Taste

The food is great but it’s really expensive. Would be 5 stars if it was a bit cheaper. for example, the sweet and sour dish was $40 and wasn’t a huge serving. another reason why it’s 4 stars is because someone in my party is deathly allergic to pine nuts and they don’t list their allergens. chinese dishes aren’t usually cooked with pine nuts so it would have been nice to know they were in the dish.

One of the best Chinese food I had in a long time. It’s one of the most authentic Chinese restaurant I’ve tasted around here. No dish is westernized at all and reminds me of my time in China!

Great Chinese food! They do really good spicy food, but their other dishes are really good. This time we got the cumin lamb and it was delicious! Would recommend if you’re looking for a Chinese restaraunt in Palo Alto. Service is good. They were attentive in taking our orders and making sure we got everything we needed. I don’t think we waited too long to order, get our food, or get the check. The inside is pretty. They have many Chinese decorations so it feels very nostalgic of a classic Chinese restaurant. As for seating they have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating have the heater stands. Parking: There are many parking garages in Palo Alto so it’s not too hard for us to find parking

We had a great time. Not too spicy. All of my guests love the food.

A Truly Delightful Dining Experience at Taste Restaurant From the moment I walked in, Taste Restaurant delivered an exceptional experience that went far beyond expectations. The atmosphere strikes a perfect balance—modern yet cozy, with thoughtful touches that make it feel both upscale and welcoming. The menu is a celebration of flavors. Every dish we tried—from the savory appetizers to the beautifully plated entrees—was clearly made with fresh ingredients and real culinary care. The [insert signature dish, e.g., “short rib risotto” or “seared scallops”] was a standout: rich, balanced, and perfectly cooked. Even the sides were memorable! Service was another highlight. Our server was warm, knowledgeable, and attentive without being intrusive. They offered thoughtful recommendations, kept the pacing of the meal just right, and made us feel genuinely cared for. If you’re looking for a place that combines flavor, atmosphere, and great hospitality, Taste Restaurant is a must-visit. I’m already looking forward to my next meal there!

I visited Taste in Palo Alto yesterday on Memorial Day, and wow — it was absolutely worth the wait. The line was long, which was no surprise given the holiday crowd, but the staff handled it so efficiently and with such friendly energy that it honestly made the experience even better. Despite the crowd, service was fast and smooth. My food came out quickly, hot, and super fresh. You could tell everything was made with care. The team there was so welcoming and professional, even with the rush — they really kept things moving without compromising quality or hospitality. The environment was clean, modern, and relaxed, with a great mix of locals and visitors. I especially appreciated how organized everything was — from the ordering system to seating and pickup. If you’re thinking about trying this spot but feel unsure because of the line — do it. It’s absolutely worth it. I’ll definitely be coming back, even on a busy day!

Great service by Su, we were there last week and everything was delicious!!! 10/10

Hands down the best Chinese restaurant in town. I have been coming here for 3 years and brought friends over as well. Recently my co-workers from China office came and gave great feedback. Very fresh ingredients. I recommend fresh fish with pickled vegetables and Mapo Tofu. Highly recommend!

My friend craved for some Chinese food. So we dropped by here for a quick catchup. We ordered their signature fish dish, a stir fried pea sprout and a fried dough. Fried dough was okay. Pea sprout was tender and well seasoned. The fish was of a generous size and fresh. It was delicious! There were many other veggies hidden in the dish that tasted awesome along with the fish. Service was great! This place is not fancy but clean and cozy. We would love to come back again!

A solid Chinese restaurant that I will be going to again. Decent vegetarian options and has a good mix of "safe" food options for kids and spicy foods for your adventurous friends. Food: great levels of flavors in each dish. The highlight was the tofu dish. I can't find it on the yelp menu, but you should be able to order it in person. Scallion pancakes were okay, not as flaky as I would have liked. The noodles were flavorful and good spice. Service: quick service but you did have to wave down your waiter. There was only one waitress that night so I'm sure she was busy working the whole restaurant. Waving down a waiter is also typical of most Asian restaurants so I didn't mind. They were on top of filling our water, which I appreciate! Ambiance: both indoor and outdoor seating. Comfortable restaurant and can fit around 40-50 people inside. Parking: lots of available street parking or parking lots nearby. If you come during dinner hours or the weekends it can be harder to find parking, so alott for an extra 5-7 minutes for parking.

This is our favorite Chinese food spot and it's consistently good! The customer service is always friendly and upbeat, even when they're busy. Only downside: portions are small and food is expensive. But that is what you tend to see for the area.

Walking down University Ave and just enjoying the evening when we came across this place. And suddenly we were hungry. Amazing food! Definitely recommend this place!

My go-to dish is the shrimp and pork shumai. Nothing fancy, but with each bite you get the pleasure of tasting shrimp. I tend to order appetizers and dim sum. I've enjoyed the potstickers ($12), Scallion pancakes ($7), bbq buns ($10) and Walnut Buns ($10) I keep coming back for the shumai ($10 for four). Parking can be a challenge, but so far I've lucked out and have grabbed a front door spot. I have yet to dine in, but my to-go order is always ready when promised. Here's What I Think...if you're in the area, give them a try.

Ever since my favorite Szechuan restaurant in Milpitas closed down, I have been on a mission to find the next best restaurant that could make a fried chicken dish as good as my favorite restaurant (rip ). I heard good things about this restaurant from another Yelper, who claimed some of their dishes were very similar to the restaurant that had closed down so I had to give this place a try. Fried Chicken with Chili Peppers: While this closely resembled the szechuan chicken dish I love, unfortunately, there wasn't much flavor. The breading on the chicken was more on the sweeter side. It was a bit spicy, but the chicken meat itself did not have much flavor. Wontons in Chili Oil: This was a good appetizer! The pork wontons were tender and the chili sauce complimented them well! Cumin Lamb Chow Mein: This was the most flavorful dish out of the three. The lamb was surprisingly tender and the noodles were full of spice and cumin, very flavorful! Service was great; the workers were friendly and attentive. My friend and I chose indoor seating this time, but if I come again, I would probably choose outdoor because the inside can be a bit loud and stuffy. The prices were a bit high for the portion sizes, but I'm glad I gave this place a try!

Great Chinese food! They do really good spicy food, but their other dishes are really good. This time we got the cumin lamb and it was delicious! Would recommend if you're looking for a Chinese restaraunt in Palo Alto. Service is good. They were attentive in taking our orders and making sure we got everything we needed. I don't think we waited too long to order, get our food, or get the check. The inside is pretty. They have many Chinese decorations so it feels very nostalgic of a classic Chinese restaurant. As for seating they have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating have the heater stands. Parking: There are many parking garages in Palo Alto so it's not too hard for us to find parking

Ordered a spicy drypot through DoorDash. The good: beef is tender and flavorful. So are the other vegetables. The bad: the portion. I was shocked when I saw the size of the container. Will try dining in next time and see if it would change my rating.

Finally, we have decent szechuan food here in the south bay! We enjoyed everything we ordered: Bobo chicken, fish flavored shredded pork, salted egg yolk, fried pumpkin. Not cheap, but I'm willing to pay for the authentic szechuan taste (and big portion!) once in a while :)

I ordered the Bo Bo Chicken, and I have to say I was pretty disappointed. After tax, it came to almost $50, which felt quite steep for what I received. The dish consisted of just a box of boiled veggies and a chicken breast with dipping sauce. For that price, I expected much more variety of meat and seafood.

Was shopping at Ikea and suddenly craving for fish fillet in spicy oil, found this place on yelp! Not bad at all, i actually liked the food! Only "surprised" - the Pork Intestine was $32 which is little expensive...

Came here on CNY and was not impressed. -They had TONS of take-out orders that were stacked on 2 different tables for 4+ parties so big parties had to wait for smaller tables to become available. -I saw staff members straight up IGNORING delivery drivers. One guy stood for 20mins holding out his phone because NO ONE acknowledged him even though he kept saying "Hello?" Ambiance: Modern decor and casual vibes but it was incredibly loud inside. Food: Small servings for pretty pricey dishes. Ex: salt and pepper calamari had 10 pieces of calamari for a whooping $32. Taste was just fine... there are tons of alternatives that serve delicious dishes for much cheaper $$. I guess that's what you get for eating at downtown Palo Alto. Parking is also a nightmare around here too esp in the evenings and weekends.

乡味老坛酸菜活鱼 4 whole fish, medium juicy, slightly bitter, noodles, minced pork, sour cabbage, flavorful 东坡扒肘子 3 huge portion, green veggies, meat slightly dry, sweet soy flavor 成都担担面 5 peanut flavor, not too spicy, enough sauce, flavorful

Grabbed dinner here with my parents on February 15! Came around 6:15 pm and got a table for 3 right away, though it did get busy as the night went on. This is probably my 5th time visiting this restaurant. I haven't been back since before the pandemic. The dishes have noticeably decreased in quantity, but still such solid food! Taste has one of the BEST sweet and sour chicken dish I've ever had. It's a great balance, of obviously sweet and sour, and stayed crispy for the longest time! The other dishes to highlight are the mapo tofu, fried fish fillet with chili pepper, and woodear stir fried with Chinese yam. The mapo tofu was nicely seasoned! I'm not usually a fan of Szechuan peppers, but this one wasn't too numbing. The fried fish had A LOT of chili peppers on it, but was still nicely seasoned and crispy. This one was recommended to us by the waitress. Lastly, woodear mushrooms and Chinese yams are literally my favorite, so it's a must I go to a Chinese restaurant. The other dish we ordered was the pork wonton in chili oil. This was an OK dish. I wouldn't order it again. With that appetizer, 4 main dishes, and 3 orders of rice, we had a little bit left for to go. Overall, a solid Chinese restaurant, especially for Palo Alto! I would definitely come back, especially in a larger group. Service: 3.5/5 Food: 4.5/5 Atmosphere: 3/5

The interior is modern, but nothing too out of the ordinary. I thought the wait staff were really nice and attentive! While the food at Taste is very good, I found the cumin lamb and the dry pot just a little too salty. When paired with rice, it gets a bit better, but it can still be a bit overwhelming.

A great find in the downtown of Palo Alto! The food was authentic and the service was nice.

If you are craving Chinese (Sichuan) food, Taste on University Ave. is a solid choice! Mongolian beef lunch dish was more than satisfying and would definitely return to try more from their impressive menu. Service was very friendly and attentive. Lots of dining customers and it's obvious this restaurant is popular.

Love this place so much! They have so many varieties of Chinese food and the food comes out super fast! I always order the cumin lamb and some of the spicy options! The service is great! They make the food super quick and all the waiters speak Chinese! The environment is super clean and love the outdoor seating!

I ordered takeout from here for my whole family and we loved it. We ordered the hot and sour soup (delicious but could have been a little spicier), the chicken hot pot (this was by far the crowd favorite), 2 smashed cucumber salads, 2 bbq bao bun orders, 2 spring roll orders, and the fried rice supreme. That fed 6 people. I would love to come into the restaurant next time. I bet the food is even better there! Thanks for the lovely meal!

Small, busy Chinese restaurant, very high prices due no doubt to its being located in expensive downtown Palo Alto. A carafe of water comes with your table; tea has to be ordered extra and costs $6. I had the cumin lamb. This dish, which was basically lamb and sliced onions, was actually larger than the picture in the menu led me to expect: full and hearty, with juicy and chewy lamb. The problem was with the spicing. It didn't taste of cumin at all. Instead, it was heavily seasoned with a tasteless but strongly bitter heat whose unpleasantness stuck in the mouth. Maybe some of the other dishes, and the non-spicy ones, will be different, but discovering that will have to wait until the next time I'm already stuck in this part of downtown at dinnertime, which may be a while. I'll update this review if I find it better.

Great dimsum, great food and the staffs are fast! Has restroom, wifi. SSID: TasteIN pass: Taste423

Very authentic ....my local fave. Prepare for spicy if that is your jam. I love it and do takeout almost every week.

The food is just SO GOOD, I'm usually really picky about Chinese food but this one got my approval. The service here is amazing, would definitely come back again.

Stopped by for lunch on a weekday and was surprised by how busy Taste was. They were almost entirely full, with only 1-2 open tables. Service was a bit lackluster given how packed the restaurant was, and they also seemed to be processing a lot of take-out orders. We got the shui mai (heads up, it takes quite a while to come out), noodles, beef chow fun, and a lunch special chili oil fish fillet. All the food was tasty, albeit a bit pricey. We also got the milky oolong tea which was great.

Food was okay/decent but that wasn't the issue. i was basically forced to increase the amount I tipped. I tipped $5 because at that time I couldn't afford to give more and the waitress came out and says "why did you tip so low? did we do something wrong? we work really hard here." I understand tip culture but I also work hard for the money I make. I'm also not legally obligated to tip either so this made me super uncomfortable. I was taking out my brother and his friend for a graduation dinner and it was lowkey ruined.

Picked up take out and was not very impressed. Tried the griddle clay pot (beef) and it was more like Gristle Clay Pot. It was filled with snippets of beef trimmings that I felt was geared towards the compost bin but they wanted to be cheap and use them. The beef soup noodles (clear) was so so; didn't have much flavor and skimpy with the ingredients. Only redeeming dish was the couple's delight appetizer. Good chili oil drowning everything.

Thermodynamics was really tasty. Nice bit of heat to it. Not too hot but gave the food great flavor. Place can get very busy and loud but the food was worth it. Service was fine and friendly. Lovely black honey tea.

Great "TASTE" very delicious fast prompt service. The food is tasty and good. I would come back & try the BOBO chicken next time. My favorite was the hot and sour soup.

I don't even know where to start with how amazing this place was on my visit. walked in, Immediately got sat down. Order was taken very quickly and they answered all my questions i had about the plates. The food was really pleasant and a joy to eat. It numbed the tongue with lots of flavor but was not too spicy. Andy was a great host and took care of us. He made sure we always had everything we needed. The setting was very cozy and warm.

Food n service are excellent We don't expect that delicious 5 of us are satisfied:)

Overall, not a bad restaurant. I definitely think that I've tried better Chinese food in the Bay Area for the price. Highlight of the meal was the duck and then green beans. Duck skin was very flavorful but the meat was pretty dry. The string beans were well cooked and very crispy. Also tried the bo Bo chicken, hot and sour soup, and fried fish. Those were all visually presented. Bo Bo chicken had a great ma la flavor, but I didn't enjoy the fish. Overall, decent experience and felt very authentic.

Best Chinese place in Palo Alto, Their fish with pickled veggies soup is amazing. I never had anything like that before. The girls working they are very friendly and attentive. They go with the flow of the restaurant and always smiling. The place always busy but not crazy you can find a table easily, also , they do have a patio with nice seating. The ambience is casual and family friendly. I go at least once a week.

I have to say I had high hopes for this place cause I saw the high ratings for this place and looked intriguing and tasty. Plus they served dim sum at night, so it immediately drew me in. But the food was just okay... nothing extraordinary, the har gow shrimp was a little tough. The sui mai was great though, I did forget to take a picture of it. But it was the best thing I got there. Their spicy chicken wing(not really wings per say) were decent not bad But the prices for sure were high at this place. 10 dollars for har gow seems like a lot. 28 for the chicken wing was a lot also. It's not cheap for sure. But I did like that they did have water pitchers at the tables made it a lot easier for me have water to drink all the time instead of waiting for the waiter of waitress to come to my table, so that was great. It seems like their pick up order seemed busy, so good for you all!

Horrible food, service and pricing. Overall 1 star as both appetizers were served room temperature, the quality of of the spicy bowl lamb was inedible (think tough, chewy, grisly), the flavor was decent, however the portions also so small for the high price. We went early so it was not busy so there was not a reason for the slow service. See the image of the bao -- to which is was glopped together and was undercooked. A definite skip forever.

Quick seating even though so busy. Very attentive staff. Food was good, place is clean. Very tasty will defn go back

Just had an extraordinary dining experience at Taste that deserves a rave review! From the moment I stepped in, the aromatic journey began. The Spicy Lamb Hot Pot was a thrilling adventure for my taste buds, with each spicy bite sending my senses on a delightful rollercoaster. The Iron Plate Lamb was a culinary masterpiece, showcasing tender and succulent meat that felt like a celebration of carnivorous indulgence. The Tea-Scented Duck was nothing short of enchanting, with the duck meat melting in my mouth, leaving behind a lingering fragrance. The Golden Sand Pumpkin and Stir-Fried Flat Rice Noodles brought a perfect blend of textures and flavors. The crispy pumpkin was a joyous sensation with every bite, while the stir-fried noodles stirred up nostalgic feelings of hometown comfort. Sipping on the Cordyceps Flower Chicken Soup was a comforting experience, providing a warm and revitalizing touch. Finally, the Red Sugar Fruit Iced Dessert served as a delightful conclusion, balancing sweetness and refreshment to perfection.

Came here for dim sum and definitely will be back. The molten lava buns were my favorite and I especially enjoyed the sweet and sour crispy fish. Loved the inner ambiance and service was fast.

Pros: authentic Szechuan flavors, loved the mala/numbing spice Cons: a bit pricey and felt like meat quality was lacking for the price - mung bean jelly: first time trying this! Loved the cool jelly and cucumber with the spicy oil - wontons in chili oil: idk I didn't like the wontons, felt like they came out of the freezer or something, chili oil was standard but nothing special - pan friend noodle: not exactly what we expected....the noodle was crispy, probably wouldn't get it again but it was an interesting dish - dry pot: liked that we could customize it. Loved the flavor but the beef quality felt like fast food/Panda Express...... Overall glad the flavors were authentic but didn't like the quality of ingredients esp for the price. Portions were decent sizes though, everything is meant to be served family style. Personally wouldn't come back....

I came by with a friend on a busy Friday for dinner but we were seated quickly and helped in a timely manner. We ended up sharing an order of the string beans(if you read my other reviews, you know I am intense about my string beans) that tasted great, and the cumin chicken which tasted alright, because, in my opinion, the cumin flavor overshadowed the chicken entirely. Additionally, we ordered the food to be spicy but didn't taste any burning pain at all. They also had a nice chili oil to add to the dishes. The service was good and not overbearing at all. I think I would come back to try some of the other dishes because they had an extensive menu and I could see this place being great for large groups.

[Taste] Sichuan inspired Chinese restaurant opened in 2017 in Palo Alto right outside the campus of Stanford 1. Couple's Delight (夫妻肺片) 2. Cordyceps flower and Chicken Soup (滋補盡草花雞湯) 3. Numbing Spicy Entrails (金牌毛血旺) 4. Spicy Fish Filet with Pickled Veggies (重慶酸菜魚) 5. Stir fry Chinese Greens with Garlic (蒜蓉油麥菜) Everything here was very decent. Generally what you expect if you've had these dishes before. The food was good but here was nothing really that outstanding besides what you expect with ordering the Chinese classics when you go to a Sichuan restaurant but it wasn't bad at all, just normal. 8/10 https://www.taste-paloalto.com 423 University Ave Palo Alto, CA 94301

As always quality and service of the restaurant is unmatched. If you're looking for a good Szechuan restaurant with real authentic taste, Taste will not disappoint. The spicy chicken will want you asking for more and the Bo Bo chicken, no matter how big of a serving it looks will make you want to order for another. Good ambiance as well with very hospitable and polite workers. Will be coming back here for big events such as birthdays, mothers day or fathers day. 10/10

Looks to be an excellent spot for family style, but not so much individually. Can't entirely knock it without trying out the family style experience, but for now I thought the food was average (food being a lunch special). Prices are generally high, but again more oriented towards family style. Prices for lunch specials are higher than normal and the portion isn't that big for the price. Can get more food for less at other spots. However, the lunch specials seem to be a poor representation of this restaurant, so don't order them and opt for the main items. Lunch Special Broccoli with Beef - pretty standard broccoli beef, a bit lighter on the overall flavor. Sauce isn't viscous enough to stay on the contents so the broccoli and the beef are very pure in the flavor which can be good or bad. Portion was rather small for the price. Spicy Vermicelli Noodles with Ground Pork - decently hot. Peanuts included so allergies beware. Underwhelming dish though, the ground pork is very minimal and it's mostly a hot spicy noodle dish.

The food is AMAZING!!!! You have to try this restaurant at least once. Absolutely get the Wontons in chili oil and the scallion pancakes. Also, they are SUPER accommodating. Two people in my party were eating low carb, so they used fresh fish in the soup instead of the marinated, but the dish didn't drop in quality at all. They also substituted the wontons in the wonton soup for beef. Also, great general Tso chicken!!! Kudos to Jessie and Ki-Ki, who so warmly and patently served our party. Their detailed knowledge of the menu and spirit of accommodation --off the chart!!!! Totally remarkable. And a huge shoutout to Chef Liao! He is REMARKABLE.

Was so sad to see Jing Jing closed down. Their kung pao shrimp was iconic and hard to find anywhere else. I guess time marches on. I was elated to see that Taste's kung pao was just as good as Jing Jing's version. It is a little less gooey sticky and a bit more wholesome and maybe even a little better. Everything on the menu was amazing. Outdoor seating was very nice and dog friendly.

The pot was great. Perfect level of spicy, flavorful spices, and authentic ingredients. The pot and two bowls of rice was perfect for two. Good service and location. I'll definitely be coming again if I'm in the area.

taste that we know and love have always been a big fan of sichuan food. this place has it. was able to easy grab a table for 4 w/o reservation. started off with the couple's delight which was decent. for the mains, we went for the spicy lamb fillets with chili oil - very well done, lamb was very tender and lots of spice. cooled things down with the stir fried pea sprouts. best dish was fried fish fillet w/ chili pepper - generous portion of crispy tender fish with lots of fragrant peppers. price was a tad high, but I guess that is how things are in the bay area. overall, loved the food here.

Taste good, at that area price is very reasonable. Next time will definitely comeback and try the spicy Bo Bo chicken.

Everything was so great. Fantastic food. Very attentive service. It was available as dine in or dine out ambiance was just great so you could people-watch Loved it

Good food and excellent service, the location of the store is well placed as we were looking for somewhere to eat while walking down university ave. Will be coming back soon for more of the Mongolian beef and the spicy chicken wings