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Szechuan Tasty House
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Lunch, Dinner
18 reviews for Szechuan Tasty House
I love this place. I have been going here regularly for a few years now. Szechuan Tasty House offers tasty food at a low, low price. You can easily have a full dinner for two, with soup, appetizers and entrees for under $30 (with abundant leftovers), and on top of that, it is BYOB. Don't overlook the atmosphere, there isn't much to it, but I'd say, it's worth trying and a great place for a low-key dinner. I have never had a problem with service, ever, nor is the restaurant slow to serve. For me, everything has been fast, hot and spicy. Another added plus, they are open late-ish, usually until around 11:30pm, I believe.
Favorite Dishes: 1. Dumplings in Spicy Sauce (my favorite): pork dumplings infused in a bowl of spicy garlic sauce topped with minced garlic; 2. Spring Rolls with shrimp, chicken and vegetables wrapped in thin, crispy rice paper; 3. General Tso's Tofu: the tofu is nice and crispy on the outside, slightly firm on the inside and in a delicious sauce with broccoli; 4. Beef with Black Bean Sauce: tender pieces of beef, sauteed mixed vegetables including carrots, snap peas, and mushrooms; 5. Pan Fried Udon Noodle with Beef and Vegetables (just tried this over the weekend, very tasty). Those are my favorite dishes, from what I have tried. Oh, and not really a dish per say, but I love the white rice. Nice and sticky. There are a few less than stellar dishes, though all that really comes to mind is the standard Wonton Soup, not the best. Will have to try some of the other soup offerings next time.
I love just about all kinds of Chinese food: from the americanized to the authentic, from the stir fry to the dim sum. Still, something about the food at this place wasn't quite as satiating as I had hoped. I went with four other people, and we shared our entrees. Mine was definitely the best, and it wasn't listed on the menu. I got a spicy shrimp dish, loaded with hot red peppers and tempered with some bamboo and snowpeas. The fried tofu with a few crowns of broccoli tossed in was also pretty good.
The server was nice, but her attention waned after we received our food. Water glasses ran dry on many occasions, which wasn't very pleasant since our mouths were absolutely on fire. Overall, our experience was just mediocre.
I've been in mourning of my precious Lakeside since the doors closed and can't seem to get over it. On several recommendations, I tried Szechuan Tasty House recently on 2 occasions.
Really great stuff here. Some of the szechuan dishes are spectacular, including (darn...I forget the name) of these super spicy pork "stew" sitting in a very spicy sauce. The spicy dumplings were a great start also.
Beware a few items that just don't work, for me, ANY of the fried items. The salt and pepper shrimp and orange chicken were way over-fried and over-battered.
Also, STH delivers a fantastic version of my all time favorite dish, Chow Ho Fun. PERFECT!
After a string of underwhelming experiences from my two usual Chinese delivery spots, I went on a Yelp quest to screen new candidates. This led me to give Szechuan Tasty House a go. I was encouraged by the positive reviews, as well as by the authenticity-suggesting grammar snafus on the menu. My order was taken by a very friendly lady on the phone, and delivered by an equally friendly gentleman about 30 minutes later.
Based on the raves below, I ordered the dumplings in spicy sauce. The dumplings themselves were pretty standard, but the kicky garlic/ginger/chili oil elevated them to a whole new level. For entrees, we did chicken and broccoli, which was a nice execution of a simple dish with white meat chicken, tender-crisp broccoli and a light sauce, and also a spicy and delicious Szechuan style kung pao chicken. All of the dishes tasted like they had just been specifically prepared to order, and not just scooped out of a vat.
There are just a few cons worth noting in my opinion. Brown rice is not an option, but they are thinking about adding it. The menu lacks crab rangoons, which I know are not Szechuan style (and probably don't honestly count asChinese food), but I love them and I missed them. The prices seemed a touch on the high side, but the high quality and generous portions made up for it. I will definitely be ordering again!
With so many options in Chinatown, it is easy to overlook this tiny gem of a restaurant. Housed in a house, you can always find a nice cozy seat in this establishment (oftentimes you and whomever you come with will be the only customers), the staff is extremely efficient, and the food is exceptional for the price.
I highly suggest trying it out on a weekday around lunch time - you can take advantage of their lunch specials (which include soup- the hot and sour is some of the best in Chinatown).
Both friends that consider themselves to have a taste for ethnic food and friends that prefer more "Americanized" Chinese will find things on the menu to please their palates. General Tso's is a crowd-pleaser for the less adventurous. Many of the dishes are spicy and pack a real punch - so if you are opposed to spicy food, be sure to note that when ordering and they will adjust accordingly. Their menu has many vegetarian options as well.
This place is quite underrated, and I frequent it as one of my favorite spots in Chinatown.
Most consistent place I've found in Chinatown. Since the demise of Lakeside (RIP Dim Sum Combo), I've flailed around searching for a go-to takeout in Philly. I've found Shiao Lan Kung to be hit or miss in the sense of both what to order and having good and bad days . . . Szechuan Tasty House does not share this fault.
Full disclosure, I'm pretty much positive that I am physically incapable of ordering anything from a Chinese restaurant that isn't marked by the red "spicy" star, so I'm probably predisposed to Szechuan. That said, I've given a number of different dishes a shot and have been pleased by fresh vegetables, relatively grease-free sauces, and good levels of spice. The twice cooked pork was very good (it's fatty, but that's just the cut of pork used), and you'll not regret anything Szechuan or with Spicy Pepper . The steamed dumplings are a little doughy, but the spicy dumplings are differently shaped and a better option. If you have unadventurous friends or a hankering for Americanized Chinese, they whip up a mean General Tso's.
It's a good place to go with a large group, or for takeout on a lazy night. Pay a few visits and the friendly family/staff will recognize you and greet you with warmth. Perfect spot to become a regular.
I really like this establishment. Its a humble place that makes really good food. I ordered takeout and the Szechuan-ness of it all hit the spot.
I was actually mad that I got full and had to put away leftovers, as I wanted to keep stuffing my mouth with spicy, slightly tangy chicken.
Wow, lots of love for this place. In fact, it was the love that Yelpers gave that had me not throw their 800 menus stuffed under my apartment door in the recycling bin. I'm at a take it or leave it place right now. If I want more authentic Chinese I'll order it up. Note: My GF who loves "american" chinese hates this place.
So, I've ordered from here 4-5 times for delivery. Every time I was underwhelmed by my order, but there was 1 or 2 dishes (or parts of a dish) that made me want/wish/hope that the next order would be all-around solid. The dumplings in hot oil are decent, with a sweet garlic and chili oil drowning the average-tasting dumpings. The wontons in szechuan sauce are similar, but in a sauce not just oil. The steamed dumplings are bad. The filling has a cat food like texture and the flavor is off.
The entrees are totally hit and miss. The twice cooked pork is extremely salty (you're going to see a trend here) and a bit fatty. The three pepper chicken is good (if you like the flavor of pepper), hot, but again super salty. The chicken in a spicy, tangy sauce is really tasty and less salty. The golden coins (eggplant circles stuffed with pork and fried) were almost very good but overfried.
Delivery takes a long time. But there aren't a ton of places that'll deliver a full peking duck, and theirs is pretty good.
i've ordered from here twice and got sick after the second time - the sliced chicken in spicy sauce didn't agree with me - it was cold (not mentioned on menu) and i don't like cold meat. the eggplant in garlic sauce is good as are the dumpings in chili oil but i ordered hot and sour soup both times and it was forgotten both times. i also tried the 3 pepper chicken which was very tasty.
the second time when the soup was forgotten the delivery guy (who is super nice) told me it wasn't in there and gave me a gift certificate for $1.50 - which was nice.
i will give it another try but 3 strikes and they are out for me.
I recently saw a travel/cooking show that mentioned Szechuan cooking, namely the emphasis on the chili pepper. This got me craving for some good Chinese food, and the name Szechuan Tasty House came up pretty quickly in my online search. The dumplings in spicy sauce are definately the best dumplings I've ever had, with a rich chili aftertaste.
After 8 dumplings I couldn't even start to think about my Szechuan Fish Filet, which tasted great but will have to be reheated as left overs later tonight.
This place is small and understated, but very comfortable with a family type mood and friendly staff that make you feel really at home.
You will often find it undercrowded and always relaxed in atmosphere. Seeing cute Chinese kids who are the staff's children sitting at a corner table playing with some paint set or board game is a common occurence that only adds to the great homey atmosphere.
This place has been reviewed by a few top notch Philly food writers and the proof is on the wall...literally. Framed there you can read 2 or 3 stunning reviews which will make you even more curious to start digging into the spicy fare for which this little place is reknowned.
I would suggest pretty much anything on the menu but a few of my favorites include for starters the amazing 3 pepper chicken. This chicken dish is so authentically Szechuan in taste and textures that it will blow you(if you're not from China)or any mainland Chinese person away with scintillating tastebud-spicy-itis. The boneless semi-circular little chunks of chicken are seared to perfection from high heat woks..browned beautifully in a non-greasy, oil-based type sauce (marinade?) which has hot peppers..and HOTTER peppers and slivers of delectable, lightly fired garlic not to mention the real special kick, ASH TREE PODS! These things are crucial for authentic Szechuan spiciness or "ma la" as the Chinese say. Super sparkly and hot-in-your-mouth they will leave a truly numbing, exploding sensation on your lips and tongue respectively.
The flavor mix of this chicken dish is just outta' this world. Try it once (with 20 napkins/tissues and 4 glasses of water to survive the spice attack) and you will be permanently hooked. Fantastic. Another great dish has similar if not exact peppers/sauce/ash tree pods in the mix but has pork as the protein. This is called twice cooked salty pork and is pork-o-liciously good. Now, as good as it is, I suggest a little known self altering of the menu as was once recommended to me by a past wait staff girl. Just politely ask one of the always smiling and friendly girls who are the staff there to exchange the pork for beef. Now you'll have twice cooked salty beef. This dish is salty as it's name declares and full flavored with the kick of the 3 pepper chicken but a diiferent tang of flavors as the peppers, garlic and ash tree pods mix with the beef taste and create something very different than the chicken dish. Salty, beefy, spicy HEAVEN. I suggest a soup appetizer of your choice (all good!) A close Chinese friend of mine always louds the seafood dishes as being excellent when we go there together and notes they make her feel as if she was in China with her Mom's homemade seafood concoctions. What else could support the cuisine at this place better than that?!!
I also love the dumpling appetizer with the red/sweet/tangy/spicy sauce...a unique sauce which I've only come across here. Yummers.
Hot tea is given with each meal and ice water upon request. They of course have sodas and what not but most people I have noticed just have water to cut the edge off of the spice or since it's a BYOB they bring a bottle of wine or some beers and are good to go.
Whatever you do, if in Philly for a visit or if you already live here and haven't tried it, take a stroll into the Szechuan Tasty House for a truly delightful, spicy, gastronomic treat which you will not forget! Addicting food and friendly, comfy, understated surroundings will lure you back again and again...and again...and....well you get the picture! Enjoy!
I was really excited to go to this highly rated Szechuan restaurant (Szechuan is a rarity in Philadelphia's Chinatown). I ordered 2 entrees and a hot and sour soup for take out. I paid for the meal, but then realized it wasn't right. I immediately said there has been a mistake. As anyone knows, hot and sour is a pretty simple, cheap soup, but they charged $6.50 (rather than $1.50) for it! I asked to see a menu, and showed them that it says $1.50 for a cup of hot and sour. They insisted that I order the "Szechaun Hot and Sour" for $6.50! I couldn't believe it! I told them to please change it, and they insisted that the order was already put in. (Anyone who's been to a Chinese restaurant knows that they have a huge vat of soup just sitting there that they heat and ladle into a bowl.) I kept insisting, but they didn't give in. So I thought, maybe Szechuan style will be good. When I got home to eat the food, it was all pretty good...except for the soup. It tasted exactly like Hot and Sour, but it had a few extra miscellaneous "chunks".
I called them up stating that I felt taken advantage of. The woman insisted that there was a difference...there's SHRIMP in the Szechuan style. I only saw two very tiny shrimp in there, and the soup wasn't particularly good. I was on the phone for about 15 minutes explaining to this woman (who clearly couldn't understand English) that I enjoyed the food, but this was a mistake on their part and I'd like a $5 refund. She refused.
After about 15 minutes she said she could only give me $1.50 credit as this was the cost of the regular hot and sour soup I had intended to order. I explained that $6.50-$1.50=$5 (the credit I felt I was owed) and she seemed to completely misunderstand my simple math. I further told her that the soup itself was not good, and that I could make better hot and sour, to which she protested "My husband made that soup!" I told her that if I did not receive the credit, I'd never come back, which was unfortunate since I really enjoyed the entrees. But her stubborn stupidity, would not give in. They lost a frequent customer over $5 and two shrimp.
There are a couple things you need to know about the Szechaun Tasty House before visiting. First: If your idea of amazing chinese food is the kind of chinese food that can found on a takeout menu from that place down the street, this isn't it. Second: Keep an open mind when ordering.
Everything, and I mean everything is pretty much delicious.
With that said, I think it's kind of obvious to state that I am in love with this place. On the outside, it doesn't look like much. It looks like your average run-of-the-mill chinese restaurant. Inside, though, it is very cozy. The waitstaff are always very nice and on the ball, and the food here isn't your typical chinese fare, as I stated earlier.
I highly suggest the gingered duck with sliced string beans and the chinese golden coins. The soup, no matter which soup you try, is always exceptionally well done and...and, keeping up with their name quite well, tasty.
Get something Szechuan, because as the name implies, this is what they specialize in. The rather extensive menu here showcases many standard Chinese items, as well as interesting, less common, Szechuan fare.
Everything we tried had a nice amount of spice to it and good portions. And it really is a house...when you go inside, you feel like family. It's BYOB as well, so come supplied with a nice IPA or Pilsner to cut the heat.
Great stuff! Not too spicy, more sweet spicy than anything.
Definitely will be back.
Szechuan Tasty House is definitely above average. If you like spicy food I recommend a dish called Three Pepper Chicken. This dish is prepared with a very tasty brown sauce and has enough heat to make your nose run. The dumplings in spicy sauce are also quite good.
With Lakeside closed its not even a question to me where to roll to in Chinatown. Like the other reviews state this place is not churning out the same recycled items that you can get in your storefront (that's not to say that some of those storefronts aren't off the charts). Hot and sour soup blows the competition away, and the dumplings and gold coins are equally astounding. Being that its byob you can get out of here for less than thirty on a date while enjoying everything your little heart desires.
the food was really good. not your average bullshit-american-frozen-every-restaurant-is-the-s ame chinese place. this food actualy has flavor. one of the few places in the world that has good hot and sour soup.
