Excellent authentic chinese food. Hands down the best chinese in the Sandy area. They have lots of traditional, hard to find dishes that just aren't seen any where around here. So happy to have found this place and it's very kid friendly. Tried the salt and pepper squid, the mu shu beef, buddhas delight and the boa boa platter. Next time we'll have to try some of the duck dishes or more authentic pigs feet or chicken feet :)
(5)
Sam S.
Bored of my usual lunch haunts I decided to give Szechuan Garden a try a few weeks ago. Their lunch specials are very inexpensive, only $6, and they include a main entree such as sweet and sour children, soup, cream cheese wontons and fried or steamed rice. That's lots of Chinese food for very little money. Service was friendly and attentive. I ordered the beef and broccoli and the sweet and sour chicken and egg drop soup and feeling extra hungry I got some pot stickers too. Egg drop soup was good. Pot stickers were also good but a little too crunchy; they were deep fried and I prefer the softer pan fried pot stickers. The egg roll was great; I don't usually like egg rolls, but this one was really good for some reason. The beef and broccoli was well prepared and had good flavor. But the broccoli did have a slightly weird flavor that I was never able to figure out. Sweet and sour chicken was fresh and homemade with tender pieces of chicken and a good sauce. Very satisfied with my first experience and my first lunch at Szechuan Garden. I'l have to bring some co-workers next time.
(4)
Nicole F.
We walked in to a completely empty restaurant. It was nicely decorated and it didn't feel weird that we were the only two people dining there. Waitress was extremely nice, the food was quick and delicious. I got emperor chicken (kind of a sweet spicy flavor) and general Taos chicken. Delicious!
(5)
Patty L.
We go here at least twice a month, best chinese food around this area. The food comes out fast and fresh! Big portions, great customer service!
(5)
Jordan C.
Ordered takeout from this place last week. First time patronizing this restaurant. Generally, I have been disappointed with the Chinese food options in the south end of the valley so I chose to go a few miles north and expand the pool of eligible takeout joints. Overall, I thought the food was okay. It was definitely better than the places I tried in Draper but nothing exceptional. We ordered the minced pork and bean curd (otherwise known as Mapo Tofu), Mongolian Beef, Chinese String Beans, Pork with Hoisin Sauce, and the Eggplant with Szechuan Garlic Sauce. My favorite of this order was the string beans dish. Beans were cooked to a point where they were soft but not mushy. The sauce was flavorful but not overly salty or overwhelming. I thought this was done well. The second favorite is the eggplant dish. Granted the eggplant texture was a little slimy, which is generally what happens when cut into smaller pieces and pan fried, the overall taste of this dish was good. Brown sauce was tasty with a hint of vinegar and I liked the almost carmelized onions in this dish. The tofu dish was good although a little bland compared to how I make it and the same dish at other restaurants. I will give it credit for having some heat, which I expect of any restaurant with Szechuan in its name. Otherwise non exceptional. They used medium firm tofu so for those who don't like soft tofu's texture, you may not like this. The pork and beef dishes were both okay but I thought on the blander side. I also thought the sauces used in both tended to have a little too much corn starch. It's used to add thickness but I would have been fine without this additive. Made the sauce a little too gooey. On the bright side, the pork and beef used was tender, which is not what I can say about some other restaurant's meat dishes. Overall, I didn't have high expectations out of a suburban Chinese restaurant in the Salt Lake Valley. This place was good with some dishes better than others. Not exactly a glowing endorsement but relative to other options I have tried close by, I thought it was fine. I would return and try other dishes. However, if I had time, I would go downtown.
(2)
Ian C.
Wonderful. We tried mushu pork, a sweet and savory item that you assemble on egg roll wrap. Emperor chicken was deliciously sweet and discreetly spicy, along with chicken fried rice that was average and acceptable. Finally cream cheese wonton and egg drop soup, both solid. Great option to deliver too. Best Chinese we've tried around this area so will be repeat customers!
(5)
Sara R.
My family and I went here after consulting Yelp for a good Chinese restaurant in our area. There was one server, we were one of two tables, we ordered and waited 20min for drinks, then kept waiting for our soup, that finally came out after a few dishes and no rice yet..the timing of the food delivery was just horrible! The Mongolian beef was onions and terrible meat, no spice and was cold upon arrival. So the search continues for good Chinese in the Sandy area for us..I have no idea where these good reviews came from because everything about our experience was pretty awful which is a bummer as we were hopeful!
(1)
John C.
We have passed by this place a thousand times; last night we decided to drop to try them out. When we came in it was quiet and dark, we were wondering if they were not open yet. It was after 6pm. When the host finally came he immediately directed us to a table. We found one other couple there. They turned on the lights and the music, but it was really cold in there. Judging from the interior decor and slow start I was worried the we had made a huge mistake in coming. After we ordered and our food came out, my concern left. The dishes look delicious and everything was delicious! I was very happy with quantity of food and the freshness. The meet in the Mongolian Beef was really good and had a great tasting sauce. The General Tso's Chicken was really good, especially the spicy sauce. The Chicken Fried Rice was probably my favorite part of the meal, very flavorful. I will definitely go back and try other dishes. The only suggestion I have for them is to update their interior decor and furniture (and maybe turn on the heat). The employees were very nice and helpful. My beverage was always full.
(4)
Tony L.
How the star has fallen... At first they were like "Woohoo!" then they dropped to just "Yay"... Now they are just "A-Ok". As much as I love spicy food and the food they used to serve on the table. Those days are long gone. Right now, all you get is their unwillingness to address problems on foods that are rolling downhill. For example, they started using a cheaper and fattier version of pork on their Twice Cooked Pork, verse the lean pork they were using long time ago, which goes against everything on traditional Szechuan cuisine. Braised Beef in Chili Broth was another disappointment with the dish being just a chili bath for chewy bland beef that probably never was marinated. Some dishes are still tolerable with a change of flavoring. When speaking with the owners and they gave the attitude of "It is what it is." Once had hope for the change in management awhile back, now it just seems like they don't even care anymore on quality nor service.
(3)
Deon Z.
Looking for Chinese food in Salt Lake City on our trip here and did not expect to find a place with real Chinese food comparable to mainland China. Our party of 12 was not disappointed.
(5)
Zac B.
I don't know where the positive reviews came from on this site. The food was disgusting. The fried rice was obviously made from day old rice. The other dishes were so bad we could not get past one bite. It went from the take out containers to the trash. I am not a snob. I will eat Panda Express and other fast food. Stay away from this place. It was like throwing my money in the trash.
(1)
Yiching P.
I love Szechuan Garden. The chef cooks up authentic Szechuan-style dishes that are packed with flavors, heat, and deliciousness. I personally only check out the first couple pages of the menu (and there are plenty to choose from) because these couple pages are filled with some of the most amazing and unique Szechuan flavors, and the rest of the menu are the more "common" selections that you can find in most Chinese restaurants. Happy Couple (a cold and spicy dish) is probably my favorite appetizer, and chicken with whole red chilis, twice-cooked pork, shredded duck with veggies, smoked fish, and bean-thread noodles are some of my favorite dishes. (Note: these dishes have real English names that I cannot remember.) There are a couple dishes on the authentic menu section that I've heard great things of from friends, but would probably never try, such as the rabbit heads and stir-fry rabbit... I like authentic food, but there are things I don't eat. BUT if you're looking for great and authentic Szechuan-style food, this is the place!
(5)
Xinmiao L.
Do expect delicious authentic Szechuan Chinese food but slow service. There was only 1 person hosting and serving during the day we were there. I dare you to try the intestines dishes!
(4)
Kris B.
Had a big old bowl of Szechuan beef noodle soup, containing thin tendon and fat filled beef slices, five-spice infused beef broth, and lo-mein type noodles. Would have tacked on another star if they used egg noodles. Good prices for lunch specials too.
(3)
Jeffrey S.
Like the fourth of July for my mouth, in so many ways. In a huge group of people, we ordered a veritable parade of all things Szechuan that made their way around the table and joined each plate by the spoonful. And what would July 4th be without fireworks? Plenty of fireworks and near-illegal firecrackers for my mouth. I suffer from a chronic medical condition called wussy-mouth, so my tolerance for heat is near nill. Thankfully they could tone down a few of the dishes from "Roman candle" level to "kiddy sparkler" fire. Thanks. The winners from the night? Happy Couple. I have no idea what it was, but it was delicious. I also really dug the potatoes, which were cut into long strips, served very al dente in a nice sauce. Chomp. And finally, the fourth of July is all about family and while this wasn't blood relation I had a great meal with like-minded food folks. Sit back and enjoy the parade of nom!
(4)
Mike O.
Authentic. Expensive but quality costs more. Pony up, tight wads!
(5)
Laurie P.
Excellent, fresh food with distinct flavors in each dish. Some Chinese restaurants soak their food with soy sauce and call it authentic. The Szechuan Garden has always delivered unique and delicious meals. If you want Chinese , this is where to go.
(4)
Jean W.
Sunday evenings have transformed into chinese take-out nights at our house. And Szechuan Garden has been on my must-try list for a while. We were sort of in the neighborhood already, so we decided to drop in, grab a take-out menu, and place a phone order. Points up front for being open on Sunday! Always a nice feature in Utah. They have a HUGE take-out menu, making it tough to decide. Hubby is a long-standing Kung Pao devotee, and likes to order it at new places. So, we went with the Kung Pao Shrimp, spicy. Other Yelpers have been vocal about the high heat in their spicy dishes, so I was hopeful that it may be spicy enough... We also ordered Ham Fried Rice and two other dishes, both extra spicy - Tiny Spicy Chicken and Da Ching Chicken. They seemed to be busy with dine-in customers, and estimated 30-40 minutes for our food pickup. We set forth on a few short-term undertakings. We returned after 30 minutes, and Hubby wanted to wager that our food was done. I proposed giving them another generous 10 minutes. He opted to head in, and didn't come out for 25 minutes; with a receipt for $40. This food better be good. We were really hungry, and the food appealed to my nose as I cradled it on my lap for the ride home. If the containers weren't bound in Ninja-proof plastic wrap, I would have for sure had them open. We got home and dug in pretty much immediately. We were most impressed with the ham fried rice, it was very good. The Kung Pao was good, but nothing remarkable or unprecedented, and it was very skimpy in the shrimp department.. The Spicy Tiny Chicken was nothing like I imagined from the description, but it was also... good; chicken and mushrooms in a silky spicy sauce. I was most disappointed in the Da Ching Chicken as I was expecting something *amazing* from their Szechuan menu. The flavor seemed a little typical, and slightly shallow. The heat level we hoped for was somewhat underachieved. All entrees could have been kicked up a bit for us. Maybe we made the wrong choices - there were so many from which to choose. Hubby mentioned that during his wait of shame, he did notice many Chinese folks eating in the dining room, which is a good sign, right? We may go back at some point to further explore. For the price and convenience, though, I think I'll stick with something more familiar and close-by for forthcoming Chinese Sundays.
(3)
Bud H.
This place is really tasty, especially if you know what to order. Stay away from the American side of the menu (i.e., Americanized-Chinese food) and stick with the authentic Chinese dishes. For example, buried deep on the menu is a dish called Chongquing Spicy Chicken. Try it - it's amazing.
(4)
Monica T.
As a frequent visitor of Taste of Punjab, I always see this little Chinese restaurant right next door when I visit there. I'd been meaning to try it for awhile (especially since I've seen a lot of good reviews for the place here on Yelp), but it's not often that I get down to Sandy. One weekday afternoon, I met my boyfriend here for lunch. I guess they make most of their money at dinner time because the place was nearly empty when we arrived. We perused the lunch specials, and I decided on the pork with garlic sauce while my extremely attractive dining companion ordered the kung pao shrimp. We both started with the egg drop soup, which was on the thick side but still extremely tasty. The entrees quickly arrived, and I really enjoyed mine. The sauce was nice and flavorful and the ingredients tasted very fresh. I think my boyfriend ordered better than me, though. I loved the kung pao and will probably order it next time. Our waitress was very nice, but the service felt a little awkward for some reason, probably because we were being kind of slow. Prices were extremely reasonable given the portions. I'd definitely put this restaurant in the upper tier of SLC area Chinese food. I'd love to try it for dinner sometime.
(4)
Kirk H.
Food always great. Service is up and down. Sometimes way down. But food keeps me returning.
(4)
Jacqueline F.
Me and my boyfriend were watching food network about Szechuan food last night, and my mouth just couldn't stop watering. I really wanted to have some of those real spicy Szechuan food. We did some research on yelp and online, and we found Szechuan Garden in Sandy. I was kind of skeptical at the beginning because I got disappointed so many times with Americanized Chinese food, but I was convinced to try. We walked into the restaurant and we found quite a few Chinese, so I guess that's a good sign. The waitresses were friendly, and service was fast. We started with Hot and Sour Soup, and I have to say, that was one of the best hot and sour soup we've ever had. The Scallion Pancake was pretty tasty as well. It was a bit dry for me so I dipped it in the spicy broth from the fish fillet. For main dishes we ordered the Fish Fillet with Spicy Broth and Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce. It was my boyfriend's 1st time trying Szechuan food, and he thought the fish was kind of oily at first. After he tried his 1st bite, he was in love with it. He said the fish looked oily but it was actually not too much oil and really fresh. It was not as spicy as I thought, but I have to say, the dish is authentic. The Shredded Pork was OK. It was a little sweet for us. But for those who do fine with Americanized Chinese food, it should be great. We poured some of those spicy broth from the fish fillet to the pork to add some spicy taste to balance the sweetness, and it worked. Overall, I would have to tell you I'm happy and satisfied with tonight's meal. Maybe next time I'll ask for extra spicy.
(5)
Samantha E.
Szechuan Garden has some of the best Chinese food I have ever had, both American-ized and more traditional. As far as their traditional menu goes, I highly recommend the scallion pancake and the "Spicy Chicken and Peanut," which is kind of like Kung Pao. I've heard that "Salt and Pepper Seafood" is good as well. If you're a fan of Americanized Chinese food, all of the lunch specials are fantastic and a great deal. They got a bit of press a few years ago when (former) Governor Jon Huntsman stopped by-- the attention was well-deserved.
I ate here for the first time last Saturday for lunch. I thought the restaurant was closed because when I entered, no servers or host or anyone was in sight. Only one other table was filled, which surprised me after reading about the crowds and bad service. My husband and I ordered an appetizer of scallion pancakes, which is not Szechuan-style but it was quite tasty and fulfilled a craving I've been having. We also ordered two "traditional" stews--one with braised white fish (the server said the fish was previously frozen) but it still tasted quite good and was incredibly spicy. The second stew was served in a clay pot and contained a stewed beef and a large amount of thinly sliced undercooked potatoes. Such a strange combination--the beef was tender but slightly cold and the potatoes were raw. I took both stews home and re-heated them. I added some extra cod filets (tried to dilute the spices a little) to the fish stew and it turned out quite nicely. Once the potatoes were fully cooked, the beef stew was also very tasty. I don't know what spices the chefs use (anise, cloves, red chili peppers?) but they were really delicious and since I don't know how to cook Chinese food like this, it was nice to enjoy a semi-"homecooked" meal from a restaurant. Service was surprisingly good--just one person working (for 2 tables) and we got a free "amuse" of roasted spiced peanuts. Not sure I will ever drive this far out of the way for Chinese food, but it was nice to try this place finally after hearing about it from a number of friends.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes 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 : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Christopher E.
Excellent authentic chinese food. Hands down the best chinese in the Sandy area. They have lots of traditional, hard to find dishes that just aren't seen any where around here. So happy to have found this place and it's very kid friendly. Tried the salt and pepper squid, the mu shu beef, buddhas delight and the boa boa platter. Next time we'll have to try some of the duck dishes or more authentic pigs feet or chicken feet :)
(5)Sam S.
Bored of my usual lunch haunts I decided to give Szechuan Garden a try a few weeks ago. Their lunch specials are very inexpensive, only $6, and they include a main entree such as sweet and sour children, soup, cream cheese wontons and fried or steamed rice. That's lots of Chinese food for very little money. Service was friendly and attentive. I ordered the beef and broccoli and the sweet and sour chicken and egg drop soup and feeling extra hungry I got some pot stickers too. Egg drop soup was good. Pot stickers were also good but a little too crunchy; they were deep fried and I prefer the softer pan fried pot stickers. The egg roll was great; I don't usually like egg rolls, but this one was really good for some reason. The beef and broccoli was well prepared and had good flavor. But the broccoli did have a slightly weird flavor that I was never able to figure out. Sweet and sour chicken was fresh and homemade with tender pieces of chicken and a good sauce. Very satisfied with my first experience and my first lunch at Szechuan Garden. I'l have to bring some co-workers next time.
(4)Nicole F.
We walked in to a completely empty restaurant. It was nicely decorated and it didn't feel weird that we were the only two people dining there. Waitress was extremely nice, the food was quick and delicious. I got emperor chicken (kind of a sweet spicy flavor) and general Taos chicken. Delicious!
(5)Patty L.
We go here at least twice a month, best chinese food around this area. The food comes out fast and fresh! Big portions, great customer service!
(5)Jordan C.
Ordered takeout from this place last week. First time patronizing this restaurant. Generally, I have been disappointed with the Chinese food options in the south end of the valley so I chose to go a few miles north and expand the pool of eligible takeout joints. Overall, I thought the food was okay. It was definitely better than the places I tried in Draper but nothing exceptional. We ordered the minced pork and bean curd (otherwise known as Mapo Tofu), Mongolian Beef, Chinese String Beans, Pork with Hoisin Sauce, and the Eggplant with Szechuan Garlic Sauce. My favorite of this order was the string beans dish. Beans were cooked to a point where they were soft but not mushy. The sauce was flavorful but not overly salty or overwhelming. I thought this was done well. The second favorite is the eggplant dish. Granted the eggplant texture was a little slimy, which is generally what happens when cut into smaller pieces and pan fried, the overall taste of this dish was good. Brown sauce was tasty with a hint of vinegar and I liked the almost carmelized onions in this dish. The tofu dish was good although a little bland compared to how I make it and the same dish at other restaurants. I will give it credit for having some heat, which I expect of any restaurant with Szechuan in its name. Otherwise non exceptional. They used medium firm tofu so for those who don't like soft tofu's texture, you may not like this. The pork and beef dishes were both okay but I thought on the blander side. I also thought the sauces used in both tended to have a little too much corn starch. It's used to add thickness but I would have been fine without this additive. Made the sauce a little too gooey. On the bright side, the pork and beef used was tender, which is not what I can say about some other restaurant's meat dishes. Overall, I didn't have high expectations out of a suburban Chinese restaurant in the Salt Lake Valley. This place was good with some dishes better than others. Not exactly a glowing endorsement but relative to other options I have tried close by, I thought it was fine. I would return and try other dishes. However, if I had time, I would go downtown.
(2)Ian C.
Wonderful. We tried mushu pork, a sweet and savory item that you assemble on egg roll wrap. Emperor chicken was deliciously sweet and discreetly spicy, along with chicken fried rice that was average and acceptable. Finally cream cheese wonton and egg drop soup, both solid. Great option to deliver too. Best Chinese we've tried around this area so will be repeat customers!
(5)Sara R.
My family and I went here after consulting Yelp for a good Chinese restaurant in our area. There was one server, we were one of two tables, we ordered and waited 20min for drinks, then kept waiting for our soup, that finally came out after a few dishes and no rice yet..the timing of the food delivery was just horrible! The Mongolian beef was onions and terrible meat, no spice and was cold upon arrival. So the search continues for good Chinese in the Sandy area for us..I have no idea where these good reviews came from because everything about our experience was pretty awful which is a bummer as we were hopeful!
(1)John C.
We have passed by this place a thousand times; last night we decided to drop to try them out. When we came in it was quiet and dark, we were wondering if they were not open yet. It was after 6pm. When the host finally came he immediately directed us to a table. We found one other couple there. They turned on the lights and the music, but it was really cold in there. Judging from the interior decor and slow start I was worried the we had made a huge mistake in coming. After we ordered and our food came out, my concern left. The dishes look delicious and everything was delicious! I was very happy with quantity of food and the freshness. The meet in the Mongolian Beef was really good and had a great tasting sauce. The General Tso's Chicken was really good, especially the spicy sauce. The Chicken Fried Rice was probably my favorite part of the meal, very flavorful. I will definitely go back and try other dishes. The only suggestion I have for them is to update their interior decor and furniture (and maybe turn on the heat). The employees were very nice and helpful. My beverage was always full.
(4)Tony L.
How the star has fallen... At first they were like "Woohoo!" then they dropped to just "Yay"... Now they are just "A-Ok". As much as I love spicy food and the food they used to serve on the table. Those days are long gone. Right now, all you get is their unwillingness to address problems on foods that are rolling downhill. For example, they started using a cheaper and fattier version of pork on their Twice Cooked Pork, verse the lean pork they were using long time ago, which goes against everything on traditional Szechuan cuisine. Braised Beef in Chili Broth was another disappointment with the dish being just a chili bath for chewy bland beef that probably never was marinated. Some dishes are still tolerable with a change of flavoring. When speaking with the owners and they gave the attitude of "It is what it is." Once had hope for the change in management awhile back, now it just seems like they don't even care anymore on quality nor service.
(3)Deon Z.
Looking for Chinese food in Salt Lake City on our trip here and did not expect to find a place with real Chinese food comparable to mainland China. Our party of 12 was not disappointed.
(5)Zac B.
I don't know where the positive reviews came from on this site. The food was disgusting. The fried rice was obviously made from day old rice. The other dishes were so bad we could not get past one bite. It went from the take out containers to the trash. I am not a snob. I will eat Panda Express and other fast food. Stay away from this place. It was like throwing my money in the trash.
(1)Yiching P.
I love Szechuan Garden. The chef cooks up authentic Szechuan-style dishes that are packed with flavors, heat, and deliciousness. I personally only check out the first couple pages of the menu (and there are plenty to choose from) because these couple pages are filled with some of the most amazing and unique Szechuan flavors, and the rest of the menu are the more "common" selections that you can find in most Chinese restaurants. Happy Couple (a cold and spicy dish) is probably my favorite appetizer, and chicken with whole red chilis, twice-cooked pork, shredded duck with veggies, smoked fish, and bean-thread noodles are some of my favorite dishes. (Note: these dishes have real English names that I cannot remember.) There are a couple dishes on the authentic menu section that I've heard great things of from friends, but would probably never try, such as the rabbit heads and stir-fry rabbit... I like authentic food, but there are things I don't eat. BUT if you're looking for great and authentic Szechuan-style food, this is the place!
(5)Xinmiao L.
Do expect delicious authentic Szechuan Chinese food but slow service. There was only 1 person hosting and serving during the day we were there. I dare you to try the intestines dishes!
(4)Kris B.
Had a big old bowl of Szechuan beef noodle soup, containing thin tendon and fat filled beef slices, five-spice infused beef broth, and lo-mein type noodles. Would have tacked on another star if they used egg noodles. Good prices for lunch specials too.
(3)Jeffrey S.
Like the fourth of July for my mouth, in so many ways. In a huge group of people, we ordered a veritable parade of all things Szechuan that made their way around the table and joined each plate by the spoonful. And what would July 4th be without fireworks? Plenty of fireworks and near-illegal firecrackers for my mouth. I suffer from a chronic medical condition called wussy-mouth, so my tolerance for heat is near nill. Thankfully they could tone down a few of the dishes from "Roman candle" level to "kiddy sparkler" fire. Thanks. The winners from the night? Happy Couple. I have no idea what it was, but it was delicious. I also really dug the potatoes, which were cut into long strips, served very al dente in a nice sauce. Chomp. And finally, the fourth of July is all about family and while this wasn't blood relation I had a great meal with like-minded food folks. Sit back and enjoy the parade of nom!
(4)Mike O.
Authentic. Expensive but quality costs more. Pony up, tight wads!
(5)Laurie P.
Excellent, fresh food with distinct flavors in each dish. Some Chinese restaurants soak their food with soy sauce and call it authentic. The Szechuan Garden has always delivered unique and delicious meals. If you want Chinese , this is where to go.
(4)Jean W.
Sunday evenings have transformed into chinese take-out nights at our house. And Szechuan Garden has been on my must-try list for a while. We were sort of in the neighborhood already, so we decided to drop in, grab a take-out menu, and place a phone order. Points up front for being open on Sunday! Always a nice feature in Utah. They have a HUGE take-out menu, making it tough to decide. Hubby is a long-standing Kung Pao devotee, and likes to order it at new places. So, we went with the Kung Pao Shrimp, spicy. Other Yelpers have been vocal about the high heat in their spicy dishes, so I was hopeful that it may be spicy enough... We also ordered Ham Fried Rice and two other dishes, both extra spicy - Tiny Spicy Chicken and Da Ching Chicken. They seemed to be busy with dine-in customers, and estimated 30-40 minutes for our food pickup. We set forth on a few short-term undertakings. We returned after 30 minutes, and Hubby wanted to wager that our food was done. I proposed giving them another generous 10 minutes. He opted to head in, and didn't come out for 25 minutes; with a receipt for $40. This food better be good. We were really hungry, and the food appealed to my nose as I cradled it on my lap for the ride home. If the containers weren't bound in Ninja-proof plastic wrap, I would have for sure had them open. We got home and dug in pretty much immediately. We were most impressed with the ham fried rice, it was very good. The Kung Pao was good, but nothing remarkable or unprecedented, and it was very skimpy in the shrimp department.. The Spicy Tiny Chicken was nothing like I imagined from the description, but it was also... good; chicken and mushrooms in a silky spicy sauce. I was most disappointed in the Da Ching Chicken as I was expecting something *amazing* from their Szechuan menu. The flavor seemed a little typical, and slightly shallow. The heat level we hoped for was somewhat underachieved. All entrees could have been kicked up a bit for us. Maybe we made the wrong choices - there were so many from which to choose. Hubby mentioned that during his wait of shame, he did notice many Chinese folks eating in the dining room, which is a good sign, right? We may go back at some point to further explore. For the price and convenience, though, I think I'll stick with something more familiar and close-by for forthcoming Chinese Sundays.
(3)Bud H.
This place is really tasty, especially if you know what to order. Stay away from the American side of the menu (i.e., Americanized-Chinese food) and stick with the authentic Chinese dishes. For example, buried deep on the menu is a dish called Chongquing Spicy Chicken. Try it - it's amazing.
(4)Monica T.
As a frequent visitor of Taste of Punjab, I always see this little Chinese restaurant right next door when I visit there. I'd been meaning to try it for awhile (especially since I've seen a lot of good reviews for the place here on Yelp), but it's not often that I get down to Sandy. One weekday afternoon, I met my boyfriend here for lunch. I guess they make most of their money at dinner time because the place was nearly empty when we arrived. We perused the lunch specials, and I decided on the pork with garlic sauce while my extremely attractive dining companion ordered the kung pao shrimp. We both started with the egg drop soup, which was on the thick side but still extremely tasty. The entrees quickly arrived, and I really enjoyed mine. The sauce was nice and flavorful and the ingredients tasted very fresh. I think my boyfriend ordered better than me, though. I loved the kung pao and will probably order it next time. Our waitress was very nice, but the service felt a little awkward for some reason, probably because we were being kind of slow. Prices were extremely reasonable given the portions. I'd definitely put this restaurant in the upper tier of SLC area Chinese food. I'd love to try it for dinner sometime.
(4)Kirk H.
Food always great. Service is up and down. Sometimes way down. But food keeps me returning.
(4)Jacqueline F.
Me and my boyfriend were watching food network about Szechuan food last night, and my mouth just couldn't stop watering. I really wanted to have some of those real spicy Szechuan food. We did some research on yelp and online, and we found Szechuan Garden in Sandy. I was kind of skeptical at the beginning because I got disappointed so many times with Americanized Chinese food, but I was convinced to try. We walked into the restaurant and we found quite a few Chinese, so I guess that's a good sign. The waitresses were friendly, and service was fast. We started with Hot and Sour Soup, and I have to say, that was one of the best hot and sour soup we've ever had. The Scallion Pancake was pretty tasty as well. It was a bit dry for me so I dipped it in the spicy broth from the fish fillet. For main dishes we ordered the Fish Fillet with Spicy Broth and Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce. It was my boyfriend's 1st time trying Szechuan food, and he thought the fish was kind of oily at first. After he tried his 1st bite, he was in love with it. He said the fish looked oily but it was actually not too much oil and really fresh. It was not as spicy as I thought, but I have to say, the dish is authentic. The Shredded Pork was OK. It was a little sweet for us. But for those who do fine with Americanized Chinese food, it should be great. We poured some of those spicy broth from the fish fillet to the pork to add some spicy taste to balance the sweetness, and it worked. Overall, I would have to tell you I'm happy and satisfied with tonight's meal. Maybe next time I'll ask for extra spicy.
(5)Samantha E.
Szechuan Garden has some of the best Chinese food I have ever had, both American-ized and more traditional. As far as their traditional menu goes, I highly recommend the scallion pancake and the "Spicy Chicken and Peanut," which is kind of like Kung Pao. I've heard that "Salt and Pepper Seafood" is good as well. If you're a fan of Americanized Chinese food, all of the lunch specials are fantastic and a great deal. They got a bit of press a few years ago when (former) Governor Jon Huntsman stopped by-- the attention was well-deserved.
(5)Ryan K.
In-laws in town. Living in my house. For the weekend. I needed a shot of sanity, so we headed over to Szechuan Garden for our inaugural visit. It was a great choice. The restaurant itself is located in another dingy, nasty Utah strip mall. The décor in the restaurant itself isn't anything fancy. We were seated under a TV that was loudly playing "Babar" on it (I think the owners' kid was angry we took his spot), and it was so loud we asked it to be turned down. But all of that didn't matter once we received our food. We weren't feeling adventurous, so we mainly ordered from the "American Side" of the menu. We started with the scallion pancakes, and if you haven't tried them, you need to get down there ASAP and try them out. They are fantastic. The Szechuan Beef was tender, with the the right amount of spice. The Pineapple Jumbo Shrimp tasted very nice, although whenever I get a dish like this, I'm constantly distracted, trying to figure out what the magical white sauce is made of. Mayo? Sour cream? Whatever it is, it tastes great. The chicken chow mein was so-so. Not much chicken, and a little too soggy for me. Our servers were very attentive, and stopped by frequently to top off our drinks and ask how everything was. They demonstrated a true desire to make sure our meal was a memorable one. Next time we go (and there will definitely be a next time), we'll be a little more adventurous and order from the "Chinese side" of the menu.
(4)Grace S.
I ate here for the first time last Saturday for lunch. I thought the restaurant was closed because when I entered, no servers or host or anyone was in sight. Only one other table was filled, which surprised me after reading about the crowds and bad service. My husband and I ordered an appetizer of scallion pancakes, which is not Szechuan-style but it was quite tasty and fulfilled a craving I've been having. We also ordered two "traditional" stews--one with braised white fish (the server said the fish was previously frozen) but it still tasted quite good and was incredibly spicy. The second stew was served in a clay pot and contained a stewed beef and a large amount of thinly sliced undercooked potatoes. Such a strange combination--the beef was tender but slightly cold and the potatoes were raw. I took both stews home and re-heated them. I added some extra cod filets (tried to dilute the spices a little) to the fish stew and it turned out quite nicely. Once the potatoes were fully cooked, the beef stew was also very tasty. I don't know what spices the chefs use (anise, cloves, red chili peppers?) but they were really delicious and since I don't know how to cook Chinese food like this, it was nice to enjoy a semi-"homecooked" meal from a restaurant. Service was surprisingly good--just one person working (for 2 tables) and we got a free "amuse" of roasted spiced peanuts. Not sure I will ever drive this far out of the way for Chinese food, but it was nice to try this place finally after hearing about it from a number of friends.
(3)