TAI ER SICHUAN CUISINE 太二川菜 (SAN MATEO)

The food at Tai-Er Sichuan Cuisine is delicious, with bold flavors and just the right amount of spice. The service is friendly and attentive, making the meal enjoyable from start to finish. Portions are not very big, so it’s a good idea to order a few extra dishes if you’re sharing. It can get crowded during dinner time, so be prepared for a short wait. Overall, tasty food and good service — worth checking out!

We visited as a party of 6 (4 adults and 2 kids) on a Sunday at 5pm There was no wait, we got seated at a spacious booth right away. The hostess did let us know they take reservation for next day's table, but nothing farther ahead. We ordered the sauerkraut fish, spicy chili chicken, spicy wontons, stir fried string beans, crispy pork strips appetizer and a kids meal for one of our older kids. Everything came out quickly and the dishes were all flavorful! Our favorites were the sauerkraut fish (we ordered mild), the fish filets were perfectly cooked, pillow-soft and super tender. The Sichuan peppercorns gave it a very appropriate "ma" on the tip of the tongue. The chili chicken is not greasy at all and the chicken very juicy. They do not yet have a liquor license it seems, but they do serve up some tasty sounding mocktails! Like all other lively Chinese restaurants, expect a loud atmosphere. I found myself yelling across the table at times, just to carry out a conversation Come check this place out!

I first heard about Tai Er through an SF Chronicle Instagram post praising this Sichuan chain’s long-awaited Bay Area arrival, especially their Signature Sauerkraut Fish Soup. Naturally, I had to try it. Service & Atmosphere: The staff were warm and welcoming, and the service was impressively fast—dishes hit the table almost immediately. The space itself, however, felt a bit flat: brightly lit, but without much atmosphere or mood. Food: We ordered a mix: the famous soup, two appetizers, two protein dishes, and noodles. The sauerkraut fish soup lived up to its reputation—bright, tangy, and comforting—and the wontons and cucumber salad were also standouts. Beyond that, the dishes ranged from just fine to forgettable, nothing bad, but nothing that made me want to run back and reorder either. Overall Impression: It was a good meal and I’m glad I tried it, but it didn’t quite meet the hype the Chronicle had built up. In a city with such a high bar for dining, Tai Er lands more in the “solid” than “sensational” category. I’d return, especially for the soup, but I don’t see myself craving it. San Mateo may still be catching up to San Francisco’s dining scene, and this place feels like part of that effort.

It was a calm friday afternoon when a friend and I wanted to hang out in San Mateo and we decided to go to Tai Er as it is the newest restaurant in the area. The servers are super nice, and take their time to politely explain the concept and help you decide what to get, however the most obvious must order dish is the sauerkraut fish. They have a normal a la carte menu but they also order 2 different combos. So, we ended up choosing the combo that includes the sauerkraut fish. This combo came with a beef dish, as well as some vegetables, fried pork and dessert. Of all the dishes the dessert was the best as it was some crispy mochi with really good ice cream and great flavor. However, all of the dishes were actually really good and came out quickly. The value of this place is also really impressive. For a combo meant for 2 people, it could easily feed at least 3-4 people, so the value is really good. Though these flavors are not the type I typically enjoy, they were really great. The service and the attention to detail here are also really impressive. Definitely get take out boxes at the end of the meal as they have really cool bags as well!

Came on a weekday for lunch, and there was no wait! We ordered the sauerkraut fish spicy, chongqing fried chicken, mapo tofu, and wok seared black pepper beef. All of these dishes were delicious! The sauerkraut fish was more numbing than spicy. The chicken and beef were both so tender. The mapo tofu was flavorful and decently spicy. A little pricey but brought home a lot of leftovers. Will definitely be one of my go to restaurants!

We ordered the sauerkraut fish and the crispy pork strips. The pork was good, the ketchup mixed with the dry spice was a nice touch. The fish portion was good (totally enough for two people) and the flavors were solid, though I personally wish there were options to add more ingredients to the dish. Service was decent overall. A staff member checked in midway through our meal, which I really appreciated.

Recommend making a reservation to avoid a long wait. The food came out super quickly which was nice to enjoy all at once. I would get the Signature Sauerkraut Fish (though a bit oily) and Crispy Calamari again. The Sichuan Spicy Wontons and Cumin Lamb was decent but I would opt to try something different next time. The Chongqing Spicy Crispy Chicken was not bad but better at other Sichuan restaurants.

Second time here and better than the first. I'd recommend coming with a group of 4 to 6. Our server was Steven and he was great! He gave us really good recommendations like the black pepper beef but of course the star of the show is the fish soup! Probably one of my favorites. I think they do it really well here. Love the pickled greens aka sauerkraut. We ordered so much good but the bill came to $40 per person (we had a group of 5 people). What a great deal for a delicious and fulfilling meal. We even had a small leftover of the fish to take home. Our favorite was the ice creamon a teeny tiny cone at the end of our dinner. So cute! We asked for seconds! Tip: call an hour ahead of when you want to eat to put your name on the wait list. Plan accordingly or else it's a 90 + min wait. Not sure why they haven't opened up the Yelp wait-list yet. It's definitely worth the wait but why wait?

Good food Good service Good ambiance It was a Pleasant surprise for us as no one had recommended the place just a little note in the paper. We will be back!

Food comes in proper portions and all tastes great as expected. Servers are pretty attentive and came to check in on us a few times. Pon also gave us free soft serve for all of us!! This place is packed most of the time so reservation recommended!

Food was great, service was great. When I arrived at 12:30 there was quite some people waiting outside. Luckily I made a reservation. Food was quickly served, I will definitely be back to try out some other dishes next time.

I decided to visit Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine on a Saturday for lunch around 12:45 pm. They had a 30-45 minute wait for those without a reservation, but since I went in a party of 2, we were able to snag the last 2 bar seats. Our server was very attentive and was able to any of our questions. What We Ordered: Chili Oil Chicken - We loved this dish. The chicken was dressed with chili oil and the numbing spice. I'm not sure what other spices or ingredients they put in it that makes it taste so unique, but I recommend trying this dish at least once. I also loved that the chicken was served on a layer of cucumbers which was super refreshing after almost dying of spice lol. My spice tolerance is pretty low so I was sweating while eating this. Signature Sauerkraut Fish (Mild) - This dish was super yummy as well. The fish was tender and the broth was a bit sour and spicy, but hearty at the same time. We ordered a half portion of rice to eat with it, but honestly, maybe a full bowl would have been better to share for 2 people. I'd definitely recommend getting this dish with rice. It absorbs the broth in such a perfect way and tastes so good. When our bill came, they had accidentally charged us for a full portion of rice instead of a half portion so they gave us a bowl of mango pomelo sago. We appreciated it, but unfortunately found the dessert itself to be just okay since it was a little watered down and bitter from the pomelo. Overall, I'd love to come back to Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine again. If you're not used to eating spicy food, prepare for your stomach to burn haha.

Visited Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine on a Thursday without reservation. Luckily, we got seated after 5 mins. Everything we ordered was packed with flavor. I went with my Chinese friends, so they picked all the dishes for us to share haha... We tried their popular fish dish (the one everyone gets!) and it was incredible -- super tender fish in a rich, tangy, spicy broth that hits all the right Sichuan notes. The shrimp with noodles was another standout, with chewy noodles and a great savory kick. The bokchoy was simple but fresh and perfectly cooked, a nice break from all the heat. The chicken buried in a mountain of chilies was exactly what I hoped for -- crispy bites with that addictive, numbing-but-delicious Sichuan peppercorn feel. And for dessert, the fried mochi with ice cream was the perfect finish: warm, crunchy outside and melty on the inside. Portions were generous, service was quick with constant water refill, and the spice level is no joke (in a good way). However, you can always adjust to mild. We also got hot tea, but it wasn't that good (not recommended). Definitely worth a visit if you love bold Sichuan flavors!

First time customer here last month. Order their beef signature dish with rice . It was OK but nothing great and very expensive. I will not be back .

I have been anticipating trying this place ever since I found out one of my favorite places that sells Mapo Tofu closed down. The first time I went here, the staff said that the Mapo tofu was sold out due to some big event that had happened but it would return on that same Sunday. Best believe, was there that same Sunday to try the food and I'm so glad I came back. I've tried the Mapo Tofu, Wok Seared black pepper beef and the Sichuan Spicy Wontons. The Spicy wontons are a great appetizer with the perfect amount of spice. The meat inside is juicy and makes you want to get a second order. The Wok Seared black pepper beef is tender and flavorful. It also has mushrooms and a couple of other vegetables included that pairs well with the beef. I'm not sure what sauce is used but it's really good. The Mapo Tofu is my favorite dish here. I don't find the dish too spicy but it's probably because I have a high spice tolerance. If you can't handle spicy food, I would err on the side of caution with this dish. My only complaint is that there is no rice included for any of the main dishes. I've only ordered to go so far but I feel like you would have to pay for a side of rice/noodles to be included with your meal. Overall, the food is very good here and I'll have to dine in one day when I have more time.

We tried the signature fish soup at Tai Er. It tastes authentic, but best to be paired with some complimentary side dishes. We ordered fried crispy pork but that turned out too greasy. Perhaps better to go with a big group.

I found the food here pretty confusing, as to be fair it all tasted good but I would not call it Sichuanese food. We ordered the sauerkraut fish (their signature dish), the beef fried rice, the mapo tofu, and the Chong Qing spicy fried chicken. The sauerkraut fish tasted pretty heavily of white pepper and not much of sauerkraut, despite the sauerkraut itself being quite strong. The mapo tofu didn't taste like mapo tofu, but more like tofu cooked in prepackaged hot pot broth? The Chong Qing spicy fried chicken was alright as a chicken dish, but again did not taste like what it was supposed to be. The beef fried rice was pretty solid -- not too oily, not too salty, and beef/eggs were cooked perfectly -- but that is not a Sichuanese dish anyway. Overall I found this experience a little confusing. If you want Westernized Sichuanese food with elevated presentation, service, and setting, this is a solid choice. Otherwise, Fish With You is better for sauerkraut fish and Little Chengdu in Millbrae is your best bet for everything else.

I've been to Tai Er a handful of times and it's consistently good. I always order the sauerkraut fish soup and cucumber salad, and both are delicious every time. The mochi ice cream is also really good. During their soft opening they didn't offer takeout, but they do now, and the quality holds up even when ordered to go. The wait is usually five minutes or less if you have a reservation. When they first opened, they only accepted reservations. I'm not sure if that is still the case, but having a reservation definitely makes things quick. The food is always great and I've come here with different groups of friends, and every visit has been a good time. The workers are always busy moving around, but the service remains efficient. Parking can be tough since it's in downtown San Mateo, but the meal is worth it. I recommend this spot to others and will keep coming back.

3.5 star. Lots of dishes overpriced and not that complex in flavor. The hibiscus tea is really good. The sour fish has the strong sour taste I like. Everything else just wasn't worth it such as cumin lamb, kung pao, and beef cubes.

Dined here with a party of 9, including 4 kids. The service is extremely attentive and the kids meals came with juice boxes and toys which were big hits with the kids. Broccoli, tomatoes, cantaloupe, French fries, and the entree. My daughter wasn't a fan of the wontons but my nephew enjoyed his. My son and niece ate the tomato noodles. Cucumber salad, fish stew, and the shrimp vermicelli were all my favorite. Mapo tofu as other users have noted, was nothing to write home about. The spicy wontons were mediocre also. The mochi dessert with ice cream and soft serve were good. Nice spot for group dining and super kid friendly. There are more bathrooms around the corner from the one designated for the restaurant's customers FYI.

Came here on Sunday for lunch. We made a reservation for 4 ahead of time and was seated pretty quickly, so definitely recommend making a reservation to avoid the line. After being seated, they offered us teas and even had hibiscus tea which I haven't seen other restaurants offer before. We ordered two of their specialty dishes and a cucumber salad appetizer: House special cucumber salad (4/5) - smashed cucumber salad with really good flavor. The cucumbers picked up the flavor of the sauce really well. Mild Signature sauerkraut fish (5/5) - super flavorful dish and huge! Definitely get rice to go with this dish. It's sour, spicy, salty, the fish picks up the flavor so well. We would definitely get this again. House special beef fried rice (4/5) - also very good dish. They were even able to make it without green onion and cilantro for us. Flavor of the beef really shines through, but some of us felt it was a bit on the oily side. Still a very tasty dish. Fresh squeeze lemon tea (5/5) - perfect balance of lemon, tea, and sweetness. This drink is more on the sweeter side than sour. Also tasted pretty good adding some of the hibiscus tea to the drink. Service was great, no complaints there. The fortune sticks on the table was also a fun little activity to do while waiting. Overall, great place for Sichuan food!

Finally got to try Tai Er. We came for lunch on a weekday and walked right in; they were only about 25% full. We tried their signature fish, shrimp fried rice, spicy wontons, crispy pork, mapo tofu, and stir fried choy sum. Everything was great and food came out surprisingly fast. Shrimp fried rice and fish were our favorites. We probably wouldn't get the mapo tofu again unfortunately. The vegetables were also a bit undercooked. Service was great from start to finish - friendly, attentive, and welcoming. They boxed our leftovers for us, and someone came to check on us often. Interior is spacious and clean, clearly recently renovated. Seating is comfy, and they have a fun fortune game on the table that you can play during your meal.

Second time here and better than the first. I'd recommend coming with a group of 4 to 6. Our server was Steven and he was great! He gave us really good recommendations like the black pepper beef but of course the star of the show is the fish soup! Probably one of my favorites. I think they do it really well here. Love the pickled greens aka sauerkraut. We ordered so much food but the bill only came to $40 per person (we had a group of 5 people). What a great deal for a delicious and fulfilling meal. We even had a small leftover of the fish to take home. Our favorite was the ice cream on a teeny tiny cone at the end of our dinner. So cute! We asked for seconds! Tip: call an hour ahead of when you want to eat to put your name on the wait list. Plan accordingly or else it's a 90 + min wait. Not sure why they haven't opened up the Yelp wait-list yet. It's definitely worth the wait but why wait? Ain't nobody got time for that!

Food coming out fast, they all made of good quality ingredients and generous amount. However, my expectation for Sichuan spicy is stronger level than this but it's good for people who can't tolerate spicy. To me, I couldn't taste any spicy with their 'spicy' option. Nice ambiance and decent service.

Tai Er is the reason why Chinese sauerkraut has become one of my favorite dishes. I've been to their branches in Richmond, BC and Singapore, and love the food each time. So, I was very excited when I heard they were opening locations in the Bay Area. I've been to the San Mateo location twice, once during their soft opening and once a few weeks later. They were reservation-only both times as they're still a relatively-new restaurant and still training staff. The staff are all very amicable, and always ask whether you've dined with them before. They are very patient, and make sure you understand the menu & specials. My group got the Tai Er Discovery Set with the Sauerkraut Fish, which comes with one appetizer, two main courses, a beef fried rice, and a dessert. For the appetizer we got the spicy wontons, and for the main courses the signature sauerkraut fish and wok-seared black pepper beef. While the beef fried rice and black pepper beef aren't bad in any way, the true star of the show is the sauerkraut fish. Tender and silky fish boiled in warm, delicious broth. I truly can't hype up the flavor of this broth enough. I've been to other restaurants with sauerkraut fish around the Bay Area, but no restaurant does it quite like Tai Er.

Excited to try Tai Er! We went right when the restaurant opened and there was a line already. Luckily we were able to get a table without reservations. This place felt like an introductory restaurant to Sichuan cuisine. It was more fancy and surprisingly not as many spicy dishes one would expect on the menu. The best dish was the sauerkraut fish although mild spice was not really spicy at all. The shrimp with rice vermicelli was also good but not really a Sichuan dish. Dishes that I would not order again are the salted egg yolk tofu (barely any salted egg taste) and tomato soup with crispy pork (strange combo). I would still come back but now I know what to expect.

Came here with a group of 8 and ordered a wide variety of dishes. The flavoring was on point across all dishes, seasoned with restraint and care - nothing in your face and over seasoned. The fish soup (we had two of them, spicy and non-spicy) were large and we had leftovers. Filled with veggies as well as the fish. I don't love fish skin myself, but understand it's probably just the way it's normally prepared. The meat dishes (pork belly, pepper beef, and chicken) were all tasty and prepared well. My favorite was the pork belly. The beef wasn't a prime cut, so a little chewy, and the chicken was dry. In the case of the chicken, I think it's supposed to be that way. It was actually really good - just not tender. Also loved the garlic green beans. Portion sizes were fine - none of the dishes were all that big except for the fish soup, but they weren't small either. Service was really really good and even the people we interacted with in passing were very friendly and merry. So all in all, really good. We had two birthdays in our group and they brought sizable birthday noodle bowls, which was nice. We'd come back here again!

Food- the shrimp with vermicelli solid (slightly over salty) the famous pickled fish is classic (good flavor, can tailor to spice) the green beans made with soybean paste not a typical way of how green beans made (still good but the flavor profile and the texture can be made better) Service friendly fast Ambiance - new place great vibes good for family, casual hang out and dates

Came here for a weekday lunch and we were one of the first tables there once the restaurant opened but it slowly filled up over the next hour. We decided to get an order of their signature sauerkraut fish (spicy) and an order of beef fried rice. The food was amazing - freshly cooked, flavorful, meat was tender and all the flavors paired super well together. The rice was very umami and was a nice complement to the fish, which was a bit lighter. The funk of the sauerkraut was definitely present but not overwhelming. You get free hisbiscus tea with your meal, although we only got lukewarm water throughout the meal. The interior is very beautifully designed with comfortable, spacious booths and a modern and aesthetic decor. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. Metered, street parking available.

We went for an early dinner around 4:30 PM on a Saturday, and there was no wait. The staff said the wait list would open up when the restaurant is completely filled. We tried the spicy sourkraut fish and crispy pork strips. The broth was flavorful with that signature sour and spicy kick, fish was super tender and fresh. The crispy pork strips were addictively good--lightly battered, crunchy, and savory. Service was quick and friendly. The vibe was lively and modern, with upbeat energy and a clean, stylish interior. Overall, a great spot if you're craving authentic Sichuan-style comfort food with a bit of flair.

OMG my husband and I came here after hearing about the hype and it did. NOT. disappoint! First, the ambiance is modern, clean, and calming. Always love that in restaurants. Second, I appreciated that the servers were responsive and kind. They get BUSY here though!! So I recommend coming early if you can - or at least get on the waitlist as soon as you can. Finally, the food is the ! Since we live further away we got a lot of dishes so we could try multiple things. We got the house specialty set and ordered a few other things à la carte. It was REALLY hard to choose any favorite dish - every single one we tried really stood out. Even the stir fried Choy sum - quite simple with garlic - was fresh and had excellent texture. Also, I LOVE that they have spice level options for certain dishes, like the stir fried beef. AND they have a non spicy version of their signature dish - the signature sauerkraut fish - a godsend for someone like me who is still working on my spice tolerance!! So, if you enjoy great Chinese food, especially Sichuanese food - you should come!! I nearly forgot to mention they also have a lovely slightly sweet herbal tea that we really enjoyed too. One last thing - each table has these fun little fortune stick cylinders. My husband and I both loved ours

So glad that Tai Er opened a location in the Bay Area! I've been to locations in China and am stoked San Mateo has one of their first USA locations. Would recommend making a reservation to avoid waiting in line during peak hours. Definitely get the sauerkraut fish - you can adjust the spice level to your liking. I feel like it's pretty good value for $39 given the large portion you get. We also really liked the stir-fried spicy pork belly. Will have to come back to try their set menu.

Wait times are crazy but food is delicious I've came here twice since they've opened and been impressed each time. Definitely RSVP a table until the hype dies down. The Szechuan flavor is numbing and flavorful and I love that they remodeled the dilapidated location to something clean and modern. My friends I came with also enjoyed the meal stating how similar the taste was to their Asia locations. The servers have all been attentive and friendly and I'd recommend this spot for any Szechuan fan. Things I'd recommend: I've ordered their sauerkraut fish, both spicy and non- and I'd recommend ordering it spicy for an added flavor Black pepper beef - super tender and flavorful Beef fried rice Braised beef noodles Fried pork strips Cucumber salad I've tried both the mapo tofu and salted egg tofu- personally I didn't care for either, however, my friends preferred the salted egg tofu.

I called ahead to put our names down on the waitlist, and it came to be about 45 min wait on a Saturday afternoon. The staff was very friendly and checked in often. Make sure to try out your fortune from the wooden container at the table! Spicy sauerkraut fish - the spice level was a slow buildup, unassuming at first. Broth very umami and savory, a hint of sichuan peppercorn numbness, tender fish fillet and slightly sour sauerkraut and bamboo pieces. Definitely one of the better sauerkraut fish I've had! Chongqing chicken fried chicken - the chillies looked intimidating at first but the small juicy bites of fried chicken are not very spicy and absolutely delightful Beef fried rice - the fried rice was good, nothing special about the flavor, on the blander side Mochi ice cream - crispy and chewy rice mochi goes perfectly with the sweet ice cream

First off, huge thanks to our waiter Bryan for such an amazing experience! He was super attentive to every detail and really made the night special. I loved the fortune sticks on the table -- such a fun little touch that added some interaction during dinner! Highly recommend the 糍粑加冰激凌 (mochi with ice cream) -- probably the best dessert I've had in a while! Their signature 酸菜鱼 (pickled fish hotpot) has generous portions and incredible flavor -- definitely worth the wait! And shoutout to the hot tea served in ceramic mugs -- it added such a cozy, homey touch compared to the usual plastic cups you get elsewhere. Little details like that really made this place stand out!

Had such a great dining experience here! When we walked in to make a reservation, we were told it would be about a two-hour wait, but luckily a table opened up sooner and we were seated earlier -- such a nice surprise. The restaurant has a clean, modern ambiance that feels inviting and comfortable. The service was excellent -- the lady who helped us was so kind, attentive, and helpful throughout our meal. The hibiscus tea was refreshing and perfectly balanced, and every dish we ordered was delicious. The fish was incredibly fresh and tender, and the vegetables were cooked to perfection. Both the beef and lamb plates were outstanding -- flavorful, soft, and tender. I usually don't enjoy lamb, but theirs was surprisingly delicious. The fried rice was also excellent, and we ended the meal with the ice cream and mochi, which was so good I wished there was more. Overall, everything from the food to the service was wonderful. Highly recommend!

While the restaurant is not too big, the service is a hit or miss. The first time I was here, they were super attentive but the second time, they forgot to call me when my table was ready and we really couldn't find our server and had to call others for help. The decor is nice and they do have a prayer toy stick where you can pray for your "fortune". It's just for fun obviously but it's something to do and something new we haven't seen in the area yet. Food wise I have now tried a variety of them and from my most favorite to the least, here is my ranking: 1. cripsy calamari - well fried, seasoned and comes with shrimp chips my favorite dish out of everything! 2. Sizzling pot shrimp vermicelli - well executed, it was flavorful but not overly salty where rice was required. The prawns were of substantial size 3. Tomato soup with crispy pork - super strong tomato soup with a ton of white pepper but can be improved with pork on the side as it got quite soggy over time. Quite unique 4. Sichuan Hot And Sour Soup - flavor was balanced and overall just enjoyable 5. Signature Sauerkraut fish - cooked well no complaints I think mild spicy was a good level 6. Shrimp Fried Rice - well executed, the rice was dry and appropriately textured and flavored with the advertised wok hei 7. Wok seared spicy beef - it was alright. No issues with it but also nothing special 8. Seasonal veggies - it's interesting as it's a mini Bok Choy but nothing that was special or memorable 9. Fried mochi with ice cream - there was not enough ice cream and ice cream was already melting quite quickly. The mochi was just eh. It's too chewy for me. 10. Stir fried beef with wild matsutake - nothing special, couldn't find any wild matsutake unless its an oil used? But probably would not order again 11. Stir Fried String Beans - they were soggy and not fried enough. Also the beans tasted old. It was quite a sad dish compared to the rest. Other restaurants do it way better. Disappointing, will not order again. 12. Chongqing Crispy Chicken - this was absolutely not fried and threw me off. I am surprised it even says this would be crispy golden fried but apparently that could mean something else. This was more like cooked with a slight crust if I'm being nice. I'm extremely disappointed in this dish. Absolutely will not order.

This sichuan place just opened in San Mateo a few months ago and it did not disappoint! It's a chain but the food and service delivered and I would recommend getting their signature sauerkraut fish dish and their house fried rice. They also have other dishes and I would definitely come back for the other dishes. The restaurant is also pretty spacious so it's really nice to eat at the restaurant and it's a great spot to come with friends and family!

There is a lot of buzz about this restaurant. It's in downtown San Mateo, a large corner spot that has been home to numerous Chinese restaurants through the years. Tai Er is known for a "sauerkraut fish" dish. It's not German style sauerkraut, but it does have a strong sour flavor. We had the same dish at a restaurant in Millbrae and like this version better. We also had braised beef noodles, cumin lamb, mapo tofu, garlic choy sum and white rice. Honestly, the food here was more ethnic than the Sichuan Chinese food we are accustomed to eating. I don't doubt that it's excellent Sichuan food but I've only been to Sichuan once so am no expert. Service was typical of a Chinese restaurant. It was a newly remodeled space that was pleasant, but noisy. Not rushing back, but would go if friends wanted to eat there.

When I read that Tai Er, a chain restaurant from China, was opening its first Bay Area location in San Mateo, I immediately texted my mom (a fellow Yelp Elite) "we need to go!" She booked the first reservation she could get when I was free and it was 4:45pm. WOW! We got there on a Sunday late afternoon and people were lining up--to quote Atsuko, "busy busy." My parents and I shared - mapo tofu (which came with a tiny bowl of rice) - the famous signature sauerkraut fish - cumin lamb - choy - braised beef noodles They gave us a tiny complimentary bowl of pickled vegetables to start. My mom initially ordered tea (without looking at the price, which said $7) and she insisted to me that they'd give her different tea. They did not. It was sweet tea (which was surprising and slightly deceptive) so back it went. The highlight of the meal was the fish. We picked mild but it was pretty spicy (as well as unique, flavorful, and warm.) I believe that they ferment the veggies for 23 day! Delicious!!) The mapo was also hot and savory. I wish it came with meat (which, at $18, should've IMO.) I love Sichuan food and Tai Er cooks a mighty fine meal. The weakest dish was the braised beef noodles. It's not what I believe to be traditional braised beef noodles (like the noodles were pretty plain.) Service was fine. I felt like I could've had my water refilled faster and more often. They're busy! Clientele skews more ethnic and diverse, but ranges from families to couples to older folks. Bathroom is clean--you need a code and there's only 1 stall/room, so expect a line outside it. It is clean, however! (Though it should've been when I went because it was still near dinner opening time.) I'm a fan of the food and portions, but prices seemed steep to me (though we did take a lot of leftovers home.)

Friend made ressies and I squeezed into his table. We got to try a variety of food: - Sesame noodles - not what I was expecting, but this was tasty. - Beef on sizzling plate - very tender beef and tasty mushrooms. Delicious, but portions are small. - Cucumber appetizer - get this! possibly my favorite thing - Fried chicken - served with ketchup. The chicken was marinated and tasty. - Seasonal veggies - skip this. - Fish w/ pickled mustard greens in broth - Star of the show. Get this. The mild was a little spicy. You'll want rice with this to eat alongside the broth! For a new restaurant, they got the ordering and service right. Everything came out super quick and the servers were helpful and great! Can't wait to come back after the hype dies down.

very busy spot! we made a reservation on a sunday night, but still had to wait about 20 min to get our table. the interior was clean, modern, and spacious; and the bathrooms are located farther into the building. we ordered a spread of sauerkraut fish, chongqing chicken, string beans, spicy wontons, and hot & sour soup. the star of the show was definitely the sauerkraut fish; the rest were all right. we also ordered a dessert, but it took so long that we eventually decided to cancel it. it's cool tho cuz we were stuffed anyway B)

We visited during the soft opening after hearing great things, and it was absolutely delicious! Probably the best suan chai fish that I've had in the Bay. It wasn't too spicy or sour, and they gave a generous portion of fish, which paired well with a nice steaming bowl of rice. We also got the wok-seared black pepper beef, which was excellent. The beef was very tender and juicy. The house special beef fried rice was amazing as well. Service was good, and maybe only just for the soft opening - they offered everyone a small soft serve cone for dessert! Would highly recommend!

Tai Er is one of the newer spots that opened up in downtown san Mateo across from suruki market. My family and I got lucky that there was no wait at 6pm on Thursday. We ordered: - Fried tentacles: yummy but not enough tentacles because they added shrimp chips as fillets - small bokchoy: super simple hit hit the spot with all the seasonings - black pepper steak: the heavy ginger taste threw me off a bit but it was cooked medium rare and with mushrooms so it was delicious - sauerkraut fish soup: for a mild soup it had a strong kick! I really like they used potato noodles but I do wish there was more pickled veggies or more assortment Our server was wonderful and super funny! I forgot his name but thank you for the hospitality!! We got free ice cream as a dessert in the end. 4 dishes were roughly $110 before tip so it's pretty pricey but worth the price tag. I can't wait to try other dishes another time!

I came here for dinner a few weeks ago, had to make reservations about a week or more in advance as they were in their soft opening. Overall flavors seem pretty authentic but not spicy enough for everyone. This restaurant is located in a busy area so street parking or parking in a parking garage is what is available. It's a gorgeous restaurant with ambiance. After seating we were offered hibiscus tea (caffeinated) or water. We also got complementary House-Pickled Vegetables 跳水泡菜, which are classic pickled veggies. From there we ordered a variety of items to try: - Signature Sauerkraut Fish (Mild) 老坛子酸菜鱼: we ordered mild because the waiter said the spicy version is very spicy, but next time we would probably order spicy. The fish quality was reasonably fresh. Wok-Seared Black Pepper Beef 黑椒牛肉粒: Very tender beef, good amount of veggies, flavorful and came on a sizzling plate. Would get again. Mapo Tofu: it was good, but wasn't spicy enough, not tongue numbing enough for us. Chongqing Crispy Spicy Chicken: Looked spicier than it was, but actually pretty delicious. Not much chicken, since majority is peppers, has good flavor, and nice peanut addition.

So excited to try out Tau Er since i had it in LA, and it was good. You have to reserve on Yelp to dine here, but it's pretty easy to get a reservation. We ordered the set menu. Honestly i think the best dish was not the fish, it was the mushroom beef. The pickle fish is standard but the mushroom beef has so much flavor and the mushroom tastes so good. Also, i love the beef fried rice! The wonton was below average because of its sauce was not authentic. The dessert is good too. The mochi with ice cream combination is amazing! I would definitely come back to try other dishes!

Came to Tai Er and really enjoyed the experience during soft opening. While we didn't have premade reservations, it wasn't too difficult to be a walk in on a weeknight either. There was about a 15 minute wait after being added to the list so we just took a stroll around downtown first. Looking over the menu, there were some Sichuan classics, but also some new items that caught my eye, like the beef with matsutake mushrooms. This dish was really tasty with the sauerkraut, velvety beef slices, ample use of young ginger and garlic, and of course, the inclusion of matsutakes. We also included the chili oil chicken which was shredded breast meat tossed generously in a seriously fragrant chili oil with just enough mala to make it interesting! I thought about saving the sauce to toss with noodles at home but I also didn't want to carry oil everywhere....next time! Last we had the beef noodle soup. This was slightly different from the traditional Taiwanese version with a sweeter beef soup to offset the ample pickled vegetables. Do ask for more soup because the noodles really drink it up fast and it was almost a dry noodle by the time it arrived to our table. All in all, I welcome Tai Er to the neighborhood!

Tai Er has a very modern and chinese style interior. The sauerkraut fish was by far their best dish - the soup was savory and the spice was just right (tho truthfully it could be even spicier). all the other dishes were pretty decent and standard - the only dish I'd write home about is the fish. Otherwise, the service was great and I loved the food!

抱着不信邪的心态试了太二洛杉矶分店，结果...我的钱包在哭泣！ 之前在国内就觉得它家价格虚高，没想到来了美国，这个印象直接翻倍加深！ 老坛子酸菜鱼 (大份) - $70的教训 上菜时我惊呆了！大份的鱼，鱼肉份量少得可怜！ 我们甚至额外付费加了蔬菜，端上来的总量依旧让我震惊----好少！ 比普通中餐馆贵了一倍，量却少了一半不止！ 味道更迷惑：酸菜完全没有酸菜味，不看菜单我根本猜不出这是酸菜鱼。表面漂着的菊花瓣？纯属摆设，没有一丝增香作用，主打一个参与感。 其他菜品 - 一律"小"就一个字 · 重庆口水鸡：辣椒油是香的，但藕片寡淡无味，份量也小 · 红油无骨鸡爪：如同口水鸡，味道没进去，食材不入味且份量很小。 · 停不下来小酥肉：我是真的惊了！名副其实的"小"酥肉 总结： 消费$160，吃完感觉肚子和心灵一样空虚。性价比不高。在LA有太多同价位但品质份量完胜的餐厅，这家，我真的停得下来～

food was absolutely delicious! my family and I loved the sauerkraut fish the most- the broth was so flavorful and unique, and the white fish was very tender. the beef fried rice was also a favorite, with a great smokey umami flavor. we also ordered the spicy wontons, string beans, calamari, and sweet & sour spare ribs. everything contributed to a nice balanced palette at the end of the meal and we left feeling fully satisfied. the service was fast and staff was very friendly. I'd definitely recommend getting a reservation, since we tried coming in one night and the wait was an hour and a half. I get it though, it's definitely worth the wait. overall, the restaurant is very clean, modern, and bright which we loved, and the fortune game on the table is a fun little experience. would definitely come back again.

Finally I was able to try one of the hottest new restaurant in San Mateo. We didn't make reservation and just put our name around 6 pm on Friday. We were 32nd on the waitlist. We were told it will be an hour which was fine with us and later we get message saying it won't be until 8ish for our table to be ready, we approached the worker around 7ish asking about our queue. Luckily after about 10 to 15 min so we got our table. Inside was nice and it has bar seating. You get two menu, one for ordering where you mark the one you want to order and the other one with photos of the dishes. You can ask for water or Hibiscus tea if I am not mistaken. We ordered the famous sauerkraut fish (spicy), chongqing chicken and stir fry string beans (spicy). Food was ready quickly. Itereatingly you can order half bowl of rice which I really appreciate as I don't like to waste the rice. With All the hypes like 2 of my friends been here 3 times, it is a bit of disappointed. I expect to be a wow dishes turned to be ok. The fish soup is the highlight but looks like Bamboo shoot seem doesn't fit in the soup. For the chicken, I got used to having chicken wing on this type of dishes, the boneless chicken was ok. I prefer a bit ore peppercorn kick. The green bean is ok. The service was good. I like the payment where they will leave the payment device with you instead of the server stand next to you.

I'm happy for this new addition to San Mateo. The ambiance, staff, and food all exhibit a level of professionalism and quality that you don't get often at Asian restaurants nearby. That being said, it wasn't entirely a 5 star experience because some aspects of the food didn't feel as elevated as should be. My friend made a reservation in advance for us and was already seated when I arrived on time. Ordering is done on a sheet of paper that you give to a waiter who will confirm your items instead of just walking off with the paper. My friend had had a fish soup a couple days prior so we opted not to get their signature dish. The waiter seemed surprised by our decision. We instead ordered hot and sour soup, Kung pao shrimp, mouth watering chicken, and egg yolk tofu. The food came out relatively fast. Everything was very good and flavorful and wasn't so greasy and salty that you'd feel sick afterward. Our nitpicks came in small ways - they used a spam like ham instead of pork in the hot and sour soup which felt cheaper. The mouth watering chicken was shredded chicken instead of the more traditional poached chicken which again, felt a little less elevated. The shrimp in the Kung pao shrimp and the egg yolk tofu were both a wee bit tough and maybe a little overcooked. The other odd thing they did was give us a to-go container for the soup that was one of the flat rectangular to go boxes. My friend noticed another table got a round soup to-go containers so that was a little bit of an odd experience. Despite the little imperfections, I'd be happy to go back and try more things.

This is my first time at any Tai Er franchise! They are currently doing soft opening in this San Mateo location, and they are reservation only. You will lose your spot if you are over 15min late, so be sure to get there on time. The 5 star review is for food quality alone. Everything was delicious! So excited to have this place as a strong contender for your next meal downtown. The signature sauerkraut fish is perfectly cooked and seasoned perfectly. Fried mochi dessert is delicious, and sichuan chicken is super smokey and tender. The service team actively requests feedback at this time, which is a great sign. They currently also have an option to offer free dessert (mango sago or coconut dessert) if you submit a feedback form via google forms. Would definitely be coming back to visit and recommend to friends!

The food here was great - we were happy with all of our dishes! The sauerkraut fish was the highlight, very delicious and savory. The chongqing chicken was very good, quantity was a little on the low side. The kung pao chicken was also very tasty, but on the sweeter side. We loved the house special cucumber salad was also a top favorite! Service here was great. Everyone was very friendly and attentive. We will definitely come again soon! Thank you!

Came with my friend to the soft opening of Tai Er Sichuan - a restaurant she was really excited about! Definitely make a reservation here because the wait can go up to almost 2 hours, but luckily even though we were late, they honored our reservation and we were sat. The appetizers came out quick - we ordered the broccoli and mushrooms and kung pao shrimp. Both were delicious and we kept eating them, but unfortunately the service took so long to give us our soup order, that we got full on appetizers, and could barely finish the main dish. I will say that the portions are small for the price. After waiting, we finally got our soup (we ordered a mild spicy version) of the fish+sauerkraut soup which imo was a perfect amount of spice since it was still flavorful and addicting. The fish was so incredibly soft and the broth was so flavorful, and it came with vermicelli noodles in the broth! My friend ended up taking most of it home but I will say this would have gotten a 5-star if it werent for two things - the long wait for our main dish, and the price of the side dishes. That being said, the soup is so delicious and addicting, definitely try it out!

After much anticipation, Tai Er is officially open! You may have heard the name, you may have even tried their prepped packages for home use, but now you can finally dine with the big Chinese chain in their very own location in downtown San Mateo. Seems to be reservation only for the soft opening so make sure you book in advance! Tai Er, or absent minded in Chinese, is the name given to the restaurant by its customers after the owner was so focused on the food prep that they forgot to open the doors to the place one day. So in 2015 that name was adopted and since then the single small restaurant turned into a mega chain. Tai Er specializes in Sichuan style suancai and fish with bold spicy, sour, and numbing flavors. A must order is the sauerkraut fish, of course - they use traditional fermentation methods and age it in classic clay jars for 23 days. The signature Sichuan spicy flavors are balanced by the sourness and it's an authentic combination you must taste to understand. As with any Sichuan restaurant, I recommend ordering rice, IYKYK. That being said, a large portion of the menu is actually non-spicy food so don't worry if you can't handle the heat. You can even have a non-spicy version of their signature dish. As someone who has been eating their home packaged options for years since I never had the chance to try their locations in NYC and LA yet, I'm glad to report that the restaurant version truly takes it to the next level, making for a memorable meal. The restaurant itself is fairly basic without much fanfare. They went with dark colors with red accents. Personally I would have preferred they went with their more signature white walls with black and white art style but this definitely gives a more upscale vibe. The service was good. We were welcomed by very friendly staff. Jin, our server, was on top of everything and always checked on us. He was on top of our refills and made sure we didn't have any food restrictions and preferences. Overall, if you are craving bold and authentic Chinese flavors, you should consider giving Tai Er a try! Since they are in their soft opening, I'm rounding up to 4.5 stars.

Came to try this spot after a friend recommended this place for their sauerkraut fish. I have never tried this dish before so I was excited. When I arrived around 2pm on a sunday, the wait was quite long, I waited about 45 min for a table. When we finally got seated, we ended up ordering the signature sauerkraut fish and the szechuan chicken. Both were tasty and just the right amount of spice. I also loved the design of the interior. Definitely will be coming back!