Little Sichuan Restaurant Review, San Mateo

Little Sichuan is a Sichuan Chinese Restaurant located in Downtown San Mateo next to Draegar’s. It has been around for many years but changed hands in 2007. The former co-owner and chef used to run Classic Sichuan Restaurant in Millbrae. Do not confuse this place with others with similar names. Many folks stopped coming after the change in ownership including ourselves. It was time to check Little Sichuan out again in October 2010, after another year. This is a place to come for Sichuan dishes like noodles, not for generic Americanized Chinese food such as Beef Broccoli or classic Cantonese Chinese dishes that are better down the block at Champagne Seafood or HK Causeway Bay.

Decor, Vibe – Little Sichuan is a small step up in decor from a generic Chinese restaurant but still paper lining the simple tables and chairs. During lunch, the place was about 75% full with local office workers of all races. We noticed several Chinese tour groups coming here for dinner.

Menu Pictures (Click to zoom into any picture)

Little Sichuan serves up pretty standard Chinese fare with an emphasis on Sichuan food. They have an extensive menu with over 150 selections. It is important you stick to the Sichuan cuisine otherwise you’re almost guaranteed to have something marginal.

Website Menu

Full Little Sichuan Image Set

Picks:

Dry cooked String Beans ($7.95) were a solid rendition of classic green beans. Ample quantity and decent quality.

Spicy Sichuan cold noodles ($6.45) is a classic dish that still retains the recipe of the old owner. They mix up the thin egg noodles, minced pork, and sliced cucumbers at your table. A very good rendition of the classic. Noodles are bought not made here.

Clear Wide Noodles ($8.95) were a bit greasy but made with nice sweet potato based noodles, green onions, and shredded beef. A good portion size.

Beijing style cold Rice Jell-O ($6.95) with house made sesame sauce is another classic Sichuan dish that is done very well here. The Jell-O could have been a little more firm but was passable.

Complimentary Rice wine soup with dumplings was surprisingly pretty good.

OK:
Xing Jiang stirfried roast lamb with cumin powder ($9.95) was kind of sad compared to the excellent version we had the other week after Beijing Restaurant in San Francisco. This version was passable but pretty greasy and not very zesty.

Green Onion Pancake ($3.50) was a solid rendition but did not have the green onion flavor of the best. This dish was not greasy at least.

Hot & sour soup ($4.95 Small) was decent and came with crispy chips. Lots of egg and a balance of flavors.

Fried steamed bun ($1.50) had to be sent back because the middle was still cold. It came back heavily deep fried and without sweet condensed milk.

Pans:

Tiny steamed pork buns ($6.45 for took forever to arrive and tasted pretty plain. Filled with a meat mixture, they were not the best.

Tea smoked duck ($9.50 Half) was full of bones and had little meat. Flavor was fair at best.

Crispy Chicken ($7.95 half) came to us with several pieces still cold, so we had to send this back to. The meat was very pink and pale.

Little Sichuan has below average service for a Chinese restaurant where you had to hail waiter for almost everything. They did forget an item we wanted on one occasion.

Prices are reasonable and the Sichuan food is average, but other items are forgettable. If you are nearby and want Sichuan cuisine try this place for specific items.  It is hard to justify coming here from a distance. Crouching Tiger in Redwood City is far better. Many other places serve better Sichuan cuisine including Little Sichuan, Fremont and Sichuan Fortune across the bay.

$25 Dining Certificate for $5

Little Sichuan Overall Rating: (Average 1.5)

Come Back?

Food Rating:	(Average)
Service Rating:	(Below Average)
Atmosphere Rating:	(Average)
Value Rating:	(Good)

Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Alcohol:	Full Bar
Attire:	Casual
Hours:	Daily 11:30 - 3pm, Sun - Th 4:30 - 9:30pm, Fri - Sat 5 - 10pm
Parking:	Free Lot
Reservations:	Yes
Prices:	$5.95 - $35