Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill)

Chinese restaurant · Squirrel Hill South

Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill)

Chinese restaurant · Squirrel Hill South

5

5840 Forward Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217

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Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
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Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
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Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
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Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null
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Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill) by null

Highlights

Sichuan dishes, pan-fried dumplings, dan dan noodles, cumin beef  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater
Featured in Conde Nast Traveler

5840 Forward Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Get directions

chengdugourmetpa.com

$10–20 · Menu

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5840 Forward Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Get directions

+1 412 521 2088
chengdugourmetpa.com
chengdugourmet

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 20, 2025

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@infatuation

The 19 Best Restaurants In Pittsburgh 2024

"Chengdu Gourmet is our preferred group meeting spot, where we abandon our meal prep plans and go all out for family-style Sichuan dishes. They do great pan-fried dumplings and scallion pancakes, but the dishes from China’s Chengdu region are the ones to prioritize. Go for the minced pork-loaded dan dan noodles and crispy cucumbers with a garlicky dressing that you’ll go crazy trying to replicate at home. Also good are the fragrant Xinjiang-style cumin beef with onions and red peppers and a side of Chinese eggplant in garlic sauce. They’re BYOB, so before dinner, head to the nearby Cuvée Bottle Shop for a nice Pinot Noir to complement the cumin and garlic flavors, or grab a four-pack of crisp pilsner from Independent Brewing Co. to cool the heat. " - elaine zedack, quayla allen

https://www.theinfatuation.com/pittsburgh/guides/pittsburgh-restaurants
View Postcard for Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill)
@infatuation

Chengdu Gourmet Review - Squirrel Hill - Pittsburgh - The Infatuation

"Chengdu Gourmet is our preferred group meeting spot, where we abandon our meal prep plans and go all out for family-style Sichuan dishes. They do great pan-fried dumplings and scallion pancakes, but the dishes from China’s Chengdu region are the ones to prioritize. Go for the minced pork-loaded dan dan noodles and crispy cucumbers with a garlicky dressing that you’ll go crazy trying to replicate at home. Also good are the fragrant Xinjiang-style cumin beef with onions and red peppers and a side of Chinese eggplant in garlic sauce. They’re BYOB, so before dinner, head to the nearby Cuvée Bottle Shop for a nice Pinot Noir to complement the cumin and garlic flavors, or grab a four-pack of crisp pilsner from Independent Brewing Co. to cool the heat." - Quayla Allen

https://www.theinfatuation.com/pittsburgh/reviews/chengdu-gourmet
View Postcard for Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill)
@eater

The 38 Best Pittsburgh Restaurants - Eater

"Owner Wei Zhu is a James Beard Award semifinalist equally passionate about showcasing Chinese cuisine and adding his own special touches. The vast menu at Chengdu Gourmet reflects both interests, with traditional Chinese dishes and American-style Chinese dishes, as well as a section dedicated to new additions like silk tofu with crab egg and stir-fried frog. If you’re overwhelmed, try the double-cooked pork belly and tea-smoked duck, but any dish will deliver the comfort of a meal at your Chinese grandma’s house. Zhu already has a second location in the works." - Briana L White

https://www.eater.com/maps/best-pittsburgh-restaurants
View Postcard for Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill)
@cntraveler

Where to Eat, Stay, and Play in Pittsburgh

"You’ll find four-time James Beard award semifinalist Wei Zhu’s Sichuan restaurant Chengdu Gourmet."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-to-do-in-pittsburgh
View Postcard for Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill)
@postcardnews

Chef Wei Zhu’s Squirrel Hill landmark serves some of the region’s most compelling Sichuan dishes—mapo tofu, fish with green peppercorns, and more. A regular on Eater’s essential list, with James Beard recognition for the chef.

https://dc.eater.com/maps/best-pittsburgh-restaurants
Best Restaurants in Pittsburgh (2025)
View Postcard for Chengdu Gourmet（Squirrel Hill)

Mahdiyati Syukri

Google
Delicious Chinese Sichuan food! I love this place, it feels like I’m having meals at a family’s home. Ingredients are quality and their spices kick azz. Food can be hot 🥵 in a delightful way. Service and ambient are chill and friendly. Some of my faves are cumin lamb, mapo tofu, sichuan pepper prawn, cold jelly & cukes w green sauce.

Bill DiPaolo

Google
Spicy, Savory, and So Worth It! Chengdu Gourmet delivers! The dumplings were perfection, but the spicy beef noodle soup? Pure fire—literally! My taste buds are still recovering, and I’d do it all over again.

Ulyana K

Google
This place was unfortunately quite disappointing to me. It’s possible that I just don’t really have the palate for authentic Chinese food, but something about this spot just didn’t click with me. I got to try out their steamed dumplings, pumpkin pancakes, chicken egg roll, and mango milk tea. The steamed dumplings were decent. Not great, not bad. Okay portion for price. The dough was pretty thin, meat was fine, but the sauce was more acidic than I’d usually like. The egg roll was a bit strange. It had a pretty strong peanut butter-like taste to it. Seemed decently fresh and they did provide some sauces on the side for it. They had mustard and duck sauce, but strangely, no soy sauce for some reason. The pumpkin pancakes came in a pretty small portion (3 little ones). They were pretty solid but not the most flavorful. A little crispy on the outside and a nice chewiness to them. I liked them but didn’t love them. Finally, the milk tea was decent. The tea itself was quite tasty, milky, well made. But the boba they included on the bottom was definitely some of the worst pearls I’ve encountered in Pittsburgh. No chewiness left, just slimy and hard. All in all, I probably won’t come back. I tried both this location and the one in the North Hills, and neither really hit the spot for me. Small portions and higher than average prices, but they do serve some unique dishes.

Manuel Nunez

Google
I had a fantastic time at Chengdu Gourmet about a year prior to this review and made it a goal to go back on my recent trip to Pittsburgh. Once again, I had an incredible experience from the fantastic and speedy service to the wonderful meal. The atmosphere of the restaurant is great too, and it is spaced in a way that when it is busy, it feels close enough to be cozy but not too close to feel crowded. In this most recent trip, I had the Double Cooked Pork Belly, and my girlfriend had the Mapo Tofu. Double cooked pork is my favorite Sichuanese dish, and Chengdu Gourmet cooks it to perfection where to pork, peppers, and leaks melt in your mouth like butter. The Mapo Tofu was also very tasty and had a great texture, but next time, we would ask for a bit more spice. To reiterate, I had a fantastic time at Chengdu Gourmet and hope to make it again the next time I happen to be in Pittsburgh.

Atman Dave

Google
Supposedly a Squirrel Hill institution. Egg rolls were still cold in the center. The General Tso's chicken did NOT hit the spot. Way too saucy. Eggplant dish was decent. The scallop and beef dish was ok.

Sally Noble

Google
First time visit and we can’t wait to return to try all the things we couldn’t fit in this time. We shared three entrees off the Traditional menu: Double-cooked Pork Belly w/ Black Bean Chili, Mapo Tofu and Sichuan Beef Noodles (Dry). We enjoyed the variety and rich flavors of all three but the pork belly was probably my favorite of the night. Service was very friendly and attentive. I appreciated that the host explained the different menus since it was our first time in and clarified the order with us for accuracy. We love spicy food so we can’t wait to grab some takeout noodles for a cold night!

Maryum Snowden

Google
I’ve been wanting to try this restaurant since I’ve moved to this side of town. I went with my sister, brother in law and nephew. We all shared the peeking duck. It was good, a little on the dry side but it comes with a sauce which definitely helps. I ordered coconut boba milk tea, I was not a fan of the tapioca pearls. They tasted sour which is odd. The drink itself was good, I appreciated the fact that I can actually taste the coconut. My sister got the lemon grass tea, it wasn’t sweet at all but still was very good. We got scallion pancakes and cheese wontons as appetizers, they were good. I wasn’t a fan of the sauce that came with the pancakes. The decor is nice and simple. The staff is nice. There were two other tables filled whenever we arrived. The wait time wasn’t long at all. This was the test run now I know to come back and order plenty more.

Billy Smerka Jr.

Google
This little spot is a gem. The service is phenomenal, and the food is stellar. The very nice server guided me through the menu to the items I had seen featured online. The Chongqing Chicken was the highlight, but the dan dan noodles were packed with flavor. Don't sleep on the chili oil wontons.
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Maureen R.

Yelp
This place just popped on my radar when I heard that the chef is a James Beard award finalist. Being that it was the Lunar New Year, it was a perfect time to check it out. The outside might look a bit run down, but the food is outstanding. They have a traditional Chinese menu and an American Chinese menu. The traditional menu has pictures to help see what's in the dish. We did a mix from both menus. From the traditional menu we had the Sichuan dumpling in red chili oil...do not miss this dish, it was our favorite! And I had the Sichuan cold noodle bowl. It had the right amount of spice mixed with peanut flavor. It was a simple dish but delicious. And they give you a huge portion for a very reasonable price. From the American Chinese menu my husband has the chicken egg roll and the General tso's. The chicken wasn't super crispy but the flavor on the general tso sauce was perfection. We also share a cup of the hot and sour soup, which has a pretty good kick! They have a decent amount of seating but a large portion of that is made up of 4 or 5 tables that seat probably 8 people. Those tables all had a lazy Susan in the center so that you could share dishes. We thought that was pretty cool. The other section is a mix of 2 and 4 person tables. It was about half full when we got there but it filled up while we were eating. When we left, there was a line at the front waiting to be seated. We really enjoyed our experience here and can see why the chef is up for such a prestigious award. Again, if you go, don't skip out on the dumplings!
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Michael S.

Yelp
I was so excited to try this place. I had heard great things. And when they got the James Beard nomination we had to try it. So we ordered on 1/24/25. I regret it. I was pretty disappointed with the quality. It was no better than a strip mall food court. While mostly well cooked, the flavors weren't great. Bland, and flavorless to start. And flavorings not what people expect when ordering. We had three dinners and two apps. General Tso chicken, Sichuan chicken and Mala shrimp, sesame noodles and shrimp roll. General Tso was bland, didn't taste like General Tso sauce and the chicken was over-breaded. I didn't have it, but the person who did said it was textured like chicken sausage. I did try the sauce, it wasn't great. Sichuan chicken was my dish. It was bland as well. It wasn't improperly cooked, it just didn't taste like anything. It did have way too many green peppers and ONE single little dice piece of red pepper. The MALA shrimp/scallops was bland as well, and barely had enough sauce to coat the food. Listed as spicy on the menu, it had NO SPICE, none. It was tasteless. The shrimp was well cooked. The scallops were tiny, but not over cooked The sesame noodles were a joke. How do you mess up sesame noodles? Dried out, tiny portion with just a pinch of sesame seeds. I couldn't even pull the noodles apart the sauce was so dry, sticky, and flavorless. It was like they didn't mix the oil of sesame paste back into it and just used the dry oil-less paste. No salt, no sweetness, nothing to give it flavor. The shrimp "roll" was smaller than an old silver dollar coin, and about ¾ of an inch thick. One single square no more than about 2 ounces. And not a roll at all, a misshapen square. And each dish cost a couple dollars more than the usual cost for better made Chinese/American at other places. This chef should be ashamed of his food. And I've lost faith in the James Beard award if this is the quality that gets you nominated. This is why we ordered Americanized food the first time. I'm not spending $200 or more on authentic Chinese if you can't make the easy stuff right. I'm glad we decided to test the waters first. They failed the test. Needless to say we won't be back.
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Margo A.

Yelp
Chengdu Gourmet will always be one of my favorites. They offer the perfect variety of traditional Chinese and American Chinese dishes, and even the pickiest eaters will find something they love. In a large party, your food will be served to you on a large lazy Susan, making it easy for your entire party to share. We tried a bit of everything, and not a single thing disappointed. Our favorites were the Mao's Pork Belly, the Spicy Chicken, and the Szechuan dumplings (not pictured). There are menu items for all levels of spice tolerance, and you will leave with plenty of leftovers as the portions are very generous. We will be back again and again!

P S.

Yelp
Good ambiance and great wait staff. They offer dishes which most Americans have come to expect from Chinese American cuisine with a separate menu in English only. However, as a native Chinese woman, I was delighted to see a completely separate menu for Chinese people who can actually still read Chinese characters and are biliterate as well as bilingual, Hidden on the Chinese menu are many of the dishes I remember eating in Hong Kong growing up as a young child to teenager. My adoptive parents moved me back to Greenwich, CT in 1967. We still had access to Chinese food from weekly trips into New York City and it's Chinatown. But the taste and quality wasn't the same as in Hong Kong. I strongly suggest that you try some dishes off the Chinese menu. Your waitress will be happy to guide you. Or try asking many of the customers from China who are attending Carnegie Mellon or Pitt as two examples. If you want to save, pay in cash.
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Arline D S.

Yelp
I love this restaurant! I've eaten there many times and have written good reviews. I can't anymore, tho' because I can't afford to eat there now. I know prices for food in the grocery store as well as restaurants have gone up. Chengdu was always a little higher than others. Now the cost is way out of my budget. Sorry, Chengdu, I'll miss your green beans w/pork belly.
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Eri L.

Yelp
This is my go-to sichuan place in Pittsburgh -- it has a great variety of more traditional offerings and a great lunch special selection too. I tend to go for the double cooked sliced pork (with leeks) and the spicy fish soup. Their portions are generous and I often have leftovers for the following day.
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Ulyana K.

Yelp
This place was unfortunately quite disappointing to me. It's possible that I just don't really have the palate for authentic Chinese food, but something about this spot just didn't click with me. I got to try out their steamed dumplings, pumpkin pancakes, chicken egg roll, and mango milk tea. The steamed dumplings were decent. Not great, not bad. Okay portion for price. The dough was pretty thin, meat was fine, but the sauce was more acidic than I'd usually like. The egg roll was a bit strange. It had a pretty strong peanut butter-like taste to it. Seemed decently fresh and they did provide some sauces on the side for it. They had mustard and duck sauce, but strangely, no soy sauce for some reason. The pumpkin pancakes came in a pretty small portion (3 little ones). They were pretty solid but not the most flavorful. A little crispy on the outside and a nice chewiness to them. I liked them but didn't love them. Finally, the milk tea was decent. The tea itself was quite tasty, milky, well made. But the boba they included on the bottom was definitely some of the worst pearls I've encountered in Pittsburgh. No chewiness left, just slimy and hard. All in all, I probably won't come back. I tried both this location and the one in the North Hills, and neither really hit the spot for me. Small portions and higher than average prices, but they do serve some unique dishes.
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Meghan M.

Yelp
Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but I was a bit disappointed by my meal here. We ordered the potatoes with hot peppers and vinegar, and there weren't any hot peppers -- it was mainly just sour. As for the eggplant with garlic sauce, it was fine, but it was more sweet than spicy. We were expecting Sichuanese-style food and more punchy, spicy food, but this didn't meet our expectations unfortunately.
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Chris C.

Yelp
Top pick for chinese food in the area. Coming from LA, did not expect to have comparable asian food but this place is solid. Asian ladies making dumplings and peeling vegetables on a big table in the dining hall, old man working the front register, feels right. Food is fast and delicious, the mapo tofu and crispy chicken are fire and def have a strong kick. Service is what you expect for an asian place.
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Will R.

Yelp
I was thrilled for this place to be open later than other Chinese restaurants in the area. It took a little bit of guess work online to find the proper place to place a takeout order without the need to call. Pickup of the food was pleasant and easy. Unfortunately the general tso's white meat chicken was way overcooked and the scallion pancakes were lacking flavor and quality. The general tso's tofu dish was just fine with no complaints.
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Rachel O.

Yelp
The time before today when I came here they hadn't even started my takeout when I had arrived and I had to wait quite a while. Not sure what that was about. The scallion pancakes are so much smaller than the menu photo leads you to believe (hard to tell in my photo but trust me) and were very greasy. If they seat you next to the kitchen perhaps ask for another seat. There was a lot of yelling. The beef soup my Chinese friend ordered for us was amazing. What can I say, they really do excel in the Si Chuan style dishes. The name of this place in Mandarin (on the outside) is actually Old Si Chuan- so it makes sense. Order well and you'll be happy.
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Jess N.

Yelp
The OG Chengdu is my all time fave! They have THE BEST chili oil dumplings - EVER! They take care of you from the time you walk in to the time you leave. It's a little hole in the wall but has the best flavors coming out of it! This is a forever go to of mine. Not one bad thing has been eaten from this spot!
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Tammy L.

Yelp
Yes it's as good as everyone says! I've always heard great things about Chengdu gourmet and am surprised it took me this long to finally try it. If you're a spice fanatic, this is the place for you. However, if you're like me and a baby with spice, this place still has plenty of delicious options. The sichuan style dumplings are outta this world. Whatever sauce it's soaked in is to die for. They have a lot of great traditional vegetable dishes like the garlic eggplant and bok choy with mushrooms. The Dan Dan noodles with minched pork was a starter for sharing that everyone loved. If you are a spice glutton then I would recommend the three pepper diced chicken. Overall, the food was great and I would definitely be back.
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Yelen P.

Yelp
Food: I really enjoyed everything, I couldn't name a favorite among the things we ordered. The cumin lamb was my least favorite at the time (a bit tough and chewy, not soft like the others, a little too salty), but when I had leftovers the next day, I liked it even more. It also contrasted nicely with something soft like mapo tofu. My coconut bubble tea was nice. Got: Dandan Noodle W. Minced Pork 担担面 Scallion Pancake 葱油饼 Mapo Tofu w. Minced Pork 麻婪豆腐 Cumin Lamb 孜然羊 -小辣 Dragon & Phoenix (like general tso's chicken and shrimp) 龙风配 Coconut Milk Tea (Large) 椰香奶茶（大） Green Milk Tea (Small) 茉香奶茶小 Service: the lady was very attentive but not overly. She seemed sweet and treated us kindly. Amazing customer service, 10 stars. I would return just for her. Ambiance: it wasn't too loud in there, which is what we were going for. No frills, just a comfortable place to have delicious food done well.
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Ricky P.

Yelp
This restaurant blew us away. Our large group ordered several things and shared them, but the dishes that stood out to me were the beef chowder, pickled cucumbers, and kong pao chicken. The flavors were very big and rich. Probably the best Chinese food I've ever had.

Harvey H.

Yelp
I had a reservation for 6 pm today. There were other people who had the same time. None if us were seated and there were so many waiting. These people are incompetent and no one should patronize Chebgdu Gormet.
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April H.

Yelp
As far as I know, this is an authentic Sichuan restaurant. The don't have a lot of staff, so we had to wait a bit to be seated even though the restaurant wasn't very full. The food is tasty, greasy, and spicy. The Chongqing chicken varies in spiciness, but it was a little too spicy for me last time I went, so I will probably try something else next time. The mapo tofu and green beans were delicious. This would be a good place to come with a group so you can share multiple dishes. It's BYOB. Overall glad to have this as an option when I'm craving Sichuan food!
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Sandy J.

Yelp
Was visiting friends in their new home in Pittsburgh- they live right down the street from this place! We ordered a bunch of lunch combination since they came with rice. We ordered the pork belly, eggplant, and the mapo tofu options. Overall good- They have an American style portion to your menu which always makes me wary. I think their Szechuan style is solid but I feel that their American Chinese fusion compromises their authenticity a little. The pros about this place is that its near a lot of shops and restaurants to hang out with friends and walk around afterwards. The bad part is parking- the winding streets with narrow parking options was tough. I walked from friend's home but managed to look around in case I were to come back here and thought parking would be tough service was fast and decently courteous. An ok place to go but I would circle around Pittsburgh for other options before I settled on this place as my go to.
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Johann M.

Yelp
Hear me out people, if you are a good enthusiastic you have, I'm sorry, you must come here. I have never imagine having this type of food and this gem is right here in Pittsburg, I could drive 3 hours just to have a couple meals here during the weekend. What an unique place. The food is so good and flavorful, you can see that that the chef loves what he does and he demonstrates that through his food. My only recommendation is to play some music to make the atmosphere more cozy and the attention could be better but is not a major problem. Not even an issue to be real. Come here and have one of the best Chinese food you can have.
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Matt G.

Yelp
This has been on my list for a long time, and it was worth the wait. I went by myself, but I made sure to order a few dishes to try as much as I could. The star of the meal ended up being the Chengdu Spicy Cold Noodles. It was in a broth/sauce that I absolutely need the recipe for. The Szechuan pickled vegetables were pretty good, but a bit too salty for me. The pork intestine in the flaming pot was the perfect level of spicy and salty. Overall, a fantastic meal. The interior was nicely decorated and spacious, and dining in added to the multi plate/dim sum style fun. I will be back to try many more dishes.
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Neha C.

Yelp
Food - delicious. Solid place to go for Szechuan food in Pittsburgh. Enjoyed the Chengdu spicy cold noodle and cumin beef, which was spicy. Parking - hard to find but not impossible. There is street parking around. Service - average at best. Might just do take out next time.

David M.

Yelp
Consistently terrific and authentic Szechuan food. Our favorite Chinese restaurant in Pittsburgh. Outstanding!
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Rim G.

Yelp
Great food. I would definitely recommend. The authentic menu is a good start to try authentic Chinese food. The food was a little too spicy and oily but I recommend the place still. The service is good. Nothing much to say though. The atmosphere is good for lunch. It's bigger than I expected so it's comfortable Since they have enough tables. All three dishes were great. Although the noodles were cold, it was still good. I wish it wasn't too cold. The cumin beef was great. It was a little too spicy but my husband and I couldn't stop eating. Overall it's a nice experience and worth the shot. I would definitely go back.
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Samantha R.

Yelp
Chengdu Gourmet is my favorite takeout restaurant in Pittsburgh. Nowhere else can you get incredible food for an affordable price that time and time again delivers on quality and portion size. I have my standard order of scallion pancakes, spicy chili wonton, hand cabbage, diced chicken in chongqing style and beef lo mein noodles. This is about $40-$50 and lasts me and my partner at least two days. Last time I ate there I mixed it up and got fried rice and Kung pao chicken. Still amazing. The flavors, the spice level, the dynamic ingredients and fusions of flavor are chefs kiss perfect.

Jessica M.

Yelp
This is my favorite local restaurant. I always order bok choy, mushrooms, chicken, eggplant, and garlic. Each dish is flavorful and hot; the bok choy is crunchy while the mushrooms, chicken, and eggplant are tender and juicy, complimented by the aromatic garlic. Its great flavors and dependable service make it a must-try!
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Suzan H.

Yelp
It is definitely a hole in the wall. It seems to do a good take out business. But, the servers are never very friendly. It smells funny in there. And if you don't order authentic meals, they seems to snub their noses at you. It definitely has a following, but I just don't think I'm in that group! We've tried it for take out and have eaten there twice. I don't think I need to go back.
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Jessica D.

Yelp
Back again, and if I could give them six stars I would. Lackluster service but INCREDIBLE food. Especially the twice cooked pork belly, scallion pancakes, beef with wide rice noodles, and eggplant with black bean sauce. Wish they were in my neighborhood!
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Julia B.

Yelp
I love eating family style Chinese food, and that is exactly the setup of Chengdu. Most of the tables are big circle tables with a lazy susan in the middle. It's perfect for going with a big group! Don't be scared off by the lack of ambiance. Everything that I've tried on their menu is delicious. The cumin lamb is the right level of spicy but still flavorful, the eggplant adds a sweeter element, the green beans with minced pork are salty & delicious, the dumplings are definitely house-made & served with a special sauce, & the pickled vegetables break up all the heavy sauces. Chengdu also has a variety of teas, and the passion fruit tea was really refreshing without being too sweet. I didn't get boba, but some of my friends said that their boba were weirdly really hard - so maybe avoid ordering that & just stick with regular tea. Going with a big group is the best way to go so that you can maximize trying as many options as possible. They take reservations, but you usually don't need one (even with a big group). I'll definitely be back! Food: A Drinks: B- Service: B- Ambiance: C+
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Nai A.

Yelp
We order ubereats from here! It got to us in less then 30mins. We were missing the scallion pancakes though. They were out of the bok choy and pea tip the wanted so we opted for the Chinese broccoli. The food overall was ok. The best thing we had was the lo Mien. I've had better basil chicken. The chicken was kind of dry. The menu is huge and lots of different entrees so it was overwhelming. All the entree dishes came with rice which was nice.
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Sarah F.

Yelp
Great food but DO NOT ORDER delivery from their website. It gets farmed out to DoorDash. DoorDash driver never showed up...restaurant said they couldn't refund me bc it was a DoorDash issue, DoorDash said they couldn't refund me bc I ordered "from the merchant" and not their app. So I got NO Food and was out $50!! There is no warning on the CG website about this Door dash thing either. (As I generally try to avoid the "big" delivery services, I would not have ordered that way. Eat in, Pick up the food yourself or I guess use the "big" app as at least I would have had some recourse :( SO mad. Not to mention hungry :(
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Blake S.

Yelp
Quality ingredients. My beef soup too spicy and shrimp vermicelli kind of basic, will try again
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Russell G.

Yelp
They didn't include one of the dishes in my takeout order, then told me they wouldn't refund it, then promised to give it to me free with my next order, then reneged on that promise.

Buck H.

Yelp
The green peppers with vinegar is pretty authentic. However, the service is terribly awful. The receptionist is extremely reluctant to help with our questions about why the waiter seems to ask us tip twice. Yea, you hear it right, the waiter firstly charges us for 20% tips without keeping us informed. Then, she gives us another tipping sheet and leave us with a pen! It's okay that she may just forget we've already tipped passively. But what happens later makes it really a fun experience. The receptionist firstly says it's a mandatory tips for table with more than 6 ppl but then flexibly changes it to 5 cuz he finds out there're only 5 of us. lol. He also claims that the regular customers know there's a rule for mandatory fee... so does it mean that new customers like us and others are not welcomed? He also says he used to serve in other states as a receptionist and this tipping rule is universal. Funny, in California with even more than 10 ppl we still don't know it. We're so ignorant, sorry. In all, they're overwhelmly slack in service, and arrogant. Oh wait. I guess the receptionist really has a talent for being a lawyer cuz he does so well in sophistry and acting like our customers are defendants. (Why? Cuz he keeps questioning me that the rule is just like what I've explained and the only thing you should do is being obedient and pay for my service!) Btw being flexible is also a strong talent, congrats. The last thing I would do in my life is to recommend this restaurant. I'm from Chengdu, and I hate the service of this chengdu-named restaurant . The chef is the only nice guy there. Thank you.
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rich c.

Yelp
Got takeout the other day from these folks. Good food. I'm Chinese and from NJ/NY and had some things from the Chinese authentic side as well as the Americanized side. As strange as it may sound, i gauge a Chinese food place by a few dishes - one of which is the chicken and broccoli and the other is the string beans. They were both well done here. The string beans may have been a TOUCH on the salty side but it was fine. Taste was good and it wasn't greasy like some places in the area. Food was ready when they said it would be (decided to swing by and pick it up). Only complaint might be that their portions could be just a touch larger. They are a decent size but just a little bit larger would have been nice. Could have been more generous with the steamed rice. Again, a pretty good place.
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J E.

Yelp
I've been on a kick of trying and enjoying authentic Thai and Authentic Szechuan places for several years now and since I travel frequently for work, I try to find them in each place I visit. This is THE PLACE FOR AUTHENTIC SZECHUAN in Pittsburgh! Service was decent here, my server spoke great English and they have a few menus they provide when you sit down: - Lunch menu (with great deals on many authentic items, as well as American items) - American Chinese menu - Authentic Szechuan menu I opted for their pickled cucumber, scallion pancake, Chengdu Chicken, and Shredded Beef with Hot Peppers. All of these dishes were outstanding and unique in flavor! The beef was tender (perfectly velveted) and the peppers with it weren't too spicy but the whole dish tasted amazing! The Chengdu Chicken wasn't too spicy for me, it was excellent! And both of these were lunch portions and were plenty enough to have shared with someone else! The scallion pancake was nice, crispy and tender on the inside and tasted incredible when dipped into the garlic ginger soy sauce! Their pickled cucumber was very fresh, was made from Chinese cucumbers and offered a great way to clear the palate and escape the heat of the entrées. I also tried their hot tea, it was just as good as everything else! Prices are very fair and seating is abundant inside! I highly recommend stopping here... I'll be back!

Sheetal L.

Yelp
Cumin lamb was well prepared. It was spicy, but we like it that way. Not impressed with the scallion pancakes (too oily) or the spring rolls (like prepackaged frozen, no taste or depth). Dan Dan noodles and General Tso was just ok as well. Restaurant was clean. Was hoping for a better experience with the food ‍
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Hanna I.

Yelp
Food is authentic and delicious with numbing Sichuan spices! Go with a big group to try many things! Service is swift with a smile. Don't forget to tip!
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Arielle B.

Yelp
My favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh! The depth of the menu and the quality of the food is unparalleled--the chef has received no less than 5 James Beard nominations--and when you eat here, you'll understand why. First: Don't order from the American menu. The traditional menu is the way to go. Second: In person beats takeout! They have redone the dining room in the past couple of years, which makes the dining experience more refined. Third: The family-style service makes it easy to share multiple dishes, so be adventurous! The menu has new items each time I've visited, and I've enjoyed finding new favorites. Just one example: the rice ball and wine soup was a sweet finish to the meal--chewy rice balls that give way to a black sesame filling. Combined with the tang of the rice wine broth, it's a concert of flavor in one bite. Finally: expect leftovers! The portions are generous, and you'll be getting a variety of dishes, so plan to take some home.
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Sicilian Nomad _.

Yelp
New to the area and traveling for work, and I happened across this little gem of an establishment. I ordered the braised pork belly and scallion pancakes, and I was not disappointed!! It was truly a delight as this was my first time here. I read a few of the reviews and I was impressed, so much that I may try the other location.
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Tabitha C.

Yelp
Chengdu has such a nice environment and I feel their food is the most authentic Chinese in the area. We had a birthday dinner there and it was byob. The service is excellent very efficient, helpful and friendly. I wish I had more individual photos but we were too busy eating and so much on each table. Highly recommended!

Honest R.

Yelp
Really great Dan Dan noodles for a great price. Food was authentic and flavorful and filling.
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Mark M.

Yelp
Hot and sour yam noodle soup was great. The pickled vegetables was just like home made.
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H. Elwood G.

Yelp
TLDR; Doesn't trump Sichuan Gourmet. It's always good to see a "real Chinese" restaurant in Pittsburgh that doesn't just service American Chinese Food. So kudos for that. Did I love it? Perhaps I didn't order the right thing but I just generally thought it was better than most but not the best.

Stuart N.

Yelp
Just an absolute clusterfuck of an experience. I have been going to Chengdu for almost 20 years and never had an experience like the one I had tonight. I placed an order online at 7:08 and was told expected time that order would be ready was 7:28. I arrived at Chengdu at 7:30 and my order was not ready yet so I took a seat and waited. As I watched people come in, and pick up their orders, time was passing and every time they would bring more orders out, the manager/owner would waive at me and say none of them were mine and that they were busy. I then saw people come in only to find out how long of a wait for a table was and decide to place a to go order and their food came out before mine. Every now and then the manager/owner would look at me smile while nodding his head and saying sorry, we're busy. He even checked my on line confirmation to make sure that my order had gone through and for the correct location and just shook his head some more sand kept saying, sorry, we're busy. Finally at 8:25, my order comes out. I inform the manager/owner that I will never come back here again, he smiles at me, and says, Oh, don't say that and hands me a fortune cookie like this is supposed to make up for me waiting for an hour while watching people who ordered after me get their food. The fact the owner/manager didn't offer me even something like 10% off on a future order to try and keep a customer happy was just one last straw. Sorry, there are plenty of other Chines Food establishments in Squirrel Hill to order from. I understand being busy but to not even try to make an upset customer happy was just wrong. To top it all off. when I got home and opened the bag, I found they didn't include the Egg Roll that had been ordered and paid for
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John R.

Yelp
Since Chef Zhu opened the new location up north, the Squirrel Hill location has noticeably gone downhill on quality and consistency. The spice levels on the authentic Chinese dishes are unpredictable, sometimes it's spot on, other times it's too spicy to eat. Tonight the chicken in the Kung Pao Chicken Chengdu Style is clearly reheated and not fresh. Chef Zhu, come back!!!!
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Jamie A.

Yelp
I now get the hype about the food at this restaurant. It was really good. The mapo tofu used the soft, silky tofu with a really flavorful brown sauce that was not overpowering. The green beans had the right balance of crisp and tender texture also with a good sauce and onions. The spicy cold noodles were my favorite with the right amount of spice level. This is my third time trying this restaurant and I have left without food previously because it was packed. This time and because of COVID, I ordered online early on Christmas Eve. I still waited 1.5 hrs for my food and only waited because I had already paid. The food is definitely worth going back. I will go back on a non holiday, week night.
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Melyssa F.

Yelp
Here visiting from out of the state. We loved the food SO SO much we came two times. They have many options and the prices are great. We ordered Dan Dan noodles, dumplings and the cheese rangoons for apps. Al were delicious and the Dan Dan noodles had the perfect spice. For entrees the general Tso white meat chicken, orange chicken and Hunan chicken. Everything was good debut the Hunan chicken ... was EVERYTHING! I will make a trip from Orlando to Pittsburgh just for this plate lol However, the service is mediocre. They aren't very friendly. We wanted to order fried rice instead of white with our meals the first time we visited and they kept saying beef so we said no. And they didn't give us the vegetable option or mentioned an up charge which we were totally okay with! The second time we visited I was more firm lol and she rolled her eyes and said OK but we got it which is what mattered! The first visit it was a Friday and it wasn't as busy and we're sat quickly. The second time it was a Saturday and we didn't know you could get a reservation and of course we didn't have one. After her saying no many times we just asked if we could wait?! She hesitated but said yes! After us The same happened to many other parties. Regardless the food is worth it. We can always do take out in the future now that we know!!
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Chris C.

Yelp
James Beard nominated for a reason. Stick with the traditional items. Don't go here to order General Tso or Twice cooked pork or any other Americanized items.
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Liz G.

Yelp
Boy am I glad I tried this place after constantly reading about it and the chef! Ok was born in New York, where there is a plethora of amazing Chinese restaurants, and I have to say that this is the best one I've ever had! We got a sampling of things, garlic shrimp with vermicelli noodles, beef and broccoli, cashew chicken, vegetable lo mein and the vegetarian fried rice. Each dish was exquisite and the flavors each were outstanding. I'd recommend going with the authentic Chinese menu, as that is where you'll try something new and is probably more of a reflection of what they're where they would stand out. My husband, who's also a foodie couldn't stop raving about Chengdu Gourmet. If you're looking for authentic and delicious Chinese, you must go here!