Chengdu Taste

I came here with friends an ordered a wide array of things to try. We started off with beef chowder that came in a bowl for all of us to share. This was good and quite reminiscent of egg drop soup with bits of tofu, beef and mushroom.
We then ordered the tripe which was our least favorite. We all favor the tripe that is smaller that you commonly find at Dim Sum restaurants. But it wasn’t bad by any means, just our least favorite of all that we ordered. We also ordered beef tendons which were sliced thin and had a bit more bite to them than the gelatinous melt in your mouth kind that some are used to. I personally liked the beef tendon a lot. It was a bit spicy and mouth numbing and I was happy with it. We ordered the dumplings in the chili oil, which were fantastic as well as the wontons in the red sesame oil/​broth. They had a nice sweetness to them which I found nice after all the spicy things we had ordered. We also ordered the juicy pork buns which were also a table favorite.
We ordered the tea duck which was good as well. We’d have enjoyed it a bit more if the skin was a bit crispier and the meat was a bit more moist but overall it had a great flavor. We ordered the Cheng du bean noodles too which had been something we were eager to try after reading other reviews but I think it was good but nothing too special so I doubt we would order it again.
But we hope to come back and try the double cooked bacon and a lamb dish as well as the braised beef noodle soup.

Any meal that starts with a complimentary pickle is A-​OK in my book. Luckily that’s just the beginning. My dining companion and I started with pork dumplings in chili oil. Let’s be honest, what dish here doesn’t come with a generous amount of chili oil? The dumplings were soft and covered in sesame seeds. We slurped them down and then took photos of the oil splatters left on our plates. Entrees came soon after: Sichuan Double Cooked Fresh Bacon and Ma Po Tofu with minced pork. Dining companion was delighted with the thinly sliced bacon and leeks. «This is the most interesting dish of Asian food I’ve had.» The tofu was silky smooth and my mouth took on a warm, burning sensation after a few bites. Generous portions mean I’m excited for leftovers-​lunch tomorrow. Orange slices presented with the check to cleanse the palate. Will definitely be going back with a larger group to try more dishes.

If you’re craving Chinese food in Rhode Island, Chengdu Taste is your place.
To say I was excited about Chengdu would be an understatement. Scoped out the menu beforehand and almost had a feast delivered to my place after reading Alma’s review. Chengdu met and exceeded my expectations.
Incredibly delicious, authentic food (especially if you like spicy food). Friendly service. Affordable prices. Food comes out quick.
Meal started off with perfectly spiced pickles that got me properly excited for the meal ahead. Because our food was taking a bit longer than usual (we hardly noticed), they brought us another plate after we finished our first, which was nice of them.
Went with three others and got the Dan Dan Noodles Cheng Du Style, Chengdu Style Green Bean Noodles, Dry Sauteed Pig Intestine w/​Dried Red Chili, Sichuan Double Cooked Fresh Bacon, and the Bok Choy with Mushrooms. Both noodle dishes were fine, but no need to get them again when the other dishes were SO GOOD. The double cooked bacon was delicious, just a bit crisp, and not too fatty. The star of the night was the dry sauteed pig intestine with red chili… wow, it really was a spectacular dish. Perfectly crisped pieces were bursting with flavor. It’ll make you sweat but you won’t want to stop eating it (just make sure you don’t eat the actual chili pepper). We dug through the dish looking for more despite how full we all were… I’m thinking already about the next time we can order it. The bok choy and mushrooms were a great complement to the two dishes in that it really cut through the spice and helped balance the meal just a bit.
Get the soymilk! It’s goes beautifully with the meal, especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the spice.
Other items to try for future trips here: Mapo Tofu with Minced Pork, Pork Dumplings in Chili Oil, Sliced Pork Belly, Beef/​Ox Tripe in Chili Sauce, Chong Qing Diced Chicken with Hot Chili Peppercorn, Spicy Sichuan Cold Noodle, Beef Tendon… basically the entire Szechuan menu.
go go go!

Do not get a takeout menu from here. You will never order out from another restaurant if you do. They have free delivery and the prices I feel are pretty great for the quality. My family is from Chengdu, and I am obsessed with spicy food, so I’ve tried my fair share of Szechuan food and I have to say that this is definitely the most authentic Szechuan restaurant I have been to in awhile. The sauces are perfectly spicy, numbing, and nutty (with a hint of acidity in the right dishes). I definitely recommend getting the «Chengdu Style Green Bean Noodle» (Mung bean noodle) if you are looking for an authentic Szechuan dish.

Good Sichuan food is like cocaine: numbing, tingly, addictive.
The restaurant itself is drab with lighting that looks like it aspires to be part of a Red Light District, but the Sichuan food here is the real deal.
Recommendation: pick what you like off the Szechuan menu or just ask the really nice helpful owner for suggestions.
I can’t believe it… actual good tasting Chinese food in RI (FINALLY!!!).

Nothing I’ve had in any Chinese restaurant comes close to these flavors. I have many Chinese favs, but this is like China came to me. I’m experimental, and will definitely try new dishes. Only downfall — no alcohol. BYOB? Staff is so friendly and explain as much as possible (small communication gaps — a plus!) Do the «Du»! Recommend — Dan Dan mein, shredded chicken, cold spicy chicken in oil, cabbage egg rolls

So glad this gem is close to my place. When you walk in a restaurant and cannot read half of the signs on the walls then you’re probably in a good place. The food is a bit salty, but not overwhelmingly so. Had the sliced pork belly app to start, was a little surprised that it was cold but this only added to the goodness. I then had the prawns in chili sauce and asparagus… delicious. My other half had the dry pot rabbit, he liked it, but almost burned his taste buds off. I tried it but couldn’t get over the fact that it was rabbit, so only had a little piece. Looking forward to trying other dishes on the menu, dying to try one of the noodle and spicy soups.

the spicy oil chicken is super delicious, also ma la xiang guo is awesome. Fresh Sichuan pickle, I like it.

I spent 3 months teaching English in China and this is definitely one of the most authentic Sichuan restaurant I’ve been to. Period. The chef is from the capital of the Sichuan province.
The Dan Dan noodles were delicious and used a bit of a tongue numbing spice that I often ran into in China.
The beef and green beans also hit the spot in terms of a more mild dish. It’s similar to what I’ve had more of in eastern China.
Do you live a bit too far away? Make the drive. Great authentic spicy Chinese food!

Everything was delicious from pork buns to sesame noodles to the kung pao, lots of options for vegetarians too. We will defiantly be going back or ordering in because they deliver too. Highly recommend.

Best Chinese food I’ve had in Rhode Island. Spicy, flavorful, authentic. The cold sesame and Sichuan noodles were delicious. Good, attentive service.

Perfect battered jumbo shrimp and thick Sichuan sauce with a very generous portion for two. Yummy yummy!

Not sure where to begin but here it goes. As a wholehearted fan of authentic Chinese and especially Sichuanese delicacies. I fancy myself a snob when it comes to a good Sichuan restaurant. I have dined from coast to coast all over the US as well as in China. I have learned to cook the dishes and know who fuschia Dunlop is and the history behind many of the dishes that made this cuisine so popular. Many Americans me being one of them far under appreciate the culinary genius and flavor behind these century old recipes. As a professor at Johnson and Wales I wish more Americans broadened their Chinese palettes to experience the truly artful dishes that there are to try. Most often you need a good translator and not much else because if you like spice in any way I can sway you from ever eating a buffalo wing or tender again.
On to the restaurant. Small. Quaint. hospitable. Jeff and Len once understood are true gentlemen and go out of their way to ensure you enjoy your meal.
True gems are the Sichuan cold noodle. Make sure you asks for the sesame and spicy sauce version. When combined you have yourself a masterpiece to begin any meal. Sichuan cold pickles. An appetizer beyond any cold pickle you’ve experienced before. The pickled Daikon will make you put your jar of cucumber away. The cold beef and beef tendon an experience you won’t forget. Very spicy. Order three pepper chicken. It’s a play on their menu item which adds to the heat and flavor to bring their existing dish to another level. Mao pO tofu is solid. Boiled beef or boiled fish are musts. If you have never tried this dish before in your life and like spice. You will thank me. Truly an experience. Pork? Try the Sichuan Chinese bacon and pepper or the shredded pork with garlic sauce.
Little secret. When the cold days come and they will or you have a cold and need to clear your sinuses? Try the spicy beef noodle soup. A heaping portion to satisfy the masses on a cold day and warm you up like nothing else. Good luck and say good bye to general tso

The real thing. You may or may not like the real thing, but this is it. Not Americanized. Not generic Chinese. Szechuan. As far as I can tell, this is the only good Chinese restaurant closer to Providence than Boston.

Food always above standard! The owner will give u another dish for free when they made a mistake for delivery, unlike other restaurant will take back the wrong dish…

Great authentic Sichuan Chinese food. A real hidden gem.

Dan dan noodles, a new treat I read about on the internet. Blanched bok Choy, spicy red sauce, topped with noodles and crumbled pork. Eat from bottom up. Delicious. Spicy shezuan noodles, finally some real heat! Won Ton
soup, great. Saw signs for rabbit, pork intestines and beef tripe (with ???) spicy. Some REAL AUTHENTIC STUFF here. One sign did not even have an English translation — feeling adventurous? Making this place a regular stop! The guy who took my order gave me a sample of spicy pickled veggies — delicious. Also took the time to explain how various specialties were prepared, as the signs were in Chinese. Very nice people!

The best Sichuan food in Rhode Island!
Try pork intestines and double cooked pork

most chinese food in america has nothing to do with actual chinese food, and everything to do with syrupy neon glazes that imbue whatever fried meat they’re coating with the mystical power of giving you prostate cancer. it’s a pretty special treat then to stumble across this place that serves up authentic, typically really hard to find sichuan cuisine.
i tried a bunch of different dishes with increasingly alarmed looks from the staff on how much i intended to pack down, but the food baby was totally worth it. pork chili dumplings were great, and i finally found some ma po tofu that’s the real deal. the staff was super nice, but being the only person in the place that didn’t speak mandarin i feel like i got the white guy treatment — aka the heat level was toned down for my pasty, mayonnaise and wonderbread loving ass. this was quickly rectified when i asked for the dan dan noodles to be extra spicy, and next time i know to let them know I’m in it to win it with the spice levels.
honestly, that’s not a big thing to deal with when I’m getting the best sichuan food i’ve had outside of montreal.

When it comes to authentic Szechuan taste and flavors, Chengdu’s really got it down right. The numbing taste of the chilly peppers, the overall ambiance, and the customers only consisting of Chinese speaking young couples really speak volume to the kind of authentic food that this place offers. That being said, it would have been better if I could have eaten any of the dishes as the pure salt content from the pickled vegetables to the steamed eggplant could make the healthiest athlete go into full congestive heart failure. The food is SOOO SALTY! I loved the flavors, but please, tone down the salt content.
As for the food, some were like it and hate it. The lamb was seasoned well, but it came almost lukewarm/​cool as soon it came to our table, which was awfully disappointing. The beer-​duck was an interesting choice, but the amount of duck served was grossly disappointing for the cost and also too salty. I enjoyed the szechuan noodles, but that could have been the only dish that didn’t cause my legs to explode in pitting edema.
The service was excellent; there was only one waiter/​owner and he took care of all of us with speed and great courtesy that is almost eerily uncommon in most Asian restaurants. My teapot was also filled with the upmost haste, which was important since I couldn’t stop myself from drinking fluids.
As you can see, my poor experience was limited to the things I couldn’t eat, and the price/​dish was pretty high. Please make some adjustments and I would love to return. My folks did like the dishes, but also thought they were too salty.
Food: 1 – 2 stars
Price: 2 stars
Service: 4 stars
Ambiance: 4 stars (super Asian family vibe, which I liked)