Sichuan Taste Chinese Restaurant
Sichuan Taste Chinese Restaurant, located at 515 SW 4th Ave in Portland, OR, is a hidden gem offering authentic and flavorful Sichuan cuisine. Despite its modest exterior, the restaurant’s interior is clean and welcoming, setting the stage for an unforgettable dining experience. Known for its quick service and generous portions, it’s a favorite among locals and visitors alike who crave traditional Chinese flavors with a spicy kick.
The restaurant’s menu is a celebration of Sichuan’s bold and aromatic cuisine. Signature dishes include the twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu, and fish in peppercorn broth, each bursting with layers of flavor. The dry-fried green beans, scallion beef, and cumin beef stand out for their perfect balance of heat, smokiness, and depth. The eggplant in garlic sauce is another must-try, offering a rich, succulent taste that perfectly complements the other dishes. For those who like a touch of sweetness with their spice, the General Tso's chicken provides a delightful contrast.
What truly sets Sichuan Taste apart is its commitment to delivering authentic flavors. The heat is not for the faint of heart, as the Sichuan peppercorns bring a numbing sensation that is characteristic of the region’s cuisine. However, the restaurant caters to all spice levels, so customers can request a more intense or milder version of their dish according to preference.
The restaurant has earned a loyal following due to its consistent quality and the friendly, attentive staff. Whether you’re dining in or opting for takeout, the food arrives hot, fresh, and full of flavor. The variety of dishes on offer ensures that every visit brings something new to the table, from crispy fish to savory chicken chow mein, making it a great spot for both casual meals and special occasions.
Sichuan Taste Chinese Restaurant remains a must-visit for anyone in Portland who enjoys an authentic taste of Sichuan cuisine, served in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Sichuan Taste Chinese Restaurant Reviews
What a find in downtown Portland. Nice and clean inside, quick service, good portions, reasonably priced, and best of all, tastes great with lots of varieties It's a small storefront but worth checking out. If you like spicy ask for spicy as by default they dial it back quite a bit. The flavors are all there, numbing, sweet, sour, spicy. Truly enjoyed this meal.
Ordered take out from here New Year's Day, craving Chinese food. And I'm so glad we did! Got two orders of orange chicken, chicken chow mein and scallion pancakes. Everything was hot, fresh and delicious. With really friendly staff.
Tonight I enjoyed lamb hotpot and ma po tofu with a bowl of white rice. It was early, so they had limited number of servers who helped walk-ins, call-ins, takeout and dine-in all at once. A little more hectic than usual, but they kept a friendly attitude and helped all customers promptly no matter how they were ordering. The lamb hotpot is great with lots of tender lamb slices, delicious spiciness, bamboo, green & red peppers, sweet onions over a flame to get it nice and sizzling. The ma po tofu was delicious too - soft tofu, spicy chili oil, ground pork - just the right amount of heat. I had a simple bowl of white rice to enjoy a bite of the lamb hotpot, then the ma po tofu back and forth. Perfect.
First getting food from here and excited about the reviews. We ordered the pork fried rice, chicken chow mein, broccoli beef, pork pot stickers, Dan Dan noodles and vegetable spring rolls. We had it delivered so I can't speak to the ambiance of the restaurant or friendliness of the staff. The food came well packaged. The pot stickers were ok and the vegetable spring rolls stood out between the two appetizers. The main dishes hand fried rice were all great! The meats (pork, beef and chicken) were all very tender and flavorful. The broccoli was cooked but still crisp. The Dan Dan noodles had a nice mild spice with lots of flavor. We were all super impressed with the flavors of each dish and will definitely return.
A couple notes: I've been to this restaurant over 10 times; Sichuan cuisine is one of my absolute favorites and I've eaten it in several major cities (NY, Boston, SF, Berlin). Last night I went to this restaurant with about 11 people for my birthday. The food we enjoyed was nothing short of perfection. We got things like twice cooked pork, mapo tofu, fish in peppercorn broth, fried fish and fried chicken (I believe Chongqing style), dry fried green beans, scallion beef, cumin beef, eggplant in garlic sauce, and a cold cloud ear mushroom appetizer....and yes, a general Tso to fill in the corners! First of all, the basics: the food all came promptly, hot, in generous portions, and we were well attended the whole night (2 hours, almost). EVERY dish was superb. The green beans beautifully wrinkled with a smoky yet fresh flavor, the eggplant succulent and rich, the fish crispy and perfectly cooked inside. The flavors were diverse and memorable, and we all walked out of there feeling like a million bucks. I can't say enough good about this place. The street it's on can be pretty iffy, and the appearance doesn't inspire confidence, yet have no doubt you will eat authentic, beautifully prepared Sichuanese cuisine here.