Natasha G.
Yelp
I'd never had this particular subgenre of cuisine, Tibetan-Sichuan, before trying Nha Sang's food, and for the sake of fairness, I am evaluating it as its own genre instead of judging it against other Sichuan food (much like, say, TexMex is very different from other regional Mexican food). Per the Eater article about the restaurant, Tibetans are the largest ethnic minority in Chengdu, so it makes sense that they'd develop their own regional take on the cuisine.
First off, I think the food at Nha Sang is great, and they've done wonderful things with this space that had long been looking worn down and underutilized. The dining space has tall ceilings, interesting artifacts in their decor, and a private party room!
I have gotten a selection of different menu items from different parts of the menu, though I haven't really gotten any of the American Chinese food (like General Tso's chicken) and have mostly stuck with either the Tibetan or the Sichuan items. If you are comparing the food to other Sichuan restaurants, I do think that the food here leans slightly sweeter, which makes sense given the regionality. I really enjoyed the Tibetan items, and would especially recommend the stew called Thentuk (which I ordered with beef); it has a savory flavor and herby thick broth, and delicious seemingly handmade chunky noodles that stand up well to the texture of the soup.
From the Sichuan menu, the braised fish filet with Napa cabbage was great -- it's slicked with a fiery chili oil and well-spiced, and the boneless-and-breaded Chongqing chicken takes you on a terrific salty-crunchy-spicy mouth journey. I found the mapo tofu pretty good but more reliant on black bean paste (and with a hint of sweetness) than I am used to. The Sichuan cold noodles and Dan Dan noodles are both pretty solid picks, and I'd probably lean toward the delicious nutty taste of the Dan Dan if I had to pick between the two. The wok-fried green beans are pretty solid if missing a tiny bit of the wok hei char that I like, but they come in a nice sauce.
Lunch specials here are a great value ($9.97 for an entree, white rice, and soup), and overall prices seem quite fair for portion sizes. I am highly impressed by their friendly service and very efficient operations; when I visited early on soon after they opened, they were running so smoothly in a way I rarely see in new restaurants, and they prepare things quite fast even during busy parts of the day. I look forward to trying more of their menu and am so excited that Nha Sang has brought a new kind of cuisine to Elmhurst!