Chengdu Taste
Chinese restaurant · Alhambra
828 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91803
Highlights
Signature cumin toothpick lamb, mapo tofu, and dan dan noodles.
Signature cumin toothpick lamb, mapo tofu, and dan dan noodles.
"Chengdu Taste specializes in Szechuan cuisine, which generally involves ample chiles and peppercorns that will make your face go numb and stay numb. But this family-run Chinese restaurant isn’t in the business of searing off your tastebuds. They’re in the business of cooking insanely flavorful dishes. The key is knowing how to balance the spicy dishes with the non-spicy dishes. The toothpick lamb with cumin, the couple’s sliced beef, and the best dan dan noodles in the world all fall in the non-spicy category and should be the cornerstones of your meal. From there, add the spice: the mapo tofu, the boiled fish with green pepper sauce, and the mung bean jelly noodles." - cathy park, sylvio martins, brant cox, andrew ryce
"Alhambra’s Chengdu Taste is far from some diamond in the rough. In a region known for having some of the best Chinese restaurants in the country, Chengdu Taste is a household name. This casual family-run Sichuan spot is less in the business of searing off your tastebuds and more using tingly peppercorns and smoky chiles to pump up incredible dishes like cumin-rubbed toothpick lamb, cold sliced beef in a garlicky chili oil, and velvet-soft boiled fish in a green chili broth that, ignoring what we said earlier, will probably sear off a few taste buds. And for frigid nights that dip below 65ºF, the same owners serve tongue-numbing bowls of Sichuan noodles at Mian, with locations in San Gabriel, Cerritos, and West Adams." - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder, cathy park
"Some Sichuan kitchens temper their heat levels depending on what they think the customer can handle. Not this one. This long-standing veteran has never been one to hold anyone’s hand and their widespread success has not at all cooled their approach. Expect nothing less than the full-throttle Sichuan experience where tongue-numbing, lip-tingling dishes arrive coated in heavy spices, garnished with sliced chilis and, often, doused in fire-engine red chili oil. Toothpick lamb is the house signature, but the crispy-crusted beef is a formidable rival. Fish with mom’s preserved chili sauce is unapologetically sinus-clearing. Even vegetables like the arden lettuce are a powerhouse of stir-fried garlic excellence. Swing by for lunch to avoid the lines." - Michelin Inspector
"The celebrated Sichuan chain from Southern California opened its first Seattle location in 2020, serving popular specialties such as toothpick lamb with cumin, mung bean jelly noodles drenched in chili sauce, and a cold spring onion chicken in pepper sauce. Diners will delight in the ma la (numbing and spicy) aftermath of the Sichuan peppercorn and chili-laden dishes; ma po tofu aficionados should especially give Chengdu Taste’s version a try." - Jay Friedman
"Chengdu Taste isn’t just an Alhambra staple, it’s a restaurant every Angeleno needs to visit at least once. The menu consists mostly of staples from China’s Sichuan province, which means you should be prepared for lots of spice and lots of flavor. Mix in spicier dishes (mung bean jelly noodles, boiled fish) with the less spicy ones (dan dan noodles, couple’s beef) for the most balanced experience. They also run a swift takeout service—ideal for family meals at home or when lunch keeps getting interrupted by your boss asking you to “come back ASAP.” " - brant cox, sylvio martins
