looked at by the hostess and promptly asked my wife and I if he would be a disturbance during our meal and if he did anything or was too loud we would be kicked out. This was by far the rudest and most offensive thing I have heard in a long while. I asked to see the manager to discuss this awful treatment, the manager told me that the hostess's comments were not a big deal and that I shouldn't be making a fuss about it. The bottom line is Jin River is an awful and rude establishment that does not serve children with Down syndrome!
(1)
AL K.
i must had ordered the wrong stuffs on the menu cause I wasn't feeling the love at all. The menu is divided into chinese and english. It seems to me that there are more selections under the chinese menu compared to the english version. The clientele of this place are mostly mainlanders and locals from the area. They must have noticed something was wrong coz every dish that was taken away had leftovers in it. So one of the servers gave me one of their special dish to take home for free. The steamed dumplings were the worst it was one of those microwavable that you buy in the asian grocery frozen section. The soup had slabs of tofu and served lukewarm. Ugh!! Nonetheless I would not go back again.
(3)
Douglas B.
Very good. Difficult to go wrong it seems. Dumplings, dan dan noodles, peppered fish.
(5)
Jeff C.
Yes, I journeyed to the nether regions of the Metro Red Line searching for this eatery in Rockville. My expectations were high as I had heard and seen of their fine cuisine. I entered the establishment at 1:16 P.M. It was still very lively and active. This was a good sign, or so I thought. A family butted in line ahead of me and was immediately seated. I was left standing by the lady acting as a food traffic cop. In the next few minutes, I was acknowledged and seated at 1:20 P.M. I sat reading the menu (which is in both Chinese and English) and twiddling my thumbs for the next eight minutes as my hot tea arrived. At 1:29 P.M., a waiter finally arrived. I asked for General Tso's chicken and iced tea. At 1:31 P.M., the bottle of Lipton Lemon Tea arrived. Bottled tea??? Really?? I soon learned that all sodas were served in a bottle as well. Well, so much for a classy joint. I enjoyed the drink in a miniature glass with ice, but no straw. After walking in the heat, I needed something cold and wet to drink. Yes, even tea in a bottle in a make believe restaurant. It was very loud. Let me stress again, it was loud. If I spoke Chinese, then it would have been very entertaining and interesting. If you are a student of the Chinese language, this is definitely your place! The chicken was bland, dry, and without appropriate seasoning. Heat? Where? While it is true that the sauce is not over powered with sweetness, it definitely lacks other things. I finished my food at 2:00 P.M.. At 2:10 P.M. a waitress asked if I wanted a box. She yelled something in Chinese to others. I think it meant, "Hey you, get this dude his check! We need the table!" Remember, I am not a student of the Chinese language. Something could have been lost in translation. Within minutes, my check arrived at the table. What else? The two bus girls were awesome. They cleaned tables faster than anybody! The wait staff could have been replaced by first day trainees. We would not have noticed a difference. I know this to be true because several patrons were exercising a move that I call the "searchlight". They were standing up and turning around like a light searching for their server. Looking for a check, drink refill, or order problem were all reasons on this day. My check was picked up at 2:16 P.M. I gained my freedom at 2:20 P.M. I spent entirely too much of my life in this place. Like Cher, I wish I could turn back time! If this review sounded like a police report, it should. All I wanted was my freedom!!! My suggestion for this restaurant? I suggest you pass. With their inherent arrogance to first time guests, lack of food quality, and substandard service; your money should go to a more deserving place. And after all, you work hard for your money and you deserve better!
(1)
Gabi L.
I'm usually a Chinese Fortune chick, but because they closed I decided to try this place out. My boyfriend and I ordered orange chicken and chicken lo mein...it was pretty bland and it tasted fake. Not coming back.
(1)
Hana B.
One of my favorite restaurants in the DMV area - seriously. I grew up eating food from all over China (my parents have friends from many of the different provinces - always makes for yummy potlucks ^_^) and I lived in China for a year, so I'm pretty well acquainted with the flavors and foods, and how they should taste. In terms of food, I love the (大厨水煮鱼) spicy flounder with vegetables in fiery sauce. I also think they make the best beef tendon and tripe in spicy sauce (夫妻肺片) in the area. Another go to dish is the mapo tofu. If you're feeling adventurous, try one of the intestine dishes - they won't disappoint :) Keep in mind, this style of cooking is both spicy and "numbing." If you haven't had this food before, it will definitely be a new sensation for your tongue! Service is perfectly fine. You have to understand that service in a Chinese restaurant is not like how it is in Western restaurants, so you can't have unreasonable expectations. The servers are doing their job by taking your order and bringing you your food pretty quickly. If you want your water refilled, you will need to flag down your waiter. If you need more rice, you will need to flag down your waiter. If you need anything, you will likely need to flag the waiter. Also, I saw a review stating that "The MSG was literally mouth numbing." For those of you who haven't tried Sichuan food before, the "numbing" sensation comes from the use of Chinese peppercorns, not the MSG (though I guess the reviewer could have been suffering from an allergic reaction, but that didn't seem like the case...there would have been bigger issues at hand). If you don't want to experience a "numb" tongue, maybe you shouldn't eat here. Just saying... Last comment: you get a 10% discount if you pay in cash.
(4)
Viva S.
Worst service ever. We were asked to change table in the middle of dinner because they want to let in a bigger group. We were sat in the new table stranded without utensils for 10 minutes. Water took forever to come. Their manager was unsympathetic and aloof. No apologies. Yes, they have good food and we have been a frequent. No, we are not coming back.
(1)
Roger N.
I have been coming here for years and it is one of the best Sichuan restaurants in the area. Especially good dishes are flounder and vegetables in fiery soup, spicy cold jelly noodles, and smoked duck with buns.
(5)
Zoe X.
This is the best spicy restaurant I've ever had.. The spicy fish is the most delicious and yummy.. I recommend people to try this.. And the service and packed are fine.
(4)
Y Z.
Positives: - Probably the most authentic Sichuanese restaurant in MD. - Price is not bad Negatives: - You gotta know what to order. Not everything on their menu is good. - Not sure about the quality of their ingredients
(3)
Margaret Z.
I rarely eat out at a Chinese restaurant because 9 times out of 10, my dad could easily replicate the dishes we order. However, Sichuan Jin River has a seemingly endless selection of dishes that are truly authentic and representative of the unique cuisine that originates from Sichuan, China. Sichuan cooking is notoriously known for its intense spiciness, so beware if you have a low spice tolerance... this may not be the place for you. I found it particularly amusing that the menu was double-sided - one side is for "Authentic" dishes; flip it over, and you'll see "Americanized" dishes. Do yourself a favor and go for the authentic! The lunch special here is a great deal - you get 3 selections of entrees and a soup all for around $25 including tax/tip. I came here with 2 friends and we decided to order off the menu instead. The first dish we tried was the cold beef slices salad (fu qi fei pian) - I consider myself to have a high spice tolerance and this one already had my tongue burning... but it was DELICIOUS. Definitely one of the better preparations of this dish that I have tried. We also got one of the spicy fried tofu dishes, which was just so-so. I brought the leftovers home and my dad added some sweet chili sauce, which made it 10x more delicious. It was previously just a little too salty for my tastes. We also got another beef dish (also spicy) and the beef was extremely tender. At the end of the meal though, I was crying, sweating, and had lost pretty much all other taste buds from my tongue being numb. The portions here are huge, so the prices are definitely reasonable. The service here is great and very friendly as well. Minor complaint is that we asked for two dishes to be boxed up, and the manager told us he had accidentally dropped one of them so he couldn't give it to us - but we weren't offered a discount either. Seems a little unfair when we paid for the dish, but aren't really getting all of it. All in all, this seems to be a hole in the wall and I'm glad to have tried it out!
(4)
Calvin L.
If you like spicy food, this is a great place to come to. The one thing that I like about Sichuan food is that it's not just about numbing your mouth. It is also fragrant and flavorful. But the spicy food served here is not as intense as they would serve it in Sichuan Province. I have come here twice and both times I have had great meals. I recommend looking at the back of the menu for their house specialties. The dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are great. From the back of the menu, I recommend the diced chicken, meat in fire soup, and the smoked duck with buns. The smoked duck is the only dish listed that isn't spicy. I'm glad that I found a place that serves authentic Sichuan food here in Moco. now I want to find a place that serves it the way it's in China, really spicy where it would completely numb your mouth.
(4)
PP U.
Overall, I would say that this is one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants in Rockville. However, I find the flavor a little bit too strong (perhaps others will find it just right). The price is very nice, especially the weekday lunch special from 11 to 3 PM. It includes 3 dishes plus a soup and a dessert for only 22! Compared to other authentic Chinese restaurant specials, bob's noodle etc, this is definitely a steal! Overall a great experience for those who love spicy food!
(4)
John S.
I ate here 3 times before I wrote this review. I took off 1 star because this restaurant in my opinion doesn't have any spiciness in their food. The first time I told them to tone down spiciness because I was eating with friends. So I wasn't able to ascertain how spicy it could get but the food tasted good. The second time I told them to make it as spicy as possible. But to me, it was barely spicy at all. One of the dishes I ordered was Shredded Beef with Hot Peppers. I even asked them to add some more peppers but it still didn't help. While it tasted decent, it was kind of like Americanized Chinese food due to amount of sauce. I was told by the owner after the meal to request the numbing spicy and regular spicy next time. The third time I asked for numbing spicy and regular spicy. It made no difference to me. I was told that this was as hot as it gets. Now the level of hotness in this restaurant might be more than enough for many people who have low tolerance for spiciness but to me it was lacking. There are authentic selections on the menu minus the authentic spice and they do taste good. Their crispy potato with wild peppers is comparable to the quality you can get in China. I also like that they give you a generous quantity of rice compared to other Chinese restaurants. I would return to eat here but not for the spiciness.
(4)
Eddie K.
Lunch specials are really great here. You get three dishes plus a free soup for around $22. The food here is spicy - lots of peppercorns in their dishes. We liked the Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken, spicy whole fish and the shredded beef with scallions and onions from their lunch menu. The dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are really good.
(4)
Esq. H.
We had the shrimp fried rice and the General Tso's chicken and to my shock the total was $25??? If it's your first time, don't do what I did, find a way to try the dishes out during lunch time when they are around $6.75 (Mon - Friday). We called in for carry out. Beforewarned, they only have ONE SIZE of ALL the dishes. No medium, small none of that, just large which I personally think it is crazy. The shrimp fried rice was tasty and had a bunch of shrimp in it and would have been perfect if the shrimp was deveined. The General Tso's had a kick like it should but it was wayyy to breaded for me and I would have preferred if it had a little crunch to it. I realize, it's all Chinese food, but we didn't get traditional Szechuan cuisine so if that's what you are looking for see for yourself, stop by and good luck.
(3)
Cat P.
Initially, we were going to Bob's Shanghai, but the new restaurant, like its predecessor, does not accept credit cards. Womp, womp. No problem! Sichuan Jin River, which does, is almost right next door. I had heard and read about Sichuan Jin River/Sichuan Pavillion for quite some time. Reviews were generally favorable, so I was excited to try this place, and luckily, it lived up to my expectations. Since it was a Tuesday evening, there was no wait and we were quickly seated by a friendly server/possibly manager who jutted his chin in the direction of the table where he wanted us (haha). The lack of formality was no issue to us since we were just happy to see a smiley face. After pouring ourselves a cup of tea, we perused the authentic menu (denoted with bold red lettering) and found a bunch of unusual and enticing options. He chose the braised "belt fish" (all the while questioning if such a fish actually existed or if was akin to the "squeegle" in an Anthony Bourdain episode). With my affinity for eggs, I had to have the preserved egg with peppers in a sour and spicy sauce. To start, we ordered the crunchy fungus. As it turned out, the "fungus" was pretty much the same dish we ordered at China Star in Fairfax, wood ear mushroom in a chili garlic sauce. As much as I love China Star, I must say this version is even better! While China Star's was quite oily, Sichuan Jin River's was "drier." You could still see the bits of garlic and pepper dotting the fungi, but it wasn't soaked in oil. Very nice. The braised belt fish came out in a rather sweet and salty sauce with a slight kick. The flavor of the fish alone was quite pleasing. The main drawback was that the fish was so freaking bony. Some Asians are pros at extracting tiny bones; unfortunately, we're not. If it wasn't for the inconvenience of eating it, this dish would be close to perfect. As you may have guessed, preserved eggs aren't for everyone, but when you take them and stir fry with something as piquant as peppers and douse them in sauce, they're actually quite mild and tame. I loved, loved, loved the long peppers that the preserved eggs were paired with. I have no idea what kinds of peppers those were, but they were pretty spicy yet sweet. Due to the huge serving, I couldn't really finish this in one setting, unless I wanted to feel very sick afterwards, but if I had the capacity in my tummy, I would. Our meal was satisfying and worth every penny. Spacious booth seating is another plus. Our server wasn't too chatty, but his show of being impressed when I devoured the preserved eggs helped my ego a bit, which isn't a bad thing. I will be back again and again and again...
SX and I came here for a weekday lunch to try their lunch special, which is 3 dishes + a soup for a set price (I think around $22?). It's on the "authentic-style" side of the menu (the flip side has the typical American-Chinese offerings). I think it's a really good way to sample new dishes through this lunch deal. We tried the spinach and tofu soup, a whole fried fish covered in sauce, s&p pork chops, and beef with green peppers. In addition, we ordered snow pea tip greens. The soup was very flavorful despite being a very simple soup with pretty much 2 ingredients in it. Everything else was quite good. My only issue was that the fish seemed a tad over-fried, making the meat of the fish kinda hard in certain parts. We had plenty of leftovers, which made for another yummy meal. The servers were very friendly and were giving suggestions on what to order.
(4)
Fereshteh A.
I was there for dinner , order some sheredde beef with pepper,, and some chicken ,,, it was not bad but too oily
(1)
Rahul J.
Took the in laws here yesterday - again - off the charts good (they love spicy food) TIP: Let the server order for you within your dietary confines. We had the same server both times we went and he was spot on with suggestions and very funny (perhaps the only asian male server there) Also note that they do NOT have any DC outposts.
(5)
Julia L.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the area. It is very authentic, so it gets really crowded around weekends and Chinese holidays. I had to wait in lines many times I was there. The waiting staff were friendly, and orders come out fast. I love their Sichuan spicy fish - one of the best I have ever had in the US.
(4)
Hans G.
Five stars for the food. Negative four stars for the rude service. We were continuously rushed to order and eat as soon as possible with staff standing at our table. Ruined what would have been otherwise a great meal.
(1)
Ricky V.
Best Sichuan-style food I've ever had, maybe the best Chinese food. Order from the authentic menu and go nuts. This food is not wimpy-it is spicy and bold. But I've never gone wrong on the authentic menu. Don't be afraid to order the stuff that sounds weird. My favorite dish is the spicy garlic pork.
(5)
Vivian Q.
We used to like it, until served stale blood tofu recently. I am a big fan of blood tofu and the one I got here was not stale, but really really stale, it was sticky in the mouth and had a stinky taste. It was insulting to serve food like that and thought they could get away with this. Too bad such a popular restaurant like that doesn't care about quality.
(1)
Janet L.
I love authentic Sichuan restaurants and this is one of them! The restaurant is decently sized, the waiter we had tried to be funny (except I didn't find the jokes funny)... but at least he was enthusiastic about his job? Much better than someone who disrespects you. If you're feeling adventurous, go for the authentic Chinese menu! Some authentic/terrific dishes (be adventurous, I promise you're stomach will thank you) : Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce, Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce, Wontons with Hot Sauce (8), Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup, Cumin Beef... that's just a few select dishes that I thought were lovely. The dishes are spicy and flavorful... with your standard Sichuan peppercorn, chili pepper and various spices. I haven't had a chance to explore Northern VA but definitely the best Sichuan restaurant in the Rockville/Bethesda/Montgomery County area!
(5)
Sarah C.
noon and not this mornin' bean curd to quell pang callin' I couldn't think of passin' spice away and if pick is hot and hectic tongue hopes it tastes electric I'm glad I took my chances - much glee you see, I'll just be this blunt ma po's hot and bold! NOT bland or cold it's got it all, minced pork with every bite woe! heat hot chew slow! welp, can't ignore beef chow foon fare see soft meat strips, wide noodles share rich timeless meal and comforting to me I forgot one more thing steamed pork buns here were lackin' meh, wouldn't take advantage of these but please, you've got what I'm wantin' ma po's hot and bold! NOT dull nor old it's got it all, minced pork with every bite gold! be back, I'm sold! it's got it all eats' hot and bold . . . inspired by Brian B. yelp.com/biz/dog-pound-t…
(4)
C C.
My mother and I went here for lunch. We got the following: General Guan's Chicken - 5/5 stars Wontons in Chili Sauce - 5/5 stars Dan Dan Noodles - 5/5 stars Spicy Chicken Salad - 2/5 stars The Spicy Chicken Salad was not at all what we expected. We ordered it because it was recommended by the Washingtonian as a must have. Note that the skin and bones were still on the pieces of chopped up chicken and it was kind of hard to eat because of this. The sauce was tasty, but there was a spice in it that caused both my mother's and my tongue to tingle and feel slightly numb for about 5 minutes. I would not order it again. The other 3 dishes were all delicious. They had a nice level of spice and lots of flavor. I would order all of them again. I'm excited to give more of their dishes a try in the future.
(4)
Tian Y.
My mom is a tough person to please when it comes to eating out, and she's especially picky when it comes to good Chinese food, and this is probably her favorite restaurant on the east coast. Mine too! Probably the best sichuan food I've had on the east coast. We come here almost every time we're in DC. Really good authentic food. Try all the popular sichuan classics here! They're all solid. The pickled vegs are really flavorful too! And fu qi fei pian is almost as good as my mom's, haha. We love it here... but then again this is coming from the biased view of Pittsburgh, which is mostly deprived of good Asian food.
(5)
Charles M.
Some of the best Chinese food I've ever had! You have to really enjoy spicy food because the food is here is spicy and amazing!!!! Must go if ur in Bethesda!
(5)
Harmony E.
Dined there once and definitely would not go back. The food was pretty average. The service and cleanness were both below average.
(2)
Chris B.
This place was great. We started with Dan Dan noodles and fried pork dumplings. The dumplings were meaty and tasty and the noodles were tremendous. Our entrees were moo shoo pork and combination fried rice. I highly recommend.
(4)
A N.
Fascinating Sichuan food, with options not found elsewhere. Thoughtful, knowledgeable service. Comfortable setting. Have visited only once, ordering from Appetizer/Small Plates sections of the menu, but look forward to visiting again. Our first meal: We could have used more flavor variation-- several of the items we picked were heavy on salt. (Next time, we will check with server to try to get more of a variation) That said, interesting flavors throughout. We had: Zhong dumplings: crescent shape, meat filled, with a hot sauce. Flavor was mildly hot and moderately salty. Shredded, seasoned pig ear: Interesting, although an acquired taste. Thin slices of cured pig in soy sauce. Texture is quite chewy and cartiligeous. Good as an accent item in a larger meal, not as a mainstay. Soy imparts salt. Dan Dan noodles: Here, simple, thin noodles in a spicy, slightly salty red sauce-- sauce is not peanut. (Note that there is a sesame noodle dish on the menu). Noodles are very fresh and flavor is unexpected and enjoyable. Seaweed in garlic: Simple and delicious. The strands of seaweed are very long and the garlic flavor is intense. Pork and chicken broth dumplings: outstanding, a must. Justifiably, a signature dish. The dumpling wrappers are delicate, the pork filling tasty and adroitly seasoned; the broth offers a rush of delight. Bottom line: well worth trying. Many novel menu items not readily found in the DC area. Ask server to ensure that you are ordering a range of flavors.
(4)
Jess C.
I usually don't enjoy eating Chinese food in the States because it just doesn't compare, but Sichuan Jin River has really changed my mind. I came here to eat a few weeks ago, and a day still has not gone by where I do not think about the Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef ($10.95) that I had here. The servings are quite large here, and I was able to bring the leftovers for lunch for two days. I also got the "kong xin cai" aka morning glory aka water spinach that was great for balancing out the Mapo Tofu. There's a variety of authentic style Chinese foods, and there's a variety of items that looked yummy on other people's table, and I am eager to order next time. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Vicky L.
The food was really delicious. The staff were friendly. The mahpoh tofu was just right for me. My boyfriend likes it more meaty, but he's not from the providences that like spicy food. The cucumber cold dish was just how my grandma made it. I couldn't stop chomping on it. The ambience was a little weird for 8pm and the food was a little pricey, but the food and portions were well worth it.
(5)
Jim L.
We had a large party of 10 and although they had to jerry-rig 3 tables to get us together, it all worked out. Lots of passing the plate and also dealing with 4 little kids. I am not much of a spicy/hot food eater, but Diane's friends definitely were. They however accommodated me and the kids by ordering food that didn't burn my mouth, intestines, etc..... Since I have no idea what to call most of the food, you will have to take my word that the stuff I eat was good. Might be helpful to ask other Chinese on this thread! Service was ok, but what is it about Chinese restaurants in general where they just don't get it that people want/need water refills???? Easy location behind the Rockville fire station and within a spit of the Rockville Town Center. Parking: great Service: ok Food: good, but if you like HOT/SPICY...you will love this place!
(4)
Grace C.
It may be confusing why some reviews are either really good or terrible. The answer is, if you are ordering kung pao chicken and other dishes that you can find at panda express, this restaurant is not the place to get it. This restaurant serves one of the best authentic Sichuan Chinese food on the east coast; meaning, you go there to order deliciously hot spicy dishes and may find parts of a pig you never had before. Those who do not prefer to try new foods are missing out! If you were one of them and wish to explore the amazing gift of taste, I would recommend this restaurant as a place to start. It can also be a more appealing experience if you keep in mind that Chinese people see texture as a type of taste. The only other place I feel that you could find authentic Chinese food is in NY china town (unfortunately none in china town D.C.). Here is a list of some of my favorite dishes they serve; I apologize if my spelling is off. If anyone would like to respond with the correct ping ying I'd appreciate it very much! - cold beef appetizer ( fu chi fei pian) - liver, kidney dish ( gan yao he chao) - cumin pig intestine (zhi ran fei chang) *Reminder: these dishes are spicy. They used to make it spicier or sometimes they are spicier during the winter, but you'll get used to it and LOVE it!*
(5)
Dan M.
I've had so much bland Chinese food in MoCo I thought I'd never have a decent meal again. Sichuan came to the rescue. It's nice to see they went the extra mile with both an American Chinese menu and an Authentic Chinese menu. So many options to choose from, you're sure to find something you'll like. We ordered to go and got the egg drop soup, hunan chicken, chicken fried rice, and shredded beef with hot fresh peppers. All of them were great. Good level of spice, large portions (we had enough for lunch the next day), tons of rice on the side to soak up the sauce, that's just what I wanted. Plus, the location is right across the street from the Rockville Town Center, adjacent to the fire station.
(4)
Joe T.
If you like spicy chinese food, then this place is perfect for you. When I visited here, I was welcomed by the waiter. He was very welcoming. Food was very spicy yet very good. Overall I really enjoyed it.
(4)
Bruce G.
I came back here again a couple of days ago. The "authentic Chinese" lunch special menu is so big that I try to taste something different every time, and I like what I've had. There are two negative points I would make, however: 1. Unlike the nearby Bob's, the special does not include a soup but costs the same as the one at Bob's (which does include a soup). 2. The labeling of dishes as to how spicy they are is woefully inconsistent. I've had "one-chili-pepper" items that I would not call spicy at all, and others that were considerably spicier (but nothing that was spicier than I could take -- although others with a lower tolerance for spice might differ from me). With these two factors, I can't really give it five stars (though you might read my review of Bob's and conclude that not including a soup might be a good thing!) But everything I've had tasted fine, even the things I might consider not as spicy as I'd like -- which I assume aren't supposed to be spicy; but then why label them as such?
(4)
Rebecca Z.
We eat here regularly. My favorites are Dan Dan Noodles, cumin beef, and chow fun.
(4)
Cathy H.
This place was really hard to find. Why? Because I was searching for Sichuan Pavilion, which was the old name of this establishment. Anyway, I was really excited to try their spicy beef noodle soup because I have a life goal to find the best bowl in the country. Sadly, I still believe Hunan Chinese Gourmet in Fair Oaks Mall serves the best. SJR's version has a very oily (chili oil) broth and that prevented me from drinking it like I usually do once all noodles are eaten. The noodles are chewy and the beef is tender with bits of tendon attached (big plus). I tried their scallion pancake and pork dumplings as well. Their scallion pancake is only $2.95 and probably the highlight of the meal. The pork dumplings had terribly thick skin and were not what was expected. I need to find a place in the DMV that sells delicious xiao long bao (soup-filled dumplings). NYC can't possibly be the only area along the East Coast which offers good XLB. I give this place 3 stars, but may return later to try their dan dan noodles and pork/pickled cabbage soup.
(3)
anon r.
i was excited to take my taiwanese parents here (years ago), but they complained thru the whole meal -- about the service, canned bamboo shoots, too-large menu (so that nothing is actually fresh), too many chemicals. so won't do that again. last time i went was also lackluster, trying to experiment with the attractively priced lunch special. but i'm giving this place 4 stars bc i'm currently craving their tangyuan (shareable serving, large individual balls, taste like they're made in-house, in rice wine) -- esp since it's sooo cold already, but of course that's why i don't want to go out and actually get some!
(4)
Anne D.
I ordered the soup dumpling, salted & crispy pork and the minced beef Mao po tofu. I first started with the dumplings and they were delicious, (first time I ever had them) then I tried the tofu which burn the living crap out of my mouth. Killed every sensation and taste I had and everything just went downhill. I couldn't even taste the pork but my boyfriend said it was good. I'm kind of scared to go back.
(3)
Elliott K.
There's been a lot of hype behind the reviews I read about this place, but I just ordered take out and I am very disappointed. Me and my brother are back in town for the holidays and we decided to order from a place that we never did while living here. Boy do we regret that. We ordered the Mapo Tofu and General Tso's Chicken. The food was ready I think faster than the 10 minutes I was told. That alone was disconcerting when I picked it up. Mapo Tofu - Very flavorless, unless you count the abundance of basil flavor. When I picked the container up, I got the oil on my hand and I licked it. It was definitely covered in basil. Not tasty at all, barely edible. General Tso's Chicken - Less sweet than most places, but also covered in some sort of pepper flakes. It didn't have a delicious spiciness too it, mostly just an unappreciated after burn. I have a high tolerance for spicy food, but this was not good. Safe to say, I will not be returning.
(1)
Hannah H.
About a 3.5: Sichuan Jin River is located in a plaza off of Hungerford Drive, and they offer an extensive menu: appetizers, small plates, soup, seafood/beef/pork/chicken/vegetables entrees, Sichuan specialty dishes, noodles, fried rice, and dessert. I was able to try: the 'Dan Dan' Spicy Noodles with Minced Pork (I think they use spaghetti noodles? Either way, it wasn't as salty as I expected it to be, and the spicy chili sauce that you don't see is set on the bottom that you mix up the noodles with - the sauce can be really delicious, but can be inconsistent in taste at times T____T - I was surprised I could handle the spice :P I could have slurped up those noodles all day :D; a Scallion Pancake (this was a nice size - it was a little thicker than usual, but I was totally okay with that, as it was literally one of the best scallion pancakes I've tried! It had a nice balance of the soft interior with a crispy exterior, with a good amount of scallions throughout - dipping it into the soy sauce was MONEY); Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup (this was topped with an extremely generous amount of chili flakes; I was a little taken aback, assuming it would literally burn my tongue off; however, I just stayed away from the flakes, and went underneath and around them; this had pretty good flavor, and it kind of reminded me of a familiar dish that I just can't put my finger on - a mixture of soondooboo and jjambbong, maybe? I enjoyed the napa cabbage slices that were crunchy, and there was a generous amount of beef (same texture as you would find in Beef & Broccoli, so keep that in mind!); mix it all with the rice and it is pretty satisfying; my husband ate up all the leftovers within seconds!); and, an order of the Small Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth (these kind of looked like the XLBs, but it contained no soup, just a very juicy mound of soft pork; while generous in the filling, these were just okay and slightly forgettable). A hot pot of tea was served, service was prompt and efficient, and I was surprised at what a bargain Sichuan Jin River offers. I definitely will be back, as I would love to try out their other specialty dishes. GO MOPSSSSSSSSSSS, JASON, C.!!! +'Dan Dan' Spicy Noodles with Minced Pork (sometimes inconsistent in taste T___T) +Scallion Pancake :D +Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup +fast & efficient service +plenty of parking
(4)
Ruth C.
Four and a quarter stars for family portions of tasty food with friendly service. Plenty of parking attached. Their dan dan mien uses the most resilient noodles in the area, with just enough sauce to coat. Basil eggplant was tasty. Sliced beef & vegetables in fiery soup has a nice amount of heat to the tender meat. Didn't care for the broad noodles in the Sichuan style NRM, but there were a lot of respectable nuances to every other component. XLB were okay in flavor, more delicate than average. I like celery and wood-ear plenty, but I'd skip the semi-Americanized sliced pork salad. Fluffy white rice. Outside their unfortunate noodle decisions, I'm digging the flavors here. Lunch special looks like a good value, but my future hit list will shop outside its menu: smoked duck, ko swei ji, double cooked pork & crispy rice cake, short ribs with sticky rice or taro, home style intestines, pig feet, mapo with beef, stir fried string beans.
(4)
Zheng W.
Very good Sichuan food. Price is good and food tastes good enough to satisfy my Chinese belly. Definitely would like to go again.
(5)
Annie B.
This is a review from a vegetarian perspective. I went here for the first time in 2009 with a grad school friend from the Sichuan Province in China (the name of the restaurant changed since then, but the menu is the same). She order everything off the menu for us and made sure to get some vegetarian entrees I could eat :) The 10 or so times I have gone here since, I have always ordered the same delicious things off the menu. Here's what I get every time: 1. Mapo tofu, no meat (you have to tell the waitress no meat). If you don't like soft tofu, don't order this. I happen to love soft tofu and the sauce on this is such a flavorful umami bomb that your taste buds will be singing in delight. So good! 2. String beans Sichuan style, no meat (again tell the waitress no meat). These green beans are really flavorful and I'm convinced could turn a veggie hater into a veggie lover. They are really garlicy and apparently the umami yummy flavor comes from ya cai, which is pickled mustard greens. 3. Eggplant in hot garlic sauce. The eggplant is super-garlicy and somewhat spicy with a meltingly tender texture. It is sooo good! My husband hates eggplant, but gobbles this stuff down like it's going out of style. Yum!
(5)
Wing C.
My parents can't take spicy food yet they raved about this place again and again. I finally had the opportunity to join them with my in-laws in town. With in-laws treating in-laws, there were of course more than enough food ordered to feed a village. Here are some of the highlights! Spicy jelly noodle - this dish was so simple yet refreshing, - a hint of aromatic chili oil paired with some chopped peanuts - delish! Soup dumplings - these dumplings were meaty - mouthful every bite. They could use a bit more soup to balance out the meat/soup ratio. Steamed fish with ginger and scallion - the fish was so flaky, soft. Loved the fact, it was de-boned for us. General Tso's chicken - I know I know, this is not a true Chinese dish - but they made this dish so well! Loved that it was made of white meat with the perfect hint of spice. Garlic Spinach - helped cut the oily, spicy-ness to all the other Sichuan dishes we had. It was a simple, yet delish palate cleansing dish. Taro rolls - supposed to be desserts? I couldn't help but have an entire order for myself. Golden, crispy, and perfectly sweetened taro paste filled! Ah they were heavenly! We also had chili fish, stir fried spicy tofu, Sichuan mixed combo, smoked duck with buns, sweet and spicy eggplants, etc. But surprisingly, I didn't enjoyed these authentic Sichuan dishes as much as the ones previously highlighted. Perhaps, mentally I just couldn't accept the amount of (chili) oil I was ingesting. Nevertheless, I was amazed by the quality and the quantity served at Sichuan Jin. Would definitely be back!
(4)
Susan R.
real asian food not americanized. I had an amazing baby bok choy with preserved duck egg. My husband's spicy beef covered in red pepper flakes but not firey just nice earthy heat. Bring cash, pay with cash you can get a card stamped to earn free meals.
(4)
ron w.
An old Chinese proverb states "That you can never stand in the same river twice". Ah, Grasshopper, but you can go to Sichuan Jin River as many times as you want. Go. Go now. Set behind an office building with lots of free parking is where you'll find the hard to find Sichuan Jin River. Hard to find, yes, but hard to beat for great food. The ambiance is early Costco. A crate of industrial fortune cookies waiting behind the cash register to be doled out with the check. Don't like your fortune, they will bring five more. The staff wants you to be happy. The carpet wears most of the dishes now served at this wonderful spot along with some ground in samples of the prior Vietnamese place that occupied the space. You want to eat off the floor, go to Hakkasan in London, or Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, but this restaurant is worthy of making the pilgrimage from either of those cities. The food is not truly Sichuan although if you tossed the kitchen you'd find some real Sichuan peppercorns, perhaps. It panders to the Rockville crowd and the occasional lost DC foodie, or those perennially disappointed in almost everything Bethseda has to offer. Start with Pickled Crispy Cucumber Garlic Salad, and swill an iced Tsingtao or two. Have a platter of Crunchy Potatoes with Wild Pepper which is as good as it sounds. Don't miss the Scallion Pancake, a simple dish which is simply difficult to make correctly. Shatteringly crisp on the outside and pancakey soft on the inside and chocked full of sliced fresh scallions. The only other place that makes them this good is Four Sea in Irvine, Calif. So, save your Frequent Flyer miles for a trip there, or better, yet Taipei. The Pork Soup Dumplings were excellent. Just as good as Din Tai Fung which opens like Chipotles outlets everywhere, and just a hair less delicious than what you get at Shanghai Asia Manor in New York. The Eggplant with Basil Sauce, Fried Tofu with Vegetables and Stir Fried Green Beans kept the Vegans with us at bay. (Toothless though they may be.) The Smoked and Deep Fried Duck with puffy dough pillows and Plum Sauce was so good a second order was required immediately. The Cumin Beef was brilliant. Uber crisp beef tenderloin on a bed of translucent chili-fied onions. The Flounder in Black Bean Sauce was a religious experience. A succulent huge pile of boneless, skinless fresh flounder fillets floating in a vat of thick gelatinous soupy gravy so good I wanted to pair down to my French Marble Bag and just lay in it. The Singapore Fried Rice Noodles was done just right. Vermicelli with dry curry, shrimp, and chicken made crave a Sloe Gin at Raffles Hotel. Typically, General Tso's Chicken is not only not Sichuan, it ain't even Chinese. It was a designer dish designed to please American tastes. Battered, fried, tender chicken in a thickened sweet orange-ish sauce. What do you expect? We're honkies, after all, but the only ones in Sichuan Jin River among a room full of born and raised Sichuanese most of whom ordered it as well. This Chinese Emperior's Feast for 12 was $276 with tax, license, dealer prep and out the door. After dinner, our table looked like a Civil War Mash Unit, or the sheets in the boys dorm. Great food is like sex, if you don't have it all over you, you're doing it wrong. Do it right, and dive into Sichuan Jin RIver.
(5)
Alan Z.
If you want authentic sichuan food, this is the place to be. Food here is comparable to what i'd get in China. The seasoning is bold and really good. Definitely not americanized Chinese food. If you like spicy, definitely come here and try it out.
(5)
Marc L.
How fun is it to discover a slightly run down hole in the wall with amazing ethnic food? It's a thrill for me. Makes me feel like an insider. Well , Sichuan Jin River is almost that. It's not undiscovered, but not hugely popular. It's not a hole in the wall, but it is hidden and slightly worn. And the food is really good, and in our case, I experienced something unique and delicious. So pretty darn close to a thrilling experience. Ate here with spouse on a Thursday night around 7 PM. I've been wanting to try this for awhile after seeing the rave reviews from Tyler Cowen. A bit confusing to find the place, you can't see it from Rockville Pike. Turns out that it's around the back of a twin building with a central passageway, and there is parking in the back of the building next to the restaurant entrance. When you enter, the restaurant appears "modest", a polite word for a bit dated and run down. But it's clean and comfortable. I have a feeling that this is part of the appeal, if the same food were served in elegant surroundings, maybe you wouldn't feel like it's a discovery. We are non-meat eaters and there was plenty of selection. The back of the menu has photos of the specialty dishes, so we chose one from there, the "Hot fresh pepper with flounder in black bean sauce." My wife doesn't care for spicy food, so we ordered "Eggplant in basil sauce". And I got a Tsingtao beer, always a winner with Chinese food. Service was reserved but friendly. When I smiled and asked the hostess/server to come over and help, she was smiling and friendly and helpful. Eggplant dish came out within minutes, very hot, and good. Nothing exceptional but good, plenty of fresh garlic, cooked nicely and good flavor. Huge portion. Had this been the only dish for the evening, my rating might have been 3 stars. But then the fish dish came out. It looked exactly like the photo and had surprises in store. Huge portion again, very large bowl, filled with broth, then loaded with flounder and a few vegetables (some I could not identify), then a layer of black tasty substance (bean residue? pepper?) which was really delicious and smoky, and topped with finely sliced spicy green peppers. Definitely a kick. I kept saying: I have never had anything like this. Unique, flavorful, delicious. Makes me want to return to try other dishes, particularly fish or vegetarian specialties. But without my wife, because all the good stuff looks to be spicy. Bill came to $42.50 with tax and tip. The dishes were $18 (fish) and $12 (eggplant), plus beer, plus tax/tip. But we have an entire meal that was packed up for us to take away and eat later at home, so it's like we bought two meals. So value was good. My bottom line in stars: service 4, atmosphere 3, food 4, value 4, overall 4. I shall return.
(4)
Callie B.
This place has a SERIOUS roach problem. I have no idea how they haven't been shut down yet. Don't eat here.
(1)
Timothy C.
Right down the street from the Rockville town center, cuddled up to a fire station, there is a storefront from the 80's that is trying really hard to get you to miss them. Empty patio, a bajillion signs telling you they will tow your car, no sign of life outside. DON'T BE FOOLED! There is Chinese goodness in there. First stamp of approval? I'm the only non-Asian in the house. I mean, that's true at the corner Chinese take-out place down the street from my apartment, but that's because it's empty. This place was poppin' on a Saturday night, and it only got more crowded. We started with a quick skim of Yelp faves, and got the dan dan noodles and a scallion pancake. I liked the spice of the noodles, but I'm sure most of their other noodles would have been more enjoyable. Kind of basic like what a kid would ask for. The pancake was good, crispy and savory, a nice start. We ordered 4 entrees: Breaded duck with rolls, orange chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and pork lo mein. Now, the last 3 of those dishes I thought I had eaten before, but these were the best versions of them I have had. I'll give special props to the sweet and sour chicken, crispy veggies and perfectly fried pieces of meat with a KILLER sauce! My fave was the duck. It's breaded and fried, and chopped into chunks, served in a pile surrounded by fluffy rolls and a cup of savory, sweet sauce. As the server pointed out to me, the rolls come apart and can be made into sandwiches. Wha! I LOVE SANDWICHES! And I loved those sandwiches...crunchy, smooth, tasty, and surprising. We enjoyed that meal for around $15 a person (no drinks, just tea), and had enough leftovers for dinner the next day. I will be back for the classics and maybe try some of the weirder stuff too.
(5)
Divine A.
Portions here are generous and it was quite good. I had egg drop soup and the flat noodles which reminded me a lot of drunken noodles. Although for this no heat. Definitely not a bad deal and might come back to try other things in the menu.
(3)
Kyungeun P.
Omnomnomnom.. This place was amaze. It's kinda sorta tucked away in a plaza that's not in plain view from rockville pike fyi. We ordered: pork soup dumplings (ok, not really soup dumplings, more like regular steamed dumplings by the way), spicy cucumber salad, fish in hot oil (or spicy boiled fish), beef noodle soup, basil chicken, and a rice ball soup dessert. Don't recommend: beef noodle soup (meh. Recommend that you drive over to A&J in rockville instead) Highly recommend: spicy boiled fish and their dumplings. The spicy fish had a lot of numbing Sichuan peppercorns, so beware! Price point was decent/ok, and seating was plenty. We went around 7:30-8pm on a Saturday night and waited about 5 minutes before our party of 4 was seated. Other tables ordered a hot clay pot dish and it looked great.
(4)
Jason C.
It's a bit shocking to me that Sichuan Jin has dropped below the 4* level on yelp. Over the years, this has been one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the DC area and it's well-known that many Chinese folks from all over the DMV come to this spot to get the best, if not one of the best Sichuan food in the area. Sichuan food is known for being spicy and also for having meat cuts and preparations that don't show up on typical Chinese menus. Ordering is quite a challenge here. There are numerous options and unfamiliar dish names which make it difficult for an unassuming consumer to navigate and order the right dishes. To make things worse, several of the meats are not mainstream consumer favorites (e.g. tripe, rabbit meat, etc.) and I've known some who have downright said they won't come here again after eating those dishes. While it's rare for me to do this, when I come to this restaurant, I stick to several dishes. The first one is DAN DAN NOODLES. It seems like a very simple dish. It contains nothing but minced meat and chili oil yet the flavoring is absolutely amazing. I'd say this is the highlight of this restaurant. The second dish is their BEEF IN FIERY SOUP. The looks of this dish will intimidate you. It's dark red and filled with chili oil and numbing sauce. Looks can be deceiving as it isn't as hot as it looks (but you may not want to gauge that based on my spice tolerance). The beef is a quite chewy and the preparation is simple yet it is full of spice and flavor. I highly recommend this dish. If you can tolerate the spice and like it, I can confidently state that you won't find a place as good as this in the MoCo area.
(4)
Roll T.
4.25 stars. First and foremost, the dan dan noodles here are probably the best one will find in the DC area. At the very least, they rival the preparation at Sichuan Pavilion though my preference lies in Sichuan Jin River's peppercorn friendly version. For those who felt it was appropriate to bash the food here, I'd strongly suggest trying out the flounder and show me any Chinese preparation within a 50 mile radius that rivals this culinary masterpiece. It would not be an exaggeration to say this was the best preparation of flounder that I remember and this is from someone who grew up off the Gulf Coast! Accenting the wonderful flounder is a menagerie of vegetables including tree ear mushrooms, snap peas, and bamboo shoots. Other than the flounder, the house special Iron Beef had a pleasant consistency with the beef almost mirroring perfectly cooked pork belly in texture. Scallion pancakes were crisp and not too oily taking on an almost biscuit like quality. Only the dried tofu wasn't a pure revelation, and is the only reason I'm keeping my review to 4.25 stars. Sichuan Jin River is Sichuan cuisine elevated to its finest, and even for those who are not in Rockville, it is worth the trip from DC to try it. Frankly, I'm saddened that I only recently discovered this masterpiece. It is certainly one of my favorite finds in suburbia land.
(4)
Dean H.
This is as close as it gets to authentic Sichuan cuisines. Szechuan is a style of Chinese cuisine originating from Sichuan province in southwestern China. It has bold flavours, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavor of the Sichuan pepper. Sichuan food is really about a variety of flavors: spicy, flowery (Sichuan peppercorns), salty, sour, sweet, bitter, smoky, etc. Frequently all of those flavors are combined in one dish. This being my first time, I decided to try the DanDan Noodles for appetizers and the Cummin Beef as an entree. The noodles are plenty enough that it can be a meal unto itself. The Cummin Beef has a combination of spices which gives it a complex flavor. They portions are generous and you can definitely have leftovers for the next day. The crowd is made up mostly of Chinese diners so you know this place is the real deal. The place is a bit worn down on both the outside and inside. It's conveniently situated next to the Rockville Firestation which often sends over its firefighters to help put out the heat coming out of the mouths of many of its patrons. They also have a standard Americanized menu for the unadventurous eater who just wants to stick to their General Tso or Orange chicken. I wish they would do away with that part of the menu. Like some of the Chicago hot dog stands that mocks you for asking for ketchup, I feel that if you come in here asking for General Tso Chicken, a Tiger Mom should come out of the kitchen and berate you for not being more open minded to other cultures and their dishes. But alas, I digress. I intend to come back and try some of their other dishes. 4/5 stars. Would Szechuan again!
(4)
Ching C.
One of the best places for Szechuan cuisine in the MD/DC area. The food is flavorful (and plentiful). Ever since Sichuan Jin River opened a couple years ago, my family has been regulars at this restaurant whenever we want to grab a bite to eat. We usually go after we watch a movie at Rockville Town Center as it is in the shopping center right across. This place is popular and can be very busy - there is usually a wait after 6pm on the weekends. The food is consistently delicious. Every dish we order here is spicy, flavorful, and portions were more than generous. Items I highly recommend 1. Flounder with Sour pickled Cabbage & Peppers 2. Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup 3. Stir-Fried Tender Pork Liver and Kidney 4. Dan Dan noodles We usually order one or two appetizers, and three main dishes for four people. We usually have left overs of everything since the portions are huge. Service can be a hit or miss- we usually have to flag down the servers ourselves for more water. If you like it spicy as I do, this restaurant will hit all the right spots and leave you satisfied and happy.
(4)
Norry H.
This is probably one of the two best Sichuanese restaurants in Rockville to me. Another one is Joe's Noodle House. What I particularly liked at Sichuan Pavilion are, 1. Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup 2. Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef 3. Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken (lunch special). I only wish the restaurant were located closer to where I live or work.
(4)
Angela C.
So, I have a serious problem with heartburn and my doctor keeps lecturing me on lifestyle modifications. Restaurants like Sichuan Jin River are the reason I am completely unable to abide by any healthcare recommendations. After eating a grotesquely large Indian buffet lunch and promptly passing out into a food coma, I woke up to my friend, Pallabi G. (!!! shoutout!) asking me if I wanted Sichuan food. Obviously, when Pallabi wants you to go somewhere to eat, you don't say no. We ordered the hot sesame noodles, spicy beef noodle soup, and cumin chicken. I never love chicken and Sichuan Jin River's is not going to change that. However, I keep dreaming of those hot sesame noodles, which strike a perfect balance between spicy yet creamy from tahini sauce and the spicy beef noodle soup, which is the ideal thing to eat on a cold winter's night. It's the kind of thing where I couldn't stop eating, and then clearly paid for dearly later on in the night. Lessons never learned, apparently.
(4)
Chen-Chen R.
First time writing a review on yelp....I am not a fan of the idea of writing negative reviews on yelp but I guess that's hypocritical: I went to Rockville yesterday and stopped by this restaurant because a friend of mine told me it was very good a few years back. I ordered the salted pork dish on the authentic sichuan section of the menu, and it was realllllllllly yummy. I only ate half of it at the restaurant, and the waitress packed the rest of it for me in the kitchen to take home. The bad part is when I got home hours later. I didn't bother heating it even though it was cold and because I am lazy. I just put the contents of the take out container over rice and started eating happily away. came down to my last couple of bites and I found something hard in my mouth. Thinking it was a bone or something, I pulled it out and discovered a RUSTY NAIL. I know mistakes happen but that was disgusting and also dangerous. While I was eating there, they were speaking about something being broken and brought the broken piece into the kitchen to show someone. I didn't look up to see what it was, I just heard because I was sitting right next to them, and I can speak Chinese. It could be unrelated or it could be the broken piece accidentally fell into my take out container when the waitress packed it. Anyway, the one pro of this experience is I realized I haven't had my tetanus shot in over 10 years, so this prompted me to look into getting that soon. side note: I probably wouldn't have written this review even with finding the nail but when I was paying, the waitress quietly told me that if I paid cash instead of credit, I could pay the amount without tax which is shady for obvious reasons. Do what you will as a small business, but don't make me feel like I'm in on it. I'm just a customer trying to enjoy a lunch. I'll post a pic
(1)
Michael S.
I came here with my friends who live in the area. I was visiting the area and they told me this was the place to get good Chinese food. Well, they were right. The food here is delicious and the service was good. We never had any issues and always had our waters topped off timely. THERE IS GREAT VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY. I had dinner and I still have lunch for tomorrow. All for $16 with tax and a generous tip. So much variety and it was all delicious. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Chinese. It's pretty damn authentic.
(4)
Jared W.
LOVE THIS PLACE! About 2 years ago, I got on yelp on my way home in search of some spicier, less Americanized Chinese food. Stopped in and asked for a recommendation. The woman at the counter (who I now think is an owner) suggested the Cumin Beef dish. I said "sounds good" before I could process that this was very likely not a dish I'd ever consider on my own. Normally I instantly regret asking for recommendations bc I feel bad if it sounds terrible to me and why would anyone know what I like? Ended up that first night with takeout and Cumin Beef and Zhang dumplings. My expectations were not too high since despite a million Chinese restaurants (particularly in that part of moco), I found most to be too mild in flavor or heat. Once I took the food out and opened the large portioned containers, i immediately thought I'd enjoy this. The more I ate, the more I had to have. The Sichuan peppercorns used have a numbing effect that can make level of heat hard to gauge but doesn't take away from any of the goodness. The dish is filled with a large amount of almost dry fried beef, jalapeños, onions, and peppers. There was enough food for two meals and I destroyed every single bit in one sitting. I actually craved more of it once it was gone. The dumplings are excellent and, while perhaps not as special as China Bistro down the street, they compliment all the dishes I've had here well. When I find a dish I love, it's hard for me to deviate. The Cumin Beef is one of those dishes and in my top 10 most craved meals in this area (another is the Derek Tibs from Zenebach Injera off T and Florida ave). I'd say I get takeout 90% of the time for no other reason than it's usually just me eating it. I have dined there a handful of times with others and enjoyed it a lot. The cumin beef travels well but the dumplings and scallion pancakes are a bit better in house. They do offer a frequent buyer type program with cash purchases (a stamp for each increment of $20). My takeout meal of Cumin Beef and one appetizer are usually right at the $20-$23 mark so takes 10 dinners for me to get a free one. The appetizers I've sampled are Dan Dan noodles which are great, hot sesame noodles (which is fine) and the cold noodles with hot chili oil (which are also fine). The scallion pancake is another I enjoy if getting noodles as a side and the aforementioned spicy dumplings. I'm predictable when I call in to the point where they recognize me by my choices and have, on occasion, told me if I'm thinking of a different dish when I order. I appreciate that. I've eaten here probably 25 times in the last 2 years and that says more about their quality and consistency than my lack of creativity. I don't cook as much as I used to and there's nothing worse than getting takeout and having a terrible meal. That's never happened here and likely never will. Really have no idea why they aren't rated higher. The service when I've dined in has always been friendly and responsive. The restaurant is ALWAYS full during dinner service (probably 75% Chinese) and I have yet to meet anyone that's been and doesn't love it. It's certainly not the healthiest food since oil is a component and the portions are enormous but most don't eat out for healthy food anyway. It's spicier than nearly every other type of Chinese you'll find around here and the reviews complaining about this should be taken with a grain of salt. You simply don't (or shouldn't) come here for Americanized/milder food. Love this place and am so thankful I chose to try this restaurant on a whim a couple years ago.
(5)
Lan N.
I've been going here with my family for years now. It's delightful Szechuan food done right. Husband only gets to dishes: the shui zhu yu (fish in chili broth) and the la zhu ji (spicy chicken with peppers). They never disappoint. However, we tried the eggplant in basil last time, and I liked that it was not overcooked, so you get these plump, soft eggplant chunks. I know you can either deep fry or boil the eggplant before tossing it with the sauce. I hope it's the latter case here, since the texture was different than normal. We also ordered the pig's feet in sour mustard, which came in sort of broth with clear noodles. If you like collagen, you're going to love this dish. We sure did. For dessert, we got the soft tofu in fermented wine sauce. I've never had this dish and was glad to try it. Very busy restaurant despite the heavy downpour that Friday evening; mostly Asians (a good sign for authenticity). I've rarely had better Szechuan.
(4)
Roy S.
In all of my years on this Earth I have never tasted traditional Chinese food. The fare I have always eaten has left me wondering what was wrong? Bland, greasy, and bad tasting for the most part is my description of just about all Chinese food I have ever had. A friend recommended this place and I was dubious at best. This is a no frills place, no fancy table cloth or 5 star ambiance, just great food. I went with the classic General Tso's chicken and it was amazing!!! It was actually real chicken!!! Normally its a fried blob of who knows what and you always feel bad about eating it. This stuff was great. Great flavor and texture. The Sichuan chicken was also very nice with a hint of spiciness that was quite subtle and did not burn the mouth but ignited one's taste buds. I came for lunch but I will return post haste!! My only issue was with the service, it is pretty slow and English is clearly not a language that is used often at this establishment. I can overlook this when I am so happy with my food... Make sure to eat here ASAP!!! (I will go back and try some real Chinese food next time)
(4)
Muzhou L.
I've ordered here a dozen times. Though all the dishes are great and pretty authentic, the consistency of the flavor is not guaranteed. I really liked the addition of cardamon in one of the spicy fish dishes. I hope the chef could do more of this small experiments to improve the flavor.
(4)
DC R.
Consistently great and authentic Szechuan food with a few non-Szechuan dishes in the menu. If you can read the Chinese language menu do so it is different with even more choices. Mapo Tofu is great and Dan Dan noodles are reliably great with a bit more spice then you'll find elsewhere. We've been here and had takeout more than a dozen times. Always great. My preference though is to eat at the restaurant. Get there early or you may have a very long wait. And ignore reviews from people who say "I don't really like spicy food". They should stay out of Szechuan restaurants or at least not review them. And if you do want authentic spiced food and know what that is. Ask for it in Mandarin :-)
(5)
Rui Z.
Sichuan Jin River is an okay casual restaurant, but you should know a couple of things: Sichuan food is not particularly healthy. Our orders, which included basil eggplant, beef and bamboo shoots, and Scallops, were pretty salty with a generous helping of oil. If you're trying to cut back on spicy food, oil, or sodium, it might not be the place for you. I think that even relative to other Chinese food places, the food was really oily. Uncomfortably so. That said, the restaurant's serving sizes are really generous for the decent price, and the service is friendly and fast. It's a good place to dine out "family style" with several people splitting a handful of dishes.
(3)
Boyu L.
Authentic and awesome nice Chinese food. I am a Chinese and I know if they give you the quality sichuan food. Ordered cumin beef and hot and spicy flounder with soft tofu. Nice atmosphere, and okay service.
(5)
Pallabi G.
Ever since we vowed never to go back to a certain other Sichuan restaurant in the area, we have been on the hunt for a proper replacement restaurant. I am happy to report that Sichuan Jin River way surpassed my expectations. We've been there twice in the last month and and both times, its been great. My standard at any Sichuan restaurant is the fish fillet with soft tofu. While Jin River's isn't the best I've had, its pretty darn good. The only thing is that if you get this dish to go, they give you the tofu separately and I find that you have mix the two together and heat it up on the stove to really get the flavors to mix well. I personally prefer their fish fillet with veggies in spicy broth. The "veggies" are mostly varying types of greens and celery, but that's fine because they absorb the broth really well. The cumin chicken was also a crowd pleasure, especially because it wasn't drenched in oil and overwhelmed with cumin like similar dishes I've had. The pork tripe in chili oil was a tad too salty in my opinion but a generous amount and good flavor Their dan dan noodles are also worth trying. Very simple, but a delicious flavor. The decor and the location are fine. The food is really the star of the show here. Oh, and they have an incentive for paying in cash. I just wish they would do it so that you got a stamp every $10 dollars instead of every $20.
(4)
Paul Y.
I had this in the summer, (July 3rd to be exact). However, the lack of appreciation that it has been getting has made me decide to write a review, and in the process, rebut some of the common criticisms - I have no allegiance to Jin River, but it was probably the best Sichuan food I had in the past year so good deeds should be rewarded. First of all, it is important to notice that this is sichuan food, and authentic at that. Ordering General Tso's or the ilk and then expecting something special is setting yourself up for failure. No one would think to order a burrito at a steakhouse, but because many patrons of Chinese restaurants which specialize in a particular cuisine seem to demand Americanized Chinese food (or grasp for the same familiar 3 tradiitional food items), then their is a lot of junk on the menu that I am sure is cooked with a bit of disdain. Is that the best strategy for the restaurant? I don't know, but as far as what you might want to order, consider some of the following (I confess that the specific names of items elude me, as the translation process is different at every restaurant, but I include pinyin which is the anglicized pronunciation of the dishes) Apps: Fuqi Feipian (Fuqi = Married Couple, Feipian = tripe), better known as Cold beef tripe. Beef Tendon (in Chilli Oil) These are extremely spicy, and as one patron noted, makes your mouth numb (said patron also attributed this mouth numbness to MSG; without wishing to throw any shade, MSG will not make your mouth numb). Peppercorn is a staple of sichuanese cuisine, and that will make your mouth feel numb and when you drink you will taste sour. Main Courses: Thinking about kung pao chicken? Impress your waitress by asking for "Lazi Ji" or spicy chicken instead. Chinese restaurants often do profile (white friend was offered fork, while everyone else was given chopsticks). Is this right? Probably not, but it does happen for real. Shui zhu yu / Shui zhu niu (Water boiled fish / water boiled beef) - Here they named it something funny like Beef / fish in fiery soup. These are delicious. The water boiled beef is the best I've had of sichuanese food I think, extremely tender. Need something not spicy? Try yuxiang qiezi (fish fragrant eggplant)- it might be named sweet and sour eggplant because thats what it sorta tastes like. Basil eggplant seems popular, but basil is really a southeastern spice. The portions are huge, speaking as three kids in their collegiate years. We could not finish and it was delicious. Come for spicy food and come for authentic food and you will be happy. Come with food court chinese choices and you can be like many of the disappointed reviews
(5)
Linh N.
I used to really like this place. I think they had really good flavors going on, but had to stop going here because the food was too salty and a bit too oily for me. If they can reduce their sodium and oil their food would be amazing!
(3)
Cynthia L.
If you love spicy, and you want Chinese, you can't go wrong with this place. I'm told its consistently packed, but on a weeknight before a major holiday, there wasn't a wait for a table of 6. Wondering what to order? We tried: Seaweed & duck soup (interesting and different than the soups I'm used to- the seaweed is thick and def has that "just plucked from the sea" texture), Dan dan noodles (it kicked me in the face with the spice all at once!), pork soup dumplings (not the best, but pretty damn close for the 'burbs!), smoked peking duck (yum-all-around!), scallion pancakes, salt & pepper pork, and spicy pork intestines. We couldn't move after this meal, or stop sweating (from the spicy pork intestines & dan dan noodles) I can't say I'm the biggest fan of spicy food (I know, how atrocious of me), but this place is not bad and did a very good job. However, between this place and another spicy Chinese food place that's down the street that shall be unnamed, I prefer the latter.
(4)
Rudel A.
Poor customer service, we waited for an hour and still no food, ask the manager and said they are gonna cook our food...what!!!......after more than an hour waiting??? My kids are so hungry so we left disappointed!!!! ....even let us pay our appetizer..... What a shame on this restaurant, they should close and DO NOT COME to this restaurant.
(1)
Kathryn A.
This place is decent but not great. The food tastes like home cooking in that it's uninspired and bland. Nothing is really spicy or savory. If you order the fish, be warned that it's carp, and not very fresh. Still, the food is very, very cheap, and it comes out very, very fast. The restaurant is also fairly large, so you won't have to wait to be seated. Beware of the restrooms!
(3)
Brian J.
I can go anywhere for American style Chinese food, but this is the first place that I've been that reminded me of flavors when I lived in China. We got the following dishes. "Zhong" Dumplings 钟水饺 - Dumplings in a sweet and spicy sauce. The sauce was well flavored, but the dumpling meat was too dry. This is the same sauce that should be on Dan Dan Noodles, so those would likely be a success as well. Flounder with Pickled Vegetables d泡èœé±¼ç‰‡ - This was the best dish. A soup that was a great mix of sour and spicy flavors. This dish had generous portions of fish and glass noodles. Stir Fried Stringbeans with "Ya-Cai" 干煸四å£è±† - A disappointment. It didn't taste that bad, it just didn't have the right flavor. It lacked both the peppers or the prickly ash seasoning that accompany these dishes (prickly ash is a spice in Chinese dishes that causes a numbing sensation in your mouth) Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken æˆéƒ½è¾£å鸡- This dish had some good heat. The flavor wasn't that complex, but it was hot. The chicken was a little on the dry side. [b]Crispy Rice Seafood [/b] - I forgot the name of this one. More of a show than anything. I didn't care for this dish when I lived in China nor do I here. It is a satisfying dish, but really it was inferior to the other fish dish. One fish too many. I would recommend this place if you're looking for more authentic Chinese food experience.
(4)
tony c.
With the many choices of Sichuan style restaurants popping out all throughout Rockville/Gaithersburg/Germantown, this is one of the better ones out there. It's good that restaurant owners figured out it's not about how many cups of chili sauce you can fit into a dish, but how it actually taste. This place must of specialized in Hot Garlic Sauce dishes. As there are the traditional Eggplant with HGC (Hot Garlic Sauce), Pork with HGC, and etc. But what i really wanted is Pork Kidney with HGC. The cook could of done alittle better job in getting the kidney uric taste out. But I guess the chef wants his patrons know that they are eating kidney (which I enjoy alot!) Other notables: Beef Noodle Soup (Not the Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup kind) : Broth has spent it's due time cooking in a good mix of beef bones and nice combo of spices. They gave a good portion of beef shank meat. My only complaint is that they used dried regular egg noodles instead of fresh home made noodle. Seafood over Crispy Rice: I never had this dish before. Recommended by the waitress, It had it's interesting points. Crispy rice is traditionally the rice crust that forms on the bottom of either a very old rice cooker or a pot. In many asian families, it is a much treasured snack after dinner. They made these from formed rice and fried it. My only complaints are that the crispy rice was alittle oily then i like and they used tilapia! I am sick of tilapia being used in resturants. Also, their sauce was too runny to be put on a plate. Would be better if they toned down on the sauce or use alittle more cornstarch. All in all a great meal for a reasonable price. I heard the chef is from Joe's Noodle House. I'll definitely visit the place again and try there "Water Cooked beef" and their Pork Intestine in spicy Stew. I only give this place 4.5 stars because of the noodles. if they had homemade noodles, this would give me fond memories similar to the one when AJ's first arrived in Rockville over 10 years ago.
(4)
Mary L.
I am a Chinese-American and my family immigrated here from Sichuan. This is about as authentic as it gets in America, and the flavoring is almost comparable to that of China. It's amazing and I enjoy everything on the menu. Get the bing fen for a dessert- it's perfect for the summer!
(5)
Chuck C.
Eat here only if you like fish. I went with my parents and we ordered a chicken dish, a beef dish, and one other dish (I forgot what it was). Let me tell you the chicken tasted like fish, and the beef also tasted like fish. I guess if you like fish, you can order a chicken dish and save some money since chicken is a little cheaper than fish. But I won't be going back here.
(1)
Donna Y.
We were able to park in the private lot right in front. Upon sitting down we were offered hot tea and ice water. The decor and seating arrangements are old school and kind of dingy. We ordered the spicy tendon to start. It came out as a cold appetizer which was unexpected but it was alright (only if you're into tendon - it's a little too chewy for me). For entree, we ordered the spicy fish stew to share (and believe me, it's big enough to share between two people) and it comes with a side of rice.
(3)
Deena R.
Spicy Eggplant - YUM! but not vegetarian (little bits of sausage in the sauce) Cold Sesame Noodles- good, but not life changing Hot Fresh Pepper with Flounder in Black Bean Sauce - good, but not exciting Egg Drop Soup - order the bowl. eat and repeat. It is $4.50 for 4 cups of yellow-y goodness, with corn! Taro Roll - mildly sweet taro mochi in a deep fried wonton wrapper with sesames, YUM!
(5)
Gregorio A.
Overrated Sichuan food. Kung pao chicken cloyingly sweet. Fiery beef and veggies uninspiring. Dan dan noodles average. Panda Gourmet is the szechuan winner in DC.
(3)
James H.
The place is always packed with Asian customers and I always take this to be a good indication that the food is authentic. Everything I've tried here has been delicious. Be warned - they are not afraid to put hot spices in any dish. The staff are very pleasant and helpful without hovering over you. They can accommodate parties of ten at one table, but you should call ahead and reserve a table.
(4)
Meggie C.
I finally was able to try this place after a friend recommended we go here out of the blue. For years, I've always drove past it, and since no one ever really brought it up, it was rarely thought about lol. So since I had a craving for Shui Zhu Yu, we decided to go. We ordered two dishes and an appetizer. The food was decent, nothing amazing. Portion size was good though and service was good. We went on a Monday night and the place was pretty packed. Just about every table was taken and there was a mixture of difference people eating here which I liked. If I were to go back, I would probably still order the same dishes. I recommend the Shui Zhu Yu (Spicy Boiled Fish Fillet), the Spicy Beef Tendon Appetizer, and the Dry Hot Pot.
(4)
Timothy M.
Great food but incredibly greasy / oily. General gaun's chicken and stir fry pork with peppers were good but a definite gut bomb, having trouble understanding all the praise for what was mediocre food. The menu is exstensive and I will come back to try less stir fried and oily dishes as it was awesome and hot but to greasy.
(2)
Mike B.
The Sichuan beef noodle soup is just... Mmmm. I loved how they asked me what level of spice I wanted it. They must have been able to hear my heritage over the phone as I ordered. I also got the dan dan noodles and a scallion pancake. I'm in love with their dan dan. You could say I'm a big fan fan of their dan dan. And it's about time to end. Go there. Get the authentic dishes. I love that I know about this place.
(5)
Courtney W.
The bf and I decided to stop by for a late dinner on a Friday night, as it had been on my "must-try" list for quite some time. The self-standing restaurant has plenty of parking spaces and is located near Rockville Town Square. After studying the extensive menu with growling stomachs, we decided on the dishes below. When all of our food was delivered to our table very quickly, it finally hit us that we may have over-ordered just a wee bit... + Scallion Pancake: This was one of the best scallion pancakes I've ever had. The pancake was very crispy on the outside and the inside had nice, distinct layers of dough. I pretty much ate three-fourths of the scallion pancake alone... with no regrets! + Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth: One order comes with eight soup dumplings that are pretty tasty, although I have had better at other restaurants. + Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce: This dish was great! We are always sure to order pig ear whenever we find a restaurant that serves it. I really love how they serve their version of the dish here - the meat is thinly sliced and then cut into wide pieces. Having the wider pieces allows you to enjoy the gelatinous and chewy texture more than if the pieces were shredded into strands, as other establishments serve this dish.The hot chili sauce had a wonderful flavor and was not overly spicy. + Deep Fried Tofu with Hot Peppers: This large plate of fried tofu was dusted with chili powder and pepper flakes. I wasn't a huge fan of the tofu because I found it to be dry, especially with the abundance of chili powder. Having a sauce served on the side to dip the tofu in would be amazeballs. On the other hand, the bf did enjoy the tofu and was tasked with finishing the leftovers the next day. + Smoked Duck (Deep Fried and Breaded) with Buns: This dish was listed as a Sichuan specialty, however it definitely looked more appetizing than it tasted. The fact that the breaded duck was super salty overshadowed how soft and moist the buns were. If the duck was less salty, this dish would be a good one to share among a family since it is a generous portion (~$18).
(4)
Mel C.
If you speak Chinese or look like you do, they will offer you a secret deal to pay cash without tax. I don't believe this is legit and once you hesitate the waitress turns extremely cold. The food is heavenly good but I am not going to sell my soul over a good meal.
(1)
Prairie S.
The handicaps that Sichuan Jin River overcomes to get 5 stars from me are two-fold (1) I don't go for Chinese food normally and (2) My co-workers are boring unadventurous eaters. (Yah I threw them under the bus. Yah, I'm pretty sure they're proud of my slander.) The cooking is here is so seductive that (1) I forget the aversion I have for standard American Chinese, and (2) the co-workers happily forget that they don't like spicy or exotic food. It always tastes amazing to this tough crowd. Each time I end up there, I am enticed by their endless menu: lists of combinations demarcated into American menu and Authentic Chinese menu. I mostly go at lunch to partake of their 'Special offer': buy three entrees, and get a soup to share for 2-3. Co-workers want the predictable and non-spicy basil chicken and salted shrimp, I get to chose something more spicy like potatoes with hot peppers or spicy eggplant and beef (all Chinese menu of course, as should you try!). The kitchen consistently produces a spread on which we feast like we've never seen food before. We drool and we inhale our food. This food hits the pleasure nerve and we leave with smiles. Each dish has its unique taste. The Spinach and Tofu soup is delicate, barely there, and yet earthy. In contrast the Mapo Tofu is really bold taste and overwhelming in flavor. This kitchen showcases the Chinese mastery of flame and glaze in that they can take a combination of vegetables and meat, say beef and bitter melon, and concoct the most amazing binding flavor between them. The Chinese proprietors like anywhere in the world, are extremely entrepreneurial, switching between native Mandarin, English and Spanish as needed. The decor is like a dated Budget Motel, but the atmosphere is quite interesting. A few times I've seen someone from the kitchen seated at one of the tables doing a prep, like peeling a box of ginger, or tearing up greens ready for cooking... it's just part of the scene which also includes men in suits from the nearby bureaucratic offices and entire multi-generational Chinese families. This place feels like a back street in Chengdu has found its Rockville Pike incarnation. The menu and food is the biggest draw...if you want authentic cooking you should try this place. It makes you feel like you have had a lunchtime immersion in the riches of Chinese culture. (And for a detailed review of a variety of dishes, check ron w.'s review, he flew in from California and totally nailed it on a spread of dishes that having gone on and off for five years, I still haven't managed to cover! )
(5)
Eric J.
The Fried Beef Noodles dish in Philly is definitely still king. The spicy crispy chicken isn't too bad. Nice for a late night dinner snack.
(3)
Richard C.
Crazy delicious. I've been here loyally & can't even start naming all the awesome dishes, every one I try is just a hit. The taste, spiciness & overall awesomeness are mind-blowing. This review is short because it's mostly about urging you to go taste what is memorable Sichuan food.
(5)
Delaware F.
Had braised short ribs with taro, combo seafood with rice cakes, and string beans. I think they may have taken a look at us and made a "white people spicy" note because everything was pretty mild. Too mild in fact. I am, I'm a little embarrassed to say, kind of soft when it comes to spicy food. But Szechuan food needs a little kick, and the mildness made this food a little bland. The string beans were a fine example of crispy Szechuan string beans, albeit (again) a little mild. The short ribs were tender and the broth flavorful. The seafood did contain a large quantity of seafood (shrimp, other shellfish, flounder) but the quality was not great. The seafood tasted like it has been frozen a while and generally just not high quality. The sauce for the seafood was a little heavy on the cornstarch and tasted quite strongly of what I think was oyster sauce. The rice cakes were new to us, kind of like a savory rice crispy treat. I think we will come back, but we might stick to items that come out of a wok. We'll have to think of some way of conveying that we're comfortable with some spiciness. I am reminded of an LA food critic who went to a lot of divey Thai places. He had a note printed (in Thai) that said something like "please serve me food at the same level of spiciness you would serve a Thai person".
(4)
Douglas K.
This place is excellent. Service: They are constantly coming by to check and make sure everything is good. Just say a friendly Ni Hao when you walk in. Food; AMAZING. They have an American style Chinese food and an authentic section in their menu. It is great because there is a big difference. I am more a fan of the authentic and they really do it justice. I ordered the Kung pao chicken and friends of mine ordered the Mushu Chicken, Spring Rolls and fried eggplant. I would gladly recommend this place to everyone I know who enjoys really good Chinese food and not usually what you get from a delivery place.
(5)
Janice V.
I love this place. I swear I have been here like 10 times, my chinese family, friends, all love eating here. Parking is easy, the service is fast, and the food comes out hot and quick. Dont order the american chinese food, well i never have them, but I would go for more traditional sichuan dishes (spicy ones preferably). I like everything from the "Zhong" Dumplings with Hot Sauce, Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood, Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger & Scallions, Fried Scallion Pan Cake, Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce, Stir Fried Minced Chicken with "ya-cai", Braised Short Ribs with Baby Taro, Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup, for dessert: Crispy Sweet Taro Rolls, Red Bean Paste with Mashed Taro Wrap, and Eight Treasure & Sticky Rice with Rose Flavor. Yummy stuff.
(5)
SY Y.
We came here on a Thursday night and was surprised to see how crowded the place was. This is not a restaurant for those who can't take spicy food. When they say spicy, they mean spicy! Not the general chao's "spicy." We had the catfish fillet with peppercorn, mapo tofu, ground chicken with buns, and dan dan noodles. We loved the ground chicken that came with about four or five buns. The catfish and mapo tofu were way too oily. This coming from someone who is unfazes by the oil-soaked bag of Five Guys' fries.
(3)
A.R. P.
As I write this review, Sichuan Pavilion sits atop Tyler Cowen's Top Five List (on his Ethnic Dining Guide). Quite frankly, this lofty distinction is well deserved. Sichuan Pavilion boldly excels at "ma la" dishes (featuring spicy chilis and numbing Sichuan peppercorns) as well as other Sichuan specialties. One of the first dishes that I tried (and, which is an exemplar of their ma la dishes) is their fish in fiery broth (which they have since renamed, "flounder in fiery soup"). This dish, arguably, is their signature dish. Their rendition of this Sichuan classic is nearly flawless. The pillowy filets float in a magnificent broth made from broad bean paste and spicy chillis (and, which features a few eye-catching drupes of green peppercorns in the broth). The base vegetable consists of happy, snappy bean sprouts that hold their own amidst the inferno that surrounds them. The heat is very pronounced; but, there is a real depth of flavor in the oily, incendiary broth as well. At some places, this dish features more of a "sauce," of varying thickness and color, rather than a bold broth; but, here, it is done right. The double cooked pork is out-of-this-world good. I love the pork in this dish (which is a Chinese style bacon). It is sliced and stir fried with leeks and shards of crispy bread (kind of like crispy pita pieces). The interplay of the savory meat and the crispy fried bread is what good eating is all about. Most places do not include fried, crispy bread in their double cooked pork; but, the inclusion of it (the truly unorthodox and unexpected inclusion of it) makes this dish shine. The braised short ribs with baby taro (which feature pork ribs despite the suggestion of beef) is succulent and hearty. It is essentially a stew with large pieces of pork spareribs that have been braised in a spicy liquid (mild compared to their ma la dishes) and served up with seductive, tender lumps of baby taro that are melt-in-the-mouth good. The shredded beef with hot fresh peppers packs a kick and features tender strands of beef with a harvest of long, hot, green peppers that have been cut into delicate slivers. The spicy warmth and the earthy taste of the hot peppers make this a terrific dish too. The pan fried dumplings, which are full and plump, are slightly crispy and forgivingly pliable on the outside and have a dough of appropriate thickness and texture. On the whole, they are hearty, meaty, and almost a meal unto themselves. The spicy beef noodle soup is served in a generous bowl and offers a pile of fresh noodles that are thick and fresh (suggesting a hand-made quality) and a broth that zips with spice. The accompanying cubes and lumps of beef are tender, meaty, and satisfying. Certainly, there are few versions of this dish around the DC area that rival it. The dishes here, however, that are not hot and spicy and that lean away from the Sichuanese spectrum tend not to excel and reach the same glorious heights. For example, one day, I dined here with a large group of friends. I wanted them to come here so badly to taste what I considered some of the best Chinese food anywhere in the metropolitan area. However, I failed to realize (from lack of questioning) that none of them (amazingly) eat spicy food! So, at the last minute, I had to order non-spicy items. I was so disheartened because, with our avoiding the spicy foods here, we might as well have gone somewhere else--like a Cantonese restaurant or a pizzeria. We ordered the pork and crispy rice cakes in sweet and sour sauce. This dish actually had been highly touted on online postings (such as Chowhound and yelp); and, I had come here thinking I might order it (if I needed a default item). As it turned out, I did. But, wow...was I disappointed! The pork was bland and down right unappetizing; the sauce was shockingly gloppy and overly sweet like a bad sauce that one would encounter in a second-rate takeout place. The rice cakes were nondescript and suffered from sitting under the dampness of the sauce. They became soggy very quickly. In the end, nobody enjoyed this dish. It was totally dismissed. The much touted tea smoked duck was extremely underwhelming as well. The duck, which was not served whole (for example, in a complete pile of carved splendor), was, rather, hacked up randomly into little pieces (with shards of bone and indistinguishable pieces of skin jabbing out at odd angles). The meat itself was barely warm and tasted like re-heated leftovers. Additionally, stuffing the meat into a mantou (a bulky rice flour bun) with hoisin sauce, which constitutes traditional presentation, only hid and obscured the duck. In the end, you want to be transported vicariously to Chengdu. However, make sure to order well; or, else, rather than ending up there, you might find yourself in a strip mall in Peoria.
(4)
Philip T.
Hooray for the wide variety authentic Chinese restaurants in the DC area! Sichuan Pavilion is very good place to find tasty, authentic Sichuan Chinese cuisine in Montgomery County. It's located right across from Rockville Town Center where the old Taste of Saigon was located for many years before relocating across the street. From the outside, this unassuming restaurant would go completely unnoticed, eclipsed by the condos and sparkling restaurant row it faces, but for those who venture over they are in for a unique and delicious dining experience. The menu is divided into two sections, an authentic Chinese side and an American Chinese side. Each side has a wide array of dishes from appetizers to sweet dessert soups and cater to a wide variety of tastes. I've long been a proponent for people who haven't tried authentic Chinese cooking to venture out of their comfort zone and try something they wouldn't normally order, and this a good place to do this. For an appetizer I recommend the spicy chicken salad, sliced chicken breast and leg in a Sichuan chili and soy based sauce that's loaded with flavour and is sure to get your appetite going. Be sure to order the Xiaolongbao or steamed pork buns with chicken broth; they're steamed fresh with a thin shell encasing tender pork and plenty of rich savory soup. Another good choice is the Sichuan tofu, silken tofu with a spicy sauce made with tongue tingling Sichuan peppercorns that goes perfectly with steamed rice. A final recommendation would be the shredded beef with fresh hot peppers. It should be noted that while the restaurant specializes in spicy Sichuan cuisine, there are plenty of very good non-spicy dishes to choose from. The expansive menu always impresses and in the dozens of times I've eaten here, I've yet to come across something I haven't been willing to try again.
(4)
Eric C.
twice cooked pork and their basil chicken dish thing were amazing. their dan dan mien is super stellar! makes your tongue go numb which is quite the experience! they have this hot pot thing on the cover of their menu and sometimes they will recommend it but don't get it cause it tastes like an old closet.
(4)
Zara K.
not consistant...i had their hot pot chicken with my in laws and it was soo good. they made it spicy, chicken was sooo flavourful and tender i was surprised, because i havent had a single bite of chicken that hasnt been awful ever since iv come to america.....(i know thats harsh im sorry) next time i had it, it was so average however!!! i do love their spicy fish in peppercorns and nothing can change that! even then its not always great....and recently i tried their duck and i LOVE IT. iv been looking for duck for so long! its breaded and fried and reallyyyyy tassty! it comes with buns and a plum sauce"(hoisin sauce) i do wish they gave more lettuce or some cucumbers!
(4)
Kat F.
This place is pretty authentic when it comes to Chinese dinners. Whenever I come here, I usually get the Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger and Scallions (absolute FAV, though it is $17). The fish is always fresh and huge! I highly recommend trying it out, if price isn't too much of an issue.
(4)
Steph L.
Wait, what? Sichuan Jin River? When did this happen? Anyway, food is fantastic! I dare say it is the best Chinese food in the DC metro area. I wish it wasn't so far (pretty much everything north of Bethesda is considered far by me), but because it's not as easily accessible, I go on special occasions and really make a trip out of it. It's truly worth it. I think enough people have talked about what's great and what you must order, so no need to repeat. Just order, and order a lot. Last time the boy and I went, we were sat at a 2-top, but after the lady took our order, she muttered, "your table's not going to fit all the dishes," and switched us to a 6-top! Ha, we were rather proud of ourselves. That's how you SHOULD order at Chinese restaurants! Always order too much food and take leftovers home!
(5)
Andrea R.
Meh. Definitely more authentic than most Chinese restaurants in this area but a lot of improvement is needed to make this place worth more stars in my book. The restaurant itself was not terribly clean and there was a lot of clutter everywhere (boxes sitting around, tables in random places, etc). The food was fairly bland, particularly the fried tofu with vegetables. The sweet & sour eggplant was marginally better. Appetizers didn't taste fresh.
(2)
Garvin C.
I've been going to other chinese restaurants in Rockville for a while, so we thought it was about time to try this place. My wife and I were really excited b/c we really enjoy Sichuan cuisine. We ordered four items: wontons with hot sauce, green onion pancakes, bamboo shoots with beef, and sichuan soft tofu. The wontons were really great. After mixing the wontons with the spicy sauce and letting it steep for a little while, the taste was just amazing. Next time i tink I need to order 2 of those! The green onion pancake was good, but i prefer a little more crispy to soft ratio. The bamboo shoots with beef had good taste, but i felt that I've had better versions of this dish elsewhere. It was good, but just missing a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. The sichuan soft tofu was probably our least favorite item, but even that we nearly polished off. The prices weren't bad considering how much food you get. The menu also showed lunch specials on weekdays (they have american chinese as well as authentic chinese items for this), which seemed pretty reasonable priced. The restaurant was very clean and the staff was friendly. I would definitely come back. There are so many more items to try!
(4)
Will L.
I really don't get the hype. This place is nowhere near top 5 Chinese in the DC area. For Sichuan, it's not spicy enough at all, and everything is over salted. I was really hungry and with a party of six we tried the xiao long bao, kung pao chicken, ma po tofu and green scallion pancakes amongst other dishes. General consensus of all eaters was: disappointing, and I had to be persuaded to even bring home the large amount of leftovers. The only thing they have going for them is that they do have a large authentic menu, and it's not expensive for the portion sizes. Unfortunately they can't execute. The service was pretty good though for a Chinese place. -1 star for serious morning after digestive issues... throwing out leftovers shortly.
(1)
Lin H.
I don't write many reviews but felt the need to after reading some ignorant comments about the "MSG" used in this food that caused mouths to feel "numb" and "tingly." After laughing my ass off, I wanted to tell this restaurant to just put a sign on the door that reads....this is SICHUAN food, not Panda Express. Authentic Sichuan/Szechuan food is known for their spicy, mouth numbing, oily food. THAT IS WHAT THIS RESTAURANT IS ABOUT. They don't claim to be anything else. It is in the name!!! This tingly feeling in the mouth - it is intentional. They use a Sichuan peppercorn that causes this. The few times I ate here, it was always very good and comparable to restaurants in China (lived there for 2.5 years). So please...before you go to a restaurant and write a review...perhaps do some research on what you are eating. While I don't doubt that they use MSG, this is what Sichuan food tastes like.
(4)
Ferdinand H.
4.5 stars. Having wandered the earth looking for more peers to Peter Chang's sichuanese interpretation, I've now found myself unable to settle for anything less than authentic peppercorns. After finishing a lunch/dinner at Bob's Noodle House, I sauntered over, already quite full, for a second dinner at Sichuan Pavilion. My brother had bought my parents to this little gem, all of which attested to genuine "numbness" of the tongue. Being already full, I had no choice but to order the tasting standards. For me, that meant dan dan mian and mapo tofu. The more sane members of the group got dessert (sesame tangyuan in fermenting rice -- which was also yum!) I ate only about a 3rd of each order. It was, however enough for me to conclude that a return trip was coming in the near future. Next time, with much more expansive order sets. Numbing, tasty and authentic. And not that expensive. What's keeping it from a 5? Delicacy. The flavours are wonderful, and it's consummate family style. It needs a tiny bit more subtlety for me to reach a 5. Subtle spicy food? Yes, it exists. Still, this place is great! If you want an explanation of the chinese title... zdic.net/cy/ch/ZdicE5Zdi… Basically, it's a phrase describing the scenery and natural beauty of Sichuan.
(4)
Maggie F.
i'm really between a 3.5-4 but I have to admit, I don't hate this place. I have really LOW expectations of MD Chinese food, because it's simply just dreadful for the most part (which is interesting, since we have such a high Chinese population in Rockville). Though this is a Sichuan restaurant, it's owned by Shanghainese people--and knowing that I deepened my initial skepticism. But this place turned out to be ok. Food is a little more on the oily side and a little more on the salty side. In terms of spicy, I personally don't think its much... but that's just me. Otherwise, the food isnt dreadful and I wouldn't mind coming here on a casual day.
(4)
David S.
Summary: excellent authentic Chinese Sichuan style dishes, bad location, and informal service. Sichuan Jin River doesn't have the best of location. You can't really see the restaurant from either Hungerford Drive or N. Washington Street. This restaurant is hidden away in a small shopping center behind an old office building. We saw this place when we visited Bob's Noddle 66. We decided to give this place a try after we read all the nice reviews on Yelp. Despite the terrible location, this place was packed during lunch. We showed up at 1:00 pm and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. It's a small restaurant with very tight space and hardly any decor. Most of the customers at this place were primarily Asian on the day of our visit. We sampled several spicy dishes from the Chinese style menu during our visit. We really appreciated the authenticity of the preparation, and if you like spicy food, you will like this place too. For starters, we had chilled spicy bean jelly Salad (Liangfen). At our servers' recommendation, we order #9 instead of #10 because we didn't want it to be too spicy that we couldn't finish the rest of our lunch. We thought the beef tendon and tripe with spicy sauce ($10.25) was good compared to that in other restaurants in terms of portion and taste. The beef tripe soup with sour pickled cabbage was rustic and delicious. The Cured Pork and Sausage with Garlic was so good that it reminded me the stuff my grandfather used to make. I didn't like the cumin beef too much because the beef was fried and a little bit dry. We enjoyed the non-spicy dishes, too. We thought the Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth was good, but expect 30 minutes wait time if you decide to order it. We didn't really get to enjoy the pork buns till half way into our meal. The other non-spicy dishes we enjoyed were shredded pork with bamboo Shoot and sliced pork with lotus roots.
(4)
Nuoc M.
Okay last update for this place. Got food from here three times, each time posted the experience on Yelp. And find one of the issues with this place. The issue is that they're not consistent with the spiciness in their food. The third time coming here we had a mix of things that we got the first two times. This time around some of the dishes that were not spicy the first time around had a nice kick to it. Then the dishes that were spicy the second time that we got here weren't really spicy, and we had multiple people ask if someone requested it to not be spicy. So that's the only knock for the place that I have. The food was still good and I'm still a fan of this place.
(4)
Jeanne C.
Really solid beef tripe/tendon in spicy sauce, spicy dan dan noodles, and spicy fish. The place gets so crowded - be prepared to wait for a table. The tripe and noodles came out within 5-10 minutes. The fish took the longest, but let me tell you, it was a lot of fish. My mouth was on fire. It's really nice to have a great Sichuan restaurant in the burbs of MD.
(4)
Derrick P.
This place is probably one of the most authentic restaurants I've been to outside of Sichuan China. Great "dan dan" spicy noodles - almost the same as the real thing at the hole in the wall restaurants in Chengdu. You also can't go wrong with the mapo bean curd and the flounder in the chili soup. Also, since the owner is from Shanghai, they serve some very good Shanghai style dishes here - fresh and slightly sweet sauces. Flounder with white sauce is a good example of this. If I'm in the mood for Sichuan style food, this is the place to be, and one of the best I've been to outside of China. The actual restaurant atmosphere also feels like you're at a nice restaurant in China. Whether you like authentic Chinese food or just good quality dishes, you simply can't go wrong with this place!
(4)
Nicola M.
A bigger group of us stopped here on the way back from a hike in Harper's Ferry and SO glad we did. It's honestly some of the best Chinese I've had, although I'm not really an expert. We got fried and steamed dumplings and pork buns; all delicious. I ordered the chicken chow fun, which had perfectly cooked tender noodles and an excellent flavor (not too salty nor too oily). The BF got the Szechuan chicken which was DELICIOUS- and very spicy. Everything we had at the table was great, and the service, although not overly friendly, was very prompt. We must have got in at a good time because we were sat as a table of 7 immediately; but shortly after we arrived all the tables became occupied. If this were closer to me, I'd be going back often!
(5)
Joe R.
First of all, this is not a place to go if you're dressed up or you're on a date night. The restaurant itself is basically a big mess with cartons and boxes all around and on top of coolers, chairs lined up in rows, and a dirty bathroom. The bathroom is so filthy that they spray an obnoxious perfume that will actually make you cough while you're in the bathroom. There is an old sink in the dining room where the drain was "repaired" with what looks like paper toweling which is covered by a plastic kitchen bag. But it probably still leaks as there is a plastic bucket under the drain. I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles as an appetizer which was basically made only with a spicy oil and a few bits of ground pork on top. There were no preserved vegetables, mushroom stems or scallions. For an entree I ordered the shrimp and scallops in black bean sauce. The taste was relatively good but, again, it was floating in oil at the bottom of the plate. Never again, there are just no redeeming factors.
(1)
Dan H.
I'm writing this review of Sichuan Jin River for one reason - their Fried Pork Dumplings. They are absolutely, insanely good! My wife and I sometimes get only them for our family, and the wait staff at SJR look at me like I am crazy when I pick up 3-4 orders! A must try.
(5)
Stacey R.
Pretty fantastic when it comes to Chinese food. I've eaten there twice now; once there and once for take-out. The second time I let the server choose all the dishes (off the Chinese style menu, of course) and was happy with all of them. It's very authentic and service was great!
(4)
Noel O.
I've been marinating over how to write this review for more than a week now because this place was one of those life altering experiences. I like food (hence why I'm on Yelp), I'm pretty adventurous, but there are still times when I cry for Mama when things are just to ridiculous for words. I think the best way to describe my experience at Sichuan Pavilion would be something like going to a dominatrix for the first time. You ease into the situation comfortably enough, but once the show starts get ready to slapped around. By the end of it you're crying out for mercy, but yet somehow you want to come back for more and endure the same pain again and again. Yeah, that sums it up about right. I was introduced to real Chinese food on a trip to China, but the real magic happened when a friend later introduced me to the Sichuan peppercorn. This thing has a fiery yet fruity kick when it's bitten into, but soon enough it makes your mouth tingle and can tell this isn't like any ordinary peppercorn. Sichuan Pavilion uses these very peppers in most of their dishes (at least the dishes we had) and I was simultaneously sweating profusely and shoving more food into my face--the sign of a good meal if I've ever seen one. A word to the wise: as a white boy I went with a group of Chinese speakers. You're welcome to delve into the menu yourself, but knowing what the crap was going to be served always helps. If you like Chinese food and don't mind heading out to Rockville to get it, this is without a doubt THE place to go.
(5)
Xiaoya W.
Service is good. The dishes are fine, but there is still room for improvement
(4)
Kathy C.
The dumpling appetizer and chilled rice jelly noodles (not sure of exact name) appetizer were THE BOMB. If you like spicy like I do, this place is a must try. Service sucks though, the ladies were slow to attend to us and not friendly.
(4)
Benji C.
Went here for the first time today after reading reviews, and it is very good but not my absolute fave. My dad and I split a large hot and sour soup, spring rolls and the sesame chicken entree which was only $20. Will be back to try something else soon.. Only real "complaint" was that the glaze on the sesame chicken was a little predictable I guess. Gel-like and verrrry sweet.. BUT the chicken itself was very good and crunchy under all of it. I mean, I did order off the American menu so I should have known:) The food all around us looked realllllllly good
(3)
DJ C.
Dining solo is not a very Asian way, but my people in my offline life don't like it hot like I like it hot. So I was thrilled to see this restaurant in downtown Rockville! Come to find out, this is a new restaurant about a month old. Welcome to the neighborhood! I ate a simple bowl of Sichuan style beef noodle soup, curious what Sichan style was all about. Now this may not be a signature Sichuan like that beef/ chicken/ fish dish, or that mapo tofu classic, but I was game and the price was great. A well-rounded (pun intended) meal under $10 is a great find these days. Wow. Incredible! The stewed beef was perfectly marbled. 2 kinds of veggies garnished the noodle soup, one a bit sour, the other kinda spinachy. The broth thoroughly infused with hot pepper sauce. And, here's the kicker -- there must've been 20 pieces of beef in there, so many that it ruined my beef to noodle to veggie ratio, in a good way. This is a 3-napkin sinus-clearing bowl of noodle soup -- one for the mouth, one for the nose, and one for the forehead. And if things ever get too hot, the fire department is right next door.
(5)
Lisa N.
What brought us here: Got to talking about food at work, and a co-worker kept raving about a Chinese dish he'd tried a while back called either "husband and wife" or "Romeo and Juliet" (it's "fu chi fei pian"). We googled the dish, and learned it was Szechuan (my dad is from Szechuan!). Authentic dishes we tried: Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce (Cold Appetizers) - husband & wife dish: Remember that scene in Ratatouille when the critic takes a bite of the ratatouille and flashes back to his childhood? I had that moment. It's as if I was transported back in time to my dad's kitchen as he prepared his own Szechuan peppercorn oil (he was chef!). Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce (Cold Appetizers) - Eating pig ears is all about the texture, which was spot-on. Flavors similar to first dish. Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup: Fish tender. Not as spicy as it looks. Vegetables are bean sprouts. "Mapo" Tofu with Minced Beef: Flavor was a bit off from authentic, but good nonetheless. Basil chicken with Ginger in Hot Pot ("three cup chicken"): Don't know why I ordered this. It's not a traditional Szechuan dish. I loved this dish in Taiwan, and still can't find a suitable representative here in the states. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce: Perfection. Verdict: Will DEFINITELY be dining here again...my mouth waters as I write that!
(5)
Erica Y.
Food is pretty good, not the best sichuan food I've had, but for the Rockville area, I guess it's as authentic as you will get. Plus price is very reasonable. Service on the other hand, is TERRIBLE! And I am judging it on Chinese restaurant standards. They are so disorganized, slow responding to your requests, and just overall slow and inattentive. So if you really like sichuan food and you are in the Rockville area, I guess you don't have a choice. If you are in a hurry...stay away!
(2)
Ted F.
Very good "authentic" Chinese menu. Avoid the Americanized Chinese menu - - no good at all.
(4)
Leona C.
Weekday lunch at Sichuan Pavilion is a pretty good deal: three dishes, three bowls of rice, and communal bowl of soup for $20. It was enough to feed three people. Selection: At Sichuan Pavilion, no need to try out their Americanized Chinese selections -- save that for Panda Express. Flip over the lunch menu and there's a long list of "authentic" Chinese selections available in Chinese and English. The descriptions are detailed and informative and if you know what to order, there are plenty of mild dishes available. The quality of food is on par to average homemade meals, but much healthier than fast-food Chinese. Service: Overall, it was okay. Even though it was peak lunch hour on a Thursday, we were seated immediately. Our soup and food arrived within 5-10 minutes after we ordered our meal. We were able to eat and pay within a one-hour time span.
(3)
Bryce D.
This place is surprisingly great! The wife and I decided we wanted Chinese, but didn't want take-out. This place ended up winning the bid, and may be one of my new favorites. The Dan-dan noodles were awesome, as was my Sesame Chicken. The Mrs. got the Eggplant in garlic sauce. and she loved the flavor. Truth be told, we only ordered from the 'american' side of the menu, but it was so well done that I think I will be feeling adventurous on my next visit and order from the 'authentic' side.
(4)
Steve P.
Based on reviews here, we made our way here to have a nice lunch with the Family. The food was OK. We got the dan dan noodles with sesame sauce (needed a non-spicy option for the kids), flounder with tofu in spicy soup and general guan's chicken. The quality of the food was generally good. The spice level was pretty in your face. If you are not used to heavily spiced food, this may shock you. The service was ok. They were attentive and we had no issues.
(3)
Lisa M.
Thought this place was above average for Chinese restaurants in DC, but not excellent. IWe got the water-cooked flounder, sour cabbage and pork, and taro and spare ribs. We were really looking forward to the water-cooked flounder, which is a big bowl of spicy red goodness, but this was almost inedible, as it was overpowered by some sort of white pepper or celery powder taste. It just didn't taste good. This was a bad sign as this is one of the trademark dishes of Szechuan cooking. The pork and taro is described as "short ribs and baby taro" but they're actually pork ribs. The pork was tender, but the whole dish was not as flavorful as I would have expected, and the sauce was gloppy. Probably my favorite dish was the sour cabbage and pork with vermicilli noodles, but they were really greasy. Also, the prices weren't cheap--I would say $14-15 on average for many dishes. So, I thought this place was good but not amazing. I would say that there is some unevenness or lack of care in the kitchen which is making things just shy of really good or great.
(3)
QQ J.
We three girls ordered almost 5 dishes and they were all good. We like it, although it's a little bit far away from VA.
(4)
Yuh Wen L.
The prevailing feelings after I finish a meal at Sichuan Pavilion are: (1) Gahhh, I'm so full I cannot move. (2) Wow, I feel so lucky that I get to eat food like this. And SO BAD for all those people will not get a chance to try this. I must say that this place blows my mind every time. This is by far some of the best food that I've had outside of China and, seriously, like, ever. For those who care about "authenticity", it is indeed quite authentic - but everything I've had is delicious, so anyone who loves food should feel comfortable (and excited!) to go. Go family-style and go big - you won't regret it. The ginormous menu is divided into a "Authentic Chinese style" and "American Chinese style." I've admittedly only ordered from the former, but noticed that several items are cross listed on both. It is helpful if you read/speak Chinese (some of the English translations are non-intuitive), but the staff is great and will give you some great recommendations if you just ask. Some of the standout items on menu that we've had before (and there are so many more to try...) are: Dan Dan spicy noodles: Just the right amount of numbing spiciness! Smoked duck: Smoked and crispy, comes with steamed mantou buns and hoisin sauce. Really delicious. Basil chicken and ginger in hotpot (sanbei ji): When it first comes out, you think it is nothing special, but a few bites and you'll realize that you want to DRINK every last drop of the sauce. Eggplant with Garlic Sauce: Just. Super. Sichuan string beans (on menu as Stir-fried string beans with "ya-cai"): The best I've had in the states so far (it's amazing how easily most restaurant mess this one up!). Braised beef noodles (hongshao niurou mian): I'm not usually a fan, but had a taste of my friends, and it was delicious - really flavorful and simply huge. Crispy salty shrimp: Noms, I say. Obviously, the restaurant's specialty is Sichuan cuisine, so I will need to experiment more with the spicy "xiang la" stuff (look for the little red pepper next to the dish!), but that's an adventure I'm more than willing to take on! If you can read Chinese, I recommend going to the white board (hangs behind the counter) and trying out some of the specials on offer. Service is quick and efficient. The staff is really kind and friendly. Also, the menu is adaptable to vegetarians, too (at least one vegetarian friend always accompanies). The restaurant also has a "Frequent Dining Card" on the back of their business card - if you pay in cash, you get a stamp for every $20 of pre-tax purchases. Ten stamps will qualify you for $20 off an order. Time to start collecting. :)
(5)
Frank F.
In a word, superb. This may be my new favorite Chinese place in the area.The service is attentive and with its large picture windows, the atmosphere is unusually cheerful. Alll at very reasonable prices. NB: I've only tried the authentic Chinese menu. As others have pointed out, most of the negative reviews here on Yelp are from folks who are looking for an Americanized Chinese food experience--or are complaining about food characteristics that are typical of authentic Sichuan cuisine. Hint: Don't come here if you have a problem with highly spicy or oily food, or if your favorite "Chinese" dish is General Tso's Chicken. The other complaints relate to the service. I can't speak to anyone else's experience, but in our experience the wait staff has never been anything other than friendly and attentive. Perhaps that's because we're regulars... or because we show a genuine interest in and appreciation for the cuisine?
(5)
Heidi W.
One question. If you're Chinese and love spicy Chinese food, can you NOT love this place? The food: Friggin awesome. I've never had Sichuan food this good, and I've had Sichuan food from all over, from several cities in China to Rockville. I've also eaten several times at Joe's Noodle House and China Canteen, both of which are very delicious, but none compare to Sichuan Pavilion. I like Sichuan Pavilion the best because almost ALL of their dishes are equally delicious. The spiciness of their dishes is just the most perfect blend of spicy and tingly. I highly recommend the Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce as an appetizer. It is spicier than Joe's version, and I don't even remember China Canteen's version. Their Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup is also mouthwateringly good, and I'd also try their Beef in Fiery Soup! For those who love authentic Chinese food but cannot handle too much heat, try their Crisy Rice Cake with seafood or with vegetables. You can't go wrong with any of their dishes! Price: At first glance, the dishes seem a bit expensive because they're almost all in the double digits. But the generous portions of delicious food they serve more than explains for the $12-18 entrees. I always go home with a full belly and plenty of leftovers for the next day. Still, it's probably a place you go to on special occasions. Service: The service is VERY fast. Once you order, food begins to appear on your table in as little as 5 minutes. Waiters are also quite friendly and will give suggestions for their popular dishes. I'm hungry just thinking about this place!
(5)
Eva L.
I had Sichuan Pavillion for lunch and was very happy about the food, the portion size and the price. The two of us got a spicy whole fish, a pork in spicy broth and a stir fried cabbage. We then got a free spinach tofu soup. All of this for 20 bucks. What a deal. The place was packed during lunch and the waiter kept on pushing us to order. Of course I am used to all this at a Chinese place. The pork in spicy broth was easily the best dish, while the stir fried cabbage was decent. I liked the spicy whole fried fish but it was not as authentically Sichuan because it is on the sweet side. I noticed that one side of the menu had more English and less authentic food choices while the other side had a lot of famous Sichuan dishes. Also on the board behind the counter there are specials in Chinese and the notice in Chinese that says if you want food to be more spicy or more "ma" you should ask before hand. I am definitely going back to try more of their Sichuan dishes!
(4)
zibra a.
I ordered some carryout the other day, the Basil chicken was OK, the sesame chicken was more sour than sweet, the kung pao chicken was just OK. my family didn't like the chicken they thought it does not taste like chicken, and there was something about the smell of the oil they use that we did not like. I see by the reviews this is a good place for Chinese authentic food, but we were not really impressed.
(2)
Dan L.
I had the sichuan beef noodle soup and it was out of this world tasty! Highly recommend the restaurant.
(4)
Magnus C.
Always incredibly good. The occasional short wait for a table at this small, usually packed place, is absolutely worth it. Dinner for 5 recently, with appetizers, soup, four huge dishes, and beers, came to less than $100..with tip!
(5)
Jan B.
We came here due to the high praise it received from DMV dining dragon, Tyler Cowen. We got there early for dinner on a Saturday, like 5:30, and the place was dead. The employees were sitting around shooting the shit.The waitress was friendly, and the chef came out to chat with the few folks who were there. We went straight for the mala stuff on the menu. Mapo tofu with pork, dan dan noodles and a couple others. Food was high quality, though it was not that totally spicy/numbing mala sensation I have experienced before. Not sure whether I even like that! Why u so far from DC, SJR?
(4)
Eddie D.
This place is busy all the time. They offer a long list of menu. I estimate over 300 items on the menu, and about half of them are spicy. Their food is more of a Mandarin style, that explain why the spicy food. And with the extensive menu, we always have difficulty of deciding what to order. This time we got a Duck Tongue with Fresh Hot Pepper. WOW! This entire dish was filled with stir fried jalapeño pepper, dried red pepper, chili oil and duck tongue. Sorry, way to spicy for me. Than we tried the Crispy Rice Cake with Mix Seafood, this was great with good amount of seafood. This is another version of your seafood with pan fried noodle. We also got a Singapore Noodle, this was typical and quite tasty. If you like spicy Chinese Mandarin food, you got to try this place.
(3)
Ryan R.
Dan dan noodles and Zhong dumplings are some of the better dishes here. Both dishes have sort of a numbing sauce however it tastes rather metallic. The tea duck and other dumpling dishes are decent. Though Sichuan Pavilion does not top other Chinese style restaurants in the area, it is worth a short trip if one is craving Sichuan style food.
(3)
A H.
The food here is so good you will have to come back time and time again! Highly recommend their dumplings in hot oil and stir fried pea pod. Also try the fish in hot oil. Very impressed! The only thing that cost them a star is the cleaningness of the bathroom Not bad compared to other Chinese restaurants but I am a tough critic when it comes to restaurant bathrooms.
(4)
Robin C.
Waitress Nazi. The food at the restaurant is terrific. No complaints there. As we were about to pay, we were told if we pay cash, we will get a card stamped as frequent customers and if we come 20 times, we can get a free meal under 20 dollars. So we paid cash, as I was having some coins, I used it as tips. Even it is the amount that equals to the normal tips, we did not get the card. And the response we got was sort of rude. Guess what, next time I need a really good reason to go back.
(2)
Austin H.
Awesome find! Will definitely be back! Two-sided menu.... "Americanized" Chinese food menu on one side, but flip it over for the real deal authentic dishes. The staff was very friendly and helpful since we ere totally unfamiliar with many of the traditional dishes listed. Prices were extremely reasonable and the quality was excellent.
(5)
Angie S.
Really solid, authentic Sichuan-style food. Highly recommend the scallion pancake! Can't beat the prices either.
(5)
Sam S.
I have been to Sichuan Jin River (formerly Sichuan Pavilion) several times in the past and never really gotten around to writing a review for this place. This restaurant is located in an old office park area and does not have an attractive interior or exterior. The carpet is dirty, the ceiling tiles could use some work, the bathroom is quite disgusting and the tacky interior all screams for people to stay away. I have seen this location actually take used disposable chopsticks and put them back into the wrapper which is a huge problem. I really wish this restaurant would use better table ware and not have the terrible plastic tablecloths on every single table. This location is usually crowded and has a loud volume of sound, so expect to have to talk loudly when conversing. The menu is divided into an American Style Chinese food side and an Authentic Chinese food side. The menu is well divided, and quite clearly labeled. Despite all of the terrors I have listed when I talk about the atmosphere of this place the food is actually quite good. This time we had the(Shredded Beef with Bamboo Shoots), (General Guan's Chicken), (Braised Short Ribs with Baby Taro), and (Fried Tofu with pork and Vegetables). All of the food at Sichuan Jin River is very well made, the Short Ribs were tender and fall off of the bone without being mushy, the baby taro that comes in the dish also is tender and almost acts like a potato in a braised dish. The General Guan's Chicken has always been a hit, I love the spiciness and the slight curry flavor that is brought into the dish. The Shredded Beef with Bamboo Shoots is tender with everything well cooked in a luscious brown sauce. Fried Tofu with pork and Vegetables has a beautiful red spicy sauce with shredded pork and tofu, but could have used more pork and possibly some other vegetables other than the leeks, but being that I don't care too much for vegetables most of the time I was okay with that. The other times that I have been to this restaurant we have had the(Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup), (Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood), (Pork Buns Filled with Chicken Broth), (Chilled Spicy Bean Jelly Salad), and ("Dan Dan" Spicy Noodles). I highly recommend the Pork Buns Filled with Chicken Broth as a non-spicy appetizer, and the "Dan Dan" Spicy Noodles or Chilled Spicy Bean Jelly Salad (two peppers) as a spicy appetizer and General Guan's Chicken or the Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood, are sure not to disappoint. This is just a short list of the dishes that I really like from this restaurant. But, we do have some consistency issues between ordering in Chinese and ordering in English. This restaurant tends to dial down the spiciness when people order in English and the spiciness tends to be a lot hotter when ordering in Chinese. When I went today the General Guan's Chicken was also less spicy than before. This did allow me to enjoy the dish more, but for those who really like the hard punch that the peppers deliver you should ask that the dish be made "extra spicy." Service at Sichuan Jin River is okay, it can be pretty inattentive and not very professional. Hot tea is always brought to the table but even on hot days when glasses of cold water would be welcome, you have to call a server over to ask for it. Glasses of water are never refilled unless requested, and you also have to call a server over to get a refill on the (free) hot tea. Overall, Sichuan Jin River is a good restaurant for the food, which I would rate at 4 stars for most dishes. For the price the restaurant also does you good. However, the service and atmosphere really do detract from the quality of food. I would give this restaurant a good rating overall (3 stars) and an excellent rating (4 stars) for their food.
(3)
A H.
This place is A-OK. I'm not really a fan of going to Chinese restaurants, but my friends forced me to come and help them order off the authentic Chinese menu. I can barely read Chinese, and I'm unfamiliar with Sichuan food, so that didn't really help them. :P For the appetizers, we got the wontons in chili sauce and the dandan noodles. The wontons were decent: salty and sweet. I'm not entirely certain how spicy they are supposed to be, but they taste similar to other places' hong you chao shou. The dandan noodles were more of a disappointment, as I was expecting to eat something much spicier (and I have! at other places in the area). Fortunately for them, the entree (flounder in soup? and black bean sauce) was pretty good. The fish was a good complement to rice, and my friends kept mixing it in. The fish entree was also fairly large, although I can't say the same for the appetizers. If I were just basing this review on food and taste, this place would get a solid 3 stars. However, I feel that I need to bump them down for service. Our waitress was dismissive, and didn't bother to check in with us. We waited for a good 10 minutes after putting down our menus before she came to get our order. I think we got more service from the guy who refilled our water. It was annoying because I could see her putting forth more effort for the tables around us.
(2)
JL Y.
This place is legit. To start, there were so many Chinese people inside I thought for a moment I had teleported to Monterey Park in LA or Flushing. Then the food came out. This place nailed the requisite Sichuan staple dishes. First, the wontons in spicy sauce (hong you chao shou). You can tell a lot about a Chinese restaurant based on the care they put into their wontons and dumplings. The bad ones look and taste mass-produced. Not these. They were perfectly wrapped (the wonton skin should be tight around the pork meatball). Also tried the dan dan noodles, which were solid, though they tasted a lot like A&J's sour and spicy noodles (suan-la mian). Also excellent: tea duck (zhang cha ya), which you eat by stuffing into a plain bun (man tou) and adding a spoonful of delicious sauce. My fave of the evening was the flounder in fiery sauce (shui zhu yu), which arrived in a bowl that was bigger than my head. The portion size of the ma po tofu was similarly generous. As for service, this place has the standard insouciance of a Chinese restaurant. But who cares. All you need at a Sichuan restaurant worth its salt is for your server to have the water pitcher ready.
(5)
Tom D.
3.5 stars Somebody (a certain GW professor with the initials TC) said this place makes Hong Kong Palace look like Burger King, so I had pretty high expectations given my fondness for Hong Kong Palace. We ordered Dan Dan Noodles, spicy wontons, pork dumplings and spicy beef noodle soup. The food was consistently very good, but I didn't think it was as good as Hong Kong Palace -- and the Dan Dan Noodles were a distant second to HKP. Portions were very generous -- 2 people could come and only split the beef noodle soup and leave satisfied.... Food with 2 diet cokes and tip ran $31 -- really good and authentic food, great value and good service. I am a fan, but give a solid nod to HKP. Will return.
(4)
Pete D.
Spicy, tongue numbing, forehead dripping, nose wiping, it's all here at Sichuan Pavilion. I've heard great things about this place and we finally were able to sit down and check it out. This place gets packed! There isn't too much space inside and we were crammed at a smaller table with 8 people, but we were still able snatch up food with our chopsticks. I'll just get into some of the food items we ordered: Beef tripe and tendon in spicy sauce: An awesome dish, tossed with crushed peanuts and cilantro. The dish is $8.50, but you get enough to share with. The slices of tendon and tripe were tender and not tough at all. Smoked duck (breaded and fried): One of my favorite dishes we ordered. The duck has a nice crust on the outside and when you bite into it, each piece was tender and yummy. The skin of the duck is awesome, get me a plate of this alone. It was served with these soft doughy type guys, where you wrap the duck in it and dunk it in lovely hoisin sauce. Mapo Tofu: My second favorite dish of the meal. This spicy, truly tongue numbing dish is made with some ground pork and was not like any other mapo tofu I've had. This dish felt authentic as can be, very well done. Double-cooked pork: Spicy pork belly, stir-fried with scallions and some finger peppers. Delicious! The pork belly was sliced thinly and had nice pieces of fat attached. The twist to this was they tossed triangular wonton skin (at least that's what I think it is) in it too. The other dishes we got were decent. Off the top of my head, there was a beef chow foon, a green bean stir-fry (done very well by the way), some wonton soup with celery leaves, and a rice cake dish topped with a chicken and veggie gravy. This is a typical Chinese restaurant, so don't expect excellent service. Just raise your hand and pull over a server if you need something or even one of the busboys. They're pretty good to bring you what you need. I will definitely go back to this and they have a HUGE menu. What's neat is they have one menu, but a "American Chinese Menu" and on the flipside (literally), an "Authentic Chinese Menu." If you aren't Chinese, hopefully you find someone that can speak some English, this helped us out. A solid 4.5 star!!!!
(4)
Mistery M.
good non battered to death chinese foods. lots of wackass vegan dishes which are all at the least, very interesting. some are quite tasty too.
(4)
Susan W.
I always come here with my mother, who does all the ordering off the Chinese menu, but I have no complaints. The beef tribe in spicy sauce is on fire! Just look at the crowds and you know you've found a gem. (Whenever we order specific spicy dishes to go, we use the leftover chili oil/sauce to cook the next meal. Its so good that nothing should go to waste!)
(4)
Andy C.
I can't vouch for the American Chinese food menu, but Sichuan Pavilion has excellent traditional Sichuan cuisine, especially if you like spicy Chinese food. I went recently with friends and ordered 5 dishes. All were very good and some were exceptional. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)
D W.
The food was fair. We read the reviews before going there. Could the 1or 2 star ratings for the service be a joke or an anomaly? Unfortunately no.
(1)
Nicole L.
I have one thing to say: I have an addiction for spicy food. Sichuan Pavilion is one of my top source; the food is just dope here! I have my favs but I make an effort to try different dishes if I can. What I find is every dish has its unique flavor and is soooo purrrrfect! I still heart the bean jelly with spicy paste, cilantro and crushed peanuts but now they form it into long noodle shape instead of cubes. The homemade paste is extraordinary I don't have a word for it. There are all these amazing dishes I am going to itemize the dishes to make it easier to read: 1-5 Peppers 5 being gravely spicy and sniffly euphoria 1) Chilled bean jelly noodles with spicy paste, crushed peanuts and cilantro: 5 star awesomeness (5 peppers) 2) Dan dan mein with spicy paste and ground pork: the noodles in this dish are soooooo good I can't stop slurping it up! 5 star too! (4 peppers) 3) General Guan's chicken: A variation of cumin and cilantro lamb, the chicken is thinly sliced, flash fried with dry spices. Dry heat all the way! (3 peppers) 4) Kou Swei Ji: Steamed chicken in a bowl of hot red oil, sesame seeds and baby bamboo shoots: this reminds me of the hainanese chicken rice back at home but soaked in this sinful hot and spicy sauce. (5 peppers) 5) Fried thousand year old eggs: If you like thousand yr old eggs imagine them fried! This is not spicy. (0 pepper) 6) Chengdu Chicken: Petite cut chicken, fried with green peppers and spices. A very well-balanced dish - chicken is cooked perfectly for the slight crunch in thinly coated gravy. (4 peppers) 7) Sweet and sour pork with sizzling rice: Got this for my american friend and she loved the thinly sliced pork with mushrooms ina light gravy poured over rice that sizzled!!! (0 pepper) 8) The classic sichuan beef in the numbing sauce made with szechuan pepper corn. It's a sensational experience for sure. (5 peppers) 9) Fish with Szechuan Peppercorn (Swei Zhu Yu) - wonderful szechuan peppercorn with fresh fish slices that numbs your mouth in a nice gravy with cabbage. The cabbage soaked up the flavor of the gravy like a sponge (5 peppers) 10) Julienned pig ears - tasty chewy pig ears I never imagined I would like but the chefs here just have it in them. (0 pepper) 11) Szechuan beef noodles - at many restaurants that serve a variation of this dish I don't enjoy it as much as here. The meat though has the tendon/fat pieces is very tender and flavorful. I actually love eating it. (3 peppers) 12) Whole wheat with chicken - I love eating whole wheat grains and with shredded chicen it was just perfect, it is served wrap style with lettuce on the side (0 pepper) 13) Flounder with black beans paste - A very unique flavor with fresh flounder and black bean paste it's a very tasty dish. (0 pepper) but you can ask for the version with bird eye green peppers. 14) Chinese Style Kung Pao Chicken - Doused in red peppers and szechuan peppercorn, I heart this dish even more! The diced chicken and peanuts absorb the flairing yet sweet flavors of the peppers So hot it makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time, it's really eurphoric! (5 peppers) 15) Braised pork ribs with taro - Falling off the bone ribs with taros that absorbed the delicious sauce. (0 pepper) 16) Szechuan beef noodles soup - Nice touch of the szechuan peppercorn with flat noodles instead of the usual. I loved the broth! The meat was tender and not as much tendons it was delicious. (4 peppers) I am so glad to be close to some of the most authentic and fabulous chinese restaurants. I am a regular at this restaurant, the service is excellent!!
(5)
David Y.
I visited this place with a friend who also likes spicy food. Since it was just the two of us, the wait was very short, but be prepared to wait if you are in a larger group. Only parties of 6+ can make reservations. We had the Dan Dan noodles, Smoked Duck, Fresh Peppercorn Fish, and Ma Po Tofu. The noodles were good, and spicy. I would have added some bok choy just to add some crunch to the dish and perhaps balance the heat better. The smoked duck, while not Sichuan, was fantastic--the tea smoke really suffused the meat. Generous portions with the fish, which came as bite-sized fillets swimming in a deep red chili broth. The tofu was really terrific, and really absorbed the flavor of the spicy sauce well instead of just being coated by it. A note for vegetarians: we were able to request the Dan Dan noodles and Ma Po Tofu without the standard minced meat, and it didn't detract much from our experience. I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 because I thought there could have been a tad more Sichuan peppercorn, and I thought the duck could have been served with more complementary condiments. The service was prompt. Decor was nothing to write home about, but the main attraction here is the food, and it would be a mistake to judge this place based on decorations and tablecloths. Definitely recommended for authentic Chinese food enthusiasts, and brave souls willing to give their tongues a work-out. More detailed review here for the curious: stonesoup.wordpress.com/…
(4)
Josh B.
The mouth-numbing effects of the Sichuan peppercorns ensure that your experience at Sichuan Pavilion will be more akin to doing drugs than eating dinner, but that's a good thing. Flounder and vegetables in fiery broth is a must-have dish...a huge portion of flounder and cabbage swimming in a devil's broth of hot oil, red peppers, and peppercorns. Not for the bland-inclined, but so, so good. General Guan's chicken was a hit as well (maybe 3 stars to the flounder's 4). Sliced chicken coated in cumin and hot pepper and fried with cilantro. leeks, garlic, and ginger. Of course you can't go to a Sichuan joint and not start with Dan Dan noodles and beef tendon. Both were excellent here, though the tendon was sliced just a hair thicker than I've had it at other places (a feature I actually liked). Overall, an excellent and authentic place. Next time I'm dragging a group so I can order more.
(4)
Margaret H.
Despite the fact that Sichuan Jin offers real authentic dishes with excellent "Mala" flavor, I won't be coming back due to the terrible service. The waiter delivered one of our dishes to the table next to ours, and the diners there promptly dug into the dish. A few minutes later, the waiter discovered the mistake and took the partially eaten dish back into the kitchen. When they finally delivered it to us, I mentioned to the waiter, that I noticed the dish go to the wrong table. He assured us that it was a new dish, but the lukewarm temperature of the chicken made it pretty clear that they just dumped it onto a clean, smaller plate. They also added an extra dish to our bill-- that might have been mistake, but I'm not sure.
(2)
Andy N.
I used to live in China, and I can tell you, this is the real deal like they serve there; The folks in this restaurant probably wouldn't know how to make it American style if they tried. This restaurant opened only 2 months ago (liquor license is pending), but it's certain that it will establish itself as a serious choice for authentic Sichuan food in the area. It is comparable and will be competing directly with the other top local Sichuan restaurants such as Joe's Noodle House. Walked in there on a Saturday night and found a bustling joint filled with excitement. In fact everyone in the joint seemed to be Chinese, and the wait line would have been out the door if not for the rain outside. The atmosphere is very no frills. A sign on the kitchen door says "Every dish leaving this room must be PERFECT". Tough goal, but the fact that the owner put the sign up shows he is serious about providing great food. They do seem to be trying very hard. Portion sizes are generous, ingredients were fresh, service was enthusastic, and , prices reasonable. They have fresh whole fish, which only authentic Chinese restaurants bother to do. And they do not gouge the "seasonal price", as some places do. For example a medium sized whole tilapia in steamed ginger was $14.95. What struck me most of all about this restaurant were two things though: First was the sheer number of dishes in each category on the menu Second was the breadth of selection on the menu. Many dishes are are very rare to find outside of China, and this restaurant has a number of dishes you will not see in ANY restaurant in Metropolitan Washington that has them. This is especially for the appetizers (many hot and cold ones) and the unusal variety of authentic Chinese desserts. Sharing the desserts is recommended. They are large and filling. This restaurant does not serve shaved ice, probably a regional thing, but it seems to specialize in warm starchy desserts. In particular the red bean paste in a fresh pancake ( - dou sha bing ) is very nice, as was the rice-based dessert containing flower essence. I'll be ordering it again and update with the name. I went with a crowd that includes a number of connoisseurs of food as it would be prepared in China. Everyone seemed quite happy. They do not have any lamb dishes, which are popular in Sichuan, but they do have a lot of the other regional specialties that could only be found in an authentic-style Sichuan restaurant. Water boiled fish was on par, and the noodle dishes were excellent, and seem to be homemade noodles. The "Home style tofu" is recommended if you don't want to get Mapo tofu or Ma-la tofu along with all your other spicy entrees. The tofu is light and very fresh here. Others below who rated this a 3-star earlier did not comment on any of the Sichuan dishes, which is this restaurant's raison d'etre. I'm not sure why one would go to an authentic Sichuan restaurant if not a fan of spicy food... I think that accounts for the discrepancy in our ratings. So I give it 5-stars to help offset those comments. Besides, it is certainly in the top 20% of local authentic style Sichuan restaurants. If your first time, keep in mind some GPS routes will lead you to a block or so away. This joint is not on 355 as shown in the map shown. It's actually in that big triangular area of parking lot. So look for the Bank of America. It's a stone's throw from there, in the same lot. Entrance on Beall Street. Look for a one-story standalone building inside the lot. PS There's also a restaurant with the same name in DC. No relation.
(5)
Lindsey L.
Solid place. No frills, just good food. We walked into this place with a party of 7 on a Saturday night at 7pm. Right from the front door, the place was a shock to the senses! The whole place is packed with Asian people (great sign, I guess). It is cozy, shoulder to shoulder to wait for a table while servers zip past you every which way with steaming plates. We were seated quite quickly, had the people who spoke Mandarin order for the whole table, and voila, an adventure. My favorite was the breaded pork, looked tempura-like and had a subtle mini donut taste! Also, the flounder in fiery soup is probably THE thing to get here. I wasn't crazy about the desserts (taro and bean-related baked goods). The best part? $83 (before tip) for 7 people to eat A LOT. I agree with the pre-warning that the wait staff do not understand much English past please and thank you, so just be prepared.
(3)
Nicholas D.
I will never eat there again. Dumpling dough was chewy. The "dan dan" noodles were greasy and had an odd taste. The kung pao chicken was all spice and no flavor. My moo shu pork was burnt but I didnt realize it until i ran out of the plum sauce that was covering up the burnt taste. The lo mein was the best part of the meal. My wife told the server about it while I was taking our son to the rest room and it was still on our bill when they brought it to us.
(1)
Mike K.
Ok, it was the day before Chinese New Year and they were swamped. But I had to ask four times for water, they didnt bring the second dish until after we were ready to go, but the food is good, and the Asian folks eat there which says something
(3)
Phred P.
Just try this restaurant for the first time and we love it. The crispy cucumber is a must to have before/with meals. So much more interesting dishes for us to try for the next time!
(4)
Yang C.
Hi Will, I grew up in Sichuan. The tongue numbing thing you said is not due to MSG, it's due to those little seeds that look like the mines in mine sweeper game - an authentic seasoning ingredienets in all Chengdu dishes. Trust me, once you get used to it, you will love it... or hate it :)
(5)
Ben Y.
I think the sign outside the parking lot says Sichuan Pavilion, but its the same place. I would say the Yelp community is spot on again. We had the Dan Dan noodle as an appetizer and it was better than any other place that I have tried it. I liked it because it was not inedibly spicy. My tongue only had a touch of the numb feeling, which is good (that's not MSG like someone else posted. the numb is part of the hot sauce and its supposed to be like that.). We ordered the Fried Tofu with Veggies and the Braised Short Rib(beef?) with Taro. Both were excellent. While both items were listed with 'one hot pepper', I found the Tofu dish to be spicier than the beef. All three dishes have been reviewed by other yelpers favorably, which is why we tried them. Plenty of parking here. We arrived on Saturday between 5:30-6PM and were immediately seated. Within 30min of when we arrived there was a line of people waiting.
(4)
Aesah L.
I am not a fan of spicy food, but I am a fan of authentic Chinese. Sichuan Pavilion has an excellent menu of both Authentic Chinese and American Chinese food--all you have to do is flip the menu over to see one or the other. I had the breaded short ribs with lemon sauce, and it was amazing. The steamed dumplings were delicious, as was the beef noodle soup. My dinner companions assured me that the spicy food was wonderfully spicy. We ordered a dozen dishes and paid surprisingly little for them. I'd go back.
(3)
Nick C.
Sichuan Pavilion was suggested by a friend, and it was really a find. This is sort of literally true, because we had a damn hard time locating it. While the building the restaurant is in is right along Rockville Pike, you have to go around back to find the place itself. We went there with 3 people for dinner late (after 9 pm) on a week night. We were seated right away, and the service was friendly and attentive, although they weren't too busy that hour so it's not too surprising. However, we were there until the employees were basically ready to leave, and they were friendly throughout, never rushing us. That is somewhat rare in my experience. Of course, it was the food that really impressed. Their menu includes both an "American style" Chinese food section and an (ostensibly) more authentic section. The selection seemed more extensive and interesting than, for example, the nearby Bob's Noodle. We ordered dishes exclusively from the authentic section. This section boasted a huge range of dishes that I'd never seen before that ranged from relatively normal sounding to bizarre (for an American). The weirder options included duck feet, chicken feet, pig ears, and intestine. We steered clear of those and went for some safer but novel options, including dumplings filled with chicken broth, garlic sprouts with cured pork and shredded sausages, and the crispy potato. I can't say whether or not these dishes were authentic, but what mattered to me is that they were tasty and different than anything I'd had. I probably liked the garlic sprouts the most, though the crispy potato, which was potatoes cut almost like really thin french fries and cooked until tender but still firm like a noodle, was by far the most unique. I did note that the food was pretty salty and pretty oily, but neither to an unpleasant degree. I don't think either is especially unusual for a Chinese restaurant. I really enjoyed this place and intend to go back many times to explore their menu.
(5)
Sol B.
In a town full of great Chinese restaurants, this one stands out for its wide variety of tasty (and spicy) dishes. The deep fried tofu with hot spices are enough to send you back for more. The smoked duck served with plum sauce was a big hit. Enjoy the plastic window shades; they'll remind you of the plastic lamp shade covers your grandmother had. You'll need something to do while you wait for menus or more tea (I had to ask for them). The price you pay (achingly slow service) is offset by the friendliness of the staff; the great prices; and the fantastic food.
(4)
Travis M.
This place was suggested to me by a friend. She was of the opinon that the food was very authentic (I assume she ordered from the traditional and not the Americanized menu). And, while I cannot vouch for authenticity, I can say that the food I had was quite good. In fact, the won-tons with hot sauce were probably the best dumpling style appetizer I have had in any of the greater DC area. My friend made some suggestions on what to order, but I am ashamed to say that I didn't have the guts to go through with most of them (cold jelly salad as an appetizer! just does not sound right to me). The waitress however was very willing to give me suggestions on what to order that was both unique and palatable to my American sensibilities (She was also happy to translate my friends suggestions, which were written for me in Chinese). The pork with garlic sauce was delicious and had a wonderful ginger flavor that I was not expecting. And the spicy seafood soup was good, but not my favorite dish as I was not a huge fan of the broth (it was tomato based I think). I will definitely be going back, and I will make an attempt to order some of the more traditional dishes. Apparently the whole fried fish with Chinese greens (?) is great.
(4)
Andrew K.
I was told this place used to be a thai restaurant that recently changed to a chinese restaurant so I went to check it out. We got the lunch special which is where you pick 3 dishes and a soup for $20 which is a little more than what you pay at Bob's for the same deal. We got the salt and pepper pork chops, pork with bamboo shoots and the baked whole fish. The pork chops were crispy and tasted pretty good while the pork with bamboo shoots was just ok. The fish was good and it had a good brown sauce which wasn't too salty. The restaurant is clean and the service was pretty good but the place was pretty empty at lunch. I would say the food was ok but I thought Bob's was better and slightly cheaper.
(3)
Tim R.
Went last night and had some fire fish thing and braised short ribs. It is really good food. My father-in-law from HK LOVES this place and always wants to go here when he visits. If you like more authentic chinese food you might like it too.
(5)
Denise P.
Ate here today and we ordered the sichuan beef noodle soup (I liked the homemade taste of the noodles), crispy spicy shrimp (tasted like spicy kung pao shrimp), scallion pancakes (I prefer them a little thinner and less greasy), a sausage and pork dish (was ok), and the soup dumplings. The only other place I've had soup dumplings is in NYC. Unfortunately, there's no crab soup dumpling option like there is at Joe's Shanghai's, but I would definitely come back to Sichuan Pavilion for soup dumplings in Rockville! I found all the other dishes a little too greasy and salty.
(3)
Debby T.
This is the best Chinese I've had since living in Hong Kong, where I grew up. Just moved from NYC a few months ago and this is the best as it gets. Spicier the better. Love!
(5)
KanKan Y.
I'm a big fan of Sichuan food. It's all about Ma and La. Ma being the numbing sensating you feel when you ingest a ton of peppers, and La being the amount of spicyness. (Random info: Ma and La are also used to describe the fiery nature of the girls in Si Chuan) When I ate at the restaurants back in Si Chuan or a home cooked meal, I would cry eating the food because it was so spicy...and then lose sensation in my mouth because it's so Ma! Everything was bury under a sea of hot sauce, chili powder, and peppery spices. My friends and I came to eat here after hearing that this place is very authentic. We beat the rush by coming to dinner at 7. By 7:30 the line was to the door! Seeing the crowd, I got excited for the food! The waitress handed our menu. The american style menu was on one side, and the chinese menu was on the other, printed upside down. We ordered a few things off the american menu and chinese menu: Homestyle Tofu, Water-stewed beef (shui zhu niu), spicy tendons, spicy chicken and intestines, garlic eggplant, sweet and sour pork (off the american menu), and a spicy noodle bowl. We also ordered some pancake buns (the ones that usually comes with zhang cha ya - tea duck) to go with the garlic eggplant. I was slightly nervous since i haven't eaten spicy food in a while. Jumping off the deep end into authentic SiChuan was a little scary. The food came quickly and it was savory and great. There was something missing though...where were the spicy-ness? My friend who don't eat much spicy food was sweating from the food, but for me, there was no spicy or numbing taste. Here I was sweating how much I'll cry during the meal, but this was the exact opposite. The water-stew beef is a classic dish and it's supposed to burn the tops of your mouth off, but no....nothing...I didn't even taste the peppers. The spicy beef tendon was also disappointing. The consistency was good but the kick wasn't there. All in all, I think this is a good place to take friends who want to savor the SiChuan flavor without red liquid death poured all over it. But for folks that like SiChaun spicyness...I'd recommend Joe's Noodle House. They're more Ma than La, but they are a lot closer to that authentic spicy-crying feeling than Sichuan pavillion is. I will come back to this place again since the food was very flavorful, but with an extra note to the chef to make everything 10 times spicier. I'll write a follow up review when that happens...in the meanwhile, Cheers!
(3)
Erica P.
i had chengi spicy chicken. chicken was very dry and tasteless
(2)
Angela L.
Authentic and tasty food with very reasonable price We have been there three times. The food we sampled: Dan Dan Noodle 4 Baby Cole with preserved Egg on Top 5 Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup 5 Flounder with Sour pickled Cabbage & Peppers 4 Stir Fried Minced Chicken with "ya-cai" 4.5 Steamed Short Ribs with Sticky Rice 5
(4)
Fat T.
The breaded and fried duck was pretty good but more fatty than I generally prefer. The Sichuan tofu was excellent.
(4)
Chava C.
We absolutely loved Sichuan Pavillion. Tucked away in the strip mall shopping center to the north of the Rockville Public Library in the town center, Sichuan Pavillion is a no frills kind of place with tables and booths huddled together. The diners were mostly Chinese or of Asian-descent. The menu was as authentic as anything I know, or at least, it didn't have many classic American Chinese dishes that we normally see, e.g. no hot and sour soup. Having read the yelp reviews, we tried appetizer Dan Dan Noodles and appetizer Smoked Duck and not due to reviews but our own choices, Chicken and Ginger Hot Pot with Scallions and Sweet and Sour Eggplant. The fried Eggplant were the freshest, softest and nicest I've ever had. THe Dan Dan noodles were spicy in a way that didn't hurt, but made my tongue go numb - fun! A lot of dishes had shrimp/pork which are things we don't eat, so the menu was limited in that sense, but, we really enjoyed it.
(4)
Tom M.
Earlier review called this place "a spicy polished jade gem." I would have to disagree. This place is doesn't deserve the 4 star average rating. The place doesn't have any ambiance per se. The carpet is dirty worn out and the floor tiles are dirty and sticky. The chopsticks are reused and reinserted into paper sleeves. The food is way to salty and everything was either undercooked or overcooked. The fried dumplings were greasy and doughy. We order the beef noodle soup beef, and the beef was like beef jerky and noodles were way overcooked. Smoked duck was like it was precooked and then reheated so much that it was unedible. General Guan's Chicken was salty and overcooked. The servers were totally unprofessional. We left without finishing our meal and will definitely not come back here.
(1)
Lillian C.
Got the broad beans with garlic sauce and beef chow fun on a rainy day out. GRANTED, they are a sichaun restaurant they're not specializing in the type of classic cantonese chinese food known in America. I wanted something quick and familiar. The BCF was relatively decent- a bit on the greasy side, way better than Oriental East in SS (and they actually are cantonese, shame on them!), not as good as Hollywood East, but of course doesn't hold a candle to chow fun from NYC. They like many other restaurants in the area where they soak the beef in baking soda until its insanely tender, I personally am not really a fan of that. Customer service was so-so, I guess because I was by myself they're not going out of their way to entertain me but the women would peer over my shoulder casually and ask me questions in mandarin. I'm sadly anglo-fied cantonese so my mandarin is absolutely horrendous. I'm not begging to come here but if you do want good chinese food in the area, this (and yuan fu if you're into vegetarian food) is the place to go.
(4)
Lucy X.
First of all, you know this place is something when the name doesn't end in "palace", "garden", or "house". Pavilion? C'mon what genius thought of that one! And it's true, just like its extraordinary name, this place never fails. It serves AUTHENTIC Chinese food, none of that orange chicken crap. And the Szechuan taste is absolutely divine! Being Chinese myself, it's a real treasure when you come to find a place other than in China that serves "real" Chinese food. And the portions for the price is amazing too. You know it's legit when it's a favorite of your mom's, her friend's, her friend's friends, and their friends' friends (who are all, obviously, legit Chinese people btw). Basically just come here and order anything and you won't be too disappointed. Also, bring cash cause every $20 you spend (in cash), they give you a stamp hey hey! And although they do accept credit..but then no stamm fo yu!
(5)
Laney K.
Everything at this restaurant is delicious! The dan dan noodles and hot and spicy fire fish are among my favorite. It's been awhile since an awesome authentic Chinese restaurant has popped up around the area. We are extremely picky with our Chinese food and I have to say this is one of our tops. There is always a wait when it's dinner time on fridays and weekends. So make sure you try to get there early before the rush. When I was pregnant I craved all the foods here and went almost all the time to eat. Writing this review makes me want to go tomorrow.
(5)
Raquel C.
The menu is too large but all in all the food is fantastic. Try the dumplings!
(4)
Matthew K.
Amazing.
(5)
George R.
Recently my orders have been drenched in oil -- not good. I think they changed chefs ~Feb 2011. Time to pass -- Spice Xing has become a favorite and La Tasca has recently upgraded their menu and wine list.
(2)
Tina L.
This place could get pretty packed during peak hours but the wait is never too bad. I recommend the spicy appetizers, and spicy fish hot pot...which is my all-time favorite Chinese food. Oh, and with the spicy fish you can also request to take the leftover sauce home and recreate another dish: add some bean thread noodles, tofu, bok-choy, fish balls and anything else you have handy and you got yourself a nice Chinese hotpot kind of meal. I recommend this place if you like authentic spicy Szechuan cuisine.
(4)
G M.
Despite the longer drive, this has become our go-to place for Chinese (we do takeout, as the whole place, encouragingly filled with Asian people, comes to a standstill anytime we walk in). Among the stuff we really have liked so far are the spicy fried rice with egg, the General Guan's chicken, and the double-cooked pork. For the sake of context, I've eaten the real-deal many times in NYC and SF, and this place generally compares favorably (although the usual American Chinese dishes like orange chicken and the like are not worth ordering).
(4)
ER D.
I came to Rockville during my East Coast trip. I'm originally from Southern Cal, where the BEST and authentic Chinese foods are. And I came to Sichuan pavillion because of the Yelp review and by my friends recommendation. First of all, this must be a good Chinese restaurant in Rockville, no doubt about that. But compare to the standard i'm use to in Southern Cal, this gets an average "3 star" at the most. Let's just say if this was in Southern California, it will be another mediocre restaurant. Being in Rockville, I guess it deserve a 4 star since there are not many competitor to begin with. Secondly, to the food... it is good and authentic Sichuan Food. However, i'm not accustomed to the high cost since I can get the same thing in Southern Cal for 1/2 the price. Nevertheless, it's good food if you're craving for Chinese food.
(3)
r y.
We here on a Saturday around 6:30pm. It seems from talking to the lady next to us as we waited (and waited) that there is always a wait to be seated here. It is really popular. The restaurant is actually rather larger than some other places we have visited in Rockville. It was packed and a little noisy from all the people talking which was nice for my son so he could look around and also make a little noise and not disturb anyone. Once seated, we ordered the dan-dan noodles, cold cucumber dish, spinach and tofu soup and chopped chicken with chilis. My husband who is from around the Sichuan region liked the noodes and the chicken. The soup was very plan but okay. He told me that the cucumber dish was all mine because it was too sweet (that's okay, I like sweet and spicy). My poor son was not very well off since the cucumbers, dan dan and the chicken were all a little bit too spicy for him. The soup was too bland. He really liked the noodles but kept on rubbing his eyes and looking uncomfortable. Next time I will ask for rice to be served with appetizer so he can alternate between the food and rice and keep from overheating. Overall, we liked it very much and it was nice to have an authenic taste.
(4)
xj o.
No, No, No, No, NO! I'm shocked at the amount of love this place is getting. My friend and I came here because we like to eat out and this is one of the few remaining places we haven't gone to in the RTS area. First off, the duck appetizer was chopped up and very COLD and you couldn't eat a piece without having tiny sharp pieces of bone in it. Not a single piece. It was simply not edible. We put it to the side thinking the main dishes would get better but no...it only got worse. The spicy beef soup entree wasn't a soup but more like a thick puddle of grease. Not spicy and just blah. And the "beef" in both our entrees was not real beef. I don't even think it was meat. I've had meat. 99.9% of my caloric intake is based on animals that once roamed the earth. This was something that they either tried to pass as meat or it may have once roamed the finest sewers in NYC. I went back to eating real meat, albeit it was still cold with sharp bone fragments in it. Then there's the service. We finished our water within 5 mins of getting it and the waitress NEVER came back to refill our glasses. It took FOREVER to get their attention for anything. By then, we didn't even mention the water and just asked for the check. During the whole ordeal we joked about how awful everything was. We needed a laugh -- it was that or just cry. We half-heartedly joked about making a run for it because the place didn't deserve a penny for a tip, let alone for the food. But there were a couple of people blocking the front entrance. (They were on to us.) Then we joked that we should just keep ordering more food...we were probably delirious from the nauseating food at that point. I wanted to yell out to everyone how amazing my beef soup was. I wanted everyone else to suffer I like I did. Yeah, I was in a grouchy mood at that point. It didn't take long for us to go to the crapper soon afterwards. I don't think my stomach has ever been the same since. This is honestly the only place I would give 0 stars if Yelp made that possible. I plan on coming back here when I'm on my death bed. It would make the notion of dying so much easier to accept. UPDATE: So we went back because we're a glutton for punishment. I'd rate them a 1.5 star now. So far we know what not to order (spicy beef noodle, duck appetizer, any beef or chicken entree), some things that were just okay (dan dan noodles, spicy dumplings), and only one thing that we both found to be better than average (pork buns appetizer). But we still left depressed.
(1)
Jennifer F.
Very authentic Sichuan food. It reminds me of my grandmother who is originally from Sichuan.
(5)
Bren P.
wow! this place was great! authentic northern chinese food in Rockville! I rarely go to maryland, but i heard there were some great chinese restaurants in rockville..and so we went with a couple friends. Our friends ordered since they've been here before and they ordered the right dishes (plus they ordered in chinese)!! We ordered dan dan noodles, kung pao chicken, fish in spicy broth, and soup with pork and cabbage. These dishes were more than enough for us 4..it's family style! Everything was delicious! I'm craving to go back to try the other dishes!
(5)
Constance C.
Just like Tom D., I came here on the "recommendation" of Tyler Cowen. My party and I were a little frazzled from an overwhelming trip to Buy Buy Baby and delicious Chinese food was really the only antidote. It comes in spades at Sichuan Pavilion, luckily. We ordered the basics - dan dan noodles, scallion pancake and sesame noodles to start. The dan dan is ma la, and I definitely had some numbness going on after a bite or two. It was very addictive. The sesame noodles and pancake were very well-done also. For main dishes, we had the dried bean curd with celery, the Chengdu chicken, the crispy salty shrimp, and the dried sauteed string beans. The Chengdu chicken was really spicy and loaded with peppers and juicy bits of chicken. I prefer the similar dish at Hong Kong Palace (which has the added dash of cumin) but it was still pretty solid. The crispy salty shrimp is lightly battered and fried with shell- and legs-on, but were really well flavored and the bean curd was light and aromatic. Both were great foils to the spicy chicken. I think everyone agreed that the string beans were perfect. This is one of my favorite Sichuan dishes and this was easily one of the best versions. Service was quick and attentive. I don't know when I'll be able to convince my parents to go to Rockville but if I do, we'll definitely be making a stop here.
(5)
Phyl P.
I was visiting this area from San Francisco, and went here for lunch with 2 other people, based on the 4 star rating from Yelp. We each had a different dish off the lunch specials menu, and the food was almost inedible. Tasteless and badly prepared. We ate a few bites and left the rest. Worse than the bad food, our water glasses were all dirty, which speaks volume about the kitchen hygiene.
(1)
Kevin L.
Among the Chinese restaurants in Rockville, this is so fat the best one. The only problem is that some of the waiters/waitress are not easy to deal with.
(4)
Josh B.
Fantastic. One of the best Chinese meal I've had. We got the following - they were all 5-star worthy. - the Dan Dan Noodles. Spicy, yet delicate, and I couldn't stop eating the little scallions. - some duck dish. the meat was perfectly cooked and the duck sauce was just right - Ma Po Tofu - spicy, but like the Dan Dan noodles, not overwhelmingly so. - Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup. Awesome - for dessert, fried taro with sesame. best taro i've ever had. i usually don't like taro, but this was great...Sichuan food meets the Iowa State Fair. The portions were huge, so now our fridge is blessed with piles of delicious leftovers. And all this for $55 before tip. The menu is big, too, so I'm looking forward to going back again and again. Also, contrary to other reviewers, I thought the service was totally fine. Finally, if you can, make sure your dinner party includes a friend who knows Chinese food, so they can direct the ordering. The menu is not what you usually see in most (Americanized) Chinese restaurants (in a good way).
(5)
Cris B.
Most authentic Chinese food I've had in DC area, although I haven't tried too many other places. Dan Dan Noodles were very good, as was the Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Broth. Will definitely go back when I get my next Sichuan peppercorn craving.
(4)
Cindy Y.
On my visit we ordered "wu geng chang wang" (intestines and pork blood in pickled mustard spicy stew) and ma puo tofu (braised tofu with minced beef in spicy garlic sauce). The intestine/pork blood stew was flavorful, with a good amount of pickled mustard greens to give it the slight tartness. Pork blood was overcooked but still tasty. Large pieces of intestines which were cleaned well. Sauce was thicker than what I prefer but I think adding water to the leftover portion will fix that. Ma puo tofu stood out from other ones I've had in the past. Great complexity of flavor, generous amounts of tofu and the excellent spicy oily sauce brought the dish together very nicely. I would definitely go back to try other dishes.
(4)
Kung fu P.
Lets just say, whenever my wife is mad at me, I bring her to Sichuan Pavilion and afterwards all is well. Don't dare buy from the American menu and definitely go for the authentic dishes. Their strength is spicy, but they also have some good non-spicy dishes like the fish filet, pork taro in fermented sauce, and braised beef. My personal favorite is the spicy Zhong dumpling, spicy beef tendon (fu qi fei pian), and Dan Dan noodles, pretty standard Sichuan dishes. My wife savors the noodles called Suan la fen and the fish with sour cabbage with noodles. If you're a fan of the typical Ma Po Tofu, then try the Spicy Fried tofu which is the dry version, this goes very well with beer. There are so many delicious dishes to choose from and you can't really go wrong with Sichuan Pavilion, which sets the bar for Chinese restaurants in MoCo, and even maybe the entire Metro area. Enjoy!
(5)
C Q.
We stopped by here for lunch. The restaurant was pretty empty. We checked out the authentic Chinese menu and decided on the "fish fillet and tofu" and "cumin intestines" (don't know the names in English). We asked for both to be less spicy. Although both dishes were indicated as 1 pepper on the menu, people who had been there had recommended toning down the spiciness even for the 1 pepper dish. Both dishes came quickly and both looked and tasted really good. The fish fillet was tender and the tofu was smooth. While it had a kick, it was very enjoyable. The cumin intestine did not had much of the cumin taste, which I actually liked. The intestine was probably fried then stirred fried. We ordered the dessert of red bean and taro cake. It was red bean paste and taro paste, dipped into white sesames, then pan fried. It was good if you like red bean and taro. It's not too sweet, like the typical Chinese dessert. I really enjoy the meal and plan to come here again soon.
(5)
Jack L.
Great place for spicy duck tongue! Twice cooked pork was also good, and the fresh green tea helped the eating process. We also liked the taro dessert and found the service acceptable. We did have a Chinese speaking member of our party, which helped with that. In sum: very authentic, very Chinese.
(4)
John V.
First off, I must admit that I'd rather have "American-style chinese food" vs "Authentic chinese food", so anyone reading this review would understand my perspective on why I rated this place with 3-stars. We went to the Sichuan Pavilion for the first time tonight (Friday night) to try it out based on the reviews it got on Yelp. We wanted to try this place because we were hoping the food would compare with the delicious spicy ma-la flavors that Great Wall Szechuan House in DC is known for. The restaurant itself was packed with Chinese people, so that was a good sign. Here is what we ordered and what we thought - - Vegetable Spring Rolls - small, just okay - Dan Dan Noodles - had that ma la flavor we were looking for. - Kung Pao Chicken - wasn't anything to write home to. too much celery. Meiwah in DC is still the clear winner for Kung Pao. - Eggplant in Garlic Sauce - pretty good. I'm the kinda guy that loves the orange chicken from Panda Express. So, take what you will from my reivew. This place is probably a great find for those that love spicy authentic chinese food.
(3)
Neal Gone Daddy H.
went on a tuesday at 4pm, so they weren't super busy. food was like home cooked in China, nothing super refined. the soup we had wasn't very good. i'd stick to the spicy stuff, it seems like that's where they do well. i'd like to come back when they're busier to see if high turnover improves things.
(3)
Rachel H.
Two of the three dishes we ordered were delicious. The third dish was a simple case of ordering the wrong thing; I took a chance on an exotic-sounding meal and it wasn't for me. It's a must if you like authentic Chinese.
(4)
Jess R.
We love sichuan food, and were really expecting to love this place... but were underwhelmed. The tripe was mediocre; the dan dan noodles were okay, but not nearly as good as other local stand-outs; the crispy fungus dish that everyone had raved about was pretty bland; and the pork & rice cake dish was tasty but not outstanding. It wasn't necessarily a bad meal - but we had such high expectations. Instead, we were just disappointed that we hadn't gone to Hong Kong Palace.
(2)
Joe R.
I lived in China for 2 years and loved the authentic food. Sichuan Pavillion has 2 sections in the menu: authentic Chinese food (in English and Chinese characters) and American Chinese. I've been there 6 or 7 times and it's always been excellent. If you like the numbing "ma" foods (and I love it), the Dan Dan Noodles are fantastic and only $3.95. The Chow Fun beef and noodles is probably in the top 3 noodle dishes I've ever had. The flounder with vegetables in white sauce is mild and outstanding. We also love the hot and sour soup off the American-Chinese menu. Additional numbing dishes ("ma") that I like are the ma po tofu (I was never much of a fan of tofu before this) and the flounder with tofu. The place is usually full of Chinese people and maybe one or two caucasians. The waitresses and waiter are really nice and help me work on my rudimentary use of Mandarin Chinese. The place isn't fancy, but the food is fantastic if you like authentic Chinese food. A Chinese friend from work recommended a desert, but I've NEVER found a good Chinese desert.
(5)
Richard F.
Went here on a crowded Friday night but only had to wait a few minutes (we got lucky). Right after we were seated, about 30 people, mostly Asians, came in and were standing in line waiting for a table. In fact, I think we were pretty much the only non-Asians in the entire restaurant, which is a GOOD sign if you're looking for good Chinese food, I guess. After we were seated, nobody came to our table to give us menus, so after about 10 minutes, I got up and told the hostess, and she sent someone over pretty quickly. We ordered way too much food. One order of chicken fried rice (enough for 3 people). One order of regular fried rice, sweet and sour soup, fried green beans, and I ordered Hunan Chicken. The Hunan Chicken was unusual--it was very oily, and didn't have the typical vegetables that Hunan Chicken usually has. Instead, all it had were mushrooms, and the sauce was not what I was used to. It tasted different. Not bad, just different. But it was way too oily, and the portion was so huge I didn't even finish half. As far as the fried rice, it was very good, and everyone said it was the best fried rice they ever had. My son, however, being the most picky eater ever, didn't like his chicken fried rice, and only ate a little. The green beans were good, but again, the portion was huge. They have an American menu and a Chinese menu (written in English and Chinese), so you can order items from either menu. We're not that adventurous, but I can see how this place became so popular with the very large Rockville Asian community. Huge portions, very authentic, good food. I wish I had told them "very little oil" for the Hunan Chicken so I could have given them another star, so it probably deserves a fourth star. I'll be back again to try something else.
(3)
M.A. F.
This is my favorite restaurant. OUTSTANDING! Mapo tofu is incredible, smoked duck entree is a must, my husband loves the dan dan noodles... I could really go on and on. I cannot get enough of this restaurant.
(5)
J s.
I've eaten Chinese food all over the country, and all over the world, including China. Hands down, this is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the world. Nothing comes close. The food is fantastic, and when you get your check, you'll be shocked...at how cheap it all is! I wouldn't know where to start , except to say stick with the REAL Sichuan side of the menu, and ignore the "American-Chinese" side. An order of Dan Dan Noodles is a must, as are virtually any of he pork dishes. And I know it's not for everyone, but the liver...oh my god, the liver...I weep with joy when I order this dish.
(5)
Jeff C.
Yes, I journeyed to the nether regions of the Metro Red Line searching for this eatery in Rockville. My expectations were high as I had heard and seen of their fine cuisine. I entered the establishment at 1:16 P.M. It was still very lively and active. This was a good sign, or so I thought. A family butted in line ahead of me and was immediately seated. I was left standing by the lady acting as a food traffic cop. In the next few minutes, I was acknowledged and seated at 1:20 P.M. I sat reading the menu (which is in both Chinese and English) and twiddling my thumbs for the next eight minutes as my hot tea arrived. At 1:29 P.M., a waiter finally arrived. I asked for General Tso's chicken and iced tea. At 1:31 P.M., the bottle of Lipton Lemon Tea arrived. Bottled tea??? Really?? I soon learned that all sodas were served in a bottle as well. Well, so much for a classy joint. I enjoyed the drink in a miniature glass with ice, but no straw. After walking in the heat, I needed something cold and wet to drink. Yes, even tea in a bottle in a make believe restaurant. It was very loud. Let me stress again, it was loud. If I spoke Chinese, then it would have been very entertaining and interesting. If you are a student of the Chinese language, this is definitely your place! The chicken was bland, dry, and without appropriate seasoning. Heat? Where? While it is true that the sauce is not over powered with sweetness, it definitely lacks other things. I finished my food at 2:00 P.M.. At 2:10 P.M. a waitress asked if I wanted a box. She yelled something in Chinese to others. I think it meant, "Hey you, get this dude his check! We need the table!" Remember, I am not a student of the Chinese language. Something could have been lost in translation. Within minutes, my check arrived at the table. What else? The two bus girls were awesome. They cleaned tables faster than anybody! The wait staff could have been replaced by first day trainees. We would not have noticed a difference. I know this to be true because several patrons were exercising a move that I call the "searchlight". They were standing up and turning around like a light searching for their server. Looking for a check, drink refill, or order problem were all reasons on this day. My check was picked up at 2:16 P.M. I gained my freedom at 2:20 P.M. I spent entirely too much of my life in this place. Like Cher, I wish I could turn back time! If this review sounded like a police report, it should. All I wanted was my freedom!!! My suggestion for this restaurant? I suggest you pass. With their inherent arrogance to first time guests, lack of food quality, and substandard service; your money should go to a more deserving place. And after all, you work hard for your money and you deserve better!
(1)
Gabi L.
I'm usually a Chinese Fortune chick, but because they closed I decided to try this place out. My boyfriend and I ordered orange chicken and chicken lo mein...it was pretty bland and it tasted fake. Not coming back.
(1)
Hana B.
One of my favorite restaurants in the DMV area - seriously. I grew up eating food from all over China (my parents have friends from many of the different provinces - always makes for yummy potlucks ^_^) and I lived in China for a year, so I'm pretty well acquainted with the flavors and foods, and how they should taste. In terms of food, I love the (大厨水煮鱼) spicy flounder with vegetables in fiery sauce. I also think they make the best beef tendon and tripe in spicy sauce (夫妻肺片) in the area. Another go to dish is the mapo tofu. If you're feeling adventurous, try one of the intestine dishes - they won't disappoint :) Keep in mind, this style of cooking is both spicy and "numbing." If you haven't had this food before, it will definitely be a new sensation for your tongue! Service is perfectly fine. You have to understand that service in a Chinese restaurant is not like how it is in Western restaurants, so you can't have unreasonable expectations. The servers are doing their job by taking your order and bringing you your food pretty quickly. If you want your water refilled, you will need to flag down your waiter. If you need more rice, you will need to flag down your waiter. If you need anything, you will likely need to flag the waiter. Also, I saw a review stating that "The MSG was literally mouth numbing." For those of you who haven't tried Sichuan food before, the "numbing" sensation comes from the use of Chinese peppercorns, not the MSG (though I guess the reviewer could have been suffering from an allergic reaction, but that didn't seem like the case...there would have been bigger issues at hand). If you don't want to experience a "numb" tongue, maybe you shouldn't eat here. Just saying... Last comment: you get a 10% discount if you pay in cash.
(4)
Viva S.
Worst service ever. We were asked to change table in the middle of dinner because they want to let in a bigger group. We were sat in the new table stranded without utensils for 10 minutes. Water took forever to come. Their manager was unsympathetic and aloof. No apologies. Yes, they have good food and we have been a frequent. No, we are not coming back.
(1)
Roger N.
I have been coming here for years and it is one of the best Sichuan restaurants in the area. Especially good dishes are flounder and vegetables in fiery soup, spicy cold jelly noodles, and smoked duck with buns.
(5)
Zoe X.
This is the best spicy restaurant I've ever had.. The spicy fish is the most delicious and yummy.. I recommend people to try this.. And the service and packed are fine.
(4)
Y Z.
Positives: - Probably the most authentic Sichuanese restaurant in MD. - Price is not bad Negatives: - You gotta know what to order. Not everything on their menu is good. - Not sure about the quality of their ingredients
(3)
Margaret Z.
I rarely eat out at a Chinese restaurant because 9 times out of 10, my dad could easily replicate the dishes we order. However, Sichuan Jin River has a seemingly endless selection of dishes that are truly authentic and representative of the unique cuisine that originates from Sichuan, China. Sichuan cooking is notoriously known for its intense spiciness, so beware if you have a low spice tolerance... this may not be the place for you. I found it particularly amusing that the menu was double-sided - one side is for "Authentic" dishes; flip it over, and you'll see "Americanized" dishes. Do yourself a favor and go for the authentic! The lunch special here is a great deal - you get 3 selections of entrees and a soup all for around $25 including tax/tip. I came here with 2 friends and we decided to order off the menu instead. The first dish we tried was the cold beef slices salad (fu qi fei pian) - I consider myself to have a high spice tolerance and this one already had my tongue burning... but it was DELICIOUS. Definitely one of the better preparations of this dish that I have tried. We also got one of the spicy fried tofu dishes, which was just so-so. I brought the leftovers home and my dad added some sweet chili sauce, which made it 10x more delicious. It was previously just a little too salty for my tastes. We also got another beef dish (also spicy) and the beef was extremely tender. At the end of the meal though, I was crying, sweating, and had lost pretty much all other taste buds from my tongue being numb. The portions here are huge, so the prices are definitely reasonable. The service here is great and very friendly as well. Minor complaint is that we asked for two dishes to be boxed up, and the manager told us he had accidentally dropped one of them so he couldn't give it to us - but we weren't offered a discount either. Seems a little unfair when we paid for the dish, but aren't really getting all of it. All in all, this seems to be a hole in the wall and I'm glad to have tried it out!
(4)
Calvin L.
If you like spicy food, this is a great place to come to. The one thing that I like about Sichuan food is that it's not just about numbing your mouth. It is also fragrant and flavorful. But the spicy food served here is not as intense as they would serve it in Sichuan Province. I have come here twice and both times I have had great meals. I recommend looking at the back of the menu for their house specialties. The dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are great. From the back of the menu, I recommend the diced chicken, meat in fire soup, and the smoked duck with buns. The smoked duck is the only dish listed that isn't spicy. I'm glad that I found a place that serves authentic Sichuan food here in Moco. now I want to find a place that serves it the way it's in China, really spicy where it would completely numb your mouth.
(4)
PP U.
Overall, I would say that this is one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants in Rockville. However, I find the flavor a little bit too strong (perhaps others will find it just right). The price is very nice, especially the weekday lunch special from 11 to 3 PM. It includes 3 dishes plus a soup and a dessert for only 22! Compared to other authentic Chinese restaurant specials, bob's noodle etc, this is definitely a steal! Overall a great experience for those who love spicy food!
(4)
John S.
I ate here 3 times before I wrote this review. I took off 1 star because this restaurant in my opinion doesn't have any spiciness in their food. The first time I told them to tone down spiciness because I was eating with friends. So I wasn't able to ascertain how spicy it could get but the food tasted good. The second time I told them to make it as spicy as possible. But to me, it was barely spicy at all. One of the dishes I ordered was Shredded Beef with Hot Peppers. I even asked them to add some more peppers but it still didn't help. While it tasted decent, it was kind of like Americanized Chinese food due to amount of sauce. I was told by the owner after the meal to request the numbing spicy and regular spicy next time. The third time I asked for numbing spicy and regular spicy. It made no difference to me. I was told that this was as hot as it gets. Now the level of hotness in this restaurant might be more than enough for many people who have low tolerance for spiciness but to me it was lacking. There are authentic selections on the menu minus the authentic spice and they do taste good. Their crispy potato with wild peppers is comparable to the quality you can get in China. I also like that they give you a generous quantity of rice compared to other Chinese restaurants. I would return to eat here but not for the spiciness.
(4)
Eddie K.
Lunch specials are really great here. You get three dishes plus a free soup for around $22. The food here is spicy - lots of peppercorns in their dishes. We liked the Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken, spicy whole fish and the shredded beef with scallions and onions from their lunch menu. The dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are really good.
(4)
Esq. H.
We had the shrimp fried rice and the General Tso's chicken and to my shock the total was $25??? If it's your first time, don't do what I did, find a way to try the dishes out during lunch time when they are around $6.75 (Mon - Friday). We called in for carry out. Beforewarned, they only have ONE SIZE of ALL the dishes. No medium, small none of that, just large which I personally think it is crazy. The shrimp fried rice was tasty and had a bunch of shrimp in it and would have been perfect if the shrimp was deveined. The General Tso's had a kick like it should but it was wayyy to breaded for me and I would have preferred if it had a little crunch to it. I realize, it's all Chinese food, but we didn't get traditional Szechuan cuisine so if that's what you are looking for see for yourself, stop by and good luck.
(3)
Cat P.
Initially, we were going to Bob's Shanghai, but the new restaurant, like its predecessor, does not accept credit cards. Womp, womp. No problem! Sichuan Jin River, which does, is almost right next door. I had heard and read about Sichuan Jin River/Sichuan Pavillion for quite some time. Reviews were generally favorable, so I was excited to try this place, and luckily, it lived up to my expectations. Since it was a Tuesday evening, there was no wait and we were quickly seated by a friendly server/possibly manager who jutted his chin in the direction of the table where he wanted us (haha). The lack of formality was no issue to us since we were just happy to see a smiley face. After pouring ourselves a cup of tea, we perused the authentic menu (denoted with bold red lettering) and found a bunch of unusual and enticing options. He chose the braised "belt fish" (all the while questioning if such a fish actually existed or if was akin to the "squeegle" in an Anthony Bourdain episode). With my affinity for eggs, I had to have the preserved egg with peppers in a sour and spicy sauce. To start, we ordered the crunchy fungus. As it turned out, the "fungus" was pretty much the same dish we ordered at China Star in Fairfax, wood ear mushroom in a chili garlic sauce. As much as I love China Star, I must say this version is even better! While China Star's was quite oily, Sichuan Jin River's was "drier." You could still see the bits of garlic and pepper dotting the fungi, but it wasn't soaked in oil. Very nice. The braised belt fish came out in a rather sweet and salty sauce with a slight kick. The flavor of the fish alone was quite pleasing. The main drawback was that the fish was so freaking bony. Some Asians are pros at extracting tiny bones; unfortunately, we're not. If it wasn't for the inconvenience of eating it, this dish would be close to perfect. As you may have guessed, preserved eggs aren't for everyone, but when you take them and stir fry with something as piquant as peppers and douse them in sauce, they're actually quite mild and tame. I loved, loved, loved the long peppers that the preserved eggs were paired with. I have no idea what kinds of peppers those were, but they were pretty spicy yet sweet. Due to the huge serving, I couldn't really finish this in one setting, unless I wanted to feel very sick afterwards, but if I had the capacity in my tummy, I would. Our meal was satisfying and worth every penny. Spacious booth seating is another plus. Our server wasn't too chatty, but his show of being impressed when I devoured the preserved eggs helped my ego a bit, which isn't a bad thing. I will be back again and again and again...
SX and I came here for a weekday lunch to try their lunch special, which is 3 dishes + a soup for a set price (I think around $22?). It's on the "authentic-style" side of the menu (the flip side has the typical American-Chinese offerings). I think it's a really good way to sample new dishes through this lunch deal. We tried the spinach and tofu soup, a whole fried fish covered in sauce, s&p pork chops, and beef with green peppers. In addition, we ordered snow pea tip greens. The soup was very flavorful despite being a very simple soup with pretty much 2 ingredients in it. Everything else was quite good. My only issue was that the fish seemed a tad over-fried, making the meat of the fish kinda hard in certain parts. We had plenty of leftovers, which made for another yummy meal. The servers were very friendly and were giving suggestions on what to order.
(4)
Fereshteh A.
I was there for dinner , order some sheredde beef with pepper,, and some chicken ,,, it was not bad but too oily
(1)
Rahul J.
Took the in laws here yesterday - again - off the charts good (they love spicy food) TIP: Let the server order for you within your dietary confines. We had the same server both times we went and he was spot on with suggestions and very funny (perhaps the only asian male server there) Also note that they do NOT have any DC outposts.
(5)
Julia L.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the area. It is very authentic, so it gets really crowded around weekends and Chinese holidays. I had to wait in lines many times I was there. The waiting staff were friendly, and orders come out fast. I love their Sichuan spicy fish - one of the best I have ever had in the US.
(4)
Hans G.
Five stars for the food. Negative four stars for the rude service. We were continuously rushed to order and eat as soon as possible with staff standing at our table. Ruined what would have been otherwise a great meal.
(1)
Ricky V.
Best Sichuan-style food I've ever had, maybe the best Chinese food. Order from the authentic menu and go nuts. This food is not wimpy-it is spicy and bold. But I've never gone wrong on the authentic menu. Don't be afraid to order the stuff that sounds weird. My favorite dish is the spicy garlic pork.
(5)
Vivian Q.
We used to like it, until served stale blood tofu recently. I am a big fan of blood tofu and the one I got here was not stale, but really really stale, it was sticky in the mouth and had a stinky taste. It was insulting to serve food like that and thought they could get away with this. Too bad such a popular restaurant like that doesn't care about quality.
(1)
Janet L.
I love authentic Sichuan restaurants and this is one of them! The restaurant is decently sized, the waiter we had tried to be funny (except I didn't find the jokes funny)... but at least he was enthusiastic about his job? Much better than someone who disrespects you. If you're feeling adventurous, go for the authentic Chinese menu! Some authentic/terrific dishes (be adventurous, I promise you're stomach will thank you) : Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce, Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce, Wontons with Hot Sauce (8), Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup, Cumin Beef... that's just a few select dishes that I thought were lovely. The dishes are spicy and flavorful... with your standard Sichuan peppercorn, chili pepper and various spices. I haven't had a chance to explore Northern VA but definitely the best Sichuan restaurant in the Rockville/Bethesda/Montgomery County area!
(5)
C C.
My mother and I went here for lunch. We got the following: General Guan's Chicken - 5/5 stars Wontons in Chili Sauce - 5/5 stars Dan Dan Noodles - 5/5 stars Spicy Chicken Salad - 2/5 stars The Spicy Chicken Salad was not at all what we expected. We ordered it because it was recommended by the Washingtonian as a must have. Note that the skin and bones were still on the pieces of chopped up chicken and it was kind of hard to eat because of this. The sauce was tasty, but there was a spice in it that caused both my mother's and my tongue to tingle and feel slightly numb for about 5 minutes. I would not order it again. The other 3 dishes were all delicious. They had a nice level of spice and lots of flavor. I would order all of them again. I'm excited to give more of their dishes a try in the future.
(4)
Tian Y.
My mom is a tough person to please when it comes to eating out, and she's especially picky when it comes to good Chinese food, and this is probably her favorite restaurant on the east coast. Mine too! Probably the best sichuan food I've had on the east coast. We come here almost every time we're in DC. Really good authentic food. Try all the popular sichuan classics here! They're all solid. The pickled vegs are really flavorful too! And fu qi fei pian is almost as good as my mom's, haha. We love it here... but then again this is coming from the biased view of Pittsburgh, which is mostly deprived of good Asian food.
(5)
Charles M.
Some of the best Chinese food I've ever had! You have to really enjoy spicy food because the food is here is spicy and amazing!!!! Must go if ur in Bethesda!
(5)
A N.
Fascinating Sichuan food, with options not found elsewhere. Thoughtful, knowledgeable service. Comfortable setting. Have visited only once, ordering from Appetizer/Small Plates sections of the menu, but look forward to visiting again. Our first meal: We could have used more flavor variation-- several of the items we picked were heavy on salt. (Next time, we will check with server to try to get more of a variation) That said, interesting flavors throughout. We had: Zhong dumplings: crescent shape, meat filled, with a hot sauce. Flavor was mildly hot and moderately salty. Shredded, seasoned pig ear: Interesting, although an acquired taste. Thin slices of cured pig in soy sauce. Texture is quite chewy and cartiligeous. Good as an accent item in a larger meal, not as a mainstay. Soy imparts salt. Dan Dan noodles: Here, simple, thin noodles in a spicy, slightly salty red sauce-- sauce is not peanut. (Note that there is a sesame noodle dish on the menu). Noodles are very fresh and flavor is unexpected and enjoyable. Seaweed in garlic: Simple and delicious. The strands of seaweed are very long and the garlic flavor is intense. Pork and chicken broth dumplings: outstanding, a must. Justifiably, a signature dish. The dumpling wrappers are delicate, the pork filling tasty and adroitly seasoned; the broth offers a rush of delight. Bottom line: well worth trying. Many novel menu items not readily found in the DC area. Ask server to ensure that you are ordering a range of flavors.
(4)
Jess C.
I usually don't enjoy eating Chinese food in the States because it just doesn't compare, but Sichuan Jin River has really changed my mind. I came here to eat a few weeks ago, and a day still has not gone by where I do not think about the Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef ($10.95) that I had here. The servings are quite large here, and I was able to bring the leftovers for lunch for two days. I also got the "kong xin cai" aka morning glory aka water spinach that was great for balancing out the Mapo Tofu. There's a variety of authentic style Chinese foods, and there's a variety of items that looked yummy on other people's table, and I am eager to order next time. I will definitely be back.
(5)
Vicky L.
The food was really delicious. The staff were friendly. The mahpoh tofu was just right for me. My boyfriend likes it more meaty, but he's not from the providences that like spicy food. The cucumber cold dish was just how my grandma made it. I couldn't stop chomping on it. The ambience was a little weird for 8pm and the food was a little pricey, but the food and portions were well worth it.
(5)
Jim L.
We had a large party of 10 and although they had to jerry-rig 3 tables to get us together, it all worked out. Lots of passing the plate and also dealing with 4 little kids. I am not much of a spicy/hot food eater, but Diane's friends definitely were. They however accommodated me and the kids by ordering food that didn't burn my mouth, intestines, etc..... Since I have no idea what to call most of the food, you will have to take my word that the stuff I eat was good. Might be helpful to ask other Chinese on this thread! Service was ok, but what is it about Chinese restaurants in general where they just don't get it that people want/need water refills???? Easy location behind the Rockville fire station and within a spit of the Rockville Town Center. Parking: great Service: ok Food: good, but if you like HOT/SPICY...you will love this place!
(4)
Grace C.
It may be confusing why some reviews are either really good or terrible. The answer is, if you are ordering kung pao chicken and other dishes that you can find at panda express, this restaurant is not the place to get it. This restaurant serves one of the best authentic Sichuan Chinese food on the east coast; meaning, you go there to order deliciously hot spicy dishes and may find parts of a pig you never had before. Those who do not prefer to try new foods are missing out! If you were one of them and wish to explore the amazing gift of taste, I would recommend this restaurant as a place to start. It can also be a more appealing experience if you keep in mind that Chinese people see texture as a type of taste. The only other place I feel that you could find authentic Chinese food is in NY china town (unfortunately none in china town D.C.). Here is a list of some of my favorite dishes they serve; I apologize if my spelling is off. If anyone would like to respond with the correct ping ying I'd appreciate it very much! - cold beef appetizer ( fu chi fei pian) - liver, kidney dish ( gan yao he chao) - cumin pig intestine (zhi ran fei chang) *Reminder: these dishes are spicy. They used to make it spicier or sometimes they are spicier during the winter, but you'll get used to it and LOVE it!*
(5)
Dan M.
I've had so much bland Chinese food in MoCo I thought I'd never have a decent meal again. Sichuan came to the rescue. It's nice to see they went the extra mile with both an American Chinese menu and an Authentic Chinese menu. So many options to choose from, you're sure to find something you'll like. We ordered to go and got the egg drop soup, hunan chicken, chicken fried rice, and shredded beef with hot fresh peppers. All of them were great. Good level of spice, large portions (we had enough for lunch the next day), tons of rice on the side to soak up the sauce, that's just what I wanted. Plus, the location is right across the street from the Rockville Town Center, adjacent to the fire station.
(4)
Joe T.
If you like spicy chinese food, then this place is perfect for you. When I visited here, I was welcomed by the waiter. He was very welcoming. Food was very spicy yet very good. Overall I really enjoyed it.
(4)
Bruce G.
I came back here again a couple of days ago. The "authentic Chinese" lunch special menu is so big that I try to taste something different every time, and I like what I've had. There are two negative points I would make, however: 1. Unlike the nearby Bob's, the special does not include a soup but costs the same as the one at Bob's (which does include a soup). 2. The labeling of dishes as to how spicy they are is woefully inconsistent. I've had "one-chili-pepper" items that I would not call spicy at all, and others that were considerably spicier (but nothing that was spicier than I could take -- although others with a lower tolerance for spice might differ from me). With these two factors, I can't really give it five stars (though you might read my review of Bob's and conclude that not including a soup might be a good thing!) But everything I've had tasted fine, even the things I might consider not as spicy as I'd like -- which I assume aren't supposed to be spicy; but then why label them as such?
(4)
Rebecca Z.
We eat here regularly. My favorites are Dan Dan Noodles, cumin beef, and chow fun.
(4)
Gregorio A.
Overrated Sichuan food. Kung pao chicken cloyingly sweet. Fiery beef and veggies uninspiring. Dan dan noodles average. Panda Gourmet is the szechuan winner in DC.
(3)
James H.
The place is always packed with Asian customers and I always take this to be a good indication that the food is authentic. Everything I've tried here has been delicious. Be warned - they are not afraid to put hot spices in any dish. The staff are very pleasant and helpful without hovering over you. They can accommodate parties of ten at one table, but you should call ahead and reserve a table.
(4)
Sarah C.
noon and not this mornin' bean curd to quell pang callin' I couldn't think of passin' spice away and if pick is hot and hectic tongue hopes it tastes electric I'm glad I took my chances - much glee you see, I'll just be this blunt ma po's hot and bold! NOT bland or cold it's got it all, minced pork with every bite woe! heat hot chew slow! welp, can't ignore beef chow foon fare see soft meat strips, wide noodles share rich timeless meal and comforting to me I forgot one more thing steamed pork buns here were lackin' meh, wouldn't take advantage of these but please, you've got what I'm wantin' ma po's hot and bold! NOT dull nor old it's got it all, minced pork with every bite gold! be back, I'm sold! it's got it all eats' hot and bold . . . inspired by Brian B. yelp.com/biz/dog-pound-t…
(4)
Meggie C.
I finally was able to try this place after a friend recommended we go here out of the blue. For years, I've always drove past it, and since no one ever really brought it up, it was rarely thought about lol. So since I had a craving for Shui Zhu Yu, we decided to go. We ordered two dishes and an appetizer. The food was decent, nothing amazing. Portion size was good though and service was good. We went on a Monday night and the place was pretty packed. Just about every table was taken and there was a mixture of difference people eating here which I liked. If I were to go back, I would probably still order the same dishes. I recommend the Shui Zhu Yu (Spicy Boiled Fish Fillet), the Spicy Beef Tendon Appetizer, and the Dry Hot Pot.
(4)
Courtney W.
The bf and I decided to stop by for a late dinner on a Friday night, as it had been on my "must-try" list for quite some time. The self-standing restaurant has plenty of parking spaces and is located near Rockville Town Square. After studying the extensive menu with growling stomachs, we decided on the dishes below. When all of our food was delivered to our table very quickly, it finally hit us that we may have over-ordered just a wee bit... + Scallion Pancake: This was one of the best scallion pancakes I've ever had. The pancake was very crispy on the outside and the inside had nice, distinct layers of dough. I pretty much ate three-fourths of the scallion pancake alone... with no regrets! + Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth: One order comes with eight soup dumplings that are pretty tasty, although I have had better at other restaurants. + Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce: This dish was great! We are always sure to order pig ear whenever we find a restaurant that serves it. I really love how they serve their version of the dish here - the meat is thinly sliced and then cut into wide pieces. Having the wider pieces allows you to enjoy the gelatinous and chewy texture more than if the pieces were shredded into strands, as other establishments serve this dish.The hot chili sauce had a wonderful flavor and was not overly spicy. + Deep Fried Tofu with Hot Peppers: This large plate of fried tofu was dusted with chili powder and pepper flakes. I wasn't a huge fan of the tofu because I found it to be dry, especially with the abundance of chili powder. Having a sauce served on the side to dip the tofu in would be amazeballs. On the other hand, the bf did enjoy the tofu and was tasked with finishing the leftovers the next day. + Smoked Duck (Deep Fried and Breaded) with Buns: This dish was listed as a Sichuan specialty, however it definitely looked more appetizing than it tasted. The fact that the breaded duck was super salty overshadowed how soft and moist the buns were. If the duck was less salty, this dish would be a good one to share among a family since it is a generous portion (~$18).
(4)
Sunny X.
The service is always great and they make every effort to make sure you enjoy the experience. Sometimes we went late after a ski trip and the owner stayed late for us. Food is great, especially the chef's recommendations. The food comes out really fast!
(4)
Prairie S.
The handicaps that Sichuan Jin River overcomes to get 5 stars from me are two-fold (1) I don't go for Chinese food normally and (2) My co-workers are boring unadventurous eaters. (Yah I threw them under the bus. Yah, I'm pretty sure they're proud of my slander.) The cooking is here is so seductive that (1) I forget the aversion I have for standard American Chinese, and (2) the co-workers happily forget that they don't like spicy or exotic food. It always tastes amazing to this tough crowd. Each time I end up there, I am enticed by their endless menu: lists of combinations demarcated into American menu and Authentic Chinese menu. I mostly go at lunch to partake of their 'Special offer': buy three entrees, and get a soup to share for 2-3. Co-workers want the predictable and non-spicy basil chicken and salted shrimp, I get to chose something more spicy like potatoes with hot peppers or spicy eggplant and beef (all Chinese menu of course, as should you try!). The kitchen consistently produces a spread on which we feast like we've never seen food before. We drool and we inhale our food. This food hits the pleasure nerve and we leave with smiles. Each dish has its unique taste. The Spinach and Tofu soup is delicate, barely there, and yet earthy. In contrast the Mapo Tofu is really bold taste and overwhelming in flavor. This kitchen showcases the Chinese mastery of flame and glaze in that they can take a combination of vegetables and meat, say beef and bitter melon, and concoct the most amazing binding flavor between them. The Chinese proprietors like anywhere in the world, are extremely entrepreneurial, switching between native Mandarin, English and Spanish as needed. The decor is like a dated Budget Motel, but the atmosphere is quite interesting. A few times I've seen someone from the kitchen seated at one of the tables doing a prep, like peeling a box of ginger, or tearing up greens ready for cooking... it's just part of the scene which also includes men in suits from the nearby bureaucratic offices and entire multi-generational Chinese families. This place feels like a back street in Chengdu has found its Rockville Pike incarnation. The menu and food is the biggest draw...if you want authentic cooking you should try this place. It makes you feel like you have had a lunchtime immersion in the riches of Chinese culture. (And for a detailed review of a variety of dishes, check ron w.'s review, he flew in from California and totally nailed it on a spread of dishes that having gone on and off for five years, I still haven't managed to cover! )
(5)
Eric J.
The Fried Beef Noodles dish in Philly is definitely still king. The spicy crispy chicken isn't too bad. Nice for a late night dinner snack.
(3)
Hannah H.
About a 3.5: Sichuan Jin River is located in a plaza off of Hungerford Drive, and they offer an extensive menu: appetizers, small plates, soup, seafood/beef/pork/chicken/vegetables entrees, Sichuan specialty dishes, noodles, fried rice, and dessert. I was able to try: the 'Dan Dan' Spicy Noodles with Minced Pork (I think they use spaghetti noodles? Either way, it wasn't as salty as I expected it to be, and the spicy chili sauce that you don't see is set on the bottom that you mix up the noodles with - the sauce can be really delicious, but can be inconsistent in taste at times T____T - I was surprised I could handle the spice :P I could have slurped up those noodles all day :D; a Scallion Pancake (this was a nice size - it was a little thicker than usual, but I was totally okay with that, as it was literally one of the best scallion pancakes I've tried! It had a nice balance of the soft interior with a crispy exterior, with a good amount of scallions throughout - dipping it into the soy sauce was MONEY); Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup (this was topped with an extremely generous amount of chili flakes; I was a little taken aback, assuming it would literally burn my tongue off; however, I just stayed away from the flakes, and went underneath and around them; this had pretty good flavor, and it kind of reminded me of a familiar dish that I just can't put my finger on - a mixture of soondooboo and jjambbong, maybe? I enjoyed the napa cabbage slices that were crunchy, and there was a generous amount of beef (same texture as you would find in Beef & Broccoli, so keep that in mind!); mix it all with the rice and it is pretty satisfying; my husband ate up all the leftovers within seconds!); and, an order of the Small Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth (these kind of looked like the XLBs, but it contained no soup, just a very juicy mound of soft pork; while generous in the filling, these were just okay and slightly forgettable). A hot pot of tea was served, service was prompt and efficient, and I was surprised at what a bargain Sichuan Jin River offers. I definitely will be back, as I would love to try out their other specialty dishes. GO MOPSSSSSSSSSSS, JASON, C.!!! +'Dan Dan' Spicy Noodles with Minced Pork (sometimes inconsistent in taste T___T) +Scallion Pancake :D +Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup +fast & efficient service +plenty of parking
(4)
Ruth C.
Four and a quarter stars for family portions of tasty food with friendly service. Plenty of parking attached. Their dan dan mien uses the most resilient noodles in the area, with just enough sauce to coat. Basil eggplant was tasty. Sliced beef & vegetables in fiery soup has a nice amount of heat to the tender meat. Didn't care for the broad noodles in the Sichuan style NRM, but there were a lot of respectable nuances to every other component. XLB were okay in flavor, more delicate than average. I like celery and wood-ear plenty, but I'd skip the semi-Americanized sliced pork salad. Fluffy white rice. Outside their unfortunate noodle decisions, I'm digging the flavors here. Lunch special looks like a good value, but my future hit list will shop outside its menu: smoked duck, ko swei ji, double cooked pork & crispy rice cake, short ribs with sticky rice or taro, home style intestines, pig feet, mapo with beef, stir fried string beans.
(4)
Zheng W.
Very good Sichuan food. Price is good and food tastes good enough to satisfy my Chinese belly. Definitely would like to go again.
(5)
Annie B.
This is a review from a vegetarian perspective. I went here for the first time in 2009 with a grad school friend from the Sichuan Province in China (the name of the restaurant changed since then, but the menu is the same). She order everything off the menu for us and made sure to get some vegetarian entrees I could eat :) The 10 or so times I have gone here since, I have always ordered the same delicious things off the menu. Here's what I get every time: 1. Mapo tofu, no meat (you have to tell the waitress no meat). If you don't like soft tofu, don't order this. I happen to love soft tofu and the sauce on this is such a flavorful umami bomb that your taste buds will be singing in delight. So good! 2. String beans Sichuan style, no meat (again tell the waitress no meat). These green beans are really flavorful and I'm convinced could turn a veggie hater into a veggie lover. They are really garlicy and apparently the umami yummy flavor comes from ya cai, which is pickled mustard greens. 3. Eggplant in hot garlic sauce. The eggplant is super-garlicy and somewhat spicy with a meltingly tender texture. It is sooo good! My husband hates eggplant, but gobbles this stuff down like it's going out of style. Yum!
(5)
Wing C.
My parents can't take spicy food yet they raved about this place again and again. I finally had the opportunity to join them with my in-laws in town. With in-laws treating in-laws, there were of course more than enough food ordered to feed a village. Here are some of the highlights! Spicy jelly noodle - this dish was so simple yet refreshing, - a hint of aromatic chili oil paired with some chopped peanuts - delish! Soup dumplings - these dumplings were meaty - mouthful every bite. They could use a bit more soup to balance out the meat/soup ratio. Steamed fish with ginger and scallion - the fish was so flaky, soft. Loved the fact, it was de-boned for us. General Tso's chicken - I know I know, this is not a true Chinese dish - but they made this dish so well! Loved that it was made of white meat with the perfect hint of spice. Garlic Spinach - helped cut the oily, spicy-ness to all the other Sichuan dishes we had. It was a simple, yet delish palate cleansing dish. Taro rolls - supposed to be desserts? I couldn't help but have an entire order for myself. Golden, crispy, and perfectly sweetened taro paste filled! Ah they were heavenly! We also had chili fish, stir fried spicy tofu, Sichuan mixed combo, smoked duck with buns, sweet and spicy eggplants, etc. But surprisingly, I didn't enjoyed these authentic Sichuan dishes as much as the ones previously highlighted. Perhaps, mentally I just couldn't accept the amount of (chili) oil I was ingesting. Nevertheless, I was amazed by the quality and the quantity served at Sichuan Jin. Would definitely be back!
(4)
Susan R.
real asian food not americanized. I had an amazing baby bok choy with preserved duck egg. My husband's spicy beef covered in red pepper flakes but not firey just nice earthy heat. Bring cash, pay with cash you can get a card stamped to earn free meals.
(4)
ron w.
An old Chinese proverb states "That you can never stand in the same river twice". Ah, Grasshopper, but you can go to Sichuan Jin River as many times as you want. Go. Go now. Set behind an office building with lots of free parking is where you'll find the hard to find Sichuan Jin River. Hard to find, yes, but hard to beat for great food. The ambiance is early Costco. A crate of industrial fortune cookies waiting behind the cash register to be doled out with the check. Don't like your fortune, they will bring five more. The staff wants you to be happy. The carpet wears most of the dishes now served at this wonderful spot along with some ground in samples of the prior Vietnamese place that occupied the space. You want to eat off the floor, go to Hakkasan in London, or Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, but this restaurant is worthy of making the pilgrimage from either of those cities. The food is not truly Sichuan although if you tossed the kitchen you'd find some real Sichuan peppercorns, perhaps. It panders to the Rockville crowd and the occasional lost DC foodie, or those perennially disappointed in almost everything Bethseda has to offer. Start with Pickled Crispy Cucumber Garlic Salad, and swill an iced Tsingtao or two. Have a platter of Crunchy Potatoes with Wild Pepper which is as good as it sounds. Don't miss the Scallion Pancake, a simple dish which is simply difficult to make correctly. Shatteringly crisp on the outside and pancakey soft on the inside and chocked full of sliced fresh scallions. The only other place that makes them this good is Four Sea in Irvine, Calif. So, save your Frequent Flyer miles for a trip there, or better, yet Taipei. The Pork Soup Dumplings were excellent. Just as good as Din Tai Fung which opens like Chipotles outlets everywhere, and just a hair less delicious than what you get at Shanghai Asia Manor in New York. The Eggplant with Basil Sauce, Fried Tofu with Vegetables and Stir Fried Green Beans kept the Vegans with us at bay. (Toothless though they may be.) The Smoked and Deep Fried Duck with puffy dough pillows and Plum Sauce was so good a second order was required immediately. The Cumin Beef was brilliant. Uber crisp beef tenderloin on a bed of translucent chili-fied onions. The Flounder in Black Bean Sauce was a religious experience. A succulent huge pile of boneless, skinless fresh flounder fillets floating in a vat of thick gelatinous soupy gravy so good I wanted to pair down to my French Marble Bag and just lay in it. The Singapore Fried Rice Noodles was done just right. Vermicelli with dry curry, shrimp, and chicken made crave a Sloe Gin at Raffles Hotel. Typically, General Tso's Chicken is not only not Sichuan, it ain't even Chinese. It was a designer dish designed to please American tastes. Battered, fried, tender chicken in a thickened sweet orange-ish sauce. What do you expect? We're honkies, after all, but the only ones in Sichuan Jin River among a room full of born and raised Sichuanese most of whom ordered it as well. This Chinese Emperior's Feast for 12 was $276 with tax, license, dealer prep and out the door. After dinner, our table looked like a Civil War Mash Unit, or the sheets in the boys dorm. Great food is like sex, if you don't have it all over you, you're doing it wrong. Do it right, and dive into Sichuan Jin RIver.
(5)
Alan Z.
If you want authentic sichuan food, this is the place to be. Food here is comparable to what i'd get in China. The seasoning is bold and really good. Definitely not americanized Chinese food. If you like spicy, definitely come here and try it out.
(5)
Marc L.
How fun is it to discover a slightly run down hole in the wall with amazing ethnic food? It's a thrill for me. Makes me feel like an insider. Well , Sichuan Jin River is almost that. It's not undiscovered, but not hugely popular. It's not a hole in the wall, but it is hidden and slightly worn. And the food is really good, and in our case, I experienced something unique and delicious. So pretty darn close to a thrilling experience. Ate here with spouse on a Thursday night around 7 PM. I've been wanting to try this for awhile after seeing the rave reviews from Tyler Cowen. A bit confusing to find the place, you can't see it from Rockville Pike. Turns out that it's around the back of a twin building with a central passageway, and there is parking in the back of the building next to the restaurant entrance. When you enter, the restaurant appears "modest", a polite word for a bit dated and run down. But it's clean and comfortable. I have a feeling that this is part of the appeal, if the same food were served in elegant surroundings, maybe you wouldn't feel like it's a discovery. We are non-meat eaters and there was plenty of selection. The back of the menu has photos of the specialty dishes, so we chose one from there, the "Hot fresh pepper with flounder in black bean sauce." My wife doesn't care for spicy food, so we ordered "Eggplant in basil sauce". And I got a Tsingtao beer, always a winner with Chinese food. Service was reserved but friendly. When I smiled and asked the hostess/server to come over and help, she was smiling and friendly and helpful. Eggplant dish came out within minutes, very hot, and good. Nothing exceptional but good, plenty of fresh garlic, cooked nicely and good flavor. Huge portion. Had this been the only dish for the evening, my rating might have been 3 stars. But then the fish dish came out. It looked exactly like the photo and had surprises in store. Huge portion again, very large bowl, filled with broth, then loaded with flounder and a few vegetables (some I could not identify), then a layer of black tasty substance (bean residue? pepper?) which was really delicious and smoky, and topped with finely sliced spicy green peppers. Definitely a kick. I kept saying: I have never had anything like this. Unique, flavorful, delicious. Makes me want to return to try other dishes, particularly fish or vegetarian specialties. But without my wife, because all the good stuff looks to be spicy. Bill came to $42.50 with tax and tip. The dishes were $18 (fish) and $12 (eggplant), plus beer, plus tax/tip. But we have an entire meal that was packed up for us to take away and eat later at home, so it's like we bought two meals. So value was good. My bottom line in stars: service 4, atmosphere 3, food 4, value 4, overall 4. I shall return.
(4)
Callie B.
This place has a SERIOUS roach problem. I have no idea how they haven't been shut down yet. Don't eat here.
(1)
Mike B.
The Sichuan beef noodle soup is just... Mmmm. I loved how they asked me what level of spice I wanted it. They must have been able to hear my heritage over the phone as I ordered. I also got the dan dan noodles and a scallion pancake. I'm in love with their dan dan. You could say I'm a big fan fan of their dan dan. And it's about time to end. Go there. Get the authentic dishes. I love that I know about this place.
(5)
Timothy C.
Right down the street from the Rockville town center, cuddled up to a fire station, there is a storefront from the 80's that is trying really hard to get you to miss them. Empty patio, a bajillion signs telling you they will tow your car, no sign of life outside. DON'T BE FOOLED! There is Chinese goodness in there. First stamp of approval? I'm the only non-Asian in the house. I mean, that's true at the corner Chinese take-out place down the street from my apartment, but that's because it's empty. This place was poppin' on a Saturday night, and it only got more crowded. We started with a quick skim of Yelp faves, and got the dan dan noodles and a scallion pancake. I liked the spice of the noodles, but I'm sure most of their other noodles would have been more enjoyable. Kind of basic like what a kid would ask for. The pancake was good, crispy and savory, a nice start. We ordered 4 entrees: Breaded duck with rolls, orange chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and pork lo mein. Now, the last 3 of those dishes I thought I had eaten before, but these were the best versions of them I have had. I'll give special props to the sweet and sour chicken, crispy veggies and perfectly fried pieces of meat with a KILLER sauce! My fave was the duck. It's breaded and fried, and chopped into chunks, served in a pile surrounded by fluffy rolls and a cup of savory, sweet sauce. As the server pointed out to me, the rolls come apart and can be made into sandwiches. Wha! I LOVE SANDWICHES! And I loved those sandwiches...crunchy, smooth, tasty, and surprising. We enjoyed that meal for around $15 a person (no drinks, just tea), and had enough leftovers for dinner the next day. I will be back for the classics and maybe try some of the weirder stuff too.
(5)
Divine A.
Portions here are generous and it was quite good. I had egg drop soup and the flat noodles which reminded me a lot of drunken noodles. Although for this no heat. Definitely not a bad deal and might come back to try other things in the menu.
(3)
Kyungeun P.
Omnomnomnom.. This place was amaze. It's kinda sorta tucked away in a plaza that's not in plain view from rockville pike fyi. We ordered: pork soup dumplings (ok, not really soup dumplings, more like regular steamed dumplings by the way), spicy cucumber salad, fish in hot oil (or spicy boiled fish), beef noodle soup, basil chicken, and a rice ball soup dessert. Don't recommend: beef noodle soup (meh. Recommend that you drive over to A&J in rockville instead) Highly recommend: spicy boiled fish and their dumplings. The spicy fish had a lot of numbing Sichuan peppercorns, so beware! Price point was decent/ok, and seating was plenty. We went around 7:30-8pm on a Saturday night and waited about 5 minutes before our party of 4 was seated. Other tables ordered a hot clay pot dish and it looked great.
(4)
anon r.
i was excited to take my taiwanese parents here (years ago), but they complained thru the whole meal -- about the service, canned bamboo shoots, too-large menu (so that nothing is actually fresh), too many chemicals. so won't do that again. last time i went was also lackluster, trying to experiment with the attractively priced lunch special. but i'm giving this place 4 stars bc i'm currently craving their tangyuan (shareable serving, large individual balls, taste like they're made in-house, in rice wine) -- esp since it's sooo cold already, but of course that's why i don't want to go out and actually get some!
(4)
Jason C.
It's a bit shocking to me that Sichuan Jin has dropped below the 4* level on yelp. Over the years, this has been one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the DC area and it's well-known that many Chinese folks from all over the DMV come to this spot to get the best, if not one of the best Sichuan food in the area. Sichuan food is known for being spicy and also for having meat cuts and preparations that don't show up on typical Chinese menus. Ordering is quite a challenge here. There are numerous options and unfamiliar dish names which make it difficult for an unassuming consumer to navigate and order the right dishes. To make things worse, several of the meats are not mainstream consumer favorites (e.g. tripe, rabbit meat, etc.) and I've known some who have downright said they won't come here again after eating those dishes. While it's rare for me to do this, when I come to this restaurant, I stick to several dishes. The first one is DAN DAN NOODLES. It seems like a very simple dish. It contains nothing but minced meat and chili oil yet the flavoring is absolutely amazing. I'd say this is the highlight of this restaurant. The second dish is their BEEF IN FIERY SOUP. The looks of this dish will intimidate you. It's dark red and filled with chili oil and numbing sauce. Looks can be deceiving as it isn't as hot as it looks (but you may not want to gauge that based on my spice tolerance). The beef is a quite chewy and the preparation is simple yet it is full of spice and flavor. I highly recommend this dish. If you can tolerate the spice and like it, I can confidently state that you won't find a place as good as this in the MoCo area.
(4)
Roll T.
4.25 stars. First and foremost, the dan dan noodles here are probably the best one will find in the DC area. At the very least, they rival the preparation at Sichuan Pavilion though my preference lies in Sichuan Jin River's peppercorn friendly version. For those who felt it was appropriate to bash the food here, I'd strongly suggest trying out the flounder and show me any Chinese preparation within a 50 mile radius that rivals this culinary masterpiece. It would not be an exaggeration to say this was the best preparation of flounder that I remember and this is from someone who grew up off the Gulf Coast! Accenting the wonderful flounder is a menagerie of vegetables including tree ear mushrooms, snap peas, and bamboo shoots. Other than the flounder, the house special Iron Beef had a pleasant consistency with the beef almost mirroring perfectly cooked pork belly in texture. Scallion pancakes were crisp and not too oily taking on an almost biscuit like quality. Only the dried tofu wasn't a pure revelation, and is the only reason I'm keeping my review to 4.25 stars. Sichuan Jin River is Sichuan cuisine elevated to its finest, and even for those who are not in Rockville, it is worth the trip from DC to try it. Frankly, I'm saddened that I only recently discovered this masterpiece. It is certainly one of my favorite finds in suburbia land.
(4)
Dean H.
This is as close as it gets to authentic Sichuan cuisines. Szechuan is a style of Chinese cuisine originating from Sichuan province in southwestern China. It has bold flavours, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavor of the Sichuan pepper. Sichuan food is really about a variety of flavors: spicy, flowery (Sichuan peppercorns), salty, sour, sweet, bitter, smoky, etc. Frequently all of those flavors are combined in one dish. This being my first time, I decided to try the DanDan Noodles for appetizers and the Cummin Beef as an entree. The noodles are plenty enough that it can be a meal unto itself. The Cummin Beef has a combination of spices which gives it a complex flavor. They portions are generous and you can definitely have leftovers for the next day. The crowd is made up mostly of Chinese diners so you know this place is the real deal. The place is a bit worn down on both the outside and inside. It's conveniently situated next to the Rockville Firestation which often sends over its firefighters to help put out the heat coming out of the mouths of many of its patrons. They also have a standard Americanized menu for the unadventurous eater who just wants to stick to their General Tso or Orange chicken. I wish they would do away with that part of the menu. Like some of the Chicago hot dog stands that mocks you for asking for ketchup, I feel that if you come in here asking for General Tso Chicken, a Tiger Mom should come out of the kitchen and berate you for not being more open minded to other cultures and their dishes. But alas, I digress. I intend to come back and try some of their other dishes. 4/5 stars. Would Szechuan again!
(4)
Ching C.
One of the best places for Szechuan cuisine in the MD/DC area. The food is flavorful (and plentiful). Ever since Sichuan Jin River opened a couple years ago, my family has been regulars at this restaurant whenever we want to grab a bite to eat. We usually go after we watch a movie at Rockville Town Center as it is in the shopping center right across. This place is popular and can be very busy - there is usually a wait after 6pm on the weekends. The food is consistently delicious. Every dish we order here is spicy, flavorful, and portions were more than generous. Items I highly recommend 1. Flounder with Sour pickled Cabbage & Peppers 2. Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup 3. Stir-Fried Tender Pork Liver and Kidney 4. Dan Dan noodles We usually order one or two appetizers, and three main dishes for four people. We usually have left overs of everything since the portions are huge. Service can be a hit or miss- we usually have to flag down the servers ourselves for more water. If you like it spicy as I do, this restaurant will hit all the right spots and leave you satisfied and happy.
(4)
Timothy M.
Great food but incredibly greasy / oily. General gaun's chicken and stir fry pork with peppers were good but a definite gut bomb, having trouble understanding all the praise for what was mediocre food. The menu is exstensive and I will come back to try less stir fried and oily dishes as it was awesome and hot but to greasy.
(2)
Angela C.
So, I have a serious problem with heartburn and my doctor keeps lecturing me on lifestyle modifications. Restaurants like Sichuan Jin River are the reason I am completely unable to abide by any healthcare recommendations. After eating a grotesquely large Indian buffet lunch and promptly passing out into a food coma, I woke up to my friend, Pallabi G. (!!! shoutout!) asking me if I wanted Sichuan food. Obviously, when Pallabi wants you to go somewhere to eat, you don't say no. We ordered the hot sesame noodles, spicy beef noodle soup, and cumin chicken. I never love chicken and Sichuan Jin River's is not going to change that. However, I keep dreaming of those hot sesame noodles, which strike a perfect balance between spicy yet creamy from tahini sauce and the spicy beef noodle soup, which is the ideal thing to eat on a cold winter's night. It's the kind of thing where I couldn't stop eating, and then clearly paid for dearly later on in the night. Lessons never learned, apparently.
(4)
Chen-Chen R.
First time writing a review on yelp....I am not a fan of the idea of writing negative reviews on yelp but I guess that's hypocritical: I went to Rockville yesterday and stopped by this restaurant because a friend of mine told me it was very good a few years back. I ordered the salted pork dish on the authentic sichuan section of the menu, and it was realllllllllly yummy. I only ate half of it at the restaurant, and the waitress packed the rest of it for me in the kitchen to take home. The bad part is when I got home hours later. I didn't bother heating it even though it was cold and because I am lazy. I just put the contents of the take out container over rice and started eating happily away. came down to my last couple of bites and I found something hard in my mouth. Thinking it was a bone or something, I pulled it out and discovered a RUSTY NAIL. I know mistakes happen but that was disgusting and also dangerous. While I was eating there, they were speaking about something being broken and brought the broken piece into the kitchen to show someone. I didn't look up to see what it was, I just heard because I was sitting right next to them, and I can speak Chinese. It could be unrelated or it could be the broken piece accidentally fell into my take out container when the waitress packed it. Anyway, the one pro of this experience is I realized I haven't had my tetanus shot in over 10 years, so this prompted me to look into getting that soon. side note: I probably wouldn't have written this review even with finding the nail but when I was paying, the waitress quietly told me that if I paid cash instead of credit, I could pay the amount without tax which is shady for obvious reasons. Do what you will as a small business, but don't make me feel like I'm in on it. I'm just a customer trying to enjoy a lunch. I'll post a pic
(1)
Michael S.
I came here with my friends who live in the area. I was visiting the area and they told me this was the place to get good Chinese food. Well, they were right. The food here is delicious and the service was good. We never had any issues and always had our waters topped off timely. THERE IS GREAT VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY. I had dinner and I still have lunch for tomorrow. All for $16 with tax and a generous tip. So much variety and it was all delicious. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Chinese. It's pretty damn authentic.
(4)
Jared W.
LOVE THIS PLACE! About 2 years ago, I got on yelp on my way home in search of some spicier, less Americanized Chinese food. Stopped in and asked for a recommendation. The woman at the counter (who I now think is an owner) suggested the Cumin Beef dish. I said "sounds good" before I could process that this was very likely not a dish I'd ever consider on my own. Normally I instantly regret asking for recommendations bc I feel bad if it sounds terrible to me and why would anyone know what I like? Ended up that first night with takeout and Cumin Beef and Zhang dumplings. My expectations were not too high since despite a million Chinese restaurants (particularly in that part of moco), I found most to be too mild in flavor or heat. Once I took the food out and opened the large portioned containers, i immediately thought I'd enjoy this. The more I ate, the more I had to have. The Sichuan peppercorns used have a numbing effect that can make level of heat hard to gauge but doesn't take away from any of the goodness. The dish is filled with a large amount of almost dry fried beef, jalapeños, onions, and peppers. There was enough food for two meals and I destroyed every single bit in one sitting. I actually craved more of it once it was gone. The dumplings are excellent and, while perhaps not as special as China Bistro down the street, they compliment all the dishes I've had here well. When I find a dish I love, it's hard for me to deviate. The Cumin Beef is one of those dishes and in my top 10 most craved meals in this area (another is the Derek Tibs from Zenebach Injera off T and Florida ave). I'd say I get takeout 90% of the time for no other reason than it's usually just me eating it. I have dined there a handful of times with others and enjoyed it a lot. The cumin beef travels well but the dumplings and scallion pancakes are a bit better in house. They do offer a frequent buyer type program with cash purchases (a stamp for each increment of $20). My takeout meal of Cumin Beef and one appetizer are usually right at the $20-$23 mark so takes 10 dinners for me to get a free one. The appetizers I've sampled are Dan Dan noodles which are great, hot sesame noodles (which is fine) and the cold noodles with hot chili oil (which are also fine). The scallion pancake is another I enjoy if getting noodles as a side and the aforementioned spicy dumplings. I'm predictable when I call in to the point where they recognize me by my choices and have, on occasion, told me if I'm thinking of a different dish when I order. I appreciate that. I've eaten here probably 25 times in the last 2 years and that says more about their quality and consistency than my lack of creativity. I don't cook as much as I used to and there's nothing worse than getting takeout and having a terrible meal. That's never happened here and likely never will. Really have no idea why they aren't rated higher. The service when I've dined in has always been friendly and responsive. The restaurant is ALWAYS full during dinner service (probably 75% Chinese) and I have yet to meet anyone that's been and doesn't love it. It's certainly not the healthiest food since oil is a component and the portions are enormous but most don't eat out for healthy food anyway. It's spicier than nearly every other type of Chinese you'll find around here and the reviews complaining about this should be taken with a grain of salt. You simply don't (or shouldn't) come here for Americanized/milder food. Love this place and am so thankful I chose to try this restaurant on a whim a couple years ago.
(5)
Lan N.
I've been going here with my family for years now. It's delightful Szechuan food done right. Husband only gets to dishes: the shui zhu yu (fish in chili broth) and the la zhu ji (spicy chicken with peppers). They never disappoint. However, we tried the eggplant in basil last time, and I liked that it was not overcooked, so you get these plump, soft eggplant chunks. I know you can either deep fry or boil the eggplant before tossing it with the sauce. I hope it's the latter case here, since the texture was different than normal. We also ordered the pig's feet in sour mustard, which came in sort of broth with clear noodles. If you like collagen, you're going to love this dish. We sure did. For dessert, we got the soft tofu in fermented wine sauce. I've never had this dish and was glad to try it. Very busy restaurant despite the heavy downpour that Friday evening; mostly Asians (a good sign for authenticity). I've rarely had better Szechuan.
(4)
Roy S.
In all of my years on this Earth I have never tasted traditional Chinese food. The fare I have always eaten has left me wondering what was wrong? Bland, greasy, and bad tasting for the most part is my description of just about all Chinese food I have ever had. A friend recommended this place and I was dubious at best. This is a no frills place, no fancy table cloth or 5 star ambiance, just great food. I went with the classic General Tso's chicken and it was amazing!!! It was actually real chicken!!! Normally its a fried blob of who knows what and you always feel bad about eating it. This stuff was great. Great flavor and texture. The Sichuan chicken was also very nice with a hint of spiciness that was quite subtle and did not burn the mouth but ignited one's taste buds. I came for lunch but I will return post haste!! My only issue was with the service, it is pretty slow and English is clearly not a language that is used often at this establishment. I can overlook this when I am so happy with my food... Make sure to eat here ASAP!!! (I will go back and try some real Chinese food next time)
(4)
Muzhou L.
I've ordered here a dozen times. Though all the dishes are great and pretty authentic, the consistency of the flavor is not guaranteed. I really liked the addition of cardamon in one of the spicy fish dishes. I hope the chef could do more of this small experiments to improve the flavor.
(4)
DC R.
Consistently great and authentic Szechuan food with a few non-Szechuan dishes in the menu. If you can read the Chinese language menu do so it is different with even more choices. Mapo Tofu is great and Dan Dan noodles are reliably great with a bit more spice then you'll find elsewhere. We've been here and had takeout more than a dozen times. Always great. My preference though is to eat at the restaurant. Get there early or you may have a very long wait. And ignore reviews from people who say "I don't really like spicy food". They should stay out of Szechuan restaurants or at least not review them. And if you do want authentic spiced food and know what that is. Ask for it in Mandarin :-)
(5)
Rui Z.
Sichuan Jin River is an okay casual restaurant, but you should know a couple of things: Sichuan food is not particularly healthy. Our orders, which included basil eggplant, beef and bamboo shoots, and Scallops, were pretty salty with a generous helping of oil. If you're trying to cut back on spicy food, oil, or sodium, it might not be the place for you. I think that even relative to other Chinese food places, the food was really oily. Uncomfortably so. That said, the restaurant's serving sizes are really generous for the decent price, and the service is friendly and fast. It's a good place to dine out "family style" with several people splitting a handful of dishes.
(3)
Boyu L.
Authentic and awesome nice Chinese food. I am a Chinese and I know if they give you the quality sichuan food. Ordered cumin beef and hot and spicy flounder with soft tofu. Nice atmosphere, and okay service.
(5)
Pallabi G.
Ever since we vowed never to go back to a certain other Sichuan restaurant in the area, we have been on the hunt for a proper replacement restaurant. I am happy to report that Sichuan Jin River way surpassed my expectations. We've been there twice in the last month and and both times, its been great. My standard at any Sichuan restaurant is the fish fillet with soft tofu. While Jin River's isn't the best I've had, its pretty darn good. The only thing is that if you get this dish to go, they give you the tofu separately and I find that you have mix the two together and heat it up on the stove to really get the flavors to mix well. I personally prefer their fish fillet with veggies in spicy broth. The "veggies" are mostly varying types of greens and celery, but that's fine because they absorb the broth really well. The cumin chicken was also a crowd pleasure, especially because it wasn't drenched in oil and overwhelmed with cumin like similar dishes I've had. The pork tripe in chili oil was a tad too salty in my opinion but a generous amount and good flavor Their dan dan noodles are also worth trying. Very simple, but a delicious flavor. The decor and the location are fine. The food is really the star of the show here. Oh, and they have an incentive for paying in cash. I just wish they would do it so that you got a stamp every $10 dollars instead of every $20.
(4)
Zhi Z.
My parents and I love this place, my father especially loves spicy food. We been here a number of times and never disappointed. The food is authentic Szechuan style, and their servicing sizes are huge. We loved their Beef Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, Flounder, Spicy Chicken (cold) and Garlic Pork (cold). Be warn though, if you go during peak dinner time you need to wait for a seat.
(5)
Paul Y.
I had this in the summer, (July 3rd to be exact). However, the lack of appreciation that it has been getting has made me decide to write a review, and in the process, rebut some of the common criticisms - I have no allegiance to Jin River, but it was probably the best Sichuan food I had in the past year so good deeds should be rewarded. First of all, it is important to notice that this is sichuan food, and authentic at that. Ordering General Tso's or the ilk and then expecting something special is setting yourself up for failure. No one would think to order a burrito at a steakhouse, but because many patrons of Chinese restaurants which specialize in a particular cuisine seem to demand Americanized Chinese food (or grasp for the same familiar 3 tradiitional food items), then their is a lot of junk on the menu that I am sure is cooked with a bit of disdain. Is that the best strategy for the restaurant? I don't know, but as far as what you might want to order, consider some of the following (I confess that the specific names of items elude me, as the translation process is different at every restaurant, but I include pinyin which is the anglicized pronunciation of the dishes) Apps: Fuqi Feipian (Fuqi = Married Couple, Feipian = tripe), better known as Cold beef tripe. Beef Tendon (in Chilli Oil) These are extremely spicy, and as one patron noted, makes your mouth numb (said patron also attributed this mouth numbness to MSG; without wishing to throw any shade, MSG will not make your mouth numb). Peppercorn is a staple of sichuanese cuisine, and that will make your mouth feel numb and when you drink you will taste sour. Main Courses: Thinking about kung pao chicken? Impress your waitress by asking for "Lazi Ji" or spicy chicken instead. Chinese restaurants often do profile (white friend was offered fork, while everyone else was given chopsticks). Is this right? Probably not, but it does happen for real. Shui zhu yu / Shui zhu niu (Water boiled fish / water boiled beef) - Here they named it something funny like Beef / fish in fiery soup. These are delicious. The water boiled beef is the best I've had of sichuanese food I think, extremely tender. Need something not spicy? Try yuxiang qiezi (fish fragrant eggplant)- it might be named sweet and sour eggplant because thats what it sorta tastes like. Basil eggplant seems popular, but basil is really a southeastern spice. The portions are huge, speaking as three kids in their collegiate years. We could not finish and it was delicious. Come for spicy food and come for authentic food and you will be happy. Come with food court chinese choices and you can be like many of the disappointed reviews
(5)
Linh N.
I used to really like this place. I think they had really good flavors going on, but had to stop going here because the food was too salty and a bit too oily for me. If they can reduce their sodium and oil their food would be amazing!
(3)
Elliott K.
There's been a lot of hype behind the reviews I read about this place, but I just ordered take out and I am very disappointed. Me and my brother are back in town for the holidays and we decided to order from a place that we never did while living here. Boy do we regret that. We ordered the Mapo Tofu and General Tso's Chicken. The food was ready I think faster than the 10 minutes I was told. That alone was disconcerting when I picked it up. Mapo Tofu - Very flavorless, unless you count the abundance of basil flavor. When I picked the container up, I got the oil on my hand and I licked it. It was definitely covered in basil. Not tasty at all, barely edible. General Tso's Chicken - Less sweet than most places, but also covered in some sort of pepper flakes. It didn't have a delicious spiciness too it, mostly just an unappreciated after burn. I have a high tolerance for spicy food, but this was not good. Safe to say, I will not be returning.
(1)
Cynthia L.
If you love spicy, and you want Chinese, you can't go wrong with this place. I'm told its consistently packed, but on a weeknight before a major holiday, there wasn't a wait for a table of 6. Wondering what to order? We tried: Seaweed & duck soup (interesting and different than the soups I'm used to- the seaweed is thick and def has that "just plucked from the sea" texture), Dan dan noodles (it kicked me in the face with the spice all at once!), pork soup dumplings (not the best, but pretty damn close for the 'burbs!), smoked peking duck (yum-all-around!), scallion pancakes, salt & pepper pork, and spicy pork intestines. We couldn't move after this meal, or stop sweating (from the spicy pork intestines & dan dan noodles) I can't say I'm the biggest fan of spicy food (I know, how atrocious of me), but this place is not bad and did a very good job. However, between this place and another spicy Chinese food place that's down the street that shall be unnamed, I prefer the latter.
(4)
Rudel A.
Poor customer service, we waited for an hour and still no food, ask the manager and said they are gonna cook our food...what!!!......after more than an hour waiting??? My kids are so hungry so we left disappointed!!!! ....even let us pay our appetizer..... What a shame on this restaurant, they should close and DO NOT COME to this restaurant.
(1)
Kathryn A.
This place is decent but not great. The food tastes like home cooking in that it's uninspired and bland. Nothing is really spicy or savory. If you order the fish, be warned that it's carp, and not very fresh. Still, the food is very, very cheap, and it comes out very, very fast. The restaurant is also fairly large, so you won't have to wait to be seated. Beware of the restrooms!
(3)
Carol C.
Oh I so miss good Chinese food! (moved to MD from CA where access to really good Chinese food was easy) This place so hits the spot for great sichuan cuisine. Anything with hot peppers, peppercorn sauce, "ma la" taste in it is good. The fried tofu and pig ears are amazing - better than other places I've tried. Not too thrilled on xiao long baos, definitely had better elsewhere - but places that specialize in northern chinese cuisine and dumplings. Have to come back! mmmmm... I think they had spicy boiled fish on the menu, miss that from San Diego and Los Angeles.
(5)
Shellie D.
Came here with my family and ordered the duck with the bread rolls. The duck was uneatable and cold. The flavor was harsh and pungent. We told the waitress and then the cook and her went back and forth. The cook told us that it was good and that she made it. We could have called the health department on them because that duck should not have been served. It was clearly spoiled.
(1)
Katie W.
Fried rice is great, but the place was dingy and sort of dirty. You had to ask for waters, but were given tea, which was great. I'm not sure if I'll go back, but the fried rice really did taste great. We got other things as well, but they weren't special.
(3)
Farrell S.
This place is notorious for towing cars in the parking lot. They are jealous of the other Asian restaurants in Rockville Town Square so they will tow your car. They patiently wait looking through the window to see if anyone who parks in the parking lot walks off of the lot. Once you leave the parking lot, a tow truck comes in and tows your car off. There is a sign with very little print that says you will be towed if you leave that parking lot. I wouldn't patronize this place.
If you are planning on taking your dog out to dinner here, don't let him order the Braised Duck with Konjak; it's full of bones and he'll choke to death. That's not to say the dish isn't delicious because it is; what little meat garnishes the plate is succulent and tender. You'll also want to steer your pup away from the Chinese Style Kung Pao Chicken. It's tastes basically of fried chicken with imitation maple syrup. All that sugar is not good for dogs. He'll love the long beans. They are perfect. The most disappointing part of this meal was the fortune cookies. They were unfortunate cookies. No really, they lacked fortunes and had imposter strips of paper with qualifications about the state of the world written on them like: "it's a nice day." Listen cookie, I know what today is like, what I wanna know is what tomorrow will be like.
(3)
Norman G.
This restaurant located behind the firehouse north of Rockville town center has a loyal Chinese clientele and it is frequently jammed. The Chinese customers know what to order and what's on their tables looks very appetizing. But a great many of the dishes are based on intestines from one animal or another and aren't likely to appeal to a good many westerners. The wait staff is of no use at all in explaining individual items. Dishes familiar to American patrons of mainstream Chinese restaurants are, unfortunately, not outstanding. So while you watch families at the next table relishing their meals, you may be disappointed by the choices you've made. I'll go here again with someone who is more familiar than I am with the intricacies--and ingredients--of Sichuan cooking. Plainly, there's a wonderful concert under way. I just happen to be deaf.
(3)
Lia M.
Not a fan. I was so excited to try Sichuan Jin River, based on all the awesomeness I had heard about it, but it just didn't live up. My group of five ordered: - Spring Rolls - Scallion Pancakes - Dan dan mein - Xiao long bao - Eggplant with basil - Chicken broccoli - Shrimp and scallops with black bean sauce - Shredded beef with hot dry pepper So, the scallion pancakes were good. No issue there. Dan dan mein was basically spaghetti in a hot sauce. Eggplant was good, very flavorful. Chicken and broccoli was fine, but it's not exactly a complicated dish. Shrimp and scallops were a bit overdone. Xiao long bao was a dumpling-I don't understand the craze. It had a little liquid in it. So? I am less the impressed. Service was fine though. With all the seemingly good Chinese places in Rockville, I am beyond mad that I ended up here.
(2)
James L.
This place is one of the few authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurants that we found in the Rockville / Germantown area. My wife is from Sichuan and she really loves it here. The dishes that we tried truly tastes like the way they are made in Sichuan. I would suggest getting the house dishes instead of the American Chinese food. The difference is huge. One reason for only 4 stars is because the facility is a bit old and not a flashy as some of the other restaurants in the area. But the food is superb.
(4)
Vinnie A.
I went here because it got pretty decent to good reviews and I was in the neighborhood. I ordered the General Tso chicken. It was disgusting. The chicken quality was very poor. I literally took one bite of the meat and spat it out. I also thought the customer service was not very good. When asked if I liked the food. I told the waitress (or manager) the chicken had a very bad taste to it. She told me that it's white meat, not dark meat and that I should eat since everyone around me was eating. So basically she tried to peer pressure me into eating poor quality meat. Hmmm no thanks! In conclusion I spent $8 on rice and a fortune cookie...should've just gone to chick-fil-A.
(1)
Wesley Y.
The food here is really spicy! I was here for a company party (where everyone kind of got laid off...) Whatever food was still good! we ordered some beers to start and they checked ID which was cute rarely do chinese restaurants check ID. We ordered a few non spicy dishes but after eating all the spicy dishes it was hard to tell the difference. After the tongue is numb it doesn't matter anymore! The beer doesn't help ease the spice. We asked for medium spicy levels. I can't really name the dishes we had =/ The deep fried pork chops was good, spicy duck, spicy tofu, the fish in the hot soup was awesome as always. The food prices here are all reasonable. It was a friday night and they close at about 10:30 we were kind of kicked out at around that time. They brought us free dessert as a Please pay your check and GTFO type thing lol.
(4)
Katy A.
The MSG was literally mouth numbing. I took two bites and it felt like my tongue fell asleep. The two of us who ate here threw our entire meals in the trash. Horrible food.
(1)
Alice W.
Sichuan Jin River used to be called Sichuan Pavilion (巴山蜀水). The restaurant is fairly inconspicuous to a wanderer's eye but has terrific Sichuan food. My favorite is their 豆花鱼 aka spicy flounder with soft tofu. The flounder is so tender and drenched in spicy juices. So flavorful and delicious! Another dish I recommend is the 海鲜é‹å·´ aka Seafood sizzling rice crust soup. It's appetizing and a bit of a show at first - you get these crispy rice-like cakes piled in a bowl and the server pours the seafood and the soup on top, making it sizzle. This is a Sichuan delicacy. I'm a big Sichuan food lover and this is one of my favorite Sichuan restaurants in the DMV area. Love the flavors and the heat. Now that's real Sichuan food!
(4)
Nate L.
I will start this review with this: DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO ORDER AMERICAN CHINESE DISHES, OR IF YOU ARE EXPECTING FOOD THAT ISN'T SPICY. This is the lowest common denominator of the poor reviews. I grew up in a Chinese family, and Chinese culture can be different if you aren't used to it. This place reminds me of my childhood. I imagine some not used to the demeanor of the women who run the dining area might initially be put off by it. They're friendly-- one just has to know how to be polite. Anyway, on to the restaurant. The food is exceptional. For a place with "Sichuan" in the name, I was expecting some really hot food. This place doesn't disappoint, if one knows what to order. Be adventurous and order from the "Chinese" menu. Leave the "American" style alone. If you feel inclined to order only "American" style, you'll be disappointed. These are Chinese people who are good at what they know best-- REAL Chinese food. Get anything rated 1 or 2 chilis, and you're in for a treat. I always get the tender beef in spicy soup, and then order different items to complement it. It's amazing. If you've never had real Sichuan, the heat is different to other cuisines. It causes more of a numbing sensation, rather than the burning heat most people are familiar with. Don't be scared. All this to say: the food is DELICIOUS. The service is fine, if a little slow. Not slow enough to move the chains for me. Five stars.
(5)
Lecheng Z.
This place made me write the very first review on Yelp. As a Sichuan food lover, I've had all authentic Sichuan food in Sichuan, and I have to say, this is the best Sichuan food I've ever had in East coast. The chilled spicy bean jelly salad and dan dan noodle are way beyond my expectation. They just cannot be more delicious. Zhong dumpling is a little different from the authentic, but it's still very good. I can't believe they serve yellow peas and pig feet soup-a very traditional style of soup in Sichuan. It's the best choice to go with after all the spicy food. For the main course, we had double cooked pork, sliced fish in fiery port and smoked duck. They're just awesome! Smoked duck is different from the authentic style, but what else can you demand! You can hardly find a restaurant with all these dishes to be perfect even in Sichuan! I really wish I could try 30 more dishes on their menu. Intestines, duck blood curd, soft tofu, spice chicken salad, pickled veggies and so much more! Forget about ma po tofu and Kung pao chicken, which can be made with sauce easily found in any Chinese supermarket. If you swing by Washington DC area and want to try some Chinese food, don't miss out this place. Otherwise you'll definitely regret.
(5)
Jack L.
I heard this place was good so I decided to take my family there for a nice dinner. I brought my wife and three children there. My youngest son, Daniel, is 8 years old and has Down syndrome, which has been a very difficult cross to bear for my entire family. When we arrived my son Daniel was looked at by the hostess and promptly asked my wife and I if he would be a disturbance during our meal and if he did anything or was too loud we would be kicked out. This was by far the rudest and most offensive thing I have heard in a long while. I asked to see the manager to discuss this awful treatment, the manager told me that the hostess's comments were not a big deal and that I shouldn't be making a fuss about it. The bottom line is Jin River is an awful and rude establishment that does not serve children with Down syndrome!
(1)
AL K.
i must had ordered the wrong stuffs on the menu cause I wasn't feeling the love at all. The menu is divided into chinese and english. It seems to me that there are more selections under the chinese menu compared to the english version. The clientele of this place are mostly mainlanders and locals from the area. They must have noticed something was wrong coz every dish that was taken away had leftovers in it. So one of the servers gave me one of their special dish to take home for free. The steamed dumplings were the worst it was one of those microwavable that you buy in the asian grocery frozen section. The soup had slabs of tofu and served lukewarm. Ugh!! Nonetheless I would not go back again.
(3)
Douglas B.
Very good. Difficult to go wrong it seems. Dumplings, dan dan noodles, peppered fish.
(5)
P O.
At this place we ate some authentic Sichuan food. We had fermented soybean whole fish, onion stir fried pork, and Chengdu spicy chicken. Because our bill exceeds 22 dollars, we received a bowl of sweet rice wine with cubic rice balls for free, which is very good for the dessert. My girlfriend periodically has a craving for oily pork or beef, as she called, You You De Rou Rou, which is very cute for me. So we kept on hunting for authentic Chinese restaurants that make You You De Rou Rou. And Jin River didn't let us down today. The only downside is that the meat soup with sour cabbage is not that good. It's too salty as a soup but maybe some other people like it.
(4)
Donna Y.
We were able to park in the private lot right in front. Upon sitting down we were offered hot tea and ice water. The decor and seating arrangements are old school and kind of dingy. We ordered the spicy tendon to start. It came out as a cold appetizer which was unexpected but it was alright (only if you're into tendon - it's a little too chewy for me). For entree, we ordered the spicy fish stew to share (and believe me, it's big enough to share between two people) and it comes with a side of rice.
(3)
Deena R.
Spicy Eggplant - YUM! but not vegetarian (little bits of sausage in the sauce) Cold Sesame Noodles- good, but not life changing Hot Fresh Pepper with Flounder in Black Bean Sauce - good, but not exciting Egg Drop Soup - order the bowl. eat and repeat. It is $4.50 for 4 cups of yellow-y goodness, with corn! Taro Roll - mildly sweet taro mochi in a deep fried wonton wrapper with sesames, YUM!
(5)
Cathy H.
This place was really hard to find. Why? Because I was searching for Sichuan Pavilion, which was the old name of this establishment. Anyway, I was really excited to try their spicy beef noodle soup because I have a life goal to find the best bowl in the country. Sadly, I still believe Hunan Chinese Gourmet in Fair Oaks Mall serves the best. SJR's version has a very oily (chili oil) broth and that prevented me from drinking it like I usually do once all noodles are eaten. The noodles are chewy and the beef is tender with bits of tendon attached (big plus). I tried their scallion pancake and pork dumplings as well. Their scallion pancake is only $2.95 and probably the highlight of the meal. The pork dumplings had terribly thick skin and were not what was expected. I need to find a place in the DMV that sells delicious xiao long bao (soup-filled dumplings). NYC can't possibly be the only area along the East Coast which offers good XLB. I give this place 3 stars, but may return later to try their dan dan noodles and pork/pickled cabbage soup.
(3)
Anne D.
I ordered the soup dumpling, salted & crispy pork and the minced beef Mao po tofu. I first started with the dumplings and they were delicious, (first time I ever had them) then I tried the tofu which burn the living crap out of my mouth. Killed every sensation and taste I had and everything just went downhill. I couldn't even taste the pork but my boyfriend said it was good. I'm kind of scared to go back.
(3)
Brian J.
I can go anywhere for American style Chinese food, but this is the first place that I've been that reminded me of flavors when I lived in China. We got the following dishes. "Zhong" Dumplings 钟水饺 - Dumplings in a sweet and spicy sauce. The sauce was well flavored, but the dumpling meat was too dry. This is the same sauce that should be on Dan Dan Noodles, so those would likely be a success as well. Flounder with Pickled Vegetables d泡èœé±¼ç‰‡ - This was the best dish. A soup that was a great mix of sour and spicy flavors. This dish had generous portions of fish and glass noodles. Stir Fried Stringbeans with "Ya-Cai" 干煸四å£è±† - A disappointment. It didn't taste that bad, it just didn't have the right flavor. It lacked both the peppers or the prickly ash seasoning that accompany these dishes (prickly ash is a spice in Chinese dishes that causes a numbing sensation in your mouth) Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken æˆéƒ½è¾£å鸡- This dish had some good heat. The flavor wasn't that complex, but it was hot. The chicken was a little on the dry side. [b]Crispy Rice Seafood [/b] - I forgot the name of this one. More of a show than anything. I didn't care for this dish when I lived in China nor do I here. It is a satisfying dish, but really it was inferior to the other fish dish. One fish too many. I would recommend this place if you're looking for more authentic Chinese food experience.
(4)
Harmony E.
Dined there once and definitely would not go back. The food was pretty average. The service and cleanness were both below average.
(2)
Chris B.
This place was great. We started with Dan Dan noodles and fried pork dumplings. The dumplings were meaty and tasty and the noodles were tremendous. Our entrees were moo shoo pork and combination fried rice. I highly recommend.
(4)
Norry H.
This is probably one of the two best Sichuanese restaurants in Rockville to me. Another one is Joe's Noodle House. What I particularly liked at Sichuan Pavilion are, 1. Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup 2. Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef 3. Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken (lunch special). I only wish the restaurant were located closer to where I live or work.
(4)
Mel C.
If you speak Chinese or look like you do, they will offer you a secret deal to pay cash without tax. I don't believe this is legit and once you hesitate the waitress turns extremely cold. The food is heavenly good but I am not going to sell my soul over a good meal.
(1)
Hyun M.
Alright, I don't mind a great restaurant that has some semblance of customer service. That is not what you will get at the Sichuan Pavillion. I like a few others, was very excited about going here because of so many recommendations. I will say if you are not Chinese, do know what you are going to order. I ordered General Tso's Chicken for my 11year-old son and ordered Kung Pao Chicken for myself. Service was poor and the booths shook as people leaned into them, which is disconcerting. His came out almost immediately and mine came out a few minutes later. The General Tso's was good, not the very best. The Kung Pao was greasy and had no flavor other than hot. It did not have brown sauce. Instead it was swimming in oil. Despite my complaints about the Kung Pao, they did not offer me something else more satisfactory. I didn't eat the chicken and found the servers and manager to be rather unsympathetic about the situation.
(2)
Michael J.
I came here last night with a party of eleven Chinese friends. The restaurant was PACKED with people. A lot of families too, so they took up the larger sized tables. We waited for about 30-40 minutes before a large group table opened up. The food was amazing and the portions were pretty large. We definitely over-ordered and as we got around 10 dishes. The taste is pretty authentic as the spicy dishes really deliver the punch. They also serve really good Shanghai food since the owners are Shanghainese. The treat at the end is their . For those who lust after authentic Sichuan and Shanghainese cuisine, this is the place to be. Expect long waits for dinner as this place is super popular with the locals.
(4)
Peter G.
I love the spicy fish filet and beef. The steamed bums are tasty. Very friendly staff. This is one of the best Chinese restaurant in DC area.
(5)
Cameron B.
Like a spicy polished Jade gem, this hidden treasure in Rockville is the real deal and quite the steal. No frills decor means these people care about the food and not their looks! The majority language spoken by the patrons is NOT English, so you know you are on the right path. If you don't like your food to cause a runny nose, then there's still time to turn back, but once you're seated you are met with an extensive menu that is true to the rural Chinese roots of Sichuan style cooking! Everything from duck feet, to a meat dish named after a great General, there is everything right with the choices, all of which have at least one hot pepper symbol next to them!! I went with a group of 4 growassmen and we came in hungry. Opting to order one dish each the waitress asked us if we were sure???? I didn't realize until they dropped off the egg drop soup in a witches caldron that maybe we'd gone to far! Traditional Sichuan chicken was amazing and spiced just right while the diced pork with soft tofu was wonderfully runny and mild. The fried chili tofu had a kick that caused us to refill the free tea pot and the mushroom and beef dish was on point! We left in wheel barrels we were so full, and at $18 each WITH left overs....Jackpot!! Sichuan Jin River is the real deal and brings honor to the humble town of Rock-thrill!! Warning....this food burns twice! It's the gift that just keeps giving....if you know what I mean!!
(4)
Irene F.
I cannot believe how busy this place was on a Wednesday at 1 PM!! It was packed like it was a weekend with Chinese people! Luckily we got seated right away- for a table of 6. We ordered the following items: (I think) Spicy Chicken Gizzards $4.50 These were delicious. I'd never had gizzards before, to be honest, it tasted a bit like chewy beef chunks. It was a lot of gizzards for 6 people! Preserved Thousand Year Egg & Peppers w/ Sour & Spicy Sauce $9 I was surprised that this dish was actually sweet. Everyone at the table enjoyed it- but it was probrably my least favorite dish. Spicy Dan Dan noodles. I think I would come here JUST to eat these. They were MA (numbing) and LA (Spicy). Sweet and Spicy Garlic Eggplant. I don't generally like eggplant but this dish was tasty. It came with a LOT of sauce, so being completely Asian I took all the sauces home to cook them up with my own meat and veggies! There was enough for several new dishes...:p Whole Fish. The flavor was good, the sauce phenomenal- but the fish itself was not particularly meaty. More bones and sauce than meat. There was one last dish that was something like paper thing slices of roasted pork and tripe or something. That was also good, but there was an overwhelming amount of spring onions in the dish, which I didn't care for. Overall, although some of my friends thought the dishes were incredibly spicy, I felt like they were the perfect amount. I could still taste the flavor of the food and there was a good burn too. There are so many dishes on the menu, I feel like I have barely tasted the tip of the iceburg. I will definitely be coming back to get my burn on with some Dan Dan and a new array of dishes!!
(4)
Annie K.
This place is called "Sichuan Pavilion," but the sign outside says Sichuan Jin River. Regardless, it was one of the best authentic SIchuan places that I've been to! It's definitely a gem in this area. The menu consists one of side in English, and the other side in Chinese. There's a variety of different dishes that you can choose from. We came in a group of 4 for lunch on Saturday and it was busy, but we only waited a few minutes to be sat. We ordered the fried pork dumplings, fried scallion pancake, cucumber salad, shredded pork ear, chicken and corn soup, kung pao beef, fish in spicy broth, fried pork chops, and the dan dan noodles. Each dish was tasty and flavorful, minus the chicken and corn soup, which we sent back. My personal favorites was the fried pork dumplings, cucumber salad, shredded pork ear, and the dan dan noodles. The portions are huge, and everything is also reasonably priced. With all of the dishes we ordered plus 2 sodas, our total was only $79! We had plenty of food to bring back home as well. This is definitely one of my new top favorite restaurants in the area!
(5)
Mark W.
This restaurant was fantastic about a year ago. Since that time quality has dropped severely. The food is now oily and the people who run the place are money grubbers. The last time I went I paid cash, the women counted my money in front of me. She also mentioned that they would offer a "cash discount" if I pay in cash. In other words they are trying to avoid paying tax and reporting income to the government. If they are this sketchy, I can only imagine the "games" they play with my food. I'm not going back.
(1)
Will H.
Went here last Saturday for dinner. First (and last) time eating here. We called and made a reservation just in case, since we had no idea about how big the place was and how busy it got. Good thing, cause it was absolutely swamped ~30-45 minutes after we arrived, and we were early. Here's what we ordered (in order of presentation): - Dan Dan noodles - pork buns filled with chicken broth (this confused me cause there was no broth inside) - Ma Po tofu with Beef - Chengdu Spicy Chicken Review: (note: I asked them to make all of our food sans-MSG, but was told that the pork buns and dan dan noodles are made with pre-made, MSG-abundant sauces). None the wiser, I proceeded with the order, thinking that MSG is not something I'm unfamiliar with. The Dan-dan noodles came out first. The first bite or two was very good, but once the mega-MSG doses kicked in, I couldn't taste anything else. I've had plenty of MSG in one sitting before - ramen, Pho, other various asian restaurants, etc. Never have I experienced the side effects as I did on this day. Tingly/numb tongue, altered taste perception. It feels like when your foot falls asleep...but it's your tongue. I tried drowning it out with water, but the water tasted sour to me. Since this was the first thing to come out, I'm unsure how reliable my review can be of subsequent dishes. I waited until the MSG effect wore off a bit, before trying the pork buns. They were pretty tasty anyway and seemed to have a lot less MSG than the dan dan noodles. Good quantity of filling and decent taste. The chengdu spicy chicken was damn spicy, which is awesome, but again, I couldn't really taste much because of the whole numb-tongue thing. The mapo tofu was kind of disappointing, but at this juncture, I was already looking for the check. Next time I want good mapo tofu, I'll go to China Bistro. Bottom line: Don't ever get the dan-dan noodles. Also, to be fair, I'm sure there are some good entrees/dishes at this joint that we didn't order, but I'm not curious enough to go back and discover them. Also, one of the workers there with a mohawk was being a little diva. He needed a nap.
(1)
Rob N.
Awful service. very unfriendly and rude staff. They have no respect for their customers. food is good, but their customer service ruins the food.
(1)
Joanna C.
My parents are always on a quest for good, authentic Chinese food and two years ago, they discovered this gem and haven't stopped going (and taking me there every time I come home). With great prices, lots of spicy (and non-spicy) dishes, and decent service, Sichuan Jin River has yet to disappoint. I think this is definitely a restaurant for people who are looking for authentic Chinese food, so if you're more of a general tso's chicken or orange chicken kind of person (no worries if you are!), I wouldn't recommend it. Personally, I love the mapo tofu, eggplant in garlic sauce, beef with green peppers, and flounder with shepard's purse. My mom loves the seafood combination with crispy rice cake, though I could've used a little more flavor. I'm not a huge fan of the small plates, just because there are so many yummier things there and you can get the small plates everywhere. There's really no better authentic place for miles around, so if you want good Chinese food (especially spicy Chinese food), be sure to check Sichuan Jin River out!
(5)
Sina E.
I really can't believe a place this good exists in my backyard in Rockville. It's a little hidden behind the Town Center, and the Fire station, but food this good in Rockville can't hide forever. The menu here is vast, and every dish offers unique flavors and kicks with spices. I love spicy food, and there are many choices when it comes to spicy food here. A few of the dishes I sampled: Steamed dumpling in chicken broth - flavorful and pretty good; it's definitely not the best I've had, but still solid. Smoked Duck (entree) - Tender, flavorful, crunchy skin on the outside, salty, and comes with buns that are a little sweet that balances the saltiness nicely. Flounder and Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup - Holy hotness; the flavors really kick in. I love flounders, and it's a nice combo with the tofu. The spicy soup it comes in is very spicy, and has a bright red texture to it. This dish is literally enough for two people at least. "Mapo" tofu with minced beef - Another spicy dish; the tofu and minced beef work well together, and the flavors really come together. You can't go wrong picking this dish either. General Guan Chicken - Small pieces of chicken, seasoned and spiced that will numb your mouth. This dish was also large and could easily be eaten by two people. Overall, all the portions are large here, and you really get the bang for your buck, plus spicy authentic chinese food; highly recommend this place, and will be back for more authentic dishes.
(5)
Sasha W.
This is an authentic chinese restaurant that my family had visited the most frequently in the past. The food is delicious and you can basically never go wrong. The portion size is great so you are guaranteed plenty of left overs! One of our favorite dish is the fried duck that combs with white flour buns that you can tuck them into and also put sweet sauce on. However, I have noticed that as this restaurant became increasingly popular, the quality of its dishes has became a bit less consistent. Nevertheless still very yummy! worth a visit
(4)
Howard C.
This place is one of the better Szechuan restaurants I've been to. And I've been to hundreds of Szechuan restaurants all over the US, including NYC, LA, Houston, Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, etc etc. I recommend any dish with whole live fish, and they have a chili pepper with century old egg dish which is phenomenal. This hole in the wall also has excellent service, all the tea you can drink and abundant amounts of rice. It's located in the back of a shopping center so it's a bit harder to find but it is definitely worth looking for.
(4)
Sheng Z.
This place is so good. I might even go as far as to say that it is some of the best authentic Chinese (more specifically Sichuan) food I have had in the DC/MD/VA region. The portions are HUGE and the prices are very reasonable. I came here with my extended family and we ordered off the authentic Chinese menu and was exceptionally satisfied. They have this amazing Tea Duck and their tripe is fantastic. If I lived in Rockville, I would definitely come here ever week. This is a definite must try
(5)
S S.
Their food is pretty good! And despite the meh looking outside, the inside furnishings are pretty good. Most Asian restuarants look kind of blah inside, but the food tends to be good. This place has both! Though I'd stay away from their fried string beans dish. It is really not made the way it should, and the beans do not taste so fresh. Instead, go for any of the other dishes -- I've tried quite a few and they are all great. I recommend the Mapo Tofu, the seafood stew/soup, the scallion pancakes, and salt and pepper shrimp. Another dish to be aware of is the eggplant dishes. They have sweet and sour eggplant. But it is not eggplant in sweet and sour sauce. It is deep fried balls of eggplant in dough, with some sweet and sour dipping sauce on the side. If you like deep fried, this may be for you. But I do not like deep fried things, so will not be ordering that again.
(4)
Christopher D.
5 Star for: *Being one of the most authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurants I've had since my return from China. *Having both an "Authentic Chinese" and "American Chinese" menu to please both sorts of diners. Get the 'Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup' if you're up for an utmost delicious and spicy dish with a numbing twist of fresh 'Flower Pepper' that will leave your tongue completely numb. The mixed Sichuan pickled vegetables were good yet nothing special. Highly recommended if you're in DC.
(5)
Jenn H.
I don't know what the hype about this place is, guys. We got the dan dan noodles (as highlighted), the hong you chao shou (wontons in red chili oil), and the niu rou mian (beef noodle soup). We also ordered scallion pancakes, but never got it (more on that later). We were there at an odd time of day (maybe 2pm or so), but there were still a fair number of tables filled. I was excited to try this place, I'd heard so much about it! We were seated, and we placed our order...then I noticed that my plate was cracked, and wasn't washed well (there were some stains on the front, and a piece of rice stuck to it). Hm. The wontons came really quickly--they were fine, a little overcooked (soggy skins), oily without being all that spicy...but nothing to write home about. They took their sweet time getting the other two entrees to us. When we finally got it, my dan dan mian was again oily, without much kick (c'mon, you're a sichuan place--excite me!!!), and very, very plain. I like the one at Michael's noodle house better (its a bit of a different style, but a lot more flavorful without all the grease). The beef noodle soup had crappy noodles, crappy soup, and tough meat. Not ordering that again. Service was not friendly, but polite enough...nothing to report there. Meanwhile, as we were getting more and more disillusioned with each bite, the waitstaff had totally forgotten about our scallion pancakes. Oh, except that they put it on our bill. Psych! They took it off our bill, we paid, and left--I think every place deserves two tries (unless you make me physically ill), but I'm in no rush to try this place again anytime soon.
(2)
Fenny L.
In the interest of full disclosure...the chef of this place is the father of the driver who used to deliver flowers for my parents' florist. Who is actually a pretty cool guy (the driver...I don't know the dad). And my dad knows most of the servers...because, well, he knows practically all the Chinese in the area...but that didn't mean we got preferential treatment. In fact, my dad went out of his way to ask that our server not let the staff know that he was there, because he likes to dine incognito (also because my dad is horrible with names, so while everyone is greeting him, he really can't remember anyone else's name). Anyhoo... We've come to Sichuan Pavilion several times, and each time, it's been pretty busy...and if you're a fan of spicy...you'll soon understand why. This restaurant is hidden across the street from the Rockville Town Center, in a dark and aging strip mall, and hidden around the back corner. Yet, even with all this - it's a popular hot spot for Chinese who are fans of Sichuan style food. What is Sichuan style you ask? To put it simply, it's spicy spicy spicy. Chilis, garlic and mouth-numbing green and black peppercorns feature heavily in Sichuan style cuisine. Joe's Noodle House, up the Pike is a popular and pretty authentic Sichuan restaurant. And yet...somehow...Sichuan Pavilion out spices Joe's by a mile. For example, on our most recent visit, my husband, who is a huge fan of Ma Po Tofu (soft tofu cooked in a spicy red chili and peppercorn sauce) asked my dad to order some for him. And if at all possible, to make it extra spicy. When my dad relayed the order, the server's mouth dropped open and asked for confirmation. When my husband eagerly nodded "yes yes!", she shook her head and headed for the kitchen. Moments later, the Ma Po Tofu came out...and proceeded to be so spicy that my husband had sweat dripping off his EARS before he finished his second bite. DELICIOUS! The Spicy Beef with Cabbage was actually MORE delicious then the version at Joe's...and I'm a *huge* fan of Joe's version, but Sichuan's version is more tender, and while at the same time more spicy then Joe's, it's also more flavorful with more layers of flavor and complexity. Yum! Another family favorite here is the "Saliva Chicken" (yeah, no idea what it is in English)...and no, the chicken isn't made from saliva...it's just so spicy and just so tasty that it makes your mouth water when you eat it! SUPER YUM! Clearly, this is one of my new favorite restaurants. I am a huge fan of spicy and Sichuan delivers. Just know that if I get there and I need to wait because the place is packed...and you're there because you read this review...I may have to cut you. And steal your food. Because they really are just that tasty!
(5)
M H.
Greasy food that tastes quite mediocre. This place was recommended by quite a few locals. There are better places for Chinese food just a few miles down the road. Service: any place I have to make a special request for water and napkins gets a "does not meet" in my book. As we were paying for our check, the waitress said we'll get a special discount if we pay by cash vs. credit card. $3. Not saying that's a bad thing. Overall, wouldn't repeat.
(2)
Guada L.
Big portions, delicious food. I cried the first time I ate here, it was that good. Catfish fillet with peppercorn is amazing. Some dishes are better than others, but never something I didn't like. Waiters are the best.
(5)
James J.
We were traveling for work and arrived to town a little after dark. We wanted to get some good Asian food. We found a place nearby that had received some very good online reviews but we couldn't figure out how to get to there due to some local construction. We happened upon the Sichuan Jin River restaurant as we were making one of our many u-turns. "Let's give this place a try" she said. "They are busy so it must be good" I said. We noticed right away that it was very dirty; silverware, table, chairs, walls, etc. I went to use the men's room and it was in shambles, dirty and needed some serious attention. Our server came over and her phone rang in the middle of taking our order and the waitress actually answered her phone right in front of us. After that she apologized, she took our appetizer order. We got steamed dumplings and a couple of beers. When our dumplings arrived they gave us the dipping sauce tray. It was disgusting and dirty. There was something floating in every single sauce. We were very hungry so we ate the dumplings, skipping the sauces and praying that they did not make us sick. The people that were in there eating were all Asian. I figured that what ever part of their country they originally came from must not be too big on cleanliness because they all seemed thrilled. They have a lot of very gross stuff on the menu too like feet,and intestine, etc. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone, unless you are trying to get sick, or like to eat feet and butthole.
(1)
Delaware F.
Had braised short ribs with taro, combo seafood with rice cakes, and string beans. I think they may have taken a look at us and made a "white people spicy" note because everything was pretty mild. Too mild in fact. I am, I'm a little embarrassed to say, kind of soft when it comes to spicy food. But Szechuan food needs a little kick, and the mildness made this food a little bland. The string beans were a fine example of crispy Szechuan string beans, albeit (again) a little mild. The short ribs were tender and the broth flavorful. The seafood did contain a large quantity of seafood (shrimp, other shellfish, flounder) but the quality was not great. The seafood tasted like it has been frozen a while and generally just not high quality. The sauce for the seafood was a little heavy on the cornstarch and tasted quite strongly of what I think was oyster sauce. The rice cakes were new to us, kind of like a savory rice crispy treat. I think we will come back, but we might stick to items that come out of a wok. We'll have to think of some way of conveying that we're comfortable with some spiciness. I am reminded of an LA food critic who went to a lot of divey Thai places. He had a note printed (in Thai) that said something like "please serve me food at the same level of spiciness you would serve a Thai person".
(4)
Douglas K.
This place is excellent. Service: They are constantly coming by to check and make sure everything is good. Just say a friendly Ni Hao when you walk in. Food; AMAZING. They have an American style Chinese food and an authentic section in their menu. It is great because there is a big difference. I am more a fan of the authentic and they really do it justice. I ordered the Kung pao chicken and friends of mine ordered the Mushu Chicken, Spring Rolls and fried eggplant. I would gladly recommend this place to everyone I know who enjoys really good Chinese food and not usually what you get from a delivery place.
(5)
Janice V.
I love this place. I swear I have been here like 10 times, my chinese family, friends, all love eating here. Parking is easy, the service is fast, and the food comes out hot and quick. Dont order the american chinese food, well i never have them, but I would go for more traditional sichuan dishes (spicy ones preferably). I like everything from the "Zhong" Dumplings with Hot Sauce, Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood, Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger & Scallions, Fried Scallion Pan Cake, Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce, Stir Fried Minced Chicken with "ya-cai", Braised Short Ribs with Baby Taro, Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup, for dessert: Crispy Sweet Taro Rolls, Red Bean Paste with Mashed Taro Wrap, and Eight Treasure & Sticky Rice with Rose Flavor. Yummy stuff.
(5)
SY Y.
We came here on a Thursday night and was surprised to see how crowded the place was. This is not a restaurant for those who can't take spicy food. When they say spicy, they mean spicy! Not the general chao's "spicy." We had the catfish fillet with peppercorn, mapo tofu, ground chicken with buns, and dan dan noodles. We loved the ground chicken that came with about four or five buns. The catfish and mapo tofu were way too oily. This coming from someone who is unfazes by the oil-soaked bag of Five Guys' fries.
(3)
A.R. P.
As I write this review, Sichuan Pavilion sits atop Tyler Cowen's Top Five List (on his Ethnic Dining Guide). Quite frankly, this lofty distinction is well deserved. Sichuan Pavilion boldly excels at "ma la" dishes (featuring spicy chilis and numbing Sichuan peppercorns) as well as other Sichuan specialties. One of the first dishes that I tried (and, which is an exemplar of their ma la dishes) is their fish in fiery broth (which they have since renamed, "flounder in fiery soup"). This dish, arguably, is their signature dish. Their rendition of this Sichuan classic is nearly flawless. The pillowy filets float in a magnificent broth made from broad bean paste and spicy chillis (and, which features a few eye-catching drupes of green peppercorns in the broth). The base vegetable consists of happy, snappy bean sprouts that hold their own amidst the inferno that surrounds them. The heat is very pronounced; but, there is a real depth of flavor in the oily, incendiary broth as well. At some places, this dish features more of a "sauce," of varying thickness and color, rather than a bold broth; but, here, it is done right. The double cooked pork is out-of-this-world good. I love the pork in this dish (which is a Chinese style bacon). It is sliced and stir fried with leeks and shards of crispy bread (kind of like crispy pita pieces). The interplay of the savory meat and the crispy fried bread is what good eating is all about. Most places do not include fried, crispy bread in their double cooked pork; but, the inclusion of it (the truly unorthodox and unexpected inclusion of it) makes this dish shine. The braised short ribs with baby taro (which feature pork ribs despite the suggestion of beef) is succulent and hearty. It is essentially a stew with large pieces of pork spareribs that have been braised in a spicy liquid (mild compared to their ma la dishes) and served up with seductive, tender lumps of baby taro that are melt-in-the-mouth good. The shredded beef with hot fresh peppers packs a kick and features tender strands of beef with a harvest of long, hot, green peppers that have been cut into delicate slivers. The spicy warmth and the earthy taste of the hot peppers make this a terrific dish too. The pan fried dumplings, which are full and plump, are slightly crispy and forgivingly pliable on the outside and have a dough of appropriate thickness and texture. On the whole, they are hearty, meaty, and almost a meal unto themselves. The spicy beef noodle soup is served in a generous bowl and offers a pile of fresh noodles that are thick and fresh (suggesting a hand-made quality) and a broth that zips with spice. The accompanying cubes and lumps of beef are tender, meaty, and satisfying. Certainly, there are few versions of this dish around the DC area that rival it. The dishes here, however, that are not hot and spicy and that lean away from the Sichuanese spectrum tend not to excel and reach the same glorious heights. For example, one day, I dined here with a large group of friends. I wanted them to come here so badly to taste what I considered some of the best Chinese food anywhere in the metropolitan area. However, I failed to realize (from lack of questioning) that none of them (amazingly) eat spicy food! So, at the last minute, I had to order non-spicy items. I was so disheartened because, with our avoiding the spicy foods here, we might as well have gone somewhere else--like a Cantonese restaurant or a pizzeria. We ordered the pork and crispy rice cakes in sweet and sour sauce. This dish actually had been highly touted on online postings (such as Chowhound and yelp); and, I had come here thinking I might order it (if I needed a default item). As it turned out, I did. But, wow...was I disappointed! The pork was bland and down right unappetizing; the sauce was shockingly gloppy and overly sweet like a bad sauce that one would encounter in a second-rate takeout place. The rice cakes were nondescript and suffered from sitting under the dampness of the sauce. They became soggy very quickly. In the end, nobody enjoyed this dish. It was totally dismissed. The much touted tea smoked duck was extremely underwhelming as well. The duck, which was not served whole (for example, in a complete pile of carved splendor), was, rather, hacked up randomly into little pieces (with shards of bone and indistinguishable pieces of skin jabbing out at odd angles). The meat itself was barely warm and tasted like re-heated leftovers. Additionally, stuffing the meat into a mantou (a bulky rice flour bun) with hoisin sauce, which constitutes traditional presentation, only hid and obscured the duck. In the end, you want to be transported vicariously to Chengdu. However, make sure to order well; or, else, rather than ending up there, you might find yourself in a strip mall in Peoria.
(4)
Weimew Y.
The same menu has two sections (opened from the opposite covers): American Chinese and Authentic Chinese. Of course I always go for Authentic Chinese. Personal favorites include soup with pork tribe and pickled vegetables, and mixed vegetables on crispy rice. If you pay cash, you receive 6%-10% discount; ask staff for explanation.
(4)
Richard C.
Crazy delicious. I've been here loyally & can't even start naming all the awesome dishes, every one I try is just a hit. The taste, spiciness & overall awesomeness are mind-blowing. This review is short because it's mostly about urging you to go taste what is memorable Sichuan food.
(5)
Sathish P.
Awesome authentic Chinese food. Best bet is Order the following: Short Ribs with baby Taro Cumin beef One of their fish dishes with fried rice cakes. The thing i don't like is every time i am there i have to ask for water. I don't know why its not a normal thing to give water to every customer. And when you pay the bill, right next to the cashier they have bowl full of chocolates. Those chocolates are really good. Just take one they are complimentary.
(5)
Philip T.
Hooray for the wide variety authentic Chinese restaurants in the DC area! Sichuan Pavilion is very good place to find tasty, authentic Sichuan Chinese cuisine in Montgomery County. It's located right across from Rockville Town Center where the old Taste of Saigon was located for many years before relocating across the street. From the outside, this unassuming restaurant would go completely unnoticed, eclipsed by the condos and sparkling restaurant row it faces, but for those who venture over they are in for a unique and delicious dining experience. The menu is divided into two sections, an authentic Chinese side and an American Chinese side. Each side has a wide array of dishes from appetizers to sweet dessert soups and cater to a wide variety of tastes. I've long been a proponent for people who haven't tried authentic Chinese cooking to venture out of their comfort zone and try something they wouldn't normally order, and this a good place to do this. For an appetizer I recommend the spicy chicken salad, sliced chicken breast and leg in a Sichuan chili and soy based sauce that's loaded with flavour and is sure to get your appetite going. Be sure to order the Xiaolongbao or steamed pork buns with chicken broth; they're steamed fresh with a thin shell encasing tender pork and plenty of rich savory soup. Another good choice is the Sichuan tofu, silken tofu with a spicy sauce made with tongue tingling Sichuan peppercorns that goes perfectly with steamed rice. A final recommendation would be the shredded beef with fresh hot peppers. It should be noted that while the restaurant specializes in spicy Sichuan cuisine, there are plenty of very good non-spicy dishes to choose from. The expansive menu always impresses and in the dozens of times I've eaten here, I've yet to come across something I haven't been willing to try again.
(4)
Eric C.
twice cooked pork and their basil chicken dish thing were amazing. their dan dan mien is super stellar! makes your tongue go numb which is quite the experience! they have this hot pot thing on the cover of their menu and sometimes they will recommend it but don't get it cause it tastes like an old closet.
(4)
Zara K.
not consistant...i had their hot pot chicken with my in laws and it was soo good. they made it spicy, chicken was sooo flavourful and tender i was surprised, because i havent had a single bite of chicken that hasnt been awful ever since iv come to america.....(i know thats harsh im sorry) next time i had it, it was so average however!!! i do love their spicy fish in peppercorns and nothing can change that! even then its not always great....and recently i tried their duck and i LOVE IT. iv been looking for duck for so long! its breaded and fried and reallyyyyy tassty! it comes with buns and a plum sauce"(hoisin sauce) i do wish they gave more lettuce or some cucumbers!
(4)
Kat F.
This place is pretty authentic when it comes to Chinese dinners. Whenever I come here, I usually get the Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger and Scallions (absolute FAV, though it is $17). The fish is always fresh and huge! I highly recommend trying it out, if price isn't too much of an issue.
(4)
Steph L.
Wait, what? Sichuan Jin River? When did this happen? Anyway, food is fantastic! I dare say it is the best Chinese food in the DC metro area. I wish it wasn't so far (pretty much everything north of Bethesda is considered far by me), but because it's not as easily accessible, I go on special occasions and really make a trip out of it. It's truly worth it. I think enough people have talked about what's great and what you must order, so no need to repeat. Just order, and order a lot. Last time the boy and I went, we were sat at a 2-top, but after the lady took our order, she muttered, "your table's not going to fit all the dishes," and switched us to a 6-top! Ha, we were rather proud of ourselves. That's how you SHOULD order at Chinese restaurants! Always order too much food and take leftovers home!
(5)
Andrea R.
Meh. Definitely more authentic than most Chinese restaurants in this area but a lot of improvement is needed to make this place worth more stars in my book. The restaurant itself was not terribly clean and there was a lot of clutter everywhere (boxes sitting around, tables in random places, etc). The food was fairly bland, particularly the fried tofu with vegetables. The sweet & sour eggplant was marginally better. Appetizers didn't taste fresh.
(2)
Garvin C.
I've been going to other chinese restaurants in Rockville for a while, so we thought it was about time to try this place. My wife and I were really excited b/c we really enjoy Sichuan cuisine. We ordered four items: wontons with hot sauce, green onion pancakes, bamboo shoots with beef, and sichuan soft tofu. The wontons were really great. After mixing the wontons with the spicy sauce and letting it steep for a little while, the taste was just amazing. Next time i tink I need to order 2 of those! The green onion pancake was good, but i prefer a little more crispy to soft ratio. The bamboo shoots with beef had good taste, but i felt that I've had better versions of this dish elsewhere. It was good, but just missing a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. The sichuan soft tofu was probably our least favorite item, but even that we nearly polished off. The prices weren't bad considering how much food you get. The menu also showed lunch specials on weekdays (they have american chinese as well as authentic chinese items for this), which seemed pretty reasonable priced. The restaurant was very clean and the staff was friendly. I would definitely come back. There are so many more items to try!
(4)
Will L.
I really don't get the hype. This place is nowhere near top 5 Chinese in the DC area. For Sichuan, it's not spicy enough at all, and everything is over salted. I was really hungry and with a party of six we tried the xiao long bao, kung pao chicken, ma po tofu and green scallion pancakes amongst other dishes. General consensus of all eaters was: disappointing, and I had to be persuaded to even bring home the large amount of leftovers. The only thing they have going for them is that they do have a large authentic menu, and it's not expensive for the portion sizes. Unfortunately they can't execute. The service was pretty good though for a Chinese place. -1 star for serious morning after digestive issues... throwing out leftovers shortly.
(1)
Lin H.
I don't write many reviews but felt the need to after reading some ignorant comments about the "MSG" used in this food that caused mouths to feel "numb" and "tingly." After laughing my ass off, I wanted to tell this restaurant to just put a sign on the door that reads....this is SICHUAN food, not Panda Express. Authentic Sichuan/Szechuan food is known for their spicy, mouth numbing, oily food. THAT IS WHAT THIS RESTAURANT IS ABOUT. They don't claim to be anything else. It is in the name!!! This tingly feeling in the mouth - it is intentional. They use a Sichuan peppercorn that causes this. The few times I ate here, it was always very good and comparable to restaurants in China (lived there for 2.5 years). So please...before you go to a restaurant and write a review...perhaps do some research on what you are eating. While I don't doubt that they use MSG, this is what Sichuan food tastes like.
(4)
Ferdinand H.
4.5 stars. Having wandered the earth looking for more peers to Peter Chang's sichuanese interpretation, I've now found myself unable to settle for anything less than authentic peppercorns. After finishing a lunch/dinner at Bob's Noodle House, I sauntered over, already quite full, for a second dinner at Sichuan Pavilion. My brother had bought my parents to this little gem, all of which attested to genuine "numbness" of the tongue. Being already full, I had no choice but to order the tasting standards. For me, that meant dan dan mian and mapo tofu. The more sane members of the group got dessert (sesame tangyuan in fermenting rice -- which was also yum!) I ate only about a 3rd of each order. It was, however enough for me to conclude that a return trip was coming in the near future. Next time, with much more expansive order sets. Numbing, tasty and authentic. And not that expensive. What's keeping it from a 5? Delicacy. The flavours are wonderful, and it's consummate family style. It needs a tiny bit more subtlety for me to reach a 5. Subtle spicy food? Yes, it exists. Still, this place is great! If you want an explanation of the chinese title... zdic.net/cy/ch/ZdicE5Zdi… Basically, it's a phrase describing the scenery and natural beauty of Sichuan.
(4)
Maggie F.
i'm really between a 3.5-4 but I have to admit, I don't hate this place. I have really LOW expectations of MD Chinese food, because it's simply just dreadful for the most part (which is interesting, since we have such a high Chinese population in Rockville). Though this is a Sichuan restaurant, it's owned by Shanghainese people--and knowing that I deepened my initial skepticism. But this place turned out to be ok. Food is a little more on the oily side and a little more on the salty side. In terms of spicy, I personally don't think its much... but that's just me. Otherwise, the food isnt dreadful and I wouldn't mind coming here on a casual day.
(4)
David S.
Summary: excellent authentic Chinese Sichuan style dishes, bad location, and informal service. Sichuan Jin River doesn't have the best of location. You can't really see the restaurant from either Hungerford Drive or N. Washington Street. This restaurant is hidden away in a small shopping center behind an old office building. We saw this place when we visited Bob's Noddle 66. We decided to give this place a try after we read all the nice reviews on Yelp. Despite the terrible location, this place was packed during lunch. We showed up at 1:00 pm and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. It's a small restaurant with very tight space and hardly any decor. Most of the customers at this place were primarily Asian on the day of our visit. We sampled several spicy dishes from the Chinese style menu during our visit. We really appreciated the authenticity of the preparation, and if you like spicy food, you will like this place too. For starters, we had chilled spicy bean jelly Salad (Liangfen). At our servers' recommendation, we order #9 instead of #10 because we didn't want it to be too spicy that we couldn't finish the rest of our lunch. We thought the beef tendon and tripe with spicy sauce ($10.25) was good compared to that in other restaurants in terms of portion and taste. The beef tripe soup with sour pickled cabbage was rustic and delicious. The Cured Pork and Sausage with Garlic was so good that it reminded me the stuff my grandfather used to make. I didn't like the cumin beef too much because the beef was fried and a little bit dry. We enjoyed the non-spicy dishes, too. We thought the Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth was good, but expect 30 minutes wait time if you decide to order it. We didn't really get to enjoy the pork buns till half way into our meal. The other non-spicy dishes we enjoyed were shredded pork with bamboo Shoot and sliced pork with lotus roots.
(4)
Nuoc M.
Okay last update for this place. Got food from here three times, each time posted the experience on Yelp. And find one of the issues with this place. The issue is that they're not consistent with the spiciness in their food. The third time coming here we had a mix of things that we got the first two times. This time around some of the dishes that were not spicy the first time around had a nice kick to it. Then the dishes that were spicy the second time that we got here weren't really spicy, and we had multiple people ask if someone requested it to not be spicy. So that's the only knock for the place that I have. The food was still good and I'm still a fan of this place.
(4)
Jeanne C.
Really solid beef tripe/tendon in spicy sauce, spicy dan dan noodles, and spicy fish. The place gets so crowded - be prepared to wait for a table. The tripe and noodles came out within 5-10 minutes. The fish took the longest, but let me tell you, it was a lot of fish. My mouth was on fire. It's really nice to have a great Sichuan restaurant in the burbs of MD.
(4)
Derrick P.
This place is probably one of the most authentic restaurants I've been to outside of Sichuan China. Great "dan dan" spicy noodles - almost the same as the real thing at the hole in the wall restaurants in Chengdu. You also can't go wrong with the mapo bean curd and the flounder in the chili soup. Also, since the owner is from Shanghai, they serve some very good Shanghai style dishes here - fresh and slightly sweet sauces. Flounder with white sauce is a good example of this. If I'm in the mood for Sichuan style food, this is the place to be, and one of the best I've been to outside of China. The actual restaurant atmosphere also feels like you're at a nice restaurant in China. Whether you like authentic Chinese food or just good quality dishes, you simply can't go wrong with this place!
(4)
Nicola M.
A bigger group of us stopped here on the way back from a hike in Harper's Ferry and SO glad we did. It's honestly some of the best Chinese I've had, although I'm not really an expert. We got fried and steamed dumplings and pork buns; all delicious. I ordered the chicken chow fun, which had perfectly cooked tender noodles and an excellent flavor (not too salty nor too oily). The BF got the Szechuan chicken which was DELICIOUS- and very spicy. Everything we had at the table was great, and the service, although not overly friendly, was very prompt. We must have got in at a good time because we were sat as a table of 7 immediately; but shortly after we arrived all the tables became occupied. If this were closer to me, I'd be going back often!
(5)
Joe R.
First of all, this is not a place to go if you're dressed up or you're on a date night. The restaurant itself is basically a big mess with cartons and boxes all around and on top of coolers, chairs lined up in rows, and a dirty bathroom. The bathroom is so filthy that they spray an obnoxious perfume that will actually make you cough while you're in the bathroom. There is an old sink in the dining room where the drain was "repaired" with what looks like paper toweling which is covered by a plastic kitchen bag. But it probably still leaks as there is a plastic bucket under the drain. I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles as an appetizer which was basically made only with a spicy oil and a few bits of ground pork on top. There were no preserved vegetables, mushroom stems or scallions. For an entree I ordered the shrimp and scallops in black bean sauce. The taste was relatively good but, again, it was floating in oil at the bottom of the plate. Never again, there are just no redeeming factors.
(1)
Dan H.
I'm writing this review of Sichuan Jin River for one reason - their Fried Pork Dumplings. They are absolutely, insanely good! My wife and I sometimes get only them for our family, and the wait staff at SJR look at me like I am crazy when I pick up 3-4 orders! A must try.
(5)
Stacey R.
Pretty fantastic when it comes to Chinese food. I've eaten there twice now; once there and once for take-out. The second time I let the server choose all the dishes (off the Chinese style menu, of course) and was happy with all of them. It's very authentic and service was great!
(4)
Noel O.
I've been marinating over how to write this review for more than a week now because this place was one of those life altering experiences. I like food (hence why I'm on Yelp), I'm pretty adventurous, but there are still times when I cry for Mama when things are just to ridiculous for words. I think the best way to describe my experience at Sichuan Pavilion would be something like going to a dominatrix for the first time. You ease into the situation comfortably enough, but once the show starts get ready to slapped around. By the end of it you're crying out for mercy, but yet somehow you want to come back for more and endure the same pain again and again. Yeah, that sums it up about right. I was introduced to real Chinese food on a trip to China, but the real magic happened when a friend later introduced me to the Sichuan peppercorn. This thing has a fiery yet fruity kick when it's bitten into, but soon enough it makes your mouth tingle and can tell this isn't like any ordinary peppercorn. Sichuan Pavilion uses these very peppers in most of their dishes (at least the dishes we had) and I was simultaneously sweating profusely and shoving more food into my face--the sign of a good meal if I've ever seen one. A word to the wise: as a white boy I went with a group of Chinese speakers. You're welcome to delve into the menu yourself, but knowing what the crap was going to be served always helps. If you like Chinese food and don't mind heading out to Rockville to get it, this is without a doubt THE place to go.
(5)
Xiaoya W.
Service is good. The dishes are fine, but there is still room for improvement
(4)
Kathy C.
The dumpling appetizer and chilled rice jelly noodles (not sure of exact name) appetizer were THE BOMB. If you like spicy like I do, this place is a must try. Service sucks though, the ladies were slow to attend to us and not friendly.
(4)
Benji C.
Went here for the first time today after reading reviews, and it is very good but not my absolute fave. My dad and I split a large hot and sour soup, spring rolls and the sesame chicken entree which was only $20. Will be back to try something else soon.. Only real "complaint" was that the glaze on the sesame chicken was a little predictable I guess. Gel-like and verrrry sweet.. BUT the chicken itself was very good and crunchy under all of it. I mean, I did order off the American menu so I should have known:) The food all around us looked realllllllly good
(3)
DJ C.
Dining solo is not a very Asian way, but my people in my offline life don't like it hot like I like it hot. So I was thrilled to see this restaurant in downtown Rockville! Come to find out, this is a new restaurant about a month old. Welcome to the neighborhood! I ate a simple bowl of Sichuan style beef noodle soup, curious what Sichan style was all about. Now this may not be a signature Sichuan like that beef/ chicken/ fish dish, or that mapo tofu classic, but I was game and the price was great. A well-rounded (pun intended) meal under $10 is a great find these days. Wow. Incredible! The stewed beef was perfectly marbled. 2 kinds of veggies garnished the noodle soup, one a bit sour, the other kinda spinachy. The broth thoroughly infused with hot pepper sauce. And, here's the kicker -- there must've been 20 pieces of beef in there, so many that it ruined my beef to noodle to veggie ratio, in a good way. This is a 3-napkin sinus-clearing bowl of noodle soup -- one for the mouth, one for the nose, and one for the forehead. And if things ever get too hot, the fire department is right next door.
(5)
Lisa N.
What brought us here: Got to talking about food at work, and a co-worker kept raving about a Chinese dish he'd tried a while back called either "husband and wife" or "Romeo and Juliet" (it's "fu chi fei pian"). We googled the dish, and learned it was Szechuan (my dad is from Szechuan!). Authentic dishes we tried: Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce (Cold Appetizers) - husband & wife dish: Remember that scene in Ratatouille when the critic takes a bite of the ratatouille and flashes back to his childhood? I had that moment. It's as if I was transported back in time to my dad's kitchen as he prepared his own Szechuan peppercorn oil (he was chef!). Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce (Cold Appetizers) - Eating pig ears is all about the texture, which was spot-on. Flavors similar to first dish. Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup: Fish tender. Not as spicy as it looks. Vegetables are bean sprouts. "Mapo" Tofu with Minced Beef: Flavor was a bit off from authentic, but good nonetheless. Basil chicken with Ginger in Hot Pot ("three cup chicken"): Don't know why I ordered this. It's not a traditional Szechuan dish. I loved this dish in Taiwan, and still can't find a suitable representative here in the states. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce: Perfection. Verdict: Will DEFINITELY be dining here again...my mouth waters as I write that!
(5)
Erica Y.
Food is pretty good, not the best sichuan food I've had, but for the Rockville area, I guess it's as authentic as you will get. Plus price is very reasonable. Service on the other hand, is TERRIBLE! And I am judging it on Chinese restaurant standards. They are so disorganized, slow responding to your requests, and just overall slow and inattentive. So if you really like sichuan food and you are in the Rockville area, I guess you don't have a choice. If you are in a hurry...stay away!
(2)
Ted F.
Very good "authentic" Chinese menu. Avoid the Americanized Chinese menu - - no good at all.
(4)
Leona C.
Weekday lunch at Sichuan Pavilion is a pretty good deal: three dishes, three bowls of rice, and communal bowl of soup for $20. It was enough to feed three people. Selection: At Sichuan Pavilion, no need to try out their Americanized Chinese selections -- save that for Panda Express. Flip over the lunch menu and there's a long list of "authentic" Chinese selections available in Chinese and English. The descriptions are detailed and informative and if you know what to order, there are plenty of mild dishes available. The quality of food is on par to average homemade meals, but much healthier than fast-food Chinese. Service: Overall, it was okay. Even though it was peak lunch hour on a Thursday, we were seated immediately. Our soup and food arrived within 5-10 minutes after we ordered our meal. We were able to eat and pay within a one-hour time span.
(3)
Bryce D.
This place is surprisingly great! The wife and I decided we wanted Chinese, but didn't want take-out. This place ended up winning the bid, and may be one of my new favorites. The Dan-dan noodles were awesome, as was my Sesame Chicken. The Mrs. got the Eggplant in garlic sauce. and she loved the flavor. Truth be told, we only ordered from the 'american' side of the menu, but it was so well done that I think I will be feeling adventurous on my next visit and order from the 'authentic' side.
(4)
Steve P.
Based on reviews here, we made our way here to have a nice lunch with the Family. The food was OK. We got the dan dan noodles with sesame sauce (needed a non-spicy option for the kids), flounder with tofu in spicy soup and general guan's chicken. The quality of the food was generally good. The spice level was pretty in your face. If you are not used to heavily spiced food, this may shock you. The service was ok. They were attentive and we had no issues.
(3)
Lisa M.
Thought this place was above average for Chinese restaurants in DC, but not excellent. IWe got the water-cooked flounder, sour cabbage and pork, and taro and spare ribs. We were really looking forward to the water-cooked flounder, which is a big bowl of spicy red goodness, but this was almost inedible, as it was overpowered by some sort of white pepper or celery powder taste. It just didn't taste good. This was a bad sign as this is one of the trademark dishes of Szechuan cooking. The pork and taro is described as "short ribs and baby taro" but they're actually pork ribs. The pork was tender, but the whole dish was not as flavorful as I would have expected, and the sauce was gloppy. Probably my favorite dish was the sour cabbage and pork with vermicilli noodles, but they were really greasy. Also, the prices weren't cheap--I would say $14-15 on average for many dishes. So, I thought this place was good but not amazing. I would say that there is some unevenness or lack of care in the kitchen which is making things just shy of really good or great.
(3)
QQ J.
We three girls ordered almost 5 dishes and they were all good. We like it, although it's a little bit far away from VA.
(4)
Yuh Wen L.
The prevailing feelings after I finish a meal at Sichuan Pavilion are: (1) Gahhh, I'm so full I cannot move. (2) Wow, I feel so lucky that I get to eat food like this. And SO BAD for all those people will not get a chance to try this. I must say that this place blows my mind every time. This is by far some of the best food that I've had outside of China and, seriously, like, ever. For those who care about "authenticity", it is indeed quite authentic - but everything I've had is delicious, so anyone who loves food should feel comfortable (and excited!) to go. Go family-style and go big - you won't regret it. The ginormous menu is divided into a "Authentic Chinese style" and "American Chinese style." I've admittedly only ordered from the former, but noticed that several items are cross listed on both. It is helpful if you read/speak Chinese (some of the English translations are non-intuitive), but the staff is great and will give you some great recommendations if you just ask. Some of the standout items on menu that we've had before (and there are so many more to try...) are: Dan Dan spicy noodles: Just the right amount of numbing spiciness! Smoked duck: Smoked and crispy, comes with steamed mantou buns and hoisin sauce. Really delicious. Basil chicken and ginger in hotpot (sanbei ji): When it first comes out, you think it is nothing special, but a few bites and you'll realize that you want to DRINK every last drop of the sauce. Eggplant with Garlic Sauce: Just. Super. Sichuan string beans (on menu as Stir-fried string beans with "ya-cai"): The best I've had in the states so far (it's amazing how easily most restaurant mess this one up!). Braised beef noodles (hongshao niurou mian): I'm not usually a fan, but had a taste of my friends, and it was delicious - really flavorful and simply huge. Crispy salty shrimp: Noms, I say. Obviously, the restaurant's specialty is Sichuan cuisine, so I will need to experiment more with the spicy "xiang la" stuff (look for the little red pepper next to the dish!), but that's an adventure I'm more than willing to take on! If you can read Chinese, I recommend going to the white board (hangs behind the counter) and trying out some of the specials on offer. Service is quick and efficient. The staff is really kind and friendly. Also, the menu is adaptable to vegetarians, too (at least one vegetarian friend always accompanies). The restaurant also has a "Frequent Dining Card" on the back of their business card - if you pay in cash, you get a stamp for every $20 of pre-tax purchases. Ten stamps will qualify you for $20 off an order. Time to start collecting. :)
(5)
Frank F.
In a word, superb. This may be my new favorite Chinese place in the area.The service is attentive and with its large picture windows, the atmosphere is unusually cheerful. Alll at very reasonable prices. NB: I've only tried the authentic Chinese menu. As others have pointed out, most of the negative reviews here on Yelp are from folks who are looking for an Americanized Chinese food experience--or are complaining about food characteristics that are typical of authentic Sichuan cuisine. Hint: Don't come here if you have a problem with highly spicy or oily food, or if your favorite "Chinese" dish is General Tso's Chicken. The other complaints relate to the service. I can't speak to anyone else's experience, but in our experience the wait staff has never been anything other than friendly and attentive. Perhaps that's because we're regulars... or because we show a genuine interest in and appreciation for the cuisine?
(5)
Heidi W.
One question. If you're Chinese and love spicy Chinese food, can you NOT love this place? The food: Friggin awesome. I've never had Sichuan food this good, and I've had Sichuan food from all over, from several cities in China to Rockville. I've also eaten several times at Joe's Noodle House and China Canteen, both of which are very delicious, but none compare to Sichuan Pavilion. I like Sichuan Pavilion the best because almost ALL of their dishes are equally delicious. The spiciness of their dishes is just the most perfect blend of spicy and tingly. I highly recommend the Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce as an appetizer. It is spicier than Joe's version, and I don't even remember China Canteen's version. Their Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup is also mouthwateringly good, and I'd also try their Beef in Fiery Soup! For those who love authentic Chinese food but cannot handle too much heat, try their Crisy Rice Cake with seafood or with vegetables. You can't go wrong with any of their dishes! Price: At first glance, the dishes seem a bit expensive because they're almost all in the double digits. But the generous portions of delicious food they serve more than explains for the $12-18 entrees. I always go home with a full belly and plenty of leftovers for the next day. Still, it's probably a place you go to on special occasions. Service: The service is VERY fast. Once you order, food begins to appear on your table in as little as 5 minutes. Waiters are also quite friendly and will give suggestions for their popular dishes. I'm hungry just thinking about this place!
(5)
Eva L.
I had Sichuan Pavillion for lunch and was very happy about the food, the portion size and the price. The two of us got a spicy whole fish, a pork in spicy broth and a stir fried cabbage. We then got a free spinach tofu soup. All of this for 20 bucks. What a deal. The place was packed during lunch and the waiter kept on pushing us to order. Of course I am used to all this at a Chinese place. The pork in spicy broth was easily the best dish, while the stir fried cabbage was decent. I liked the spicy whole fried fish but it was not as authentically Sichuan because it is on the sweet side. I noticed that one side of the menu had more English and less authentic food choices while the other side had a lot of famous Sichuan dishes. Also on the board behind the counter there are specials in Chinese and the notice in Chinese that says if you want food to be more spicy or more "ma" you should ask before hand. I am definitely going back to try more of their Sichuan dishes!
(4)
zibra a.
I ordered some carryout the other day, the Basil chicken was OK, the sesame chicken was more sour than sweet, the kung pao chicken was just OK. my family didn't like the chicken they thought it does not taste like chicken, and there was something about the smell of the oil they use that we did not like. I see by the reviews this is a good place for Chinese authentic food, but we were not really impressed.
(2)
Dan L.
I had the sichuan beef noodle soup and it was out of this world tasty! Highly recommend the restaurant.
(4)
Magnus C.
Always incredibly good. The occasional short wait for a table at this small, usually packed place, is absolutely worth it. Dinner for 5 recently, with appetizers, soup, four huge dishes, and beers, came to less than $100..with tip!
(5)
Jan B.
We came here due to the high praise it received from DMV dining dragon, Tyler Cowen. We got there early for dinner on a Saturday, like 5:30, and the place was dead. The employees were sitting around shooting the shit.The waitress was friendly, and the chef came out to chat with the few folks who were there. We went straight for the mala stuff on the menu. Mapo tofu with pork, dan dan noodles and a couple others. Food was high quality, though it was not that totally spicy/numbing mala sensation I have experienced before. Not sure whether I even like that! Why u so far from DC, SJR?
(4)
Eddie D.
This place is busy all the time. They offer a long list of menu. I estimate over 300 items on the menu, and about half of them are spicy. Their food is more of a Mandarin style, that explain why the spicy food. And with the extensive menu, we always have difficulty of deciding what to order. This time we got a Duck Tongue with Fresh Hot Pepper. WOW! This entire dish was filled with stir fried jalapeño pepper, dried red pepper, chili oil and duck tongue. Sorry, way to spicy for me. Than we tried the Crispy Rice Cake with Mix Seafood, this was great with good amount of seafood. This is another version of your seafood with pan fried noodle. We also got a Singapore Noodle, this was typical and quite tasty. If you like spicy Chinese Mandarin food, you got to try this place.
(3)
Ryan R.
Dan dan noodles and Zhong dumplings are some of the better dishes here. Both dishes have sort of a numbing sauce however it tastes rather metallic. The tea duck and other dumpling dishes are decent. Though Sichuan Pavilion does not top other Chinese style restaurants in the area, it is worth a short trip if one is craving Sichuan style food.
(3)
A H.
The food here is so good you will have to come back time and time again! Highly recommend their dumplings in hot oil and stir fried pea pod. Also try the fish in hot oil. Very impressed! The only thing that cost them a star is the cleaningness of the bathroom Not bad compared to other Chinese restaurants but I am a tough critic when it comes to restaurant bathrooms.
(4)
Robin C.
Waitress Nazi. The food at the restaurant is terrific. No complaints there. As we were about to pay, we were told if we pay cash, we will get a card stamped as frequent customers and if we come 20 times, we can get a free meal under 20 dollars. So we paid cash, as I was having some coins, I used it as tips. Even it is the amount that equals to the normal tips, we did not get the card. And the response we got was sort of rude. Guess what, next time I need a really good reason to go back.
(2)
Austin H.
Awesome find! Will definitely be back! Two-sided menu.... "Americanized" Chinese food menu on one side, but flip it over for the real deal authentic dishes. The staff was very friendly and helpful since we ere totally unfamiliar with many of the traditional dishes listed. Prices were extremely reasonable and the quality was excellent.
(5)
Angie S.
Really solid, authentic Sichuan-style food. Highly recommend the scallion pancake! Can't beat the prices either.
(5)
Sam S.
I have been to Sichuan Jin River (formerly Sichuan Pavilion) several times in the past and never really gotten around to writing a review for this place. This restaurant is located in an old office park area and does not have an attractive interior or exterior. The carpet is dirty, the ceiling tiles could use some work, the bathroom is quite disgusting and the tacky interior all screams for people to stay away. I have seen this location actually take used disposable chopsticks and put them back into the wrapper which is a huge problem. I really wish this restaurant would use better table ware and not have the terrible plastic tablecloths on every single table. This location is usually crowded and has a loud volume of sound, so expect to have to talk loudly when conversing. The menu is divided into an American Style Chinese food side and an Authentic Chinese food side. The menu is well divided, and quite clearly labeled. Despite all of the terrors I have listed when I talk about the atmosphere of this place the food is actually quite good. This time we had the(Shredded Beef with Bamboo Shoots), (General Guan's Chicken), (Braised Short Ribs with Baby Taro), and (Fried Tofu with pork and Vegetables). All of the food at Sichuan Jin River is very well made, the Short Ribs were tender and fall off of the bone without being mushy, the baby taro that comes in the dish also is tender and almost acts like a potato in a braised dish. The General Guan's Chicken has always been a hit, I love the spiciness and the slight curry flavor that is brought into the dish. The Shredded Beef with Bamboo Shoots is tender with everything well cooked in a luscious brown sauce. Fried Tofu with pork and Vegetables has a beautiful red spicy sauce with shredded pork and tofu, but could have used more pork and possibly some other vegetables other than the leeks, but being that I don't care too much for vegetables most of the time I was okay with that. The other times that I have been to this restaurant we have had the(Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup), (Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood), (Pork Buns Filled with Chicken Broth), (Chilled Spicy Bean Jelly Salad), and ("Dan Dan" Spicy Noodles). I highly recommend the Pork Buns Filled with Chicken Broth as a non-spicy appetizer, and the "Dan Dan" Spicy Noodles or Chilled Spicy Bean Jelly Salad (two peppers) as a spicy appetizer and General Guan's Chicken or the Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood, are sure not to disappoint. This is just a short list of the dishes that I really like from this restaurant. But, we do have some consistency issues between ordering in Chinese and ordering in English. This restaurant tends to dial down the spiciness when people order in English and the spiciness tends to be a lot hotter when ordering in Chinese. When I went today the General Guan's Chicken was also less spicy than before. This did allow me to enjoy the dish more, but for those who really like the hard punch that the peppers deliver you should ask that the dish be made "extra spicy." Service at Sichuan Jin River is okay, it can be pretty inattentive and not very professional. Hot tea is always brought to the table but even on hot days when glasses of cold water would be welcome, you have to call a server over to ask for it. Glasses of water are never refilled unless requested, and you also have to call a server over to get a refill on the (free) hot tea. Overall, Sichuan Jin River is a good restaurant for the food, which I would rate at 4 stars for most dishes. For the price the restaurant also does you good. However, the service and atmosphere really do detract from the quality of food. I would give this restaurant a good rating overall (3 stars) and an excellent rating (4 stars) for their food.
(3)
A H.
This place is A-OK. I'm not really a fan of going to Chinese restaurants, but my friends forced me to come and help them order off the authentic Chinese menu. I can barely read Chinese, and I'm unfamiliar with Sichuan food, so that didn't really help them. :P For the appetizers, we got the wontons in chili sauce and the dandan noodles. The wontons were decent: salty and sweet. I'm not entirely certain how spicy they are supposed to be, but they taste similar to other places' hong you chao shou. The dandan noodles were more of a disappointment, as I was expecting to eat something much spicier (and I have! at other places in the area). Fortunately for them, the entree (flounder in soup? and black bean sauce) was pretty good. The fish was a good complement to rice, and my friends kept mixing it in. The fish entree was also fairly large, although I can't say the same for the appetizers. If I were just basing this review on food and taste, this place would get a solid 3 stars. However, I feel that I need to bump them down for service. Our waitress was dismissive, and didn't bother to check in with us. We waited for a good 10 minutes after putting down our menus before she came to get our order. I think we got more service from the guy who refilled our water. It was annoying because I could see her putting forth more effort for the tables around us.
(2)
JL Y.
This place is legit. To start, there were so many Chinese people inside I thought for a moment I had teleported to Monterey Park in LA or Flushing. Then the food came out. This place nailed the requisite Sichuan staple dishes. First, the wontons in spicy sauce (hong you chao shou). You can tell a lot about a Chinese restaurant based on the care they put into their wontons and dumplings. The bad ones look and taste mass-produced. Not these. They were perfectly wrapped (the wonton skin should be tight around the pork meatball). Also tried the dan dan noodles, which were solid, though they tasted a lot like A&J's sour and spicy noodles (suan-la mian). Also excellent: tea duck (zhang cha ya), which you eat by stuffing into a plain bun (man tou) and adding a spoonful of delicious sauce. My fave of the evening was the flounder in fiery sauce (shui zhu yu), which arrived in a bowl that was bigger than my head. The portion size of the ma po tofu was similarly generous. As for service, this place has the standard insouciance of a Chinese restaurant. But who cares. All you need at a Sichuan restaurant worth its salt is for your server to have the water pitcher ready.
(5)
Tom D.
3.5 stars Somebody (a certain GW professor with the initials TC) said this place makes Hong Kong Palace look like Burger King, so I had pretty high expectations given my fondness for Hong Kong Palace. We ordered Dan Dan Noodles, spicy wontons, pork dumplings and spicy beef noodle soup. The food was consistently very good, but I didn't think it was as good as Hong Kong Palace -- and the Dan Dan Noodles were a distant second to HKP. Portions were very generous -- 2 people could come and only split the beef noodle soup and leave satisfied.... Food with 2 diet cokes and tip ran $31 -- really good and authentic food, great value and good service. I am a fan, but give a solid nod to HKP. Will return.
(4)
Pete D.
Spicy, tongue numbing, forehead dripping, nose wiping, it's all here at Sichuan Pavilion. I've heard great things about this place and we finally were able to sit down and check it out. This place gets packed! There isn't too much space inside and we were crammed at a smaller table with 8 people, but we were still able snatch up food with our chopsticks. I'll just get into some of the food items we ordered: Beef tripe and tendon in spicy sauce: An awesome dish, tossed with crushed peanuts and cilantro. The dish is $8.50, but you get enough to share with. The slices of tendon and tripe were tender and not tough at all. Smoked duck (breaded and fried): One of my favorite dishes we ordered. The duck has a nice crust on the outside and when you bite into it, each piece was tender and yummy. The skin of the duck is awesome, get me a plate of this alone. It was served with these soft doughy type guys, where you wrap the duck in it and dunk it in lovely hoisin sauce. Mapo Tofu: My second favorite dish of the meal. This spicy, truly tongue numbing dish is made with some ground pork and was not like any other mapo tofu I've had. This dish felt authentic as can be, very well done. Double-cooked pork: Spicy pork belly, stir-fried with scallions and some finger peppers. Delicious! The pork belly was sliced thinly and had nice pieces of fat attached. The twist to this was they tossed triangular wonton skin (at least that's what I think it is) in it too. The other dishes we got were decent. Off the top of my head, there was a beef chow foon, a green bean stir-fry (done very well by the way), some wonton soup with celery leaves, and a rice cake dish topped with a chicken and veggie gravy. This is a typical Chinese restaurant, so don't expect excellent service. Just raise your hand and pull over a server if you need something or even one of the busboys. They're pretty good to bring you what you need. I will definitely go back to this and they have a HUGE menu. What's neat is they have one menu, but a "American Chinese Menu" and on the flipside (literally), an "Authentic Chinese Menu." If you aren't Chinese, hopefully you find someone that can speak some English, this helped us out. A solid 4.5 star!!!!
(4)
Mistery M.
good non battered to death chinese foods. lots of wackass vegan dishes which are all at the least, very interesting. some are quite tasty too.
(4)
Susan W.
I always come here with my mother, who does all the ordering off the Chinese menu, but I have no complaints. The beef tribe in spicy sauce is on fire! Just look at the crowds and you know you've found a gem. (Whenever we order specific spicy dishes to go, we use the leftover chili oil/sauce to cook the next meal. Its so good that nothing should go to waste!)
(4)
Andy C.
I can't vouch for the American Chinese food menu, but Sichuan Pavilion has excellent traditional Sichuan cuisine, especially if you like spicy Chinese food. I went recently with friends and ordered 5 dishes. All were very good and some were exceptional. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)
D W.
The food was fair. We read the reviews before going there. Could the 1or 2 star ratings for the service be a joke or an anomaly? Unfortunately no.
(1)
Nicole L.
I have one thing to say: I have an addiction for spicy food. Sichuan Pavilion is one of my top source; the food is just dope here! I have my favs but I make an effort to try different dishes if I can. What I find is every dish has its unique flavor and is soooo purrrrfect! I still heart the bean jelly with spicy paste, cilantro and crushed peanuts but now they form it into long noodle shape instead of cubes. The homemade paste is extraordinary I don't have a word for it. There are all these amazing dishes I am going to itemize the dishes to make it easier to read: 1-5 Peppers 5 being gravely spicy and sniffly euphoria 1) Chilled bean jelly noodles with spicy paste, crushed peanuts and cilantro: 5 star awesomeness (5 peppers) 2) Dan dan mein with spicy paste and ground pork: the noodles in this dish are soooooo good I can't stop slurping it up! 5 star too! (4 peppers) 3) General Guan's chicken: A variation of cumin and cilantro lamb, the chicken is thinly sliced, flash fried with dry spices. Dry heat all the way! (3 peppers) 4) Kou Swei Ji: Steamed chicken in a bowl of hot red oil, sesame seeds and baby bamboo shoots: this reminds me of the hainanese chicken rice back at home but soaked in this sinful hot and spicy sauce. (5 peppers) 5) Fried thousand year old eggs: If you like thousand yr old eggs imagine them fried! This is not spicy. (0 pepper) 6) Chengdu Chicken: Petite cut chicken, fried with green peppers and spices. A very well-balanced dish - chicken is cooked perfectly for the slight crunch in thinly coated gravy. (4 peppers) 7) Sweet and sour pork with sizzling rice: Got this for my american friend and she loved the thinly sliced pork with mushrooms ina light gravy poured over rice that sizzled!!! (0 pepper) 8) The classic sichuan beef in the numbing sauce made with szechuan pepper corn. It's a sensational experience for sure. (5 peppers) 9) Fish with Szechuan Peppercorn (Swei Zhu Yu) - wonderful szechuan peppercorn with fresh fish slices that numbs your mouth in a nice gravy with cabbage. The cabbage soaked up the flavor of the gravy like a sponge (5 peppers) 10) Julienned pig ears - tasty chewy pig ears I never imagined I would like but the chefs here just have it in them. (0 pepper) 11) Szechuan beef noodles - at many restaurants that serve a variation of this dish I don't enjoy it as much as here. The meat though has the tendon/fat pieces is very tender and flavorful. I actually love eating it. (3 peppers) 12) Whole wheat with chicken - I love eating whole wheat grains and with shredded chicen it was just perfect, it is served wrap style with lettuce on the side (0 pepper) 13) Flounder with black beans paste - A very unique flavor with fresh flounder and black bean paste it's a very tasty dish. (0 pepper) but you can ask for the version with bird eye green peppers. 14) Chinese Style Kung Pao Chicken - Doused in red peppers and szechuan peppercorn, I heart this dish even more! The diced chicken and peanuts absorb the flairing yet sweet flavors of the peppers So hot it makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time, it's really eurphoric! (5 peppers) 15) Braised pork ribs with taro - Falling off the bone ribs with taros that absorbed the delicious sauce. (0 pepper) 16) Szechuan beef noodles soup - Nice touch of the szechuan peppercorn with flat noodles instead of the usual. I loved the broth! The meat was tender and not as much tendons it was delicious. (4 peppers) I am so glad to be close to some of the most authentic and fabulous chinese restaurants. I am a regular at this restaurant, the service is excellent!!
(5)
David Y.
I visited this place with a friend who also likes spicy food. Since it was just the two of us, the wait was very short, but be prepared to wait if you are in a larger group. Only parties of 6+ can make reservations. We had the Dan Dan noodles, Smoked Duck, Fresh Peppercorn Fish, and Ma Po Tofu. The noodles were good, and spicy. I would have added some bok choy just to add some crunch to the dish and perhaps balance the heat better. The smoked duck, while not Sichuan, was fantastic--the tea smoke really suffused the meat. Generous portions with the fish, which came as bite-sized fillets swimming in a deep red chili broth. The tofu was really terrific, and really absorbed the flavor of the spicy sauce well instead of just being coated by it. A note for vegetarians: we were able to request the Dan Dan noodles and Ma Po Tofu without the standard minced meat, and it didn't detract much from our experience. I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 because I thought there could have been a tad more Sichuan peppercorn, and I thought the duck could have been served with more complementary condiments. The service was prompt. Decor was nothing to write home about, but the main attraction here is the food, and it would be a mistake to judge this place based on decorations and tablecloths. Definitely recommended for authentic Chinese food enthusiasts, and brave souls willing to give their tongues a work-out. More detailed review here for the curious: stonesoup.wordpress.com/…
(4)
Josh B.
The mouth-numbing effects of the Sichuan peppercorns ensure that your experience at Sichuan Pavilion will be more akin to doing drugs than eating dinner, but that's a good thing. Flounder and vegetables in fiery broth is a must-have dish...a huge portion of flounder and cabbage swimming in a devil's broth of hot oil, red peppers, and peppercorns. Not for the bland-inclined, but so, so good. General Guan's chicken was a hit as well (maybe 3 stars to the flounder's 4). Sliced chicken coated in cumin and hot pepper and fried with cilantro. leeks, garlic, and ginger. Of course you can't go to a Sichuan joint and not start with Dan Dan noodles and beef tendon. Both were excellent here, though the tendon was sliced just a hair thicker than I've had it at other places (a feature I actually liked). Overall, an excellent and authentic place. Next time I'm dragging a group so I can order more.
(4)
Margaret H.
Despite the fact that Sichuan Jin offers real authentic dishes with excellent "Mala" flavor, I won't be coming back due to the terrible service. The waiter delivered one of our dishes to the table next to ours, and the diners there promptly dug into the dish. A few minutes later, the waiter discovered the mistake and took the partially eaten dish back into the kitchen. When they finally delivered it to us, I mentioned to the waiter, that I noticed the dish go to the wrong table. He assured us that it was a new dish, but the lukewarm temperature of the chicken made it pretty clear that they just dumped it onto a clean, smaller plate. They also added an extra dish to our bill-- that might have been mistake, but I'm not sure.
(2)
Andy N.
I used to live in China, and I can tell you, this is the real deal like they serve there; The folks in this restaurant probably wouldn't know how to make it American style if they tried. This restaurant opened only 2 months ago (liquor license is pending), but it's certain that it will establish itself as a serious choice for authentic Sichuan food in the area. It is comparable and will be competing directly with the other top local Sichuan restaurants such as Joe's Noodle House. Walked in there on a Saturday night and found a bustling joint filled with excitement. In fact everyone in the joint seemed to be Chinese, and the wait line would have been out the door if not for the rain outside. The atmosphere is very no frills. A sign on the kitchen door says "Every dish leaving this room must be PERFECT". Tough goal, but the fact that the owner put the sign up shows he is serious about providing great food. They do seem to be trying very hard. Portion sizes are generous, ingredients were fresh, service was enthusastic, and , prices reasonable. They have fresh whole fish, which only authentic Chinese restaurants bother to do. And they do not gouge the "seasonal price", as some places do. For example a medium sized whole tilapia in steamed ginger was $14.95. What struck me most of all about this restaurant were two things though: First was the sheer number of dishes in each category on the menu Second was the breadth of selection on the menu. Many dishes are are very rare to find outside of China, and this restaurant has a number of dishes you will not see in ANY restaurant in Metropolitan Washington that has them. This is especially for the appetizers (many hot and cold ones) and the unusal variety of authentic Chinese desserts. Sharing the desserts is recommended. They are large and filling. This restaurant does not serve shaved ice, probably a regional thing, but it seems to specialize in warm starchy desserts. In particular the red bean paste in a fresh pancake ( - dou sha bing ) is very nice, as was the rice-based dessert containing flower essence. I'll be ordering it again and update with the name. I went with a crowd that includes a number of connoisseurs of food as it would be prepared in China. Everyone seemed quite happy. They do not have any lamb dishes, which are popular in Sichuan, but they do have a lot of the other regional specialties that could only be found in an authentic-style Sichuan restaurant. Water boiled fish was on par, and the noodle dishes were excellent, and seem to be homemade noodles. The "Home style tofu" is recommended if you don't want to get Mapo tofu or Ma-la tofu along with all your other spicy entrees. The tofu is light and very fresh here. Others below who rated this a 3-star earlier did not comment on any of the Sichuan dishes, which is this restaurant's raison d'etre. I'm not sure why one would go to an authentic Sichuan restaurant if not a fan of spicy food... I think that accounts for the discrepancy in our ratings. So I give it 5-stars to help offset those comments. Besides, it is certainly in the top 20% of local authentic style Sichuan restaurants. If your first time, keep in mind some GPS routes will lead you to a block or so away. This joint is not on 355 as shown in the map shown. It's actually in that big triangular area of parking lot. So look for the Bank of America. It's a stone's throw from there, in the same lot. Entrance on Beall Street. Look for a one-story standalone building inside the lot. PS There's also a restaurant with the same name in DC. No relation.
(5)
Lindsey L.
Solid place. No frills, just good food. We walked into this place with a party of 7 on a Saturday night at 7pm. Right from the front door, the place was a shock to the senses! The whole place is packed with Asian people (great sign, I guess). It is cozy, shoulder to shoulder to wait for a table while servers zip past you every which way with steaming plates. We were seated quite quickly, had the people who spoke Mandarin order for the whole table, and voila, an adventure. My favorite was the breaded pork, looked tempura-like and had a subtle mini donut taste! Also, the flounder in fiery soup is probably THE thing to get here. I wasn't crazy about the desserts (taro and bean-related baked goods). The best part? $83 (before tip) for 7 people to eat A LOT. I agree with the pre-warning that the wait staff do not understand much English past please and thank you, so just be prepared.
(3)
Nicholas D.
I will never eat there again. Dumpling dough was chewy. The "dan dan" noodles were greasy and had an odd taste. The kung pao chicken was all spice and no flavor. My moo shu pork was burnt but I didnt realize it until i ran out of the plum sauce that was covering up the burnt taste. The lo mein was the best part of the meal. My wife told the server about it while I was taking our son to the rest room and it was still on our bill when they brought it to us.
(1)
Mike K.
Ok, it was the day before Chinese New Year and they were swamped. But I had to ask four times for water, they didnt bring the second dish until after we were ready to go, but the food is good, and the Asian folks eat there which says something
(3)
Phred P.
Just try this restaurant for the first time and we love it. The crispy cucumber is a must to have before/with meals. So much more interesting dishes for us to try for the next time!
(4)
Yang C.
Hi Will, I grew up in Sichuan. The tongue numbing thing you said is not due to MSG, it's due to those little seeds that look like the mines in mine sweeper game - an authentic seasoning ingredienets in all Chengdu dishes. Trust me, once you get used to it, you will love it... or hate it :)
(5)
Ben Y.
I think the sign outside the parking lot says Sichuan Pavilion, but its the same place. I would say the Yelp community is spot on again. We had the Dan Dan noodle as an appetizer and it was better than any other place that I have tried it. I liked it because it was not inedibly spicy. My tongue only had a touch of the numb feeling, which is good (that's not MSG like someone else posted. the numb is part of the hot sauce and its supposed to be like that.). We ordered the Fried Tofu with Veggies and the Braised Short Rib(beef?) with Taro. Both were excellent. While both items were listed with 'one hot pepper', I found the Tofu dish to be spicier than the beef. All three dishes have been reviewed by other yelpers favorably, which is why we tried them. Plenty of parking here. We arrived on Saturday between 5:30-6PM and were immediately seated. Within 30min of when we arrived there was a line of people waiting.
(4)
Aesah L.
I am not a fan of spicy food, but I am a fan of authentic Chinese. Sichuan Pavilion has an excellent menu of both Authentic Chinese and American Chinese food--all you have to do is flip the menu over to see one or the other. I had the breaded short ribs with lemon sauce, and it was amazing. The steamed dumplings were delicious, as was the beef noodle soup. My dinner companions assured me that the spicy food was wonderfully spicy. We ordered a dozen dishes and paid surprisingly little for them. I'd go back.
(3)
Nick C.
Sichuan Pavilion was suggested by a friend, and it was really a find. This is sort of literally true, because we had a damn hard time locating it. While the building the restaurant is in is right along Rockville Pike, you have to go around back to find the place itself. We went there with 3 people for dinner late (after 9 pm) on a week night. We were seated right away, and the service was friendly and attentive, although they weren't too busy that hour so it's not too surprising. However, we were there until the employees were basically ready to leave, and they were friendly throughout, never rushing us. That is somewhat rare in my experience. Of course, it was the food that really impressed. Their menu includes both an "American style" Chinese food section and an (ostensibly) more authentic section. The selection seemed more extensive and interesting than, for example, the nearby Bob's Noodle. We ordered dishes exclusively from the authentic section. This section boasted a huge range of dishes that I'd never seen before that ranged from relatively normal sounding to bizarre (for an American). The weirder options included duck feet, chicken feet, pig ears, and intestine. We steered clear of those and went for some safer but novel options, including dumplings filled with chicken broth, garlic sprouts with cured pork and shredded sausages, and the crispy potato. I can't say whether or not these dishes were authentic, but what mattered to me is that they were tasty and different than anything I'd had. I probably liked the garlic sprouts the most, though the crispy potato, which was potatoes cut almost like really thin french fries and cooked until tender but still firm like a noodle, was by far the most unique. I did note that the food was pretty salty and pretty oily, but neither to an unpleasant degree. I don't think either is especially unusual for a Chinese restaurant. I really enjoyed this place and intend to go back many times to explore their menu.
(5)
Sol B.
In a town full of great Chinese restaurants, this one stands out for its wide variety of tasty (and spicy) dishes. The deep fried tofu with hot spices are enough to send you back for more. The smoked duck served with plum sauce was a big hit. Enjoy the plastic window shades; they'll remind you of the plastic lamp shade covers your grandmother had. You'll need something to do while you wait for menus or more tea (I had to ask for them). The price you pay (achingly slow service) is offset by the friendliness of the staff; the great prices; and the fantastic food.
(4)
Travis M.
This place was suggested to me by a friend. She was of the opinon that the food was very authentic (I assume she ordered from the traditional and not the Americanized menu). And, while I cannot vouch for authenticity, I can say that the food I had was quite good. In fact, the won-tons with hot sauce were probably the best dumpling style appetizer I have had in any of the greater DC area. My friend made some suggestions on what to order, but I am ashamed to say that I didn't have the guts to go through with most of them (cold jelly salad as an appetizer! just does not sound right to me). The waitress however was very willing to give me suggestions on what to order that was both unique and palatable to my American sensibilities (She was also happy to translate my friends suggestions, which were written for me in Chinese). The pork with garlic sauce was delicious and had a wonderful ginger flavor that I was not expecting. And the spicy seafood soup was good, but not my favorite dish as I was not a huge fan of the broth (it was tomato based I think). I will definitely be going back, and I will make an attempt to order some of the more traditional dishes. Apparently the whole fried fish with Chinese greens (?) is great.
(4)
Andrew K.
I was told this place used to be a thai restaurant that recently changed to a chinese restaurant so I went to check it out. We got the lunch special which is where you pick 3 dishes and a soup for $20 which is a little more than what you pay at Bob's for the same deal. We got the salt and pepper pork chops, pork with bamboo shoots and the baked whole fish. The pork chops were crispy and tasted pretty good while the pork with bamboo shoots was just ok. The fish was good and it had a good brown sauce which wasn't too salty. The restaurant is clean and the service was pretty good but the place was pretty empty at lunch. I would say the food was ok but I thought Bob's was better and slightly cheaper.
(3)
Tim R.
Went last night and had some fire fish thing and braised short ribs. It is really good food. My father-in-law from HK LOVES this place and always wants to go here when he visits. If you like more authentic chinese food you might like it too.
(5)
Denise P.
Ate here today and we ordered the sichuan beef noodle soup (I liked the homemade taste of the noodles), crispy spicy shrimp (tasted like spicy kung pao shrimp), scallion pancakes (I prefer them a little thinner and less greasy), a sausage and pork dish (was ok), and the soup dumplings. The only other place I've had soup dumplings is in NYC. Unfortunately, there's no crab soup dumpling option like there is at Joe's Shanghai's, but I would definitely come back to Sichuan Pavilion for soup dumplings in Rockville! I found all the other dishes a little too greasy and salty.
(3)
Debby T.
This is the best Chinese I've had since living in Hong Kong, where I grew up. Just moved from NYC a few months ago and this is the best as it gets. Spicier the better. Love!
(5)
KanKan Y.
I'm a big fan of Sichuan food. It's all about Ma and La. Ma being the numbing sensating you feel when you ingest a ton of peppers, and La being the amount of spicyness. (Random info: Ma and La are also used to describe the fiery nature of the girls in Si Chuan) When I ate at the restaurants back in Si Chuan or a home cooked meal, I would cry eating the food because it was so spicy...and then lose sensation in my mouth because it's so Ma! Everything was bury under a sea of hot sauce, chili powder, and peppery spices. My friends and I came to eat here after hearing that this place is very authentic. We beat the rush by coming to dinner at 7. By 7:30 the line was to the door! Seeing the crowd, I got excited for the food! The waitress handed our menu. The american style menu was on one side, and the chinese menu was on the other, printed upside down. We ordered a few things off the american menu and chinese menu: Homestyle Tofu, Water-stewed beef (shui zhu niu), spicy tendons, spicy chicken and intestines, garlic eggplant, sweet and sour pork (off the american menu), and a spicy noodle bowl. We also ordered some pancake buns (the ones that usually comes with zhang cha ya - tea duck) to go with the garlic eggplant. I was slightly nervous since i haven't eaten spicy food in a while. Jumping off the deep end into authentic SiChuan was a little scary. The food came quickly and it was savory and great. There was something missing though...where were the spicy-ness? My friend who don't eat much spicy food was sweating from the food, but for me, there was no spicy or numbing taste. Here I was sweating how much I'll cry during the meal, but this was the exact opposite. The water-stew beef is a classic dish and it's supposed to burn the tops of your mouth off, but no....nothing...I didn't even taste the peppers. The spicy beef tendon was also disappointing. The consistency was good but the kick wasn't there. All in all, I think this is a good place to take friends who want to savor the SiChuan flavor without red liquid death poured all over it. But for folks that like SiChaun spicyness...I'd recommend Joe's Noodle House. They're more Ma than La, but they are a lot closer to that authentic spicy-crying feeling than Sichuan pavillion is. I will come back to this place again since the food was very flavorful, but with an extra note to the chef to make everything 10 times spicier. I'll write a follow up review when that happens...in the meanwhile, Cheers!
(3)
Erica P.
i had chengi spicy chicken. chicken was very dry and tasteless
(2)
Angela L.
Authentic and tasty food with very reasonable price We have been there three times. The food we sampled: Dan Dan Noodle 4 Baby Cole with preserved Egg on Top 5 Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup 5 Flounder with Sour pickled Cabbage & Peppers 4 Stir Fried Minced Chicken with "ya-cai" 4.5 Steamed Short Ribs with Sticky Rice 5
(4)
Fat T.
The breaded and fried duck was pretty good but more fatty than I generally prefer. The Sichuan tofu was excellent.
(4)
Chava C.
We absolutely loved Sichuan Pavillion. Tucked away in the strip mall shopping center to the north of the Rockville Public Library in the town center, Sichuan Pavillion is a no frills kind of place with tables and booths huddled together. The diners were mostly Chinese or of Asian-descent. The menu was as authentic as anything I know, or at least, it didn't have many classic American Chinese dishes that we normally see, e.g. no hot and sour soup. Having read the yelp reviews, we tried appetizer Dan Dan Noodles and appetizer Smoked Duck and not due to reviews but our own choices, Chicken and Ginger Hot Pot with Scallions and Sweet and Sour Eggplant. The fried Eggplant were the freshest, softest and nicest I've ever had. THe Dan Dan noodles were spicy in a way that didn't hurt, but made my tongue go numb - fun! A lot of dishes had shrimp/pork which are things we don't eat, so the menu was limited in that sense, but, we really enjoyed it.
(4)
Tom M.
Earlier review called this place "a spicy polished jade gem." I would have to disagree. This place is doesn't deserve the 4 star average rating. The place doesn't have any ambiance per se. The carpet is dirty worn out and the floor tiles are dirty and sticky. The chopsticks are reused and reinserted into paper sleeves. The food is way to salty and everything was either undercooked or overcooked. The fried dumplings were greasy and doughy. We order the beef noodle soup beef, and the beef was like beef jerky and noodles were way overcooked. Smoked duck was like it was precooked and then reheated so much that it was unedible. General Guan's Chicken was salty and overcooked. The servers were totally unprofessional. We left without finishing our meal and will definitely not come back here.
(1)
Lillian C.
Got the broad beans with garlic sauce and beef chow fun on a rainy day out. GRANTED, they are a sichaun restaurant they're not specializing in the type of classic cantonese chinese food known in America. I wanted something quick and familiar. The BCF was relatively decent- a bit on the greasy side, way better than Oriental East in SS (and they actually are cantonese, shame on them!), not as good as Hollywood East, but of course doesn't hold a candle to chow fun from NYC. They like many other restaurants in the area where they soak the beef in baking soda until its insanely tender, I personally am not really a fan of that. Customer service was so-so, I guess because I was by myself they're not going out of their way to entertain me but the women would peer over my shoulder casually and ask me questions in mandarin. I'm sadly anglo-fied cantonese so my mandarin is absolutely horrendous. I'm not begging to come here but if you do want good chinese food in the area, this (and yuan fu if you're into vegetarian food) is the place to go.
(4)
Lucy X.
First of all, you know this place is something when the name doesn't end in "palace", "garden", or "house". Pavilion? C'mon what genius thought of that one! And it's true, just like its extraordinary name, this place never fails. It serves AUTHENTIC Chinese food, none of that orange chicken crap. And the Szechuan taste is absolutely divine! Being Chinese myself, it's a real treasure when you come to find a place other than in China that serves "real" Chinese food. And the portions for the price is amazing too. You know it's legit when it's a favorite of your mom's, her friend's, her friend's friends, and their friends' friends (who are all, obviously, legit Chinese people btw). Basically just come here and order anything and you won't be too disappointed. Also, bring cash cause every $20 you spend (in cash), they give you a stamp hey hey! And although they do accept credit..but then no stamm fo yu!
(5)
Laney K.
Everything at this restaurant is delicious! The dan dan noodles and hot and spicy fire fish are among my favorite. It's been awhile since an awesome authentic Chinese restaurant has popped up around the area. We are extremely picky with our Chinese food and I have to say this is one of our tops. There is always a wait when it's dinner time on fridays and weekends. So make sure you try to get there early before the rush. When I was pregnant I craved all the foods here and went almost all the time to eat. Writing this review makes me want to go tomorrow.
(5)
Raquel C.
The menu is too large but all in all the food is fantastic. Try the dumplings!
(4)
Matthew K.
Amazing.
(5)
George R.
Recently my orders have been drenched in oil -- not good. I think they changed chefs ~Feb 2011. Time to pass -- Spice Xing has become a favorite and La Tasca has recently upgraded their menu and wine list.
(2)
Tina L.
This place could get pretty packed during peak hours but the wait is never too bad. I recommend the spicy appetizers, and spicy fish hot pot...which is my all-time favorite Chinese food. Oh, and with the spicy fish you can also request to take the leftover sauce home and recreate another dish: add some bean thread noodles, tofu, bok-choy, fish balls and anything else you have handy and you got yourself a nice Chinese hotpot kind of meal. I recommend this place if you like authentic spicy Szechuan cuisine.
(4)
ER D.
I came to Rockville during my East Coast trip. I'm originally from Southern Cal, where the BEST and authentic Chinese foods are. And I came to Sichuan pavillion because of the Yelp review and by my friends recommendation. First of all, this must be a good Chinese restaurant in Rockville, no doubt about that. But compare to the standard i'm use to in Southern Cal, this gets an average "3 star" at the most. Let's just say if this was in Southern California, it will be another mediocre restaurant. Being in Rockville, I guess it deserve a 4 star since there are not many competitor to begin with. Secondly, to the food... it is good and authentic Sichuan Food. However, i'm not accustomed to the high cost since I can get the same thing in Southern Cal for 1/2 the price. Nevertheless, it's good food if you're craving for Chinese food.
(3)
r y.
We here on a Saturday around 6:30pm. It seems from talking to the lady next to us as we waited (and waited) that there is always a wait to be seated here. It is really popular. The restaurant is actually rather larger than some other places we have visited in Rockville. It was packed and a little noisy from all the people talking which was nice for my son so he could look around and also make a little noise and not disturb anyone. Once seated, we ordered the dan-dan noodles, cold cucumber dish, spinach and tofu soup and chopped chicken with chilis. My husband who is from around the Sichuan region liked the noodes and the chicken. The soup was very plan but okay. He told me that the cucumber dish was all mine because it was too sweet (that's okay, I like sweet and spicy). My poor son was not very well off since the cucumbers, dan dan and the chicken were all a little bit too spicy for him. The soup was too bland. He really liked the noodles but kept on rubbing his eyes and looking uncomfortable. Next time I will ask for rice to be served with appetizer so he can alternate between the food and rice and keep from overheating. Overall, we liked it very much and it was nice to have an authenic taste.
(4)
G M.
Despite the longer drive, this has become our go-to place for Chinese (we do takeout, as the whole place, encouragingly filled with Asian people, comes to a standstill anytime we walk in). Among the stuff we really have liked so far are the spicy fried rice with egg, the General Guan's chicken, and the double-cooked pork. For the sake of context, I've eaten the real-deal many times in NYC and SF, and this place generally compares favorably (although the usual American Chinese dishes like orange chicken and the like are not worth ordering).
(4)
xj o.
No, No, No, No, NO! I'm shocked at the amount of love this place is getting. My friend and I came here because we like to eat out and this is one of the few remaining places we haven't gone to in the RTS area. First off, the duck appetizer was chopped up and very COLD and you couldn't eat a piece without having tiny sharp pieces of bone in it. Not a single piece. It was simply not edible. We put it to the side thinking the main dishes would get better but no...it only got worse. The spicy beef soup entree wasn't a soup but more like a thick puddle of grease. Not spicy and just blah. And the "beef" in both our entrees was not real beef. I don't even think it was meat. I've had meat. 99.9% of my caloric intake is based on animals that once roamed the earth. This was something that they either tried to pass as meat or it may have once roamed the finest sewers in NYC. I went back to eating real meat, albeit it was still cold with sharp bone fragments in it. Then there's the service. We finished our water within 5 mins of getting it and the waitress NEVER came back to refill our glasses. It took FOREVER to get their attention for anything. By then, we didn't even mention the water and just asked for the check. During the whole ordeal we joked about how awful everything was. We needed a laugh -- it was that or just cry. We half-heartedly joked about making a run for it because the place didn't deserve a penny for a tip, let alone for the food. But there were a couple of people blocking the front entrance. (They were on to us.) Then we joked that we should just keep ordering more food...we were probably delirious from the nauseating food at that point. I wanted to yell out to everyone how amazing my beef soup was. I wanted everyone else to suffer I like I did. Yeah, I was in a grouchy mood at that point. It didn't take long for us to go to the crapper soon afterwards. I don't think my stomach has ever been the same since. This is honestly the only place I would give 0 stars if Yelp made that possible. I plan on coming back here when I'm on my death bed. It would make the notion of dying so much easier to accept. UPDATE: So we went back because we're a glutton for punishment. I'd rate them a 1.5 star now. So far we know what not to order (spicy beef noodle, duck appetizer, any beef or chicken entree), some things that were just okay (dan dan noodles, spicy dumplings), and only one thing that we both found to be better than average (pork buns appetizer). But we still left depressed.
(1)
Jennifer F.
Very authentic Sichuan food. It reminds me of my grandmother who is originally from Sichuan.
(5)
Bren P.
wow! this place was great! authentic northern chinese food in Rockville! I rarely go to maryland, but i heard there were some great chinese restaurants in rockville..and so we went with a couple friends. Our friends ordered since they've been here before and they ordered the right dishes (plus they ordered in chinese)!! We ordered dan dan noodles, kung pao chicken, fish in spicy broth, and soup with pork and cabbage. These dishes were more than enough for us 4..it's family style! Everything was delicious! I'm craving to go back to try the other dishes!
(5)
Constance C.
Just like Tom D., I came here on the "recommendation" of Tyler Cowen. My party and I were a little frazzled from an overwhelming trip to Buy Buy Baby and delicious Chinese food was really the only antidote. It comes in spades at Sichuan Pavilion, luckily. We ordered the basics - dan dan noodles, scallion pancake and sesame noodles to start. The dan dan is ma la, and I definitely had some numbness going on after a bite or two. It was very addictive. The sesame noodles and pancake were very well-done also. For main dishes, we had the dried bean curd with celery, the Chengdu chicken, the crispy salty shrimp, and the dried sauteed string beans. The Chengdu chicken was really spicy and loaded with peppers and juicy bits of chicken. I prefer the similar dish at Hong Kong Palace (which has the added dash of cumin) but it was still pretty solid. The crispy salty shrimp is lightly battered and fried with shell- and legs-on, but were really well flavored and the bean curd was light and aromatic. Both were great foils to the spicy chicken. I think everyone agreed that the string beans were perfect. This is one of my favorite Sichuan dishes and this was easily one of the best versions. Service was quick and attentive. I don't know when I'll be able to convince my parents to go to Rockville but if I do, we'll definitely be making a stop here.
(5)
Phyl P.
I was visiting this area from San Francisco, and went here for lunch with 2 other people, based on the 4 star rating from Yelp. We each had a different dish off the lunch specials menu, and the food was almost inedible. Tasteless and badly prepared. We ate a few bites and left the rest. Worse than the bad food, our water glasses were all dirty, which speaks volume about the kitchen hygiene.
(1)
Kevin L.
Among the Chinese restaurants in Rockville, this is so fat the best one. The only problem is that some of the waiters/waitress are not easy to deal with.
(4)
Josh B.
Fantastic. One of the best Chinese meal I've had. We got the following - they were all 5-star worthy. - the Dan Dan Noodles. Spicy, yet delicate, and I couldn't stop eating the little scallions. - some duck dish. the meat was perfectly cooked and the duck sauce was just right - Ma Po Tofu - spicy, but like the Dan Dan noodles, not overwhelmingly so. - Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup. Awesome - for dessert, fried taro with sesame. best taro i've ever had. i usually don't like taro, but this was great...Sichuan food meets the Iowa State Fair. The portions were huge, so now our fridge is blessed with piles of delicious leftovers. And all this for $55 before tip. The menu is big, too, so I'm looking forward to going back again and again. Also, contrary to other reviewers, I thought the service was totally fine. Finally, if you can, make sure your dinner party includes a friend who knows Chinese food, so they can direct the ordering. The menu is not what you usually see in most (Americanized) Chinese restaurants (in a good way).
(5)
Cris B.
Most authentic Chinese food I've had in DC area, although I haven't tried too many other places. Dan Dan Noodles were very good, as was the Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Broth. Will definitely go back when I get my next Sichuan peppercorn craving.
(4)
Cindy Y.
On my visit we ordered "wu geng chang wang" (intestines and pork blood in pickled mustard spicy stew) and ma puo tofu (braised tofu with minced beef in spicy garlic sauce). The intestine/pork blood stew was flavorful, with a good amount of pickled mustard greens to give it the slight tartness. Pork blood was overcooked but still tasty. Large pieces of intestines which were cleaned well. Sauce was thicker than what I prefer but I think adding water to the leftover portion will fix that. Ma puo tofu stood out from other ones I've had in the past. Great complexity of flavor, generous amounts of tofu and the excellent spicy oily sauce brought the dish together very nicely. I would definitely go back to try other dishes.
(4)
Kung fu P.
Lets just say, whenever my wife is mad at me, I bring her to Sichuan Pavilion and afterwards all is well. Don't dare buy from the American menu and definitely go for the authentic dishes. Their strength is spicy, but they also have some good non-spicy dishes like the fish filet, pork taro in fermented sauce, and braised beef. My personal favorite is the spicy Zhong dumpling, spicy beef tendon (fu qi fei pian), and Dan Dan noodles, pretty standard Sichuan dishes. My wife savors the noodles called Suan la fen and the fish with sour cabbage with noodles. If you're a fan of the typical Ma Po Tofu, then try the Spicy Fried tofu which is the dry version, this goes very well with beer. There are so many delicious dishes to choose from and you can't really go wrong with Sichuan Pavilion, which sets the bar for Chinese restaurants in MoCo, and even maybe the entire Metro area. Enjoy!
(5)
C Q.
We stopped by here for lunch. The restaurant was pretty empty. We checked out the authentic Chinese menu and decided on the "fish fillet and tofu" and "cumin intestines" (don't know the names in English). We asked for both to be less spicy. Although both dishes were indicated as 1 pepper on the menu, people who had been there had recommended toning down the spiciness even for the 1 pepper dish. Both dishes came quickly and both looked and tasted really good. The fish fillet was tender and the tofu was smooth. While it had a kick, it was very enjoyable. The cumin intestine did not had much of the cumin taste, which I actually liked. The intestine was probably fried then stirred fried. We ordered the dessert of red bean and taro cake. It was red bean paste and taro paste, dipped into white sesames, then pan fried. It was good if you like red bean and taro. It's not too sweet, like the typical Chinese dessert. I really enjoy the meal and plan to come here again soon.
(5)
Jack L.
Great place for spicy duck tongue! Twice cooked pork was also good, and the fresh green tea helped the eating process. We also liked the taro dessert and found the service acceptable. We did have a Chinese speaking member of our party, which helped with that. In sum: very authentic, very Chinese.
(4)
John V.
First off, I must admit that I'd rather have "American-style chinese food" vs "Authentic chinese food", so anyone reading this review would understand my perspective on why I rated this place with 3-stars. We went to the Sichuan Pavilion for the first time tonight (Friday night) to try it out based on the reviews it got on Yelp. We wanted to try this place because we were hoping the food would compare with the delicious spicy ma-la flavors that Great Wall Szechuan House in DC is known for. The restaurant itself was packed with Chinese people, so that was a good sign. Here is what we ordered and what we thought - - Vegetable Spring Rolls - small, just okay - Dan Dan Noodles - had that ma la flavor we were looking for. - Kung Pao Chicken - wasn't anything to write home to. too much celery. Meiwah in DC is still the clear winner for Kung Pao. - Eggplant in Garlic Sauce - pretty good. I'm the kinda guy that loves the orange chicken from Panda Express. So, take what you will from my reivew. This place is probably a great find for those that love spicy authentic chinese food.
(3)
Neal Gone Daddy H.
went on a tuesday at 4pm, so they weren't super busy. food was like home cooked in China, nothing super refined. the soup we had wasn't very good. i'd stick to the spicy stuff, it seems like that's where they do well. i'd like to come back when they're busier to see if high turnover improves things.
(3)
Rachel H.
Two of the three dishes we ordered were delicious. The third dish was a simple case of ordering the wrong thing; I took a chance on an exotic-sounding meal and it wasn't for me. It's a must if you like authentic Chinese.
(4)
Jess R.
We love sichuan food, and were really expecting to love this place... but were underwhelmed. The tripe was mediocre; the dan dan noodles were okay, but not nearly as good as other local stand-outs; the crispy fungus dish that everyone had raved about was pretty bland; and the pork & rice cake dish was tasty but not outstanding. It wasn't necessarily a bad meal - but we had such high expectations. Instead, we were just disappointed that we hadn't gone to Hong Kong Palace.
(2)
Joe R.
I lived in China for 2 years and loved the authentic food. Sichuan Pavillion has 2 sections in the menu: authentic Chinese food (in English and Chinese characters) and American Chinese. I've been there 6 or 7 times and it's always been excellent. If you like the numbing "ma" foods (and I love it), the Dan Dan Noodles are fantastic and only $3.95. The Chow Fun beef and noodles is probably in the top 3 noodle dishes I've ever had. The flounder with vegetables in white sauce is mild and outstanding. We also love the hot and sour soup off the American-Chinese menu. Additional numbing dishes ("ma") that I like are the ma po tofu (I was never much of a fan of tofu before this) and the flounder with tofu. The place is usually full of Chinese people and maybe one or two caucasians. The waitresses and waiter are really nice and help me work on my rudimentary use of Mandarin Chinese. The place isn't fancy, but the food is fantastic if you like authentic Chinese food. A Chinese friend from work recommended a desert, but I've NEVER found a good Chinese desert.
(5)
tony c.
With the many choices of Sichuan style restaurants popping out all throughout Rockville/Gaithersburg/Germantown, this is one of the better ones out there. It's good that restaurant owners figured out it's not about how many cups of chili sauce you can fit into a dish, but how it actually taste. This place must of specialized in Hot Garlic Sauce dishes. As there are the traditional Eggplant with HGC (Hot Garlic Sauce), Pork with HGC, and etc. But what i really wanted is Pork Kidney with HGC. The cook could of done alittle better job in getting the kidney uric taste out. But I guess the chef wants his patrons know that they are eating kidney (which I enjoy alot!) Other notables: Beef Noodle Soup (Not the Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup kind) : Broth has spent it's due time cooking in a good mix of beef bones and nice combo of spices. They gave a good portion of beef shank meat. My only complaint is that they used dried regular egg noodles instead of fresh home made noodle. Seafood over Crispy Rice: I never had this dish before. Recommended by the waitress, It had it's interesting points. Crispy rice is traditionally the rice crust that forms on the bottom of either a very old rice cooker or a pot. In many asian families, it is a much treasured snack after dinner. They made these from formed rice and fried it. My only complaints are that the crispy rice was alittle oily then i like and they used tilapia! I am sick of tilapia being used in resturants. Also, their sauce was too runny to be put on a plate. Would be better if they toned down on the sauce or use alittle more cornstarch. All in all a great meal for a reasonable price. I heard the chef is from Joe's Noodle House. I'll definitely visit the place again and try there "Water Cooked beef" and their Pork Intestine in spicy Stew. I only give this place 4.5 stars because of the noodles. if they had homemade noodles, this would give me fond memories similar to the one when AJ's first arrived in Rockville over 10 years ago.
(4)
Mary L.
I am a Chinese-American and my family immigrated here from Sichuan. This is about as authentic as it gets in America, and the flavoring is almost comparable to that of China. It's amazing and I enjoy everything on the menu. Get the bing fen for a dessert- it's perfect for the summer!
(5)
Chuck C.
Eat here only if you like fish. I went with my parents and we ordered a chicken dish, a beef dish, and one other dish (I forgot what it was). Let me tell you the chicken tasted like fish, and the beef also tasted like fish. I guess if you like fish, you can order a chicken dish and save some money since chicken is a little cheaper than fish. But I won't be going back here.
(1)
Richard F.
Went here on a crowded Friday night but only had to wait a few minutes (we got lucky). Right after we were seated, about 30 people, mostly Asians, came in and were standing in line waiting for a table. In fact, I think we were pretty much the only non-Asians in the entire restaurant, which is a GOOD sign if you're looking for good Chinese food, I guess. After we were seated, nobody came to our table to give us menus, so after about 10 minutes, I got up and told the hostess, and she sent someone over pretty quickly. We ordered way too much food. One order of chicken fried rice (enough for 3 people). One order of regular fried rice, sweet and sour soup, fried green beans, and I ordered Hunan Chicken. The Hunan Chicken was unusual--it was very oily, and didn't have the typical vegetables that Hunan Chicken usually has. Instead, all it had were mushrooms, and the sauce was not what I was used to. It tasted different. Not bad, just different. But it was way too oily, and the portion was so huge I didn't even finish half. As far as the fried rice, it was very good, and everyone said it was the best fried rice they ever had. My son, however, being the most picky eater ever, didn't like his chicken fried rice, and only ate a little. The green beans were good, but again, the portion was huge. They have an American menu and a Chinese menu (written in English and Chinese), so you can order items from either menu. We're not that adventurous, but I can see how this place became so popular with the very large Rockville Asian community. Huge portions, very authentic, good food. I wish I had told them "very little oil" for the Hunan Chicken so I could have given them another star, so it probably deserves a fourth star. I'll be back again to try something else.
(3)
M.A. F.
This is my favorite restaurant. OUTSTANDING! Mapo tofu is incredible, smoked duck entree is a must, my husband loves the dan dan noodles... I could really go on and on. I cannot get enough of this restaurant.
(5)
J s.
I've eaten Chinese food all over the country, and all over the world, including China. Hands down, this is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the world. Nothing comes close. The food is fantastic, and when you get your check, you'll be shocked...at how cheap it all is! I wouldn't know where to start , except to say stick with the REAL Sichuan side of the menu, and ignore the "American-Chinese" side. An order of Dan Dan Noodles is a must, as are virtually any of he pork dishes. And I know it's not for everyone, but the liver...oh my god, the liver...I weep with joy when I order this dish.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Sunny X.
The service is always great and they make every effort to make sure you enjoy the experience. Sometimes we went late after a ski trip and the owner stayed late for us. Food is great, especially the chef's recommendations. The food comes out really fast!
(4)Zhi Z.
My parents and I love this place, my father especially loves spicy food. We been here a number of times and never disappointed. The food is authentic Szechuan style, and their servicing sizes are huge. We loved their Beef Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, Flounder, Spicy Chicken (cold) and Garlic Pork (cold). Be warn though, if you go during peak dinner time you need to wait for a seat.
(5)P O.
At this place we ate some authentic Sichuan food. We had fermented soybean whole fish, onion stir fried pork, and Chengdu spicy chicken. Because our bill exceeds 22 dollars, we received a bowl of sweet rice wine with cubic rice balls for free, which is very good for the dessert. My girlfriend periodically has a craving for oily pork or beef, as she called, You You De Rou Rou, which is very cute for me. So we kept on hunting for authentic Chinese restaurants that make You You De Rou Rou. And Jin River didn't let us down today. The only downside is that the meat soup with sour cabbage is not that good. It's too salty as a soup but maybe some other people like it.
(4)Hyun M.
Alright, I don't mind a great restaurant that has some semblance of customer service. That is not what you will get at the Sichuan Pavillion. I like a few others, was very excited about going here because of so many recommendations. I will say if you are not Chinese, do know what you are going to order. I ordered General Tso's Chicken for my 11year-old son and ordered Kung Pao Chicken for myself. Service was poor and the booths shook as people leaned into them, which is disconcerting. His came out almost immediately and mine came out a few minutes later. The General Tso's was good, not the very best. The Kung Pao was greasy and had no flavor other than hot. It did not have brown sauce. Instead it was swimming in oil. Despite my complaints about the Kung Pao, they did not offer me something else more satisfactory. I didn't eat the chicken and found the servers and manager to be rather unsympathetic about the situation.
(2)Michael J.
I came here last night with a party of eleven Chinese friends. The restaurant was PACKED with people. A lot of families too, so they took up the larger sized tables. We waited for about 30-40 minutes before a large group table opened up. The food was amazing and the portions were pretty large. We definitely over-ordered and as we got around 10 dishes. The taste is pretty authentic as the spicy dishes really deliver the punch. They also serve really good Shanghai food since the owners are Shanghainese. The treat at the end is their . For those who lust after authentic Sichuan and Shanghainese cuisine, this is the place to be. Expect long waits for dinner as this place is super popular with the locals.
(4)Peter G.
I love the spicy fish filet and beef. The steamed bums are tasty. Very friendly staff. This is one of the best Chinese restaurant in DC area.
(5)Cameron B.
Like a spicy polished Jade gem, this hidden treasure in Rockville is the real deal and quite the steal. No frills decor means these people care about the food and not their looks! The majority language spoken by the patrons is NOT English, so you know you are on the right path. If you don't like your food to cause a runny nose, then there's still time to turn back, but once you're seated you are met with an extensive menu that is true to the rural Chinese roots of Sichuan style cooking! Everything from duck feet, to a meat dish named after a great General, there is everything right with the choices, all of which have at least one hot pepper symbol next to them!! I went with a group of 4 growassmen and we came in hungry. Opting to order one dish each the waitress asked us if we were sure???? I didn't realize until they dropped off the egg drop soup in a witches caldron that maybe we'd gone to far! Traditional Sichuan chicken was amazing and spiced just right while the diced pork with soft tofu was wonderfully runny and mild. The fried chili tofu had a kick that caused us to refill the free tea pot and the mushroom and beef dish was on point! We left in wheel barrels we were so full, and at $18 each WITH left overs....Jackpot!! Sichuan Jin River is the real deal and brings honor to the humble town of Rock-thrill!! Warning....this food burns twice! It's the gift that just keeps giving....if you know what I mean!!
(4)Irene F.
I cannot believe how busy this place was on a Wednesday at 1 PM!! It was packed like it was a weekend with Chinese people! Luckily we got seated right away- for a table of 6. We ordered the following items: (I think) Spicy Chicken Gizzards $4.50 These were delicious. I'd never had gizzards before, to be honest, it tasted a bit like chewy beef chunks. It was a lot of gizzards for 6 people! Preserved Thousand Year Egg & Peppers w/ Sour & Spicy Sauce $9 I was surprised that this dish was actually sweet. Everyone at the table enjoyed it- but it was probrably my least favorite dish. Spicy Dan Dan noodles. I think I would come here JUST to eat these. They were MA (numbing) and LA (Spicy). Sweet and Spicy Garlic Eggplant. I don't generally like eggplant but this dish was tasty. It came with a LOT of sauce, so being completely Asian I took all the sauces home to cook them up with my own meat and veggies! There was enough for several new dishes...:p Whole Fish. The flavor was good, the sauce phenomenal- but the fish itself was not particularly meaty. More bones and sauce than meat. There was one last dish that was something like paper thing slices of roasted pork and tripe or something. That was also good, but there was an overwhelming amount of spring onions in the dish, which I didn't care for. Overall, although some of my friends thought the dishes were incredibly spicy, I felt like they were the perfect amount. I could still taste the flavor of the food and there was a good burn too. There are so many dishes on the menu, I feel like I have barely tasted the tip of the iceburg. I will definitely be coming back to get my burn on with some Dan Dan and a new array of dishes!!
(4)Annie K.
This place is called "Sichuan Pavilion," but the sign outside says Sichuan Jin River. Regardless, it was one of the best authentic SIchuan places that I've been to! It's definitely a gem in this area. The menu consists one of side in English, and the other side in Chinese. There's a variety of different dishes that you can choose from. We came in a group of 4 for lunch on Saturday and it was busy, but we only waited a few minutes to be sat. We ordered the fried pork dumplings, fried scallion pancake, cucumber salad, shredded pork ear, chicken and corn soup, kung pao beef, fish in spicy broth, fried pork chops, and the dan dan noodles. Each dish was tasty and flavorful, minus the chicken and corn soup, which we sent back. My personal favorites was the fried pork dumplings, cucumber salad, shredded pork ear, and the dan dan noodles. The portions are huge, and everything is also reasonably priced. With all of the dishes we ordered plus 2 sodas, our total was only $79! We had plenty of food to bring back home as well. This is definitely one of my new top favorite restaurants in the area!
(5)Mark W.
This restaurant was fantastic about a year ago. Since that time quality has dropped severely. The food is now oily and the people who run the place are money grubbers. The last time I went I paid cash, the women counted my money in front of me. She also mentioned that they would offer a "cash discount" if I pay in cash. In other words they are trying to avoid paying tax and reporting income to the government. If they are this sketchy, I can only imagine the "games" they play with my food. I'm not going back.
(1)Will H.
Went here last Saturday for dinner. First (and last) time eating here. We called and made a reservation just in case, since we had no idea about how big the place was and how busy it got. Good thing, cause it was absolutely swamped ~30-45 minutes after we arrived, and we were early. Here's what we ordered (in order of presentation): - Dan Dan noodles - pork buns filled with chicken broth (this confused me cause there was no broth inside) - Ma Po tofu with Beef - Chengdu Spicy Chicken Review: (note: I asked them to make all of our food sans-MSG, but was told that the pork buns and dan dan noodles are made with pre-made, MSG-abundant sauces). None the wiser, I proceeded with the order, thinking that MSG is not something I'm unfamiliar with. The Dan-dan noodles came out first. The first bite or two was very good, but once the mega-MSG doses kicked in, I couldn't taste anything else. I've had plenty of MSG in one sitting before - ramen, Pho, other various asian restaurants, etc. Never have I experienced the side effects as I did on this day. Tingly/numb tongue, altered taste perception. It feels like when your foot falls asleep...but it's your tongue. I tried drowning it out with water, but the water tasted sour to me. Since this was the first thing to come out, I'm unsure how reliable my review can be of subsequent dishes. I waited until the MSG effect wore off a bit, before trying the pork buns. They were pretty tasty anyway and seemed to have a lot less MSG than the dan dan noodles. Good quantity of filling and decent taste. The chengdu spicy chicken was damn spicy, which is awesome, but again, I couldn't really taste much because of the whole numb-tongue thing. The mapo tofu was kind of disappointing, but at this juncture, I was already looking for the check. Next time I want good mapo tofu, I'll go to China Bistro. Bottom line: Don't ever get the dan-dan noodles. Also, to be fair, I'm sure there are some good entrees/dishes at this joint that we didn't order, but I'm not curious enough to go back and discover them. Also, one of the workers there with a mohawk was being a little diva. He needed a nap.
(1)Rob N.
Awful service. very unfriendly and rude staff. They have no respect for their customers. food is good, but their customer service ruins the food.
(1)Joanna C.
My parents are always on a quest for good, authentic Chinese food and two years ago, they discovered this gem and haven't stopped going (and taking me there every time I come home). With great prices, lots of spicy (and non-spicy) dishes, and decent service, Sichuan Jin River has yet to disappoint. I think this is definitely a restaurant for people who are looking for authentic Chinese food, so if you're more of a general tso's chicken or orange chicken kind of person (no worries if you are!), I wouldn't recommend it. Personally, I love the mapo tofu, eggplant in garlic sauce, beef with green peppers, and flounder with shepard's purse. My mom loves the seafood combination with crispy rice cake, though I could've used a little more flavor. I'm not a huge fan of the small plates, just because there are so many yummier things there and you can get the small plates everywhere. There's really no better authentic place for miles around, so if you want good Chinese food (especially spicy Chinese food), be sure to check Sichuan Jin River out!
(5)Sina E.
I really can't believe a place this good exists in my backyard in Rockville. It's a little hidden behind the Town Center, and the Fire station, but food this good in Rockville can't hide forever. The menu here is vast, and every dish offers unique flavors and kicks with spices. I love spicy food, and there are many choices when it comes to spicy food here. A few of the dishes I sampled: Steamed dumpling in chicken broth - flavorful and pretty good; it's definitely not the best I've had, but still solid. Smoked Duck (entree) - Tender, flavorful, crunchy skin on the outside, salty, and comes with buns that are a little sweet that balances the saltiness nicely. Flounder and Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup - Holy hotness; the flavors really kick in. I love flounders, and it's a nice combo with the tofu. The spicy soup it comes in is very spicy, and has a bright red texture to it. This dish is literally enough for two people at least. "Mapo" tofu with minced beef - Another spicy dish; the tofu and minced beef work well together, and the flavors really come together. You can't go wrong picking this dish either. General Guan Chicken - Small pieces of chicken, seasoned and spiced that will numb your mouth. This dish was also large and could easily be eaten by two people. Overall, all the portions are large here, and you really get the bang for your buck, plus spicy authentic chinese food; highly recommend this place, and will be back for more authentic dishes.
(5)Sathish P.
Awesome authentic Chinese food. Best bet is Order the following: Short Ribs with baby Taro Cumin beef One of their fish dishes with fried rice cakes. The thing i don't like is every time i am there i have to ask for water. I don't know why its not a normal thing to give water to every customer. And when you pay the bill, right next to the cashier they have bowl full of chocolates. Those chocolates are really good. Just take one they are complimentary.
(5)Sheng Z.
This place is so good. I might even go as far as to say that it is some of the best authentic Chinese (more specifically Sichuan) food I have had in the DC/MD/VA region. The portions are HUGE and the prices are very reasonable. I came here with my extended family and we ordered off the authentic Chinese menu and was exceptionally satisfied. They have this amazing Tea Duck and their tripe is fantastic. If I lived in Rockville, I would definitely come here ever week. This is a definite must try
(5)Sasha W.
This is an authentic chinese restaurant that my family had visited the most frequently in the past. The food is delicious and you can basically never go wrong. The portion size is great so you are guaranteed plenty of left overs! One of our favorite dish is the fried duck that combs with white flour buns that you can tuck them into and also put sweet sauce on. However, I have noticed that as this restaurant became increasingly popular, the quality of its dishes has became a bit less consistent. Nevertheless still very yummy! worth a visit
(4)Christopher D.
5 Star for: *Being one of the most authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurants I've had since my return from China. *Having both an "Authentic Chinese" and "American Chinese" menu to please both sorts of diners. Get the 'Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup' if you're up for an utmost delicious and spicy dish with a numbing twist of fresh 'Flower Pepper' that will leave your tongue completely numb. The mixed Sichuan pickled vegetables were good yet nothing special. Highly recommended if you're in DC.
(5)Jenn H.
I don't know what the hype about this place is, guys. We got the dan dan noodles (as highlighted), the hong you chao shou (wontons in red chili oil), and the niu rou mian (beef noodle soup). We also ordered scallion pancakes, but never got it (more on that later). We were there at an odd time of day (maybe 2pm or so), but there were still a fair number of tables filled. I was excited to try this place, I'd heard so much about it! We were seated, and we placed our order...then I noticed that my plate was cracked, and wasn't washed well (there were some stains on the front, and a piece of rice stuck to it). Hm. The wontons came really quickly--they were fine, a little overcooked (soggy skins), oily without being all that spicy...but nothing to write home about. They took their sweet time getting the other two entrees to us. When we finally got it, my dan dan mian was again oily, without much kick (c'mon, you're a sichuan place--excite me!!!), and very, very plain. I like the one at Michael's noodle house better (its a bit of a different style, but a lot more flavorful without all the grease). The beef noodle soup had crappy noodles, crappy soup, and tough meat. Not ordering that again. Service was not friendly, but polite enough...nothing to report there. Meanwhile, as we were getting more and more disillusioned with each bite, the waitstaff had totally forgotten about our scallion pancakes. Oh, except that they put it on our bill. Psych! They took it off our bill, we paid, and left--I think every place deserves two tries (unless you make me physically ill), but I'm in no rush to try this place again anytime soon.
(2)Howard C.
This place is one of the better Szechuan restaurants I've been to. And I've been to hundreds of Szechuan restaurants all over the US, including NYC, LA, Houston, Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, etc etc. I recommend any dish with whole live fish, and they have a chili pepper with century old egg dish which is phenomenal. This hole in the wall also has excellent service, all the tea you can drink and abundant amounts of rice. It's located in the back of a shopping center so it's a bit harder to find but it is definitely worth looking for.
(4)Fenny L.
In the interest of full disclosure...the chef of this place is the father of the driver who used to deliver flowers for my parents' florist. Who is actually a pretty cool guy (the driver...I don't know the dad). And my dad knows most of the servers...because, well, he knows practically all the Chinese in the area...but that didn't mean we got preferential treatment. In fact, my dad went out of his way to ask that our server not let the staff know that he was there, because he likes to dine incognito (also because my dad is horrible with names, so while everyone is greeting him, he really can't remember anyone else's name). Anyhoo... We've come to Sichuan Pavilion several times, and each time, it's been pretty busy...and if you're a fan of spicy...you'll soon understand why. This restaurant is hidden across the street from the Rockville Town Center, in a dark and aging strip mall, and hidden around the back corner. Yet, even with all this - it's a popular hot spot for Chinese who are fans of Sichuan style food. What is Sichuan style you ask? To put it simply, it's spicy spicy spicy. Chilis, garlic and mouth-numbing green and black peppercorns feature heavily in Sichuan style cuisine. Joe's Noodle House, up the Pike is a popular and pretty authentic Sichuan restaurant. And yet...somehow...Sichuan Pavilion out spices Joe's by a mile. For example, on our most recent visit, my husband, who is a huge fan of Ma Po Tofu (soft tofu cooked in a spicy red chili and peppercorn sauce) asked my dad to order some for him. And if at all possible, to make it extra spicy. When my dad relayed the order, the server's mouth dropped open and asked for confirmation. When my husband eagerly nodded "yes yes!", she shook her head and headed for the kitchen. Moments later, the Ma Po Tofu came out...and proceeded to be so spicy that my husband had sweat dripping off his EARS before he finished his second bite. DELICIOUS! The Spicy Beef with Cabbage was actually MORE delicious then the version at Joe's...and I'm a *huge* fan of Joe's version, but Sichuan's version is more tender, and while at the same time more spicy then Joe's, it's also more flavorful with more layers of flavor and complexity. Yum! Another family favorite here is the "Saliva Chicken" (yeah, no idea what it is in English)...and no, the chicken isn't made from saliva...it's just so spicy and just so tasty that it makes your mouth water when you eat it! SUPER YUM! Clearly, this is one of my new favorite restaurants. I am a huge fan of spicy and Sichuan delivers. Just know that if I get there and I need to wait because the place is packed...and you're there because you read this review...I may have to cut you. And steal your food. Because they really are just that tasty!
(5)M H.
Greasy food that tastes quite mediocre. This place was recommended by quite a few locals. There are better places for Chinese food just a few miles down the road. Service: any place I have to make a special request for water and napkins gets a "does not meet" in my book. As we were paying for our check, the waitress said we'll get a special discount if we pay by cash vs. credit card. $3. Not saying that's a bad thing. Overall, wouldn't repeat.
(2)Guada L.
Big portions, delicious food. I cried the first time I ate here, it was that good. Catfish fillet with peppercorn is amazing. Some dishes are better than others, but never something I didn't like. Waiters are the best.
(5)S S.
Their food is pretty good! And despite the meh looking outside, the inside furnishings are pretty good. Most Asian restuarants look kind of blah inside, but the food tends to be good. This place has both! Though I'd stay away from their fried string beans dish. It is really not made the way it should, and the beans do not taste so fresh. Instead, go for any of the other dishes -- I've tried quite a few and they are all great. I recommend the Mapo Tofu, the seafood stew/soup, the scallion pancakes, and salt and pepper shrimp. Another dish to be aware of is the eggplant dishes. They have sweet and sour eggplant. But it is not eggplant in sweet and sour sauce. It is deep fried balls of eggplant in dough, with some sweet and sour dipping sauce on the side. If you like deep fried, this may be for you. But I do not like deep fried things, so will not be ordering that again.
(4)James J.
We were traveling for work and arrived to town a little after dark. We wanted to get some good Asian food. We found a place nearby that had received some very good online reviews but we couldn't figure out how to get to there due to some local construction. We happened upon the Sichuan Jin River restaurant as we were making one of our many u-turns. "Let's give this place a try" she said. "They are busy so it must be good" I said. We noticed right away that it was very dirty; silverware, table, chairs, walls, etc. I went to use the men's room and it was in shambles, dirty and needed some serious attention. Our server came over and her phone rang in the middle of taking our order and the waitress actually answered her phone right in front of us. After that she apologized, she took our appetizer order. We got steamed dumplings and a couple of beers. When our dumplings arrived they gave us the dipping sauce tray. It was disgusting and dirty. There was something floating in every single sauce. We were very hungry so we ate the dumplings, skipping the sauces and praying that they did not make us sick. The people that were in there eating were all Asian. I figured that what ever part of their country they originally came from must not be too big on cleanliness because they all seemed thrilled. They have a lot of very gross stuff on the menu too like feet,and intestine, etc. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone, unless you are trying to get sick, or like to eat feet and butthole.
(1)Weimew Y.
The same menu has two sections (opened from the opposite covers): American Chinese and Authentic Chinese. Of course I always go for Authentic Chinese. Personal favorites include soup with pork tribe and pickled vegetables, and mixed vegetables on crispy rice. If you pay cash, you receive 6%-10% discount; ask staff for explanation.
(4)Farrell S.
This place is notorious for towing cars in the parking lot. They are jealous of the other Asian restaurants in Rockville Town Square so they will tow your car. They patiently wait looking through the window to see if anyone who parks in the parking lot walks off of the lot. Once you leave the parking lot, a tow truck comes in and tows your car off. There is a sign with very little print that says you will be towed if you leave that parking lot. I wouldn't patronize this place.
(1)Shellie D.
Came here with my family and ordered the duck with the bread rolls. The duck was uneatable and cold. The flavor was harsh and pungent. We told the waitress and then the cook and her went back and forth. The cook told us that it was good and that she made it. We could have called the health department on them because that duck should not have been served. It was clearly spoiled.
(1)Katie W.
Fried rice is great, but the place was dingy and sort of dirty. You had to ask for waters, but were given tea, which was great. I'm not sure if I'll go back, but the fried rice really did taste great. We got other things as well, but they weren't special.
(3)Carol C.
Oh I so miss good Chinese food! (moved to MD from CA where access to really good Chinese food was easy) This place so hits the spot for great sichuan cuisine. Anything with hot peppers, peppercorn sauce, "ma la" taste in it is good. The fried tofu and pig ears are amazing - better than other places I've tried. Not too thrilled on xiao long baos, definitely had better elsewhere - but places that specialize in northern chinese cuisine and dumplings. Have to come back! mmmmm... I think they had spicy boiled fish on the menu, miss that from San Diego and Los Angeles.
(5)Jessica Z.
Where do I begin to review Sichuan Jin River? This restaurant is outstanding! My fiancé and I have come twice and warmly welcomed both times. We decided last night that we are going to start being regulars...this place puts us in such a happy mood and makes the perfect date night. The prices are very reasonable for the generous portions they give. We tried the Chinese Kung Pao chicken both times...it is that good! But a word of caution- it is not for the faint of heart, they love using peppercorn in this meal, so expect your tongue to go numb for a couple of minutes but it's worth it. We have also tried the duck feet- they tasted like a mango-spiced (savory) chicken but a lot of bones. Yesterday, we tried the flounder and black bean sauce for the first time and oh, my...we were in for a flavorful, scrumptious delight. From the lotus root, mushrooms and to the flawless flounder (with the perfect spices to complement it), this dish was amazing. I can't recommend this place enough. Oh, they also serve hot green tea with every meal. When you finish the meal, take time to reflect the great meal you just ate and enjoy the tea- they give you more than enough. The wait staff was great and full of smiles. Don't expect to get a fork and knife with your meal (but I am sure they will give you a fork if you ask); this place is the real deal!
(5)Chris M.
If you are planning on taking your dog out to dinner here, don't let him order the Braised Duck with Konjak; it's full of bones and he'll choke to death. That's not to say the dish isn't delicious because it is; what little meat garnishes the plate is succulent and tender. You'll also want to steer your pup away from the Chinese Style Kung Pao Chicken. It's tastes basically of fried chicken with imitation maple syrup. All that sugar is not good for dogs. He'll love the long beans. They are perfect. The most disappointing part of this meal was the fortune cookies. They were unfortunate cookies. No really, they lacked fortunes and had imposter strips of paper with qualifications about the state of the world written on them like: "it's a nice day." Listen cookie, I know what today is like, what I wanna know is what tomorrow will be like.
(3)Norman G.
This restaurant located behind the firehouse north of Rockville town center has a loyal Chinese clientele and it is frequently jammed. The Chinese customers know what to order and what's on their tables looks very appetizing. But a great many of the dishes are based on intestines from one animal or another and aren't likely to appeal to a good many westerners. The wait staff is of no use at all in explaining individual items. Dishes familiar to American patrons of mainstream Chinese restaurants are, unfortunately, not outstanding. So while you watch families at the next table relishing their meals, you may be disappointed by the choices you've made. I'll go here again with someone who is more familiar than I am with the intricacies--and ingredients--of Sichuan cooking. Plainly, there's a wonderful concert under way. I just happen to be deaf.
(3)Lia M.
Not a fan. I was so excited to try Sichuan Jin River, based on all the awesomeness I had heard about it, but it just didn't live up. My group of five ordered: - Spring Rolls - Scallion Pancakes - Dan dan mein - Xiao long bao - Eggplant with basil - Chicken broccoli - Shrimp and scallops with black bean sauce - Shredded beef with hot dry pepper So, the scallion pancakes were good. No issue there. Dan dan mein was basically spaghetti in a hot sauce. Eggplant was good, very flavorful. Chicken and broccoli was fine, but it's not exactly a complicated dish. Shrimp and scallops were a bit overdone. Xiao long bao was a dumpling-I don't understand the craze. It had a little liquid in it. So? I am less the impressed. Service was fine though. With all the seemingly good Chinese places in Rockville, I am beyond mad that I ended up here.
(2)James L.
This place is one of the few authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurants that we found in the Rockville / Germantown area. My wife is from Sichuan and she really loves it here. The dishes that we tried truly tastes like the way they are made in Sichuan. I would suggest getting the house dishes instead of the American Chinese food. The difference is huge. One reason for only 4 stars is because the facility is a bit old and not a flashy as some of the other restaurants in the area. But the food is superb.
(4)Vinnie A.
I went here because it got pretty decent to good reviews and I was in the neighborhood. I ordered the General Tso chicken. It was disgusting. The chicken quality was very poor. I literally took one bite of the meat and spat it out. I also thought the customer service was not very good. When asked if I liked the food. I told the waitress (or manager) the chicken had a very bad taste to it. She told me that it's white meat, not dark meat and that I should eat since everyone around me was eating. So basically she tried to peer pressure me into eating poor quality meat. Hmmm no thanks! In conclusion I spent $8 on rice and a fortune cookie...should've just gone to chick-fil-A.
(1)Wesley Y.
The food here is really spicy! I was here for a company party (where everyone kind of got laid off...) Whatever food was still good! we ordered some beers to start and they checked ID which was cute rarely do chinese restaurants check ID. We ordered a few non spicy dishes but after eating all the spicy dishes it was hard to tell the difference. After the tongue is numb it doesn't matter anymore! The beer doesn't help ease the spice. We asked for medium spicy levels. I can't really name the dishes we had =/ The deep fried pork chops was good, spicy duck, spicy tofu, the fish in the hot soup was awesome as always. The food prices here are all reasonable. It was a friday night and they close at about 10:30 we were kind of kicked out at around that time. They brought us free dessert as a Please pay your check and GTFO type thing lol.
(4)Katy A.
The MSG was literally mouth numbing. I took two bites and it felt like my tongue fell asleep. The two of us who ate here threw our entire meals in the trash. Horrible food.
(1)Alice W.
Sichuan Jin River used to be called Sichuan Pavilion (巴山蜀水). The restaurant is fairly inconspicuous to a wanderer's eye but has terrific Sichuan food. My favorite is their 豆花鱼 aka spicy flounder with soft tofu. The flounder is so tender and drenched in spicy juices. So flavorful and delicious! Another dish I recommend is the 海鲜é‹å·´ aka Seafood sizzling rice crust soup. It's appetizing and a bit of a show at first - you get these crispy rice-like cakes piled in a bowl and the server pours the seafood and the soup on top, making it sizzle. This is a Sichuan delicacy. I'm a big Sichuan food lover and this is one of my favorite Sichuan restaurants in the DMV area. Love the flavors and the heat. Now that's real Sichuan food!
(4)Nate L.
I will start this review with this: DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO ORDER AMERICAN CHINESE DISHES, OR IF YOU ARE EXPECTING FOOD THAT ISN'T SPICY. This is the lowest common denominator of the poor reviews. I grew up in a Chinese family, and Chinese culture can be different if you aren't used to it. This place reminds me of my childhood. I imagine some not used to the demeanor of the women who run the dining area might initially be put off by it. They're friendly-- one just has to know how to be polite. Anyway, on to the restaurant. The food is exceptional. For a place with "Sichuan" in the name, I was expecting some really hot food. This place doesn't disappoint, if one knows what to order. Be adventurous and order from the "Chinese" menu. Leave the "American" style alone. If you feel inclined to order only "American" style, you'll be disappointed. These are Chinese people who are good at what they know best-- REAL Chinese food. Get anything rated 1 or 2 chilis, and you're in for a treat. I always get the tender beef in spicy soup, and then order different items to complement it. It's amazing. If you've never had real Sichuan, the heat is different to other cuisines. It causes more of a numbing sensation, rather than the burning heat most people are familiar with. Don't be scared. All this to say: the food is DELICIOUS. The service is fine, if a little slow. Not slow enough to move the chains for me. Five stars.
(5)Lecheng Z.
This place made me write the very first review on Yelp. As a Sichuan food lover, I've had all authentic Sichuan food in Sichuan, and I have to say, this is the best Sichuan food I've ever had in East coast. The chilled spicy bean jelly salad and dan dan noodle are way beyond my expectation. They just cannot be more delicious. Zhong dumpling is a little different from the authentic, but it's still very good. I can't believe they serve yellow peas and pig feet soup-a very traditional style of soup in Sichuan. It's the best choice to go with after all the spicy food. For the main course, we had double cooked pork, sliced fish in fiery port and smoked duck. They're just awesome! Smoked duck is different from the authentic style, but what else can you demand! You can hardly find a restaurant with all these dishes to be perfect even in Sichuan! I really wish I could try 30 more dishes on their menu. Intestines, duck blood curd, soft tofu, spice chicken salad, pickled veggies and so much more! Forget about ma po tofu and Kung pao chicken, which can be made with sauce easily found in any Chinese supermarket. If you swing by Washington DC area and want to try some Chinese food, don't miss out this place. Otherwise you'll definitely regret.
(5)Jack L.
I heard this place was good so I decided to take my family there for a nice dinner. I brought my wife and three children there. My youngest son, Daniel, is 8 years old and has Down syndrome, which has been a very difficult cross to bear for my entire family. When we arrived my son Daniel was looked at by the hostess and promptly asked my wife and I if he would be a disturbance during our meal and if he did anything or was too loud we would be kicked out. This was by far the rudest and most offensive thing I have heard in a long while. I asked to see the manager to discuss this awful treatment, the manager told me that the hostess's comments were not a big deal and that I shouldn't be making a fuss about it. The bottom line is Jin River is an awful and rude establishment that does not serve children with Down syndrome!
(1)AL K.
i must had ordered the wrong stuffs on the menu cause I wasn't feeling the love at all. The menu is divided into chinese and english. It seems to me that there are more selections under the chinese menu compared to the english version. The clientele of this place are mostly mainlanders and locals from the area. They must have noticed something was wrong coz every dish that was taken away had leftovers in it. So one of the servers gave me one of their special dish to take home for free. The steamed dumplings were the worst it was one of those microwavable that you buy in the asian grocery frozen section. The soup had slabs of tofu and served lukewarm. Ugh!! Nonetheless I would not go back again.
(3)Douglas B.
Very good. Difficult to go wrong it seems. Dumplings, dan dan noodles, peppered fish.
(5)Jeff C.
Yes, I journeyed to the nether regions of the Metro Red Line searching for this eatery in Rockville. My expectations were high as I had heard and seen of their fine cuisine. I entered the establishment at 1:16 P.M. It was still very lively and active. This was a good sign, or so I thought. A family butted in line ahead of me and was immediately seated. I was left standing by the lady acting as a food traffic cop. In the next few minutes, I was acknowledged and seated at 1:20 P.M. I sat reading the menu (which is in both Chinese and English) and twiddling my thumbs for the next eight minutes as my hot tea arrived. At 1:29 P.M., a waiter finally arrived. I asked for General Tso's chicken and iced tea. At 1:31 P.M., the bottle of Lipton Lemon Tea arrived. Bottled tea??? Really?? I soon learned that all sodas were served in a bottle as well. Well, so much for a classy joint. I enjoyed the drink in a miniature glass with ice, but no straw. After walking in the heat, I needed something cold and wet to drink. Yes, even tea in a bottle in a make believe restaurant. It was very loud. Let me stress again, it was loud. If I spoke Chinese, then it would have been very entertaining and interesting. If you are a student of the Chinese language, this is definitely your place! The chicken was bland, dry, and without appropriate seasoning. Heat? Where? While it is true that the sauce is not over powered with sweetness, it definitely lacks other things. I finished my food at 2:00 P.M.. At 2:10 P.M. a waitress asked if I wanted a box. She yelled something in Chinese to others. I think it meant, "Hey you, get this dude his check! We need the table!" Remember, I am not a student of the Chinese language. Something could have been lost in translation. Within minutes, my check arrived at the table. What else? The two bus girls were awesome. They cleaned tables faster than anybody! The wait staff could have been replaced by first day trainees. We would not have noticed a difference. I know this to be true because several patrons were exercising a move that I call the "searchlight". They were standing up and turning around like a light searching for their server. Looking for a check, drink refill, or order problem were all reasons on this day. My check was picked up at 2:16 P.M. I gained my freedom at 2:20 P.M. I spent entirely too much of my life in this place. Like Cher, I wish I could turn back time! If this review sounded like a police report, it should. All I wanted was my freedom!!! My suggestion for this restaurant? I suggest you pass. With their inherent arrogance to first time guests, lack of food quality, and substandard service; your money should go to a more deserving place. And after all, you work hard for your money and you deserve better!
(1)Gabi L.
I'm usually a Chinese Fortune chick, but because they closed I decided to try this place out. My boyfriend and I ordered orange chicken and chicken lo mein...it was pretty bland and it tasted fake. Not coming back.
(1)Hana B.
One of my favorite restaurants in the DMV area - seriously. I grew up eating food from all over China (my parents have friends from many of the different provinces - always makes for yummy potlucks ^_^) and I lived in China for a year, so I'm pretty well acquainted with the flavors and foods, and how they should taste. In terms of food, I love the (大厨水煮鱼) spicy flounder with vegetables in fiery sauce. I also think they make the best beef tendon and tripe in spicy sauce (夫妻肺片) in the area. Another go to dish is the mapo tofu. If you're feeling adventurous, try one of the intestine dishes - they won't disappoint :) Keep in mind, this style of cooking is both spicy and "numbing." If you haven't had this food before, it will definitely be a new sensation for your tongue! Service is perfectly fine. You have to understand that service in a Chinese restaurant is not like how it is in Western restaurants, so you can't have unreasonable expectations. The servers are doing their job by taking your order and bringing you your food pretty quickly. If you want your water refilled, you will need to flag down your waiter. If you need more rice, you will need to flag down your waiter. If you need anything, you will likely need to flag the waiter. Also, I saw a review stating that "The MSG was literally mouth numbing." For those of you who haven't tried Sichuan food before, the "numbing" sensation comes from the use of Chinese peppercorns, not the MSG (though I guess the reviewer could have been suffering from an allergic reaction, but that didn't seem like the case...there would have been bigger issues at hand). If you don't want to experience a "numb" tongue, maybe you shouldn't eat here. Just saying... Last comment: you get a 10% discount if you pay in cash.
(4)Viva S.
Worst service ever. We were asked to change table in the middle of dinner because they want to let in a bigger group. We were sat in the new table stranded without utensils for 10 minutes. Water took forever to come. Their manager was unsympathetic and aloof. No apologies. Yes, they have good food and we have been a frequent. No, we are not coming back.
(1)Roger N.
I have been coming here for years and it is one of the best Sichuan restaurants in the area. Especially good dishes are flounder and vegetables in fiery soup, spicy cold jelly noodles, and smoked duck with buns.
(5)Zoe X.
This is the best spicy restaurant I've ever had.. The spicy fish is the most delicious and yummy.. I recommend people to try this.. And the service and packed are fine.
(4)Y Z.
Positives: - Probably the most authentic Sichuanese restaurant in MD. - Price is not bad Negatives: - You gotta know what to order. Not everything on their menu is good. - Not sure about the quality of their ingredients
(3)Margaret Z.
I rarely eat out at a Chinese restaurant because 9 times out of 10, my dad could easily replicate the dishes we order. However, Sichuan Jin River has a seemingly endless selection of dishes that are truly authentic and representative of the unique cuisine that originates from Sichuan, China. Sichuan cooking is notoriously known for its intense spiciness, so beware if you have a low spice tolerance... this may not be the place for you. I found it particularly amusing that the menu was double-sided - one side is for "Authentic" dishes; flip it over, and you'll see "Americanized" dishes. Do yourself a favor and go for the authentic! The lunch special here is a great deal - you get 3 selections of entrees and a soup all for around $25 including tax/tip. I came here with 2 friends and we decided to order off the menu instead. The first dish we tried was the cold beef slices salad (fu qi fei pian) - I consider myself to have a high spice tolerance and this one already had my tongue burning... but it was DELICIOUS. Definitely one of the better preparations of this dish that I have tried. We also got one of the spicy fried tofu dishes, which was just so-so. I brought the leftovers home and my dad added some sweet chili sauce, which made it 10x more delicious. It was previously just a little too salty for my tastes. We also got another beef dish (also spicy) and the beef was extremely tender. At the end of the meal though, I was crying, sweating, and had lost pretty much all other taste buds from my tongue being numb. The portions here are huge, so the prices are definitely reasonable. The service here is great and very friendly as well. Minor complaint is that we asked for two dishes to be boxed up, and the manager told us he had accidentally dropped one of them so he couldn't give it to us - but we weren't offered a discount either. Seems a little unfair when we paid for the dish, but aren't really getting all of it. All in all, this seems to be a hole in the wall and I'm glad to have tried it out!
(4)Calvin L.
If you like spicy food, this is a great place to come to. The one thing that I like about Sichuan food is that it's not just about numbing your mouth. It is also fragrant and flavorful. But the spicy food served here is not as intense as they would serve it in Sichuan Province. I have come here twice and both times I have had great meals. I recommend looking at the back of the menu for their house specialties. The dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are great. From the back of the menu, I recommend the diced chicken, meat in fire soup, and the smoked duck with buns. The smoked duck is the only dish listed that isn't spicy. I'm glad that I found a place that serves authentic Sichuan food here in Moco. now I want to find a place that serves it the way it's in China, really spicy where it would completely numb your mouth.
(4)PP U.
Overall, I would say that this is one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants in Rockville. However, I find the flavor a little bit too strong (perhaps others will find it just right). The price is very nice, especially the weekday lunch special from 11 to 3 PM. It includes 3 dishes plus a soup and a dessert for only 22! Compared to other authentic Chinese restaurant specials, bob's noodle etc, this is definitely a steal! Overall a great experience for those who love spicy food!
(4)John S.
I ate here 3 times before I wrote this review. I took off 1 star because this restaurant in my opinion doesn't have any spiciness in their food. The first time I told them to tone down spiciness because I was eating with friends. So I wasn't able to ascertain how spicy it could get but the food tasted good. The second time I told them to make it as spicy as possible. But to me, it was barely spicy at all. One of the dishes I ordered was Shredded Beef with Hot Peppers. I even asked them to add some more peppers but it still didn't help. While it tasted decent, it was kind of like Americanized Chinese food due to amount of sauce. I was told by the owner after the meal to request the numbing spicy and regular spicy next time. The third time I asked for numbing spicy and regular spicy. It made no difference to me. I was told that this was as hot as it gets. Now the level of hotness in this restaurant might be more than enough for many people who have low tolerance for spiciness but to me it was lacking. There are authentic selections on the menu minus the authentic spice and they do taste good. Their crispy potato with wild peppers is comparable to the quality you can get in China. I also like that they give you a generous quantity of rice compared to other Chinese restaurants. I would return to eat here but not for the spiciness.
(4)Eddie K.
Lunch specials are really great here. You get three dishes plus a free soup for around $22. The food here is spicy - lots of peppercorns in their dishes. We liked the Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken, spicy whole fish and the shredded beef with scallions and onions from their lunch menu. The dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are really good.
(4)Esq. H.
We had the shrimp fried rice and the General Tso's chicken and to my shock the total was $25??? If it's your first time, don't do what I did, find a way to try the dishes out during lunch time when they are around $6.75 (Mon - Friday). We called in for carry out. Beforewarned, they only have ONE SIZE of ALL the dishes. No medium, small none of that, just large which I personally think it is crazy. The shrimp fried rice was tasty and had a bunch of shrimp in it and would have been perfect if the shrimp was deveined. The General Tso's had a kick like it should but it was wayyy to breaded for me and I would have preferred if it had a little crunch to it. I realize, it's all Chinese food, but we didn't get traditional Szechuan cuisine so if that's what you are looking for see for yourself, stop by and good luck.
(3)Cat P.
Initially, we were going to Bob's Shanghai, but the new restaurant, like its predecessor, does not accept credit cards. Womp, womp. No problem! Sichuan Jin River, which does, is almost right next door. I had heard and read about Sichuan Jin River/Sichuan Pavillion for quite some time. Reviews were generally favorable, so I was excited to try this place, and luckily, it lived up to my expectations. Since it was a Tuesday evening, there was no wait and we were quickly seated by a friendly server/possibly manager who jutted his chin in the direction of the table where he wanted us (haha). The lack of formality was no issue to us since we were just happy to see a smiley face. After pouring ourselves a cup of tea, we perused the authentic menu (denoted with bold red lettering) and found a bunch of unusual and enticing options. He chose the braised "belt fish" (all the while questioning if such a fish actually existed or if was akin to the "squeegle" in an Anthony Bourdain episode). With my affinity for eggs, I had to have the preserved egg with peppers in a sour and spicy sauce. To start, we ordered the crunchy fungus. As it turned out, the "fungus" was pretty much the same dish we ordered at China Star in Fairfax, wood ear mushroom in a chili garlic sauce. As much as I love China Star, I must say this version is even better! While China Star's was quite oily, Sichuan Jin River's was "drier." You could still see the bits of garlic and pepper dotting the fungi, but it wasn't soaked in oil. Very nice. The braised belt fish came out in a rather sweet and salty sauce with a slight kick. The flavor of the fish alone was quite pleasing. The main drawback was that the fish was so freaking bony. Some Asians are pros at extracting tiny bones; unfortunately, we're not. If it wasn't for the inconvenience of eating it, this dish would be close to perfect. As you may have guessed, preserved eggs aren't for everyone, but when you take them and stir fry with something as piquant as peppers and douse them in sauce, they're actually quite mild and tame. I loved, loved, loved the long peppers that the preserved eggs were paired with. I have no idea what kinds of peppers those were, but they were pretty spicy yet sweet. Due to the huge serving, I couldn't really finish this in one setting, unless I wanted to feel very sick afterwards, but if I had the capacity in my tummy, I would. Our meal was satisfying and worth every penny. Spacious booth seating is another plus. Our server wasn't too chatty, but his show of being impressed when I devoured the preserved eggs helped my ego a bit, which isn't a bad thing. I will be back again and again and again...
(4)Valentina D.
This place is tucked away in the back of an office building, so that you can't see it from the road, but it was still jam packed with Asians on a Sunday night. It would be difficult to eat here if you don't speak Chinese, because some of the menu items are in Chinese without an English translation, and the waiters sometimes have difficulty communicating more complicated concepts in English. Nonetheless, that's what I look for when I'm looking for an authentic Chinese meal. The dan dan noodles were delicious as others reported, but we weren't too excited by the soft tofu with pork. We did, however, like the prices. $5 for the dan dan noodles (basically a half portion of a true entrée), and $8.50 for a gigantic bowl of the soft tofu with pork. But with a place as authentic as this, I was a bit surprised to get charged $1 for a small bowl of rice.
(3)Yaka H.
SX and I came here for a weekday lunch to try their lunch special, which is 3 dishes + a soup for a set price (I think around $22?). It's on the "authentic-style" side of the menu (the flip side has the typical American-Chinese offerings). I think it's a really good way to sample new dishes through this lunch deal. We tried the spinach and tofu soup, a whole fried fish covered in sauce, s&p pork chops, and beef with green peppers. In addition, we ordered snow pea tip greens. The soup was very flavorful despite being a very simple soup with pretty much 2 ingredients in it. Everything else was quite good. My only issue was that the fish seemed a tad over-fried, making the meat of the fish kinda hard in certain parts. We had plenty of leftovers, which made for another yummy meal. The servers were very friendly and were giving suggestions on what to order.
(4)Fereshteh A.
I was there for dinner , order some sheredde beef with pepper,, and some chicken ,,, it was not bad but too oily
(1)Rahul J.
Took the in laws here yesterday - again - off the charts good (they love spicy food) TIP: Let the server order for you within your dietary confines. We had the same server both times we went and he was spot on with suggestions and very funny (perhaps the only asian male server there) Also note that they do NOT have any DC outposts.
(5)Julia L.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the area. It is very authentic, so it gets really crowded around weekends and Chinese holidays. I had to wait in lines many times I was there. The waiting staff were friendly, and orders come out fast. I love their Sichuan spicy fish - one of the best I have ever had in the US.
(4)Hans G.
Five stars for the food. Negative four stars for the rude service. We were continuously rushed to order and eat as soon as possible with staff standing at our table. Ruined what would have been otherwise a great meal.
(1)Ricky V.
Best Sichuan-style food I've ever had, maybe the best Chinese food. Order from the authentic menu and go nuts. This food is not wimpy-it is spicy and bold. But I've never gone wrong on the authentic menu. Don't be afraid to order the stuff that sounds weird. My favorite dish is the spicy garlic pork.
(5)Vivian Q.
We used to like it, until served stale blood tofu recently. I am a big fan of blood tofu and the one I got here was not stale, but really really stale, it was sticky in the mouth and had a stinky taste. It was insulting to serve food like that and thought they could get away with this. Too bad such a popular restaurant like that doesn't care about quality.
(1)Janet L.
I love authentic Sichuan restaurants and this is one of them! The restaurant is decently sized, the waiter we had tried to be funny (except I didn't find the jokes funny)... but at least he was enthusiastic about his job? Much better than someone who disrespects you. If you're feeling adventurous, go for the authentic Chinese menu! Some authentic/terrific dishes (be adventurous, I promise you're stomach will thank you) : Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce, Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce, Wontons with Hot Sauce (8), Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup, Cumin Beef... that's just a few select dishes that I thought were lovely. The dishes are spicy and flavorful... with your standard Sichuan peppercorn, chili pepper and various spices. I haven't had a chance to explore Northern VA but definitely the best Sichuan restaurant in the Rockville/Bethesda/Montgomery County area!
(5)Sarah C.
noon and not this mornin' bean curd to quell pang callin' I couldn't think of passin' spice away and if pick is hot and hectic tongue hopes it tastes electric I'm glad I took my chances - much glee you see, I'll just be this blunt ma po's hot and bold! NOT bland or cold it's got it all, minced pork with every bite woe! heat hot chew slow! welp, can't ignore beef chow foon fare see soft meat strips, wide noodles share rich timeless meal and comforting to me I forgot one more thing steamed pork buns here were lackin' meh, wouldn't take advantage of these but please, you've got what I'm wantin' ma po's hot and bold! NOT dull nor old it's got it all, minced pork with every bite gold! be back, I'm sold! it's got it all eats' hot and bold . . . inspired by Brian B. yelp.com/biz/dog-pound-t…
(4)C C.
My mother and I went here for lunch. We got the following: General Guan's Chicken - 5/5 stars Wontons in Chili Sauce - 5/5 stars Dan Dan Noodles - 5/5 stars Spicy Chicken Salad - 2/5 stars The Spicy Chicken Salad was not at all what we expected. We ordered it because it was recommended by the Washingtonian as a must have. Note that the skin and bones were still on the pieces of chopped up chicken and it was kind of hard to eat because of this. The sauce was tasty, but there was a spice in it that caused both my mother's and my tongue to tingle and feel slightly numb for about 5 minutes. I would not order it again. The other 3 dishes were all delicious. They had a nice level of spice and lots of flavor. I would order all of them again. I'm excited to give more of their dishes a try in the future.
(4)Tian Y.
My mom is a tough person to please when it comes to eating out, and she's especially picky when it comes to good Chinese food, and this is probably her favorite restaurant on the east coast. Mine too! Probably the best sichuan food I've had on the east coast. We come here almost every time we're in DC. Really good authentic food. Try all the popular sichuan classics here! They're all solid. The pickled vegs are really flavorful too! And fu qi fei pian is almost as good as my mom's, haha. We love it here... but then again this is coming from the biased view of Pittsburgh, which is mostly deprived of good Asian food.
(5)Charles M.
Some of the best Chinese food I've ever had! You have to really enjoy spicy food because the food is here is spicy and amazing!!!! Must go if ur in Bethesda!
(5)Harmony E.
Dined there once and definitely would not go back. The food was pretty average. The service and cleanness were both below average.
(2)Chris B.
This place was great. We started with Dan Dan noodles and fried pork dumplings. The dumplings were meaty and tasty and the noodles were tremendous. Our entrees were moo shoo pork and combination fried rice. I highly recommend.
(4)A N.
Fascinating Sichuan food, with options not found elsewhere. Thoughtful, knowledgeable service. Comfortable setting. Have visited only once, ordering from Appetizer/Small Plates sections of the menu, but look forward to visiting again. Our first meal: We could have used more flavor variation-- several of the items we picked were heavy on salt. (Next time, we will check with server to try to get more of a variation) That said, interesting flavors throughout. We had: Zhong dumplings: crescent shape, meat filled, with a hot sauce. Flavor was mildly hot and moderately salty. Shredded, seasoned pig ear: Interesting, although an acquired taste. Thin slices of cured pig in soy sauce. Texture is quite chewy and cartiligeous. Good as an accent item in a larger meal, not as a mainstay. Soy imparts salt. Dan Dan noodles: Here, simple, thin noodles in a spicy, slightly salty red sauce-- sauce is not peanut. (Note that there is a sesame noodle dish on the menu). Noodles are very fresh and flavor is unexpected and enjoyable. Seaweed in garlic: Simple and delicious. The strands of seaweed are very long and the garlic flavor is intense. Pork and chicken broth dumplings: outstanding, a must. Justifiably, a signature dish. The dumpling wrappers are delicate, the pork filling tasty and adroitly seasoned; the broth offers a rush of delight. Bottom line: well worth trying. Many novel menu items not readily found in the DC area. Ask server to ensure that you are ordering a range of flavors.
(4)Jess C.
I usually don't enjoy eating Chinese food in the States because it just doesn't compare, but Sichuan Jin River has really changed my mind. I came here to eat a few weeks ago, and a day still has not gone by where I do not think about the Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef ($10.95) that I had here. The servings are quite large here, and I was able to bring the leftovers for lunch for two days. I also got the "kong xin cai" aka morning glory aka water spinach that was great for balancing out the Mapo Tofu. There's a variety of authentic style Chinese foods, and there's a variety of items that looked yummy on other people's table, and I am eager to order next time. I will definitely be back.
(5)Vicky L.
The food was really delicious. The staff were friendly. The mahpoh tofu was just right for me. My boyfriend likes it more meaty, but he's not from the providences that like spicy food. The cucumber cold dish was just how my grandma made it. I couldn't stop chomping on it. The ambience was a little weird for 8pm and the food was a little pricey, but the food and portions were well worth it.
(5)Jim L.
We had a large party of 10 and although they had to jerry-rig 3 tables to get us together, it all worked out. Lots of passing the plate and also dealing with 4 little kids. I am not much of a spicy/hot food eater, but Diane's friends definitely were. They however accommodated me and the kids by ordering food that didn't burn my mouth, intestines, etc..... Since I have no idea what to call most of the food, you will have to take my word that the stuff I eat was good. Might be helpful to ask other Chinese on this thread! Service was ok, but what is it about Chinese restaurants in general where they just don't get it that people want/need water refills???? Easy location behind the Rockville fire station and within a spit of the Rockville Town Center. Parking: great Service: ok Food: good, but if you like HOT/SPICY...you will love this place!
(4)Grace C.
It may be confusing why some reviews are either really good or terrible. The answer is, if you are ordering kung pao chicken and other dishes that you can find at panda express, this restaurant is not the place to get it. This restaurant serves one of the best authentic Sichuan Chinese food on the east coast; meaning, you go there to order deliciously hot spicy dishes and may find parts of a pig you never had before. Those who do not prefer to try new foods are missing out! If you were one of them and wish to explore the amazing gift of taste, I would recommend this restaurant as a place to start. It can also be a more appealing experience if you keep in mind that Chinese people see texture as a type of taste. The only other place I feel that you could find authentic Chinese food is in NY china town (unfortunately none in china town D.C.). Here is a list of some of my favorite dishes they serve; I apologize if my spelling is off. If anyone would like to respond with the correct ping ying I'd appreciate it very much! - cold beef appetizer ( fu chi fei pian) - liver, kidney dish ( gan yao he chao) - cumin pig intestine (zhi ran fei chang) *Reminder: these dishes are spicy. They used to make it spicier or sometimes they are spicier during the winter, but you'll get used to it and LOVE it!*
(5)Dan M.
I've had so much bland Chinese food in MoCo I thought I'd never have a decent meal again. Sichuan came to the rescue. It's nice to see they went the extra mile with both an American Chinese menu and an Authentic Chinese menu. So many options to choose from, you're sure to find something you'll like. We ordered to go and got the egg drop soup, hunan chicken, chicken fried rice, and shredded beef with hot fresh peppers. All of them were great. Good level of spice, large portions (we had enough for lunch the next day), tons of rice on the side to soak up the sauce, that's just what I wanted. Plus, the location is right across the street from the Rockville Town Center, adjacent to the fire station.
(4)Joe T.
If you like spicy chinese food, then this place is perfect for you. When I visited here, I was welcomed by the waiter. He was very welcoming. Food was very spicy yet very good. Overall I really enjoyed it.
(4)Bruce G.
I came back here again a couple of days ago. The "authentic Chinese" lunch special menu is so big that I try to taste something different every time, and I like what I've had. There are two negative points I would make, however: 1. Unlike the nearby Bob's, the special does not include a soup but costs the same as the one at Bob's (which does include a soup). 2. The labeling of dishes as to how spicy they are is woefully inconsistent. I've had "one-chili-pepper" items that I would not call spicy at all, and others that were considerably spicier (but nothing that was spicier than I could take -- although others with a lower tolerance for spice might differ from me). With these two factors, I can't really give it five stars (though you might read my review of Bob's and conclude that not including a soup might be a good thing!) But everything I've had tasted fine, even the things I might consider not as spicy as I'd like -- which I assume aren't supposed to be spicy; but then why label them as such?
(4)Rebecca Z.
We eat here regularly. My favorites are Dan Dan Noodles, cumin beef, and chow fun.
(4)Cathy H.
This place was really hard to find. Why? Because I was searching for Sichuan Pavilion, which was the old name of this establishment. Anyway, I was really excited to try their spicy beef noodle soup because I have a life goal to find the best bowl in the country. Sadly, I still believe Hunan Chinese Gourmet in Fair Oaks Mall serves the best. SJR's version has a very oily (chili oil) broth and that prevented me from drinking it like I usually do once all noodles are eaten. The noodles are chewy and the beef is tender with bits of tendon attached (big plus). I tried their scallion pancake and pork dumplings as well. Their scallion pancake is only $2.95 and probably the highlight of the meal. The pork dumplings had terribly thick skin and were not what was expected. I need to find a place in the DMV that sells delicious xiao long bao (soup-filled dumplings). NYC can't possibly be the only area along the East Coast which offers good XLB. I give this place 3 stars, but may return later to try their dan dan noodles and pork/pickled cabbage soup.
(3)anon r.
i was excited to take my taiwanese parents here (years ago), but they complained thru the whole meal -- about the service, canned bamboo shoots, too-large menu (so that nothing is actually fresh), too many chemicals. so won't do that again. last time i went was also lackluster, trying to experiment with the attractively priced lunch special. but i'm giving this place 4 stars bc i'm currently craving their tangyuan (shareable serving, large individual balls, taste like they're made in-house, in rice wine) -- esp since it's sooo cold already, but of course that's why i don't want to go out and actually get some!
(4)Anne D.
I ordered the soup dumpling, salted & crispy pork and the minced beef Mao po tofu. I first started with the dumplings and they were delicious, (first time I ever had them) then I tried the tofu which burn the living crap out of my mouth. Killed every sensation and taste I had and everything just went downhill. I couldn't even taste the pork but my boyfriend said it was good. I'm kind of scared to go back.
(3)Elliott K.
There's been a lot of hype behind the reviews I read about this place, but I just ordered take out and I am very disappointed. Me and my brother are back in town for the holidays and we decided to order from a place that we never did while living here. Boy do we regret that. We ordered the Mapo Tofu and General Tso's Chicken. The food was ready I think faster than the 10 minutes I was told. That alone was disconcerting when I picked it up. Mapo Tofu - Very flavorless, unless you count the abundance of basil flavor. When I picked the container up, I got the oil on my hand and I licked it. It was definitely covered in basil. Not tasty at all, barely edible. General Tso's Chicken - Less sweet than most places, but also covered in some sort of pepper flakes. It didn't have a delicious spiciness too it, mostly just an unappreciated after burn. I have a high tolerance for spicy food, but this was not good. Safe to say, I will not be returning.
(1)Hannah H.
About a 3.5: Sichuan Jin River is located in a plaza off of Hungerford Drive, and they offer an extensive menu: appetizers, small plates, soup, seafood/beef/pork/chicken/vegetables entrees, Sichuan specialty dishes, noodles, fried rice, and dessert. I was able to try: the 'Dan Dan' Spicy Noodles with Minced Pork (I think they use spaghetti noodles? Either way, it wasn't as salty as I expected it to be, and the spicy chili sauce that you don't see is set on the bottom that you mix up the noodles with - the sauce can be really delicious, but can be inconsistent in taste at times T____T - I was surprised I could handle the spice :P I could have slurped up those noodles all day :D; a Scallion Pancake (this was a nice size - it was a little thicker than usual, but I was totally okay with that, as it was literally one of the best scallion pancakes I've tried! It had a nice balance of the soft interior with a crispy exterior, with a good amount of scallions throughout - dipping it into the soy sauce was MONEY); Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup (this was topped with an extremely generous amount of chili flakes; I was a little taken aback, assuming it would literally burn my tongue off; however, I just stayed away from the flakes, and went underneath and around them; this had pretty good flavor, and it kind of reminded me of a familiar dish that I just can't put my finger on - a mixture of soondooboo and jjambbong, maybe? I enjoyed the napa cabbage slices that were crunchy, and there was a generous amount of beef (same texture as you would find in Beef & Broccoli, so keep that in mind!); mix it all with the rice and it is pretty satisfying; my husband ate up all the leftovers within seconds!); and, an order of the Small Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth (these kind of looked like the XLBs, but it contained no soup, just a very juicy mound of soft pork; while generous in the filling, these were just okay and slightly forgettable). A hot pot of tea was served, service was prompt and efficient, and I was surprised at what a bargain Sichuan Jin River offers. I definitely will be back, as I would love to try out their other specialty dishes. GO MOPSSSSSSSSSSS, JASON, C.!!! +'Dan Dan' Spicy Noodles with Minced Pork (sometimes inconsistent in taste T___T) +Scallion Pancake :D +Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup +fast & efficient service +plenty of parking
(4)Ruth C.
Four and a quarter stars for family portions of tasty food with friendly service. Plenty of parking attached. Their dan dan mien uses the most resilient noodles in the area, with just enough sauce to coat. Basil eggplant was tasty. Sliced beef & vegetables in fiery soup has a nice amount of heat to the tender meat. Didn't care for the broad noodles in the Sichuan style NRM, but there were a lot of respectable nuances to every other component. XLB were okay in flavor, more delicate than average. I like celery and wood-ear plenty, but I'd skip the semi-Americanized sliced pork salad. Fluffy white rice. Outside their unfortunate noodle decisions, I'm digging the flavors here. Lunch special looks like a good value, but my future hit list will shop outside its menu: smoked duck, ko swei ji, double cooked pork & crispy rice cake, short ribs with sticky rice or taro, home style intestines, pig feet, mapo with beef, stir fried string beans.
(4)Zheng W.
Very good Sichuan food. Price is good and food tastes good enough to satisfy my Chinese belly. Definitely would like to go again.
(5)Annie B.
This is a review from a vegetarian perspective. I went here for the first time in 2009 with a grad school friend from the Sichuan Province in China (the name of the restaurant changed since then, but the menu is the same). She order everything off the menu for us and made sure to get some vegetarian entrees I could eat :) The 10 or so times I have gone here since, I have always ordered the same delicious things off the menu. Here's what I get every time: 1. Mapo tofu, no meat (you have to tell the waitress no meat). If you don't like soft tofu, don't order this. I happen to love soft tofu and the sauce on this is such a flavorful umami bomb that your taste buds will be singing in delight. So good! 2. String beans Sichuan style, no meat (again tell the waitress no meat). These green beans are really flavorful and I'm convinced could turn a veggie hater into a veggie lover. They are really garlicy and apparently the umami yummy flavor comes from ya cai, which is pickled mustard greens. 3. Eggplant in hot garlic sauce. The eggplant is super-garlicy and somewhat spicy with a meltingly tender texture. It is sooo good! My husband hates eggplant, but gobbles this stuff down like it's going out of style. Yum!
(5)Wing C.
My parents can't take spicy food yet they raved about this place again and again. I finally had the opportunity to join them with my in-laws in town. With in-laws treating in-laws, there were of course more than enough food ordered to feed a village. Here are some of the highlights! Spicy jelly noodle - this dish was so simple yet refreshing, - a hint of aromatic chili oil paired with some chopped peanuts - delish! Soup dumplings - these dumplings were meaty - mouthful every bite. They could use a bit more soup to balance out the meat/soup ratio. Steamed fish with ginger and scallion - the fish was so flaky, soft. Loved the fact, it was de-boned for us. General Tso's chicken - I know I know, this is not a true Chinese dish - but they made this dish so well! Loved that it was made of white meat with the perfect hint of spice. Garlic Spinach - helped cut the oily, spicy-ness to all the other Sichuan dishes we had. It was a simple, yet delish palate cleansing dish. Taro rolls - supposed to be desserts? I couldn't help but have an entire order for myself. Golden, crispy, and perfectly sweetened taro paste filled! Ah they were heavenly! We also had chili fish, stir fried spicy tofu, Sichuan mixed combo, smoked duck with buns, sweet and spicy eggplants, etc. But surprisingly, I didn't enjoyed these authentic Sichuan dishes as much as the ones previously highlighted. Perhaps, mentally I just couldn't accept the amount of (chili) oil I was ingesting. Nevertheless, I was amazed by the quality and the quantity served at Sichuan Jin. Would definitely be back!
(4)Susan R.
real asian food not americanized. I had an amazing baby bok choy with preserved duck egg. My husband's spicy beef covered in red pepper flakes but not firey just nice earthy heat. Bring cash, pay with cash you can get a card stamped to earn free meals.
(4)ron w.
An old Chinese proverb states "That you can never stand in the same river twice". Ah, Grasshopper, but you can go to Sichuan Jin River as many times as you want. Go. Go now. Set behind an office building with lots of free parking is where you'll find the hard to find Sichuan Jin River. Hard to find, yes, but hard to beat for great food. The ambiance is early Costco. A crate of industrial fortune cookies waiting behind the cash register to be doled out with the check. Don't like your fortune, they will bring five more. The staff wants you to be happy. The carpet wears most of the dishes now served at this wonderful spot along with some ground in samples of the prior Vietnamese place that occupied the space. You want to eat off the floor, go to Hakkasan in London, or Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, but this restaurant is worthy of making the pilgrimage from either of those cities. The food is not truly Sichuan although if you tossed the kitchen you'd find some real Sichuan peppercorns, perhaps. It panders to the Rockville crowd and the occasional lost DC foodie, or those perennially disappointed in almost everything Bethseda has to offer. Start with Pickled Crispy Cucumber Garlic Salad, and swill an iced Tsingtao or two. Have a platter of Crunchy Potatoes with Wild Pepper which is as good as it sounds. Don't miss the Scallion Pancake, a simple dish which is simply difficult to make correctly. Shatteringly crisp on the outside and pancakey soft on the inside and chocked full of sliced fresh scallions. The only other place that makes them this good is Four Sea in Irvine, Calif. So, save your Frequent Flyer miles for a trip there, or better, yet Taipei. The Pork Soup Dumplings were excellent. Just as good as Din Tai Fung which opens like Chipotles outlets everywhere, and just a hair less delicious than what you get at Shanghai Asia Manor in New York. The Eggplant with Basil Sauce, Fried Tofu with Vegetables and Stir Fried Green Beans kept the Vegans with us at bay. (Toothless though they may be.) The Smoked and Deep Fried Duck with puffy dough pillows and Plum Sauce was so good a second order was required immediately. The Cumin Beef was brilliant. Uber crisp beef tenderloin on a bed of translucent chili-fied onions. The Flounder in Black Bean Sauce was a religious experience. A succulent huge pile of boneless, skinless fresh flounder fillets floating in a vat of thick gelatinous soupy gravy so good I wanted to pair down to my French Marble Bag and just lay in it. The Singapore Fried Rice Noodles was done just right. Vermicelli with dry curry, shrimp, and chicken made crave a Sloe Gin at Raffles Hotel. Typically, General Tso's Chicken is not only not Sichuan, it ain't even Chinese. It was a designer dish designed to please American tastes. Battered, fried, tender chicken in a thickened sweet orange-ish sauce. What do you expect? We're honkies, after all, but the only ones in Sichuan Jin River among a room full of born and raised Sichuanese most of whom ordered it as well. This Chinese Emperior's Feast for 12 was $276 with tax, license, dealer prep and out the door. After dinner, our table looked like a Civil War Mash Unit, or the sheets in the boys dorm. Great food is like sex, if you don't have it all over you, you're doing it wrong. Do it right, and dive into Sichuan Jin RIver.
(5)Alan Z.
If you want authentic sichuan food, this is the place to be. Food here is comparable to what i'd get in China. The seasoning is bold and really good. Definitely not americanized Chinese food. If you like spicy, definitely come here and try it out.
(5)Marc L.
How fun is it to discover a slightly run down hole in the wall with amazing ethnic food? It's a thrill for me. Makes me feel like an insider. Well , Sichuan Jin River is almost that. It's not undiscovered, but not hugely popular. It's not a hole in the wall, but it is hidden and slightly worn. And the food is really good, and in our case, I experienced something unique and delicious. So pretty darn close to a thrilling experience. Ate here with spouse on a Thursday night around 7 PM. I've been wanting to try this for awhile after seeing the rave reviews from Tyler Cowen. A bit confusing to find the place, you can't see it from Rockville Pike. Turns out that it's around the back of a twin building with a central passageway, and there is parking in the back of the building next to the restaurant entrance. When you enter, the restaurant appears "modest", a polite word for a bit dated and run down. But it's clean and comfortable. I have a feeling that this is part of the appeal, if the same food were served in elegant surroundings, maybe you wouldn't feel like it's a discovery. We are non-meat eaters and there was plenty of selection. The back of the menu has photos of the specialty dishes, so we chose one from there, the "Hot fresh pepper with flounder in black bean sauce." My wife doesn't care for spicy food, so we ordered "Eggplant in basil sauce". And I got a Tsingtao beer, always a winner with Chinese food. Service was reserved but friendly. When I smiled and asked the hostess/server to come over and help, she was smiling and friendly and helpful. Eggplant dish came out within minutes, very hot, and good. Nothing exceptional but good, plenty of fresh garlic, cooked nicely and good flavor. Huge portion. Had this been the only dish for the evening, my rating might have been 3 stars. But then the fish dish came out. It looked exactly like the photo and had surprises in store. Huge portion again, very large bowl, filled with broth, then loaded with flounder and a few vegetables (some I could not identify), then a layer of black tasty substance (bean residue? pepper?) which was really delicious and smoky, and topped with finely sliced spicy green peppers. Definitely a kick. I kept saying: I have never had anything like this. Unique, flavorful, delicious. Makes me want to return to try other dishes, particularly fish or vegetarian specialties. But without my wife, because all the good stuff looks to be spicy. Bill came to $42.50 with tax and tip. The dishes were $18 (fish) and $12 (eggplant), plus beer, plus tax/tip. But we have an entire meal that was packed up for us to take away and eat later at home, so it's like we bought two meals. So value was good. My bottom line in stars: service 4, atmosphere 3, food 4, value 4, overall 4. I shall return.
(4)Callie B.
This place has a SERIOUS roach problem. I have no idea how they haven't been shut down yet. Don't eat here.
(1)Timothy C.
Right down the street from the Rockville town center, cuddled up to a fire station, there is a storefront from the 80's that is trying really hard to get you to miss them. Empty patio, a bajillion signs telling you they will tow your car, no sign of life outside. DON'T BE FOOLED! There is Chinese goodness in there. First stamp of approval? I'm the only non-Asian in the house. I mean, that's true at the corner Chinese take-out place down the street from my apartment, but that's because it's empty. This place was poppin' on a Saturday night, and it only got more crowded. We started with a quick skim of Yelp faves, and got the dan dan noodles and a scallion pancake. I liked the spice of the noodles, but I'm sure most of their other noodles would have been more enjoyable. Kind of basic like what a kid would ask for. The pancake was good, crispy and savory, a nice start. We ordered 4 entrees: Breaded duck with rolls, orange chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and pork lo mein. Now, the last 3 of those dishes I thought I had eaten before, but these were the best versions of them I have had. I'll give special props to the sweet and sour chicken, crispy veggies and perfectly fried pieces of meat with a KILLER sauce! My fave was the duck. It's breaded and fried, and chopped into chunks, served in a pile surrounded by fluffy rolls and a cup of savory, sweet sauce. As the server pointed out to me, the rolls come apart and can be made into sandwiches. Wha! I LOVE SANDWICHES! And I loved those sandwiches...crunchy, smooth, tasty, and surprising. We enjoyed that meal for around $15 a person (no drinks, just tea), and had enough leftovers for dinner the next day. I will be back for the classics and maybe try some of the weirder stuff too.
(5)Divine A.
Portions here are generous and it was quite good. I had egg drop soup and the flat noodles which reminded me a lot of drunken noodles. Although for this no heat. Definitely not a bad deal and might come back to try other things in the menu.
(3)Kyungeun P.
Omnomnomnom.. This place was amaze. It's kinda sorta tucked away in a plaza that's not in plain view from rockville pike fyi. We ordered: pork soup dumplings (ok, not really soup dumplings, more like regular steamed dumplings by the way), spicy cucumber salad, fish in hot oil (or spicy boiled fish), beef noodle soup, basil chicken, and a rice ball soup dessert. Don't recommend: beef noodle soup (meh. Recommend that you drive over to A&J in rockville instead) Highly recommend: spicy boiled fish and their dumplings. The spicy fish had a lot of numbing Sichuan peppercorns, so beware! Price point was decent/ok, and seating was plenty. We went around 7:30-8pm on a Saturday night and waited about 5 minutes before our party of 4 was seated. Other tables ordered a hot clay pot dish and it looked great.
(4)Jason C.
It's a bit shocking to me that Sichuan Jin has dropped below the 4* level on yelp. Over the years, this has been one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the DC area and it's well-known that many Chinese folks from all over the DMV come to this spot to get the best, if not one of the best Sichuan food in the area. Sichuan food is known for being spicy and also for having meat cuts and preparations that don't show up on typical Chinese menus. Ordering is quite a challenge here. There are numerous options and unfamiliar dish names which make it difficult for an unassuming consumer to navigate and order the right dishes. To make things worse, several of the meats are not mainstream consumer favorites (e.g. tripe, rabbit meat, etc.) and I've known some who have downright said they won't come here again after eating those dishes. While it's rare for me to do this, when I come to this restaurant, I stick to several dishes. The first one is DAN DAN NOODLES. It seems like a very simple dish. It contains nothing but minced meat and chili oil yet the flavoring is absolutely amazing. I'd say this is the highlight of this restaurant. The second dish is their BEEF IN FIERY SOUP. The looks of this dish will intimidate you. It's dark red and filled with chili oil and numbing sauce. Looks can be deceiving as it isn't as hot as it looks (but you may not want to gauge that based on my spice tolerance). The beef is a quite chewy and the preparation is simple yet it is full of spice and flavor. I highly recommend this dish. If you can tolerate the spice and like it, I can confidently state that you won't find a place as good as this in the MoCo area.
(4)Roll T.
4.25 stars. First and foremost, the dan dan noodles here are probably the best one will find in the DC area. At the very least, they rival the preparation at Sichuan Pavilion though my preference lies in Sichuan Jin River's peppercorn friendly version. For those who felt it was appropriate to bash the food here, I'd strongly suggest trying out the flounder and show me any Chinese preparation within a 50 mile radius that rivals this culinary masterpiece. It would not be an exaggeration to say this was the best preparation of flounder that I remember and this is from someone who grew up off the Gulf Coast! Accenting the wonderful flounder is a menagerie of vegetables including tree ear mushrooms, snap peas, and bamboo shoots. Other than the flounder, the house special Iron Beef had a pleasant consistency with the beef almost mirroring perfectly cooked pork belly in texture. Scallion pancakes were crisp and not too oily taking on an almost biscuit like quality. Only the dried tofu wasn't a pure revelation, and is the only reason I'm keeping my review to 4.25 stars. Sichuan Jin River is Sichuan cuisine elevated to its finest, and even for those who are not in Rockville, it is worth the trip from DC to try it. Frankly, I'm saddened that I only recently discovered this masterpiece. It is certainly one of my favorite finds in suburbia land.
(4)Dean H.
This is as close as it gets to authentic Sichuan cuisines. Szechuan is a style of Chinese cuisine originating from Sichuan province in southwestern China. It has bold flavours, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavor of the Sichuan pepper. Sichuan food is really about a variety of flavors: spicy, flowery (Sichuan peppercorns), salty, sour, sweet, bitter, smoky, etc. Frequently all of those flavors are combined in one dish. This being my first time, I decided to try the DanDan Noodles for appetizers and the Cummin Beef as an entree. The noodles are plenty enough that it can be a meal unto itself. The Cummin Beef has a combination of spices which gives it a complex flavor. They portions are generous and you can definitely have leftovers for the next day. The crowd is made up mostly of Chinese diners so you know this place is the real deal. The place is a bit worn down on both the outside and inside. It's conveniently situated next to the Rockville Firestation which often sends over its firefighters to help put out the heat coming out of the mouths of many of its patrons. They also have a standard Americanized menu for the unadventurous eater who just wants to stick to their General Tso or Orange chicken. I wish they would do away with that part of the menu. Like some of the Chicago hot dog stands that mocks you for asking for ketchup, I feel that if you come in here asking for General Tso Chicken, a Tiger Mom should come out of the kitchen and berate you for not being more open minded to other cultures and their dishes. But alas, I digress. I intend to come back and try some of their other dishes. 4/5 stars. Would Szechuan again!
(4)Ching C.
One of the best places for Szechuan cuisine in the MD/DC area. The food is flavorful (and plentiful). Ever since Sichuan Jin River opened a couple years ago, my family has been regulars at this restaurant whenever we want to grab a bite to eat. We usually go after we watch a movie at Rockville Town Center as it is in the shopping center right across. This place is popular and can be very busy - there is usually a wait after 6pm on the weekends. The food is consistently delicious. Every dish we order here is spicy, flavorful, and portions were more than generous. Items I highly recommend 1. Flounder with Sour pickled Cabbage & Peppers 2. Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup 3. Stir-Fried Tender Pork Liver and Kidney 4. Dan Dan noodles We usually order one or two appetizers, and three main dishes for four people. We usually have left overs of everything since the portions are huge. Service can be a hit or miss- we usually have to flag down the servers ourselves for more water. If you like it spicy as I do, this restaurant will hit all the right spots and leave you satisfied and happy.
(4)Norry H.
This is probably one of the two best Sichuanese restaurants in Rockville to me. Another one is Joe's Noodle House. What I particularly liked at Sichuan Pavilion are, 1. Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup 2. Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef 3. Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken (lunch special). I only wish the restaurant were located closer to where I live or work.
(4)Angela C.
So, I have a serious problem with heartburn and my doctor keeps lecturing me on lifestyle modifications. Restaurants like Sichuan Jin River are the reason I am completely unable to abide by any healthcare recommendations. After eating a grotesquely large Indian buffet lunch and promptly passing out into a food coma, I woke up to my friend, Pallabi G. (!!! shoutout!) asking me if I wanted Sichuan food. Obviously, when Pallabi wants you to go somewhere to eat, you don't say no. We ordered the hot sesame noodles, spicy beef noodle soup, and cumin chicken. I never love chicken and Sichuan Jin River's is not going to change that. However, I keep dreaming of those hot sesame noodles, which strike a perfect balance between spicy yet creamy from tahini sauce and the spicy beef noodle soup, which is the ideal thing to eat on a cold winter's night. It's the kind of thing where I couldn't stop eating, and then clearly paid for dearly later on in the night. Lessons never learned, apparently.
(4)Chen-Chen R.
First time writing a review on yelp....I am not a fan of the idea of writing negative reviews on yelp but I guess that's hypocritical: I went to Rockville yesterday and stopped by this restaurant because a friend of mine told me it was very good a few years back. I ordered the salted pork dish on the authentic sichuan section of the menu, and it was realllllllllly yummy. I only ate half of it at the restaurant, and the waitress packed the rest of it for me in the kitchen to take home. The bad part is when I got home hours later. I didn't bother heating it even though it was cold and because I am lazy. I just put the contents of the take out container over rice and started eating happily away. came down to my last couple of bites and I found something hard in my mouth. Thinking it was a bone or something, I pulled it out and discovered a RUSTY NAIL. I know mistakes happen but that was disgusting and also dangerous. While I was eating there, they were speaking about something being broken and brought the broken piece into the kitchen to show someone. I didn't look up to see what it was, I just heard because I was sitting right next to them, and I can speak Chinese. It could be unrelated or it could be the broken piece accidentally fell into my take out container when the waitress packed it. Anyway, the one pro of this experience is I realized I haven't had my tetanus shot in over 10 years, so this prompted me to look into getting that soon. side note: I probably wouldn't have written this review even with finding the nail but when I was paying, the waitress quietly told me that if I paid cash instead of credit, I could pay the amount without tax which is shady for obvious reasons. Do what you will as a small business, but don't make me feel like I'm in on it. I'm just a customer trying to enjoy a lunch. I'll post a pic
(1)Michael S.
I came here with my friends who live in the area. I was visiting the area and they told me this was the place to get good Chinese food. Well, they were right. The food here is delicious and the service was good. We never had any issues and always had our waters topped off timely. THERE IS GREAT VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY. I had dinner and I still have lunch for tomorrow. All for $16 with tax and a generous tip. So much variety and it was all delicious. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Chinese. It's pretty damn authentic.
(4)Jared W.
LOVE THIS PLACE! About 2 years ago, I got on yelp on my way home in search of some spicier, less Americanized Chinese food. Stopped in and asked for a recommendation. The woman at the counter (who I now think is an owner) suggested the Cumin Beef dish. I said "sounds good" before I could process that this was very likely not a dish I'd ever consider on my own. Normally I instantly regret asking for recommendations bc I feel bad if it sounds terrible to me and why would anyone know what I like? Ended up that first night with takeout and Cumin Beef and Zhang dumplings. My expectations were not too high since despite a million Chinese restaurants (particularly in that part of moco), I found most to be too mild in flavor or heat. Once I took the food out and opened the large portioned containers, i immediately thought I'd enjoy this. The more I ate, the more I had to have. The Sichuan peppercorns used have a numbing effect that can make level of heat hard to gauge but doesn't take away from any of the goodness. The dish is filled with a large amount of almost dry fried beef, jalapeños, onions, and peppers. There was enough food for two meals and I destroyed every single bit in one sitting. I actually craved more of it once it was gone. The dumplings are excellent and, while perhaps not as special as China Bistro down the street, they compliment all the dishes I've had here well. When I find a dish I love, it's hard for me to deviate. The Cumin Beef is one of those dishes and in my top 10 most craved meals in this area (another is the Derek Tibs from Zenebach Injera off T and Florida ave). I'd say I get takeout 90% of the time for no other reason than it's usually just me eating it. I have dined there a handful of times with others and enjoyed it a lot. The cumin beef travels well but the dumplings and scallion pancakes are a bit better in house. They do offer a frequent buyer type program with cash purchases (a stamp for each increment of $20). My takeout meal of Cumin Beef and one appetizer are usually right at the $20-$23 mark so takes 10 dinners for me to get a free one. The appetizers I've sampled are Dan Dan noodles which are great, hot sesame noodles (which is fine) and the cold noodles with hot chili oil (which are also fine). The scallion pancake is another I enjoy if getting noodles as a side and the aforementioned spicy dumplings. I'm predictable when I call in to the point where they recognize me by my choices and have, on occasion, told me if I'm thinking of a different dish when I order. I appreciate that. I've eaten here probably 25 times in the last 2 years and that says more about their quality and consistency than my lack of creativity. I don't cook as much as I used to and there's nothing worse than getting takeout and having a terrible meal. That's never happened here and likely never will. Really have no idea why they aren't rated higher. The service when I've dined in has always been friendly and responsive. The restaurant is ALWAYS full during dinner service (probably 75% Chinese) and I have yet to meet anyone that's been and doesn't love it. It's certainly not the healthiest food since oil is a component and the portions are enormous but most don't eat out for healthy food anyway. It's spicier than nearly every other type of Chinese you'll find around here and the reviews complaining about this should be taken with a grain of salt. You simply don't (or shouldn't) come here for Americanized/milder food. Love this place and am so thankful I chose to try this restaurant on a whim a couple years ago.
(5)Lan N.
I've been going here with my family for years now. It's delightful Szechuan food done right. Husband only gets to dishes: the shui zhu yu (fish in chili broth) and the la zhu ji (spicy chicken with peppers). They never disappoint. However, we tried the eggplant in basil last time, and I liked that it was not overcooked, so you get these plump, soft eggplant chunks. I know you can either deep fry or boil the eggplant before tossing it with the sauce. I hope it's the latter case here, since the texture was different than normal. We also ordered the pig's feet in sour mustard, which came in sort of broth with clear noodles. If you like collagen, you're going to love this dish. We sure did. For dessert, we got the soft tofu in fermented wine sauce. I've never had this dish and was glad to try it. Very busy restaurant despite the heavy downpour that Friday evening; mostly Asians (a good sign for authenticity). I've rarely had better Szechuan.
(4)Roy S.
In all of my years on this Earth I have never tasted traditional Chinese food. The fare I have always eaten has left me wondering what was wrong? Bland, greasy, and bad tasting for the most part is my description of just about all Chinese food I have ever had. A friend recommended this place and I was dubious at best. This is a no frills place, no fancy table cloth or 5 star ambiance, just great food. I went with the classic General Tso's chicken and it was amazing!!! It was actually real chicken!!! Normally its a fried blob of who knows what and you always feel bad about eating it. This stuff was great. Great flavor and texture. The Sichuan chicken was also very nice with a hint of spiciness that was quite subtle and did not burn the mouth but ignited one's taste buds. I came for lunch but I will return post haste!! My only issue was with the service, it is pretty slow and English is clearly not a language that is used often at this establishment. I can overlook this when I am so happy with my food... Make sure to eat here ASAP!!! (I will go back and try some real Chinese food next time)
(4)Muzhou L.
I've ordered here a dozen times. Though all the dishes are great and pretty authentic, the consistency of the flavor is not guaranteed. I really liked the addition of cardamon in one of the spicy fish dishes. I hope the chef could do more of this small experiments to improve the flavor.
(4)DC R.
Consistently great and authentic Szechuan food with a few non-Szechuan dishes in the menu. If you can read the Chinese language menu do so it is different with even more choices. Mapo Tofu is great and Dan Dan noodles are reliably great with a bit more spice then you'll find elsewhere. We've been here and had takeout more than a dozen times. Always great. My preference though is to eat at the restaurant. Get there early or you may have a very long wait. And ignore reviews from people who say "I don't really like spicy food". They should stay out of Szechuan restaurants or at least not review them. And if you do want authentic spiced food and know what that is. Ask for it in Mandarin :-)
(5)Rui Z.
Sichuan Jin River is an okay casual restaurant, but you should know a couple of things: Sichuan food is not particularly healthy. Our orders, which included basil eggplant, beef and bamboo shoots, and Scallops, were pretty salty with a generous helping of oil. If you're trying to cut back on spicy food, oil, or sodium, it might not be the place for you. I think that even relative to other Chinese food places, the food was really oily. Uncomfortably so. That said, the restaurant's serving sizes are really generous for the decent price, and the service is friendly and fast. It's a good place to dine out "family style" with several people splitting a handful of dishes.
(3)Boyu L.
Authentic and awesome nice Chinese food. I am a Chinese and I know if they give you the quality sichuan food. Ordered cumin beef and hot and spicy flounder with soft tofu. Nice atmosphere, and okay service.
(5)Pallabi G.
Ever since we vowed never to go back to a certain other Sichuan restaurant in the area, we have been on the hunt for a proper replacement restaurant. I am happy to report that Sichuan Jin River way surpassed my expectations. We've been there twice in the last month and and both times, its been great. My standard at any Sichuan restaurant is the fish fillet with soft tofu. While Jin River's isn't the best I've had, its pretty darn good. The only thing is that if you get this dish to go, they give you the tofu separately and I find that you have mix the two together and heat it up on the stove to really get the flavors to mix well. I personally prefer their fish fillet with veggies in spicy broth. The "veggies" are mostly varying types of greens and celery, but that's fine because they absorb the broth really well. The cumin chicken was also a crowd pleasure, especially because it wasn't drenched in oil and overwhelmed with cumin like similar dishes I've had. The pork tripe in chili oil was a tad too salty in my opinion but a generous amount and good flavor Their dan dan noodles are also worth trying. Very simple, but a delicious flavor. The decor and the location are fine. The food is really the star of the show here. Oh, and they have an incentive for paying in cash. I just wish they would do it so that you got a stamp every $10 dollars instead of every $20.
(4)Paul Y.
I had this in the summer, (July 3rd to be exact). However, the lack of appreciation that it has been getting has made me decide to write a review, and in the process, rebut some of the common criticisms - I have no allegiance to Jin River, but it was probably the best Sichuan food I had in the past year so good deeds should be rewarded. First of all, it is important to notice that this is sichuan food, and authentic at that. Ordering General Tso's or the ilk and then expecting something special is setting yourself up for failure. No one would think to order a burrito at a steakhouse, but because many patrons of Chinese restaurants which specialize in a particular cuisine seem to demand Americanized Chinese food (or grasp for the same familiar 3 tradiitional food items), then their is a lot of junk on the menu that I am sure is cooked with a bit of disdain. Is that the best strategy for the restaurant? I don't know, but as far as what you might want to order, consider some of the following (I confess that the specific names of items elude me, as the translation process is different at every restaurant, but I include pinyin which is the anglicized pronunciation of the dishes) Apps: Fuqi Feipian (Fuqi = Married Couple, Feipian = tripe), better known as Cold beef tripe. Beef Tendon (in Chilli Oil) These are extremely spicy, and as one patron noted, makes your mouth numb (said patron also attributed this mouth numbness to MSG; without wishing to throw any shade, MSG will not make your mouth numb). Peppercorn is a staple of sichuanese cuisine, and that will make your mouth feel numb and when you drink you will taste sour. Main Courses: Thinking about kung pao chicken? Impress your waitress by asking for "Lazi Ji" or spicy chicken instead. Chinese restaurants often do profile (white friend was offered fork, while everyone else was given chopsticks). Is this right? Probably not, but it does happen for real. Shui zhu yu / Shui zhu niu (Water boiled fish / water boiled beef) - Here they named it something funny like Beef / fish in fiery soup. These are delicious. The water boiled beef is the best I've had of sichuanese food I think, extremely tender. Need something not spicy? Try yuxiang qiezi (fish fragrant eggplant)- it might be named sweet and sour eggplant because thats what it sorta tastes like. Basil eggplant seems popular, but basil is really a southeastern spice. The portions are huge, speaking as three kids in their collegiate years. We could not finish and it was delicious. Come for spicy food and come for authentic food and you will be happy. Come with food court chinese choices and you can be like many of the disappointed reviews
(5)Linh N.
I used to really like this place. I think they had really good flavors going on, but had to stop going here because the food was too salty and a bit too oily for me. If they can reduce their sodium and oil their food would be amazing!
(3)Cynthia L.
If you love spicy, and you want Chinese, you can't go wrong with this place. I'm told its consistently packed, but on a weeknight before a major holiday, there wasn't a wait for a table of 6. Wondering what to order? We tried: Seaweed & duck soup (interesting and different than the soups I'm used to- the seaweed is thick and def has that "just plucked from the sea" texture), Dan dan noodles (it kicked me in the face with the spice all at once!), pork soup dumplings (not the best, but pretty damn close for the 'burbs!), smoked peking duck (yum-all-around!), scallion pancakes, salt & pepper pork, and spicy pork intestines. We couldn't move after this meal, or stop sweating (from the spicy pork intestines & dan dan noodles) I can't say I'm the biggest fan of spicy food (I know, how atrocious of me), but this place is not bad and did a very good job. However, between this place and another spicy Chinese food place that's down the street that shall be unnamed, I prefer the latter.
(4)Rudel A.
Poor customer service, we waited for an hour and still no food, ask the manager and said they are gonna cook our food...what!!!......after more than an hour waiting??? My kids are so hungry so we left disappointed!!!! ....even let us pay our appetizer..... What a shame on this restaurant, they should close and DO NOT COME to this restaurant.
(1)Kathryn A.
This place is decent but not great. The food tastes like home cooking in that it's uninspired and bland. Nothing is really spicy or savory. If you order the fish, be warned that it's carp, and not very fresh. Still, the food is very, very cheap, and it comes out very, very fast. The restaurant is also fairly large, so you won't have to wait to be seated. Beware of the restrooms!
(3)Brian J.
I can go anywhere for American style Chinese food, but this is the first place that I've been that reminded me of flavors when I lived in China. We got the following dishes. "Zhong" Dumplings 钟水饺 - Dumplings in a sweet and spicy sauce. The sauce was well flavored, but the dumpling meat was too dry. This is the same sauce that should be on Dan Dan Noodles, so those would likely be a success as well. Flounder with Pickled Vegetables d泡èœé±¼ç‰‡ - This was the best dish. A soup that was a great mix of sour and spicy flavors. This dish had generous portions of fish and glass noodles. Stir Fried Stringbeans with "Ya-Cai" 干煸四å£è±† - A disappointment. It didn't taste that bad, it just didn't have the right flavor. It lacked both the peppers or the prickly ash seasoning that accompany these dishes (prickly ash is a spice in Chinese dishes that causes a numbing sensation in your mouth) Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken æˆéƒ½è¾£å鸡- This dish had some good heat. The flavor wasn't that complex, but it was hot. The chicken was a little on the dry side. [b]Crispy Rice Seafood [/b] - I forgot the name of this one. More of a show than anything. I didn't care for this dish when I lived in China nor do I here. It is a satisfying dish, but really it was inferior to the other fish dish. One fish too many. I would recommend this place if you're looking for more authentic Chinese food experience.
(4)tony c.
With the many choices of Sichuan style restaurants popping out all throughout Rockville/Gaithersburg/Germantown, this is one of the better ones out there. It's good that restaurant owners figured out it's not about how many cups of chili sauce you can fit into a dish, but how it actually taste. This place must of specialized in Hot Garlic Sauce dishes. As there are the traditional Eggplant with HGC (Hot Garlic Sauce), Pork with HGC, and etc. But what i really wanted is Pork Kidney with HGC. The cook could of done alittle better job in getting the kidney uric taste out. But I guess the chef wants his patrons know that they are eating kidney (which I enjoy alot!) Other notables: Beef Noodle Soup (Not the Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup kind) : Broth has spent it's due time cooking in a good mix of beef bones and nice combo of spices. They gave a good portion of beef shank meat. My only complaint is that they used dried regular egg noodles instead of fresh home made noodle. Seafood over Crispy Rice: I never had this dish before. Recommended by the waitress, It had it's interesting points. Crispy rice is traditionally the rice crust that forms on the bottom of either a very old rice cooker or a pot. In many asian families, it is a much treasured snack after dinner. They made these from formed rice and fried it. My only complaints are that the crispy rice was alittle oily then i like and they used tilapia! I am sick of tilapia being used in resturants. Also, their sauce was too runny to be put on a plate. Would be better if they toned down on the sauce or use alittle more cornstarch. All in all a great meal for a reasonable price. I heard the chef is from Joe's Noodle House. I'll definitely visit the place again and try there "Water Cooked beef" and their Pork Intestine in spicy Stew. I only give this place 4.5 stars because of the noodles. if they had homemade noodles, this would give me fond memories similar to the one when AJ's first arrived in Rockville over 10 years ago.
(4)Mary L.
I am a Chinese-American and my family immigrated here from Sichuan. This is about as authentic as it gets in America, and the flavoring is almost comparable to that of China. It's amazing and I enjoy everything on the menu. Get the bing fen for a dessert- it's perfect for the summer!
(5)Chuck C.
Eat here only if you like fish. I went with my parents and we ordered a chicken dish, a beef dish, and one other dish (I forgot what it was). Let me tell you the chicken tasted like fish, and the beef also tasted like fish. I guess if you like fish, you can order a chicken dish and save some money since chicken is a little cheaper than fish. But I won't be going back here.
(1)Donna Y.
We were able to park in the private lot right in front. Upon sitting down we were offered hot tea and ice water. The decor and seating arrangements are old school and kind of dingy. We ordered the spicy tendon to start. It came out as a cold appetizer which was unexpected but it was alright (only if you're into tendon - it's a little too chewy for me). For entree, we ordered the spicy fish stew to share (and believe me, it's big enough to share between two people) and it comes with a side of rice.
(3)Deena R.
Spicy Eggplant - YUM! but not vegetarian (little bits of sausage in the sauce) Cold Sesame Noodles- good, but not life changing Hot Fresh Pepper with Flounder in Black Bean Sauce - good, but not exciting Egg Drop Soup - order the bowl. eat and repeat. It is $4.50 for 4 cups of yellow-y goodness, with corn! Taro Roll - mildly sweet taro mochi in a deep fried wonton wrapper with sesames, YUM!
(5)Gregorio A.
Overrated Sichuan food. Kung pao chicken cloyingly sweet. Fiery beef and veggies uninspiring. Dan dan noodles average. Panda Gourmet is the szechuan winner in DC.
(3)James H.
The place is always packed with Asian customers and I always take this to be a good indication that the food is authentic. Everything I've tried here has been delicious. Be warned - they are not afraid to put hot spices in any dish. The staff are very pleasant and helpful without hovering over you. They can accommodate parties of ten at one table, but you should call ahead and reserve a table.
(4)Meggie C.
I finally was able to try this place after a friend recommended we go here out of the blue. For years, I've always drove past it, and since no one ever really brought it up, it was rarely thought about lol. So since I had a craving for Shui Zhu Yu, we decided to go. We ordered two dishes and an appetizer. The food was decent, nothing amazing. Portion size was good though and service was good. We went on a Monday night and the place was pretty packed. Just about every table was taken and there was a mixture of difference people eating here which I liked. If I were to go back, I would probably still order the same dishes. I recommend the Shui Zhu Yu (Spicy Boiled Fish Fillet), the Spicy Beef Tendon Appetizer, and the Dry Hot Pot.
(4)Timothy M.
Great food but incredibly greasy / oily. General gaun's chicken and stir fry pork with peppers were good but a definite gut bomb, having trouble understanding all the praise for what was mediocre food. The menu is exstensive and I will come back to try less stir fried and oily dishes as it was awesome and hot but to greasy.
(2)Mike B.
The Sichuan beef noodle soup is just... Mmmm. I loved how they asked me what level of spice I wanted it. They must have been able to hear my heritage over the phone as I ordered. I also got the dan dan noodles and a scallion pancake. I'm in love with their dan dan. You could say I'm a big fan fan of their dan dan. And it's about time to end. Go there. Get the authentic dishes. I love that I know about this place.
(5)Courtney W.
The bf and I decided to stop by for a late dinner on a Friday night, as it had been on my "must-try" list for quite some time. The self-standing restaurant has plenty of parking spaces and is located near Rockville Town Square. After studying the extensive menu with growling stomachs, we decided on the dishes below. When all of our food was delivered to our table very quickly, it finally hit us that we may have over-ordered just a wee bit... + Scallion Pancake: This was one of the best scallion pancakes I've ever had. The pancake was very crispy on the outside and the inside had nice, distinct layers of dough. I pretty much ate three-fourths of the scallion pancake alone... with no regrets! + Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth: One order comes with eight soup dumplings that are pretty tasty, although I have had better at other restaurants. + Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce: This dish was great! We are always sure to order pig ear whenever we find a restaurant that serves it. I really love how they serve their version of the dish here - the meat is thinly sliced and then cut into wide pieces. Having the wider pieces allows you to enjoy the gelatinous and chewy texture more than if the pieces were shredded into strands, as other establishments serve this dish.The hot chili sauce had a wonderful flavor and was not overly spicy. + Deep Fried Tofu with Hot Peppers: This large plate of fried tofu was dusted with chili powder and pepper flakes. I wasn't a huge fan of the tofu because I found it to be dry, especially with the abundance of chili powder. Having a sauce served on the side to dip the tofu in would be amazeballs. On the other hand, the bf did enjoy the tofu and was tasked with finishing the leftovers the next day. + Smoked Duck (Deep Fried and Breaded) with Buns: This dish was listed as a Sichuan specialty, however it definitely looked more appetizing than it tasted. The fact that the breaded duck was super salty overshadowed how soft and moist the buns were. If the duck was less salty, this dish would be a good one to share among a family since it is a generous portion (~$18).
(4)Mel C.
If you speak Chinese or look like you do, they will offer you a secret deal to pay cash without tax. I don't believe this is legit and once you hesitate the waitress turns extremely cold. The food is heavenly good but I am not going to sell my soul over a good meal.
(1)Prairie S.
The handicaps that Sichuan Jin River overcomes to get 5 stars from me are two-fold (1) I don't go for Chinese food normally and (2) My co-workers are boring unadventurous eaters. (Yah I threw them under the bus. Yah, I'm pretty sure they're proud of my slander.) The cooking is here is so seductive that (1) I forget the aversion I have for standard American Chinese, and (2) the co-workers happily forget that they don't like spicy or exotic food. It always tastes amazing to this tough crowd. Each time I end up there, I am enticed by their endless menu: lists of combinations demarcated into American menu and Authentic Chinese menu. I mostly go at lunch to partake of their 'Special offer': buy three entrees, and get a soup to share for 2-3. Co-workers want the predictable and non-spicy basil chicken and salted shrimp, I get to chose something more spicy like potatoes with hot peppers or spicy eggplant and beef (all Chinese menu of course, as should you try!). The kitchen consistently produces a spread on which we feast like we've never seen food before. We drool and we inhale our food. This food hits the pleasure nerve and we leave with smiles. Each dish has its unique taste. The Spinach and Tofu soup is delicate, barely there, and yet earthy. In contrast the Mapo Tofu is really bold taste and overwhelming in flavor. This kitchen showcases the Chinese mastery of flame and glaze in that they can take a combination of vegetables and meat, say beef and bitter melon, and concoct the most amazing binding flavor between them. The Chinese proprietors like anywhere in the world, are extremely entrepreneurial, switching between native Mandarin, English and Spanish as needed. The decor is like a dated Budget Motel, but the atmosphere is quite interesting. A few times I've seen someone from the kitchen seated at one of the tables doing a prep, like peeling a box of ginger, or tearing up greens ready for cooking... it's just part of the scene which also includes men in suits from the nearby bureaucratic offices and entire multi-generational Chinese families. This place feels like a back street in Chengdu has found its Rockville Pike incarnation. The menu and food is the biggest draw...if you want authentic cooking you should try this place. It makes you feel like you have had a lunchtime immersion in the riches of Chinese culture. (And for a detailed review of a variety of dishes, check ron w.'s review, he flew in from California and totally nailed it on a spread of dishes that having gone on and off for five years, I still haven't managed to cover! )
(5)Eric J.
The Fried Beef Noodles dish in Philly is definitely still king. The spicy crispy chicken isn't too bad. Nice for a late night dinner snack.
(3)Richard C.
Crazy delicious. I've been here loyally & can't even start naming all the awesome dishes, every one I try is just a hit. The taste, spiciness & overall awesomeness are mind-blowing. This review is short because it's mostly about urging you to go taste what is memorable Sichuan food.
(5)Delaware F.
Had braised short ribs with taro, combo seafood with rice cakes, and string beans. I think they may have taken a look at us and made a "white people spicy" note because everything was pretty mild. Too mild in fact. I am, I'm a little embarrassed to say, kind of soft when it comes to spicy food. But Szechuan food needs a little kick, and the mildness made this food a little bland. The string beans were a fine example of crispy Szechuan string beans, albeit (again) a little mild. The short ribs were tender and the broth flavorful. The seafood did contain a large quantity of seafood (shrimp, other shellfish, flounder) but the quality was not great. The seafood tasted like it has been frozen a while and generally just not high quality. The sauce for the seafood was a little heavy on the cornstarch and tasted quite strongly of what I think was oyster sauce. The rice cakes were new to us, kind of like a savory rice crispy treat. I think we will come back, but we might stick to items that come out of a wok. We'll have to think of some way of conveying that we're comfortable with some spiciness. I am reminded of an LA food critic who went to a lot of divey Thai places. He had a note printed (in Thai) that said something like "please serve me food at the same level of spiciness you would serve a Thai person".
(4)Douglas K.
This place is excellent. Service: They are constantly coming by to check and make sure everything is good. Just say a friendly Ni Hao when you walk in. Food; AMAZING. They have an American style Chinese food and an authentic section in their menu. It is great because there is a big difference. I am more a fan of the authentic and they really do it justice. I ordered the Kung pao chicken and friends of mine ordered the Mushu Chicken, Spring Rolls and fried eggplant. I would gladly recommend this place to everyone I know who enjoys really good Chinese food and not usually what you get from a delivery place.
(5)Janice V.
I love this place. I swear I have been here like 10 times, my chinese family, friends, all love eating here. Parking is easy, the service is fast, and the food comes out hot and quick. Dont order the american chinese food, well i never have them, but I would go for more traditional sichuan dishes (spicy ones preferably). I like everything from the "Zhong" Dumplings with Hot Sauce, Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood, Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger & Scallions, Fried Scallion Pan Cake, Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce, Stir Fried Minced Chicken with "ya-cai", Braised Short Ribs with Baby Taro, Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup, for dessert: Crispy Sweet Taro Rolls, Red Bean Paste with Mashed Taro Wrap, and Eight Treasure & Sticky Rice with Rose Flavor. Yummy stuff.
(5)SY Y.
We came here on a Thursday night and was surprised to see how crowded the place was. This is not a restaurant for those who can't take spicy food. When they say spicy, they mean spicy! Not the general chao's "spicy." We had the catfish fillet with peppercorn, mapo tofu, ground chicken with buns, and dan dan noodles. We loved the ground chicken that came with about four or five buns. The catfish and mapo tofu were way too oily. This coming from someone who is unfazes by the oil-soaked bag of Five Guys' fries.
(3)A.R. P.
As I write this review, Sichuan Pavilion sits atop Tyler Cowen's Top Five List (on his Ethnic Dining Guide). Quite frankly, this lofty distinction is well deserved. Sichuan Pavilion boldly excels at "ma la" dishes (featuring spicy chilis and numbing Sichuan peppercorns) as well as other Sichuan specialties. One of the first dishes that I tried (and, which is an exemplar of their ma la dishes) is their fish in fiery broth (which they have since renamed, "flounder in fiery soup"). This dish, arguably, is their signature dish. Their rendition of this Sichuan classic is nearly flawless. The pillowy filets float in a magnificent broth made from broad bean paste and spicy chillis (and, which features a few eye-catching drupes of green peppercorns in the broth). The base vegetable consists of happy, snappy bean sprouts that hold their own amidst the inferno that surrounds them. The heat is very pronounced; but, there is a real depth of flavor in the oily, incendiary broth as well. At some places, this dish features more of a "sauce," of varying thickness and color, rather than a bold broth; but, here, it is done right. The double cooked pork is out-of-this-world good. I love the pork in this dish (which is a Chinese style bacon). It is sliced and stir fried with leeks and shards of crispy bread (kind of like crispy pita pieces). The interplay of the savory meat and the crispy fried bread is what good eating is all about. Most places do not include fried, crispy bread in their double cooked pork; but, the inclusion of it (the truly unorthodox and unexpected inclusion of it) makes this dish shine. The braised short ribs with baby taro (which feature pork ribs despite the suggestion of beef) is succulent and hearty. It is essentially a stew with large pieces of pork spareribs that have been braised in a spicy liquid (mild compared to their ma la dishes) and served up with seductive, tender lumps of baby taro that are melt-in-the-mouth good. The shredded beef with hot fresh peppers packs a kick and features tender strands of beef with a harvest of long, hot, green peppers that have been cut into delicate slivers. The spicy warmth and the earthy taste of the hot peppers make this a terrific dish too. The pan fried dumplings, which are full and plump, are slightly crispy and forgivingly pliable on the outside and have a dough of appropriate thickness and texture. On the whole, they are hearty, meaty, and almost a meal unto themselves. The spicy beef noodle soup is served in a generous bowl and offers a pile of fresh noodles that are thick and fresh (suggesting a hand-made quality) and a broth that zips with spice. The accompanying cubes and lumps of beef are tender, meaty, and satisfying. Certainly, there are few versions of this dish around the DC area that rival it. The dishes here, however, that are not hot and spicy and that lean away from the Sichuanese spectrum tend not to excel and reach the same glorious heights. For example, one day, I dined here with a large group of friends. I wanted them to come here so badly to taste what I considered some of the best Chinese food anywhere in the metropolitan area. However, I failed to realize (from lack of questioning) that none of them (amazingly) eat spicy food! So, at the last minute, I had to order non-spicy items. I was so disheartened because, with our avoiding the spicy foods here, we might as well have gone somewhere else--like a Cantonese restaurant or a pizzeria. We ordered the pork and crispy rice cakes in sweet and sour sauce. This dish actually had been highly touted on online postings (such as Chowhound and yelp); and, I had come here thinking I might order it (if I needed a default item). As it turned out, I did. But, wow...was I disappointed! The pork was bland and down right unappetizing; the sauce was shockingly gloppy and overly sweet like a bad sauce that one would encounter in a second-rate takeout place. The rice cakes were nondescript and suffered from sitting under the dampness of the sauce. They became soggy very quickly. In the end, nobody enjoyed this dish. It was totally dismissed. The much touted tea smoked duck was extremely underwhelming as well. The duck, which was not served whole (for example, in a complete pile of carved splendor), was, rather, hacked up randomly into little pieces (with shards of bone and indistinguishable pieces of skin jabbing out at odd angles). The meat itself was barely warm and tasted like re-heated leftovers. Additionally, stuffing the meat into a mantou (a bulky rice flour bun) with hoisin sauce, which constitutes traditional presentation, only hid and obscured the duck. In the end, you want to be transported vicariously to Chengdu. However, make sure to order well; or, else, rather than ending up there, you might find yourself in a strip mall in Peoria.
(4)Philip T.
Hooray for the wide variety authentic Chinese restaurants in the DC area! Sichuan Pavilion is very good place to find tasty, authentic Sichuan Chinese cuisine in Montgomery County. It's located right across from Rockville Town Center where the old Taste of Saigon was located for many years before relocating across the street. From the outside, this unassuming restaurant would go completely unnoticed, eclipsed by the condos and sparkling restaurant row it faces, but for those who venture over they are in for a unique and delicious dining experience. The menu is divided into two sections, an authentic Chinese side and an American Chinese side. Each side has a wide array of dishes from appetizers to sweet dessert soups and cater to a wide variety of tastes. I've long been a proponent for people who haven't tried authentic Chinese cooking to venture out of their comfort zone and try something they wouldn't normally order, and this a good place to do this. For an appetizer I recommend the spicy chicken salad, sliced chicken breast and leg in a Sichuan chili and soy based sauce that's loaded with flavour and is sure to get your appetite going. Be sure to order the Xiaolongbao or steamed pork buns with chicken broth; they're steamed fresh with a thin shell encasing tender pork and plenty of rich savory soup. Another good choice is the Sichuan tofu, silken tofu with a spicy sauce made with tongue tingling Sichuan peppercorns that goes perfectly with steamed rice. A final recommendation would be the shredded beef with fresh hot peppers. It should be noted that while the restaurant specializes in spicy Sichuan cuisine, there are plenty of very good non-spicy dishes to choose from. The expansive menu always impresses and in the dozens of times I've eaten here, I've yet to come across something I haven't been willing to try again.
(4)Eric C.
twice cooked pork and their basil chicken dish thing were amazing. their dan dan mien is super stellar! makes your tongue go numb which is quite the experience! they have this hot pot thing on the cover of their menu and sometimes they will recommend it but don't get it cause it tastes like an old closet.
(4)Zara K.
not consistant...i had their hot pot chicken with my in laws and it was soo good. they made it spicy, chicken was sooo flavourful and tender i was surprised, because i havent had a single bite of chicken that hasnt been awful ever since iv come to america.....(i know thats harsh im sorry) next time i had it, it was so average however!!! i do love their spicy fish in peppercorns and nothing can change that! even then its not always great....and recently i tried their duck and i LOVE IT. iv been looking for duck for so long! its breaded and fried and reallyyyyy tassty! it comes with buns and a plum sauce"(hoisin sauce) i do wish they gave more lettuce or some cucumbers!
(4)Kat F.
This place is pretty authentic when it comes to Chinese dinners. Whenever I come here, I usually get the Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger and Scallions (absolute FAV, though it is $17). The fish is always fresh and huge! I highly recommend trying it out, if price isn't too much of an issue.
(4)Steph L.
Wait, what? Sichuan Jin River? When did this happen? Anyway, food is fantastic! I dare say it is the best Chinese food in the DC metro area. I wish it wasn't so far (pretty much everything north of Bethesda is considered far by me), but because it's not as easily accessible, I go on special occasions and really make a trip out of it. It's truly worth it. I think enough people have talked about what's great and what you must order, so no need to repeat. Just order, and order a lot. Last time the boy and I went, we were sat at a 2-top, but after the lady took our order, she muttered, "your table's not going to fit all the dishes," and switched us to a 6-top! Ha, we were rather proud of ourselves. That's how you SHOULD order at Chinese restaurants! Always order too much food and take leftovers home!
(5)Andrea R.
Meh. Definitely more authentic than most Chinese restaurants in this area but a lot of improvement is needed to make this place worth more stars in my book. The restaurant itself was not terribly clean and there was a lot of clutter everywhere (boxes sitting around, tables in random places, etc). The food was fairly bland, particularly the fried tofu with vegetables. The sweet & sour eggplant was marginally better. Appetizers didn't taste fresh.
(2)Garvin C.
I've been going to other chinese restaurants in Rockville for a while, so we thought it was about time to try this place. My wife and I were really excited b/c we really enjoy Sichuan cuisine. We ordered four items: wontons with hot sauce, green onion pancakes, bamboo shoots with beef, and sichuan soft tofu. The wontons were really great. After mixing the wontons with the spicy sauce and letting it steep for a little while, the taste was just amazing. Next time i tink I need to order 2 of those! The green onion pancake was good, but i prefer a little more crispy to soft ratio. The bamboo shoots with beef had good taste, but i felt that I've had better versions of this dish elsewhere. It was good, but just missing a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. The sichuan soft tofu was probably our least favorite item, but even that we nearly polished off. The prices weren't bad considering how much food you get. The menu also showed lunch specials on weekdays (they have american chinese as well as authentic chinese items for this), which seemed pretty reasonable priced. The restaurant was very clean and the staff was friendly. I would definitely come back. There are so many more items to try!
(4)Will L.
I really don't get the hype. This place is nowhere near top 5 Chinese in the DC area. For Sichuan, it's not spicy enough at all, and everything is over salted. I was really hungry and with a party of six we tried the xiao long bao, kung pao chicken, ma po tofu and green scallion pancakes amongst other dishes. General consensus of all eaters was: disappointing, and I had to be persuaded to even bring home the large amount of leftovers. The only thing they have going for them is that they do have a large authentic menu, and it's not expensive for the portion sizes. Unfortunately they can't execute. The service was pretty good though for a Chinese place. -1 star for serious morning after digestive issues... throwing out leftovers shortly.
(1)Lin H.
I don't write many reviews but felt the need to after reading some ignorant comments about the "MSG" used in this food that caused mouths to feel "numb" and "tingly." After laughing my ass off, I wanted to tell this restaurant to just put a sign on the door that reads....this is SICHUAN food, not Panda Express. Authentic Sichuan/Szechuan food is known for their spicy, mouth numbing, oily food. THAT IS WHAT THIS RESTAURANT IS ABOUT. They don't claim to be anything else. It is in the name!!! This tingly feeling in the mouth - it is intentional. They use a Sichuan peppercorn that causes this. The few times I ate here, it was always very good and comparable to restaurants in China (lived there for 2.5 years). So please...before you go to a restaurant and write a review...perhaps do some research on what you are eating. While I don't doubt that they use MSG, this is what Sichuan food tastes like.
(4)Ferdinand H.
4.5 stars. Having wandered the earth looking for more peers to Peter Chang's sichuanese interpretation, I've now found myself unable to settle for anything less than authentic peppercorns. After finishing a lunch/dinner at Bob's Noodle House, I sauntered over, already quite full, for a second dinner at Sichuan Pavilion. My brother had bought my parents to this little gem, all of which attested to genuine "numbness" of the tongue. Being already full, I had no choice but to order the tasting standards. For me, that meant dan dan mian and mapo tofu. The more sane members of the group got dessert (sesame tangyuan in fermenting rice -- which was also yum!) I ate only about a 3rd of each order. It was, however enough for me to conclude that a return trip was coming in the near future. Next time, with much more expansive order sets. Numbing, tasty and authentic. And not that expensive. What's keeping it from a 5? Delicacy. The flavours are wonderful, and it's consummate family style. It needs a tiny bit more subtlety for me to reach a 5. Subtle spicy food? Yes, it exists. Still, this place is great! If you want an explanation of the chinese title... zdic.net/cy/ch/ZdicE5Zdi… Basically, it's a phrase describing the scenery and natural beauty of Sichuan.
(4)Maggie F.
i'm really between a 3.5-4 but I have to admit, I don't hate this place. I have really LOW expectations of MD Chinese food, because it's simply just dreadful for the most part (which is interesting, since we have such a high Chinese population in Rockville). Though this is a Sichuan restaurant, it's owned by Shanghainese people--and knowing that I deepened my initial skepticism. But this place turned out to be ok. Food is a little more on the oily side and a little more on the salty side. In terms of spicy, I personally don't think its much... but that's just me. Otherwise, the food isnt dreadful and I wouldn't mind coming here on a casual day.
(4)David S.
Summary: excellent authentic Chinese Sichuan style dishes, bad location, and informal service. Sichuan Jin River doesn't have the best of location. You can't really see the restaurant from either Hungerford Drive or N. Washington Street. This restaurant is hidden away in a small shopping center behind an old office building. We saw this place when we visited Bob's Noddle 66. We decided to give this place a try after we read all the nice reviews on Yelp. Despite the terrible location, this place was packed during lunch. We showed up at 1:00 pm and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. It's a small restaurant with very tight space and hardly any decor. Most of the customers at this place were primarily Asian on the day of our visit. We sampled several spicy dishes from the Chinese style menu during our visit. We really appreciated the authenticity of the preparation, and if you like spicy food, you will like this place too. For starters, we had chilled spicy bean jelly Salad (Liangfen). At our servers' recommendation, we order #9 instead of #10 because we didn't want it to be too spicy that we couldn't finish the rest of our lunch. We thought the beef tendon and tripe with spicy sauce ($10.25) was good compared to that in other restaurants in terms of portion and taste. The beef tripe soup with sour pickled cabbage was rustic and delicious. The Cured Pork and Sausage with Garlic was so good that it reminded me the stuff my grandfather used to make. I didn't like the cumin beef too much because the beef was fried and a little bit dry. We enjoyed the non-spicy dishes, too. We thought the Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth was good, but expect 30 minutes wait time if you decide to order it. We didn't really get to enjoy the pork buns till half way into our meal. The other non-spicy dishes we enjoyed were shredded pork with bamboo Shoot and sliced pork with lotus roots.
(4)Nuoc M.
Okay last update for this place. Got food from here three times, each time posted the experience on Yelp. And find one of the issues with this place. The issue is that they're not consistent with the spiciness in their food. The third time coming here we had a mix of things that we got the first two times. This time around some of the dishes that were not spicy the first time around had a nice kick to it. Then the dishes that were spicy the second time that we got here weren't really spicy, and we had multiple people ask if someone requested it to not be spicy. So that's the only knock for the place that I have. The food was still good and I'm still a fan of this place.
(4)Jeanne C.
Really solid beef tripe/tendon in spicy sauce, spicy dan dan noodles, and spicy fish. The place gets so crowded - be prepared to wait for a table. The tripe and noodles came out within 5-10 minutes. The fish took the longest, but let me tell you, it was a lot of fish. My mouth was on fire. It's really nice to have a great Sichuan restaurant in the burbs of MD.
(4)Derrick P.
This place is probably one of the most authentic restaurants I've been to outside of Sichuan China. Great "dan dan" spicy noodles - almost the same as the real thing at the hole in the wall restaurants in Chengdu. You also can't go wrong with the mapo bean curd and the flounder in the chili soup. Also, since the owner is from Shanghai, they serve some very good Shanghai style dishes here - fresh and slightly sweet sauces. Flounder with white sauce is a good example of this. If I'm in the mood for Sichuan style food, this is the place to be, and one of the best I've been to outside of China. The actual restaurant atmosphere also feels like you're at a nice restaurant in China. Whether you like authentic Chinese food or just good quality dishes, you simply can't go wrong with this place!
(4)Nicola M.
A bigger group of us stopped here on the way back from a hike in Harper's Ferry and SO glad we did. It's honestly some of the best Chinese I've had, although I'm not really an expert. We got fried and steamed dumplings and pork buns; all delicious. I ordered the chicken chow fun, which had perfectly cooked tender noodles and an excellent flavor (not too salty nor too oily). The BF got the Szechuan chicken which was DELICIOUS- and very spicy. Everything we had at the table was great, and the service, although not overly friendly, was very prompt. We must have got in at a good time because we were sat as a table of 7 immediately; but shortly after we arrived all the tables became occupied. If this were closer to me, I'd be going back often!
(5)Joe R.
First of all, this is not a place to go if you're dressed up or you're on a date night. The restaurant itself is basically a big mess with cartons and boxes all around and on top of coolers, chairs lined up in rows, and a dirty bathroom. The bathroom is so filthy that they spray an obnoxious perfume that will actually make you cough while you're in the bathroom. There is an old sink in the dining room where the drain was "repaired" with what looks like paper toweling which is covered by a plastic kitchen bag. But it probably still leaks as there is a plastic bucket under the drain. I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles as an appetizer which was basically made only with a spicy oil and a few bits of ground pork on top. There were no preserved vegetables, mushroom stems or scallions. For an entree I ordered the shrimp and scallops in black bean sauce. The taste was relatively good but, again, it was floating in oil at the bottom of the plate. Never again, there are just no redeeming factors.
(1)Dan H.
I'm writing this review of Sichuan Jin River for one reason - their Fried Pork Dumplings. They are absolutely, insanely good! My wife and I sometimes get only them for our family, and the wait staff at SJR look at me like I am crazy when I pick up 3-4 orders! A must try.
(5)Stacey R.
Pretty fantastic when it comes to Chinese food. I've eaten there twice now; once there and once for take-out. The second time I let the server choose all the dishes (off the Chinese style menu, of course) and was happy with all of them. It's very authentic and service was great!
(4)Noel O.
I've been marinating over how to write this review for more than a week now because this place was one of those life altering experiences. I like food (hence why I'm on Yelp), I'm pretty adventurous, but there are still times when I cry for Mama when things are just to ridiculous for words. I think the best way to describe my experience at Sichuan Pavilion would be something like going to a dominatrix for the first time. You ease into the situation comfortably enough, but once the show starts get ready to slapped around. By the end of it you're crying out for mercy, but yet somehow you want to come back for more and endure the same pain again and again. Yeah, that sums it up about right. I was introduced to real Chinese food on a trip to China, but the real magic happened when a friend later introduced me to the Sichuan peppercorn. This thing has a fiery yet fruity kick when it's bitten into, but soon enough it makes your mouth tingle and can tell this isn't like any ordinary peppercorn. Sichuan Pavilion uses these very peppers in most of their dishes (at least the dishes we had) and I was simultaneously sweating profusely and shoving more food into my face--the sign of a good meal if I've ever seen one. A word to the wise: as a white boy I went with a group of Chinese speakers. You're welcome to delve into the menu yourself, but knowing what the crap was going to be served always helps. If you like Chinese food and don't mind heading out to Rockville to get it, this is without a doubt THE place to go.
(5)Xiaoya W.
Service is good. The dishes are fine, but there is still room for improvement
(4)Kathy C.
The dumpling appetizer and chilled rice jelly noodles (not sure of exact name) appetizer were THE BOMB. If you like spicy like I do, this place is a must try. Service sucks though, the ladies were slow to attend to us and not friendly.
(4)Benji C.
Went here for the first time today after reading reviews, and it is very good but not my absolute fave. My dad and I split a large hot and sour soup, spring rolls and the sesame chicken entree which was only $20. Will be back to try something else soon.. Only real "complaint" was that the glaze on the sesame chicken was a little predictable I guess. Gel-like and verrrry sweet.. BUT the chicken itself was very good and crunchy under all of it. I mean, I did order off the American menu so I should have known:) The food all around us looked realllllllly good
(3)DJ C.
Dining solo is not a very Asian way, but my people in my offline life don't like it hot like I like it hot. So I was thrilled to see this restaurant in downtown Rockville! Come to find out, this is a new restaurant about a month old. Welcome to the neighborhood! I ate a simple bowl of Sichuan style beef noodle soup, curious what Sichan style was all about. Now this may not be a signature Sichuan like that beef/ chicken/ fish dish, or that mapo tofu classic, but I was game and the price was great. A well-rounded (pun intended) meal under $10 is a great find these days. Wow. Incredible! The stewed beef was perfectly marbled. 2 kinds of veggies garnished the noodle soup, one a bit sour, the other kinda spinachy. The broth thoroughly infused with hot pepper sauce. And, here's the kicker -- there must've been 20 pieces of beef in there, so many that it ruined my beef to noodle to veggie ratio, in a good way. This is a 3-napkin sinus-clearing bowl of noodle soup -- one for the mouth, one for the nose, and one for the forehead. And if things ever get too hot, the fire department is right next door.
(5)Lisa N.
What brought us here: Got to talking about food at work, and a co-worker kept raving about a Chinese dish he'd tried a while back called either "husband and wife" or "Romeo and Juliet" (it's "fu chi fei pian"). We googled the dish, and learned it was Szechuan (my dad is from Szechuan!). Authentic dishes we tried: Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce (Cold Appetizers) - husband & wife dish: Remember that scene in Ratatouille when the critic takes a bite of the ratatouille and flashes back to his childhood? I had that moment. It's as if I was transported back in time to my dad's kitchen as he prepared his own Szechuan peppercorn oil (he was chef!). Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce (Cold Appetizers) - Eating pig ears is all about the texture, which was spot-on. Flavors similar to first dish. Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup: Fish tender. Not as spicy as it looks. Vegetables are bean sprouts. "Mapo" Tofu with Minced Beef: Flavor was a bit off from authentic, but good nonetheless. Basil chicken with Ginger in Hot Pot ("three cup chicken"): Don't know why I ordered this. It's not a traditional Szechuan dish. I loved this dish in Taiwan, and still can't find a suitable representative here in the states. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce: Perfection. Verdict: Will DEFINITELY be dining here again...my mouth waters as I write that!
(5)Erica Y.
Food is pretty good, not the best sichuan food I've had, but for the Rockville area, I guess it's as authentic as you will get. Plus price is very reasonable. Service on the other hand, is TERRIBLE! And I am judging it on Chinese restaurant standards. They are so disorganized, slow responding to your requests, and just overall slow and inattentive. So if you really like sichuan food and you are in the Rockville area, I guess you don't have a choice. If you are in a hurry...stay away!
(2)Ted F.
Very good "authentic" Chinese menu. Avoid the Americanized Chinese menu - - no good at all.
(4)Leona C.
Weekday lunch at Sichuan Pavilion is a pretty good deal: three dishes, three bowls of rice, and communal bowl of soup for $20. It was enough to feed three people. Selection: At Sichuan Pavilion, no need to try out their Americanized Chinese selections -- save that for Panda Express. Flip over the lunch menu and there's a long list of "authentic" Chinese selections available in Chinese and English. The descriptions are detailed and informative and if you know what to order, there are plenty of mild dishes available. The quality of food is on par to average homemade meals, but much healthier than fast-food Chinese. Service: Overall, it was okay. Even though it was peak lunch hour on a Thursday, we were seated immediately. Our soup and food arrived within 5-10 minutes after we ordered our meal. We were able to eat and pay within a one-hour time span.
(3)Bryce D.
This place is surprisingly great! The wife and I decided we wanted Chinese, but didn't want take-out. This place ended up winning the bid, and may be one of my new favorites. The Dan-dan noodles were awesome, as was my Sesame Chicken. The Mrs. got the Eggplant in garlic sauce. and she loved the flavor. Truth be told, we only ordered from the 'american' side of the menu, but it was so well done that I think I will be feeling adventurous on my next visit and order from the 'authentic' side.
(4)Steve P.
Based on reviews here, we made our way here to have a nice lunch with the Family. The food was OK. We got the dan dan noodles with sesame sauce (needed a non-spicy option for the kids), flounder with tofu in spicy soup and general guan's chicken. The quality of the food was generally good. The spice level was pretty in your face. If you are not used to heavily spiced food, this may shock you. The service was ok. They were attentive and we had no issues.
(3)Lisa M.
Thought this place was above average for Chinese restaurants in DC, but not excellent. IWe got the water-cooked flounder, sour cabbage and pork, and taro and spare ribs. We were really looking forward to the water-cooked flounder, which is a big bowl of spicy red goodness, but this was almost inedible, as it was overpowered by some sort of white pepper or celery powder taste. It just didn't taste good. This was a bad sign as this is one of the trademark dishes of Szechuan cooking. The pork and taro is described as "short ribs and baby taro" but they're actually pork ribs. The pork was tender, but the whole dish was not as flavorful as I would have expected, and the sauce was gloppy. Probably my favorite dish was the sour cabbage and pork with vermicilli noodles, but they were really greasy. Also, the prices weren't cheap--I would say $14-15 on average for many dishes. So, I thought this place was good but not amazing. I would say that there is some unevenness or lack of care in the kitchen which is making things just shy of really good or great.
(3)QQ J.
We three girls ordered almost 5 dishes and they were all good. We like it, although it's a little bit far away from VA.
(4)Yuh Wen L.
The prevailing feelings after I finish a meal at Sichuan Pavilion are: (1) Gahhh, I'm so full I cannot move. (2) Wow, I feel so lucky that I get to eat food like this. And SO BAD for all those people will not get a chance to try this. I must say that this place blows my mind every time. This is by far some of the best food that I've had outside of China and, seriously, like, ever. For those who care about "authenticity", it is indeed quite authentic - but everything I've had is delicious, so anyone who loves food should feel comfortable (and excited!) to go. Go family-style and go big - you won't regret it. The ginormous menu is divided into a "Authentic Chinese style" and "American Chinese style." I've admittedly only ordered from the former, but noticed that several items are cross listed on both. It is helpful if you read/speak Chinese (some of the English translations are non-intuitive), but the staff is great and will give you some great recommendations if you just ask. Some of the standout items on menu that we've had before (and there are so many more to try...) are: Dan Dan spicy noodles: Just the right amount of numbing spiciness! Smoked duck: Smoked and crispy, comes with steamed mantou buns and hoisin sauce. Really delicious. Basil chicken and ginger in hotpot (sanbei ji): When it first comes out, you think it is nothing special, but a few bites and you'll realize that you want to DRINK every last drop of the sauce. Eggplant with Garlic Sauce: Just. Super. Sichuan string beans (on menu as Stir-fried string beans with "ya-cai"): The best I've had in the states so far (it's amazing how easily most restaurant mess this one up!). Braised beef noodles (hongshao niurou mian): I'm not usually a fan, but had a taste of my friends, and it was delicious - really flavorful and simply huge. Crispy salty shrimp: Noms, I say. Obviously, the restaurant's specialty is Sichuan cuisine, so I will need to experiment more with the spicy "xiang la" stuff (look for the little red pepper next to the dish!), but that's an adventure I'm more than willing to take on! If you can read Chinese, I recommend going to the white board (hangs behind the counter) and trying out some of the specials on offer. Service is quick and efficient. The staff is really kind and friendly. Also, the menu is adaptable to vegetarians, too (at least one vegetarian friend always accompanies). The restaurant also has a "Frequent Dining Card" on the back of their business card - if you pay in cash, you get a stamp for every $20 of pre-tax purchases. Ten stamps will qualify you for $20 off an order. Time to start collecting. :)
(5)Frank F.
In a word, superb. This may be my new favorite Chinese place in the area.The service is attentive and with its large picture windows, the atmosphere is unusually cheerful. Alll at very reasonable prices. NB: I've only tried the authentic Chinese menu. As others have pointed out, most of the negative reviews here on Yelp are from folks who are looking for an Americanized Chinese food experience--or are complaining about food characteristics that are typical of authentic Sichuan cuisine. Hint: Don't come here if you have a problem with highly spicy or oily food, or if your favorite "Chinese" dish is General Tso's Chicken. The other complaints relate to the service. I can't speak to anyone else's experience, but in our experience the wait staff has never been anything other than friendly and attentive. Perhaps that's because we're regulars... or because we show a genuine interest in and appreciation for the cuisine?
(5)Heidi W.
One question. If you're Chinese and love spicy Chinese food, can you NOT love this place? The food: Friggin awesome. I've never had Sichuan food this good, and I've had Sichuan food from all over, from several cities in China to Rockville. I've also eaten several times at Joe's Noodle House and China Canteen, both of which are very delicious, but none compare to Sichuan Pavilion. I like Sichuan Pavilion the best because almost ALL of their dishes are equally delicious. The spiciness of their dishes is just the most perfect blend of spicy and tingly. I highly recommend the Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce as an appetizer. It is spicier than Joe's version, and I don't even remember China Canteen's version. Their Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup is also mouthwateringly good, and I'd also try their Beef in Fiery Soup! For those who love authentic Chinese food but cannot handle too much heat, try their Crisy Rice Cake with seafood or with vegetables. You can't go wrong with any of their dishes! Price: At first glance, the dishes seem a bit expensive because they're almost all in the double digits. But the generous portions of delicious food they serve more than explains for the $12-18 entrees. I always go home with a full belly and plenty of leftovers for the next day. Still, it's probably a place you go to on special occasions. Service: The service is VERY fast. Once you order, food begins to appear on your table in as little as 5 minutes. Waiters are also quite friendly and will give suggestions for their popular dishes. I'm hungry just thinking about this place!
(5)Eva L.
I had Sichuan Pavillion for lunch and was very happy about the food, the portion size and the price. The two of us got a spicy whole fish, a pork in spicy broth and a stir fried cabbage. We then got a free spinach tofu soup. All of this for 20 bucks. What a deal. The place was packed during lunch and the waiter kept on pushing us to order. Of course I am used to all this at a Chinese place. The pork in spicy broth was easily the best dish, while the stir fried cabbage was decent. I liked the spicy whole fried fish but it was not as authentically Sichuan because it is on the sweet side. I noticed that one side of the menu had more English and less authentic food choices while the other side had a lot of famous Sichuan dishes. Also on the board behind the counter there are specials in Chinese and the notice in Chinese that says if you want food to be more spicy or more "ma" you should ask before hand. I am definitely going back to try more of their Sichuan dishes!
(4)zibra a.
I ordered some carryout the other day, the Basil chicken was OK, the sesame chicken was more sour than sweet, the kung pao chicken was just OK. my family didn't like the chicken they thought it does not taste like chicken, and there was something about the smell of the oil they use that we did not like. I see by the reviews this is a good place for Chinese authentic food, but we were not really impressed.
(2)Dan L.
I had the sichuan beef noodle soup and it was out of this world tasty! Highly recommend the restaurant.
(4)Magnus C.
Always incredibly good. The occasional short wait for a table at this small, usually packed place, is absolutely worth it. Dinner for 5 recently, with appetizers, soup, four huge dishes, and beers, came to less than $100..with tip!
(5)Jan B.
We came here due to the high praise it received from DMV dining dragon, Tyler Cowen. We got there early for dinner on a Saturday, like 5:30, and the place was dead. The employees were sitting around shooting the shit.The waitress was friendly, and the chef came out to chat with the few folks who were there. We went straight for the mala stuff on the menu. Mapo tofu with pork, dan dan noodles and a couple others. Food was high quality, though it was not that totally spicy/numbing mala sensation I have experienced before. Not sure whether I even like that! Why u so far from DC, SJR?
(4)Eddie D.
This place is busy all the time. They offer a long list of menu. I estimate over 300 items on the menu, and about half of them are spicy. Their food is more of a Mandarin style, that explain why the spicy food. And with the extensive menu, we always have difficulty of deciding what to order. This time we got a Duck Tongue with Fresh Hot Pepper. WOW! This entire dish was filled with stir fried jalapeño pepper, dried red pepper, chili oil and duck tongue. Sorry, way to spicy for me. Than we tried the Crispy Rice Cake with Mix Seafood, this was great with good amount of seafood. This is another version of your seafood with pan fried noodle. We also got a Singapore Noodle, this was typical and quite tasty. If you like spicy Chinese Mandarin food, you got to try this place.
(3)Ryan R.
Dan dan noodles and Zhong dumplings are some of the better dishes here. Both dishes have sort of a numbing sauce however it tastes rather metallic. The tea duck and other dumpling dishes are decent. Though Sichuan Pavilion does not top other Chinese style restaurants in the area, it is worth a short trip if one is craving Sichuan style food.
(3)A H.
The food here is so good you will have to come back time and time again! Highly recommend their dumplings in hot oil and stir fried pea pod. Also try the fish in hot oil. Very impressed! The only thing that cost them a star is the cleaningness of the bathroom Not bad compared to other Chinese restaurants but I am a tough critic when it comes to restaurant bathrooms.
(4)Robin C.
Waitress Nazi. The food at the restaurant is terrific. No complaints there. As we were about to pay, we were told if we pay cash, we will get a card stamped as frequent customers and if we come 20 times, we can get a free meal under 20 dollars. So we paid cash, as I was having some coins, I used it as tips. Even it is the amount that equals to the normal tips, we did not get the card. And the response we got was sort of rude. Guess what, next time I need a really good reason to go back.
(2)Austin H.
Awesome find! Will definitely be back! Two-sided menu.... "Americanized" Chinese food menu on one side, but flip it over for the real deal authentic dishes. The staff was very friendly and helpful since we ere totally unfamiliar with many of the traditional dishes listed. Prices were extremely reasonable and the quality was excellent.
(5)Angie S.
Really solid, authentic Sichuan-style food. Highly recommend the scallion pancake! Can't beat the prices either.
(5)Sam S.
I have been to Sichuan Jin River (formerly Sichuan Pavilion) several times in the past and never really gotten around to writing a review for this place. This restaurant is located in an old office park area and does not have an attractive interior or exterior. The carpet is dirty, the ceiling tiles could use some work, the bathroom is quite disgusting and the tacky interior all screams for people to stay away. I have seen this location actually take used disposable chopsticks and put them back into the wrapper which is a huge problem. I really wish this restaurant would use better table ware and not have the terrible plastic tablecloths on every single table. This location is usually crowded and has a loud volume of sound, so expect to have to talk loudly when conversing. The menu is divided into an American Style Chinese food side and an Authentic Chinese food side. The menu is well divided, and quite clearly labeled. Despite all of the terrors I have listed when I talk about the atmosphere of this place the food is actually quite good. This time we had the(Shredded Beef with Bamboo Shoots), (General Guan's Chicken), (Braised Short Ribs with Baby Taro), and (Fried Tofu with pork and Vegetables). All of the food at Sichuan Jin River is very well made, the Short Ribs were tender and fall off of the bone without being mushy, the baby taro that comes in the dish also is tender and almost acts like a potato in a braised dish. The General Guan's Chicken has always been a hit, I love the spiciness and the slight curry flavor that is brought into the dish. The Shredded Beef with Bamboo Shoots is tender with everything well cooked in a luscious brown sauce. Fried Tofu with pork and Vegetables has a beautiful red spicy sauce with shredded pork and tofu, but could have used more pork and possibly some other vegetables other than the leeks, but being that I don't care too much for vegetables most of the time I was okay with that. The other times that I have been to this restaurant we have had the(Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup), (Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood), (Pork Buns Filled with Chicken Broth), (Chilled Spicy Bean Jelly Salad), and ("Dan Dan" Spicy Noodles). I highly recommend the Pork Buns Filled with Chicken Broth as a non-spicy appetizer, and the "Dan Dan" Spicy Noodles or Chilled Spicy Bean Jelly Salad (two peppers) as a spicy appetizer and General Guan's Chicken or the Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood, are sure not to disappoint. This is just a short list of the dishes that I really like from this restaurant. But, we do have some consistency issues between ordering in Chinese and ordering in English. This restaurant tends to dial down the spiciness when people order in English and the spiciness tends to be a lot hotter when ordering in Chinese. When I went today the General Guan's Chicken was also less spicy than before. This did allow me to enjoy the dish more, but for those who really like the hard punch that the peppers deliver you should ask that the dish be made "extra spicy." Service at Sichuan Jin River is okay, it can be pretty inattentive and not very professional. Hot tea is always brought to the table but even on hot days when glasses of cold water would be welcome, you have to call a server over to ask for it. Glasses of water are never refilled unless requested, and you also have to call a server over to get a refill on the (free) hot tea. Overall, Sichuan Jin River is a good restaurant for the food, which I would rate at 4 stars for most dishes. For the price the restaurant also does you good. However, the service and atmosphere really do detract from the quality of food. I would give this restaurant a good rating overall (3 stars) and an excellent rating (4 stars) for their food.
(3)A H.
This place is A-OK. I'm not really a fan of going to Chinese restaurants, but my friends forced me to come and help them order off the authentic Chinese menu. I can barely read Chinese, and I'm unfamiliar with Sichuan food, so that didn't really help them. :P For the appetizers, we got the wontons in chili sauce and the dandan noodles. The wontons were decent: salty and sweet. I'm not entirely certain how spicy they are supposed to be, but they taste similar to other places' hong you chao shou. The dandan noodles were more of a disappointment, as I was expecting to eat something much spicier (and I have! at other places in the area). Fortunately for them, the entree (flounder in soup? and black bean sauce) was pretty good. The fish was a good complement to rice, and my friends kept mixing it in. The fish entree was also fairly large, although I can't say the same for the appetizers. If I were just basing this review on food and taste, this place would get a solid 3 stars. However, I feel that I need to bump them down for service. Our waitress was dismissive, and didn't bother to check in with us. We waited for a good 10 minutes after putting down our menus before she came to get our order. I think we got more service from the guy who refilled our water. It was annoying because I could see her putting forth more effort for the tables around us.
(2)JL Y.
This place is legit. To start, there were so many Chinese people inside I thought for a moment I had teleported to Monterey Park in LA or Flushing. Then the food came out. This place nailed the requisite Sichuan staple dishes. First, the wontons in spicy sauce (hong you chao shou). You can tell a lot about a Chinese restaurant based on the care they put into their wontons and dumplings. The bad ones look and taste mass-produced. Not these. They were perfectly wrapped (the wonton skin should be tight around the pork meatball). Also tried the dan dan noodles, which were solid, though they tasted a lot like A&J's sour and spicy noodles (suan-la mian). Also excellent: tea duck (zhang cha ya), which you eat by stuffing into a plain bun (man tou) and adding a spoonful of delicious sauce. My fave of the evening was the flounder in fiery sauce (shui zhu yu), which arrived in a bowl that was bigger than my head. The portion size of the ma po tofu was similarly generous. As for service, this place has the standard insouciance of a Chinese restaurant. But who cares. All you need at a Sichuan restaurant worth its salt is for your server to have the water pitcher ready.
(5)Tom D.
3.5 stars Somebody (a certain GW professor with the initials TC) said this place makes Hong Kong Palace look like Burger King, so I had pretty high expectations given my fondness for Hong Kong Palace. We ordered Dan Dan Noodles, spicy wontons, pork dumplings and spicy beef noodle soup. The food was consistently very good, but I didn't think it was as good as Hong Kong Palace -- and the Dan Dan Noodles were a distant second to HKP. Portions were very generous -- 2 people could come and only split the beef noodle soup and leave satisfied.... Food with 2 diet cokes and tip ran $31 -- really good and authentic food, great value and good service. I am a fan, but give a solid nod to HKP. Will return.
(4)Pete D.
Spicy, tongue numbing, forehead dripping, nose wiping, it's all here at Sichuan Pavilion. I've heard great things about this place and we finally were able to sit down and check it out. This place gets packed! There isn't too much space inside and we were crammed at a smaller table with 8 people, but we were still able snatch up food with our chopsticks. I'll just get into some of the food items we ordered: Beef tripe and tendon in spicy sauce: An awesome dish, tossed with crushed peanuts and cilantro. The dish is $8.50, but you get enough to share with. The slices of tendon and tripe were tender and not tough at all. Smoked duck (breaded and fried): One of my favorite dishes we ordered. The duck has a nice crust on the outside and when you bite into it, each piece was tender and yummy. The skin of the duck is awesome, get me a plate of this alone. It was served with these soft doughy type guys, where you wrap the duck in it and dunk it in lovely hoisin sauce. Mapo Tofu: My second favorite dish of the meal. This spicy, truly tongue numbing dish is made with some ground pork and was not like any other mapo tofu I've had. This dish felt authentic as can be, very well done. Double-cooked pork: Spicy pork belly, stir-fried with scallions and some finger peppers. Delicious! The pork belly was sliced thinly and had nice pieces of fat attached. The twist to this was they tossed triangular wonton skin (at least that's what I think it is) in it too. The other dishes we got were decent. Off the top of my head, there was a beef chow foon, a green bean stir-fry (done very well by the way), some wonton soup with celery leaves, and a rice cake dish topped with a chicken and veggie gravy. This is a typical Chinese restaurant, so don't expect excellent service. Just raise your hand and pull over a server if you need something or even one of the busboys. They're pretty good to bring you what you need. I will definitely go back to this and they have a HUGE menu. What's neat is they have one menu, but a "American Chinese Menu" and on the flipside (literally), an "Authentic Chinese Menu." If you aren't Chinese, hopefully you find someone that can speak some English, this helped us out. A solid 4.5 star!!!!
(4)Mistery M.
good non battered to death chinese foods. lots of wackass vegan dishes which are all at the least, very interesting. some are quite tasty too.
(4)Susan W.
I always come here with my mother, who does all the ordering off the Chinese menu, but I have no complaints. The beef tribe in spicy sauce is on fire! Just look at the crowds and you know you've found a gem. (Whenever we order specific spicy dishes to go, we use the leftover chili oil/sauce to cook the next meal. Its so good that nothing should go to waste!)
(4)Andy C.
I can't vouch for the American Chinese food menu, but Sichuan Pavilion has excellent traditional Sichuan cuisine, especially if you like spicy Chinese food. I went recently with friends and ordered 5 dishes. All were very good and some were exceptional. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)D W.
The food was fair. We read the reviews before going there. Could the 1or 2 star ratings for the service be a joke or an anomaly? Unfortunately no.
(1)Nicole L.
I have one thing to say: I have an addiction for spicy food. Sichuan Pavilion is one of my top source; the food is just dope here! I have my favs but I make an effort to try different dishes if I can. What I find is every dish has its unique flavor and is soooo purrrrfect! I still heart the bean jelly with spicy paste, cilantro and crushed peanuts but now they form it into long noodle shape instead of cubes. The homemade paste is extraordinary I don't have a word for it. There are all these amazing dishes I am going to itemize the dishes to make it easier to read: 1-5 Peppers 5 being gravely spicy and sniffly euphoria 1) Chilled bean jelly noodles with spicy paste, crushed peanuts and cilantro: 5 star awesomeness (5 peppers) 2) Dan dan mein with spicy paste and ground pork: the noodles in this dish are soooooo good I can't stop slurping it up! 5 star too! (4 peppers) 3) General Guan's chicken: A variation of cumin and cilantro lamb, the chicken is thinly sliced, flash fried with dry spices. Dry heat all the way! (3 peppers) 4) Kou Swei Ji: Steamed chicken in a bowl of hot red oil, sesame seeds and baby bamboo shoots: this reminds me of the hainanese chicken rice back at home but soaked in this sinful hot and spicy sauce. (5 peppers) 5) Fried thousand year old eggs: If you like thousand yr old eggs imagine them fried! This is not spicy. (0 pepper) 6) Chengdu Chicken: Petite cut chicken, fried with green peppers and spices. A very well-balanced dish - chicken is cooked perfectly for the slight crunch in thinly coated gravy. (4 peppers) 7) Sweet and sour pork with sizzling rice: Got this for my american friend and she loved the thinly sliced pork with mushrooms ina light gravy poured over rice that sizzled!!! (0 pepper) 8) The classic sichuan beef in the numbing sauce made with szechuan pepper corn. It's a sensational experience for sure. (5 peppers) 9) Fish with Szechuan Peppercorn (Swei Zhu Yu) - wonderful szechuan peppercorn with fresh fish slices that numbs your mouth in a nice gravy with cabbage. The cabbage soaked up the flavor of the gravy like a sponge (5 peppers) 10) Julienned pig ears - tasty chewy pig ears I never imagined I would like but the chefs here just have it in them. (0 pepper) 11) Szechuan beef noodles - at many restaurants that serve a variation of this dish I don't enjoy it as much as here. The meat though has the tendon/fat pieces is very tender and flavorful. I actually love eating it. (3 peppers) 12) Whole wheat with chicken - I love eating whole wheat grains and with shredded chicen it was just perfect, it is served wrap style with lettuce on the side (0 pepper) 13) Flounder with black beans paste - A very unique flavor with fresh flounder and black bean paste it's a very tasty dish. (0 pepper) but you can ask for the version with bird eye green peppers. 14) Chinese Style Kung Pao Chicken - Doused in red peppers and szechuan peppercorn, I heart this dish even more! The diced chicken and peanuts absorb the flairing yet sweet flavors of the peppers So hot it makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time, it's really eurphoric! (5 peppers) 15) Braised pork ribs with taro - Falling off the bone ribs with taros that absorbed the delicious sauce. (0 pepper) 16) Szechuan beef noodles soup - Nice touch of the szechuan peppercorn with flat noodles instead of the usual. I loved the broth! The meat was tender and not as much tendons it was delicious. (4 peppers) I am so glad to be close to some of the most authentic and fabulous chinese restaurants. I am a regular at this restaurant, the service is excellent!!
(5)David Y.
I visited this place with a friend who also likes spicy food. Since it was just the two of us, the wait was very short, but be prepared to wait if you are in a larger group. Only parties of 6+ can make reservations. We had the Dan Dan noodles, Smoked Duck, Fresh Peppercorn Fish, and Ma Po Tofu. The noodles were good, and spicy. I would have added some bok choy just to add some crunch to the dish and perhaps balance the heat better. The smoked duck, while not Sichuan, was fantastic--the tea smoke really suffused the meat. Generous portions with the fish, which came as bite-sized fillets swimming in a deep red chili broth. The tofu was really terrific, and really absorbed the flavor of the spicy sauce well instead of just being coated by it. A note for vegetarians: we were able to request the Dan Dan noodles and Ma Po Tofu without the standard minced meat, and it didn't detract much from our experience. I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 because I thought there could have been a tad more Sichuan peppercorn, and I thought the duck could have been served with more complementary condiments. The service was prompt. Decor was nothing to write home about, but the main attraction here is the food, and it would be a mistake to judge this place based on decorations and tablecloths. Definitely recommended for authentic Chinese food enthusiasts, and brave souls willing to give their tongues a work-out. More detailed review here for the curious: stonesoup.wordpress.com/…
(4)Josh B.
The mouth-numbing effects of the Sichuan peppercorns ensure that your experience at Sichuan Pavilion will be more akin to doing drugs than eating dinner, but that's a good thing. Flounder and vegetables in fiery broth is a must-have dish...a huge portion of flounder and cabbage swimming in a devil's broth of hot oil, red peppers, and peppercorns. Not for the bland-inclined, but so, so good. General Guan's chicken was a hit as well (maybe 3 stars to the flounder's 4). Sliced chicken coated in cumin and hot pepper and fried with cilantro. leeks, garlic, and ginger. Of course you can't go to a Sichuan joint and not start with Dan Dan noodles and beef tendon. Both were excellent here, though the tendon was sliced just a hair thicker than I've had it at other places (a feature I actually liked). Overall, an excellent and authentic place. Next time I'm dragging a group so I can order more.
(4)Margaret H.
Despite the fact that Sichuan Jin offers real authentic dishes with excellent "Mala" flavor, I won't be coming back due to the terrible service. The waiter delivered one of our dishes to the table next to ours, and the diners there promptly dug into the dish. A few minutes later, the waiter discovered the mistake and took the partially eaten dish back into the kitchen. When they finally delivered it to us, I mentioned to the waiter, that I noticed the dish go to the wrong table. He assured us that it was a new dish, but the lukewarm temperature of the chicken made it pretty clear that they just dumped it onto a clean, smaller plate. They also added an extra dish to our bill-- that might have been mistake, but I'm not sure.
(2)Andy N.
I used to live in China, and I can tell you, this is the real deal like they serve there; The folks in this restaurant probably wouldn't know how to make it American style if they tried. This restaurant opened only 2 months ago (liquor license is pending), but it's certain that it will establish itself as a serious choice for authentic Sichuan food in the area. It is comparable and will be competing directly with the other top local Sichuan restaurants such as Joe's Noodle House. Walked in there on a Saturday night and found a bustling joint filled with excitement. In fact everyone in the joint seemed to be Chinese, and the wait line would have been out the door if not for the rain outside. The atmosphere is very no frills. A sign on the kitchen door says "Every dish leaving this room must be PERFECT". Tough goal, but the fact that the owner put the sign up shows he is serious about providing great food. They do seem to be trying very hard. Portion sizes are generous, ingredients were fresh, service was enthusastic, and , prices reasonable. They have fresh whole fish, which only authentic Chinese restaurants bother to do. And they do not gouge the "seasonal price", as some places do. For example a medium sized whole tilapia in steamed ginger was $14.95. What struck me most of all about this restaurant were two things though: First was the sheer number of dishes in each category on the menu Second was the breadth of selection on the menu. Many dishes are are very rare to find outside of China, and this restaurant has a number of dishes you will not see in ANY restaurant in Metropolitan Washington that has them. This is especially for the appetizers (many hot and cold ones) and the unusal variety of authentic Chinese desserts. Sharing the desserts is recommended. They are large and filling. This restaurant does not serve shaved ice, probably a regional thing, but it seems to specialize in warm starchy desserts. In particular the red bean paste in a fresh pancake ( - dou sha bing ) is very nice, as was the rice-based dessert containing flower essence. I'll be ordering it again and update with the name. I went with a crowd that includes a number of connoisseurs of food as it would be prepared in China. Everyone seemed quite happy. They do not have any lamb dishes, which are popular in Sichuan, but they do have a lot of the other regional specialties that could only be found in an authentic-style Sichuan restaurant. Water boiled fish was on par, and the noodle dishes were excellent, and seem to be homemade noodles. The "Home style tofu" is recommended if you don't want to get Mapo tofu or Ma-la tofu along with all your other spicy entrees. The tofu is light and very fresh here. Others below who rated this a 3-star earlier did not comment on any of the Sichuan dishes, which is this restaurant's raison d'etre. I'm not sure why one would go to an authentic Sichuan restaurant if not a fan of spicy food... I think that accounts for the discrepancy in our ratings. So I give it 5-stars to help offset those comments. Besides, it is certainly in the top 20% of local authentic style Sichuan restaurants. If your first time, keep in mind some GPS routes will lead you to a block or so away. This joint is not on 355 as shown in the map shown. It's actually in that big triangular area of parking lot. So look for the Bank of America. It's a stone's throw from there, in the same lot. Entrance on Beall Street. Look for a one-story standalone building inside the lot. PS There's also a restaurant with the same name in DC. No relation.
(5)Lindsey L.
Solid place. No frills, just good food. We walked into this place with a party of 7 on a Saturday night at 7pm. Right from the front door, the place was a shock to the senses! The whole place is packed with Asian people (great sign, I guess). It is cozy, shoulder to shoulder to wait for a table while servers zip past you every which way with steaming plates. We were seated quite quickly, had the people who spoke Mandarin order for the whole table, and voila, an adventure. My favorite was the breaded pork, looked tempura-like and had a subtle mini donut taste! Also, the flounder in fiery soup is probably THE thing to get here. I wasn't crazy about the desserts (taro and bean-related baked goods). The best part? $83 (before tip) for 7 people to eat A LOT. I agree with the pre-warning that the wait staff do not understand much English past please and thank you, so just be prepared.
(3)Nicholas D.
I will never eat there again. Dumpling dough was chewy. The "dan dan" noodles were greasy and had an odd taste. The kung pao chicken was all spice and no flavor. My moo shu pork was burnt but I didnt realize it until i ran out of the plum sauce that was covering up the burnt taste. The lo mein was the best part of the meal. My wife told the server about it while I was taking our son to the rest room and it was still on our bill when they brought it to us.
(1)Mike K.
Ok, it was the day before Chinese New Year and they were swamped. But I had to ask four times for water, they didnt bring the second dish until after we were ready to go, but the food is good, and the Asian folks eat there which says something
(3)Phred P.
Just try this restaurant for the first time and we love it. The crispy cucumber is a must to have before/with meals. So much more interesting dishes for us to try for the next time!
(4)Yang C.
Hi Will, I grew up in Sichuan. The tongue numbing thing you said is not due to MSG, it's due to those little seeds that look like the mines in mine sweeper game - an authentic seasoning ingredienets in all Chengdu dishes. Trust me, once you get used to it, you will love it... or hate it :)
(5)Ben Y.
I think the sign outside the parking lot says Sichuan Pavilion, but its the same place. I would say the Yelp community is spot on again. We had the Dan Dan noodle as an appetizer and it was better than any other place that I have tried it. I liked it because it was not inedibly spicy. My tongue only had a touch of the numb feeling, which is good (that's not MSG like someone else posted. the numb is part of the hot sauce and its supposed to be like that.). We ordered the Fried Tofu with Veggies and the Braised Short Rib(beef?) with Taro. Both were excellent. While both items were listed with 'one hot pepper', I found the Tofu dish to be spicier than the beef. All three dishes have been reviewed by other yelpers favorably, which is why we tried them. Plenty of parking here. We arrived on Saturday between 5:30-6PM and were immediately seated. Within 30min of when we arrived there was a line of people waiting.
(4)Aesah L.
I am not a fan of spicy food, but I am a fan of authentic Chinese. Sichuan Pavilion has an excellent menu of both Authentic Chinese and American Chinese food--all you have to do is flip the menu over to see one or the other. I had the breaded short ribs with lemon sauce, and it was amazing. The steamed dumplings were delicious, as was the beef noodle soup. My dinner companions assured me that the spicy food was wonderfully spicy. We ordered a dozen dishes and paid surprisingly little for them. I'd go back.
(3)Nick C.
Sichuan Pavilion was suggested by a friend, and it was really a find. This is sort of literally true, because we had a damn hard time locating it. While the building the restaurant is in is right along Rockville Pike, you have to go around back to find the place itself. We went there with 3 people for dinner late (after 9 pm) on a week night. We were seated right away, and the service was friendly and attentive, although they weren't too busy that hour so it's not too surprising. However, we were there until the employees were basically ready to leave, and they were friendly throughout, never rushing us. That is somewhat rare in my experience. Of course, it was the food that really impressed. Their menu includes both an "American style" Chinese food section and an (ostensibly) more authentic section. The selection seemed more extensive and interesting than, for example, the nearby Bob's Noodle. We ordered dishes exclusively from the authentic section. This section boasted a huge range of dishes that I'd never seen before that ranged from relatively normal sounding to bizarre (for an American). The weirder options included duck feet, chicken feet, pig ears, and intestine. We steered clear of those and went for some safer but novel options, including dumplings filled with chicken broth, garlic sprouts with cured pork and shredded sausages, and the crispy potato. I can't say whether or not these dishes were authentic, but what mattered to me is that they were tasty and different than anything I'd had. I probably liked the garlic sprouts the most, though the crispy potato, which was potatoes cut almost like really thin french fries and cooked until tender but still firm like a noodle, was by far the most unique. I did note that the food was pretty salty and pretty oily, but neither to an unpleasant degree. I don't think either is especially unusual for a Chinese restaurant. I really enjoyed this place and intend to go back many times to explore their menu.
(5)Sol B.
In a town full of great Chinese restaurants, this one stands out for its wide variety of tasty (and spicy) dishes. The deep fried tofu with hot spices are enough to send you back for more. The smoked duck served with plum sauce was a big hit. Enjoy the plastic window shades; they'll remind you of the plastic lamp shade covers your grandmother had. You'll need something to do while you wait for menus or more tea (I had to ask for them). The price you pay (achingly slow service) is offset by the friendliness of the staff; the great prices; and the fantastic food.
(4)Travis M.
This place was suggested to me by a friend. She was of the opinon that the food was very authentic (I assume she ordered from the traditional and not the Americanized menu). And, while I cannot vouch for authenticity, I can say that the food I had was quite good. In fact, the won-tons with hot sauce were probably the best dumpling style appetizer I have had in any of the greater DC area. My friend made some suggestions on what to order, but I am ashamed to say that I didn't have the guts to go through with most of them (cold jelly salad as an appetizer! just does not sound right to me). The waitress however was very willing to give me suggestions on what to order that was both unique and palatable to my American sensibilities (She was also happy to translate my friends suggestions, which were written for me in Chinese). The pork with garlic sauce was delicious and had a wonderful ginger flavor that I was not expecting. And the spicy seafood soup was good, but not my favorite dish as I was not a huge fan of the broth (it was tomato based I think). I will definitely be going back, and I will make an attempt to order some of the more traditional dishes. Apparently the whole fried fish with Chinese greens (?) is great.
(4)Andrew K.
I was told this place used to be a thai restaurant that recently changed to a chinese restaurant so I went to check it out. We got the lunch special which is where you pick 3 dishes and a soup for $20 which is a little more than what you pay at Bob's for the same deal. We got the salt and pepper pork chops, pork with bamboo shoots and the baked whole fish. The pork chops were crispy and tasted pretty good while the pork with bamboo shoots was just ok. The fish was good and it had a good brown sauce which wasn't too salty. The restaurant is clean and the service was pretty good but the place was pretty empty at lunch. I would say the food was ok but I thought Bob's was better and slightly cheaper.
(3)Tim R.
Went last night and had some fire fish thing and braised short ribs. It is really good food. My father-in-law from HK LOVES this place and always wants to go here when he visits. If you like more authentic chinese food you might like it too.
(5)Denise P.
Ate here today and we ordered the sichuan beef noodle soup (I liked the homemade taste of the noodles), crispy spicy shrimp (tasted like spicy kung pao shrimp), scallion pancakes (I prefer them a little thinner and less greasy), a sausage and pork dish (was ok), and the soup dumplings. The only other place I've had soup dumplings is in NYC. Unfortunately, there's no crab soup dumpling option like there is at Joe's Shanghai's, but I would definitely come back to Sichuan Pavilion for soup dumplings in Rockville! I found all the other dishes a little too greasy and salty.
(3)Debby T.
This is the best Chinese I've had since living in Hong Kong, where I grew up. Just moved from NYC a few months ago and this is the best as it gets. Spicier the better. Love!
(5)KanKan Y.
I'm a big fan of Sichuan food. It's all about Ma and La. Ma being the numbing sensating you feel when you ingest a ton of peppers, and La being the amount of spicyness. (Random info: Ma and La are also used to describe the fiery nature of the girls in Si Chuan) When I ate at the restaurants back in Si Chuan or a home cooked meal, I would cry eating the food because it was so spicy...and then lose sensation in my mouth because it's so Ma! Everything was bury under a sea of hot sauce, chili powder, and peppery spices. My friends and I came to eat here after hearing that this place is very authentic. We beat the rush by coming to dinner at 7. By 7:30 the line was to the door! Seeing the crowd, I got excited for the food! The waitress handed our menu. The american style menu was on one side, and the chinese menu was on the other, printed upside down. We ordered a few things off the american menu and chinese menu: Homestyle Tofu, Water-stewed beef (shui zhu niu), spicy tendons, spicy chicken and intestines, garlic eggplant, sweet and sour pork (off the american menu), and a spicy noodle bowl. We also ordered some pancake buns (the ones that usually comes with zhang cha ya - tea duck) to go with the garlic eggplant. I was slightly nervous since i haven't eaten spicy food in a while. Jumping off the deep end into authentic SiChuan was a little scary. The food came quickly and it was savory and great. There was something missing though...where were the spicy-ness? My friend who don't eat much spicy food was sweating from the food, but for me, there was no spicy or numbing taste. Here I was sweating how much I'll cry during the meal, but this was the exact opposite. The water-stew beef is a classic dish and it's supposed to burn the tops of your mouth off, but no....nothing...I didn't even taste the peppers. The spicy beef tendon was also disappointing. The consistency was good but the kick wasn't there. All in all, I think this is a good place to take friends who want to savor the SiChuan flavor without red liquid death poured all over it. But for folks that like SiChaun spicyness...I'd recommend Joe's Noodle House. They're more Ma than La, but they are a lot closer to that authentic spicy-crying feeling than Sichuan pavillion is. I will come back to this place again since the food was very flavorful, but with an extra note to the chef to make everything 10 times spicier. I'll write a follow up review when that happens...in the meanwhile, Cheers!
(3)Erica P.
i had chengi spicy chicken. chicken was very dry and tasteless
(2)Angela L.
Authentic and tasty food with very reasonable price We have been there three times. The food we sampled: Dan Dan Noodle 4 Baby Cole with preserved Egg on Top 5 Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup 5 Flounder with Sour pickled Cabbage & Peppers 4 Stir Fried Minced Chicken with "ya-cai" 4.5 Steamed Short Ribs with Sticky Rice 5
(4)Fat T.
The breaded and fried duck was pretty good but more fatty than I generally prefer. The Sichuan tofu was excellent.
(4)Chava C.
We absolutely loved Sichuan Pavillion. Tucked away in the strip mall shopping center to the north of the Rockville Public Library in the town center, Sichuan Pavillion is a no frills kind of place with tables and booths huddled together. The diners were mostly Chinese or of Asian-descent. The menu was as authentic as anything I know, or at least, it didn't have many classic American Chinese dishes that we normally see, e.g. no hot and sour soup. Having read the yelp reviews, we tried appetizer Dan Dan Noodles and appetizer Smoked Duck and not due to reviews but our own choices, Chicken and Ginger Hot Pot with Scallions and Sweet and Sour Eggplant. The fried Eggplant were the freshest, softest and nicest I've ever had. THe Dan Dan noodles were spicy in a way that didn't hurt, but made my tongue go numb - fun! A lot of dishes had shrimp/pork which are things we don't eat, so the menu was limited in that sense, but, we really enjoyed it.
(4)Tom M.
Earlier review called this place "a spicy polished jade gem." I would have to disagree. This place is doesn't deserve the 4 star average rating. The place doesn't have any ambiance per se. The carpet is dirty worn out and the floor tiles are dirty and sticky. The chopsticks are reused and reinserted into paper sleeves. The food is way to salty and everything was either undercooked or overcooked. The fried dumplings were greasy and doughy. We order the beef noodle soup beef, and the beef was like beef jerky and noodles were way overcooked. Smoked duck was like it was precooked and then reheated so much that it was unedible. General Guan's Chicken was salty and overcooked. The servers were totally unprofessional. We left without finishing our meal and will definitely not come back here.
(1)Lillian C.
Got the broad beans with garlic sauce and beef chow fun on a rainy day out. GRANTED, they are a sichaun restaurant they're not specializing in the type of classic cantonese chinese food known in America. I wanted something quick and familiar. The BCF was relatively decent- a bit on the greasy side, way better than Oriental East in SS (and they actually are cantonese, shame on them!), not as good as Hollywood East, but of course doesn't hold a candle to chow fun from NYC. They like many other restaurants in the area where they soak the beef in baking soda until its insanely tender, I personally am not really a fan of that. Customer service was so-so, I guess because I was by myself they're not going out of their way to entertain me but the women would peer over my shoulder casually and ask me questions in mandarin. I'm sadly anglo-fied cantonese so my mandarin is absolutely horrendous. I'm not begging to come here but if you do want good chinese food in the area, this (and yuan fu if you're into vegetarian food) is the place to go.
(4)Lucy X.
First of all, you know this place is something when the name doesn't end in "palace", "garden", or "house". Pavilion? C'mon what genius thought of that one! And it's true, just like its extraordinary name, this place never fails. It serves AUTHENTIC Chinese food, none of that orange chicken crap. And the Szechuan taste is absolutely divine! Being Chinese myself, it's a real treasure when you come to find a place other than in China that serves "real" Chinese food. And the portions for the price is amazing too. You know it's legit when it's a favorite of your mom's, her friend's, her friend's friends, and their friends' friends (who are all, obviously, legit Chinese people btw). Basically just come here and order anything and you won't be too disappointed. Also, bring cash cause every $20 you spend (in cash), they give you a stamp hey hey! And although they do accept credit..but then no stamm fo yu!
(5)Laney K.
Everything at this restaurant is delicious! The dan dan noodles and hot and spicy fire fish are among my favorite. It's been awhile since an awesome authentic Chinese restaurant has popped up around the area. We are extremely picky with our Chinese food and I have to say this is one of our tops. There is always a wait when it's dinner time on fridays and weekends. So make sure you try to get there early before the rush. When I was pregnant I craved all the foods here and went almost all the time to eat. Writing this review makes me want to go tomorrow.
(5)Raquel C.
The menu is too large but all in all the food is fantastic. Try the dumplings!
(4)Matthew K.
Amazing.
(5)George R.
Recently my orders have been drenched in oil -- not good. I think they changed chefs ~Feb 2011. Time to pass -- Spice Xing has become a favorite and La Tasca has recently upgraded their menu and wine list.
(2)Tina L.
This place could get pretty packed during peak hours but the wait is never too bad. I recommend the spicy appetizers, and spicy fish hot pot...which is my all-time favorite Chinese food. Oh, and with the spicy fish you can also request to take the leftover sauce home and recreate another dish: add some bean thread noodles, tofu, bok-choy, fish balls and anything else you have handy and you got yourself a nice Chinese hotpot kind of meal. I recommend this place if you like authentic spicy Szechuan cuisine.
(4)G M.
Despite the longer drive, this has become our go-to place for Chinese (we do takeout, as the whole place, encouragingly filled with Asian people, comes to a standstill anytime we walk in). Among the stuff we really have liked so far are the spicy fried rice with egg, the General Guan's chicken, and the double-cooked pork. For the sake of context, I've eaten the real-deal many times in NYC and SF, and this place generally compares favorably (although the usual American Chinese dishes like orange chicken and the like are not worth ordering).
(4)ER D.
I came to Rockville during my East Coast trip. I'm originally from Southern Cal, where the BEST and authentic Chinese foods are. And I came to Sichuan pavillion because of the Yelp review and by my friends recommendation. First of all, this must be a good Chinese restaurant in Rockville, no doubt about that. But compare to the standard i'm use to in Southern Cal, this gets an average "3 star" at the most. Let's just say if this was in Southern California, it will be another mediocre restaurant. Being in Rockville, I guess it deserve a 4 star since there are not many competitor to begin with. Secondly, to the food... it is good and authentic Sichuan Food. However, i'm not accustomed to the high cost since I can get the same thing in Southern Cal for 1/2 the price. Nevertheless, it's good food if you're craving for Chinese food.
(3)r y.
We here on a Saturday around 6:30pm. It seems from talking to the lady next to us as we waited (and waited) that there is always a wait to be seated here. It is really popular. The restaurant is actually rather larger than some other places we have visited in Rockville. It was packed and a little noisy from all the people talking which was nice for my son so he could look around and also make a little noise and not disturb anyone. Once seated, we ordered the dan-dan noodles, cold cucumber dish, spinach and tofu soup and chopped chicken with chilis. My husband who is from around the Sichuan region liked the noodes and the chicken. The soup was very plan but okay. He told me that the cucumber dish was all mine because it was too sweet (that's okay, I like sweet and spicy). My poor son was not very well off since the cucumbers, dan dan and the chicken were all a little bit too spicy for him. The soup was too bland. He really liked the noodles but kept on rubbing his eyes and looking uncomfortable. Next time I will ask for rice to be served with appetizer so he can alternate between the food and rice and keep from overheating. Overall, we liked it very much and it was nice to have an authenic taste.
(4)xj o.
No, No, No, No, NO! I'm shocked at the amount of love this place is getting. My friend and I came here because we like to eat out and this is one of the few remaining places we haven't gone to in the RTS area. First off, the duck appetizer was chopped up and very COLD and you couldn't eat a piece without having tiny sharp pieces of bone in it. Not a single piece. It was simply not edible. We put it to the side thinking the main dishes would get better but no...it only got worse. The spicy beef soup entree wasn't a soup but more like a thick puddle of grease. Not spicy and just blah. And the "beef" in both our entrees was not real beef. I don't even think it was meat. I've had meat. 99.9% of my caloric intake is based on animals that once roamed the earth. This was something that they either tried to pass as meat or it may have once roamed the finest sewers in NYC. I went back to eating real meat, albeit it was still cold with sharp bone fragments in it. Then there's the service. We finished our water within 5 mins of getting it and the waitress NEVER came back to refill our glasses. It took FOREVER to get their attention for anything. By then, we didn't even mention the water and just asked for the check. During the whole ordeal we joked about how awful everything was. We needed a laugh -- it was that or just cry. We half-heartedly joked about making a run for it because the place didn't deserve a penny for a tip, let alone for the food. But there were a couple of people blocking the front entrance. (They were on to us.) Then we joked that we should just keep ordering more food...we were probably delirious from the nauseating food at that point. I wanted to yell out to everyone how amazing my beef soup was. I wanted everyone else to suffer I like I did. Yeah, I was in a grouchy mood at that point. It didn't take long for us to go to the crapper soon afterwards. I don't think my stomach has ever been the same since. This is honestly the only place I would give 0 stars if Yelp made that possible. I plan on coming back here when I'm on my death bed. It would make the notion of dying so much easier to accept. UPDATE: So we went back because we're a glutton for punishment. I'd rate them a 1.5 star now. So far we know what not to order (spicy beef noodle, duck appetizer, any beef or chicken entree), some things that were just okay (dan dan noodles, spicy dumplings), and only one thing that we both found to be better than average (pork buns appetizer). But we still left depressed.
(1)Jennifer F.
Very authentic Sichuan food. It reminds me of my grandmother who is originally from Sichuan.
(5)Bren P.
wow! this place was great! authentic northern chinese food in Rockville! I rarely go to maryland, but i heard there were some great chinese restaurants in rockville..and so we went with a couple friends. Our friends ordered since they've been here before and they ordered the right dishes (plus they ordered in chinese)!! We ordered dan dan noodles, kung pao chicken, fish in spicy broth, and soup with pork and cabbage. These dishes were more than enough for us 4..it's family style! Everything was delicious! I'm craving to go back to try the other dishes!
(5)Constance C.
Just like Tom D., I came here on the "recommendation" of Tyler Cowen. My party and I were a little frazzled from an overwhelming trip to Buy Buy Baby and delicious Chinese food was really the only antidote. It comes in spades at Sichuan Pavilion, luckily. We ordered the basics - dan dan noodles, scallion pancake and sesame noodles to start. The dan dan is ma la, and I definitely had some numbness going on after a bite or two. It was very addictive. The sesame noodles and pancake were very well-done also. For main dishes, we had the dried bean curd with celery, the Chengdu chicken, the crispy salty shrimp, and the dried sauteed string beans. The Chengdu chicken was really spicy and loaded with peppers and juicy bits of chicken. I prefer the similar dish at Hong Kong Palace (which has the added dash of cumin) but it was still pretty solid. The crispy salty shrimp is lightly battered and fried with shell- and legs-on, but were really well flavored and the bean curd was light and aromatic. Both were great foils to the spicy chicken. I think everyone agreed that the string beans were perfect. This is one of my favorite Sichuan dishes and this was easily one of the best versions. Service was quick and attentive. I don't know when I'll be able to convince my parents to go to Rockville but if I do, we'll definitely be making a stop here.
(5)Phyl P.
I was visiting this area from San Francisco, and went here for lunch with 2 other people, based on the 4 star rating from Yelp. We each had a different dish off the lunch specials menu, and the food was almost inedible. Tasteless and badly prepared. We ate a few bites and left the rest. Worse than the bad food, our water glasses were all dirty, which speaks volume about the kitchen hygiene.
(1)Kevin L.
Among the Chinese restaurants in Rockville, this is so fat the best one. The only problem is that some of the waiters/waitress are not easy to deal with.
(4)Josh B.
Fantastic. One of the best Chinese meal I've had. We got the following - they were all 5-star worthy. - the Dan Dan Noodles. Spicy, yet delicate, and I couldn't stop eating the little scallions. - some duck dish. the meat was perfectly cooked and the duck sauce was just right - Ma Po Tofu - spicy, but like the Dan Dan noodles, not overwhelmingly so. - Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup. Awesome - for dessert, fried taro with sesame. best taro i've ever had. i usually don't like taro, but this was great...Sichuan food meets the Iowa State Fair. The portions were huge, so now our fridge is blessed with piles of delicious leftovers. And all this for $55 before tip. The menu is big, too, so I'm looking forward to going back again and again. Also, contrary to other reviewers, I thought the service was totally fine. Finally, if you can, make sure your dinner party includes a friend who knows Chinese food, so they can direct the ordering. The menu is not what you usually see in most (Americanized) Chinese restaurants (in a good way).
(5)Cris B.
Most authentic Chinese food I've had in DC area, although I haven't tried too many other places. Dan Dan Noodles were very good, as was the Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Broth. Will definitely go back when I get my next Sichuan peppercorn craving.
(4)Cindy Y.
On my visit we ordered "wu geng chang wang" (intestines and pork blood in pickled mustard spicy stew) and ma puo tofu (braised tofu with minced beef in spicy garlic sauce). The intestine/pork blood stew was flavorful, with a good amount of pickled mustard greens to give it the slight tartness. Pork blood was overcooked but still tasty. Large pieces of intestines which were cleaned well. Sauce was thicker than what I prefer but I think adding water to the leftover portion will fix that. Ma puo tofu stood out from other ones I've had in the past. Great complexity of flavor, generous amounts of tofu and the excellent spicy oily sauce brought the dish together very nicely. I would definitely go back to try other dishes.
(4)Kung fu P.
Lets just say, whenever my wife is mad at me, I bring her to Sichuan Pavilion and afterwards all is well. Don't dare buy from the American menu and definitely go for the authentic dishes. Their strength is spicy, but they also have some good non-spicy dishes like the fish filet, pork taro in fermented sauce, and braised beef. My personal favorite is the spicy Zhong dumpling, spicy beef tendon (fu qi fei pian), and Dan Dan noodles, pretty standard Sichuan dishes. My wife savors the noodles called Suan la fen and the fish with sour cabbage with noodles. If you're a fan of the typical Ma Po Tofu, then try the Spicy Fried tofu which is the dry version, this goes very well with beer. There are so many delicious dishes to choose from and you can't really go wrong with Sichuan Pavilion, which sets the bar for Chinese restaurants in MoCo, and even maybe the entire Metro area. Enjoy!
(5)C Q.
We stopped by here for lunch. The restaurant was pretty empty. We checked out the authentic Chinese menu and decided on the "fish fillet and tofu" and "cumin intestines" (don't know the names in English). We asked for both to be less spicy. Although both dishes were indicated as 1 pepper on the menu, people who had been there had recommended toning down the spiciness even for the 1 pepper dish. Both dishes came quickly and both looked and tasted really good. The fish fillet was tender and the tofu was smooth. While it had a kick, it was very enjoyable. The cumin intestine did not had much of the cumin taste, which I actually liked. The intestine was probably fried then stirred fried. We ordered the dessert of red bean and taro cake. It was red bean paste and taro paste, dipped into white sesames, then pan fried. It was good if you like red bean and taro. It's not too sweet, like the typical Chinese dessert. I really enjoy the meal and plan to come here again soon.
(5)Jack L.
Great place for spicy duck tongue! Twice cooked pork was also good, and the fresh green tea helped the eating process. We also liked the taro dessert and found the service acceptable. We did have a Chinese speaking member of our party, which helped with that. In sum: very authentic, very Chinese.
(4)John V.
First off, I must admit that I'd rather have "American-style chinese food" vs "Authentic chinese food", so anyone reading this review would understand my perspective on why I rated this place with 3-stars. We went to the Sichuan Pavilion for the first time tonight (Friday night) to try it out based on the reviews it got on Yelp. We wanted to try this place because we were hoping the food would compare with the delicious spicy ma-la flavors that Great Wall Szechuan House in DC is known for. The restaurant itself was packed with Chinese people, so that was a good sign. Here is what we ordered and what we thought - - Vegetable Spring Rolls - small, just okay - Dan Dan Noodles - had that ma la flavor we were looking for. - Kung Pao Chicken - wasn't anything to write home to. too much celery. Meiwah in DC is still the clear winner for Kung Pao. - Eggplant in Garlic Sauce - pretty good. I'm the kinda guy that loves the orange chicken from Panda Express. So, take what you will from my reivew. This place is probably a great find for those that love spicy authentic chinese food.
(3)Neal Gone Daddy H.
went on a tuesday at 4pm, so they weren't super busy. food was like home cooked in China, nothing super refined. the soup we had wasn't very good. i'd stick to the spicy stuff, it seems like that's where they do well. i'd like to come back when they're busier to see if high turnover improves things.
(3)Rachel H.
Two of the three dishes we ordered were delicious. The third dish was a simple case of ordering the wrong thing; I took a chance on an exotic-sounding meal and it wasn't for me. It's a must if you like authentic Chinese.
(4)Jess R.
We love sichuan food, and were really expecting to love this place... but were underwhelmed. The tripe was mediocre; the dan dan noodles were okay, but not nearly as good as other local stand-outs; the crispy fungus dish that everyone had raved about was pretty bland; and the pork & rice cake dish was tasty but not outstanding. It wasn't necessarily a bad meal - but we had such high expectations. Instead, we were just disappointed that we hadn't gone to Hong Kong Palace.
(2)Joe R.
I lived in China for 2 years and loved the authentic food. Sichuan Pavillion has 2 sections in the menu: authentic Chinese food (in English and Chinese characters) and American Chinese. I've been there 6 or 7 times and it's always been excellent. If you like the numbing "ma" foods (and I love it), the Dan Dan Noodles are fantastic and only $3.95. The Chow Fun beef and noodles is probably in the top 3 noodle dishes I've ever had. The flounder with vegetables in white sauce is mild and outstanding. We also love the hot and sour soup off the American-Chinese menu. Additional numbing dishes ("ma") that I like are the ma po tofu (I was never much of a fan of tofu before this) and the flounder with tofu. The place is usually full of Chinese people and maybe one or two caucasians. The waitresses and waiter are really nice and help me work on my rudimentary use of Mandarin Chinese. The place isn't fancy, but the food is fantastic if you like authentic Chinese food. A Chinese friend from work recommended a desert, but I've NEVER found a good Chinese desert.
(5)Richard F.
Went here on a crowded Friday night but only had to wait a few minutes (we got lucky). Right after we were seated, about 30 people, mostly Asians, came in and were standing in line waiting for a table. In fact, I think we were pretty much the only non-Asians in the entire restaurant, which is a GOOD sign if you're looking for good Chinese food, I guess. After we were seated, nobody came to our table to give us menus, so after about 10 minutes, I got up and told the hostess, and she sent someone over pretty quickly. We ordered way too much food. One order of chicken fried rice (enough for 3 people). One order of regular fried rice, sweet and sour soup, fried green beans, and I ordered Hunan Chicken. The Hunan Chicken was unusual--it was very oily, and didn't have the typical vegetables that Hunan Chicken usually has. Instead, all it had were mushrooms, and the sauce was not what I was used to. It tasted different. Not bad, just different. But it was way too oily, and the portion was so huge I didn't even finish half. As far as the fried rice, it was very good, and everyone said it was the best fried rice they ever had. My son, however, being the most picky eater ever, didn't like his chicken fried rice, and only ate a little. The green beans were good, but again, the portion was huge. They have an American menu and a Chinese menu (written in English and Chinese), so you can order items from either menu. We're not that adventurous, but I can see how this place became so popular with the very large Rockville Asian community. Huge portions, very authentic, good food. I wish I had told them "very little oil" for the Hunan Chicken so I could have given them another star, so it probably deserves a fourth star. I'll be back again to try something else.
(3)M.A. F.
This is my favorite restaurant. OUTSTANDING! Mapo tofu is incredible, smoked duck entree is a must, my husband loves the dan dan noodles... I could really go on and on. I cannot get enough of this restaurant.
(5)J s.
I've eaten Chinese food all over the country, and all over the world, including China. Hands down, this is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the world. Nothing comes close. The food is fantastic, and when you get your check, you'll be shocked...at how cheap it all is! I wouldn't know where to start , except to say stick with the REAL Sichuan side of the menu, and ignore the "American-Chinese" side. An order of Dan Dan Noodles is a must, as are virtually any of he pork dishes. And I know it's not for everyone, but the liver...oh my god, the liver...I weep with joy when I order this dish.
(5)Jeff C.
Yes, I journeyed to the nether regions of the Metro Red Line searching for this eatery in Rockville. My expectations were high as I had heard and seen of their fine cuisine. I entered the establishment at 1:16 P.M. It was still very lively and active. This was a good sign, or so I thought. A family butted in line ahead of me and was immediately seated. I was left standing by the lady acting as a food traffic cop. In the next few minutes, I was acknowledged and seated at 1:20 P.M. I sat reading the menu (which is in both Chinese and English) and twiddling my thumbs for the next eight minutes as my hot tea arrived. At 1:29 P.M., a waiter finally arrived. I asked for General Tso's chicken and iced tea. At 1:31 P.M., the bottle of Lipton Lemon Tea arrived. Bottled tea??? Really?? I soon learned that all sodas were served in a bottle as well. Well, so much for a classy joint. I enjoyed the drink in a miniature glass with ice, but no straw. After walking in the heat, I needed something cold and wet to drink. Yes, even tea in a bottle in a make believe restaurant. It was very loud. Let me stress again, it was loud. If I spoke Chinese, then it would have been very entertaining and interesting. If you are a student of the Chinese language, this is definitely your place! The chicken was bland, dry, and without appropriate seasoning. Heat? Where? While it is true that the sauce is not over powered with sweetness, it definitely lacks other things. I finished my food at 2:00 P.M.. At 2:10 P.M. a waitress asked if I wanted a box. She yelled something in Chinese to others. I think it meant, "Hey you, get this dude his check! We need the table!" Remember, I am not a student of the Chinese language. Something could have been lost in translation. Within minutes, my check arrived at the table. What else? The two bus girls were awesome. They cleaned tables faster than anybody! The wait staff could have been replaced by first day trainees. We would not have noticed a difference. I know this to be true because several patrons were exercising a move that I call the "searchlight". They were standing up and turning around like a light searching for their server. Looking for a check, drink refill, or order problem were all reasons on this day. My check was picked up at 2:16 P.M. I gained my freedom at 2:20 P.M. I spent entirely too much of my life in this place. Like Cher, I wish I could turn back time! If this review sounded like a police report, it should. All I wanted was my freedom!!! My suggestion for this restaurant? I suggest you pass. With their inherent arrogance to first time guests, lack of food quality, and substandard service; your money should go to a more deserving place. And after all, you work hard for your money and you deserve better!
(1)Gabi L.
I'm usually a Chinese Fortune chick, but because they closed I decided to try this place out. My boyfriend and I ordered orange chicken and chicken lo mein...it was pretty bland and it tasted fake. Not coming back.
(1)Hana B.
One of my favorite restaurants in the DMV area - seriously. I grew up eating food from all over China (my parents have friends from many of the different provinces - always makes for yummy potlucks ^_^) and I lived in China for a year, so I'm pretty well acquainted with the flavors and foods, and how they should taste. In terms of food, I love the (大厨水煮鱼) spicy flounder with vegetables in fiery sauce. I also think they make the best beef tendon and tripe in spicy sauce (夫妻肺片) in the area. Another go to dish is the mapo tofu. If you're feeling adventurous, try one of the intestine dishes - they won't disappoint :) Keep in mind, this style of cooking is both spicy and "numbing." If you haven't had this food before, it will definitely be a new sensation for your tongue! Service is perfectly fine. You have to understand that service in a Chinese restaurant is not like how it is in Western restaurants, so you can't have unreasonable expectations. The servers are doing their job by taking your order and bringing you your food pretty quickly. If you want your water refilled, you will need to flag down your waiter. If you need more rice, you will need to flag down your waiter. If you need anything, you will likely need to flag the waiter. Also, I saw a review stating that "The MSG was literally mouth numbing." For those of you who haven't tried Sichuan food before, the "numbing" sensation comes from the use of Chinese peppercorns, not the MSG (though I guess the reviewer could have been suffering from an allergic reaction, but that didn't seem like the case...there would have been bigger issues at hand). If you don't want to experience a "numb" tongue, maybe you shouldn't eat here. Just saying... Last comment: you get a 10% discount if you pay in cash.
(4)Viva S.
Worst service ever. We were asked to change table in the middle of dinner because they want to let in a bigger group. We were sat in the new table stranded without utensils for 10 minutes. Water took forever to come. Their manager was unsympathetic and aloof. No apologies. Yes, they have good food and we have been a frequent. No, we are not coming back.
(1)Roger N.
I have been coming here for years and it is one of the best Sichuan restaurants in the area. Especially good dishes are flounder and vegetables in fiery soup, spicy cold jelly noodles, and smoked duck with buns.
(5)Zoe X.
This is the best spicy restaurant I've ever had.. The spicy fish is the most delicious and yummy.. I recommend people to try this.. And the service and packed are fine.
(4)Y Z.
Positives: - Probably the most authentic Sichuanese restaurant in MD. - Price is not bad Negatives: - You gotta know what to order. Not everything on their menu is good. - Not sure about the quality of their ingredients
(3)Margaret Z.
I rarely eat out at a Chinese restaurant because 9 times out of 10, my dad could easily replicate the dishes we order. However, Sichuan Jin River has a seemingly endless selection of dishes that are truly authentic and representative of the unique cuisine that originates from Sichuan, China. Sichuan cooking is notoriously known for its intense spiciness, so beware if you have a low spice tolerance... this may not be the place for you. I found it particularly amusing that the menu was double-sided - one side is for "Authentic" dishes; flip it over, and you'll see "Americanized" dishes. Do yourself a favor and go for the authentic! The lunch special here is a great deal - you get 3 selections of entrees and a soup all for around $25 including tax/tip. I came here with 2 friends and we decided to order off the menu instead. The first dish we tried was the cold beef slices salad (fu qi fei pian) - I consider myself to have a high spice tolerance and this one already had my tongue burning... but it was DELICIOUS. Definitely one of the better preparations of this dish that I have tried. We also got one of the spicy fried tofu dishes, which was just so-so. I brought the leftovers home and my dad added some sweet chili sauce, which made it 10x more delicious. It was previously just a little too salty for my tastes. We also got another beef dish (also spicy) and the beef was extremely tender. At the end of the meal though, I was crying, sweating, and had lost pretty much all other taste buds from my tongue being numb. The portions here are huge, so the prices are definitely reasonable. The service here is great and very friendly as well. Minor complaint is that we asked for two dishes to be boxed up, and the manager told us he had accidentally dropped one of them so he couldn't give it to us - but we weren't offered a discount either. Seems a little unfair when we paid for the dish, but aren't really getting all of it. All in all, this seems to be a hole in the wall and I'm glad to have tried it out!
(4)Calvin L.
If you like spicy food, this is a great place to come to. The one thing that I like about Sichuan food is that it's not just about numbing your mouth. It is also fragrant and flavorful. But the spicy food served here is not as intense as they would serve it in Sichuan Province. I have come here twice and both times I have had great meals. I recommend looking at the back of the menu for their house specialties. The dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are great. From the back of the menu, I recommend the diced chicken, meat in fire soup, and the smoked duck with buns. The smoked duck is the only dish listed that isn't spicy. I'm glad that I found a place that serves authentic Sichuan food here in Moco. now I want to find a place that serves it the way it's in China, really spicy where it would completely numb your mouth.
(4)PP U.
Overall, I would say that this is one of the most authentic Chinese restaurants in Rockville. However, I find the flavor a little bit too strong (perhaps others will find it just right). The price is very nice, especially the weekday lunch special from 11 to 3 PM. It includes 3 dishes plus a soup and a dessert for only 22! Compared to other authentic Chinese restaurant specials, bob's noodle etc, this is definitely a steal! Overall a great experience for those who love spicy food!
(4)John S.
I ate here 3 times before I wrote this review. I took off 1 star because this restaurant in my opinion doesn't have any spiciness in their food. The first time I told them to tone down spiciness because I was eating with friends. So I wasn't able to ascertain how spicy it could get but the food tasted good. The second time I told them to make it as spicy as possible. But to me, it was barely spicy at all. One of the dishes I ordered was Shredded Beef with Hot Peppers. I even asked them to add some more peppers but it still didn't help. While it tasted decent, it was kind of like Americanized Chinese food due to amount of sauce. I was told by the owner after the meal to request the numbing spicy and regular spicy next time. The third time I asked for numbing spicy and regular spicy. It made no difference to me. I was told that this was as hot as it gets. Now the level of hotness in this restaurant might be more than enough for many people who have low tolerance for spiciness but to me it was lacking. There are authentic selections on the menu minus the authentic spice and they do taste good. Their crispy potato with wild peppers is comparable to the quality you can get in China. I also like that they give you a generous quantity of rice compared to other Chinese restaurants. I would return to eat here but not for the spiciness.
(4)Eddie K.
Lunch specials are really great here. You get three dishes plus a free soup for around $22. The food here is spicy - lots of peppercorns in their dishes. We liked the Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken, spicy whole fish and the shredded beef with scallions and onions from their lunch menu. The dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are really good.
(4)Esq. H.
We had the shrimp fried rice and the General Tso's chicken and to my shock the total was $25??? If it's your first time, don't do what I did, find a way to try the dishes out during lunch time when they are around $6.75 (Mon - Friday). We called in for carry out. Beforewarned, they only have ONE SIZE of ALL the dishes. No medium, small none of that, just large which I personally think it is crazy. The shrimp fried rice was tasty and had a bunch of shrimp in it and would have been perfect if the shrimp was deveined. The General Tso's had a kick like it should but it was wayyy to breaded for me and I would have preferred if it had a little crunch to it. I realize, it's all Chinese food, but we didn't get traditional Szechuan cuisine so if that's what you are looking for see for yourself, stop by and good luck.
(3)Cat P.
Initially, we were going to Bob's Shanghai, but the new restaurant, like its predecessor, does not accept credit cards. Womp, womp. No problem! Sichuan Jin River, which does, is almost right next door. I had heard and read about Sichuan Jin River/Sichuan Pavillion for quite some time. Reviews were generally favorable, so I was excited to try this place, and luckily, it lived up to my expectations. Since it was a Tuesday evening, there was no wait and we were quickly seated by a friendly server/possibly manager who jutted his chin in the direction of the table where he wanted us (haha). The lack of formality was no issue to us since we were just happy to see a smiley face. After pouring ourselves a cup of tea, we perused the authentic menu (denoted with bold red lettering) and found a bunch of unusual and enticing options. He chose the braised "belt fish" (all the while questioning if such a fish actually existed or if was akin to the "squeegle" in an Anthony Bourdain episode). With my affinity for eggs, I had to have the preserved egg with peppers in a sour and spicy sauce. To start, we ordered the crunchy fungus. As it turned out, the "fungus" was pretty much the same dish we ordered at China Star in Fairfax, wood ear mushroom in a chili garlic sauce. As much as I love China Star, I must say this version is even better! While China Star's was quite oily, Sichuan Jin River's was "drier." You could still see the bits of garlic and pepper dotting the fungi, but it wasn't soaked in oil. Very nice. The braised belt fish came out in a rather sweet and salty sauce with a slight kick. The flavor of the fish alone was quite pleasing. The main drawback was that the fish was so freaking bony. Some Asians are pros at extracting tiny bones; unfortunately, we're not. If it wasn't for the inconvenience of eating it, this dish would be close to perfect. As you may have guessed, preserved eggs aren't for everyone, but when you take them and stir fry with something as piquant as peppers and douse them in sauce, they're actually quite mild and tame. I loved, loved, loved the long peppers that the preserved eggs were paired with. I have no idea what kinds of peppers those were, but they were pretty spicy yet sweet. Due to the huge serving, I couldn't really finish this in one setting, unless I wanted to feel very sick afterwards, but if I had the capacity in my tummy, I would. Our meal was satisfying and worth every penny. Spacious booth seating is another plus. Our server wasn't too chatty, but his show of being impressed when I devoured the preserved eggs helped my ego a bit, which isn't a bad thing. I will be back again and again and again...
(4)Valentina D.
This place is tucked away in the back of an office building, so that you can't see it from the road, but it was still jam packed with Asians on a Sunday night. It would be difficult to eat here if you don't speak Chinese, because some of the menu items are in Chinese without an English translation, and the waiters sometimes have difficulty communicating more complicated concepts in English. Nonetheless, that's what I look for when I'm looking for an authentic Chinese meal. The dan dan noodles were delicious as others reported, but we weren't too excited by the soft tofu with pork. We did, however, like the prices. $5 for the dan dan noodles (basically a half portion of a true entrée), and $8.50 for a gigantic bowl of the soft tofu with pork. But with a place as authentic as this, I was a bit surprised to get charged $1 for a small bowl of rice.
(3)Yaka H.
SX and I came here for a weekday lunch to try their lunch special, which is 3 dishes + a soup for a set price (I think around $22?). It's on the "authentic-style" side of the menu (the flip side has the typical American-Chinese offerings). I think it's a really good way to sample new dishes through this lunch deal. We tried the spinach and tofu soup, a whole fried fish covered in sauce, s&p pork chops, and beef with green peppers. In addition, we ordered snow pea tip greens. The soup was very flavorful despite being a very simple soup with pretty much 2 ingredients in it. Everything else was quite good. My only issue was that the fish seemed a tad over-fried, making the meat of the fish kinda hard in certain parts. We had plenty of leftovers, which made for another yummy meal. The servers were very friendly and were giving suggestions on what to order.
(4)Fereshteh A.
I was there for dinner , order some sheredde beef with pepper,, and some chicken ,,, it was not bad but too oily
(1)Rahul J.
Took the in laws here yesterday - again - off the charts good (they love spicy food) TIP: Let the server order for you within your dietary confines. We had the same server both times we went and he was spot on with suggestions and very funny (perhaps the only asian male server there) Also note that they do NOT have any DC outposts.
(5)Julia L.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the area. It is very authentic, so it gets really crowded around weekends and Chinese holidays. I had to wait in lines many times I was there. The waiting staff were friendly, and orders come out fast. I love their Sichuan spicy fish - one of the best I have ever had in the US.
(4)Hans G.
Five stars for the food. Negative four stars for the rude service. We were continuously rushed to order and eat as soon as possible with staff standing at our table. Ruined what would have been otherwise a great meal.
(1)Ricky V.
Best Sichuan-style food I've ever had, maybe the best Chinese food. Order from the authentic menu and go nuts. This food is not wimpy-it is spicy and bold. But I've never gone wrong on the authentic menu. Don't be afraid to order the stuff that sounds weird. My favorite dish is the spicy garlic pork.
(5)Vivian Q.
We used to like it, until served stale blood tofu recently. I am a big fan of blood tofu and the one I got here was not stale, but really really stale, it was sticky in the mouth and had a stinky taste. It was insulting to serve food like that and thought they could get away with this. Too bad such a popular restaurant like that doesn't care about quality.
(1)Janet L.
I love authentic Sichuan restaurants and this is one of them! The restaurant is decently sized, the waiter we had tried to be funny (except I didn't find the jokes funny)... but at least he was enthusiastic about his job? Much better than someone who disrespects you. If you're feeling adventurous, go for the authentic Chinese menu! Some authentic/terrific dishes (be adventurous, I promise you're stomach will thank you) : Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce, Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce, Wontons with Hot Sauce (8), Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup, Cumin Beef... that's just a few select dishes that I thought were lovely. The dishes are spicy and flavorful... with your standard Sichuan peppercorn, chili pepper and various spices. I haven't had a chance to explore Northern VA but definitely the best Sichuan restaurant in the Rockville/Bethesda/Montgomery County area!
(5)C C.
My mother and I went here for lunch. We got the following: General Guan's Chicken - 5/5 stars Wontons in Chili Sauce - 5/5 stars Dan Dan Noodles - 5/5 stars Spicy Chicken Salad - 2/5 stars The Spicy Chicken Salad was not at all what we expected. We ordered it because it was recommended by the Washingtonian as a must have. Note that the skin and bones were still on the pieces of chopped up chicken and it was kind of hard to eat because of this. The sauce was tasty, but there was a spice in it that caused both my mother's and my tongue to tingle and feel slightly numb for about 5 minutes. I would not order it again. The other 3 dishes were all delicious. They had a nice level of spice and lots of flavor. I would order all of them again. I'm excited to give more of their dishes a try in the future.
(4)Tian Y.
My mom is a tough person to please when it comes to eating out, and she's especially picky when it comes to good Chinese food, and this is probably her favorite restaurant on the east coast. Mine too! Probably the best sichuan food I've had on the east coast. We come here almost every time we're in DC. Really good authentic food. Try all the popular sichuan classics here! They're all solid. The pickled vegs are really flavorful too! And fu qi fei pian is almost as good as my mom's, haha. We love it here... but then again this is coming from the biased view of Pittsburgh, which is mostly deprived of good Asian food.
(5)Charles M.
Some of the best Chinese food I've ever had! You have to really enjoy spicy food because the food is here is spicy and amazing!!!! Must go if ur in Bethesda!
(5)A N.
Fascinating Sichuan food, with options not found elsewhere. Thoughtful, knowledgeable service. Comfortable setting. Have visited only once, ordering from Appetizer/Small Plates sections of the menu, but look forward to visiting again. Our first meal: We could have used more flavor variation-- several of the items we picked were heavy on salt. (Next time, we will check with server to try to get more of a variation) That said, interesting flavors throughout. We had: Zhong dumplings: crescent shape, meat filled, with a hot sauce. Flavor was mildly hot and moderately salty. Shredded, seasoned pig ear: Interesting, although an acquired taste. Thin slices of cured pig in soy sauce. Texture is quite chewy and cartiligeous. Good as an accent item in a larger meal, not as a mainstay. Soy imparts salt. Dan Dan noodles: Here, simple, thin noodles in a spicy, slightly salty red sauce-- sauce is not peanut. (Note that there is a sesame noodle dish on the menu). Noodles are very fresh and flavor is unexpected and enjoyable. Seaweed in garlic: Simple and delicious. The strands of seaweed are very long and the garlic flavor is intense. Pork and chicken broth dumplings: outstanding, a must. Justifiably, a signature dish. The dumpling wrappers are delicate, the pork filling tasty and adroitly seasoned; the broth offers a rush of delight. Bottom line: well worth trying. Many novel menu items not readily found in the DC area. Ask server to ensure that you are ordering a range of flavors.
(4)Jess C.
I usually don't enjoy eating Chinese food in the States because it just doesn't compare, but Sichuan Jin River has really changed my mind. I came here to eat a few weeks ago, and a day still has not gone by where I do not think about the Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef ($10.95) that I had here. The servings are quite large here, and I was able to bring the leftovers for lunch for two days. I also got the "kong xin cai" aka morning glory aka water spinach that was great for balancing out the Mapo Tofu. There's a variety of authentic style Chinese foods, and there's a variety of items that looked yummy on other people's table, and I am eager to order next time. I will definitely be back.
(5)Vicky L.
The food was really delicious. The staff were friendly. The mahpoh tofu was just right for me. My boyfriend likes it more meaty, but he's not from the providences that like spicy food. The cucumber cold dish was just how my grandma made it. I couldn't stop chomping on it. The ambience was a little weird for 8pm and the food was a little pricey, but the food and portions were well worth it.
(5)Jim L.
We had a large party of 10 and although they had to jerry-rig 3 tables to get us together, it all worked out. Lots of passing the plate and also dealing with 4 little kids. I am not much of a spicy/hot food eater, but Diane's friends definitely were. They however accommodated me and the kids by ordering food that didn't burn my mouth, intestines, etc..... Since I have no idea what to call most of the food, you will have to take my word that the stuff I eat was good. Might be helpful to ask other Chinese on this thread! Service was ok, but what is it about Chinese restaurants in general where they just don't get it that people want/need water refills???? Easy location behind the Rockville fire station and within a spit of the Rockville Town Center. Parking: great Service: ok Food: good, but if you like HOT/SPICY...you will love this place!
(4)Grace C.
It may be confusing why some reviews are either really good or terrible. The answer is, if you are ordering kung pao chicken and other dishes that you can find at panda express, this restaurant is not the place to get it. This restaurant serves one of the best authentic Sichuan Chinese food on the east coast; meaning, you go there to order deliciously hot spicy dishes and may find parts of a pig you never had before. Those who do not prefer to try new foods are missing out! If you were one of them and wish to explore the amazing gift of taste, I would recommend this restaurant as a place to start. It can also be a more appealing experience if you keep in mind that Chinese people see texture as a type of taste. The only other place I feel that you could find authentic Chinese food is in NY china town (unfortunately none in china town D.C.). Here is a list of some of my favorite dishes they serve; I apologize if my spelling is off. If anyone would like to respond with the correct ping ying I'd appreciate it very much! - cold beef appetizer ( fu chi fei pian) - liver, kidney dish ( gan yao he chao) - cumin pig intestine (zhi ran fei chang) *Reminder: these dishes are spicy. They used to make it spicier or sometimes they are spicier during the winter, but you'll get used to it and LOVE it!*
(5)Dan M.
I've had so much bland Chinese food in MoCo I thought I'd never have a decent meal again. Sichuan came to the rescue. It's nice to see they went the extra mile with both an American Chinese menu and an Authentic Chinese menu. So many options to choose from, you're sure to find something you'll like. We ordered to go and got the egg drop soup, hunan chicken, chicken fried rice, and shredded beef with hot fresh peppers. All of them were great. Good level of spice, large portions (we had enough for lunch the next day), tons of rice on the side to soak up the sauce, that's just what I wanted. Plus, the location is right across the street from the Rockville Town Center, adjacent to the fire station.
(4)Joe T.
If you like spicy chinese food, then this place is perfect for you. When I visited here, I was welcomed by the waiter. He was very welcoming. Food was very spicy yet very good. Overall I really enjoyed it.
(4)Bruce G.
I came back here again a couple of days ago. The "authentic Chinese" lunch special menu is so big that I try to taste something different every time, and I like what I've had. There are two negative points I would make, however: 1. Unlike the nearby Bob's, the special does not include a soup but costs the same as the one at Bob's (which does include a soup). 2. The labeling of dishes as to how spicy they are is woefully inconsistent. I've had "one-chili-pepper" items that I would not call spicy at all, and others that were considerably spicier (but nothing that was spicier than I could take -- although others with a lower tolerance for spice might differ from me). With these two factors, I can't really give it five stars (though you might read my review of Bob's and conclude that not including a soup might be a good thing!) But everything I've had tasted fine, even the things I might consider not as spicy as I'd like -- which I assume aren't supposed to be spicy; but then why label them as such?
(4)Rebecca Z.
We eat here regularly. My favorites are Dan Dan Noodles, cumin beef, and chow fun.
(4)Gregorio A.
Overrated Sichuan food. Kung pao chicken cloyingly sweet. Fiery beef and veggies uninspiring. Dan dan noodles average. Panda Gourmet is the szechuan winner in DC.
(3)James H.
The place is always packed with Asian customers and I always take this to be a good indication that the food is authentic. Everything I've tried here has been delicious. Be warned - they are not afraid to put hot spices in any dish. The staff are very pleasant and helpful without hovering over you. They can accommodate parties of ten at one table, but you should call ahead and reserve a table.
(4)Sarah C.
noon and not this mornin' bean curd to quell pang callin' I couldn't think of passin' spice away and if pick is hot and hectic tongue hopes it tastes electric I'm glad I took my chances - much glee you see, I'll just be this blunt ma po's hot and bold! NOT bland or cold it's got it all, minced pork with every bite woe! heat hot chew slow! welp, can't ignore beef chow foon fare see soft meat strips, wide noodles share rich timeless meal and comforting to me I forgot one more thing steamed pork buns here were lackin' meh, wouldn't take advantage of these but please, you've got what I'm wantin' ma po's hot and bold! NOT dull nor old it's got it all, minced pork with every bite gold! be back, I'm sold! it's got it all eats' hot and bold . . . inspired by Brian B. yelp.com/biz/dog-pound-t…
(4)Meggie C.
I finally was able to try this place after a friend recommended we go here out of the blue. For years, I've always drove past it, and since no one ever really brought it up, it was rarely thought about lol. So since I had a craving for Shui Zhu Yu, we decided to go. We ordered two dishes and an appetizer. The food was decent, nothing amazing. Portion size was good though and service was good. We went on a Monday night and the place was pretty packed. Just about every table was taken and there was a mixture of difference people eating here which I liked. If I were to go back, I would probably still order the same dishes. I recommend the Shui Zhu Yu (Spicy Boiled Fish Fillet), the Spicy Beef Tendon Appetizer, and the Dry Hot Pot.
(4)Courtney W.
The bf and I decided to stop by for a late dinner on a Friday night, as it had been on my "must-try" list for quite some time. The self-standing restaurant has plenty of parking spaces and is located near Rockville Town Square. After studying the extensive menu with growling stomachs, we decided on the dishes below. When all of our food was delivered to our table very quickly, it finally hit us that we may have over-ordered just a wee bit... + Scallion Pancake: This was one of the best scallion pancakes I've ever had. The pancake was very crispy on the outside and the inside had nice, distinct layers of dough. I pretty much ate three-fourths of the scallion pancake alone... with no regrets! + Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth: One order comes with eight soup dumplings that are pretty tasty, although I have had better at other restaurants. + Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce: This dish was great! We are always sure to order pig ear whenever we find a restaurant that serves it. I really love how they serve their version of the dish here - the meat is thinly sliced and then cut into wide pieces. Having the wider pieces allows you to enjoy the gelatinous and chewy texture more than if the pieces were shredded into strands, as other establishments serve this dish.The hot chili sauce had a wonderful flavor and was not overly spicy. + Deep Fried Tofu with Hot Peppers: This large plate of fried tofu was dusted with chili powder and pepper flakes. I wasn't a huge fan of the tofu because I found it to be dry, especially with the abundance of chili powder. Having a sauce served on the side to dip the tofu in would be amazeballs. On the other hand, the bf did enjoy the tofu and was tasked with finishing the leftovers the next day. + Smoked Duck (Deep Fried and Breaded) with Buns: This dish was listed as a Sichuan specialty, however it definitely looked more appetizing than it tasted. The fact that the breaded duck was super salty overshadowed how soft and moist the buns were. If the duck was less salty, this dish would be a good one to share among a family since it is a generous portion (~$18).
(4)Sunny X.
The service is always great and they make every effort to make sure you enjoy the experience. Sometimes we went late after a ski trip and the owner stayed late for us. Food is great, especially the chef's recommendations. The food comes out really fast!
(4)Prairie S.
The handicaps that Sichuan Jin River overcomes to get 5 stars from me are two-fold (1) I don't go for Chinese food normally and (2) My co-workers are boring unadventurous eaters. (Yah I threw them under the bus. Yah, I'm pretty sure they're proud of my slander.) The cooking is here is so seductive that (1) I forget the aversion I have for standard American Chinese, and (2) the co-workers happily forget that they don't like spicy or exotic food. It always tastes amazing to this tough crowd. Each time I end up there, I am enticed by their endless menu: lists of combinations demarcated into American menu and Authentic Chinese menu. I mostly go at lunch to partake of their 'Special offer': buy three entrees, and get a soup to share for 2-3. Co-workers want the predictable and non-spicy basil chicken and salted shrimp, I get to chose something more spicy like potatoes with hot peppers or spicy eggplant and beef (all Chinese menu of course, as should you try!). The kitchen consistently produces a spread on which we feast like we've never seen food before. We drool and we inhale our food. This food hits the pleasure nerve and we leave with smiles. Each dish has its unique taste. The Spinach and Tofu soup is delicate, barely there, and yet earthy. In contrast the Mapo Tofu is really bold taste and overwhelming in flavor. This kitchen showcases the Chinese mastery of flame and glaze in that they can take a combination of vegetables and meat, say beef and bitter melon, and concoct the most amazing binding flavor between them. The Chinese proprietors like anywhere in the world, are extremely entrepreneurial, switching between native Mandarin, English and Spanish as needed. The decor is like a dated Budget Motel, but the atmosphere is quite interesting. A few times I've seen someone from the kitchen seated at one of the tables doing a prep, like peeling a box of ginger, or tearing up greens ready for cooking... it's just part of the scene which also includes men in suits from the nearby bureaucratic offices and entire multi-generational Chinese families. This place feels like a back street in Chengdu has found its Rockville Pike incarnation. The menu and food is the biggest draw...if you want authentic cooking you should try this place. It makes you feel like you have had a lunchtime immersion in the riches of Chinese culture. (And for a detailed review of a variety of dishes, check ron w.'s review, he flew in from California and totally nailed it on a spread of dishes that having gone on and off for five years, I still haven't managed to cover! )
(5)Eric J.
The Fried Beef Noodles dish in Philly is definitely still king. The spicy crispy chicken isn't too bad. Nice for a late night dinner snack.
(3)Hannah H.
About a 3.5: Sichuan Jin River is located in a plaza off of Hungerford Drive, and they offer an extensive menu: appetizers, small plates, soup, seafood/beef/pork/chicken/vegetables entrees, Sichuan specialty dishes, noodles, fried rice, and dessert. I was able to try: the 'Dan Dan' Spicy Noodles with Minced Pork (I think they use spaghetti noodles? Either way, it wasn't as salty as I expected it to be, and the spicy chili sauce that you don't see is set on the bottom that you mix up the noodles with - the sauce can be really delicious, but can be inconsistent in taste at times T____T - I was surprised I could handle the spice :P I could have slurped up those noodles all day :D; a Scallion Pancake (this was a nice size - it was a little thicker than usual, but I was totally okay with that, as it was literally one of the best scallion pancakes I've tried! It had a nice balance of the soft interior with a crispy exterior, with a good amount of scallions throughout - dipping it into the soy sauce was MONEY); Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup (this was topped with an extremely generous amount of chili flakes; I was a little taken aback, assuming it would literally burn my tongue off; however, I just stayed away from the flakes, and went underneath and around them; this had pretty good flavor, and it kind of reminded me of a familiar dish that I just can't put my finger on - a mixture of soondooboo and jjambbong, maybe? I enjoyed the napa cabbage slices that were crunchy, and there was a generous amount of beef (same texture as you would find in Beef & Broccoli, so keep that in mind!); mix it all with the rice and it is pretty satisfying; my husband ate up all the leftovers within seconds!); and, an order of the Small Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth (these kind of looked like the XLBs, but it contained no soup, just a very juicy mound of soft pork; while generous in the filling, these were just okay and slightly forgettable). A hot pot of tea was served, service was prompt and efficient, and I was surprised at what a bargain Sichuan Jin River offers. I definitely will be back, as I would love to try out their other specialty dishes. GO MOPSSSSSSSSSSS, JASON, C.!!! +'Dan Dan' Spicy Noodles with Minced Pork (sometimes inconsistent in taste T___T) +Scallion Pancake :D +Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup +fast & efficient service +plenty of parking
(4)Ruth C.
Four and a quarter stars for family portions of tasty food with friendly service. Plenty of parking attached. Their dan dan mien uses the most resilient noodles in the area, with just enough sauce to coat. Basil eggplant was tasty. Sliced beef & vegetables in fiery soup has a nice amount of heat to the tender meat. Didn't care for the broad noodles in the Sichuan style NRM, but there were a lot of respectable nuances to every other component. XLB were okay in flavor, more delicate than average. I like celery and wood-ear plenty, but I'd skip the semi-Americanized sliced pork salad. Fluffy white rice. Outside their unfortunate noodle decisions, I'm digging the flavors here. Lunch special looks like a good value, but my future hit list will shop outside its menu: smoked duck, ko swei ji, double cooked pork & crispy rice cake, short ribs with sticky rice or taro, home style intestines, pig feet, mapo with beef, stir fried string beans.
(4)Zheng W.
Very good Sichuan food. Price is good and food tastes good enough to satisfy my Chinese belly. Definitely would like to go again.
(5)Annie B.
This is a review from a vegetarian perspective. I went here for the first time in 2009 with a grad school friend from the Sichuan Province in China (the name of the restaurant changed since then, but the menu is the same). She order everything off the menu for us and made sure to get some vegetarian entrees I could eat :) The 10 or so times I have gone here since, I have always ordered the same delicious things off the menu. Here's what I get every time: 1. Mapo tofu, no meat (you have to tell the waitress no meat). If you don't like soft tofu, don't order this. I happen to love soft tofu and the sauce on this is such a flavorful umami bomb that your taste buds will be singing in delight. So good! 2. String beans Sichuan style, no meat (again tell the waitress no meat). These green beans are really flavorful and I'm convinced could turn a veggie hater into a veggie lover. They are really garlicy and apparently the umami yummy flavor comes from ya cai, which is pickled mustard greens. 3. Eggplant in hot garlic sauce. The eggplant is super-garlicy and somewhat spicy with a meltingly tender texture. It is sooo good! My husband hates eggplant, but gobbles this stuff down like it's going out of style. Yum!
(5)Wing C.
My parents can't take spicy food yet they raved about this place again and again. I finally had the opportunity to join them with my in-laws in town. With in-laws treating in-laws, there were of course more than enough food ordered to feed a village. Here are some of the highlights! Spicy jelly noodle - this dish was so simple yet refreshing, - a hint of aromatic chili oil paired with some chopped peanuts - delish! Soup dumplings - these dumplings were meaty - mouthful every bite. They could use a bit more soup to balance out the meat/soup ratio. Steamed fish with ginger and scallion - the fish was so flaky, soft. Loved the fact, it was de-boned for us. General Tso's chicken - I know I know, this is not a true Chinese dish - but they made this dish so well! Loved that it was made of white meat with the perfect hint of spice. Garlic Spinach - helped cut the oily, spicy-ness to all the other Sichuan dishes we had. It was a simple, yet delish palate cleansing dish. Taro rolls - supposed to be desserts? I couldn't help but have an entire order for myself. Golden, crispy, and perfectly sweetened taro paste filled! Ah they were heavenly! We also had chili fish, stir fried spicy tofu, Sichuan mixed combo, smoked duck with buns, sweet and spicy eggplants, etc. But surprisingly, I didn't enjoyed these authentic Sichuan dishes as much as the ones previously highlighted. Perhaps, mentally I just couldn't accept the amount of (chili) oil I was ingesting. Nevertheless, I was amazed by the quality and the quantity served at Sichuan Jin. Would definitely be back!
(4)Susan R.
real asian food not americanized. I had an amazing baby bok choy with preserved duck egg. My husband's spicy beef covered in red pepper flakes but not firey just nice earthy heat. Bring cash, pay with cash you can get a card stamped to earn free meals.
(4)ron w.
An old Chinese proverb states "That you can never stand in the same river twice". Ah, Grasshopper, but you can go to Sichuan Jin River as many times as you want. Go. Go now. Set behind an office building with lots of free parking is where you'll find the hard to find Sichuan Jin River. Hard to find, yes, but hard to beat for great food. The ambiance is early Costco. A crate of industrial fortune cookies waiting behind the cash register to be doled out with the check. Don't like your fortune, they will bring five more. The staff wants you to be happy. The carpet wears most of the dishes now served at this wonderful spot along with some ground in samples of the prior Vietnamese place that occupied the space. You want to eat off the floor, go to Hakkasan in London, or Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills, but this restaurant is worthy of making the pilgrimage from either of those cities. The food is not truly Sichuan although if you tossed the kitchen you'd find some real Sichuan peppercorns, perhaps. It panders to the Rockville crowd and the occasional lost DC foodie, or those perennially disappointed in almost everything Bethseda has to offer. Start with Pickled Crispy Cucumber Garlic Salad, and swill an iced Tsingtao or two. Have a platter of Crunchy Potatoes with Wild Pepper which is as good as it sounds. Don't miss the Scallion Pancake, a simple dish which is simply difficult to make correctly. Shatteringly crisp on the outside and pancakey soft on the inside and chocked full of sliced fresh scallions. The only other place that makes them this good is Four Sea in Irvine, Calif. So, save your Frequent Flyer miles for a trip there, or better, yet Taipei. The Pork Soup Dumplings were excellent. Just as good as Din Tai Fung which opens like Chipotles outlets everywhere, and just a hair less delicious than what you get at Shanghai Asia Manor in New York. The Eggplant with Basil Sauce, Fried Tofu with Vegetables and Stir Fried Green Beans kept the Vegans with us at bay. (Toothless though they may be.) The Smoked and Deep Fried Duck with puffy dough pillows and Plum Sauce was so good a second order was required immediately. The Cumin Beef was brilliant. Uber crisp beef tenderloin on a bed of translucent chili-fied onions. The Flounder in Black Bean Sauce was a religious experience. A succulent huge pile of boneless, skinless fresh flounder fillets floating in a vat of thick gelatinous soupy gravy so good I wanted to pair down to my French Marble Bag and just lay in it. The Singapore Fried Rice Noodles was done just right. Vermicelli with dry curry, shrimp, and chicken made crave a Sloe Gin at Raffles Hotel. Typically, General Tso's Chicken is not only not Sichuan, it ain't even Chinese. It was a designer dish designed to please American tastes. Battered, fried, tender chicken in a thickened sweet orange-ish sauce. What do you expect? We're honkies, after all, but the only ones in Sichuan Jin River among a room full of born and raised Sichuanese most of whom ordered it as well. This Chinese Emperior's Feast for 12 was $276 with tax, license, dealer prep and out the door. After dinner, our table looked like a Civil War Mash Unit, or the sheets in the boys dorm. Great food is like sex, if you don't have it all over you, you're doing it wrong. Do it right, and dive into Sichuan Jin RIver.
(5)Alan Z.
If you want authentic sichuan food, this is the place to be. Food here is comparable to what i'd get in China. The seasoning is bold and really good. Definitely not americanized Chinese food. If you like spicy, definitely come here and try it out.
(5)Marc L.
How fun is it to discover a slightly run down hole in the wall with amazing ethnic food? It's a thrill for me. Makes me feel like an insider. Well , Sichuan Jin River is almost that. It's not undiscovered, but not hugely popular. It's not a hole in the wall, but it is hidden and slightly worn. And the food is really good, and in our case, I experienced something unique and delicious. So pretty darn close to a thrilling experience. Ate here with spouse on a Thursday night around 7 PM. I've been wanting to try this for awhile after seeing the rave reviews from Tyler Cowen. A bit confusing to find the place, you can't see it from Rockville Pike. Turns out that it's around the back of a twin building with a central passageway, and there is parking in the back of the building next to the restaurant entrance. When you enter, the restaurant appears "modest", a polite word for a bit dated and run down. But it's clean and comfortable. I have a feeling that this is part of the appeal, if the same food were served in elegant surroundings, maybe you wouldn't feel like it's a discovery. We are non-meat eaters and there was plenty of selection. The back of the menu has photos of the specialty dishes, so we chose one from there, the "Hot fresh pepper with flounder in black bean sauce." My wife doesn't care for spicy food, so we ordered "Eggplant in basil sauce". And I got a Tsingtao beer, always a winner with Chinese food. Service was reserved but friendly. When I smiled and asked the hostess/server to come over and help, she was smiling and friendly and helpful. Eggplant dish came out within minutes, very hot, and good. Nothing exceptional but good, plenty of fresh garlic, cooked nicely and good flavor. Huge portion. Had this been the only dish for the evening, my rating might have been 3 stars. But then the fish dish came out. It looked exactly like the photo and had surprises in store. Huge portion again, very large bowl, filled with broth, then loaded with flounder and a few vegetables (some I could not identify), then a layer of black tasty substance (bean residue? pepper?) which was really delicious and smoky, and topped with finely sliced spicy green peppers. Definitely a kick. I kept saying: I have never had anything like this. Unique, flavorful, delicious. Makes me want to return to try other dishes, particularly fish or vegetarian specialties. But without my wife, because all the good stuff looks to be spicy. Bill came to $42.50 with tax and tip. The dishes were $18 (fish) and $12 (eggplant), plus beer, plus tax/tip. But we have an entire meal that was packed up for us to take away and eat later at home, so it's like we bought two meals. So value was good. My bottom line in stars: service 4, atmosphere 3, food 4, value 4, overall 4. I shall return.
(4)Callie B.
This place has a SERIOUS roach problem. I have no idea how they haven't been shut down yet. Don't eat here.
(1)Mike B.
The Sichuan beef noodle soup is just... Mmmm. I loved how they asked me what level of spice I wanted it. They must have been able to hear my heritage over the phone as I ordered. I also got the dan dan noodles and a scallion pancake. I'm in love with their dan dan. You could say I'm a big fan fan of their dan dan. And it's about time to end. Go there. Get the authentic dishes. I love that I know about this place.
(5)Timothy C.
Right down the street from the Rockville town center, cuddled up to a fire station, there is a storefront from the 80's that is trying really hard to get you to miss them. Empty patio, a bajillion signs telling you they will tow your car, no sign of life outside. DON'T BE FOOLED! There is Chinese goodness in there. First stamp of approval? I'm the only non-Asian in the house. I mean, that's true at the corner Chinese take-out place down the street from my apartment, but that's because it's empty. This place was poppin' on a Saturday night, and it only got more crowded. We started with a quick skim of Yelp faves, and got the dan dan noodles and a scallion pancake. I liked the spice of the noodles, but I'm sure most of their other noodles would have been more enjoyable. Kind of basic like what a kid would ask for. The pancake was good, crispy and savory, a nice start. We ordered 4 entrees: Breaded duck with rolls, orange chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and pork lo mein. Now, the last 3 of those dishes I thought I had eaten before, but these were the best versions of them I have had. I'll give special props to the sweet and sour chicken, crispy veggies and perfectly fried pieces of meat with a KILLER sauce! My fave was the duck. It's breaded and fried, and chopped into chunks, served in a pile surrounded by fluffy rolls and a cup of savory, sweet sauce. As the server pointed out to me, the rolls come apart and can be made into sandwiches. Wha! I LOVE SANDWICHES! And I loved those sandwiches...crunchy, smooth, tasty, and surprising. We enjoyed that meal for around $15 a person (no drinks, just tea), and had enough leftovers for dinner the next day. I will be back for the classics and maybe try some of the weirder stuff too.
(5)Divine A.
Portions here are generous and it was quite good. I had egg drop soup and the flat noodles which reminded me a lot of drunken noodles. Although for this no heat. Definitely not a bad deal and might come back to try other things in the menu.
(3)Kyungeun P.
Omnomnomnom.. This place was amaze. It's kinda sorta tucked away in a plaza that's not in plain view from rockville pike fyi. We ordered: pork soup dumplings (ok, not really soup dumplings, more like regular steamed dumplings by the way), spicy cucumber salad, fish in hot oil (or spicy boiled fish), beef noodle soup, basil chicken, and a rice ball soup dessert. Don't recommend: beef noodle soup (meh. Recommend that you drive over to A&J in rockville instead) Highly recommend: spicy boiled fish and their dumplings. The spicy fish had a lot of numbing Sichuan peppercorns, so beware! Price point was decent/ok, and seating was plenty. We went around 7:30-8pm on a Saturday night and waited about 5 minutes before our party of 4 was seated. Other tables ordered a hot clay pot dish and it looked great.
(4)anon r.
i was excited to take my taiwanese parents here (years ago), but they complained thru the whole meal -- about the service, canned bamboo shoots, too-large menu (so that nothing is actually fresh), too many chemicals. so won't do that again. last time i went was also lackluster, trying to experiment with the attractively priced lunch special. but i'm giving this place 4 stars bc i'm currently craving their tangyuan (shareable serving, large individual balls, taste like they're made in-house, in rice wine) -- esp since it's sooo cold already, but of course that's why i don't want to go out and actually get some!
(4)Jason C.
It's a bit shocking to me that Sichuan Jin has dropped below the 4* level on yelp. Over the years, this has been one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the DC area and it's well-known that many Chinese folks from all over the DMV come to this spot to get the best, if not one of the best Sichuan food in the area. Sichuan food is known for being spicy and also for having meat cuts and preparations that don't show up on typical Chinese menus. Ordering is quite a challenge here. There are numerous options and unfamiliar dish names which make it difficult for an unassuming consumer to navigate and order the right dishes. To make things worse, several of the meats are not mainstream consumer favorites (e.g. tripe, rabbit meat, etc.) and I've known some who have downright said they won't come here again after eating those dishes. While it's rare for me to do this, when I come to this restaurant, I stick to several dishes. The first one is DAN DAN NOODLES. It seems like a very simple dish. It contains nothing but minced meat and chili oil yet the flavoring is absolutely amazing. I'd say this is the highlight of this restaurant. The second dish is their BEEF IN FIERY SOUP. The looks of this dish will intimidate you. It's dark red and filled with chili oil and numbing sauce. Looks can be deceiving as it isn't as hot as it looks (but you may not want to gauge that based on my spice tolerance). The beef is a quite chewy and the preparation is simple yet it is full of spice and flavor. I highly recommend this dish. If you can tolerate the spice and like it, I can confidently state that you won't find a place as good as this in the MoCo area.
(4)Roll T.
4.25 stars. First and foremost, the dan dan noodles here are probably the best one will find in the DC area. At the very least, they rival the preparation at Sichuan Pavilion though my preference lies in Sichuan Jin River's peppercorn friendly version. For those who felt it was appropriate to bash the food here, I'd strongly suggest trying out the flounder and show me any Chinese preparation within a 50 mile radius that rivals this culinary masterpiece. It would not be an exaggeration to say this was the best preparation of flounder that I remember and this is from someone who grew up off the Gulf Coast! Accenting the wonderful flounder is a menagerie of vegetables including tree ear mushrooms, snap peas, and bamboo shoots. Other than the flounder, the house special Iron Beef had a pleasant consistency with the beef almost mirroring perfectly cooked pork belly in texture. Scallion pancakes were crisp and not too oily taking on an almost biscuit like quality. Only the dried tofu wasn't a pure revelation, and is the only reason I'm keeping my review to 4.25 stars. Sichuan Jin River is Sichuan cuisine elevated to its finest, and even for those who are not in Rockville, it is worth the trip from DC to try it. Frankly, I'm saddened that I only recently discovered this masterpiece. It is certainly one of my favorite finds in suburbia land.
(4)Dean H.
This is as close as it gets to authentic Sichuan cuisines. Szechuan is a style of Chinese cuisine originating from Sichuan province in southwestern China. It has bold flavours, particularly the pungency and spiciness resulting from liberal use of garlic and chili peppers, as well as the unique flavor of the Sichuan pepper. Sichuan food is really about a variety of flavors: spicy, flowery (Sichuan peppercorns), salty, sour, sweet, bitter, smoky, etc. Frequently all of those flavors are combined in one dish. This being my first time, I decided to try the DanDan Noodles for appetizers and the Cummin Beef as an entree. The noodles are plenty enough that it can be a meal unto itself. The Cummin Beef has a combination of spices which gives it a complex flavor. They portions are generous and you can definitely have leftovers for the next day. The crowd is made up mostly of Chinese diners so you know this place is the real deal. The place is a bit worn down on both the outside and inside. It's conveniently situated next to the Rockville Firestation which often sends over its firefighters to help put out the heat coming out of the mouths of many of its patrons. They also have a standard Americanized menu for the unadventurous eater who just wants to stick to their General Tso or Orange chicken. I wish they would do away with that part of the menu. Like some of the Chicago hot dog stands that mocks you for asking for ketchup, I feel that if you come in here asking for General Tso Chicken, a Tiger Mom should come out of the kitchen and berate you for not being more open minded to other cultures and their dishes. But alas, I digress. I intend to come back and try some of their other dishes. 4/5 stars. Would Szechuan again!
(4)Ching C.
One of the best places for Szechuan cuisine in the MD/DC area. The food is flavorful (and plentiful). Ever since Sichuan Jin River opened a couple years ago, my family has been regulars at this restaurant whenever we want to grab a bite to eat. We usually go after we watch a movie at Rockville Town Center as it is in the shopping center right across. This place is popular and can be very busy - there is usually a wait after 6pm on the weekends. The food is consistently delicious. Every dish we order here is spicy, flavorful, and portions were more than generous. Items I highly recommend 1. Flounder with Sour pickled Cabbage & Peppers 2. Sliced Beef & Vegetables in Fiery Soup 3. Stir-Fried Tender Pork Liver and Kidney 4. Dan Dan noodles We usually order one or two appetizers, and three main dishes for four people. We usually have left overs of everything since the portions are huge. Service can be a hit or miss- we usually have to flag down the servers ourselves for more water. If you like it spicy as I do, this restaurant will hit all the right spots and leave you satisfied and happy.
(4)Timothy M.
Great food but incredibly greasy / oily. General gaun's chicken and stir fry pork with peppers were good but a definite gut bomb, having trouble understanding all the praise for what was mediocre food. The menu is exstensive and I will come back to try less stir fried and oily dishes as it was awesome and hot but to greasy.
(2)Angela C.
So, I have a serious problem with heartburn and my doctor keeps lecturing me on lifestyle modifications. Restaurants like Sichuan Jin River are the reason I am completely unable to abide by any healthcare recommendations. After eating a grotesquely large Indian buffet lunch and promptly passing out into a food coma, I woke up to my friend, Pallabi G. (!!! shoutout!) asking me if I wanted Sichuan food. Obviously, when Pallabi wants you to go somewhere to eat, you don't say no. We ordered the hot sesame noodles, spicy beef noodle soup, and cumin chicken. I never love chicken and Sichuan Jin River's is not going to change that. However, I keep dreaming of those hot sesame noodles, which strike a perfect balance between spicy yet creamy from tahini sauce and the spicy beef noodle soup, which is the ideal thing to eat on a cold winter's night. It's the kind of thing where I couldn't stop eating, and then clearly paid for dearly later on in the night. Lessons never learned, apparently.
(4)Chen-Chen R.
First time writing a review on yelp....I am not a fan of the idea of writing negative reviews on yelp but I guess that's hypocritical: I went to Rockville yesterday and stopped by this restaurant because a friend of mine told me it was very good a few years back. I ordered the salted pork dish on the authentic sichuan section of the menu, and it was realllllllllly yummy. I only ate half of it at the restaurant, and the waitress packed the rest of it for me in the kitchen to take home. The bad part is when I got home hours later. I didn't bother heating it even though it was cold and because I am lazy. I just put the contents of the take out container over rice and started eating happily away. came down to my last couple of bites and I found something hard in my mouth. Thinking it was a bone or something, I pulled it out and discovered a RUSTY NAIL. I know mistakes happen but that was disgusting and also dangerous. While I was eating there, they were speaking about something being broken and brought the broken piece into the kitchen to show someone. I didn't look up to see what it was, I just heard because I was sitting right next to them, and I can speak Chinese. It could be unrelated or it could be the broken piece accidentally fell into my take out container when the waitress packed it. Anyway, the one pro of this experience is I realized I haven't had my tetanus shot in over 10 years, so this prompted me to look into getting that soon. side note: I probably wouldn't have written this review even with finding the nail but when I was paying, the waitress quietly told me that if I paid cash instead of credit, I could pay the amount without tax which is shady for obvious reasons. Do what you will as a small business, but don't make me feel like I'm in on it. I'm just a customer trying to enjoy a lunch. I'll post a pic
(1)Michael S.
I came here with my friends who live in the area. I was visiting the area and they told me this was the place to get good Chinese food. Well, they were right. The food here is delicious and the service was good. We never had any issues and always had our waters topped off timely. THERE IS GREAT VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY. I had dinner and I still have lunch for tomorrow. All for $16 with tax and a generous tip. So much variety and it was all delicious. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Chinese. It's pretty damn authentic.
(4)Jared W.
LOVE THIS PLACE! About 2 years ago, I got on yelp on my way home in search of some spicier, less Americanized Chinese food. Stopped in and asked for a recommendation. The woman at the counter (who I now think is an owner) suggested the Cumin Beef dish. I said "sounds good" before I could process that this was very likely not a dish I'd ever consider on my own. Normally I instantly regret asking for recommendations bc I feel bad if it sounds terrible to me and why would anyone know what I like? Ended up that first night with takeout and Cumin Beef and Zhang dumplings. My expectations were not too high since despite a million Chinese restaurants (particularly in that part of moco), I found most to be too mild in flavor or heat. Once I took the food out and opened the large portioned containers, i immediately thought I'd enjoy this. The more I ate, the more I had to have. The Sichuan peppercorns used have a numbing effect that can make level of heat hard to gauge but doesn't take away from any of the goodness. The dish is filled with a large amount of almost dry fried beef, jalapeños, onions, and peppers. There was enough food for two meals and I destroyed every single bit in one sitting. I actually craved more of it once it was gone. The dumplings are excellent and, while perhaps not as special as China Bistro down the street, they compliment all the dishes I've had here well. When I find a dish I love, it's hard for me to deviate. The Cumin Beef is one of those dishes and in my top 10 most craved meals in this area (another is the Derek Tibs from Zenebach Injera off T and Florida ave). I'd say I get takeout 90% of the time for no other reason than it's usually just me eating it. I have dined there a handful of times with others and enjoyed it a lot. The cumin beef travels well but the dumplings and scallion pancakes are a bit better in house. They do offer a frequent buyer type program with cash purchases (a stamp for each increment of $20). My takeout meal of Cumin Beef and one appetizer are usually right at the $20-$23 mark so takes 10 dinners for me to get a free one. The appetizers I've sampled are Dan Dan noodles which are great, hot sesame noodles (which is fine) and the cold noodles with hot chili oil (which are also fine). The scallion pancake is another I enjoy if getting noodles as a side and the aforementioned spicy dumplings. I'm predictable when I call in to the point where they recognize me by my choices and have, on occasion, told me if I'm thinking of a different dish when I order. I appreciate that. I've eaten here probably 25 times in the last 2 years and that says more about their quality and consistency than my lack of creativity. I don't cook as much as I used to and there's nothing worse than getting takeout and having a terrible meal. That's never happened here and likely never will. Really have no idea why they aren't rated higher. The service when I've dined in has always been friendly and responsive. The restaurant is ALWAYS full during dinner service (probably 75% Chinese) and I have yet to meet anyone that's been and doesn't love it. It's certainly not the healthiest food since oil is a component and the portions are enormous but most don't eat out for healthy food anyway. It's spicier than nearly every other type of Chinese you'll find around here and the reviews complaining about this should be taken with a grain of salt. You simply don't (or shouldn't) come here for Americanized/milder food. Love this place and am so thankful I chose to try this restaurant on a whim a couple years ago.
(5)Lan N.
I've been going here with my family for years now. It's delightful Szechuan food done right. Husband only gets to dishes: the shui zhu yu (fish in chili broth) and the la zhu ji (spicy chicken with peppers). They never disappoint. However, we tried the eggplant in basil last time, and I liked that it was not overcooked, so you get these plump, soft eggplant chunks. I know you can either deep fry or boil the eggplant before tossing it with the sauce. I hope it's the latter case here, since the texture was different than normal. We also ordered the pig's feet in sour mustard, which came in sort of broth with clear noodles. If you like collagen, you're going to love this dish. We sure did. For dessert, we got the soft tofu in fermented wine sauce. I've never had this dish and was glad to try it. Very busy restaurant despite the heavy downpour that Friday evening; mostly Asians (a good sign for authenticity). I've rarely had better Szechuan.
(4)Roy S.
In all of my years on this Earth I have never tasted traditional Chinese food. The fare I have always eaten has left me wondering what was wrong? Bland, greasy, and bad tasting for the most part is my description of just about all Chinese food I have ever had. A friend recommended this place and I was dubious at best. This is a no frills place, no fancy table cloth or 5 star ambiance, just great food. I went with the classic General Tso's chicken and it was amazing!!! It was actually real chicken!!! Normally its a fried blob of who knows what and you always feel bad about eating it. This stuff was great. Great flavor and texture. The Sichuan chicken was also very nice with a hint of spiciness that was quite subtle and did not burn the mouth but ignited one's taste buds. I came for lunch but I will return post haste!! My only issue was with the service, it is pretty slow and English is clearly not a language that is used often at this establishment. I can overlook this when I am so happy with my food... Make sure to eat here ASAP!!! (I will go back and try some real Chinese food next time)
(4)Muzhou L.
I've ordered here a dozen times. Though all the dishes are great and pretty authentic, the consistency of the flavor is not guaranteed. I really liked the addition of cardamon in one of the spicy fish dishes. I hope the chef could do more of this small experiments to improve the flavor.
(4)DC R.
Consistently great and authentic Szechuan food with a few non-Szechuan dishes in the menu. If you can read the Chinese language menu do so it is different with even more choices. Mapo Tofu is great and Dan Dan noodles are reliably great with a bit more spice then you'll find elsewhere. We've been here and had takeout more than a dozen times. Always great. My preference though is to eat at the restaurant. Get there early or you may have a very long wait. And ignore reviews from people who say "I don't really like spicy food". They should stay out of Szechuan restaurants or at least not review them. And if you do want authentic spiced food and know what that is. Ask for it in Mandarin :-)
(5)Rui Z.
Sichuan Jin River is an okay casual restaurant, but you should know a couple of things: Sichuan food is not particularly healthy. Our orders, which included basil eggplant, beef and bamboo shoots, and Scallops, were pretty salty with a generous helping of oil. If you're trying to cut back on spicy food, oil, or sodium, it might not be the place for you. I think that even relative to other Chinese food places, the food was really oily. Uncomfortably so. That said, the restaurant's serving sizes are really generous for the decent price, and the service is friendly and fast. It's a good place to dine out "family style" with several people splitting a handful of dishes.
(3)Boyu L.
Authentic and awesome nice Chinese food. I am a Chinese and I know if they give you the quality sichuan food. Ordered cumin beef and hot and spicy flounder with soft tofu. Nice atmosphere, and okay service.
(5)Pallabi G.
Ever since we vowed never to go back to a certain other Sichuan restaurant in the area, we have been on the hunt for a proper replacement restaurant. I am happy to report that Sichuan Jin River way surpassed my expectations. We've been there twice in the last month and and both times, its been great. My standard at any Sichuan restaurant is the fish fillet with soft tofu. While Jin River's isn't the best I've had, its pretty darn good. The only thing is that if you get this dish to go, they give you the tofu separately and I find that you have mix the two together and heat it up on the stove to really get the flavors to mix well. I personally prefer their fish fillet with veggies in spicy broth. The "veggies" are mostly varying types of greens and celery, but that's fine because they absorb the broth really well. The cumin chicken was also a crowd pleasure, especially because it wasn't drenched in oil and overwhelmed with cumin like similar dishes I've had. The pork tripe in chili oil was a tad too salty in my opinion but a generous amount and good flavor Their dan dan noodles are also worth trying. Very simple, but a delicious flavor. The decor and the location are fine. The food is really the star of the show here. Oh, and they have an incentive for paying in cash. I just wish they would do it so that you got a stamp every $10 dollars instead of every $20.
(4)Zhi Z.
My parents and I love this place, my father especially loves spicy food. We been here a number of times and never disappointed. The food is authentic Szechuan style, and their servicing sizes are huge. We loved their Beef Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, Flounder, Spicy Chicken (cold) and Garlic Pork (cold). Be warn though, if you go during peak dinner time you need to wait for a seat.
(5)Paul Y.
I had this in the summer, (July 3rd to be exact). However, the lack of appreciation that it has been getting has made me decide to write a review, and in the process, rebut some of the common criticisms - I have no allegiance to Jin River, but it was probably the best Sichuan food I had in the past year so good deeds should be rewarded. First of all, it is important to notice that this is sichuan food, and authentic at that. Ordering General Tso's or the ilk and then expecting something special is setting yourself up for failure. No one would think to order a burrito at a steakhouse, but because many patrons of Chinese restaurants which specialize in a particular cuisine seem to demand Americanized Chinese food (or grasp for the same familiar 3 tradiitional food items), then their is a lot of junk on the menu that I am sure is cooked with a bit of disdain. Is that the best strategy for the restaurant? I don't know, but as far as what you might want to order, consider some of the following (I confess that the specific names of items elude me, as the translation process is different at every restaurant, but I include pinyin which is the anglicized pronunciation of the dishes) Apps: Fuqi Feipian (Fuqi = Married Couple, Feipian = tripe), better known as Cold beef tripe. Beef Tendon (in Chilli Oil) These are extremely spicy, and as one patron noted, makes your mouth numb (said patron also attributed this mouth numbness to MSG; without wishing to throw any shade, MSG will not make your mouth numb). Peppercorn is a staple of sichuanese cuisine, and that will make your mouth feel numb and when you drink you will taste sour. Main Courses: Thinking about kung pao chicken? Impress your waitress by asking for "Lazi Ji" or spicy chicken instead. Chinese restaurants often do profile (white friend was offered fork, while everyone else was given chopsticks). Is this right? Probably not, but it does happen for real. Shui zhu yu / Shui zhu niu (Water boiled fish / water boiled beef) - Here they named it something funny like Beef / fish in fiery soup. These are delicious. The water boiled beef is the best I've had of sichuanese food I think, extremely tender. Need something not spicy? Try yuxiang qiezi (fish fragrant eggplant)- it might be named sweet and sour eggplant because thats what it sorta tastes like. Basil eggplant seems popular, but basil is really a southeastern spice. The portions are huge, speaking as three kids in their collegiate years. We could not finish and it was delicious. Come for spicy food and come for authentic food and you will be happy. Come with food court chinese choices and you can be like many of the disappointed reviews
(5)Linh N.
I used to really like this place. I think they had really good flavors going on, but had to stop going here because the food was too salty and a bit too oily for me. If they can reduce their sodium and oil their food would be amazing!
(3)Elliott K.
There's been a lot of hype behind the reviews I read about this place, but I just ordered take out and I am very disappointed. Me and my brother are back in town for the holidays and we decided to order from a place that we never did while living here. Boy do we regret that. We ordered the Mapo Tofu and General Tso's Chicken. The food was ready I think faster than the 10 minutes I was told. That alone was disconcerting when I picked it up. Mapo Tofu - Very flavorless, unless you count the abundance of basil flavor. When I picked the container up, I got the oil on my hand and I licked it. It was definitely covered in basil. Not tasty at all, barely edible. General Tso's Chicken - Less sweet than most places, but also covered in some sort of pepper flakes. It didn't have a delicious spiciness too it, mostly just an unappreciated after burn. I have a high tolerance for spicy food, but this was not good. Safe to say, I will not be returning.
(1)Cynthia L.
If you love spicy, and you want Chinese, you can't go wrong with this place. I'm told its consistently packed, but on a weeknight before a major holiday, there wasn't a wait for a table of 6. Wondering what to order? We tried: Seaweed & duck soup (interesting and different than the soups I'm used to- the seaweed is thick and def has that "just plucked from the sea" texture), Dan dan noodles (it kicked me in the face with the spice all at once!), pork soup dumplings (not the best, but pretty damn close for the 'burbs!), smoked peking duck (yum-all-around!), scallion pancakes, salt & pepper pork, and spicy pork intestines. We couldn't move after this meal, or stop sweating (from the spicy pork intestines & dan dan noodles) I can't say I'm the biggest fan of spicy food (I know, how atrocious of me), but this place is not bad and did a very good job. However, between this place and another spicy Chinese food place that's down the street that shall be unnamed, I prefer the latter.
(4)Rudel A.
Poor customer service, we waited for an hour and still no food, ask the manager and said they are gonna cook our food...what!!!......after more than an hour waiting??? My kids are so hungry so we left disappointed!!!! ....even let us pay our appetizer..... What a shame on this restaurant, they should close and DO NOT COME to this restaurant.
(1)Kathryn A.
This place is decent but not great. The food tastes like home cooking in that it's uninspired and bland. Nothing is really spicy or savory. If you order the fish, be warned that it's carp, and not very fresh. Still, the food is very, very cheap, and it comes out very, very fast. The restaurant is also fairly large, so you won't have to wait to be seated. Beware of the restrooms!
(3)Carol C.
Oh I so miss good Chinese food! (moved to MD from CA where access to really good Chinese food was easy) This place so hits the spot for great sichuan cuisine. Anything with hot peppers, peppercorn sauce, "ma la" taste in it is good. The fried tofu and pig ears are amazing - better than other places I've tried. Not too thrilled on xiao long baos, definitely had better elsewhere - but places that specialize in northern chinese cuisine and dumplings. Have to come back! mmmmm... I think they had spicy boiled fish on the menu, miss that from San Diego and Los Angeles.
(5)Shellie D.
Came here with my family and ordered the duck with the bread rolls. The duck was uneatable and cold. The flavor was harsh and pungent. We told the waitress and then the cook and her went back and forth. The cook told us that it was good and that she made it. We could have called the health department on them because that duck should not have been served. It was clearly spoiled.
(1)Katie W.
Fried rice is great, but the place was dingy and sort of dirty. You had to ask for waters, but were given tea, which was great. I'm not sure if I'll go back, but the fried rice really did taste great. We got other things as well, but they weren't special.
(3)Farrell S.
This place is notorious for towing cars in the parking lot. They are jealous of the other Asian restaurants in Rockville Town Square so they will tow your car. They patiently wait looking through the window to see if anyone who parks in the parking lot walks off of the lot. Once you leave the parking lot, a tow truck comes in and tows your car off. There is a sign with very little print that says you will be towed if you leave that parking lot. I wouldn't patronize this place.
(1)Jessica Z.
Where do I begin to review Sichuan Jin River? This restaurant is outstanding! My fiancé and I have come twice and warmly welcomed both times. We decided last night that we are going to start being regulars...this place puts us in such a happy mood and makes the perfect date night. The prices are very reasonable for the generous portions they give. We tried the Chinese Kung Pao chicken both times...it is that good! But a word of caution- it is not for the faint of heart, they love using peppercorn in this meal, so expect your tongue to go numb for a couple of minutes but it's worth it. We have also tried the duck feet- they tasted like a mango-spiced (savory) chicken but a lot of bones. Yesterday, we tried the flounder and black bean sauce for the first time and oh, my...we were in for a flavorful, scrumptious delight. From the lotus root, mushrooms and to the flawless flounder (with the perfect spices to complement it), this dish was amazing. I can't recommend this place enough. Oh, they also serve hot green tea with every meal. When you finish the meal, take time to reflect the great meal you just ate and enjoy the tea- they give you more than enough. The wait staff was great and full of smiles. Don't expect to get a fork and knife with your meal (but I am sure they will give you a fork if you ask); this place is the real deal!
(5)Chris M.
If you are planning on taking your dog out to dinner here, don't let him order the Braised Duck with Konjak; it's full of bones and he'll choke to death. That's not to say the dish isn't delicious because it is; what little meat garnishes the plate is succulent and tender. You'll also want to steer your pup away from the Chinese Style Kung Pao Chicken. It's tastes basically of fried chicken with imitation maple syrup. All that sugar is not good for dogs. He'll love the long beans. They are perfect. The most disappointing part of this meal was the fortune cookies. They were unfortunate cookies. No really, they lacked fortunes and had imposter strips of paper with qualifications about the state of the world written on them like: "it's a nice day." Listen cookie, I know what today is like, what I wanna know is what tomorrow will be like.
(3)Norman G.
This restaurant located behind the firehouse north of Rockville town center has a loyal Chinese clientele and it is frequently jammed. The Chinese customers know what to order and what's on their tables looks very appetizing. But a great many of the dishes are based on intestines from one animal or another and aren't likely to appeal to a good many westerners. The wait staff is of no use at all in explaining individual items. Dishes familiar to American patrons of mainstream Chinese restaurants are, unfortunately, not outstanding. So while you watch families at the next table relishing their meals, you may be disappointed by the choices you've made. I'll go here again with someone who is more familiar than I am with the intricacies--and ingredients--of Sichuan cooking. Plainly, there's a wonderful concert under way. I just happen to be deaf.
(3)Lia M.
Not a fan. I was so excited to try Sichuan Jin River, based on all the awesomeness I had heard about it, but it just didn't live up. My group of five ordered: - Spring Rolls - Scallion Pancakes - Dan dan mein - Xiao long bao - Eggplant with basil - Chicken broccoli - Shrimp and scallops with black bean sauce - Shredded beef with hot dry pepper So, the scallion pancakes were good. No issue there. Dan dan mein was basically spaghetti in a hot sauce. Eggplant was good, very flavorful. Chicken and broccoli was fine, but it's not exactly a complicated dish. Shrimp and scallops were a bit overdone. Xiao long bao was a dumpling-I don't understand the craze. It had a little liquid in it. So? I am less the impressed. Service was fine though. With all the seemingly good Chinese places in Rockville, I am beyond mad that I ended up here.
(2)James L.
This place is one of the few authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurants that we found in the Rockville / Germantown area. My wife is from Sichuan and she really loves it here. The dishes that we tried truly tastes like the way they are made in Sichuan. I would suggest getting the house dishes instead of the American Chinese food. The difference is huge. One reason for only 4 stars is because the facility is a bit old and not a flashy as some of the other restaurants in the area. But the food is superb.
(4)Vinnie A.
I went here because it got pretty decent to good reviews and I was in the neighborhood. I ordered the General Tso chicken. It was disgusting. The chicken quality was very poor. I literally took one bite of the meat and spat it out. I also thought the customer service was not very good. When asked if I liked the food. I told the waitress (or manager) the chicken had a very bad taste to it. She told me that it's white meat, not dark meat and that I should eat since everyone around me was eating. So basically she tried to peer pressure me into eating poor quality meat. Hmmm no thanks! In conclusion I spent $8 on rice and a fortune cookie...should've just gone to chick-fil-A.
(1)Wesley Y.
The food here is really spicy! I was here for a company party (where everyone kind of got laid off...) Whatever food was still good! we ordered some beers to start and they checked ID which was cute rarely do chinese restaurants check ID. We ordered a few non spicy dishes but after eating all the spicy dishes it was hard to tell the difference. After the tongue is numb it doesn't matter anymore! The beer doesn't help ease the spice. We asked for medium spicy levels. I can't really name the dishes we had =/ The deep fried pork chops was good, spicy duck, spicy tofu, the fish in the hot soup was awesome as always. The food prices here are all reasonable. It was a friday night and they close at about 10:30 we were kind of kicked out at around that time. They brought us free dessert as a Please pay your check and GTFO type thing lol.
(4)Katy A.
The MSG was literally mouth numbing. I took two bites and it felt like my tongue fell asleep. The two of us who ate here threw our entire meals in the trash. Horrible food.
(1)Alice W.
Sichuan Jin River used to be called Sichuan Pavilion (巴山蜀水). The restaurant is fairly inconspicuous to a wanderer's eye but has terrific Sichuan food. My favorite is their 豆花鱼 aka spicy flounder with soft tofu. The flounder is so tender and drenched in spicy juices. So flavorful and delicious! Another dish I recommend is the 海鲜é‹å·´ aka Seafood sizzling rice crust soup. It's appetizing and a bit of a show at first - you get these crispy rice-like cakes piled in a bowl and the server pours the seafood and the soup on top, making it sizzle. This is a Sichuan delicacy. I'm a big Sichuan food lover and this is one of my favorite Sichuan restaurants in the DMV area. Love the flavors and the heat. Now that's real Sichuan food!
(4)Nate L.
I will start this review with this: DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU ARE ONLY GOING TO ORDER AMERICAN CHINESE DISHES, OR IF YOU ARE EXPECTING FOOD THAT ISN'T SPICY. This is the lowest common denominator of the poor reviews. I grew up in a Chinese family, and Chinese culture can be different if you aren't used to it. This place reminds me of my childhood. I imagine some not used to the demeanor of the women who run the dining area might initially be put off by it. They're friendly-- one just has to know how to be polite. Anyway, on to the restaurant. The food is exceptional. For a place with "Sichuan" in the name, I was expecting some really hot food. This place doesn't disappoint, if one knows what to order. Be adventurous and order from the "Chinese" menu. Leave the "American" style alone. If you feel inclined to order only "American" style, you'll be disappointed. These are Chinese people who are good at what they know best-- REAL Chinese food. Get anything rated 1 or 2 chilis, and you're in for a treat. I always get the tender beef in spicy soup, and then order different items to complement it. It's amazing. If you've never had real Sichuan, the heat is different to other cuisines. It causes more of a numbing sensation, rather than the burning heat most people are familiar with. Don't be scared. All this to say: the food is DELICIOUS. The service is fine, if a little slow. Not slow enough to move the chains for me. Five stars.
(5)Lecheng Z.
This place made me write the very first review on Yelp. As a Sichuan food lover, I've had all authentic Sichuan food in Sichuan, and I have to say, this is the best Sichuan food I've ever had in East coast. The chilled spicy bean jelly salad and dan dan noodle are way beyond my expectation. They just cannot be more delicious. Zhong dumpling is a little different from the authentic, but it's still very good. I can't believe they serve yellow peas and pig feet soup-a very traditional style of soup in Sichuan. It's the best choice to go with after all the spicy food. For the main course, we had double cooked pork, sliced fish in fiery port and smoked duck. They're just awesome! Smoked duck is different from the authentic style, but what else can you demand! You can hardly find a restaurant with all these dishes to be perfect even in Sichuan! I really wish I could try 30 more dishes on their menu. Intestines, duck blood curd, soft tofu, spice chicken salad, pickled veggies and so much more! Forget about ma po tofu and Kung pao chicken, which can be made with sauce easily found in any Chinese supermarket. If you swing by Washington DC area and want to try some Chinese food, don't miss out this place. Otherwise you'll definitely regret.
(5)Jack L.
I heard this place was good so I decided to take my family there for a nice dinner. I brought my wife and three children there. My youngest son, Daniel, is 8 years old and has Down syndrome, which has been a very difficult cross to bear for my entire family. When we arrived my son Daniel was looked at by the hostess and promptly asked my wife and I if he would be a disturbance during our meal and if he did anything or was too loud we would be kicked out. This was by far the rudest and most offensive thing I have heard in a long while. I asked to see the manager to discuss this awful treatment, the manager told me that the hostess's comments were not a big deal and that I shouldn't be making a fuss about it. The bottom line is Jin River is an awful and rude establishment that does not serve children with Down syndrome!
(1)AL K.
i must had ordered the wrong stuffs on the menu cause I wasn't feeling the love at all. The menu is divided into chinese and english. It seems to me that there are more selections under the chinese menu compared to the english version. The clientele of this place are mostly mainlanders and locals from the area. They must have noticed something was wrong coz every dish that was taken away had leftovers in it. So one of the servers gave me one of their special dish to take home for free. The steamed dumplings were the worst it was one of those microwavable that you buy in the asian grocery frozen section. The soup had slabs of tofu and served lukewarm. Ugh!! Nonetheless I would not go back again.
(3)Douglas B.
Very good. Difficult to go wrong it seems. Dumplings, dan dan noodles, peppered fish.
(5)P O.
At this place we ate some authentic Sichuan food. We had fermented soybean whole fish, onion stir fried pork, and Chengdu spicy chicken. Because our bill exceeds 22 dollars, we received a bowl of sweet rice wine with cubic rice balls for free, which is very good for the dessert. My girlfriend periodically has a craving for oily pork or beef, as she called, You You De Rou Rou, which is very cute for me. So we kept on hunting for authentic Chinese restaurants that make You You De Rou Rou. And Jin River didn't let us down today. The only downside is that the meat soup with sour cabbage is not that good. It's too salty as a soup but maybe some other people like it.
(4)Donna Y.
We were able to park in the private lot right in front. Upon sitting down we were offered hot tea and ice water. The decor and seating arrangements are old school and kind of dingy. We ordered the spicy tendon to start. It came out as a cold appetizer which was unexpected but it was alright (only if you're into tendon - it's a little too chewy for me). For entree, we ordered the spicy fish stew to share (and believe me, it's big enough to share between two people) and it comes with a side of rice.
(3)Deena R.
Spicy Eggplant - YUM! but not vegetarian (little bits of sausage in the sauce) Cold Sesame Noodles- good, but not life changing Hot Fresh Pepper with Flounder in Black Bean Sauce - good, but not exciting Egg Drop Soup - order the bowl. eat and repeat. It is $4.50 for 4 cups of yellow-y goodness, with corn! Taro Roll - mildly sweet taro mochi in a deep fried wonton wrapper with sesames, YUM!
(5)Cathy H.
This place was really hard to find. Why? Because I was searching for Sichuan Pavilion, which was the old name of this establishment. Anyway, I was really excited to try their spicy beef noodle soup because I have a life goal to find the best bowl in the country. Sadly, I still believe Hunan Chinese Gourmet in Fair Oaks Mall serves the best. SJR's version has a very oily (chili oil) broth and that prevented me from drinking it like I usually do once all noodles are eaten. The noodles are chewy and the beef is tender with bits of tendon attached (big plus). I tried their scallion pancake and pork dumplings as well. Their scallion pancake is only $2.95 and probably the highlight of the meal. The pork dumplings had terribly thick skin and were not what was expected. I need to find a place in the DMV that sells delicious xiao long bao (soup-filled dumplings). NYC can't possibly be the only area along the East Coast which offers good XLB. I give this place 3 stars, but may return later to try their dan dan noodles and pork/pickled cabbage soup.
(3)Anne D.
I ordered the soup dumpling, salted & crispy pork and the minced beef Mao po tofu. I first started with the dumplings and they were delicious, (first time I ever had them) then I tried the tofu which burn the living crap out of my mouth. Killed every sensation and taste I had and everything just went downhill. I couldn't even taste the pork but my boyfriend said it was good. I'm kind of scared to go back.
(3)Brian J.
I can go anywhere for American style Chinese food, but this is the first place that I've been that reminded me of flavors when I lived in China. We got the following dishes. "Zhong" Dumplings 钟水饺 - Dumplings in a sweet and spicy sauce. The sauce was well flavored, but the dumpling meat was too dry. This is the same sauce that should be on Dan Dan Noodles, so those would likely be a success as well. Flounder with Pickled Vegetables d泡èœé±¼ç‰‡ - This was the best dish. A soup that was a great mix of sour and spicy flavors. This dish had generous portions of fish and glass noodles. Stir Fried Stringbeans with "Ya-Cai" 干煸四å£è±† - A disappointment. It didn't taste that bad, it just didn't have the right flavor. It lacked both the peppers or the prickly ash seasoning that accompany these dishes (prickly ash is a spice in Chinese dishes that causes a numbing sensation in your mouth) Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken æˆéƒ½è¾£å鸡- This dish had some good heat. The flavor wasn't that complex, but it was hot. The chicken was a little on the dry side. [b]Crispy Rice Seafood [/b] - I forgot the name of this one. More of a show than anything. I didn't care for this dish when I lived in China nor do I here. It is a satisfying dish, but really it was inferior to the other fish dish. One fish too many. I would recommend this place if you're looking for more authentic Chinese food experience.
(4)Harmony E.
Dined there once and definitely would not go back. The food was pretty average. The service and cleanness were both below average.
(2)Chris B.
This place was great. We started with Dan Dan noodles and fried pork dumplings. The dumplings were meaty and tasty and the noodles were tremendous. Our entrees were moo shoo pork and combination fried rice. I highly recommend.
(4)Norry H.
This is probably one of the two best Sichuanese restaurants in Rockville to me. Another one is Joe's Noodle House. What I particularly liked at Sichuan Pavilion are, 1. Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup 2. Mapo Tofu with Minced Beef 3. Chengdu Spicy Diced Chicken (lunch special). I only wish the restaurant were located closer to where I live or work.
(4)Mel C.
If you speak Chinese or look like you do, they will offer you a secret deal to pay cash without tax. I don't believe this is legit and once you hesitate the waitress turns extremely cold. The food is heavenly good but I am not going to sell my soul over a good meal.
(1)Hyun M.
Alright, I don't mind a great restaurant that has some semblance of customer service. That is not what you will get at the Sichuan Pavillion. I like a few others, was very excited about going here because of so many recommendations. I will say if you are not Chinese, do know what you are going to order. I ordered General Tso's Chicken for my 11year-old son and ordered Kung Pao Chicken for myself. Service was poor and the booths shook as people leaned into them, which is disconcerting. His came out almost immediately and mine came out a few minutes later. The General Tso's was good, not the very best. The Kung Pao was greasy and had no flavor other than hot. It did not have brown sauce. Instead it was swimming in oil. Despite my complaints about the Kung Pao, they did not offer me something else more satisfactory. I didn't eat the chicken and found the servers and manager to be rather unsympathetic about the situation.
(2)Michael J.
I came here last night with a party of eleven Chinese friends. The restaurant was PACKED with people. A lot of families too, so they took up the larger sized tables. We waited for about 30-40 minutes before a large group table opened up. The food was amazing and the portions were pretty large. We definitely over-ordered and as we got around 10 dishes. The taste is pretty authentic as the spicy dishes really deliver the punch. They also serve really good Shanghai food since the owners are Shanghainese. The treat at the end is their . For those who lust after authentic Sichuan and Shanghainese cuisine, this is the place to be. Expect long waits for dinner as this place is super popular with the locals.
(4)Peter G.
I love the spicy fish filet and beef. The steamed bums are tasty. Very friendly staff. This is one of the best Chinese restaurant in DC area.
(5)Cameron B.
Like a spicy polished Jade gem, this hidden treasure in Rockville is the real deal and quite the steal. No frills decor means these people care about the food and not their looks! The majority language spoken by the patrons is NOT English, so you know you are on the right path. If you don't like your food to cause a runny nose, then there's still time to turn back, but once you're seated you are met with an extensive menu that is true to the rural Chinese roots of Sichuan style cooking! Everything from duck feet, to a meat dish named after a great General, there is everything right with the choices, all of which have at least one hot pepper symbol next to them!! I went with a group of 4 growassmen and we came in hungry. Opting to order one dish each the waitress asked us if we were sure???? I didn't realize until they dropped off the egg drop soup in a witches caldron that maybe we'd gone to far! Traditional Sichuan chicken was amazing and spiced just right while the diced pork with soft tofu was wonderfully runny and mild. The fried chili tofu had a kick that caused us to refill the free tea pot and the mushroom and beef dish was on point! We left in wheel barrels we were so full, and at $18 each WITH left overs....Jackpot!! Sichuan Jin River is the real deal and brings honor to the humble town of Rock-thrill!! Warning....this food burns twice! It's the gift that just keeps giving....if you know what I mean!!
(4)Irene F.
I cannot believe how busy this place was on a Wednesday at 1 PM!! It was packed like it was a weekend with Chinese people! Luckily we got seated right away- for a table of 6. We ordered the following items: (I think) Spicy Chicken Gizzards $4.50 These were delicious. I'd never had gizzards before, to be honest, it tasted a bit like chewy beef chunks. It was a lot of gizzards for 6 people! Preserved Thousand Year Egg & Peppers w/ Sour & Spicy Sauce $9 I was surprised that this dish was actually sweet. Everyone at the table enjoyed it- but it was probrably my least favorite dish. Spicy Dan Dan noodles. I think I would come here JUST to eat these. They were MA (numbing) and LA (Spicy). Sweet and Spicy Garlic Eggplant. I don't generally like eggplant but this dish was tasty. It came with a LOT of sauce, so being completely Asian I took all the sauces home to cook them up with my own meat and veggies! There was enough for several new dishes...:p Whole Fish. The flavor was good, the sauce phenomenal- but the fish itself was not particularly meaty. More bones and sauce than meat. There was one last dish that was something like paper thing slices of roasted pork and tripe or something. That was also good, but there was an overwhelming amount of spring onions in the dish, which I didn't care for. Overall, although some of my friends thought the dishes were incredibly spicy, I felt like they were the perfect amount. I could still taste the flavor of the food and there was a good burn too. There are so many dishes on the menu, I feel like I have barely tasted the tip of the iceburg. I will definitely be coming back to get my burn on with some Dan Dan and a new array of dishes!!
(4)Annie K.
This place is called "Sichuan Pavilion," but the sign outside says Sichuan Jin River. Regardless, it was one of the best authentic SIchuan places that I've been to! It's definitely a gem in this area. The menu consists one of side in English, and the other side in Chinese. There's a variety of different dishes that you can choose from. We came in a group of 4 for lunch on Saturday and it was busy, but we only waited a few minutes to be sat. We ordered the fried pork dumplings, fried scallion pancake, cucumber salad, shredded pork ear, chicken and corn soup, kung pao beef, fish in spicy broth, fried pork chops, and the dan dan noodles. Each dish was tasty and flavorful, minus the chicken and corn soup, which we sent back. My personal favorites was the fried pork dumplings, cucumber salad, shredded pork ear, and the dan dan noodles. The portions are huge, and everything is also reasonably priced. With all of the dishes we ordered plus 2 sodas, our total was only $79! We had plenty of food to bring back home as well. This is definitely one of my new top favorite restaurants in the area!
(5)Mark W.
This restaurant was fantastic about a year ago. Since that time quality has dropped severely. The food is now oily and the people who run the place are money grubbers. The last time I went I paid cash, the women counted my money in front of me. She also mentioned that they would offer a "cash discount" if I pay in cash. In other words they are trying to avoid paying tax and reporting income to the government. If they are this sketchy, I can only imagine the "games" they play with my food. I'm not going back.
(1)Will H.
Went here last Saturday for dinner. First (and last) time eating here. We called and made a reservation just in case, since we had no idea about how big the place was and how busy it got. Good thing, cause it was absolutely swamped ~30-45 minutes after we arrived, and we were early. Here's what we ordered (in order of presentation): - Dan Dan noodles - pork buns filled with chicken broth (this confused me cause there was no broth inside) - Ma Po tofu with Beef - Chengdu Spicy Chicken Review: (note: I asked them to make all of our food sans-MSG, but was told that the pork buns and dan dan noodles are made with pre-made, MSG-abundant sauces). None the wiser, I proceeded with the order, thinking that MSG is not something I'm unfamiliar with. The Dan-dan noodles came out first. The first bite or two was very good, but once the mega-MSG doses kicked in, I couldn't taste anything else. I've had plenty of MSG in one sitting before - ramen, Pho, other various asian restaurants, etc. Never have I experienced the side effects as I did on this day. Tingly/numb tongue, altered taste perception. It feels like when your foot falls asleep...but it's your tongue. I tried drowning it out with water, but the water tasted sour to me. Since this was the first thing to come out, I'm unsure how reliable my review can be of subsequent dishes. I waited until the MSG effect wore off a bit, before trying the pork buns. They were pretty tasty anyway and seemed to have a lot less MSG than the dan dan noodles. Good quantity of filling and decent taste. The chengdu spicy chicken was damn spicy, which is awesome, but again, I couldn't really taste much because of the whole numb-tongue thing. The mapo tofu was kind of disappointing, but at this juncture, I was already looking for the check. Next time I want good mapo tofu, I'll go to China Bistro. Bottom line: Don't ever get the dan-dan noodles. Also, to be fair, I'm sure there are some good entrees/dishes at this joint that we didn't order, but I'm not curious enough to go back and discover them. Also, one of the workers there with a mohawk was being a little diva. He needed a nap.
(1)Rob N.
Awful service. very unfriendly and rude staff. They have no respect for their customers. food is good, but their customer service ruins the food.
(1)Joanna C.
My parents are always on a quest for good, authentic Chinese food and two years ago, they discovered this gem and haven't stopped going (and taking me there every time I come home). With great prices, lots of spicy (and non-spicy) dishes, and decent service, Sichuan Jin River has yet to disappoint. I think this is definitely a restaurant for people who are looking for authentic Chinese food, so if you're more of a general tso's chicken or orange chicken kind of person (no worries if you are!), I wouldn't recommend it. Personally, I love the mapo tofu, eggplant in garlic sauce, beef with green peppers, and flounder with shepard's purse. My mom loves the seafood combination with crispy rice cake, though I could've used a little more flavor. I'm not a huge fan of the small plates, just because there are so many yummier things there and you can get the small plates everywhere. There's really no better authentic place for miles around, so if you want good Chinese food (especially spicy Chinese food), be sure to check Sichuan Jin River out!
(5)Sina E.
I really can't believe a place this good exists in my backyard in Rockville. It's a little hidden behind the Town Center, and the Fire station, but food this good in Rockville can't hide forever. The menu here is vast, and every dish offers unique flavors and kicks with spices. I love spicy food, and there are many choices when it comes to spicy food here. A few of the dishes I sampled: Steamed dumpling in chicken broth - flavorful and pretty good; it's definitely not the best I've had, but still solid. Smoked Duck (entree) - Tender, flavorful, crunchy skin on the outside, salty, and comes with buns that are a little sweet that balances the saltiness nicely. Flounder and Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup - Holy hotness; the flavors really kick in. I love flounders, and it's a nice combo with the tofu. The spicy soup it comes in is very spicy, and has a bright red texture to it. This dish is literally enough for two people at least. "Mapo" tofu with minced beef - Another spicy dish; the tofu and minced beef work well together, and the flavors really come together. You can't go wrong picking this dish either. General Guan Chicken - Small pieces of chicken, seasoned and spiced that will numb your mouth. This dish was also large and could easily be eaten by two people. Overall, all the portions are large here, and you really get the bang for your buck, plus spicy authentic chinese food; highly recommend this place, and will be back for more authentic dishes.
(5)Sasha W.
This is an authentic chinese restaurant that my family had visited the most frequently in the past. The food is delicious and you can basically never go wrong. The portion size is great so you are guaranteed plenty of left overs! One of our favorite dish is the fried duck that combs with white flour buns that you can tuck them into and also put sweet sauce on. However, I have noticed that as this restaurant became increasingly popular, the quality of its dishes has became a bit less consistent. Nevertheless still very yummy! worth a visit
(4)Howard C.
This place is one of the better Szechuan restaurants I've been to. And I've been to hundreds of Szechuan restaurants all over the US, including NYC, LA, Houston, Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco, etc etc. I recommend any dish with whole live fish, and they have a chili pepper with century old egg dish which is phenomenal. This hole in the wall also has excellent service, all the tea you can drink and abundant amounts of rice. It's located in the back of a shopping center so it's a bit harder to find but it is definitely worth looking for.
(4)Sheng Z.
This place is so good. I might even go as far as to say that it is some of the best authentic Chinese (more specifically Sichuan) food I have had in the DC/MD/VA region. The portions are HUGE and the prices are very reasonable. I came here with my extended family and we ordered off the authentic Chinese menu and was exceptionally satisfied. They have this amazing Tea Duck and their tripe is fantastic. If I lived in Rockville, I would definitely come here ever week. This is a definite must try
(5)S S.
Their food is pretty good! And despite the meh looking outside, the inside furnishings are pretty good. Most Asian restuarants look kind of blah inside, but the food tends to be good. This place has both! Though I'd stay away from their fried string beans dish. It is really not made the way it should, and the beans do not taste so fresh. Instead, go for any of the other dishes -- I've tried quite a few and they are all great. I recommend the Mapo Tofu, the seafood stew/soup, the scallion pancakes, and salt and pepper shrimp. Another dish to be aware of is the eggplant dishes. They have sweet and sour eggplant. But it is not eggplant in sweet and sour sauce. It is deep fried balls of eggplant in dough, with some sweet and sour dipping sauce on the side. If you like deep fried, this may be for you. But I do not like deep fried things, so will not be ordering that again.
(4)Christopher D.
5 Star for: *Being one of the most authentic Sichuan Chinese restaurants I've had since my return from China. *Having both an "Authentic Chinese" and "American Chinese" menu to please both sorts of diners. Get the 'Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup' if you're up for an utmost delicious and spicy dish with a numbing twist of fresh 'Flower Pepper' that will leave your tongue completely numb. The mixed Sichuan pickled vegetables were good yet nothing special. Highly recommended if you're in DC.
(5)Jenn H.
I don't know what the hype about this place is, guys. We got the dan dan noodles (as highlighted), the hong you chao shou (wontons in red chili oil), and the niu rou mian (beef noodle soup). We also ordered scallion pancakes, but never got it (more on that later). We were there at an odd time of day (maybe 2pm or so), but there were still a fair number of tables filled. I was excited to try this place, I'd heard so much about it! We were seated, and we placed our order...then I noticed that my plate was cracked, and wasn't washed well (there were some stains on the front, and a piece of rice stuck to it). Hm. The wontons came really quickly--they were fine, a little overcooked (soggy skins), oily without being all that spicy...but nothing to write home about. They took their sweet time getting the other two entrees to us. When we finally got it, my dan dan mian was again oily, without much kick (c'mon, you're a sichuan place--excite me!!!), and very, very plain. I like the one at Michael's noodle house better (its a bit of a different style, but a lot more flavorful without all the grease). The beef noodle soup had crappy noodles, crappy soup, and tough meat. Not ordering that again. Service was not friendly, but polite enough...nothing to report there. Meanwhile, as we were getting more and more disillusioned with each bite, the waitstaff had totally forgotten about our scallion pancakes. Oh, except that they put it on our bill. Psych! They took it off our bill, we paid, and left--I think every place deserves two tries (unless you make me physically ill), but I'm in no rush to try this place again anytime soon.
(2)Fenny L.
In the interest of full disclosure...the chef of this place is the father of the driver who used to deliver flowers for my parents' florist. Who is actually a pretty cool guy (the driver...I don't know the dad). And my dad knows most of the servers...because, well, he knows practically all the Chinese in the area...but that didn't mean we got preferential treatment. In fact, my dad went out of his way to ask that our server not let the staff know that he was there, because he likes to dine incognito (also because my dad is horrible with names, so while everyone is greeting him, he really can't remember anyone else's name). Anyhoo... We've come to Sichuan Pavilion several times, and each time, it's been pretty busy...and if you're a fan of spicy...you'll soon understand why. This restaurant is hidden across the street from the Rockville Town Center, in a dark and aging strip mall, and hidden around the back corner. Yet, even with all this - it's a popular hot spot for Chinese who are fans of Sichuan style food. What is Sichuan style you ask? To put it simply, it's spicy spicy spicy. Chilis, garlic and mouth-numbing green and black peppercorns feature heavily in Sichuan style cuisine. Joe's Noodle House, up the Pike is a popular and pretty authentic Sichuan restaurant. And yet...somehow...Sichuan Pavilion out spices Joe's by a mile. For example, on our most recent visit, my husband, who is a huge fan of Ma Po Tofu (soft tofu cooked in a spicy red chili and peppercorn sauce) asked my dad to order some for him. And if at all possible, to make it extra spicy. When my dad relayed the order, the server's mouth dropped open and asked for confirmation. When my husband eagerly nodded "yes yes!", she shook her head and headed for the kitchen. Moments later, the Ma Po Tofu came out...and proceeded to be so spicy that my husband had sweat dripping off his EARS before he finished his second bite. DELICIOUS! The Spicy Beef with Cabbage was actually MORE delicious then the version at Joe's...and I'm a *huge* fan of Joe's version, but Sichuan's version is more tender, and while at the same time more spicy then Joe's, it's also more flavorful with more layers of flavor and complexity. Yum! Another family favorite here is the "Saliva Chicken" (yeah, no idea what it is in English)...and no, the chicken isn't made from saliva...it's just so spicy and just so tasty that it makes your mouth water when you eat it! SUPER YUM! Clearly, this is one of my new favorite restaurants. I am a huge fan of spicy and Sichuan delivers. Just know that if I get there and I need to wait because the place is packed...and you're there because you read this review...I may have to cut you. And steal your food. Because they really are just that tasty!
(5)M H.
Greasy food that tastes quite mediocre. This place was recommended by quite a few locals. There are better places for Chinese food just a few miles down the road. Service: any place I have to make a special request for water and napkins gets a "does not meet" in my book. As we were paying for our check, the waitress said we'll get a special discount if we pay by cash vs. credit card. $3. Not saying that's a bad thing. Overall, wouldn't repeat.
(2)Guada L.
Big portions, delicious food. I cried the first time I ate here, it was that good. Catfish fillet with peppercorn is amazing. Some dishes are better than others, but never something I didn't like. Waiters are the best.
(5)James J.
We were traveling for work and arrived to town a little after dark. We wanted to get some good Asian food. We found a place nearby that had received some very good online reviews but we couldn't figure out how to get to there due to some local construction. We happened upon the Sichuan Jin River restaurant as we were making one of our many u-turns. "Let's give this place a try" she said. "They are busy so it must be good" I said. We noticed right away that it was very dirty; silverware, table, chairs, walls, etc. I went to use the men's room and it was in shambles, dirty and needed some serious attention. Our server came over and her phone rang in the middle of taking our order and the waitress actually answered her phone right in front of us. After that she apologized, she took our appetizer order. We got steamed dumplings and a couple of beers. When our dumplings arrived they gave us the dipping sauce tray. It was disgusting and dirty. There was something floating in every single sauce. We were very hungry so we ate the dumplings, skipping the sauces and praying that they did not make us sick. The people that were in there eating were all Asian. I figured that what ever part of their country they originally came from must not be too big on cleanliness because they all seemed thrilled. They have a lot of very gross stuff on the menu too like feet,and intestine, etc. I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone, unless you are trying to get sick, or like to eat feet and butthole.
(1)Delaware F.
Had braised short ribs with taro, combo seafood with rice cakes, and string beans. I think they may have taken a look at us and made a "white people spicy" note because everything was pretty mild. Too mild in fact. I am, I'm a little embarrassed to say, kind of soft when it comes to spicy food. But Szechuan food needs a little kick, and the mildness made this food a little bland. The string beans were a fine example of crispy Szechuan string beans, albeit (again) a little mild. The short ribs were tender and the broth flavorful. The seafood did contain a large quantity of seafood (shrimp, other shellfish, flounder) but the quality was not great. The seafood tasted like it has been frozen a while and generally just not high quality. The sauce for the seafood was a little heavy on the cornstarch and tasted quite strongly of what I think was oyster sauce. The rice cakes were new to us, kind of like a savory rice crispy treat. I think we will come back, but we might stick to items that come out of a wok. We'll have to think of some way of conveying that we're comfortable with some spiciness. I am reminded of an LA food critic who went to a lot of divey Thai places. He had a note printed (in Thai) that said something like "please serve me food at the same level of spiciness you would serve a Thai person".
(4)Douglas K.
This place is excellent. Service: They are constantly coming by to check and make sure everything is good. Just say a friendly Ni Hao when you walk in. Food; AMAZING. They have an American style Chinese food and an authentic section in their menu. It is great because there is a big difference. I am more a fan of the authentic and they really do it justice. I ordered the Kung pao chicken and friends of mine ordered the Mushu Chicken, Spring Rolls and fried eggplant. I would gladly recommend this place to everyone I know who enjoys really good Chinese food and not usually what you get from a delivery place.
(5)Janice V.
I love this place. I swear I have been here like 10 times, my chinese family, friends, all love eating here. Parking is easy, the service is fast, and the food comes out hot and quick. Dont order the american chinese food, well i never have them, but I would go for more traditional sichuan dishes (spicy ones preferably). I like everything from the "Zhong" Dumplings with Hot Sauce, Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood, Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger & Scallions, Fried Scallion Pan Cake, Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce, Stir Fried Minced Chicken with "ya-cai", Braised Short Ribs with Baby Taro, Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup, for dessert: Crispy Sweet Taro Rolls, Red Bean Paste with Mashed Taro Wrap, and Eight Treasure & Sticky Rice with Rose Flavor. Yummy stuff.
(5)SY Y.
We came here on a Thursday night and was surprised to see how crowded the place was. This is not a restaurant for those who can't take spicy food. When they say spicy, they mean spicy! Not the general chao's "spicy." We had the catfish fillet with peppercorn, mapo tofu, ground chicken with buns, and dan dan noodles. We loved the ground chicken that came with about four or five buns. The catfish and mapo tofu were way too oily. This coming from someone who is unfazes by the oil-soaked bag of Five Guys' fries.
(3)A.R. P.
As I write this review, Sichuan Pavilion sits atop Tyler Cowen's Top Five List (on his Ethnic Dining Guide). Quite frankly, this lofty distinction is well deserved. Sichuan Pavilion boldly excels at "ma la" dishes (featuring spicy chilis and numbing Sichuan peppercorns) as well as other Sichuan specialties. One of the first dishes that I tried (and, which is an exemplar of their ma la dishes) is their fish in fiery broth (which they have since renamed, "flounder in fiery soup"). This dish, arguably, is their signature dish. Their rendition of this Sichuan classic is nearly flawless. The pillowy filets float in a magnificent broth made from broad bean paste and spicy chillis (and, which features a few eye-catching drupes of green peppercorns in the broth). The base vegetable consists of happy, snappy bean sprouts that hold their own amidst the inferno that surrounds them. The heat is very pronounced; but, there is a real depth of flavor in the oily, incendiary broth as well. At some places, this dish features more of a "sauce," of varying thickness and color, rather than a bold broth; but, here, it is done right. The double cooked pork is out-of-this-world good. I love the pork in this dish (which is a Chinese style bacon). It is sliced and stir fried with leeks and shards of crispy bread (kind of like crispy pita pieces). The interplay of the savory meat and the crispy fried bread is what good eating is all about. Most places do not include fried, crispy bread in their double cooked pork; but, the inclusion of it (the truly unorthodox and unexpected inclusion of it) makes this dish shine. The braised short ribs with baby taro (which feature pork ribs despite the suggestion of beef) is succulent and hearty. It is essentially a stew with large pieces of pork spareribs that have been braised in a spicy liquid (mild compared to their ma la dishes) and served up with seductive, tender lumps of baby taro that are melt-in-the-mouth good. The shredded beef with hot fresh peppers packs a kick and features tender strands of beef with a harvest of long, hot, green peppers that have been cut into delicate slivers. The spicy warmth and the earthy taste of the hot peppers make this a terrific dish too. The pan fried dumplings, which are full and plump, are slightly crispy and forgivingly pliable on the outside and have a dough of appropriate thickness and texture. On the whole, they are hearty, meaty, and almost a meal unto themselves. The spicy beef noodle soup is served in a generous bowl and offers a pile of fresh noodles that are thick and fresh (suggesting a hand-made quality) and a broth that zips with spice. The accompanying cubes and lumps of beef are tender, meaty, and satisfying. Certainly, there are few versions of this dish around the DC area that rival it. The dishes here, however, that are not hot and spicy and that lean away from the Sichuanese spectrum tend not to excel and reach the same glorious heights. For example, one day, I dined here with a large group of friends. I wanted them to come here so badly to taste what I considered some of the best Chinese food anywhere in the metropolitan area. However, I failed to realize (from lack of questioning) that none of them (amazingly) eat spicy food! So, at the last minute, I had to order non-spicy items. I was so disheartened because, with our avoiding the spicy foods here, we might as well have gone somewhere else--like a Cantonese restaurant or a pizzeria. We ordered the pork and crispy rice cakes in sweet and sour sauce. This dish actually had been highly touted on online postings (such as Chowhound and yelp); and, I had come here thinking I might order it (if I needed a default item). As it turned out, I did. But, wow...was I disappointed! The pork was bland and down right unappetizing; the sauce was shockingly gloppy and overly sweet like a bad sauce that one would encounter in a second-rate takeout place. The rice cakes were nondescript and suffered from sitting under the dampness of the sauce. They became soggy very quickly. In the end, nobody enjoyed this dish. It was totally dismissed. The much touted tea smoked duck was extremely underwhelming as well. The duck, which was not served whole (for example, in a complete pile of carved splendor), was, rather, hacked up randomly into little pieces (with shards of bone and indistinguishable pieces of skin jabbing out at odd angles). The meat itself was barely warm and tasted like re-heated leftovers. Additionally, stuffing the meat into a mantou (a bulky rice flour bun) with hoisin sauce, which constitutes traditional presentation, only hid and obscured the duck. In the end, you want to be transported vicariously to Chengdu. However, make sure to order well; or, else, rather than ending up there, you might find yourself in a strip mall in Peoria.
(4)Weimew Y.
The same menu has two sections (opened from the opposite covers): American Chinese and Authentic Chinese. Of course I always go for Authentic Chinese. Personal favorites include soup with pork tribe and pickled vegetables, and mixed vegetables on crispy rice. If you pay cash, you receive 6%-10% discount; ask staff for explanation.
(4)Richard C.
Crazy delicious. I've been here loyally & can't even start naming all the awesome dishes, every one I try is just a hit. The taste, spiciness & overall awesomeness are mind-blowing. This review is short because it's mostly about urging you to go taste what is memorable Sichuan food.
(5)Sathish P.
Awesome authentic Chinese food. Best bet is Order the following: Short Ribs with baby Taro Cumin beef One of their fish dishes with fried rice cakes. The thing i don't like is every time i am there i have to ask for water. I don't know why its not a normal thing to give water to every customer. And when you pay the bill, right next to the cashier they have bowl full of chocolates. Those chocolates are really good. Just take one they are complimentary.
(5)Philip T.
Hooray for the wide variety authentic Chinese restaurants in the DC area! Sichuan Pavilion is very good place to find tasty, authentic Sichuan Chinese cuisine in Montgomery County. It's located right across from Rockville Town Center where the old Taste of Saigon was located for many years before relocating across the street. From the outside, this unassuming restaurant would go completely unnoticed, eclipsed by the condos and sparkling restaurant row it faces, but for those who venture over they are in for a unique and delicious dining experience. The menu is divided into two sections, an authentic Chinese side and an American Chinese side. Each side has a wide array of dishes from appetizers to sweet dessert soups and cater to a wide variety of tastes. I've long been a proponent for people who haven't tried authentic Chinese cooking to venture out of their comfort zone and try something they wouldn't normally order, and this a good place to do this. For an appetizer I recommend the spicy chicken salad, sliced chicken breast and leg in a Sichuan chili and soy based sauce that's loaded with flavour and is sure to get your appetite going. Be sure to order the Xiaolongbao or steamed pork buns with chicken broth; they're steamed fresh with a thin shell encasing tender pork and plenty of rich savory soup. Another good choice is the Sichuan tofu, silken tofu with a spicy sauce made with tongue tingling Sichuan peppercorns that goes perfectly with steamed rice. A final recommendation would be the shredded beef with fresh hot peppers. It should be noted that while the restaurant specializes in spicy Sichuan cuisine, there are plenty of very good non-spicy dishes to choose from. The expansive menu always impresses and in the dozens of times I've eaten here, I've yet to come across something I haven't been willing to try again.
(4)Eric C.
twice cooked pork and their basil chicken dish thing were amazing. their dan dan mien is super stellar! makes your tongue go numb which is quite the experience! they have this hot pot thing on the cover of their menu and sometimes they will recommend it but don't get it cause it tastes like an old closet.
(4)Zara K.
not consistant...i had their hot pot chicken with my in laws and it was soo good. they made it spicy, chicken was sooo flavourful and tender i was surprised, because i havent had a single bite of chicken that hasnt been awful ever since iv come to america.....(i know thats harsh im sorry) next time i had it, it was so average however!!! i do love their spicy fish in peppercorns and nothing can change that! even then its not always great....and recently i tried their duck and i LOVE IT. iv been looking for duck for so long! its breaded and fried and reallyyyyy tassty! it comes with buns and a plum sauce"(hoisin sauce) i do wish they gave more lettuce or some cucumbers!
(4)Kat F.
This place is pretty authentic when it comes to Chinese dinners. Whenever I come here, I usually get the Steamed Whole Fish with Ginger and Scallions (absolute FAV, though it is $17). The fish is always fresh and huge! I highly recommend trying it out, if price isn't too much of an issue.
(4)Steph L.
Wait, what? Sichuan Jin River? When did this happen? Anyway, food is fantastic! I dare say it is the best Chinese food in the DC metro area. I wish it wasn't so far (pretty much everything north of Bethesda is considered far by me), but because it's not as easily accessible, I go on special occasions and really make a trip out of it. It's truly worth it. I think enough people have talked about what's great and what you must order, so no need to repeat. Just order, and order a lot. Last time the boy and I went, we were sat at a 2-top, but after the lady took our order, she muttered, "your table's not going to fit all the dishes," and switched us to a 6-top! Ha, we were rather proud of ourselves. That's how you SHOULD order at Chinese restaurants! Always order too much food and take leftovers home!
(5)Andrea R.
Meh. Definitely more authentic than most Chinese restaurants in this area but a lot of improvement is needed to make this place worth more stars in my book. The restaurant itself was not terribly clean and there was a lot of clutter everywhere (boxes sitting around, tables in random places, etc). The food was fairly bland, particularly the fried tofu with vegetables. The sweet & sour eggplant was marginally better. Appetizers didn't taste fresh.
(2)Garvin C.
I've been going to other chinese restaurants in Rockville for a while, so we thought it was about time to try this place. My wife and I were really excited b/c we really enjoy Sichuan cuisine. We ordered four items: wontons with hot sauce, green onion pancakes, bamboo shoots with beef, and sichuan soft tofu. The wontons were really great. After mixing the wontons with the spicy sauce and letting it steep for a little while, the taste was just amazing. Next time i tink I need to order 2 of those! The green onion pancake was good, but i prefer a little more crispy to soft ratio. The bamboo shoots with beef had good taste, but i felt that I've had better versions of this dish elsewhere. It was good, but just missing a little something that I can't quite put my finger on. The sichuan soft tofu was probably our least favorite item, but even that we nearly polished off. The prices weren't bad considering how much food you get. The menu also showed lunch specials on weekdays (they have american chinese as well as authentic chinese items for this), which seemed pretty reasonable priced. The restaurant was very clean and the staff was friendly. I would definitely come back. There are so many more items to try!
(4)Will L.
I really don't get the hype. This place is nowhere near top 5 Chinese in the DC area. For Sichuan, it's not spicy enough at all, and everything is over salted. I was really hungry and with a party of six we tried the xiao long bao, kung pao chicken, ma po tofu and green scallion pancakes amongst other dishes. General consensus of all eaters was: disappointing, and I had to be persuaded to even bring home the large amount of leftovers. The only thing they have going for them is that they do have a large authentic menu, and it's not expensive for the portion sizes. Unfortunately they can't execute. The service was pretty good though for a Chinese place. -1 star for serious morning after digestive issues... throwing out leftovers shortly.
(1)Lin H.
I don't write many reviews but felt the need to after reading some ignorant comments about the "MSG" used in this food that caused mouths to feel "numb" and "tingly." After laughing my ass off, I wanted to tell this restaurant to just put a sign on the door that reads....this is SICHUAN food, not Panda Express. Authentic Sichuan/Szechuan food is known for their spicy, mouth numbing, oily food. THAT IS WHAT THIS RESTAURANT IS ABOUT. They don't claim to be anything else. It is in the name!!! This tingly feeling in the mouth - it is intentional. They use a Sichuan peppercorn that causes this. The few times I ate here, it was always very good and comparable to restaurants in China (lived there for 2.5 years). So please...before you go to a restaurant and write a review...perhaps do some research on what you are eating. While I don't doubt that they use MSG, this is what Sichuan food tastes like.
(4)Ferdinand H.
4.5 stars. Having wandered the earth looking for more peers to Peter Chang's sichuanese interpretation, I've now found myself unable to settle for anything less than authentic peppercorns. After finishing a lunch/dinner at Bob's Noodle House, I sauntered over, already quite full, for a second dinner at Sichuan Pavilion. My brother had bought my parents to this little gem, all of which attested to genuine "numbness" of the tongue. Being already full, I had no choice but to order the tasting standards. For me, that meant dan dan mian and mapo tofu. The more sane members of the group got dessert (sesame tangyuan in fermenting rice -- which was also yum!) I ate only about a 3rd of each order. It was, however enough for me to conclude that a return trip was coming in the near future. Next time, with much more expansive order sets. Numbing, tasty and authentic. And not that expensive. What's keeping it from a 5? Delicacy. The flavours are wonderful, and it's consummate family style. It needs a tiny bit more subtlety for me to reach a 5. Subtle spicy food? Yes, it exists. Still, this place is great! If you want an explanation of the chinese title... zdic.net/cy/ch/ZdicE5Zdi… Basically, it's a phrase describing the scenery and natural beauty of Sichuan.
(4)Maggie F.
i'm really between a 3.5-4 but I have to admit, I don't hate this place. I have really LOW expectations of MD Chinese food, because it's simply just dreadful for the most part (which is interesting, since we have such a high Chinese population in Rockville). Though this is a Sichuan restaurant, it's owned by Shanghainese people--and knowing that I deepened my initial skepticism. But this place turned out to be ok. Food is a little more on the oily side and a little more on the salty side. In terms of spicy, I personally don't think its much... but that's just me. Otherwise, the food isnt dreadful and I wouldn't mind coming here on a casual day.
(4)David S.
Summary: excellent authentic Chinese Sichuan style dishes, bad location, and informal service. Sichuan Jin River doesn't have the best of location. You can't really see the restaurant from either Hungerford Drive or N. Washington Street. This restaurant is hidden away in a small shopping center behind an old office building. We saw this place when we visited Bob's Noddle 66. We decided to give this place a try after we read all the nice reviews on Yelp. Despite the terrible location, this place was packed during lunch. We showed up at 1:00 pm and we had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. It's a small restaurant with very tight space and hardly any decor. Most of the customers at this place were primarily Asian on the day of our visit. We sampled several spicy dishes from the Chinese style menu during our visit. We really appreciated the authenticity of the preparation, and if you like spicy food, you will like this place too. For starters, we had chilled spicy bean jelly Salad (Liangfen). At our servers' recommendation, we order #9 instead of #10 because we didn't want it to be too spicy that we couldn't finish the rest of our lunch. We thought the beef tendon and tripe with spicy sauce ($10.25) was good compared to that in other restaurants in terms of portion and taste. The beef tripe soup with sour pickled cabbage was rustic and delicious. The Cured Pork and Sausage with Garlic was so good that it reminded me the stuff my grandfather used to make. I didn't like the cumin beef too much because the beef was fried and a little bit dry. We enjoyed the non-spicy dishes, too. We thought the Pork Buns filled with Chicken Broth was good, but expect 30 minutes wait time if you decide to order it. We didn't really get to enjoy the pork buns till half way into our meal. The other non-spicy dishes we enjoyed were shredded pork with bamboo Shoot and sliced pork with lotus roots.
(4)Nuoc M.
Okay last update for this place. Got food from here three times, each time posted the experience on Yelp. And find one of the issues with this place. The issue is that they're not consistent with the spiciness in their food. The third time coming here we had a mix of things that we got the first two times. This time around some of the dishes that were not spicy the first time around had a nice kick to it. Then the dishes that were spicy the second time that we got here weren't really spicy, and we had multiple people ask if someone requested it to not be spicy. So that's the only knock for the place that I have. The food was still good and I'm still a fan of this place.
(4)Jeanne C.
Really solid beef tripe/tendon in spicy sauce, spicy dan dan noodles, and spicy fish. The place gets so crowded - be prepared to wait for a table. The tripe and noodles came out within 5-10 minutes. The fish took the longest, but let me tell you, it was a lot of fish. My mouth was on fire. It's really nice to have a great Sichuan restaurant in the burbs of MD.
(4)Derrick P.
This place is probably one of the most authentic restaurants I've been to outside of Sichuan China. Great "dan dan" spicy noodles - almost the same as the real thing at the hole in the wall restaurants in Chengdu. You also can't go wrong with the mapo bean curd and the flounder in the chili soup. Also, since the owner is from Shanghai, they serve some very good Shanghai style dishes here - fresh and slightly sweet sauces. Flounder with white sauce is a good example of this. If I'm in the mood for Sichuan style food, this is the place to be, and one of the best I've been to outside of China. The actual restaurant atmosphere also feels like you're at a nice restaurant in China. Whether you like authentic Chinese food or just good quality dishes, you simply can't go wrong with this place!
(4)Nicola M.
A bigger group of us stopped here on the way back from a hike in Harper's Ferry and SO glad we did. It's honestly some of the best Chinese I've had, although I'm not really an expert. We got fried and steamed dumplings and pork buns; all delicious. I ordered the chicken chow fun, which had perfectly cooked tender noodles and an excellent flavor (not too salty nor too oily). The BF got the Szechuan chicken which was DELICIOUS- and very spicy. Everything we had at the table was great, and the service, although not overly friendly, was very prompt. We must have got in at a good time because we were sat as a table of 7 immediately; but shortly after we arrived all the tables became occupied. If this were closer to me, I'd be going back often!
(5)Joe R.
First of all, this is not a place to go if you're dressed up or you're on a date night. The restaurant itself is basically a big mess with cartons and boxes all around and on top of coolers, chairs lined up in rows, and a dirty bathroom. The bathroom is so filthy that they spray an obnoxious perfume that will actually make you cough while you're in the bathroom. There is an old sink in the dining room where the drain was "repaired" with what looks like paper toweling which is covered by a plastic kitchen bag. But it probably still leaks as there is a plastic bucket under the drain. I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles as an appetizer which was basically made only with a spicy oil and a few bits of ground pork on top. There were no preserved vegetables, mushroom stems or scallions. For an entree I ordered the shrimp and scallops in black bean sauce. The taste was relatively good but, again, it was floating in oil at the bottom of the plate. Never again, there are just no redeeming factors.
(1)Dan H.
I'm writing this review of Sichuan Jin River for one reason - their Fried Pork Dumplings. They are absolutely, insanely good! My wife and I sometimes get only them for our family, and the wait staff at SJR look at me like I am crazy when I pick up 3-4 orders! A must try.
(5)Stacey R.
Pretty fantastic when it comes to Chinese food. I've eaten there twice now; once there and once for take-out. The second time I let the server choose all the dishes (off the Chinese style menu, of course) and was happy with all of them. It's very authentic and service was great!
(4)Noel O.
I've been marinating over how to write this review for more than a week now because this place was one of those life altering experiences. I like food (hence why I'm on Yelp), I'm pretty adventurous, but there are still times when I cry for Mama when things are just to ridiculous for words. I think the best way to describe my experience at Sichuan Pavilion would be something like going to a dominatrix for the first time. You ease into the situation comfortably enough, but once the show starts get ready to slapped around. By the end of it you're crying out for mercy, but yet somehow you want to come back for more and endure the same pain again and again. Yeah, that sums it up about right. I was introduced to real Chinese food on a trip to China, but the real magic happened when a friend later introduced me to the Sichuan peppercorn. This thing has a fiery yet fruity kick when it's bitten into, but soon enough it makes your mouth tingle and can tell this isn't like any ordinary peppercorn. Sichuan Pavilion uses these very peppers in most of their dishes (at least the dishes we had) and I was simultaneously sweating profusely and shoving more food into my face--the sign of a good meal if I've ever seen one. A word to the wise: as a white boy I went with a group of Chinese speakers. You're welcome to delve into the menu yourself, but knowing what the crap was going to be served always helps. If you like Chinese food and don't mind heading out to Rockville to get it, this is without a doubt THE place to go.
(5)Xiaoya W.
Service is good. The dishes are fine, but there is still room for improvement
(4)Kathy C.
The dumpling appetizer and chilled rice jelly noodles (not sure of exact name) appetizer were THE BOMB. If you like spicy like I do, this place is a must try. Service sucks though, the ladies were slow to attend to us and not friendly.
(4)Benji C.
Went here for the first time today after reading reviews, and it is very good but not my absolute fave. My dad and I split a large hot and sour soup, spring rolls and the sesame chicken entree which was only $20. Will be back to try something else soon.. Only real "complaint" was that the glaze on the sesame chicken was a little predictable I guess. Gel-like and verrrry sweet.. BUT the chicken itself was very good and crunchy under all of it. I mean, I did order off the American menu so I should have known:) The food all around us looked realllllllly good
(3)DJ C.
Dining solo is not a very Asian way, but my people in my offline life don't like it hot like I like it hot. So I was thrilled to see this restaurant in downtown Rockville! Come to find out, this is a new restaurant about a month old. Welcome to the neighborhood! I ate a simple bowl of Sichuan style beef noodle soup, curious what Sichan style was all about. Now this may not be a signature Sichuan like that beef/ chicken/ fish dish, or that mapo tofu classic, but I was game and the price was great. A well-rounded (pun intended) meal under $10 is a great find these days. Wow. Incredible! The stewed beef was perfectly marbled. 2 kinds of veggies garnished the noodle soup, one a bit sour, the other kinda spinachy. The broth thoroughly infused with hot pepper sauce. And, here's the kicker -- there must've been 20 pieces of beef in there, so many that it ruined my beef to noodle to veggie ratio, in a good way. This is a 3-napkin sinus-clearing bowl of noodle soup -- one for the mouth, one for the nose, and one for the forehead. And if things ever get too hot, the fire department is right next door.
(5)Lisa N.
What brought us here: Got to talking about food at work, and a co-worker kept raving about a Chinese dish he'd tried a while back called either "husband and wife" or "Romeo and Juliet" (it's "fu chi fei pian"). We googled the dish, and learned it was Szechuan (my dad is from Szechuan!). Authentic dishes we tried: Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce (Cold Appetizers) - husband & wife dish: Remember that scene in Ratatouille when the critic takes a bite of the ratatouille and flashes back to his childhood? I had that moment. It's as if I was transported back in time to my dad's kitchen as he prepared his own Szechuan peppercorn oil (he was chef!). Shredded Pig Ear with Hot Chili Sauce (Cold Appetizers) - Eating pig ears is all about the texture, which was spot-on. Flavors similar to first dish. Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup: Fish tender. Not as spicy as it looks. Vegetables are bean sprouts. "Mapo" Tofu with Minced Beef: Flavor was a bit off from authentic, but good nonetheless. Basil chicken with Ginger in Hot Pot ("three cup chicken"): Don't know why I ordered this. It's not a traditional Szechuan dish. I loved this dish in Taiwan, and still can't find a suitable representative here in the states. Eggplant in Garlic Sauce: Perfection. Verdict: Will DEFINITELY be dining here again...my mouth waters as I write that!
(5)Erica Y.
Food is pretty good, not the best sichuan food I've had, but for the Rockville area, I guess it's as authentic as you will get. Plus price is very reasonable. Service on the other hand, is TERRIBLE! And I am judging it on Chinese restaurant standards. They are so disorganized, slow responding to your requests, and just overall slow and inattentive. So if you really like sichuan food and you are in the Rockville area, I guess you don't have a choice. If you are in a hurry...stay away!
(2)Ted F.
Very good "authentic" Chinese menu. Avoid the Americanized Chinese menu - - no good at all.
(4)Leona C.
Weekday lunch at Sichuan Pavilion is a pretty good deal: three dishes, three bowls of rice, and communal bowl of soup for $20. It was enough to feed three people. Selection: At Sichuan Pavilion, no need to try out their Americanized Chinese selections -- save that for Panda Express. Flip over the lunch menu and there's a long list of "authentic" Chinese selections available in Chinese and English. The descriptions are detailed and informative and if you know what to order, there are plenty of mild dishes available. The quality of food is on par to average homemade meals, but much healthier than fast-food Chinese. Service: Overall, it was okay. Even though it was peak lunch hour on a Thursday, we were seated immediately. Our soup and food arrived within 5-10 minutes after we ordered our meal. We were able to eat and pay within a one-hour time span.
(3)Bryce D.
This place is surprisingly great! The wife and I decided we wanted Chinese, but didn't want take-out. This place ended up winning the bid, and may be one of my new favorites. The Dan-dan noodles were awesome, as was my Sesame Chicken. The Mrs. got the Eggplant in garlic sauce. and she loved the flavor. Truth be told, we only ordered from the 'american' side of the menu, but it was so well done that I think I will be feeling adventurous on my next visit and order from the 'authentic' side.
(4)Steve P.
Based on reviews here, we made our way here to have a nice lunch with the Family. The food was OK. We got the dan dan noodles with sesame sauce (needed a non-spicy option for the kids), flounder with tofu in spicy soup and general guan's chicken. The quality of the food was generally good. The spice level was pretty in your face. If you are not used to heavily spiced food, this may shock you. The service was ok. They were attentive and we had no issues.
(3)Lisa M.
Thought this place was above average for Chinese restaurants in DC, but not excellent. IWe got the water-cooked flounder, sour cabbage and pork, and taro and spare ribs. We were really looking forward to the water-cooked flounder, which is a big bowl of spicy red goodness, but this was almost inedible, as it was overpowered by some sort of white pepper or celery powder taste. It just didn't taste good. This was a bad sign as this is one of the trademark dishes of Szechuan cooking. The pork and taro is described as "short ribs and baby taro" but they're actually pork ribs. The pork was tender, but the whole dish was not as flavorful as I would have expected, and the sauce was gloppy. Probably my favorite dish was the sour cabbage and pork with vermicilli noodles, but they were really greasy. Also, the prices weren't cheap--I would say $14-15 on average for many dishes. So, I thought this place was good but not amazing. I would say that there is some unevenness or lack of care in the kitchen which is making things just shy of really good or great.
(3)QQ J.
We three girls ordered almost 5 dishes and they were all good. We like it, although it's a little bit far away from VA.
(4)Yuh Wen L.
The prevailing feelings after I finish a meal at Sichuan Pavilion are: (1) Gahhh, I'm so full I cannot move. (2) Wow, I feel so lucky that I get to eat food like this. And SO BAD for all those people will not get a chance to try this. I must say that this place blows my mind every time. This is by far some of the best food that I've had outside of China and, seriously, like, ever. For those who care about "authenticity", it is indeed quite authentic - but everything I've had is delicious, so anyone who loves food should feel comfortable (and excited!) to go. Go family-style and go big - you won't regret it. The ginormous menu is divided into a "Authentic Chinese style" and "American Chinese style." I've admittedly only ordered from the former, but noticed that several items are cross listed on both. It is helpful if you read/speak Chinese (some of the English translations are non-intuitive), but the staff is great and will give you some great recommendations if you just ask. Some of the standout items on menu that we've had before (and there are so many more to try...) are: Dan Dan spicy noodles: Just the right amount of numbing spiciness! Smoked duck: Smoked and crispy, comes with steamed mantou buns and hoisin sauce. Really delicious. Basil chicken and ginger in hotpot (sanbei ji): When it first comes out, you think it is nothing special, but a few bites and you'll realize that you want to DRINK every last drop of the sauce. Eggplant with Garlic Sauce: Just. Super. Sichuan string beans (on menu as Stir-fried string beans with "ya-cai"): The best I've had in the states so far (it's amazing how easily most restaurant mess this one up!). Braised beef noodles (hongshao niurou mian): I'm not usually a fan, but had a taste of my friends, and it was delicious - really flavorful and simply huge. Crispy salty shrimp: Noms, I say. Obviously, the restaurant's specialty is Sichuan cuisine, so I will need to experiment more with the spicy "xiang la" stuff (look for the little red pepper next to the dish!), but that's an adventure I'm more than willing to take on! If you can read Chinese, I recommend going to the white board (hangs behind the counter) and trying out some of the specials on offer. Service is quick and efficient. The staff is really kind and friendly. Also, the menu is adaptable to vegetarians, too (at least one vegetarian friend always accompanies). The restaurant also has a "Frequent Dining Card" on the back of their business card - if you pay in cash, you get a stamp for every $20 of pre-tax purchases. Ten stamps will qualify you for $20 off an order. Time to start collecting. :)
(5)Frank F.
In a word, superb. This may be my new favorite Chinese place in the area.The service is attentive and with its large picture windows, the atmosphere is unusually cheerful. Alll at very reasonable prices. NB: I've only tried the authentic Chinese menu. As others have pointed out, most of the negative reviews here on Yelp are from folks who are looking for an Americanized Chinese food experience--or are complaining about food characteristics that are typical of authentic Sichuan cuisine. Hint: Don't come here if you have a problem with highly spicy or oily food, or if your favorite "Chinese" dish is General Tso's Chicken. The other complaints relate to the service. I can't speak to anyone else's experience, but in our experience the wait staff has never been anything other than friendly and attentive. Perhaps that's because we're regulars... or because we show a genuine interest in and appreciation for the cuisine?
(5)Heidi W.
One question. If you're Chinese and love spicy Chinese food, can you NOT love this place? The food: Friggin awesome. I've never had Sichuan food this good, and I've had Sichuan food from all over, from several cities in China to Rockville. I've also eaten several times at Joe's Noodle House and China Canteen, both of which are very delicious, but none compare to Sichuan Pavilion. I like Sichuan Pavilion the best because almost ALL of their dishes are equally delicious. The spiciness of their dishes is just the most perfect blend of spicy and tingly. I highly recommend the Beef Tendon & Tripe with Spicy Sauce as an appetizer. It is spicier than Joe's version, and I don't even remember China Canteen's version. Their Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup is also mouthwateringly good, and I'd also try their Beef in Fiery Soup! For those who love authentic Chinese food but cannot handle too much heat, try their Crisy Rice Cake with seafood or with vegetables. You can't go wrong with any of their dishes! Price: At first glance, the dishes seem a bit expensive because they're almost all in the double digits. But the generous portions of delicious food they serve more than explains for the $12-18 entrees. I always go home with a full belly and plenty of leftovers for the next day. Still, it's probably a place you go to on special occasions. Service: The service is VERY fast. Once you order, food begins to appear on your table in as little as 5 minutes. Waiters are also quite friendly and will give suggestions for their popular dishes. I'm hungry just thinking about this place!
(5)Eva L.
I had Sichuan Pavillion for lunch and was very happy about the food, the portion size and the price. The two of us got a spicy whole fish, a pork in spicy broth and a stir fried cabbage. We then got a free spinach tofu soup. All of this for 20 bucks. What a deal. The place was packed during lunch and the waiter kept on pushing us to order. Of course I am used to all this at a Chinese place. The pork in spicy broth was easily the best dish, while the stir fried cabbage was decent. I liked the spicy whole fried fish but it was not as authentically Sichuan because it is on the sweet side. I noticed that one side of the menu had more English and less authentic food choices while the other side had a lot of famous Sichuan dishes. Also on the board behind the counter there are specials in Chinese and the notice in Chinese that says if you want food to be more spicy or more "ma" you should ask before hand. I am definitely going back to try more of their Sichuan dishes!
(4)zibra a.
I ordered some carryout the other day, the Basil chicken was OK, the sesame chicken was more sour than sweet, the kung pao chicken was just OK. my family didn't like the chicken they thought it does not taste like chicken, and there was something about the smell of the oil they use that we did not like. I see by the reviews this is a good place for Chinese authentic food, but we were not really impressed.
(2)Dan L.
I had the sichuan beef noodle soup and it was out of this world tasty! Highly recommend the restaurant.
(4)Magnus C.
Always incredibly good. The occasional short wait for a table at this small, usually packed place, is absolutely worth it. Dinner for 5 recently, with appetizers, soup, four huge dishes, and beers, came to less than $100..with tip!
(5)Jan B.
We came here due to the high praise it received from DMV dining dragon, Tyler Cowen. We got there early for dinner on a Saturday, like 5:30, and the place was dead. The employees were sitting around shooting the shit.The waitress was friendly, and the chef came out to chat with the few folks who were there. We went straight for the mala stuff on the menu. Mapo tofu with pork, dan dan noodles and a couple others. Food was high quality, though it was not that totally spicy/numbing mala sensation I have experienced before. Not sure whether I even like that! Why u so far from DC, SJR?
(4)Eddie D.
This place is busy all the time. They offer a long list of menu. I estimate over 300 items on the menu, and about half of them are spicy. Their food is more of a Mandarin style, that explain why the spicy food. And with the extensive menu, we always have difficulty of deciding what to order. This time we got a Duck Tongue with Fresh Hot Pepper. WOW! This entire dish was filled with stir fried jalapeño pepper, dried red pepper, chili oil and duck tongue. Sorry, way to spicy for me. Than we tried the Crispy Rice Cake with Mix Seafood, this was great with good amount of seafood. This is another version of your seafood with pan fried noodle. We also got a Singapore Noodle, this was typical and quite tasty. If you like spicy Chinese Mandarin food, you got to try this place.
(3)Ryan R.
Dan dan noodles and Zhong dumplings are some of the better dishes here. Both dishes have sort of a numbing sauce however it tastes rather metallic. The tea duck and other dumpling dishes are decent. Though Sichuan Pavilion does not top other Chinese style restaurants in the area, it is worth a short trip if one is craving Sichuan style food.
(3)A H.
The food here is so good you will have to come back time and time again! Highly recommend their dumplings in hot oil and stir fried pea pod. Also try the fish in hot oil. Very impressed! The only thing that cost them a star is the cleaningness of the bathroom Not bad compared to other Chinese restaurants but I am a tough critic when it comes to restaurant bathrooms.
(4)Robin C.
Waitress Nazi. The food at the restaurant is terrific. No complaints there. As we were about to pay, we were told if we pay cash, we will get a card stamped as frequent customers and if we come 20 times, we can get a free meal under 20 dollars. So we paid cash, as I was having some coins, I used it as tips. Even it is the amount that equals to the normal tips, we did not get the card. And the response we got was sort of rude. Guess what, next time I need a really good reason to go back.
(2)Austin H.
Awesome find! Will definitely be back! Two-sided menu.... "Americanized" Chinese food menu on one side, but flip it over for the real deal authentic dishes. The staff was very friendly and helpful since we ere totally unfamiliar with many of the traditional dishes listed. Prices were extremely reasonable and the quality was excellent.
(5)Angie S.
Really solid, authentic Sichuan-style food. Highly recommend the scallion pancake! Can't beat the prices either.
(5)Sam S.
I have been to Sichuan Jin River (formerly Sichuan Pavilion) several times in the past and never really gotten around to writing a review for this place. This restaurant is located in an old office park area and does not have an attractive interior or exterior. The carpet is dirty, the ceiling tiles could use some work, the bathroom is quite disgusting and the tacky interior all screams for people to stay away. I have seen this location actually take used disposable chopsticks and put them back into the wrapper which is a huge problem. I really wish this restaurant would use better table ware and not have the terrible plastic tablecloths on every single table. This location is usually crowded and has a loud volume of sound, so expect to have to talk loudly when conversing. The menu is divided into an American Style Chinese food side and an Authentic Chinese food side. The menu is well divided, and quite clearly labeled. Despite all of the terrors I have listed when I talk about the atmosphere of this place the food is actually quite good. This time we had the(Shredded Beef with Bamboo Shoots), (General Guan's Chicken), (Braised Short Ribs with Baby Taro), and (Fried Tofu with pork and Vegetables). All of the food at Sichuan Jin River is very well made, the Short Ribs were tender and fall off of the bone without being mushy, the baby taro that comes in the dish also is tender and almost acts like a potato in a braised dish. The General Guan's Chicken has always been a hit, I love the spiciness and the slight curry flavor that is brought into the dish. The Shredded Beef with Bamboo Shoots is tender with everything well cooked in a luscious brown sauce. Fried Tofu with pork and Vegetables has a beautiful red spicy sauce with shredded pork and tofu, but could have used more pork and possibly some other vegetables other than the leeks, but being that I don't care too much for vegetables most of the time I was okay with that. The other times that I have been to this restaurant we have had the(Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup), (Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood), (Pork Buns Filled with Chicken Broth), (Chilled Spicy Bean Jelly Salad), and ("Dan Dan" Spicy Noodles). I highly recommend the Pork Buns Filled with Chicken Broth as a non-spicy appetizer, and the "Dan Dan" Spicy Noodles or Chilled Spicy Bean Jelly Salad (two peppers) as a spicy appetizer and General Guan's Chicken or the Crispy Rice Cake with Mixed Seafood, are sure not to disappoint. This is just a short list of the dishes that I really like from this restaurant. But, we do have some consistency issues between ordering in Chinese and ordering in English. This restaurant tends to dial down the spiciness when people order in English and the spiciness tends to be a lot hotter when ordering in Chinese. When I went today the General Guan's Chicken was also less spicy than before. This did allow me to enjoy the dish more, but for those who really like the hard punch that the peppers deliver you should ask that the dish be made "extra spicy." Service at Sichuan Jin River is okay, it can be pretty inattentive and not very professional. Hot tea is always brought to the table but even on hot days when glasses of cold water would be welcome, you have to call a server over to ask for it. Glasses of water are never refilled unless requested, and you also have to call a server over to get a refill on the (free) hot tea. Overall, Sichuan Jin River is a good restaurant for the food, which I would rate at 4 stars for most dishes. For the price the restaurant also does you good. However, the service and atmosphere really do detract from the quality of food. I would give this restaurant a good rating overall (3 stars) and an excellent rating (4 stars) for their food.
(3)A H.
This place is A-OK. I'm not really a fan of going to Chinese restaurants, but my friends forced me to come and help them order off the authentic Chinese menu. I can barely read Chinese, and I'm unfamiliar with Sichuan food, so that didn't really help them. :P For the appetizers, we got the wontons in chili sauce and the dandan noodles. The wontons were decent: salty and sweet. I'm not entirely certain how spicy they are supposed to be, but they taste similar to other places' hong you chao shou. The dandan noodles were more of a disappointment, as I was expecting to eat something much spicier (and I have! at other places in the area). Fortunately for them, the entree (flounder in soup? and black bean sauce) was pretty good. The fish was a good complement to rice, and my friends kept mixing it in. The fish entree was also fairly large, although I can't say the same for the appetizers. If I were just basing this review on food and taste, this place would get a solid 3 stars. However, I feel that I need to bump them down for service. Our waitress was dismissive, and didn't bother to check in with us. We waited for a good 10 minutes after putting down our menus before she came to get our order. I think we got more service from the guy who refilled our water. It was annoying because I could see her putting forth more effort for the tables around us.
(2)JL Y.
This place is legit. To start, there were so many Chinese people inside I thought for a moment I had teleported to Monterey Park in LA or Flushing. Then the food came out. This place nailed the requisite Sichuan staple dishes. First, the wontons in spicy sauce (hong you chao shou). You can tell a lot about a Chinese restaurant based on the care they put into their wontons and dumplings. The bad ones look and taste mass-produced. Not these. They were perfectly wrapped (the wonton skin should be tight around the pork meatball). Also tried the dan dan noodles, which were solid, though they tasted a lot like A&J's sour and spicy noodles (suan-la mian). Also excellent: tea duck (zhang cha ya), which you eat by stuffing into a plain bun (man tou) and adding a spoonful of delicious sauce. My fave of the evening was the flounder in fiery sauce (shui zhu yu), which arrived in a bowl that was bigger than my head. The portion size of the ma po tofu was similarly generous. As for service, this place has the standard insouciance of a Chinese restaurant. But who cares. All you need at a Sichuan restaurant worth its salt is for your server to have the water pitcher ready.
(5)Tom D.
3.5 stars Somebody (a certain GW professor with the initials TC) said this place makes Hong Kong Palace look like Burger King, so I had pretty high expectations given my fondness for Hong Kong Palace. We ordered Dan Dan Noodles, spicy wontons, pork dumplings and spicy beef noodle soup. The food was consistently very good, but I didn't think it was as good as Hong Kong Palace -- and the Dan Dan Noodles were a distant second to HKP. Portions were very generous -- 2 people could come and only split the beef noodle soup and leave satisfied.... Food with 2 diet cokes and tip ran $31 -- really good and authentic food, great value and good service. I am a fan, but give a solid nod to HKP. Will return.
(4)Pete D.
Spicy, tongue numbing, forehead dripping, nose wiping, it's all here at Sichuan Pavilion. I've heard great things about this place and we finally were able to sit down and check it out. This place gets packed! There isn't too much space inside and we were crammed at a smaller table with 8 people, but we were still able snatch up food with our chopsticks. I'll just get into some of the food items we ordered: Beef tripe and tendon in spicy sauce: An awesome dish, tossed with crushed peanuts and cilantro. The dish is $8.50, but you get enough to share with. The slices of tendon and tripe were tender and not tough at all. Smoked duck (breaded and fried): One of my favorite dishes we ordered. The duck has a nice crust on the outside and when you bite into it, each piece was tender and yummy. The skin of the duck is awesome, get me a plate of this alone. It was served with these soft doughy type guys, where you wrap the duck in it and dunk it in lovely hoisin sauce. Mapo Tofu: My second favorite dish of the meal. This spicy, truly tongue numbing dish is made with some ground pork and was not like any other mapo tofu I've had. This dish felt authentic as can be, very well done. Double-cooked pork: Spicy pork belly, stir-fried with scallions and some finger peppers. Delicious! The pork belly was sliced thinly and had nice pieces of fat attached. The twist to this was they tossed triangular wonton skin (at least that's what I think it is) in it too. The other dishes we got were decent. Off the top of my head, there was a beef chow foon, a green bean stir-fry (done very well by the way), some wonton soup with celery leaves, and a rice cake dish topped with a chicken and veggie gravy. This is a typical Chinese restaurant, so don't expect excellent service. Just raise your hand and pull over a server if you need something or even one of the busboys. They're pretty good to bring you what you need. I will definitely go back to this and they have a HUGE menu. What's neat is they have one menu, but a "American Chinese Menu" and on the flipside (literally), an "Authentic Chinese Menu." If you aren't Chinese, hopefully you find someone that can speak some English, this helped us out. A solid 4.5 star!!!!
(4)Mistery M.
good non battered to death chinese foods. lots of wackass vegan dishes which are all at the least, very interesting. some are quite tasty too.
(4)Susan W.
I always come here with my mother, who does all the ordering off the Chinese menu, but I have no complaints. The beef tribe in spicy sauce is on fire! Just look at the crowds and you know you've found a gem. (Whenever we order specific spicy dishes to go, we use the leftover chili oil/sauce to cook the next meal. Its so good that nothing should go to waste!)
(4)Andy C.
I can't vouch for the American Chinese food menu, but Sichuan Pavilion has excellent traditional Sichuan cuisine, especially if you like spicy Chinese food. I went recently with friends and ordered 5 dishes. All were very good and some were exceptional. I'll definitely be going back.
(4)D W.
The food was fair. We read the reviews before going there. Could the 1or 2 star ratings for the service be a joke or an anomaly? Unfortunately no.
(1)Nicole L.
I have one thing to say: I have an addiction for spicy food. Sichuan Pavilion is one of my top source; the food is just dope here! I have my favs but I make an effort to try different dishes if I can. What I find is every dish has its unique flavor and is soooo purrrrfect! I still heart the bean jelly with spicy paste, cilantro and crushed peanuts but now they form it into long noodle shape instead of cubes. The homemade paste is extraordinary I don't have a word for it. There are all these amazing dishes I am going to itemize the dishes to make it easier to read: 1-5 Peppers 5 being gravely spicy and sniffly euphoria 1) Chilled bean jelly noodles with spicy paste, crushed peanuts and cilantro: 5 star awesomeness (5 peppers) 2) Dan dan mein with spicy paste and ground pork: the noodles in this dish are soooooo good I can't stop slurping it up! 5 star too! (4 peppers) 3) General Guan's chicken: A variation of cumin and cilantro lamb, the chicken is thinly sliced, flash fried with dry spices. Dry heat all the way! (3 peppers) 4) Kou Swei Ji: Steamed chicken in a bowl of hot red oil, sesame seeds and baby bamboo shoots: this reminds me of the hainanese chicken rice back at home but soaked in this sinful hot and spicy sauce. (5 peppers) 5) Fried thousand year old eggs: If you like thousand yr old eggs imagine them fried! This is not spicy. (0 pepper) 6) Chengdu Chicken: Petite cut chicken, fried with green peppers and spices. A very well-balanced dish - chicken is cooked perfectly for the slight crunch in thinly coated gravy. (4 peppers) 7) Sweet and sour pork with sizzling rice: Got this for my american friend and she loved the thinly sliced pork with mushrooms ina light gravy poured over rice that sizzled!!! (0 pepper) 8) The classic sichuan beef in the numbing sauce made with szechuan pepper corn. It's a sensational experience for sure. (5 peppers) 9) Fish with Szechuan Peppercorn (Swei Zhu Yu) - wonderful szechuan peppercorn with fresh fish slices that numbs your mouth in a nice gravy with cabbage. The cabbage soaked up the flavor of the gravy like a sponge (5 peppers) 10) Julienned pig ears - tasty chewy pig ears I never imagined I would like but the chefs here just have it in them. (0 pepper) 11) Szechuan beef noodles - at many restaurants that serve a variation of this dish I don't enjoy it as much as here. The meat though has the tendon/fat pieces is very tender and flavorful. I actually love eating it. (3 peppers) 12) Whole wheat with chicken - I love eating whole wheat grains and with shredded chicen it was just perfect, it is served wrap style with lettuce on the side (0 pepper) 13) Flounder with black beans paste - A very unique flavor with fresh flounder and black bean paste it's a very tasty dish. (0 pepper) but you can ask for the version with bird eye green peppers. 14) Chinese Style Kung Pao Chicken - Doused in red peppers and szechuan peppercorn, I heart this dish even more! The diced chicken and peanuts absorb the flairing yet sweet flavors of the peppers So hot it makes you want to cry and laugh at the same time, it's really eurphoric! (5 peppers) 15) Braised pork ribs with taro - Falling off the bone ribs with taros that absorbed the delicious sauce. (0 pepper) 16) Szechuan beef noodles soup - Nice touch of the szechuan peppercorn with flat noodles instead of the usual. I loved the broth! The meat was tender and not as much tendons it was delicious. (4 peppers) I am so glad to be close to some of the most authentic and fabulous chinese restaurants. I am a regular at this restaurant, the service is excellent!!
(5)David Y.
I visited this place with a friend who also likes spicy food. Since it was just the two of us, the wait was very short, but be prepared to wait if you are in a larger group. Only parties of 6+ can make reservations. We had the Dan Dan noodles, Smoked Duck, Fresh Peppercorn Fish, and Ma Po Tofu. The noodles were good, and spicy. I would have added some bok choy just to add some crunch to the dish and perhaps balance the heat better. The smoked duck, while not Sichuan, was fantastic--the tea smoke really suffused the meat. Generous portions with the fish, which came as bite-sized fillets swimming in a deep red chili broth. The tofu was really terrific, and really absorbed the flavor of the spicy sauce well instead of just being coated by it. A note for vegetarians: we were able to request the Dan Dan noodles and Ma Po Tofu without the standard minced meat, and it didn't detract much from our experience. I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 because I thought there could have been a tad more Sichuan peppercorn, and I thought the duck could have been served with more complementary condiments. The service was prompt. Decor was nothing to write home about, but the main attraction here is the food, and it would be a mistake to judge this place based on decorations and tablecloths. Definitely recommended for authentic Chinese food enthusiasts, and brave souls willing to give their tongues a work-out. More detailed review here for the curious: stonesoup.wordpress.com/…
(4)Josh B.
The mouth-numbing effects of the Sichuan peppercorns ensure that your experience at Sichuan Pavilion will be more akin to doing drugs than eating dinner, but that's a good thing. Flounder and vegetables in fiery broth is a must-have dish...a huge portion of flounder and cabbage swimming in a devil's broth of hot oil, red peppers, and peppercorns. Not for the bland-inclined, but so, so good. General Guan's chicken was a hit as well (maybe 3 stars to the flounder's 4). Sliced chicken coated in cumin and hot pepper and fried with cilantro. leeks, garlic, and ginger. Of course you can't go to a Sichuan joint and not start with Dan Dan noodles and beef tendon. Both were excellent here, though the tendon was sliced just a hair thicker than I've had it at other places (a feature I actually liked). Overall, an excellent and authentic place. Next time I'm dragging a group so I can order more.
(4)Margaret H.
Despite the fact that Sichuan Jin offers real authentic dishes with excellent "Mala" flavor, I won't be coming back due to the terrible service. The waiter delivered one of our dishes to the table next to ours, and the diners there promptly dug into the dish. A few minutes later, the waiter discovered the mistake and took the partially eaten dish back into the kitchen. When they finally delivered it to us, I mentioned to the waiter, that I noticed the dish go to the wrong table. He assured us that it was a new dish, but the lukewarm temperature of the chicken made it pretty clear that they just dumped it onto a clean, smaller plate. They also added an extra dish to our bill-- that might have been mistake, but I'm not sure.
(2)Andy N.
I used to live in China, and I can tell you, this is the real deal like they serve there; The folks in this restaurant probably wouldn't know how to make it American style if they tried. This restaurant opened only 2 months ago (liquor license is pending), but it's certain that it will establish itself as a serious choice for authentic Sichuan food in the area. It is comparable and will be competing directly with the other top local Sichuan restaurants such as Joe's Noodle House. Walked in there on a Saturday night and found a bustling joint filled with excitement. In fact everyone in the joint seemed to be Chinese, and the wait line would have been out the door if not for the rain outside. The atmosphere is very no frills. A sign on the kitchen door says "Every dish leaving this room must be PERFECT". Tough goal, but the fact that the owner put the sign up shows he is serious about providing great food. They do seem to be trying very hard. Portion sizes are generous, ingredients were fresh, service was enthusastic, and , prices reasonable. They have fresh whole fish, which only authentic Chinese restaurants bother to do. And they do not gouge the "seasonal price", as some places do. For example a medium sized whole tilapia in steamed ginger was $14.95. What struck me most of all about this restaurant were two things though: First was the sheer number of dishes in each category on the menu Second was the breadth of selection on the menu. Many dishes are are very rare to find outside of China, and this restaurant has a number of dishes you will not see in ANY restaurant in Metropolitan Washington that has them. This is especially for the appetizers (many hot and cold ones) and the unusal variety of authentic Chinese desserts. Sharing the desserts is recommended. They are large and filling. This restaurant does not serve shaved ice, probably a regional thing, but it seems to specialize in warm starchy desserts. In particular the red bean paste in a fresh pancake ( - dou sha bing ) is very nice, as was the rice-based dessert containing flower essence. I'll be ordering it again and update with the name. I went with a crowd that includes a number of connoisseurs of food as it would be prepared in China. Everyone seemed quite happy. They do not have any lamb dishes, which are popular in Sichuan, but they do have a lot of the other regional specialties that could only be found in an authentic-style Sichuan restaurant. Water boiled fish was on par, and the noodle dishes were excellent, and seem to be homemade noodles. The "Home style tofu" is recommended if you don't want to get Mapo tofu or Ma-la tofu along with all your other spicy entrees. The tofu is light and very fresh here. Others below who rated this a 3-star earlier did not comment on any of the Sichuan dishes, which is this restaurant's raison d'etre. I'm not sure why one would go to an authentic Sichuan restaurant if not a fan of spicy food... I think that accounts for the discrepancy in our ratings. So I give it 5-stars to help offset those comments. Besides, it is certainly in the top 20% of local authentic style Sichuan restaurants. If your first time, keep in mind some GPS routes will lead you to a block or so away. This joint is not on 355 as shown in the map shown. It's actually in that big triangular area of parking lot. So look for the Bank of America. It's a stone's throw from there, in the same lot. Entrance on Beall Street. Look for a one-story standalone building inside the lot. PS There's also a restaurant with the same name in DC. No relation.
(5)Lindsey L.
Solid place. No frills, just good food. We walked into this place with a party of 7 on a Saturday night at 7pm. Right from the front door, the place was a shock to the senses! The whole place is packed with Asian people (great sign, I guess). It is cozy, shoulder to shoulder to wait for a table while servers zip past you every which way with steaming plates. We were seated quite quickly, had the people who spoke Mandarin order for the whole table, and voila, an adventure. My favorite was the breaded pork, looked tempura-like and had a subtle mini donut taste! Also, the flounder in fiery soup is probably THE thing to get here. I wasn't crazy about the desserts (taro and bean-related baked goods). The best part? $83 (before tip) for 7 people to eat A LOT. I agree with the pre-warning that the wait staff do not understand much English past please and thank you, so just be prepared.
(3)Nicholas D.
I will never eat there again. Dumpling dough was chewy. The "dan dan" noodles were greasy and had an odd taste. The kung pao chicken was all spice and no flavor. My moo shu pork was burnt but I didnt realize it until i ran out of the plum sauce that was covering up the burnt taste. The lo mein was the best part of the meal. My wife told the server about it while I was taking our son to the rest room and it was still on our bill when they brought it to us.
(1)Mike K.
Ok, it was the day before Chinese New Year and they were swamped. But I had to ask four times for water, they didnt bring the second dish until after we were ready to go, but the food is good, and the Asian folks eat there which says something
(3)Phred P.
Just try this restaurant for the first time and we love it. The crispy cucumber is a must to have before/with meals. So much more interesting dishes for us to try for the next time!
(4)Yang C.
Hi Will, I grew up in Sichuan. The tongue numbing thing you said is not due to MSG, it's due to those little seeds that look like the mines in mine sweeper game - an authentic seasoning ingredienets in all Chengdu dishes. Trust me, once you get used to it, you will love it... or hate it :)
(5)Ben Y.
I think the sign outside the parking lot says Sichuan Pavilion, but its the same place. I would say the Yelp community is spot on again. We had the Dan Dan noodle as an appetizer and it was better than any other place that I have tried it. I liked it because it was not inedibly spicy. My tongue only had a touch of the numb feeling, which is good (that's not MSG like someone else posted. the numb is part of the hot sauce and its supposed to be like that.). We ordered the Fried Tofu with Veggies and the Braised Short Rib(beef?) with Taro. Both were excellent. While both items were listed with 'one hot pepper', I found the Tofu dish to be spicier than the beef. All three dishes have been reviewed by other yelpers favorably, which is why we tried them. Plenty of parking here. We arrived on Saturday between 5:30-6PM and were immediately seated. Within 30min of when we arrived there was a line of people waiting.
(4)Aesah L.
I am not a fan of spicy food, but I am a fan of authentic Chinese. Sichuan Pavilion has an excellent menu of both Authentic Chinese and American Chinese food--all you have to do is flip the menu over to see one or the other. I had the breaded short ribs with lemon sauce, and it was amazing. The steamed dumplings were delicious, as was the beef noodle soup. My dinner companions assured me that the spicy food was wonderfully spicy. We ordered a dozen dishes and paid surprisingly little for them. I'd go back.
(3)Nick C.
Sichuan Pavilion was suggested by a friend, and it was really a find. This is sort of literally true, because we had a damn hard time locating it. While the building the restaurant is in is right along Rockville Pike, you have to go around back to find the place itself. We went there with 3 people for dinner late (after 9 pm) on a week night. We were seated right away, and the service was friendly and attentive, although they weren't too busy that hour so it's not too surprising. However, we were there until the employees were basically ready to leave, and they were friendly throughout, never rushing us. That is somewhat rare in my experience. Of course, it was the food that really impressed. Their menu includes both an "American style" Chinese food section and an (ostensibly) more authentic section. The selection seemed more extensive and interesting than, for example, the nearby Bob's Noodle. We ordered dishes exclusively from the authentic section. This section boasted a huge range of dishes that I'd never seen before that ranged from relatively normal sounding to bizarre (for an American). The weirder options included duck feet, chicken feet, pig ears, and intestine. We steered clear of those and went for some safer but novel options, including dumplings filled with chicken broth, garlic sprouts with cured pork and shredded sausages, and the crispy potato. I can't say whether or not these dishes were authentic, but what mattered to me is that they were tasty and different than anything I'd had. I probably liked the garlic sprouts the most, though the crispy potato, which was potatoes cut almost like really thin french fries and cooked until tender but still firm like a noodle, was by far the most unique. I did note that the food was pretty salty and pretty oily, but neither to an unpleasant degree. I don't think either is especially unusual for a Chinese restaurant. I really enjoyed this place and intend to go back many times to explore their menu.
(5)Sol B.
In a town full of great Chinese restaurants, this one stands out for its wide variety of tasty (and spicy) dishes. The deep fried tofu with hot spices are enough to send you back for more. The smoked duck served with plum sauce was a big hit. Enjoy the plastic window shades; they'll remind you of the plastic lamp shade covers your grandmother had. You'll need something to do while you wait for menus or more tea (I had to ask for them). The price you pay (achingly slow service) is offset by the friendliness of the staff; the great prices; and the fantastic food.
(4)Travis M.
This place was suggested to me by a friend. She was of the opinon that the food was very authentic (I assume she ordered from the traditional and not the Americanized menu). And, while I cannot vouch for authenticity, I can say that the food I had was quite good. In fact, the won-tons with hot sauce were probably the best dumpling style appetizer I have had in any of the greater DC area. My friend made some suggestions on what to order, but I am ashamed to say that I didn't have the guts to go through with most of them (cold jelly salad as an appetizer! just does not sound right to me). The waitress however was very willing to give me suggestions on what to order that was both unique and palatable to my American sensibilities (She was also happy to translate my friends suggestions, which were written for me in Chinese). The pork with garlic sauce was delicious and had a wonderful ginger flavor that I was not expecting. And the spicy seafood soup was good, but not my favorite dish as I was not a huge fan of the broth (it was tomato based I think). I will definitely be going back, and I will make an attempt to order some of the more traditional dishes. Apparently the whole fried fish with Chinese greens (?) is great.
(4)Andrew K.
I was told this place used to be a thai restaurant that recently changed to a chinese restaurant so I went to check it out. We got the lunch special which is where you pick 3 dishes and a soup for $20 which is a little more than what you pay at Bob's for the same deal. We got the salt and pepper pork chops, pork with bamboo shoots and the baked whole fish. The pork chops were crispy and tasted pretty good while the pork with bamboo shoots was just ok. The fish was good and it had a good brown sauce which wasn't too salty. The restaurant is clean and the service was pretty good but the place was pretty empty at lunch. I would say the food was ok but I thought Bob's was better and slightly cheaper.
(3)Tim R.
Went last night and had some fire fish thing and braised short ribs. It is really good food. My father-in-law from HK LOVES this place and always wants to go here when he visits. If you like more authentic chinese food you might like it too.
(5)Denise P.
Ate here today and we ordered the sichuan beef noodle soup (I liked the homemade taste of the noodles), crispy spicy shrimp (tasted like spicy kung pao shrimp), scallion pancakes (I prefer them a little thinner and less greasy), a sausage and pork dish (was ok), and the soup dumplings. The only other place I've had soup dumplings is in NYC. Unfortunately, there's no crab soup dumpling option like there is at Joe's Shanghai's, but I would definitely come back to Sichuan Pavilion for soup dumplings in Rockville! I found all the other dishes a little too greasy and salty.
(3)Debby T.
This is the best Chinese I've had since living in Hong Kong, where I grew up. Just moved from NYC a few months ago and this is the best as it gets. Spicier the better. Love!
(5)KanKan Y.
I'm a big fan of Sichuan food. It's all about Ma and La. Ma being the numbing sensating you feel when you ingest a ton of peppers, and La being the amount of spicyness. (Random info: Ma and La are also used to describe the fiery nature of the girls in Si Chuan) When I ate at the restaurants back in Si Chuan or a home cooked meal, I would cry eating the food because it was so spicy...and then lose sensation in my mouth because it's so Ma! Everything was bury under a sea of hot sauce, chili powder, and peppery spices. My friends and I came to eat here after hearing that this place is very authentic. We beat the rush by coming to dinner at 7. By 7:30 the line was to the door! Seeing the crowd, I got excited for the food! The waitress handed our menu. The american style menu was on one side, and the chinese menu was on the other, printed upside down. We ordered a few things off the american menu and chinese menu: Homestyle Tofu, Water-stewed beef (shui zhu niu), spicy tendons, spicy chicken and intestines, garlic eggplant, sweet and sour pork (off the american menu), and a spicy noodle bowl. We also ordered some pancake buns (the ones that usually comes with zhang cha ya - tea duck) to go with the garlic eggplant. I was slightly nervous since i haven't eaten spicy food in a while. Jumping off the deep end into authentic SiChuan was a little scary. The food came quickly and it was savory and great. There was something missing though...where were the spicy-ness? My friend who don't eat much spicy food was sweating from the food, but for me, there was no spicy or numbing taste. Here I was sweating how much I'll cry during the meal, but this was the exact opposite. The water-stew beef is a classic dish and it's supposed to burn the tops of your mouth off, but no....nothing...I didn't even taste the peppers. The spicy beef tendon was also disappointing. The consistency was good but the kick wasn't there. All in all, I think this is a good place to take friends who want to savor the SiChuan flavor without red liquid death poured all over it. But for folks that like SiChaun spicyness...I'd recommend Joe's Noodle House. They're more Ma than La, but they are a lot closer to that authentic spicy-crying feeling than Sichuan pavillion is. I will come back to this place again since the food was very flavorful, but with an extra note to the chef to make everything 10 times spicier. I'll write a follow up review when that happens...in the meanwhile, Cheers!
(3)Erica P.
i had chengi spicy chicken. chicken was very dry and tasteless
(2)Angela L.
Authentic and tasty food with very reasonable price We have been there three times. The food we sampled: Dan Dan Noodle 4 Baby Cole with preserved Egg on Top 5 Flounder & Soft Tofu in Spicy Soup 5 Flounder with Sour pickled Cabbage & Peppers 4 Stir Fried Minced Chicken with "ya-cai" 4.5 Steamed Short Ribs with Sticky Rice 5
(4)Fat T.
The breaded and fried duck was pretty good but more fatty than I generally prefer. The Sichuan tofu was excellent.
(4)Chava C.
We absolutely loved Sichuan Pavillion. Tucked away in the strip mall shopping center to the north of the Rockville Public Library in the town center, Sichuan Pavillion is a no frills kind of place with tables and booths huddled together. The diners were mostly Chinese or of Asian-descent. The menu was as authentic as anything I know, or at least, it didn't have many classic American Chinese dishes that we normally see, e.g. no hot and sour soup. Having read the yelp reviews, we tried appetizer Dan Dan Noodles and appetizer Smoked Duck and not due to reviews but our own choices, Chicken and Ginger Hot Pot with Scallions and Sweet and Sour Eggplant. The fried Eggplant were the freshest, softest and nicest I've ever had. THe Dan Dan noodles were spicy in a way that didn't hurt, but made my tongue go numb - fun! A lot of dishes had shrimp/pork which are things we don't eat, so the menu was limited in that sense, but, we really enjoyed it.
(4)Tom M.
Earlier review called this place "a spicy polished jade gem." I would have to disagree. This place is doesn't deserve the 4 star average rating. The place doesn't have any ambiance per se. The carpet is dirty worn out and the floor tiles are dirty and sticky. The chopsticks are reused and reinserted into paper sleeves. The food is way to salty and everything was either undercooked or overcooked. The fried dumplings were greasy and doughy. We order the beef noodle soup beef, and the beef was like beef jerky and noodles were way overcooked. Smoked duck was like it was precooked and then reheated so much that it was unedible. General Guan's Chicken was salty and overcooked. The servers were totally unprofessional. We left without finishing our meal and will definitely not come back here.
(1)Lillian C.
Got the broad beans with garlic sauce and beef chow fun on a rainy day out. GRANTED, they are a sichaun restaurant they're not specializing in the type of classic cantonese chinese food known in America. I wanted something quick and familiar. The BCF was relatively decent- a bit on the greasy side, way better than Oriental East in SS (and they actually are cantonese, shame on them!), not as good as Hollywood East, but of course doesn't hold a candle to chow fun from NYC. They like many other restaurants in the area where they soak the beef in baking soda until its insanely tender, I personally am not really a fan of that. Customer service was so-so, I guess because I was by myself they're not going out of their way to entertain me but the women would peer over my shoulder casually and ask me questions in mandarin. I'm sadly anglo-fied cantonese so my mandarin is absolutely horrendous. I'm not begging to come here but if you do want good chinese food in the area, this (and yuan fu if you're into vegetarian food) is the place to go.
(4)Lucy X.
First of all, you know this place is something when the name doesn't end in "palace", "garden", or "house". Pavilion? C'mon what genius thought of that one! And it's true, just like its extraordinary name, this place never fails. It serves AUTHENTIC Chinese food, none of that orange chicken crap. And the Szechuan taste is absolutely divine! Being Chinese myself, it's a real treasure when you come to find a place other than in China that serves "real" Chinese food. And the portions for the price is amazing too. You know it's legit when it's a favorite of your mom's, her friend's, her friend's friends, and their friends' friends (who are all, obviously, legit Chinese people btw). Basically just come here and order anything and you won't be too disappointed. Also, bring cash cause every $20 you spend (in cash), they give you a stamp hey hey! And although they do accept credit..but then no stamm fo yu!
(5)Laney K.
Everything at this restaurant is delicious! The dan dan noodles and hot and spicy fire fish are among my favorite. It's been awhile since an awesome authentic Chinese restaurant has popped up around the area. We are extremely picky with our Chinese food and I have to say this is one of our tops. There is always a wait when it's dinner time on fridays and weekends. So make sure you try to get there early before the rush. When I was pregnant I craved all the foods here and went almost all the time to eat. Writing this review makes me want to go tomorrow.
(5)Raquel C.
The menu is too large but all in all the food is fantastic. Try the dumplings!
(4)Matthew K.
Amazing.
(5)George R.
Recently my orders have been drenched in oil -- not good. I think they changed chefs ~Feb 2011. Time to pass -- Spice Xing has become a favorite and La Tasca has recently upgraded their menu and wine list.
(2)Tina L.
This place could get pretty packed during peak hours but the wait is never too bad. I recommend the spicy appetizers, and spicy fish hot pot...which is my all-time favorite Chinese food. Oh, and with the spicy fish you can also request to take the leftover sauce home and recreate another dish: add some bean thread noodles, tofu, bok-choy, fish balls and anything else you have handy and you got yourself a nice Chinese hotpot kind of meal. I recommend this place if you like authentic spicy Szechuan cuisine.
(4)ER D.
I came to Rockville during my East Coast trip. I'm originally from Southern Cal, where the BEST and authentic Chinese foods are. And I came to Sichuan pavillion because of the Yelp review and by my friends recommendation. First of all, this must be a good Chinese restaurant in Rockville, no doubt about that. But compare to the standard i'm use to in Southern Cal, this gets an average "3 star" at the most. Let's just say if this was in Southern California, it will be another mediocre restaurant. Being in Rockville, I guess it deserve a 4 star since there are not many competitor to begin with. Secondly, to the food... it is good and authentic Sichuan Food. However, i'm not accustomed to the high cost since I can get the same thing in Southern Cal for 1/2 the price. Nevertheless, it's good food if you're craving for Chinese food.
(3)r y.
We here on a Saturday around 6:30pm. It seems from talking to the lady next to us as we waited (and waited) that there is always a wait to be seated here. It is really popular. The restaurant is actually rather larger than some other places we have visited in Rockville. It was packed and a little noisy from all the people talking which was nice for my son so he could look around and also make a little noise and not disturb anyone. Once seated, we ordered the dan-dan noodles, cold cucumber dish, spinach and tofu soup and chopped chicken with chilis. My husband who is from around the Sichuan region liked the noodes and the chicken. The soup was very plan but okay. He told me that the cucumber dish was all mine because it was too sweet (that's okay, I like sweet and spicy). My poor son was not very well off since the cucumbers, dan dan and the chicken were all a little bit too spicy for him. The soup was too bland. He really liked the noodles but kept on rubbing his eyes and looking uncomfortable. Next time I will ask for rice to be served with appetizer so he can alternate between the food and rice and keep from overheating. Overall, we liked it very much and it was nice to have an authenic taste.
(4)G M.
Despite the longer drive, this has become our go-to place for Chinese (we do takeout, as the whole place, encouragingly filled with Asian people, comes to a standstill anytime we walk in). Among the stuff we really have liked so far are the spicy fried rice with egg, the General Guan's chicken, and the double-cooked pork. For the sake of context, I've eaten the real-deal many times in NYC and SF, and this place generally compares favorably (although the usual American Chinese dishes like orange chicken and the like are not worth ordering).
(4)xj o.
No, No, No, No, NO! I'm shocked at the amount of love this place is getting. My friend and I came here because we like to eat out and this is one of the few remaining places we haven't gone to in the RTS area. First off, the duck appetizer was chopped up and very COLD and you couldn't eat a piece without having tiny sharp pieces of bone in it. Not a single piece. It was simply not edible. We put it to the side thinking the main dishes would get better but no...it only got worse. The spicy beef soup entree wasn't a soup but more like a thick puddle of grease. Not spicy and just blah. And the "beef" in both our entrees was not real beef. I don't even think it was meat. I've had meat. 99.9% of my caloric intake is based on animals that once roamed the earth. This was something that they either tried to pass as meat or it may have once roamed the finest sewers in NYC. I went back to eating real meat, albeit it was still cold with sharp bone fragments in it. Then there's the service. We finished our water within 5 mins of getting it and the waitress NEVER came back to refill our glasses. It took FOREVER to get their attention for anything. By then, we didn't even mention the water and just asked for the check. During the whole ordeal we joked about how awful everything was. We needed a laugh -- it was that or just cry. We half-heartedly joked about making a run for it because the place didn't deserve a penny for a tip, let alone for the food. But there were a couple of people blocking the front entrance. (They were on to us.) Then we joked that we should just keep ordering more food...we were probably delirious from the nauseating food at that point. I wanted to yell out to everyone how amazing my beef soup was. I wanted everyone else to suffer I like I did. Yeah, I was in a grouchy mood at that point. It didn't take long for us to go to the crapper soon afterwards. I don't think my stomach has ever been the same since. This is honestly the only place I would give 0 stars if Yelp made that possible. I plan on coming back here when I'm on my death bed. It would make the notion of dying so much easier to accept. UPDATE: So we went back because we're a glutton for punishment. I'd rate them a 1.5 star now. So far we know what not to order (spicy beef noodle, duck appetizer, any beef or chicken entree), some things that were just okay (dan dan noodles, spicy dumplings), and only one thing that we both found to be better than average (pork buns appetizer). But we still left depressed.
(1)Jennifer F.
Very authentic Sichuan food. It reminds me of my grandmother who is originally from Sichuan.
(5)Bren P.
wow! this place was great! authentic northern chinese food in Rockville! I rarely go to maryland, but i heard there were some great chinese restaurants in rockville..and so we went with a couple friends. Our friends ordered since they've been here before and they ordered the right dishes (plus they ordered in chinese)!! We ordered dan dan noodles, kung pao chicken, fish in spicy broth, and soup with pork and cabbage. These dishes were more than enough for us 4..it's family style! Everything was delicious! I'm craving to go back to try the other dishes!
(5)Constance C.
Just like Tom D., I came here on the "recommendation" of Tyler Cowen. My party and I were a little frazzled from an overwhelming trip to Buy Buy Baby and delicious Chinese food was really the only antidote. It comes in spades at Sichuan Pavilion, luckily. We ordered the basics - dan dan noodles, scallion pancake and sesame noodles to start. The dan dan is ma la, and I definitely had some numbness going on after a bite or two. It was very addictive. The sesame noodles and pancake were very well-done also. For main dishes, we had the dried bean curd with celery, the Chengdu chicken, the crispy salty shrimp, and the dried sauteed string beans. The Chengdu chicken was really spicy and loaded with peppers and juicy bits of chicken. I prefer the similar dish at Hong Kong Palace (which has the added dash of cumin) but it was still pretty solid. The crispy salty shrimp is lightly battered and fried with shell- and legs-on, but were really well flavored and the bean curd was light and aromatic. Both were great foils to the spicy chicken. I think everyone agreed that the string beans were perfect. This is one of my favorite Sichuan dishes and this was easily one of the best versions. Service was quick and attentive. I don't know when I'll be able to convince my parents to go to Rockville but if I do, we'll definitely be making a stop here.
(5)Phyl P.
I was visiting this area from San Francisco, and went here for lunch with 2 other people, based on the 4 star rating from Yelp. We each had a different dish off the lunch specials menu, and the food was almost inedible. Tasteless and badly prepared. We ate a few bites and left the rest. Worse than the bad food, our water glasses were all dirty, which speaks volume about the kitchen hygiene.
(1)Kevin L.
Among the Chinese restaurants in Rockville, this is so fat the best one. The only problem is that some of the waiters/waitress are not easy to deal with.
(4)Josh B.
Fantastic. One of the best Chinese meal I've had. We got the following - they were all 5-star worthy. - the Dan Dan Noodles. Spicy, yet delicate, and I couldn't stop eating the little scallions. - some duck dish. the meat was perfectly cooked and the duck sauce was just right - Ma Po Tofu - spicy, but like the Dan Dan noodles, not overwhelmingly so. - Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Soup. Awesome - for dessert, fried taro with sesame. best taro i've ever had. i usually don't like taro, but this was great...Sichuan food meets the Iowa State Fair. The portions were huge, so now our fridge is blessed with piles of delicious leftovers. And all this for $55 before tip. The menu is big, too, so I'm looking forward to going back again and again. Also, contrary to other reviewers, I thought the service was totally fine. Finally, if you can, make sure your dinner party includes a friend who knows Chinese food, so they can direct the ordering. The menu is not what you usually see in most (Americanized) Chinese restaurants (in a good way).
(5)Cris B.
Most authentic Chinese food I've had in DC area, although I haven't tried too many other places. Dan Dan Noodles were very good, as was the Flounder and Vegetables in Fiery Broth. Will definitely go back when I get my next Sichuan peppercorn craving.
(4)Cindy Y.
On my visit we ordered "wu geng chang wang" (intestines and pork blood in pickled mustard spicy stew) and ma puo tofu (braised tofu with minced beef in spicy garlic sauce). The intestine/pork blood stew was flavorful, with a good amount of pickled mustard greens to give it the slight tartness. Pork blood was overcooked but still tasty. Large pieces of intestines which were cleaned well. Sauce was thicker than what I prefer but I think adding water to the leftover portion will fix that. Ma puo tofu stood out from other ones I've had in the past. Great complexity of flavor, generous amounts of tofu and the excellent spicy oily sauce brought the dish together very nicely. I would definitely go back to try other dishes.
(4)Kung fu P.
Lets just say, whenever my wife is mad at me, I bring her to Sichuan Pavilion and afterwards all is well. Don't dare buy from the American menu and definitely go for the authentic dishes. Their strength is spicy, but they also have some good non-spicy dishes like the fish filet, pork taro in fermented sauce, and braised beef. My personal favorite is the spicy Zhong dumpling, spicy beef tendon (fu qi fei pian), and Dan Dan noodles, pretty standard Sichuan dishes. My wife savors the noodles called Suan la fen and the fish with sour cabbage with noodles. If you're a fan of the typical Ma Po Tofu, then try the Spicy Fried tofu which is the dry version, this goes very well with beer. There are so many delicious dishes to choose from and you can't really go wrong with Sichuan Pavilion, which sets the bar for Chinese restaurants in MoCo, and even maybe the entire Metro area. Enjoy!
(5)C Q.
We stopped by here for lunch. The restaurant was pretty empty. We checked out the authentic Chinese menu and decided on the "fish fillet and tofu" and "cumin intestines" (don't know the names in English). We asked for both to be less spicy. Although both dishes were indicated as 1 pepper on the menu, people who had been there had recommended toning down the spiciness even for the 1 pepper dish. Both dishes came quickly and both looked and tasted really good. The fish fillet was tender and the tofu was smooth. While it had a kick, it was very enjoyable. The cumin intestine did not had much of the cumin taste, which I actually liked. The intestine was probably fried then stirred fried. We ordered the dessert of red bean and taro cake. It was red bean paste and taro paste, dipped into white sesames, then pan fried. It was good if you like red bean and taro. It's not too sweet, like the typical Chinese dessert. I really enjoy the meal and plan to come here again soon.
(5)Jack L.
Great place for spicy duck tongue! Twice cooked pork was also good, and the fresh green tea helped the eating process. We also liked the taro dessert and found the service acceptable. We did have a Chinese speaking member of our party, which helped with that. In sum: very authentic, very Chinese.
(4)John V.
First off, I must admit that I'd rather have "American-style chinese food" vs "Authentic chinese food", so anyone reading this review would understand my perspective on why I rated this place with 3-stars. We went to the Sichuan Pavilion for the first time tonight (Friday night) to try it out based on the reviews it got on Yelp. We wanted to try this place because we were hoping the food would compare with the delicious spicy ma-la flavors that Great Wall Szechuan House in DC is known for. The restaurant itself was packed with Chinese people, so that was a good sign. Here is what we ordered and what we thought - - Vegetable Spring Rolls - small, just okay - Dan Dan Noodles - had that ma la flavor we were looking for. - Kung Pao Chicken - wasn't anything to write home to. too much celery. Meiwah in DC is still the clear winner for Kung Pao. - Eggplant in Garlic Sauce - pretty good. I'm the kinda guy that loves the orange chicken from Panda Express. So, take what you will from my reivew. This place is probably a great find for those that love spicy authentic chinese food.
(3)Neal Gone Daddy H.
went on a tuesday at 4pm, so they weren't super busy. food was like home cooked in China, nothing super refined. the soup we had wasn't very good. i'd stick to the spicy stuff, it seems like that's where they do well. i'd like to come back when they're busier to see if high turnover improves things.
(3)Rachel H.
Two of the three dishes we ordered were delicious. The third dish was a simple case of ordering the wrong thing; I took a chance on an exotic-sounding meal and it wasn't for me. It's a must if you like authentic Chinese.
(4)Jess R.
We love sichuan food, and were really expecting to love this place... but were underwhelmed. The tripe was mediocre; the dan dan noodles were okay, but not nearly as good as other local stand-outs; the crispy fungus dish that everyone had raved about was pretty bland; and the pork & rice cake dish was tasty but not outstanding. It wasn't necessarily a bad meal - but we had such high expectations. Instead, we were just disappointed that we hadn't gone to Hong Kong Palace.
(2)Joe R.
I lived in China for 2 years and loved the authentic food. Sichuan Pavillion has 2 sections in the menu: authentic Chinese food (in English and Chinese characters) and American Chinese. I've been there 6 or 7 times and it's always been excellent. If you like the numbing "ma" foods (and I love it), the Dan Dan Noodles are fantastic and only $3.95. The Chow Fun beef and noodles is probably in the top 3 noodle dishes I've ever had. The flounder with vegetables in white sauce is mild and outstanding. We also love the hot and sour soup off the American-Chinese menu. Additional numbing dishes ("ma") that I like are the ma po tofu (I was never much of a fan of tofu before this) and the flounder with tofu. The place is usually full of Chinese people and maybe one or two caucasians. The waitresses and waiter are really nice and help me work on my rudimentary use of Mandarin Chinese. The place isn't fancy, but the food is fantastic if you like authentic Chinese food. A Chinese friend from work recommended a desert, but I've NEVER found a good Chinese desert.
(5)tony c.
With the many choices of Sichuan style restaurants popping out all throughout Rockville/Gaithersburg/Germantown, this is one of the better ones out there. It's good that restaurant owners figured out it's not about how many cups of chili sauce you can fit into a dish, but how it actually taste. This place must of specialized in Hot Garlic Sauce dishes. As there are the traditional Eggplant with HGC (Hot Garlic Sauce), Pork with HGC, and etc. But what i really wanted is Pork Kidney with HGC. The cook could of done alittle better job in getting the kidney uric taste out. But I guess the chef wants his patrons know that they are eating kidney (which I enjoy alot!) Other notables: Beef Noodle Soup (Not the Sichuan Beef Noodle Soup kind) : Broth has spent it's due time cooking in a good mix of beef bones and nice combo of spices. They gave a good portion of beef shank meat. My only complaint is that they used dried regular egg noodles instead of fresh home made noodle. Seafood over Crispy Rice: I never had this dish before. Recommended by the waitress, It had it's interesting points. Crispy rice is traditionally the rice crust that forms on the bottom of either a very old rice cooker or a pot. In many asian families, it is a much treasured snack after dinner. They made these from formed rice and fried it. My only complaints are that the crispy rice was alittle oily then i like and they used tilapia! I am sick of tilapia being used in resturants. Also, their sauce was too runny to be put on a plate. Would be better if they toned down on the sauce or use alittle more cornstarch. All in all a great meal for a reasonable price. I heard the chef is from Joe's Noodle House. I'll definitely visit the place again and try there "Water Cooked beef" and their Pork Intestine in spicy Stew. I only give this place 4.5 stars because of the noodles. if they had homemade noodles, this would give me fond memories similar to the one when AJ's first arrived in Rockville over 10 years ago.
(4)Mary L.
I am a Chinese-American and my family immigrated here from Sichuan. This is about as authentic as it gets in America, and the flavoring is almost comparable to that of China. It's amazing and I enjoy everything on the menu. Get the bing fen for a dessert- it's perfect for the summer!
(5)Chuck C.
Eat here only if you like fish. I went with my parents and we ordered a chicken dish, a beef dish, and one other dish (I forgot what it was). Let me tell you the chicken tasted like fish, and the beef also tasted like fish. I guess if you like fish, you can order a chicken dish and save some money since chicken is a little cheaper than fish. But I won't be going back here.
(1)Richard F.
Went here on a crowded Friday night but only had to wait a few minutes (we got lucky). Right after we were seated, about 30 people, mostly Asians, came in and were standing in line waiting for a table. In fact, I think we were pretty much the only non-Asians in the entire restaurant, which is a GOOD sign if you're looking for good Chinese food, I guess. After we were seated, nobody came to our table to give us menus, so after about 10 minutes, I got up and told the hostess, and she sent someone over pretty quickly. We ordered way too much food. One order of chicken fried rice (enough for 3 people). One order of regular fried rice, sweet and sour soup, fried green beans, and I ordered Hunan Chicken. The Hunan Chicken was unusual--it was very oily, and didn't have the typical vegetables that Hunan Chicken usually has. Instead, all it had were mushrooms, and the sauce was not what I was used to. It tasted different. Not bad, just different. But it was way too oily, and the portion was so huge I didn't even finish half. As far as the fried rice, it was very good, and everyone said it was the best fried rice they ever had. My son, however, being the most picky eater ever, didn't like his chicken fried rice, and only ate a little. The green beans were good, but again, the portion was huge. They have an American menu and a Chinese menu (written in English and Chinese), so you can order items from either menu. We're not that adventurous, but I can see how this place became so popular with the very large Rockville Asian community. Huge portions, very authentic, good food. I wish I had told them "very little oil" for the Hunan Chicken so I could have given them another star, so it probably deserves a fourth star. I'll be back again to try something else.
(3)M.A. F.
This is my favorite restaurant. OUTSTANDING! Mapo tofu is incredible, smoked duck entree is a must, my husband loves the dan dan noodles... I could really go on and on. I cannot get enough of this restaurant.
(5)J s.
I've eaten Chinese food all over the country, and all over the world, including China. Hands down, this is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the world. Nothing comes close. The food is fantastic, and when you get your check, you'll be shocked...at how cheap it all is! I wouldn't know where to start , except to say stick with the REAL Sichuan side of the menu, and ignore the "American-Chinese" side. An order of Dan Dan Noodles is a must, as are virtually any of he pork dishes. And I know it's not for everyone, but the liver...oh my god, the liver...I weep with joy when I order this dish.
(5)