Lao Sze Chuan

Sichuan restaurant · North Bethesda

Lao Sze Chuan

Sichuan restaurant · North Bethesda

3

20 Paseo Dr, North Bethesda, MD 20852, USA

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Lao Sze Chuan by Lao Sze Chan
Lao Sze Chuan by Lao Sze Chan
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Lao Sze Chuan by null
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Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
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Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
Lao Sze Chuan by null
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Highlights

Sichuan cuisine featuring Peking Duck and spicy dishes  

Featured in Eater
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20 Paseo Dr, North Bethesda, MD 20852, USA Get directions

laoszechuandmv.online

$30–50 · Menu

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20 Paseo Dr, North Bethesda, MD 20852, USA Get directions

+1 301 968 2096
laoszechuandmv.online

$30–50 · Menu

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Aug 20, 2025

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The Best Chinese Restaurants in the Twin Cities | Eater Twin Cities

"Also near the University of Minnesota campus, Lao Sze Chuan is a great place to share chilled, tangy Szechuan noodles; tea-smoked duck; and steaming beef soup, infused with spicy chili oil. Lao Sze Chuan’s appetizer list is notable, too — order some green bean jelly and spicy and sour squid for the table." - Eater Staff

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/best-chinese-restaurants-food-dim-sum-hot-pot-in-the-twin-cities-minneapolis-st-paul
View Postcard for Lao Sze Chuan
@eater

The 21 Best Chinese Restaurants in Houston

"When Tony Hu opened Lao Sze Chuan in 1998, it was one of the first Sichuan restaurants in Chicago and made Hu a nationwide name. It has since expanded beyond Chicago, with the first Texas location opening in Katy in 2021 and the second in Montrose just this year (More locations in Houston, Dallas, and Austin are reportedly coming soon). Boasting a menu similar to the Chicago locations, Lao Sze Chuan offers its most popular dishes, including dry chili chicken wings, crispy shrimp in sweet and savory mango sauce, and mapo tofu. The crispy-skinned smoked tea duck, served with pillowy bao buns, is another highlight." - Brittany Britto Garley, Lane Gillespie

https://houston.eater.com/maps/best-chinese-restaurants-in-houston
View Postcard for Lao Sze Chuan 老四川
@eater

The Best Chinese Restaurants in Houston

"When Tony Hu opened Lao Sze Chuan in 1998, it was one of the first Sichuan restaurants in Chicago and made Hu a nationwide name. It has since expanded beyond Chicago, with the first Texas location opening in Katy in 2021 and the second in Montrose just this year (More locations in Houston, Dallas, and Austin are reportedly coming soon). Boasting a menu similar to the Chicago locations, Lao Sze Chuan offers its most popular dishes, including dry chili chicken wings, crispy shrimp in sweet and savory mango sauce, and mapo tofu. The crispy-skinned smoked tea duck, served with pillowy bao buns, is another highlight." - Brittany Britto Garley, Lane Gillespie

https://houston.eater.com/maps/best-chinese-restaurants-houston-texas
View Postcard for Lao Sze Chuan

Klaraaa S

Google
We have been eaten here multiple times since it was opened, and we are always satisfied with the food here. We’ve tried probably half of the menu, and everything tastes good so far. Lao Sze Chuan has the BEST Peking Duck in this area, no competitors, period (although it’s not 100% authentic, but this is the closet you can find in DMV) This place is one of the few places that provide authentic Szechuan flavor in DMV, but with the best atmosphere and dining environment. The food can be really spicy so be careful of what to order if you don’t eat spicy. I also got a birthday cake when celebrating my bday here and it was delicious!

Henry Zhang

Google
Tried Lao Sze Chuan after several recommendations from friends, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing overall—and even upsetting. The Never Forget Chicken(口水鸡) was the highlight, with fragrant chili oil and well-seasoned, tender meat. But the Chengdu Dan Dan Noodles(担担面) were unexpectedly sweet with zero spice, and the noodles were soft, not springy. I had to pour the chicken’s sauce over them to make them taste better. The White Bean and Pork Trotter Soup(老妈蹄花汤) was honestly the worst—tasted like it came from an artificial soup packet, not a fresh stew. Worse, there were visible hairs left on the pork trotters, which is unacceptable. The restaurant is decently decorated and reasonably clean, though I noticed some paper scraps on the floor. It wasn’t busy when I visited, yet the service was inattentive. I waited a long time before anyone came over. When the dishes were served, one had red chili oil stuck under the plate, and during takeout packing, the staff nearly knocked the bag into my food—I had to stop it myself. What truly ruined the experience, though, was the discriminatory attitude from one of the Mandarin-speaking staff. As a fellow Chinese speaker, I was treated casually, even dismissively. Yet when a white customer came in, that same staff member immediately greeted them warmly, explained dishes with enthusiasm, and even introduced the robot server. That kind of double standard is unacceptable, especially coming from someone in the same community. I might return just once more to try their main dishes like roast duck, but I won’t come back if the attitude stays the same.

Ed Yu

Google
Amazing restaurant with the best Peking duck you can get in the US. I knew of Lao Sze Chuan because I thought it had the best Peking Duck in the US when I visited the ones in Chicago. When I found out that there is one that I can order Uber Eats while in DC I decided to give it a try and it was so good I decided to come to the restaurant the next day to try the duck while it's warm. The restaurant is huge and very very well decorated. I almost felt like I was in China when I stepped in because of how well decorated it is. The people working here are interestingly not Chinese but I think they did a great job and you can tell they try their best even if they can be inexperienced at times. I'm surprised how much I liked the non Chinese servers here because I usually am picky about that for Asian restaurants. The duck is phenomenally roasted and extremely authentic. It's pretty much the best you can get here in the US. The skin is crispy with the right amount of crunchiness. The cuts are well balanced between meat and skin even though it's not done by a Chinese duck cutter. The girl did decent job even if there are cuts that should look more effortless but I like that she is certainly trying her best. Overall it didn't distract from the amazing taste. The price is also extremely reasonable. The spicy appetizer of beef tendon is also on point. It has the correct amount of spiciness. I know Lao Sze Chuan sometimes is a fusion restaurant and sometimes do mix some Cantonese food such as dim sum and Chow fun but I don't recommend them. I think you should order the duck and some Sichuan food here only. Overall I'm super glad it's expanding to more places and hopefully someday it will come to NorCal. I do hope they can survive because this location is amazing but I'm worried it's not as popular as it should be.

Rebecca Lynch

Google
The food is hit or miss. The Peking duck and beef were excellent—highly recommended. However, the steamed fish was bland, and the fish didn’t taste fresh. On the bright side, the service was great.

Rachel Barker

Google
Rockville’s De Facto Chinatown & a Sichuan Standout. Rockville serves as the de facto Chinatown in Maryland’s suburbs, and among its many authentic Sichuan restaurants, **Lao Sze Chuan** shines. Renowned for its *málà* ("numb and spicy") flavors, the food here is consistently terrific. After many visits, these are my must-order dishes: 5/5 Stars – Absolute Favorites - Crunchy Cucumber Salad (脆爽黄瓜卷)** – Perfectly crisp with a uniquely tasty sauce. Never Forget Chicken (成都口水鸡)– A standout spicy chicken dish, packed with flavor. - Dry Chili Cauliflower (干锅菜花)– A repeat order for me! The cauliflowers are wok-fried to a delicious, spicy crisp. - LSC Grilled Whole Fish (老四川烤鱼)– Fresh, tender, and unmatched in flavor. 4/5* Mapo Tofu (成都麻婆豆腐) – Tastes authentic, but the heavy grease slightly detracts. A top pick for Sichuan cuisine in the area—highly recommended for bold, fiery flavors!

Belle Nkamhoua

Google
Great for a large party and large celebration like birthdays, graduation or meeting with friend. Food selection is good and the fish was the highlight of the night. The staff was very patine and friendly as well and will definitely go back.

Rahul Panchal

Google
Food was good and so was service but plating of food wasn't setting the price. We ordered a cocktals like Golden tiger: 5/10 Dragon sour: 6/10 Berry Delight: 5/10 We ordered appetizer: Pan Fried pork Dumpling: 6/10 (good taste but plating was ok) Crunchy Cucumber Salad: 8/10 Entre we ordered Cumin lamb served on sizzling iron plate: 4/10 (it was not served on sizzling iron plate) Chef special dry chilli kobee beef: 7/10 (food was good but plating was not at all setting the price) Overall food was good taste was good service was good but not worth the price.

Serena Liao

Google
We have come to this restaurant twice recently, the first time just me and my husband, and the second time brought my whole family along. As Sichuanese, I would give it three stars. The small plates are definitely better, the main dishes are very salty and oily, flavor wise, nothing is too impressive. I took good pictures of their food, but we probably won’t come back.
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Eric W.

Yelp
This was an interesting restaurant with a contemporary vibe, which mostly focuses on Chinese cuisine. Food - Great, their xiaolongbao were good. the Peking duck as well as their fried flat noodles were great as well, but their crispy golden pear was not good, and I personally didn't think their sesame balls were worth the price. Service - Good Parking - They do not have their own parking lot, but there is parking on the streets nearby. Overall, this place is good.
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Phi N.

Yelp
Been here a few times now. It's a beautiful upscale Chinese restaurant that also serves alcohol. I'm not sure the concept works for me, but that shouldn't stop you! Maybe it's the right vibe for you Whole peking duck - although the meat was perfect, the skin could have been crispier. It's not much better than others restaurants but way more expensive. Also, you would think they could at least give more of wraps and vegetables for this price Yangzhou fried rice - good basic fried rice Lobster with ginger and garlic sauce - it's like wedding lobster. Should have tried one of the other sauces Tibetan lamb chop - too much cumin for my palate Dry chili kobe beef - my favorite dish from what we ordered Mapo tofu with beef - first time having it with beef; not a big fan Sauteed peapod leafs savory broth -first time I've seen this smart tip option. You can add 2%, 3%, 5%, or 7% to the automatically added gratuity (because of our party size) -great service for a Chinese restaurant, which is apart of their upscale theme
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Vladimir K.

Yelp
Peking Duck is the best and octopus rings was good too. We had cocktails discounted to $10 and everyone was happy Minus one star for the service when our waiter tried to get us out so quickly so possible which was absolutely not appropriate
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Mark S.

Yelp
Made reservations here for a large family gathering. Food was delicious and the ambiance was so nice. Such a beautiful restaurant located in a nice area. We ordered some of the more Americanized Chinese dishes because the kids all wanted noodles, dumplings, general tsos. But we also ordered some authentic dishes. All the food was so fresh and delicious. The waiter was knowledgeable and the restaurant gave out goodie bags for the kids for Halloween (this was the weekend before Halloween). Great place for families and large gatherings!

Brielle D.

Yelp
Some of the best Szechuan I've ever had! Peking duck is a must get. The half-order is sufficient for two. Also the General Tso's chicken was really delicious. Loved the Jasmine tea with my meal. Also ordered crab& pork soup dumplings, as well as the string beans. Both tasty! But not necessarily a must-order in my book. Service was amazing, really kind and speedy. Would make a reservation for sure if on weekend. Beautiful atmosphere too. Overall, a great experience. Can't wait to return!
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April S.

Yelp
We reserved a table for our annual Sassy Sister Christmas Dinner last year (2023) - enjoyed it so much - that we're doing it again this year! Happy Holidays!
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Lina T.

Yelp
I came here with my family this past Friday evening to celebrate mother's day with for me, my SIL and MIL. We were a party of six adults and three children total. We made reservations ahead of time and were immediately seated. I appreciated that a high chair was already setup for my son along with plastic plate, utensils and a child cup. Our server took our order and from that point on it went downhill. I was severely disappointed with the service especially at the price point of the menu... at $20-$40 a dish I'd at least expect dishes to come out in a timely manner, our drinks to be refilled and just getting checked on throughout our meal. Our server Nick is the only reason why I am not giving this place 1 star. Nick tried his best to check on us, but we saw other staff with water pitchers just staring off into space and we sat through the majority of our meal with empty glasses... rationing our water as we couldn't get attention for a refill till we were basically almost done with our meal. As for the food, some of the food was decent.... but the order in which it came out made zero sense. We had to ask for rice several times and the veggies came out at the very end. It would've been nice to enjoy rice and veggies with the various meat dishes we ordered. - Full Set Peking Duck - The best thing on the menu, well cooked, flavorful and the presentation was nice. - Pork Soup Dumpling - One of the worst soup dumplings I have had... dry, overcooked skin with minimal soup and filling inside each dumpling. - Chengdu Dan Dan Noodle - Not terrible and not amazing. - Crispy Shrimp with Lemon Sauce - Flavorful and the crispy topping on the shrimp was good, this was the second best thing on the menu. - Chef's Special Dried Chili Tofu - This was super spicy and came out freshly cooked. The outside was nice and crispy while the inside was soft tofu. This was the third best thing on the menu. - Pan Fried Cod Fish - Not terrible and not amazing. - General Tso's Chicken - Not terrible and not amazing. - Sautéed Chinese Spinach - Not terrible and not amazing. Overall I am not impressed with Lao Sze Chuan, again, at the price point of the menu I would expect better quality food and better service. I regret coming here and do not plan on returning despite a handful of the dishes actually being good. The whole experience was so unsatisfactory....
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Victoria S.

Yelp
A great dinner with top notch food and gracious service, with beautiful ambiance. The interior was really spacious, modern and inviting. The host and servers were very accommodating and professional, as well as helpful with questions. We even had a chance to chat with the manager briefly about possibly hosting a party here. Onto the food: since they specialize in Sichuan province cuisine, we went with their Dan Dan noodles and their mapo tofu (both Sam's meat). The noodles tasted handpulled and were perfect textures. The sauce had plenty of garlic, ginger, vinegar and chilis. Everything was well balanced. The mapo tofu had peppercorns, scallions, chili Oil and black bean sauce. We loved both dishes. The menu has other traditional offerings (Peking duck, dry chili chicken, spicy boiled fish). It also has items not seen in most restaurants (fried golden pears). Need to come back to try other signature foods!
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Joshua H.

Yelp
Nice upscale interior. As far as the food it was not bad. The chicken and tofu was really good. Fish left some to be desired however the filets had a bit of a fishy taste and the sauce wasn't my favorite.
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Britney B.

Yelp
From first glance, the restaurant is spacious and beautifully decorated. It's definitely aiming to be perceived as a high-end, luxurious space. Reservations can be made and are recommended! There is also free parking at the nearby garage. Our server was helpful and gave us some recommendations, but he stopped serving us after we received our food which was disappointing. I really liked how the Peking Duck is presented, especially the skin in the brown sugar! I just wished we could have gotten more plum sauce and veggies for the wrap. My table also ordered the Boston Lobster with Mapo Tofu. While it was delicious, I do not think it was worth the price point. It's not the cheapest place to go to but could be a good choice for a family gathering or celebrating a special occasion.
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Judy P.

Yelp
The ambience was awful. A bunch of high school kids working there with limited coordination and attentiveness to customers. Screaming babies and children roaming the restaurant without parental supervision. The food was just OK - not great, and we are likely not to return. The drink selection was basic, and the servers are not old enough to give us an informed recommendation on wine or cocktails. The Peking duck in particular was a huge disappointment, especially for the price. The dumplings tasted like they may have been frozen, but we did really enjoy the Singapore rice noodles, the beef and tripe appetizer, and the eggplant dish was ok. Overall, our experience was disappointing.

Phil C.

Yelp
The good news is that the Peking duck is very good. I used to come here often. The not-so-good news is from my last visit. As a waitress was putting a dish on the table, she knocked over my beer glass, spilling a full glass on my lap. She ran off - I thought to get something to help me try to dry off - but came back with a mop to wipe the floor and put up a "Wet Floor" sign. The manager was even less helpful - she said I could go to the men's room and use the air blower to dry off. So, I excused myself and went home, leaving my relatives to continue the meal. Later, I asked if the restaurant did anything over the incident; the reply was, "They comped us your beer." I realize mistakes happen, and I didn't make a fuss over it at the restaurant, but this was poor treatment of a guest.
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Taylor D.

Yelp
Their private dining room is super cute! And the food was very reasonably priced and pretty tasty. It's definitely a cute spot in the North Bethesda area.
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Heidi L.

Yelp
New place that I have not explore before. It was a recommendation by someone so my in law family decided to celebrate birthday. Accessible parking under Whole Food parking garage. Presentable interior. The food was decent and the service was okay. I'm not too impressed by their food quality compared to other local restaurants in MD but still worth trying if you want to bring special guest for elevated dining experience
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Drew L.

Yelp
Excellent food, service and ambiance. The private room for 12 was just right for our group. The management was accommodative and the evening turned into a memorable one. All guests were pleased with this restaurant. Well done!
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Shaila A.

Yelp
Wow! This place is phenomenal, I'm glad I went with a larger group so we can experience more dishes! I was absolutely blown away by the fish soup, unsure if that was the actual name of it as we just went around the table and everyone ordered something for the table! Family style dishes, even the orange chicken blew us away! Service was great and helped with suggestions for those that were stuck on deciding! Definitely will be coming back as there's so much more to tr
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Jolny J.

Yelp
Food: food was absolutely delicious, especially the Peking duck. The addition of brown sugar with the skin really gave the dish another dimension, and is leap and bounds above my normal homemade Peking duck rolls. I was really surprised! The good thing is, it justified the higher price point. Service: service was unfortunately lacking especially in a fine dining space. Our server only came to serve the food but did not check up on us other than that, which wasn't a huge problem to me, but I just felt that it could be better. Ambiance: fine dining space, a good date spot, but dimly lit

L W.

Yelp
Great food and atmosphere! Service was outstanding. We went for our daughter's birthday with a party of 10. Our group included vegans, pescatarians, and carnivores. Everyone enjoyed their meal and we all left happy with food to spare.

Chak C.

Yelp
My wife and I went to Lao Sze Chuan in Bethesda for dinner on Sunday. The restaurant has a beautiful, upscale ambiance, with a high-end feel to the decor. The service was excellent--our waiter greeted us warmly and checked on us regularly throughout the meal. Appetizers: We started with the Never Forget Chicken, a cold chicken dish served with chili oil. I've always loved this dish--the spicy flavor on the cold chicken is spot-on, and the peanuts and sesame seeds add a nice texture. We also ordered the Crunchy Cucumber Salad, which was equally amazing. The vinegar flavor was refreshing, making it a light and tasty appetizer. Main Dishes: For the main course, we ordered the half-set of Peking Duck, which came with Chinese-style steamed pancakes. The proper way to enjoy Peking duck is by wrapping the duck meat, scallions, cucumbers, and plum sauce in the pancake. Overall, it was a good dish, but not extraordinary. The standout for me was the Sweet and Sour Mandarin Fish, a fried whole fish topped with a sweet and sour sauce. The fish had a perfect crispy texture on the outside, while still being tender inside. The sauce balanced the oiliness of the fried fish, making it delicious without being too heavy. For vegetables, we had the Dried Chili Cauliflower, which was my favorite dish of the night. The cauliflower had a great kick from the chili, and I ended up ordering white rice to go with it--definitely a must-try. Overall: Lao Sze Chuan is a fantastic restaurant with great food. While it is a bit on the pricey side, the quality and experience make it worth it.
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Jessica N.

Yelp
Beautiful restaurant with attentive staff. This elevates the chinese cuisine experience. I had the peking duck (it was so good i forgot to take a picture), the cumin lamb chops and the crunchy cucumber salad. All were very yummy. The cumin lamb chops do have a good spice to them, and before we ordered our waiter warned us that we couldn't send it back if it was too spicy - not a problem at all. Not to mention it comes on fire to your table! The mapo tofu is also so delicious if you like Szechuan style spice.
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Mimi W.

Yelp
Ambiance was great, warm lighting and nicely decorated, feels upscale with prices to match. Service was ok, they were busy and everything was a bit slow. Food was presented beautifully but a little pricey when considering the taste. I came here for a party when I snapped the pics, so some items might've been off the menu, but still cooked by their chefs. Also came here separately for dinner and got the half Peking duck, again beautifully presented but was a small portion compared to price. Somewhat typical for Peking duck these days I guess. Taste was ok, good but not the best I've had. I've been to many Chinese places in the DMV, NYC and LA, or even Tampa has surprisingly good Chinese places, so I may be a bit more critical on taste for Chinese food especially when compared to price. I would say ambiance was a 4.5, service a 3, and food taste a 3. So really a 3.5.
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Dara A.

Yelp
Food 6/10 Sichuan Spicy Wonton in Red Oil: 12/10-- my favorite thing we ate! So so sooooo good! Hot & Sour Soup: the perfect hangover recovery soup Dry Chili Chicken: 4/10-- i was recommended this but I was highly disappointed and barely touched it. It has a very strange after taste & it gave my mouth an odd tingly feeling that made everything taste weird. Beef & Broccoli: You can't go wrong with beef & broccoli! I def enjoyed it more than my dry chili chicken. The service was ok.. we were left waiting long times when we shouldn't have since we came towards the end of lunch and it was pretty dead in there. Super cute place that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Elegant decor.
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Julia P.

Yelp
If you love sze chuan food and not afraid to spend some $$$, this is the spot! They make my favorite dry chili chicken -- beware, it's SPICY (and I love it)! Portion is on the smaller side especially given price, but if you want mouth numbing chili chicken, this place is it. They also have a different Chef Tony's chicken (non spicy) and this is more on the sweeter side, somewhere between kungfu - orange chicken. It's great too and balances out the spiciness. Never forget chicken appetizer was decent, my group of friends loved slices beef and tripe appetizer but I'm not into intestines and could've done without. Heard the place has good peking duck so I'm hoping to try that one of these days. The place is HUGE and ambiance is great. Dress code is pretty casual but it's definitely somewhere I could bring my parents for a nice lunch or dinner too. Service is good - one downside is you need to order your rice separately, they sadly don't come with entrees which I thought was a bummer. Other than that, a delicious spot.
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Yen T.

Yelp
Bird was our waiter and he was amazing. Food was great,, service is what did it for me. Very attentive staff. Loved the ambiance and decor.
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Susy P.

Yelp
This is our second time here and is going to be our last. We received a gift card from my friend so we thought we would give it a second try. We made a reservation a few days before which is a must. It was very busy on a Saturday night with kids dressed to go to homecoming, which was sweet to see. we ordered wonton soups and hot and sour soup's that were very bland and needed extra spices and soy sauce to go in to favor it. The combination fried rice was even more bland, and the triple delight was no delight. It had all shrimp and limited chicken. We ordered the pork and garlic sauce, and that helped to give flavor to all the bland food. But it had too much sauce. We watched someone cut the Peking duck at another table, and the process was laborious. I watch the patrons bang their chopsticks on their plate impatiently waiting and another on their phone as it was taking so long as the waitress cut up the duck. the atmosphere is beautiful, but the food is not. I would recommend another place.
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Starr D.

Yelp
Want some fancy Chinese foods but still authentic and delicious??? Come to Lao Si Chuan This place is great for both family gatherings & mix crowd parties. They have something for everybody. The BeiJing Duck is pretty good along with the spicy chicken, eggplants + string beans, steamed fish, various appetizers and more. We have tried most of the dishes off the menu at this point and everything was delicious. Their game was kicked up a notch after the alcohol license arrived, definitely check out the drinks menu. There is street parkings and garage parking in the same building, very convenient.
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Sana S.

Yelp
Without a doubt, my top pick for Chinese cuisine in North Bethesda! From the restaurant's ambiance to the exceptional service, including the unique addition of a robot assisting the servers, it's a solid 10 out of 10. Highly recommended. We kicked off our dining experience with some drinks - the Espresso Martini, a delightful new addition to their menu, proved to be a favorite as I ended up ordering two more! My friends highly recommended the Classic Manhattan and Zombie cocktails. We also indulged in the Fuji Volcano, a captivating presentation with flames in the middle, perfect for rum/brandy enthusiasts. Now onto the food. We started with a selection of appetizers - the cucumber salad, Schezuan chili wontons, chef's special dry chili chicken, and shrimp dumplings. This lineup has become our go-to order every visit, as we're absolutely enamored with these appetizers. For the main course, we savored the Ma Po Tofu and Eggplant in Spicy Garlic Sauce - hands down, the best Ma Po Tofu I've ever tasted, and the eggplant was equally delightful. Additionally, we tried the lamb chops, which boasted an impressive presentation with fire, though the flavors didn't quite win me over. In summary, this establishment reigns supreme for Chinese cuisine in the area!
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Myisha N.

Yelp
So I like to take my daughter on dinner dates . This was her choice. Upon entering the place appeared cleaned. I was helped right away. Maybe 3 minutes before we sat down. The decor was pretty and it can also be a spot for a date or family outing. It was definitely accommodating. Our server was really nice and knew the menu pretty well. I got a few different things. My daughter wanted the lamb chops. They came on a plate with fire. Very instagrammable (if that's a word, lol) for sure. She was stoked about her meal. That's 16 for ya!!! My favorite was this cucumber salad. It was amazing. I'm gluten sensitive so my options were very limited. However food was tasty and service was great. I'll come again if in the area. Wouldn't go out my way due to limited gluten free options. Otherwise, great little hidden gem!!!! Go visit, wouldn't disappoint!!!
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John B.

Yelp
We are here last night. The soups (hot and sour and wonton) were very good. The pork buns and the fried dumplings were also very good. The Peking duck was good; but over priced I thought ($88). It was a good quantity though. The sweet and sour chicken was not good. The flavor was bland and the chicken was over cooked. The Kao Pao shrimp was ok, but also a pretty bland and had no hotness to it even though I tried to order it medium heat. We liked the ambiance a lot; it is an upscale restaurant. Now the service. Unfortunately we had a waiter that spoke very little English so we struggled to be able to communicate about the food and questions we had. Also, we did not really have much service during the meal itself.
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Linda O.

Yelp
I'm very impressed by the cooking. Although having dined here only twice, everything I've had thus far is high-quality and sophisticated. It's the best new restaurant find for me in 2023. There are various menus, so don't go strictly by what is posted on their website; there's way more when you go in person. The Tibetan lamb chops are downright sublime. I enjoy the stir-fried ichiban eggplant and string beans--so delicately prepared. And the General Tso's chicken makes me realize what I've been missing out on at other spots. Pricing is up there, but the portions are generous. I get 2-3 meals out of a dinner entrée. Lunch is less expensive however smaller in size. Figuring out where Lao Sze Chuan is located feels like following a labyrinth to a certain extent. It's tucked away in a complex, but a sizable and elegant space upon entry.
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Vandad C.

Yelp
Pretty great experience overall but a couple of things were kind of weird like dishes served without rice, robot waiter bringing plates with no utensils, human waiter eavesdropping and jumping into our conversation. I'm also told this is authentic Chinese food, I have no idea and all I can say is that it's good but greasy as heck. Also the drink menu is kind of not great.
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Jamie S.

Yelp
Baaaaabbbyyyyy let me tell y'all we had a time at this restaurant. I went with the girls to celebrate my birthday and I will DEFINITELY be going back. The vibe: it gives luxury, it gives one of those fancy restaurants you would see in a good Korean or Chinese drama. It gives Crazy Rich Asians because the clothes and bags were definitely designer and not the standard brands you see everyone wearing. The Service: was great! Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable. He put us on to the special at the time which one just downloading an app and getting a bottle of house red wine for $1. The bottle is typically in the $10 price range but who can be mad at a discount and some red wine?! They also had some robots delivering meals and dishes which was very cool. The food: banging! We always try to taste a number of items to get a feel for the restaurant and everything was really good but let me tell y'all about the Chicken in Scallion Garlic. The bomb! The chicken was fried well but very juicy yet crispy at the same time. I'm a sauce girl so I wish it came with a sauce but the crunchy fried garlic and scallions hit the spot. Overall definitely a spot to check out if you want a fine dining experience without breaking the bank.
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Frank W.

Yelp
We brought my father, who was born in China and grew up in Taiwan, to Lao Sze Chuan, and he was satisfied by the dinner despite declaring the establishment caters to Westerners. The name means old Sichuan. It is not uncommon. This restaurant belongs to a high end national chain. Others calling themselves by the same title might have different English names. The dishes were good. They were moderately spicy; we did not inquire about making them more so. We had a couple of dim sum items. For mains, we had a fish; tofu; and the eggplant and string beans. The highlight was the egg battered shrimp. The coating was moderately thick, just right; this isn't tempura, for which lighter is best. The service was prompt. They had a robot that I saw run one delivery to a table. The space is vast, with ample room to spread out. We went early. They started to fill up. I forgot my cap. They had it at the front desk when we returned five minutes later. I would eat here again.
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Tonya H.

Yelp
Lao Sze Chuann has great service. This is my second time here. This is a beautiful restaurant and the food is amazing. The staff here is top notch. They took the time to explain some menu options and even made great recommendations.
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Sean L.

Yelp
duck's blood, beef and tripe in spicy soup is the BEST in DMV Crab/ Pork Soup Dumpling is tasteful, not bad, would also recommend it!
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Luan L.

Yelp
Amazing service and food. Large portion sizes. Great restaurant for family dining. Had a wonderful time.
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Lauren R.

Yelp
The food was great. Drinks were made well. - They make it pretty obvious that they prefer larger parties since they don't allow reservations for 2, and all of the table are big enough for AT LEAST 6 people, if not more.
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An T.

Yelp
Dine in date: Friday 5/12/23 7pm The restaurant seem pretty semi-casual. We ordered a variety of dishes to try. 2 main entrees that worth trying are: The lamb chop was tender and flavorful served with open flame. Full course Peking duck was pretty good, served with cucumber, scallions, pancakes and 2 type of sauces. Overall, foods was decent, come out fairly quick. Service was good and attentive.
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Janet L.

Yelp
To be clear, this is not a dim sum restaurant. They have some dim sum dishes but definitely not enough to eat for a full meal. The restaurant is beautiful and the tables are spaced well so you have ample room and separation from other guests. The food was also delicious but a bit on the pricy side. I got a few of the dim sum dishes and the soup dumplings were definitely a highlight. The only feedback I could provide would be to provide spoons for the xiao long bao. Overall, I would definitely go again for a high quality, Szechuan meal and would recommend to others!
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Kevin L.

Yelp
One of my favorite food is peking duck. Today we decided to surprise my wife with a nice dinner. Went with a group if friends and we did family style. We got a bunch of things to share. The most notable for me was the Chef's special dry Chili prawn. Jam packed with flavor and great texture. The peking duck was good but not as good as peking gourmet inn. The soup dumpling wasn't bad but I like yu noodles better. The ambiance was really nice. This is a higher end Chinese restaurant. The decor is nice and elegant. The service was pretty good. I felt the servers that were helping us were attentive. I believe the front desk reception needs some work. But I won't let the front desk deter me from eating here. Definitely go check it out!
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Julie D.

Yelp
Visited Lao Sze Chuan and was captivated by the restaurant's beauty. The private room for 20 was a great choice, but the $800 minimum spend and deposit requirement were a bit steep. The stars of the show for me were: -Pan Fried Cod: Buttery texture with well seasoned crispy skin. It was everyone's favorite! Beware of bones though. -Chef Tony's Chicken: Little chicken poppers popping with heat and flavor. -Peking Duck: A little overpriced, but the brown sugar skin and duck itself were to die for. Everything melts in your mouth and the meat was super tender. Dishes I would skip next time: -Chinese Gai Lan: Was really expensive for the type of dish. Didn't wow me. -Chef 's Special Dry Chili Prawn: The shrimp was dry and the shell was actually tough to take off due to the way the shrimp was cut. Service was top-notch, but the small portions and high prices docked a star. Ideal for special events, but be mindful of the costs.
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Brooke N.

Yelp
Great food, picturesque space, and quick service! If you like strong cocktails, this is a good spot for you. Would good back to try more of the popular menu items.

Nakia C.

Yelp
I enjoyed this restaurant so much . The atmosphere is amazing and the food is 10/10. This is my new go to spot after a long week of work. The waitress was amazing. She suggested some great drinks for me and my line sister. I will be here more often .
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Alice W.

Yelp
Currently one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the DMV area! Hailing from Chicago, Lao Sze Chuan makes traditional Sichuan dishes. The interior is gorgeous, way fancier than what I expected (although that doesn't mean you have to dress up). It's ideal if you're trying to impress family, friends, or business associates. Weekends are pretty busy, but you can likely stroll in without a reservation on weeknights. I've been here three times and recommend the following dishes: + Pork soup dumplings ($13.95 for 6) + Sichuan spicy wontons in red oil ($9.95) + Sichuan-style sliced beef and tripe ($17.95) + Sweet and sour Mandarin fish ($39.95) + Peking duck (full set is $88, half set is $48) + Chef's Special dry chili chicken ($27.95) + Chengdu mapo tofu with beef ($18.95) The Peking duck in particular is SO GOOD. Forget about Peking Gourmet Inn. The duck is carved tableside and comes with housemade plum sauce, scallions, cucumbers, pancakes, and crispy duck skin in brown sugar. They are very generous with their pancakes and if you ask, you can take the carcass home (it's great for making duck soup). The full set was enough for our group of four. The other dishes are all very flavorful and delicious. I haven't had a bad dish here yet. And the portions are generally fairly substantial, and we often have leftovers for the next day. Service is superb. The staff come to check up frequently and are helpful and accommodating.
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Jason J.

Yelp
I was looking for a Chinese restaurant that was also a great experience. One of my pet peeves has been getting fresh Chinese food that didn't seem rushed. Mission accomplished. Great food and a great atmosphere here make it great find.
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Sika A.

Yelp
I've given Lao Sze Chuan three chances, ordering carryout twice when they first opened and again yesterday. Unfortunately, all three experiences were disappointing. The food consistently lacked flavor, the noodles were greasy and dry, and when I paid an extra $2 to add chicken, it was missing from the dish. To add insult to injury, a black pen was carelessly left in the paper bag with my order. I'm baffled by their 4-star Yelp rating, and I hope they take feedback seriously and make necessary improvements to their food, service, and attention to detail. Rockville and Bethesda are hubs for excellent Asian cuisine, but this restaurant falls short of the mark and fails to meet the standards set by its peers in the area.
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N Denise H.

Yelp
Food was excellent! Drinks were great but small. No pics as we were out with friends and honestly, I forgot!. But you can't go wrong with the food here. Next time I will take pictures! Oh and make sure if it's a special day, make reservations.
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竖直

Yelp
就餐环境优雅,服务生态度超好,餐品品相超赞。价格有点小贵,不过这样餐厅吃的不仅仅是菜。另外,糖醋里脊做的不怎么样?肉干干的,味道不对头,希望后厨改进。 就餐环境优雅,服务生态度超好,餐品品相超赞。价格有点小贵,不过这样餐厅吃的不仅仅是菜。另外,糖醋里脊做的不怎么样?肉干干的,味道不对头,希望后厨改进。
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PHAN D.

Yelp
Good food. Bad service. Beautiful restaurant. Must agree with the many reviews stating that this place is overpriced for what you're getting. Go to Eden or around there to get better food for a fraction of the price. We waited so long without being greeted by a waiter that I had to flag someone down. We put in our entire order and then our actual waiter showed up and we had to do it again. Food runners did great getting out the food. Zero explanation of anything but it showed up. Soup dumplings had very little soup and were not piping hot. The Peking duck was good and presented beautifully. The fried rice was mediocre. The lamb came out with the plate on fire. Nice theatrics. And then first bite we find that the lamb chops were well done. Had to physically run down a waiter to get our check. There were only a handful of tables seated in the entire restaurant so no excuse as to the slow service. Doubt I will be coming back.