Tea House Chinese Restaurant

Chinese restaurant · Prospect Park - East River Road

Tea House Chinese Restaurant

Chinese restaurant · Prospect Park - East River Road

5

2425 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

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Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by Tea House Chinese Restaurant
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by Tea House Chinese Restaurant
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null
Tea House Chinese Restaurant by null

Highlights

Sichuan specialties, dim sum, and weekend brunch served  

Featured in Eater
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2425 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Get directions

teahouseumn.com

$20–30 · Menu

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2425 University Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414 Get directions

+1 612 331 8866
teahouseumn.com

$20–30 · Menu

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Aug 8, 2025

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@eater

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

"After nearly 15 years on University Avenue, Tea House remains a staple for excellent Chinese fare — Szechuan in particular. It’s a great place to dine family-style: Mix and match between a steaming bowl of thick, supple kudai lamb noodles (a street food from China’s Shaanxi Province); the whole braised Anhui walleye; or the classic kung pao chicken, peppered with crispy peanuts. On the weekend, come for a dim sum brunch." - Eater Staff

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

13 Outstanding Chinese Restaurants Around the Twin Cities

"After more than a decade on University Avenue, Tea House remains a staple for excellent Chinese fare — Szechuan in particular. It’s a great place to dine family-style: Pair a steaming bowl of thick, supple kudai lamb noodles with the whole braised walleye or the classic kung pao chicken, peppered with crispy peanuts. On the weekend, come for a dim sum brunch." - Eater Staff

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/best-szechuan-chinese-restaurants-twin-cities
View Postcard for Tea House Chinese Restaurant
@eater

The Best Twin Cities Restaurants for Groups | Eater Twin Cities

"After more than a decade on University Avenue, Tea House remains a staple for excellent Chinese fare — Szechuan in particular. It’s a great place to dine family-style: Pair a steaming bowl of thick, supple kudai lamb noodles with the whole braised walleye or the classic kung pao chicken, peppered with crispy peanuts. On the weekend, come for a dim sum brunch." - Justine Jones

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-groups-twin-cities-minneapolis-st-paul
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@eater

8 Serene Twin Cities Restaurants for Quiet Conversations | Eater Twin Cities

"At this University Ave institution near the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus, velvet curtains and wood privacy screens turn every booth into a secluded spot for conversation, even during busy lunch hours. Get scallion pancakes—they sell out quickly during the dinner rush, and order everything else to share." - Julie Yu

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/best-restaurant-acoustics-quiet-intimate-easy-conversation-minneapolis-st-paul
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Eav Ngov (吴楚耀)

Google
I came here for authentic Sichuan flavors, and the food was delicious! The House Spicy Beef and Chongqing Spicy Chicken were bold, flavorful, and spicy as expected. The eggplant and green beans dish was also great (though they were out of bitter melon this time). My only suggestion: some dishes were a little too salty for my taste. I’d love to come back and try them with less salt. Still, a great place for real Sichuan cuisine in Minneapolis. I’ll definitely return!

Jonathan Gonzalez

Google
Absolutely loved our dinner at Tea House Chinese Restaurant! The Combo Fried Rice was packed with flavor and a great mix of meats, perfectly cooked. The Sesame Chicken had a crispy coating with a sweet, tangy sauce, so satisfying. We also tried the Xiao Long Bao and they were juicy, delicate, and full of rich broth. Definitely a must order! The MEIZHOU Pork Buns were soft, flavorful, and a great balance of sweet and savory. Everything came out fresh and hot. Server was great! Very knowledgeable and awesome explaining the menu as well as how to reheat out leftover food. Can’t wait to come back!

Amber J

Google
My family and I really like this restaurant. When we first came to there we ordered 7 dishes and the service also very nice. But last Sunday we have an uncomfortable lunch. We ordered 6 dishes but it was too salt to eat and I drink a lot of water. I took roujiamo to go but today when I find it has green onion and the bread is over dry. I am so disappointed with this meal.

Karli Oxford-Jordan

Google
Delicious food. Great for a quick lunch, or a sweet treat! I sat at the bar and was helped by a team of people clearly passionate about food and hospitality. Cozy spot to chat with new friends. The jasmine tea, strawberry smoothie, and fried pita hit the spot! I'll be coming back whenever I'm in town.

Brianna Lee

Google
Food and service are outstanding! We were greeted very kindly when we arrived and our server was very attentive despite being surprisingly busy for 2:30pm. The beef rolls were fresh and light!! Soup dumplings were good but the skin was a little thicker for my preference and they went cold quickly. The braised beef with tofu skin was melt in your mouth and the texture of the tofu went well with the meal. Our favorite dish was the fried pork ribs. Soooo juicy and had the perfect amount of crisp! I was obsessed with the sauce it came with. We love how close we live and this will now be our go to spot! Also free parking lot which is always a win in Minneapolis.

Cheryllyne Vaz

Google
Everything and I mean everything at this charming restaurant is outstanding. Tea House specializes in sichuan-style Chinese cuisine. This pepper is uniquely flavored adding such an umami flavor to all the dishes. The menu is pretty extensive. Please rely on your server if you cannot figure out what to choose. Everything is delicious. We stuck to meat and veggie dishes, however I plan on going back for a strictly seafood experience as it all looked fantastic. If you’re looking for authentic Chinese cuisine, this is the real deal.

Daniel Schroeder

Google
First time visiting Tea House after hearing many folks praise their authentic spicy Szechuan dishes. I was NOT disappointed! Very impressed by the Po La Fish as it carried heavy flavors of garlic and fresh ginger. Bold flavors that did not overpower the whitefish. Highly recommend! I am a big fan of steamed bun so I started out with an order of Meizhou Pok Buns. Hot fresh and steamy! Delicious! Also, be sure to bring friends and an appetite! Thanks to my great server! Enjoy all.

Brandon Zhang

Google
Got a broken chair but thankfully switched to a booth with pillows and a button to call the waiter. However it was slightly dirty. The food tastes good but it is way too expensive. Might come back but 7 relatively small dishes ( why such small portions? ) cost $140! They should adjust the cost. The atmosphere was somewhat quiet but it kinda felt unfriendly. The bright of this is the staff was friendly and helpful. The interior of the restaurant also looks decent.
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Amy R.

Yelp
This place is adorable. I met my friend for lunch and we were both pleasantly surprised by how cute it was inside. We were seated in a charming booth- the booths are cushined with pillows and curtains. We ordered some appetizers. Egg rolls and pan fried dumplings- both good. I ordered the Meizuh fried rice was absolutely delicous. It was light and not greasy at all. Wonderful taste and good with the hot mustard which was really hot! Will defintely be back to order some more. My friend ordered the chicken and vegetables which looked good and fresh. The menu was quite thick and had pictures which I like so we could see what we were ordering. Had to pull the prices up on our phones as they prices are not printed in english. Service was wonderful. Will definely return!
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Morgan W.

Yelp
The food & service was excellent! We went on a Saturday night & it was pretty busy but only had to wait a few minutes. We ordered Szechuan dumplings, General Tao Chicken and the Kung Pao Chicken Lo Mein. The Kung Pao Chicken had a good kick to it so I do not recommend if you only like a little spice. I LOVED it though! All the food was delicious & I will definitely be going back again!
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Pamela L.

Yelp
I was on a layover in Minneapolis and saw this restaurant. I thought I would try it since its reviews were positive. Being from SF and exposed to eating Szechuan cuisine, I wanted to do a comparison. The restaurant décor is tastefully done with Chinese paintings, porcelain wares, plants, furniture, etc. The menu is more extensive than I have seen outside CA and NY. The waitstaff was knowledgeable about the ingredients of each dish. The atmosphere was calming. Staff provided great service; polite, efficient and cordial. You can tell if the food is going to be good in a Chinese dim sum restaurant by trying the siu mai or steamed pork buns. Siu mai should be steaming hot, tender, balanced ingredients, wrapper has a yellow hue, bouncy, a good bite, a yellow dot and how it is presented. If the chef can't make a decent one, then you will know the food won't be great. If a steamed pork bun isn't generous in their filling and the bun isn't thin, then you will know that the portions are going to be small with minimal meat. That being said, I tried the siu mai. It was decent so I know that my entrees will be at least decent. Vegetable to meat ratio were good and portion was ample.
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Oluseyi O.

Yelp
This is a SUPER popular restaurant! I went in on a Thursday night at about 7:30pm and it was packed! As a solo diner I asked for a bar seat. There are only 3 seats and they were full. I was quoted 10-15 minutes by the super sweet host, but it ended up being 40 minutes. Once I secured a seat, I was crowded by people coming to the bar to pick up DoorDash/Uber Eats orders. I was repeatedly bumped, one guy actually leaned against me like I was a pillar. I was livid. When the couple next to me got up, I moved. They'd been done eating since I got there and were chatting for an hour at this point. I ordered the spicy dumpling soup with the chicken dumplings. It was VERY GOOD. I saved half of it to take home. My entree was the fried spicy fish. I was disappointed with this dish. It was pieces of fried catfish with peppers and ginger/garlic sauce. The issue is that it came COVERED in FRIES! No where on the menu did it say fries were a part of the dish. There were far more fries than fish and it was a $25 dish. It was also served with white rice. No sauce or veggies. A very odd dish. All in all I would return, maybe during lunch rather than dinner. I'd also ask more questions about the contents of the dishes.
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Raj D.

Yelp
Ever have a place that has become a go-to over Time? Tea House at the U of M is one of those for my family and many of our friends. First of all the location is central to the whole of the Twin Cities. Second it's pretty roomy. Third the food is amongst the best Asian cuisine in the Twin Cities. Let me add the staff is usually quite good. Today my Daughter, son and I came from Edina and caught up with one of my cousins from Woodbury mid week. Despite traffic we all of us made it in reasonable time. The food was quite good and we loved it. Seafood ruled the day and these guys have a bunch of choices in that area.
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Teresa L.

Yelp
I came here with my Nana-in-law. This place is a great place to get authentic Chinese food. They had some authentic cuisine like pork trotter. It is casual dining. The staff members were professional and friendly. The food came out as it became available - our chicken wings came out last, which was fine. My Nana ordered Pork & Tofu Sticks, which was really flavorful. I ordered the Crispy Garlic Wings and Dan Dan Noodles. The Dan Dan Noodles were spicy; unfortunately, you cannot do non-spicy. Even with mild spice, to me, it was still spicy, but flavorful. My Nana didn't think the Dan Dan Noodles was spicy and loved it! The Crispy Garlic Wings came in 3's and was juicy and crispy. It also came with a spicy mayo sauce and celery. Overall, I would come back to try more food. The only thing that I noticed was on the menu, the prices were not listed, which made me anxious to know the total. It was interesting because it is also near the U of M campus and remembering my college days, $18 for a Pork & Tofu Sticks dish is expensive.
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Cass A.

Yelp
We visited this spot after seeing it recommended on social media. Something we wish we would've known - every dish is shareable. The portions are large and the flavors pack a punch. We ended up taking home enough food for two larger meals per person (total of 4). House Beef Roll - thin crepe loaded with spiced beef and other fillings Xiao Long Bao - solid soup dumplings, I added chili oil to mine Cucumber Salad - the brightness we needed with a light spice and plenty of crunch (even better after the flavors meld in the fridge a day or two later) House Spicy Pork Scalded Chili Noodles - hand pulled wide noodles with a good level of spice with a nice crunch from the peanuts and bok choy Eggplant in Garlic Sauce - recommended by our server who said "I'm not even a vegetarian and this is my favorite dish on the menu" - they were spot on. It was beautifully caramelized and tender I wish the menu listed pricing. Even though we didn't see pricing until the end, we were impressed by the prices. Before tip, all of our food was approximately $100. Considering we were able to get a total of 6 meals out of this, I'd say the pricing was solid.
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Andrew A.

Yelp
We've been on a quest to find Jianbing in Minnesota and visited Tea House to try theirs. While we visited, we wanted to have a full meal and it did not disappoint. Before I go into each dish, I will want you that portions are HUGE! You can easily split each dish between 3-4 people. We ordered: house beef roll, Xiao Long Bao, House Spicy Pork (comes with rice), Scalded Chili Noodles, Cucumber Salad, and an eggplant dish. Every dish packed a ton of flavor and was unique. We had a ton of leftovers to bring home, but we weren't mad! They're most famous for their Xiao Long Bao, so make sure you try them! The restaurant is incredibly ample and comfortable, and service was great!
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Ryan G.

Yelp
If you like authentic Szechuan food, this is your spot in Minneapolis. The restaurant is clean and modern, and the service is quick and friendly. We ordered the xiao long bao, house spicy pork, serrano beef, and scalded chili noodles. All of these were fantastic, and relatively spicy. Tough to pick a favorite, probably would be the noodles (which is really just one very long noodle - they give you a steak knife to cut and serve it). The XLB was the best I've had in quite a while and probably the best in this area. If you don't have much experience with Szechuan food, be sure to get the xiao long bao and there are plenty of options on the menu that are relatively simple dishes. There is something for everyone here. Give this place a try!
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Nalani T.

Yelp
I love this place so much. The scalded chili noodles were super delicious. It's super garlicky and peanutty which are two flavors I really enjoy. I also ordered the eggplant, which I forgot to take a picture of. Their eggplant is probably my favorite dish. It's also pretty garlicky but it has sweet and spicy flavors that balance it out really well to make a delicious flavorful dish. Basically everything is meant to be shared family style so don't order a portion for just yourself unless you want leftovers for days. Also, prices aren't listed on their physical menu but you can check prices on the menu on their website.
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Sandy X.

Yelp
This place was a WOWzers! Food: 4.5/5 Every dish that we ordered was delicious!! Came out fresh and piping hot, plus they did not cut corners on the numbing peppercorn either!! Like what foodie peeps have said, if it doesn't leave your mouth numb then you know it's not legit. One thing they could improve on is serving tea in an actual teapot, not a coffee pot. That was just sad. Service: 4/5 We had a super kind and attentive young waiter who took care of our needs. He checked up on us at the perfect timing when we needed him, just very professional and positive vibes all around. Ambiance: 3/5 Very dimmed lighting with lots of tables and bulky chairs. Also a bit hard to maneuver around to get to the restroom, which was way in the back of the restaurant.
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Kal S.

Yelp
Not many Chinese restaurant serve this type of Chinese regional food, spicy and savory. Located at the outskirts of the university MPLS campus with plenty of free parking. Very traditional Chinese decor and we got seated at cute alcove type booth. If you've been to Magic Noodle, this would be comparable but perhaps a little bit better than Magic Noddle. Went there specifically to try their version of the Biang Biang hand stretched wide noodle dish, otherwise called on menu as "Scalded Chili Noodles" - Not bad and better than other places in the twin cities. Other stuff we ordered were good but not did not blow my mind.
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Magna R.

Yelp
I returned to the tea house yesterday with a family member after having not visited this restaurant since my time at the university of Minnesota. As a student, this was known as the nicer Chinese restaurant near campus and I had several nice dinners out with friends after exam days or just for fun. This place is great because it has ample seating (mostly low top tables) so they're very able to get in and accommodate larger groups. They are often busy, especially during peak meal times so plan accordingly as food and service sometimes lags a little. Our server was friendly, a bit lacking on speed and attentiveness (we mentioned wanting to get a beverage with our meal which didn't happen and we didn't have a chance to talk to him again until we were about halfway through our food and decided to get a drink somewhere else on the way home instead) but he seemed like a great genuine guy and seemed to have many tables he was working at once so overall I would say he did a good job and we still tipped him over 20%. Additionally we didn't get any refills on our waters and our appetizer (the Shanghai buns) came out after our entrees - this was fine but if we had known we likely would have ordered a different appetizer that would have came out sooner as we were hungry waiting for our meal. The food is very reasonably priced however and consistently delicious. It has great spices added and a wide range of either spicy or non-spicy dishes available. Their menu is huge and features pictures and descriptions of all their dishes along with historical facts about some dishes which is really fun. We had the sizzling beef and eggplant and pork noodles and both were incredibly delicious. The eggplant pieces throughout my dish were big and roasted perfectly in a way that let them soak up a lot of the sauce - an amazing add to the dish. The pork and beef were both cooked excellently and the flavor profiles on both dishes were addictive. The Shanghai dumplings we likely wouldn't reorder due to the wait time and when they came out some of the meat inside was still slightly red/pink which made me think they should've been cooked a bit longer as they weren't consistently hot throughout either. The flavor of them was slightly bland compared to our entrees too which was disappointing, coupled with them being quite messy to enjoy. This is a place we will definitely return to, can't wait to find our next favorite on the menu.
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Maikey M.

Yelp
Nice place near U of M and Us stadium- Ambiance: Good vibe- typical nice Chinese restaurant decor with tacky Asian theme but is normal- nicely decorated but little bit dirty needs spring cleaning. Only critique would be the chairs and tables are worn out and would need an upgrade since is just through years of wear and tear. When we were there it was full and busy afternoon Sunday lunch. We love Szechuan style Chinese food so this place was a must try! Food: Overall food was spot on and delicious: Couples slice- love Szechuan cold dishes - this represents the best of them all. the ma and la In Szechuan cooking is well defined in this dish. Very tender beef slice in all the goodness of the spice. We'll balance flavor with full blown spices of ma la Szechuan flavor. Love it Cucumber salad : another good ma la cold dishes that is refreshing due tot he cucumbers . Super spicy but yet refreshing- good stuff Xiao Long Bao: love soup baos- this one is good. Flavor tastes very good. Only critique that it was team close to each other so it sticks when you try to pull it apart thus the juices spill out before you eat it. Maybe steam it more apart. Beef Noddle soup: flagrantly and beefy soup that was the only non spicy dish. This soup was good and we had substituted the hand pull belt Noodles instead of regular noodles that came with it- that made this beef noodle soup to another level. The hand pull noodles were so good- perfect texture chewy goodness with the beefy broth- this balance out all of our spicy Szechuan dishes. Stir fry eggplant: eggplant came out and delicious- well flavor with Szechuan spices - nothing to complain but compliments to the cooks. Mala chicken : if you want that numbing sensation of Szechuan cuisine right away and a loaf of spice up your nostrils - this dishes is so good and spicy at the same time. It's numbing hot Szechuan style style but you can't stop eating it. The American touch of adding fries to this dishes and all the dry spice - its such a good drinking beer dish to eat it- flavor profile is exploding as you take the first second bite- one of my favorites- as someone who lives Szechuan pepper corn. Drinks: Hot tea- typical black tea - not the best but it cleans our palate before each dish. It's good to offset spicy food- trust me from someone who has heart burns so to spicy food- order a black tea before eating it. Passion fruit basil seed refresher: typically good passion fruit with basil seed refresher- good nothing to complain about it. Boba milk tea : milk tea was good- well balanced- nothing Greta but solid good- Overall: This is a must for Szechuan cuisine food- if you ever want the taste of Szechuan cooking then order the couples slice beef and Mala chicken. You'll know exactly what Szechuan is all about. But if you want something less spicy - order the hand pull noodles any style- the noodles are so good when made fresh. Must give this place a try. For my Asian folks- don't let the non- Asian college student servers scare you. The food is good!
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Mandy C.

Yelp
We absolutely love the food here. It's always great and we've never had bad service. The dishes are a little spendy but you do get a lot of food. Order the Green Beans, Ma Po Tofu, The Guo Bao Pork is the most amazing dish! All the Dumplings are fantastic! The Meizhou Pork Buns are excellent!
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Kong V.

Yelp
Arrived with no wait time. Was immediately greeted and seated. I was given water and a drink list. I chose to just drink water. As I glazed through the menu, I ordered their famous dumplings with the liquid inside, the general tao chicken and the shrimp fried rice. To my surprise, the taste of each dish was great! Fried is picked with flavor that you can taste. The dumplings were delicious with the tangy tart sauce. And of course the general tao chicken was fire! The portions were cooked to perfection and the sauce was not too overpowering. Last but not least, the environment is very subtle and laid back. They have saxophone music playing in the background that is soothing to the ears!!! Well, what are you waiting for.... Head on over to Tea House Restaurant and experience it for yourself!!!
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Laura S.

Yelp
Wow! This is not your average restaurant. We walked into a beautiful wide open room. There were people of all ages; families, couples, small groups. There are a couple spacious dining rooms plus cozy private booths with curtains for privacy. They also have large windows so the booths are open and bright. There are a couple private dining rooms for small parties of 8-12 people. We ordered the hot and sour soup that had more "good stuff" in it than most: mushrooms, chicken, bean sprouts, other savory morsels I cannot remember. It was perfectly seasoned; just enough heat to get your attention and unusually and perfectly sour. I say unusually because it is rare to get outstanding hot and sour soup. Ever. In fact, it may be the best hit and sour soup I have ever had. Truly!! The Szechuan chicken dumplings nearly tore our heads off...in the best possible way. They were tender, flavorful; lightly battered with a killer spicy chili oil-based sauce. Yikes!! I am writing this 20 minutes later and my mouth is still stinging---in the best possible way. Morgan patiently answered my questions and described certain dishes. For example, there is another hot and sour soup but with dumplings. Morgan was fantastic!! I appreciated his patience and knowledge. Morgan made all the difference. The entire staff was welcoming and friendly. Tea House Chinese Restaurant is a destination place for a great meal or any celebration. I promise you will have a memorable experience!
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Shandi R.

Yelp
In the cities for the weekend and wanted some real Chinese food, not Midwest Chinese. My cousin suggested we go here and it did not disappoint. The food was great and easily some of the best Chinese I've had. Our server was attentive - making sure we had our drinks and refills. The decor and vibes of Tea House were a nice mix of modern and what you'd traditionally expect at a Chinese restaurant. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area!
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Rohan D.

Yelp
The outside of the place looked like it might be abandoned and closed, but inside it's pretty nice though too warm. This must be a favorite for grad students, grad students with their parents, Chinese exchange students, and professors judging by the conversations overheard. I was in town to try to set up a new Thanksgiving tradition. For many reasons growing up in an Asian immigrant household Thanksgiving was fraught with anxiety and disappointment. I spent much of my adulthood becoming an expert in various different American techniques for preparing and serving up Thanksgiving dinner but what I was most successful at was recreating the family conflict but now in my house. So this year I decided to visit my cousin who takes her family to a big Sri Lankan party. What I should have realized, being both a sociologist and a Sri Lankan - American as that this party would start an hour and a half after scheduled (at 6pm) and the food wouldn't served until all the men were very drunk and exhausted from singing Sri Lankan songs. Anyway, needed a place for lunch and every "American" restaurant was either closed or full up on reservations. Tea House was packed but they somehow squeezed me in. All the tables around me were Chinese (speaking Han, not Chinese American) and yet the waitress was White. I found this amusing, and it fit the traditional Chinese music they were playing (Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis, excellent cool jazz). The other waitstaff looked Chinese but were all American born. Didn't matter, the waitstaff is excellent, and yet, not as good as the food. True authentic Szechuan, some of the best I've had. The hot chili noodles were superb, this sauce had that magic cocaine like quality of numbing the mouth and lips while elevating my mood. The green beans are a must. The rice was plentiful. The dumplings were late, and I was about to cancel them when I was already uncomfortably full but since I was so full I couldn't muster the wherewithal and ended up passively accepting them after I was done with everything else. I am so glad I didn't cancel that order, they were glorious. Oddly they served good Chinese tea in Western coffee cups, and even more odd, my delicious hot and sour soup came in a Japanese miso bowl but I think maybe they were busy all day long and coming to the end of their service-ware. I think this place might become a new Thanksgiving tradition for me. Literally in the shadow of the Minnesota football stadium.

William K.

Yelp
The food was quite good and delicious (although quite Westernized, this is not somewhere you'd go for authentic Chinese food) but the portions were pretty small for the amount of money they charge. Not cool if you ask me, hence the one star dropped. I ordered Uber Eats delivery from here so I have no idea what the interior dining experience is like, but it seems that the service here is quite good and quick because my order arrived earlier than expected which is always a good thing. Although the food is good, I think they use quite a bit of MSG in their food so do keep that in mind if sensitive to that.

Jo G.

Yelp
Wonderful food and great variety. Probably best Chinese food in Twin Cities. A few concerns: several items are absolutely drenched in hot oil. I siphoned off about 1/2 cup from the various dishes . Also several to go items (eg rice) are packaged in plastic containers which could be packaged in paper so that is ecologically unfriendly.
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R G.

Yelp
The restaurant is dirty , the service is also not good , the Food , I will give 3 Stars, which being acceptable. Supposed to be the High End Szechuan restaurant in the Cities , but the Owners care not about cleanliness. Not training well of the Staffs , in the regards of what supposed to run a restaurant, the family has rooted in restaurant business for long time in Twin Cities , but the operation of all their restaurants always have been Sub Par , quite sad actually , having restaurants for long time but can't set a high standard of operation.

Russ Z.

Yelp
Morgan was great! He Introduced me to the owners and we connected. Super great service, phenomenal explanation of flavors and ingredients, and the late nite attentiveness was beyond what 8 have experienced elsewhere. Big portions with plenty for leftovers as a transient swim dad. 5 stars
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Tony X.

Yelp
I was brought here from an Instagram and then TikTok video. It's a no from me. Not sure if these people were paid but it is not it. Go to Peking garden if you want authentic good Chinese food in my opinion from eating a lot of Asian cuisines here in MN and over seas. Beef role was cold on the inside not my thing. Not that much flavor inside, it was a bit sweet in flavor but it's just wasn't notable in any way shape or form. Green beans, this wasn't bad. Not oily which is great but it was average at best still. Dumpling... definitely not good. If you want serious good dumplings go to HotGrainz, take notes that's better. The dough on these dumplings were thick, the meat inside dry and the chili was okay. I've talked to people and they loved this place 10 years ago. This is my honest opinion, thanks.
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Ashley C.

Yelp
This place has delicious and authentic Chinese food! We ordered takeout from here on a Saturday evening. We ordered the General Tso 's Chicken and House Spicy Beef and they were ready very quickly. The beef was tender and flavorful. General Tso's Chicken was pretty good- the crunchy fried exterior covered in a mild sauce. Portions were a good size as well. Even though we didn't dine in, the restaurant seemed very busy on a weeknight. The employees were very kind and efficient when we were picking up our other. We will definitely order from here again!
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Lorelei P.

Yelp
Good parking! oh and the food...It was quite good and spicy. The building needs a refresh for sure, and we had good service, but they forgot part of our order. We weren't charged but it was an annoynace. The wings were excellent, and noodles were also super tasty. I would say go in a group to try lots of things!

Kate S.

Yelp
The food is excellent! We all love to share the many choices offered. The wait staff is knowledgeable and attentive.
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Jennifer O.

Yelp
I wanted to get some xlb while in MN, and this seemed to be the place. The food here was really good and the prices seemed fair enough. We tried many items, the xlb, sheng jian bao, a scallion pancake beef roll, and some noodles. All were tasty!
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Daniel G.

Yelp
Jacob great server should be manager. The owner Elizabeth is amazing. Wow wow wow. I don't give out 5 stars but darn yall have to go here. Authentic, great real Chinese food as if in beijing. Kudos to Elizabeth the owner and Jacob is amazing but don't tell himm....ego lol. No amazing love this place
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Peter P.

Yelp
Ine of the best chinese restaurant in the TC. Give them 5 stars for Authenticity and 5 stars for the taste. Portion of the food is on the large size so the price is considered decent. They gave us a dessert for free to help celebrate my daughter's birthday (a full sized dessert; thank you). The only issue would be the limited parking space. If the street parking is available, this is not a problem but prepare yourself to find a parking spot during the weekend as they are super crowded. Do make a reservation if you can.
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Emily H.

Yelp
We went to the tea house on a Sunday afternoon and it was quite fun and delicious. The service was very slow in part because we didn't realize that we have to use an ordering system and QR code. If you're worried you don't know what to order - the pictures on the menu are super helpful!! We ordered: Meizhou Pork Buns - YUM! and great the next day Szechuan Dumplings - Delicious. Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings) - this is the reason we went and they lived up to the expectations!! Highly recommended. Beef Noodle Soup - probably wouldn't order it again. Definitely go for the experience and the soup dumplings. We went on a Sunday afternoon and had no issue with parking.

Cecilia W.

Yelp
I discovered this restaurant on TikTok and have been a couple of times since. Both of my experiences have been great. The environment in this restaurant is wonderful, everyone is very friendly. When I went with my friends there were some things on the menu that we had no idea what it was and the waitress really did a good job explaining the different dishes. You get your food fairly quickly and the food is exquisite. You can tell the food is fresh and made with love. I have always loved dim sum and I love that they offer a lot of traditional dim sum dishes. I would totally recommend this delicious homey restaurant.
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Malik M.

Yelp
Not gone lie yaw really foul. This shrimp fried rice is shrimp fried buns on my daddy. Shrimp don't even taste like shrimp. Egg rolls taste like dog water. Then we don't get no soy sauce none. Yaw is foul i stg
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Neil S.

Yelp
This is some of the best chinese cuisine you'll find in the Twin Cities. It's not the cheapest, but it's got authenticity to it that you'll not find in other places. Highly recommend the vegetable dishes - eggplant anything is especially well done.
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Dianna N.

Yelp
It's been some time since I've been back at Tea House. Wasn't as good as I remembered. Unfortunately we were seated at a table that hadn't been wiped. Barely had any broth in the Beef Noodle Soup.
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Nathan J.

Yelp
We finally decided it was time to try what the star tribune called the best Chinese food in the Twin Cities in 2022. Being partial to a certain legendary Chinese restaurant that sits just a block away and kitty corner to the Tea House I was expecting great things in order to make it a regular on my Asian food rotation. I should mention Tea House was also recommended by a business colleague of mine who is from China and came with high praise though she did warn me they use more oil than she likes in her dishes. We were not disappointed at all and this place is legitimately in the argument for best Chinese food in the cities. We had the house beef roll, kung pao chicken, sizzling beef and house fried rice. The beef roll was an excellent starter and fused lots of nice flavors into one. Kung Pao by which I judge all Chinese restaurants was outstanding! Spicy Szechuan and ginger tongue tingler with none of the extra filler, just chicken and peanuts. Sizzling beef was very tasty though this is where I most noticed the heavy use of oil. Finally the house fried rice was awesome with big chunks of meat and shrimp. Ambiance is quant but the place is certainly dated. Service was great in spite of the fact it was our servers first day. We will certainly be back and with an extensive menu we are super excited to try some more dishes.
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Elise T.

Yelp
They are always so nice! It is a family friendly restaurant! I have my favorites and my number is saved so they always take my order quickly. I usually pay and order once I arrive because to go orders you have to pay ahead. They also have parking for to go orders in the lot so it makes it easy to arrive and leave with your dinner order.
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Ian T.

Yelp
It's unfortunate when an old friend betrays your trust. That's how it felt with my last venture to Tea House in Stadium Village. The betrayal was double-sided because it was the first time I invited my friend to Tea House. I assured her that we would enjoy our meal and that this was one of the best Chinese restaurants in Minneapolis. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I don't know if post-covid, there has been new management, or whether, under the pressure of popularity, Tea House has decided to focus on speed rather than quality. My friend and I started with the chicken egg rolls as an appetizer. We ordered the cumin lamb and Szechuan green beans for our entrees. The first few bites of the egg rolls were hot and oily as expected, but the middle was a cold glob of noodles. The remaining half of the egg roll was the same chilly temperature that told of flash frying frozen rolls and tossing them onto a plate. The cumin lamb was also very disappointing. The first thing I noticed was the presentation. Years earlier, I ordered the dish for a bowl full of chewy lamb pieces that melted in your mouth in an earthy wave of cumin. The smell and taste packed a punch. The cumin lamb I ordered this year didn't even look the same. It was a few thick pieces of lamb fat. The lamb fat was covered in thickly chopped onions to disguise the fact that there wasn't much meat to begin with. On top of that, the dish was luke warm. I told our server we needed it reheated. He took it back and returned it. It was cooler than when I entered it. My friend and I left the dish alone in protest. The Szechuan green beans were competently prepared. However, they were paired with cold rice. I didn't bother asking the server for help because he clearly wasn't able or willing to. Tea House may have ended what was a long friendship.

Joe S.

Yelp
Best Chinese food in the twin cities by FAR! Our waiter Jacob was amazing! He was super knowledgeable about the food, the history, and the restaurant itself. He was also quick and attentive without being invasive, he was excellent. I love boa and have tried several restaurants, cafes, shops, and bakeries to find the best, and it is here. The Szechuan sauce and meals are amazing. I'm not overly familiar with Szechuan food, but I loved it. And the portion sizes are HUGE! The ambiance is excellent. Comfy seats, gentle music, good lighting, and good share on the sunny days. The parking is street parking only.
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YiQing G.

Yelp
I have been dinning with Tea house for years, since they first opened. Their food reminds me of my home Beijing. Although I am saddened that they no longer serve breakfast buffet, I still am happy to visit and order the dishes I love. The beef roll is a must have, it reminded me of Beijing duck. Also had the bao - soup one, steamed one and fried one. Everything is more than amazing
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Ellie B.

Yelp
Got takeout from Tea House on Christmas and service was timely and food was warm and yummy! Our favorites were the lo mein, tofu dishes, and cream cheese wontons.
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Brian A.

Yelp
Weird place on many levels. First. They give you a gorgeously color photographed menu that is the quality of a coffee table book. Then you look at the pages and realize there are no prices. You ask and are pointed to stickers on the bar counter that you have to scan to see prices. So what's the point of handing out menus and not saying that. Then my dish arrived. Was called Beijing stir fry pancake. One problem. No pancake. First server I asked told me oh we don't do the pancake anymore. Huh? The second server pointed to a tiny piece of what looked like egg and said that is the pancake. The picture on the online menu looked different. And what was being pointed to was no bigger than an eighth of an inch by half an inch. Double huh?? To their credit, they took it back. I ordered the Taiwanese Pork Rice. Surprise! This one came out with both pork and rice. I was half expecting it to not have one or the other. Quality of food and taste are both excellent. Highly recommend the food. But minus a star for the difficult quirky issues. If only they would tell the customers up front and have menus with prices..... Oh well. Still recommended for the food.

Jennifer C.

Yelp
First of all, the menu was a little awkward: NO PRICES listed, just pics. Not a big deal, it's our honeymoon trip, but if youre on a budget or there with a group friends you could feel uncomfortable not knowing how much youre paying. I asked for a cup of hot water, the waitress said: hot water is 1 dollar. Seriously? They nickle and dime customers like that? The food was ok. Their szechuan dumplings were really bland, the food was oily. You can get much better szechuan food in Bloomington. Would not return.

Michael W.

Yelp
Far from the ordinary Chinese cuisine choices. Decor needs touch up. The staff was very accommodating
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Puglo P.

Yelp
The Teahouse Restaurant, an establishment that has positioned itself within the realm of buffet-style dining one is to suppose. Sadly it misses the mark of delivering a satisfying experience on all accounts. The initial impression upon entering the establishment is one of uncertainty, in part to its darkness, which while distinctive, lacks a welcoming thematic unity. The buffet, the crowning glory of such an establishment, where a cornucopia of dishes should entice, regrettably falls short of this promise. The spread is undeniably abundant, yet the execution of the dishes lacks the finesse and attention to detail one might hope for in a dining experience. The dishes, predominantly reflecting a Chinese culinary influence, were unfortunately characterized by a lackluster quality that betrayed their potential. Textures were inconsistent and often fell on the undesirable end of the spectrum, while the balance of flavors was skewed, casting a shadow over the entire gastronomic journey. The sweet offerings were similarly disappointing. An overpowering sweetness masked any semblance of distinct flavors, leaving little in terms of a satisfying finale to the meal. The beverage selection, too, left much to be desired. The proclamation of "fresh" juice was undermined by a taste and texture that bore the unmistakable hallmark of a product derived from a frozen mix, a far cry from the invigorating freshness one anticipates from freshly squeezed fruit. Service proved to be another considerable concern. The staff, though physically present, seemed to exist in a state of rude disconnect, creating an atmosphere of indifference and awkwardness rather than the welcoming environment one would expect from a dining establishment. The policy of mandatory gratuity, in light of the service provided, felt less like a deserved acknowledgement of good service, and more like an imposed levy, adding a sour note to the overall experience. In summary, The Teahouse Restaurant, while presenting a unique ambience, regrettably falls short in the crucial areas of food quality and service. Its current standing, reflected in a solitary star rating on Yelp, signifies a need for substantial improvements. As it stands, the Teahouse Restaurant would do well to refocus on the fundamental aspects of culinary excellence and hospitality, in order to elevate itself to the level of a quality dining experience.

kim m.

Yelp
The service was amazing! The food was so flavorful and our server, Zachariah was just so amazing and attended to our needs very well. The inside of the restaurant was so clean and well taken care of. The vibes were just so classy for being near the UMN campus. Very family friendly.
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Luke X.

Yelp
We stopped in while a U of M game was happening. The traffic was a little hectic and some street lanes were cones off. It was worth the extra work to get to the restaurant though! The restaurant has a beautiful layout! The private room for parties had grand doors for its entrance. The tables were big for family style dining. We ordered our dishes. When it came out, it was a good portion for sharing. My favorite was the Szechuan dumplings. I'm usually disappointed by Szechuan dishes I've tried - but this was amaaaaaaazing! I put the left over Szechuan sauce on everything I ate. I heard the brunch is good here. I'll definitely have to try it.
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Alex G.

Yelp
I want to start by saying we had a wonderful server, who truly tried her best. This experience was spoiled by the food and the management. Our first impression was odd. We were seated and given water, which started to leak over the table as the plastic glasses were cracked on the bottom. One of our table ordered what was listed as a Cocktail and was given a can of a premade alcoholic drink--which admittedly was good, but wasn't worth 10$ for a canned drink. The food itself was atrocious. We got several dishes, each came out with around five-ten minutes between them. We started with appetizers--an egg roll dish which was filled with terribly over cooked vegetables (paste) and a pork bun dish that came out near 10 minutes after the egg rolls (those were good). The first entree to come out was a shredded garlic pork dish--I attached a picture. It was sweeter than expected, but that was no issue. What was is that it was lukewarm and drenched in oil. At first glance we thought it was a broth, due to how much was there. It was pure oil. The second entree to come out was Sizzling Beef. It also came out swimming in oil, and lukewarm. It was also sweeter than expected but that can be dismissed under a palate difference. The third entree was the Dongpo Sliced pork belly. It originally came out as a different dish, but the server (again, wonderful) quickly entered the correct dish and got it fixed. The dish immediately had a strange odor the whole table noticed--musty like a sealed room. We think it was the preserved vegetables it was served over, but we aren't sure--they were cooked to a mush and unidentifiable. The pork itself was buttery soft and steamed wonderfully, with an oddly smoky flavor. Unfortunately the smell was too off putting to me and I wasn't able to eat it. Oddly enough, despite being made moments before, it was also lukewarm? All of this was off putting and unfortunate, and so we asked for the check and informed them we did not enjoy the meal when asked. The manager came over and that's where the service became equally unpleasant. We asked the manager for our check and that we would not like boxes to take our leftovers. She asked why, and we explained our experience with the food. She then explained that the issue was with us and that it was unfortunate that we did not like the style of the food. The most outspoken of the party began to try and explain that we weren't trying to not pay or get a free meal, but that we didn't like the food. She reiterated that we were wrong, and that it was us not liking the style of food. It definitely smacked some of the party wrong, having Chinese, Korean, and Filipino heritage. Honestly, the whole interaction was really insulting, as was implying that the style of the restaurant was room temperature, oil soaked food, and that we were in the wrong for not enjoying it. Finally, after other patrons began looking over at our continuing conversation--and it was a conversation, neither the manager or our party were yelling or being unruly--the manager gave us our check and a discount. Fairly certain it was not because we could not eat the food but to get us to leave. When we did leave, I spotted other dishes from other tables, one of which I know had ordered the Sizzling Beef. It looked nothing like ours. Quite frankly, I'm really surprised. We saw a large amount of reviews in which the food was praised but this is some of the worst I've had in a long time. I want to believe this was a simple, one-off bad experience. Unfortunately, I won't be back to try again. I encourage people to make their own impressions, as I really do want to believe this was just a bad experience, and not representative.
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Darren L.

Yelp
Great experience at Tea House. We went here after graduation at the UofM and had a big table of 15. The server was fantastic and took our drink and food orders quickly (but not rushed). Everything came out at about the same time, and to the right people, which was impressive in itself. FYI- Cocktails on the menu are all canned, so you cannot substitute types of liquor or ask for something to be changed or removed. I ordered the double cooked pork, which came with rice for the whole table. My dish was very good, but the pork was a little tough. I assume this is normal for being double cooked? Leeks and peppers were delicious. Restaurant was busy and loud but totally expected with a full house after graduation ceremonies. Would definitely return! Menu here: https://www.teahouseumn.com/eMenuCats