- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Tao Tao Cafe
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Mon, Sun 4 pm - 9:30 pm
Tue-Sat 4 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
223 reviews for Tao Tao Cafe
Review Highlights
-
"The chicken salad may very well become my new favorite." In 101 reviews -
"The BBQ pork is amazing, as is the Honey Walnut Prawns." In 23 reviews -
"The Best Wor Won Ton Soup in the Valley." In 7 reviews
Loading...
223 reviews in English
-
Review from Rev. Dr. Christopher J. G.
Mountain View, CA
5/11/2012
We used to come to this place when I was a little kid. It's changed. A lot. Hell, it's changed a lot since I came in the late 1990s! This is still the kind of place I'd take people from out of town (a bit more polished than 4-5-6) and it's still got the delightful menu. I had the Tao Tao beef lunch special and it was so very, very good. The beef was utterly tender, and rarer than a lot of places will serve these kinds of dishes, which I really appreciated.
One star off for slowish service even though it wasn't very busy at the time, and the waiter said portions for lunch were same as dinner. -
Review from Andrew D.
My second review is base on the food. I came here twice for dinner and it was inconsistent. The first experience was with a group of friends where everything was delicious. The pork fried rice, tao tao beef, braised prawns, chinese broccoli and mongolian beef all had bold flavors. Maybe it was because we had the notorious Mai Tai ahead of time! My second visit was not a pleasant one.. I came back here solely for the pork fried rice and it was dry and bland. Our tofu dish (forgot the name) was sour like it had been drench in water for too long.
4 stars for my first visit and 2 stars for my second which equals a 3 star average.Listed in: Downtown Sunnyvale Joints
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/4/2011
My review is solely based on the notorious Mai Tai. I'm not a huge fan of fruity drinks and I would… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jeffrey C.
Saratoga, CA
4/24/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Decent restaurant as long as you know what to order. I tried the Honey Walnut Prawns here which were quite terrible. They included too much mayonnaise on the prawns and it made for a less than memorable meal. The Broccoli Chicken was much better however. It was quite good and I enjoyed everything about it. I've ordered this a few times and one time they gave me additional sauce which I accidentally put too much of on my steamed rice. Be careful about this as it was extremely hot! Next time I'll just avoid this sauce, as it does not go well with the meal at all.
I've been coming here every now and then. The food is good as long as you know what to order. I also heard great things about their Chinese Chicken Salad and their Mai Tai's which I should try sometime. Even though the restaurant takes on an Americanized approach to Chinese food, the overall result is better than expected. -
Review from Local S.
Mountain View, CA
4/5/2012
Newcomers may not realize that Tao Tao is a venerable ancient Silicon-Valley institution (like Ming's, Pezzella's, Chef Chu's, the late Michael's, and the late Wagon Wheel) where silicon-valley employees slaked their hunger and wet their whistles with high-ABV lunches and dinners in Silicon Valley's great growth heyday of the 1960s and 1970s. It was already venerable when I ate there periodically in the early 1990s (usually for lunch with SV co-workers), and I return occasionally. Basics to know:
One doesn't visit Tao Tao for general Chinese cuisines, any more than visit Paris's Tour d'Argent for general French cooking (the "Tour" is about the oldest restaurant in Europe, famous for centuries). One goes rather for specialties, and of course history, which both restaurants exude (each in its separate way, of course). Tao Tao's gastronomic impact doesn't compare with the "Tour's" (where the _fork_ was popularized, for example), but Tao Tao does have its own specialties, such as:
- "Chinese" chicken salad. This agreeable toss of shredded chicken, shredded crunchy lettuce, sesame dressing, nuts, etc. spread around the Bay Area in the 1970s, especially Silicon Valley -- the cliché lunch for a while. (It's a California invention, but related to some Sichuan cold specialties. Absent from standard late-1960s US Chinese cookbooks, it had become "popular" in the 1982 cookbook from -- where else locally to seek such dishes? Chef Chu's.) Tao Tao has sold enough to fill the Grand Canyon, dishing it up in such casual abundance that I long suspected a portable cement mixer in the kitchen or out back, doing the mixing. Tao Tao has not made the crispest version of this salad, but it's worthwhile, not just historical. More generally, Tao Tao's ample lunches, with main-course list typical of suburban US Chinese restaurants, have given good value in my many experiences.
- Mai Tais. Yes, they're potent and flavorful, I can testify. This archetypal US "Polynesian" cocktail was invented and popularized diagonally across the bay, at Trader Vic's in the original Emeryville location about 1943 (if I remember right from books -- that story is probably online by now) but Tao Tao did its own popularizing of the drink in Sunnyvale. Many people know Tao Tao mostly for its Mai Tais (or else that's all they can remember of the evening).Listed in: Important/Unique Silicon…
-
Review from Laura C.
Fremont, CA
4/7/2012
Since I am Asian review:
I came here just to try the Mai Tais....and ended up ordering some food as well. This place is a westernized Chinese restaurant - you won't find paw paw and gong gong coming here for Chinese New Year. It's slightly fancier, but not quite the 4/5 star establishment. There is a full bar with a few tables if you just want to come in and grab a drink. The Mai Tais ($8.08) are pretty good - you can smell the rum oozing out as the drink is placed in front of you. It comes with a slice of pineapple, tiny wedge of grapefruit, cherry, and a slice of lime. It's strong, but not overpowering to the point where you would make a stink face after taking a swig.
Of course, while drinking, the munchies start settling in. We had already grabbed some appetizers from Happy Hour at the nearby Firehouse (HH ends at 7pm), but we wanted something to snack on with our drinks. Ordered the honey walnut prawns ($13!!) and the Tao Tao Beef ($10). Boy, I was not happy when the prawns came out. It was such a SMALL plate. For half the price, I could have gone to a real Chinese place and gotten the same amount, if not MORE. I almost wanted to calculate how much each stupid shrimp cost, but I didn't want to add fire to the disappointed ripped off flame. It wasn't even fancy honey walnut shrimp....quality and presentation was the same as the $6 plate I could get elsewhere. Bah. My Chinese family would have slapped me on the side of the head if they witnessed this.
Next - Tao Tao Beef. Everyone seemed to be raving about this on Yelp. Again, a small platter - really just enough to serve 2 people. It was all beef slices served on a bed of crunchy rice stick looking things (I have no idea what it's called). Taste was OK - nothing special. A part of me WANTED to like it as much as the reviewers did, but really, it's not that special. I could have spent $5 or $6 at a real Chinese place for something awesome and a platter 2x or even 3x as big. Another dud.
I'm also sure they don't need to invest a lot in to go boxes since there's not that much food to begin with.
Service was OK.
I'll definitely come here again for the Mai Tais, but not for the food unless I'm in the mood to get so-so Chinese food at a premium price.
If I wasn't Asian review:
This place is great! The Mai Tais are bomb and also super cheap (only $8). We ordered the honey walnut prawns and they were TO DIE FOR. I'm actually allergic to seafood, but these prawns were well worth the itchy skin I had for the next day or so. The candied walnuts that came with the shrimp were delicious - the crunchy sweetness complemented the prawns very well. We had to order the Tao Tao Beef since it was so highly recommended - the meat was sooooooo tender. It almost melted in my mouth - I almost ate the whole plate by myself. I am definitely ordering again this next time.
Overall, I'll be back - the prices are reasonable (it was $60 for 2 people) and the food is delicious. -
Review from John R.
Sunnyvale, CA
4/16/2012
Tao Tao Beef, Chinese Chicken Salad, and Mai Tai's give Tao Tao's a four. The Tao Tao Beef is so tasty, but can be a little rare at times. The Chinese Chicken Salad is the best ever! Crunchy, with mustard, and great tasting shredded chicken. No need to add more mustard.
Mai Tai's are the best in the Bay Area. Plenty of alcohol and good size, but they have a nice smooth taste and fresh pineapple.
The menu isn't super diverse and this is more Chinese American, but we have a good time and often just get take out (although it's a little pricy for take out). Between a 3 an 4 for me, but my family loves the place. -
Review from Gary A.
Sunnyvale, CA
2/29/2012
How anybody with a f@cking tooth in their skull can not give anything but a 4 or 5 star rating for Tao Tao is a goddamned shame. Seriously, the food is outstanding, and the restaurant itself is comfortable and clean. Some people just go out to eat so they can order other people around and feel superior. You know who you @ssholes are!
I live in Sunnyvale and Tao Tao is the go to place to partake in chinese cuisine. The food is authentic and delicious. I've said enough. -
Review from Terry A.
San Jose, CA
5/9/2012
Lots of friends have recommended this place. I finally got to try it last week, and it really lived up to the hype.
The Tao Tao beef is amazing! Service was friendly, The restaurant is clean and parking is good. What's not to like?
I highly recommend it too. -
Review from L. K.
San Leandro, CA
2/24/2012
Tao Tao's chef that came from Ming's in Palo Alto years ago still makes the same GREAT, FANTASTIC Chicken Salad and don't forget the Tao Tao Beef. The beef is so tender and marinated to perfection. You can order the salad to go. And they will put the ingredients separate so it stays fresh. Then you toss it all together at home.
JUST LOVE THIS STUFF !! So addicting !! -
Review from Vera S.
Mountain View, CA
2/12/2012
We were wandering on Murphy Street one evening, and I remembered that a friend had mentioned this restaurant, and described the Tao Tao Beef as crack. So I thought we had to try it.
We were seated right away, and got water from the bus boy, but it took a loooong time to get a waiter to come over. When he did come over, we asked one question (Is there dairy in the Sesame Chicken? Because... I don't know about you, but there is generally no dairy in the Chinese food I eat.) The waiter didn't know, and disappeared for about 10 minutes, apparently to find out. We were obviously getting impatient, so the manager (or maybe owner) came over to ask us if we needed anything. We asked him our questions - it turns out that YES, a lot of their dishes have dairy in them - including the Sesame Chicken, the Curry Chicken and the Curry Vegetables. Weird, but ok. Then the waiter comes back, and assures us that the Curry doesn't have dairy in it. Ummm, ok. We chose to believe the manager.
We ordered the veggie spring rolls. They were good, but they came with ketchup?!?!? Ketchup at a Chinese restaurant? On spring rolls?!?!? Weird.
We also ordered the Broccoli in Garlic Sauce and Tao Tao Beef. The Tao Tao Beef was terrible. The beef was fatty and of poor quality, and the sauce was... well, it was there. That's about all that can be said for it. The Broccoli was fine - a bit bland, and not very interesting, but not bad.
Definitely not coming back here. -
Review from Lilith A.
Soquel, CA
5/11/2012
Love this place - have done since 1970!!!! Hubby and I went here on our first real date in 1999, just before the remodel. We always order the Chinese Chicken Salad and Tao Tao Beef with White Rice. Everything they have here is really good. Service is pretty good and the decor is lovely. Great place to eat or have drinks.
-
Review from Daniel P.
San Jose, CA
1/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Two words: Mai Tai
These things are the bomb at this place. I was introduced to this place last week and I've already been back. Not going to lie, I went there again for the Mai Tai but the food was good.
My wife and I had one of their dinner specials for two that came with sweet and sour pork, cashew chicken, fried rice, won ton soup and another item that I can't remember but it was good and spicy. I will definitely be back to TAO TAO CAFE. -
Review from Jackie E.
San Jose, CA
4/13/2012
I have been going here since before I was born. We never need menu's and seriously order our favorites everytime, with lots to take home. won ton soup, chicken salad, tao tao beef, lemon chicken, sweet and sour pork, the list goes on. The only place worth going to if we want chinese food. We don't bother going anywhere else anymore. We find ourselves asking....Is it like Tao Tao???? So now it is just tao tao for us... oh and you GOTTA try their mai tai's they are the bomb...
-
Review from Annie D.
12/20/2011
This place is not authentic at all, sadly. Decor is nice, place is clean, but food just isn't good.
We ordered their special, crab cake type thing. So soggy, don't even bother. Their calamari was oily tasting which is no good.
Tried their know beef, tao tao beef- meat was tender, but it just had an odd taste, was good for the first few bites then... I just didn't want it anymore. Also says served with rice vermicelli which is noodles, but it was the fried kind that just didn't do it justice.
Black and White Mushroom Chicken- Marinated fillet of chicken sautéed with imported black mushroom, button mushroom, and garden vegetables- this dish was decent, but a little on the salty side. I'm a salt eater so that means it must have been overly salted.
The price is pretty decent, but don't expect the serving sizes to be like any other chinese restaurant, they were pretty small here. I can't say I'll be back, flavor was not here. -
Review from K Y.
Irvine, CA
3/26/2012
The great food is marred by the zombies of a staff.
This restaurant is set in a nice location littered with restaurants and dives on the street. Every time I've been here, it is always crowded which is a testament to the quality of the food served here.
I've been here a few times and really enjoy the food here. My favorite dishes are the chow fun & Tao Tao beef which is delicious and some of the best Asian beef and chow fun dishes I've experienced in the area.
The Chinese chicken salad which is has a strong hot mustard tasted is also worth mentioning to try.
The menu is quite extensive and offers a number of family dinners to choose from. We have avoided selecting one of the Family dinners because some of the dishes we enjoy aren't included on it.
NOTE: The portions are small, each dish might serve 3 people max, depending on how many items you order. There were four of us and we each had to ration so we could get enough of each thing to try, like we were on the Oregon Trail.
And now we turn to the Staff or at least our server/waiter
I believe their motto is smiling isn't an option. Being Asian myself, I can understand how we are usually serious in nature but come on. Customer service is a huge deal when it comes to working in the food industry and it would get a 1 star from me (only because he didn't drop or spill anything on us). Our waiter was rude in his manners (reaching across the table to take away the plates) answering our questions and displaying the personality of an inanimate object. It was as if he had just ate a sh** sandwich and was ticked off as a result. I seriously believe my BM has more character than this dud. Based on previous trips the lack of courtesy and etiquette would apply to most if not all of the staff.
Tao Tao restaurant is offers great food but if you can, order Take Out here so you can spare yourself from the unpleasantness of the restaurant staff. -
Review from Niki C.
Irvine, CA
2/14/2012
I was looking forward to go to Gochi near by, but it was closed at 130 when we arrived. I looked up in Yelp for any 4* restaurant nearby that was cheap, and found this place.
Yes, the staff is unbelieably rude. As soon as we got there, the waitress said we have to order quick because the kitchen will close. they are as rude as some cheap chinise dimsum place in chinatown, but the food is fushion-like, and interior like a 5* hotel (well, in chinese standard). If this was a beat down, dirty, smelly place in china town, I would say the service is like expected.
The chicken salad was interesting. it was very light and puffy, but had some spice to it. I would not recommend it if you are hungry. the tao tao beef was unbelievably soft, probaby due to a ton of meat tenderizer and pounding on them. the honey walnut shrimp was pretty good, although I am not a fan of mayo, so I always say less mayo would have been better.
very interesting place. please be ready to be abused by the waiters, but expect a good western style chinese food in a hip kindda place. -
Review from Soja-Marie M.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/22/2012
Go for lunch and for the Mai Tai's.
The excellent:
Lunch: $7-9 for an entree with regular or pork fried rice and soup. I'm a big fan of the prawn dishes and always end up with enough leftovers for a second meal. Having said that, I doubt this goes down as authentic food in anyone's book- come here when you need some good greasy food to refuel your brain in the middle of a hard day. Its much better than any take out place I've frequented in the area.
Mai Tai's- so strong so good so manly. These are not girly drinks- you can definitely taste the rum and it will get you very tipsy.
The sad:
The egg rolls. Not worth eating.
The wait- it can be quite busy for lunch so come before noon or make a reservation. -
Review from Kobi R.
Sunnyvale, CA
2/26/2012
If you like authentic chinese food, then don't go to Tao Tao Cafe. Chef Yu/Hunan Gourmet is just next door, and so so much better.
Tao Tao Cafe has OK food, but it is about as Chinese as Taco Bell is Mexican. -
Review from Kerry A.
San Jose, CA
2/25/2012
Tao Tao has been my favorite Chinese restaurant for over 30 years. The Chinese chicken salad and Tao Tao beef are the best. It 's funny that almost anytime Chinese food comes up with friends the favorite is Tao Tao.
-
Review from Vinny G.
1/19/2012
Tao Tao Beef!!!!!!!! Sooooo good, soooo tender. Service is ok, and you rarely have to wait for a table, but if you ask the waiter anything about the menu, they don't know anything about it. So only 3 stars. The food is very good though, and the price is not too bad. Definitely try the Tao Tao Beef if you haven't had it before!
-
Review from April B.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very nice dining room. Egg foo young was very good. I recommend.
-
Review from May B.
Los Altos, CA
2/7/2012
They make a good Chinese chicken salad. It's their secret dressing with a hint of mustard that differentiates it from other places. Clean restaurant (always appreciated) and decent service. Food is good, menu caters perhaps more for Americans audience than Chinese.
-
Review from Brian D.
Campbell, CA
1/20/2012
CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEE BEST ANYWHERE! Beef dishes rock as well!
-
Review from Linda T.
San Jose, CA
6/11/2011
This is one of my fav places to go for happy hour. I don't even know if they have any happy hour specials but who cares. They have a full bar and make bomb mai tai's, I usually hate mai tai's since I don't really care for rum but I love the mai tai's here. Sing is our usual server and he is the best. He makes the strongest mai tai's that will leave you spinning after a few sips.
My gf's and I usually come on Thursdays and sit in the bar area to get our drinks on. I always get a mai tai and cannot have more than 2 since they are SOO strong. As for the food, we usually order the wor wonton soup, tao tao beef, chicken salad, and the garlic sugar snap peas. The food is not super authentic but it's good. The crowd can be interesting for the most part. We are usually the youngest group in there. A few times that we have been there, it felt like a Golden Girls convention but it's all good.
Overall, the service is great and the food is good if you order the right items. Sing or Tsing (sp?) is the best. He is the one behind the bar with the red hair and matching vest :-) -
Review from Caitlin M.
Livermore, CA
7/13/2011 1 photo
My dad has been coming here for over 20 years and I came here for the first time a few days ago.
My dad always gets the Tossed Shredded Chicken Salad and I always steal a few bites because it is delicious! When I came here I got the Honey Walnut Prawns Lunch Special, which is a great deal, I highly recommend it! You have a choice of about 20 main meat or vegetable and it comes with an egg roll, soup, and either steamed rice or barbecued fried rice. And the best part, all of these lunch specials are under 9 bucks!!! Can you say bargain????
Just keep in mind they close after lunch at 2 and open back up for dinner at 4pm. It is Americanized Chinese food but it's good food! -
Review from Charla B.
San Jose, CA
1/8/2012 2 Check-ins Here
After 5 years I am just getting around to reviewing this place. We ate here tonight (probably the 7th time I've eaten here). The food continues to just be ok. Service is always crap. The waiters are not very nice. I think I am done with this place!
-
Review from Ashley P.
San Jose, CA
1/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Excellent chicken salad. The mustard dressing clears up your sinuses easily. The Tao Tao beef is also very good for lunch with the wontons. I love the decor in this place and I definitely want to go again... I crave it!
-
Review from Linda L.
Updated - 3/3/2011
Took a friend to Tao Tao today. She'd never been. For a first experience, I insisted we stick to what they are renowned for: Tao Tao Beef and Chicken Salad.
We were both in heaven!
And the best part? The tab was just nary over $20 for two people for lunch. (This after having taken another friend out recently for a breakfast $30 experience that was no where near as good as lunch today at Tao Tao.)
Next time we're taking the husbands so that we can add another item they do exceptionally well - Honey Walnut Prawns.Listed in: Asian Cuisine
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/13/2008
For me, Tao Tao is actually more 3.5 stars. I give them four because they deserve more than three.
… Read more »
-
-
Review from Candice T.
San Jose, CA
2/14/2011 ROTD 7/5/2011
"You can get Chinese food anywhere, but you can only get Tao Tao Beef here." My boyfriend makes a great observation. I like a place with a signature platter that lives up to the embolden name out front.
The Tao Tao Beef did not disappoint. It is sweet, tender, boldly seasoned and downright shovel-worthy.
I had a very classic vegetable fried rice that was reminiscent of the greatly romanticized Chinese delivery places of my youth.
And the wontons? Almost too much to handle. They were very generous with the portion sizes.
What impressed me most of all was the service of this fine establishment. Fast, competent and eager to please.
I've complained in 99% of all of my other Asian cuisine reviews about how a waiter won't even approach your table if you are missing one person in your party. You have to ask the water boy if you want tea, you end up looking like you could get a great job as an aircraft director with your magnificent flagging-down-the-server skills.
This was not the case at Tao Tao upon our visit. Our waiter was the first person to greet us. "Water and tea?" he asked.
"Yes, please." My boyfriend was in the bathroom and the waiter approached me sitting at the table alone. Fantastic.
The waiter then stood far enough away that I could barely see him in my peripheral vision. He came right over as soon and we folder our menus down in front of us.
"Are you ready to order?"
"Yes, in fact, we *are*"
Tao Tao, your beef and great service are a lot to brag about. Thanks for making me one huge fan. This place is very classy, well-decorated and a great model of what Chinese dining is all about. -
Review from Angela W.
Saratoga, CA
2/11/2011
Don't let the tinted glass in the front detour you- although my former boss and I weren't sure if the place was even open when we arrived for an early dinner with her daughter! We sheepishly poked our heads in the door to make sure it was, in fact, open.
Once inside you'll notice it's a bit more upscale than a lot of Chinese places. Kind of has an art deco 80's vibe going on.
The most memorable dish we had was definitely the chicken salad. I wasn't expecting it to be spicy but I gladly chowed down. Everything else we ordered was pretty run of the mill- chicken, tao tao beef, rice... everything was above average. -
Review from Thor S.
San Jose, CA
8/13/2011
Yes, there are a million Chinese places around, yes this is more expensive that all the run of the mill ones, but I've been coming here for decades, yep it's pretty good. My favorites are their Chicken Salad, Tao Tao Beef, Wor Won Ton Soup.
Definately worth a shot if you haven't been. I go for lunch, and usually do take out if it's dinner. Nice setting, cloth tabelclothes. Get's a bit loud at lunchtime, but they get a lot of people...good service -
Review from Louis H.
Concord, CA
10/1/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Chinese food rarely motivates me since it all is usually lacking flavor, is too greasy or has a run down atmosphere. Tao Tao however is a newly renovated establishment in perfect condition. The Chinese Chicken Salad is a hit and one of the great things on the menu. The star however is the Tao Tao Beef combination they serve at lunch. The beef is tenderized and has a sweet glaze on it before it is grilled. It is served with rice, fried or white, and wontons that have a sweet red glaze on them. I could eat this meal every day. they have been serving this for over 20 years and I am still not tired of it. If you go here and order something else I suggest you read more reviews since my 20 plus years are all eating the Tao Tao Beef Combo! I just can't bring myself to order anything else.
-
Review from Mike M.
Montara, CA
12/23/2010
Wow.. Lot's of Yelpers who claim they know "authentic" Chinese food... I bet you do...Listen, none of are pros on what's authentic and what's not. So you go by what TASTES GOOD as to not look like a complete fool.
And Tao Tao is good. The Tao Tao Beef and the CC Salad are definitely tops. They've been consistent for years. And the service, both by Kingman in the bars and others in the main dining room, is solid. It's also a fun place where you'll see many locals (it's been around for 30 + years) gather. So sidestep the whiny reviews dissing Tao Tao for not being authentic. It's a fun place with great service, great food and happy patrons. What more could you want? -
Review from Jamal C.
San Jose, CA
Good food. The best Mai Tai's on Earth.
GO NOW! -
Review from A V.
San Jose, CA
5/27/2011
Having lived in San Jose where it's Asian central, I can only call this place a cheaper and less "classy" version of P.F. Changs. The food is pretty Americanized and it's not that great. None of my friends finished their plates. Even the fried rice was disappointing and it's hard to mess that up! I took half of my cashew chicken home and ended up trashing the leftovers (Apparently their Tao Tao beef is the only thing worth ordering. I should have read their Yelp reviews first!). When you go here, most of the people are white. Hardly any Asians. That alone should tell you exactly who this food caters to ;)
I'm not asking for Authentic Asian. I'm asking for good food. It's clean and service is fast, but I would never recommend this place to any of my friends. There are so many other better places to eat just across the street! -
Review from Amorah M.
San Jose, CA
12/16/2011
TAO TAO BEEF IS THE BEST !!!!! Every single dish is absolutely amazing!!! Great Chinese food! Worth every single dolllar!
-
Review from Lee L.
Palo Alto, CA
4/26/2011
Does this place serve "authenic" Chinese food? In my opinion, no.
But does the food taste good? Yes.
So it's not authentic. It's clearly Americanized, but if you go in with the knowledge that you're not going to get chicken feet and tripe, then you'll be pleased.
I do like their Tao Tao beef - tender enough to cut with a fork, with a sweet and slightly tangy glaze. Their seafood offerings can be a bit spotty; we recently had a seafood combination dish that was just average and was rather stingy with the shrimp and scallops.
The potstickers are juicy, but the dough can be a bit too chewy. The Chinese chicken salad is very popular, though it personally isn't one of my favorites.
I would rate this place higher if it weren't for their 2-star service. Even when the restaurant is not very busy, it can be hard to get the attention of the waitstaff. No service with a smile here, either.
Entree prices range from about $10-12; noodle and rice dishes tend to be less expensive and certain seafood and specialty items are higher. It's more expensive than some of the more authentic but less elegant restaurants in Chinatown or around the 99 Ranch complex, but overall I think the prices are reasonable. -
Review from Tina A.
1/11/2011
I've visited Tao Tao's twice now.
The first time I ordered the broccoli chicken lunch special, which I found to be bland and flavorless, but maybe it's "authentic"? The second visit was the nail in the coffin. Two of us ordered their famous chicken salad, which was unbelievably salty (I had them go easy on the mustard, but wasn't expecting this to make it inedible) and another ordered the Tao Tao beef, which he found to be average.
Read the yelp reviews. I decided to ignore the nasty ones to see for myself, but now I'm in agreement. -
Review from Chelsea S.
San Jose, CA
8/9/2011
Some of you people are tripppiinnnn.
Low stars for meat being too tender, comparing it to PANDA EXPRESS and NASTY a** PF CHANGS... and to top it off... recommending GUMBAS!!! OMG....
Look the Mai Tais here are $8.75 and are BY far the BEST drink deal you can get anywhere around.... trust me, they'll warm you up on a cold night. 2 is my LIMIT.. most ive seen someone have is 3 and a half and that was my boyfriend thank-you-very-much LOL
Tao tao beef is absolutely amazing. Fried wontons, honey walnut shrimp, chow mein, chinese chicken salad, fried rice, egg rolls, and basically EVERYTHING besides the Sweet and Sour soup (ill give you guys that one) is the best you can get in the area. -
Review from Alex R.
San Jose, CA
6/19/2011
I have to say this is the best Chinese food I have ever tasted.
Their Mai Tai's are to die for and very strong so be careful. Service is a little mixed in translation, but other than that everything is wonderful. I think they could decorate the place with a little more art. Last time I was there there was only one painting on the wall.
