Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine

Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine was my first real dive into traditional Chinese flavors, and it was an experience I won’t forget anytime soon. The staff was welcoming and friendly, and quickly brought tea and water. Ordering took longer than expected only because the online menu was in Mandarin, but nothing google translate couldn’t fix. The star of the show was the sour and spicy fish soup (Suan Cai Yu) a bold, aromatic broth layered with floral and herbal notes, filled with tender white fish. The heat was not overwhelming , but it was the Sichuan peppercorns that took things to another level. It wasn’t just a fiery burn more like a numbing, almost electric sensation. The mapo tofu was another standout, silky cubes of tofu floating in a deep, umami-rich sauce. The dumplings were another highlight. They had a juicy filling and were topped with a sweet bean sauce, which added a nice contrast to the savory flavors. Tai Er delivered an experience that was both exciting and unfamiliar, but in the best way possible. The bold spices, the unique textures, the way the heat and numbness played against each other yet worked together. It’s the kind of place that invites you to step outside your comfort zone, and I’ll definitely be back to explore more of what the menu has to offer.

The fish in sauerkraut was amazing and so were the other dishes in the combo. The place was clean and the servers were nice and attentive. Their herbal tea was delicious.

The food was excellent! The flavors are exactly the same as when I had it in Asia, if not even better. The workers are very attentive especially 蔥花! I’ll definitely come back often.

Candice Wang

We’ve tried TAI ER in San Mateo, but we liked this one even more! 😋 The signature fish and fried rice were absolute favorites!

Shawn Sheng

Very authentic and delicious Sichuan restaurant. The sauerkraut fish is their specialty and definitely worth trying. The portions are quite big, we were able to share the single sauerkraut fish dish between two people. You order on your phone and they bring out the food, and all of the utensils and napkins are in a little drawer at your table. Very clean interior and the staff are always ready to assist when needed. They also have fortune sticks which are fun.

Chris Hu

Kids or family friendly with kids menu of $4.99, nice sour fish, nice clean open view kitchen Asian and Mexican chef, waiters and waitress were friendly, old school folks may need more time to get used to the online order scan bar code, overall experience was nice and clean, Dan Dan noodles looks spicy but not that much. Recommend sour fish not spicy. May try the spicy version, inside of the mall, may be hard to find parking during weekend busy hours. 2nd story with escalator access.

Vinh Tran

I didn’t know what to expect at this restaurant, this sauerkraut fish is phenomenal. It’s addictive, nice and spicy with peppercorns to add numbness. Unlike anything I have ever had. My wife and I loved this restaurant. The calamari is a must, nice dry herb seasoning and green beans are good too. Spoke to the manager Jay, said they have 600 restaurants around the world and only two in usa, in nyc and la. Said that it’s hard doing a single serve meal because this dish is meant to be eaten family style and people are not used to fish skin and fish in general. I told him to stick to what works and you can not accommodate everyone, it’s a great product and people will come.

Jiaqi Li

This was absolutely delicious! The fish was fresh and tender, perfectly balanced with the sour and spicy broth. Highly recommend!

Qiangbin Shi

This was my favorite restaurant when I was in school, and I still love it now. It's open in Los Angeles, so I'll give it a try! The pickled fish here is so authentic that you can't stop eating it. The environment is pretty good, and the waiters are very nice, which makes people feel very comfortable. Next time I have a dinner with friends, this restaurant will definitely be my first choice!

CeeCee Peng

I love this place. It’s a huge chain in China and I’m glad they finally come to LA. Their SuanCaiYu, the signature fish dish, is the best in LA I think. But all side dishes we ordered are great as well!! Highly recommended:)

Kristin C

First time having Sichuan, it was delicious. This place was wonderful, great experience start to finish!

Alexander Bugarin

Tai Er Sichuan Cuisine was my first real dive into traditional Chinese flavors, and it was an experience I won’t forget anytime soon. The staff was welcoming and friendly, and quickly brought tea and water. Ordering took longer than expected only because the online menu was in Mandarin, but nothing google translate couldn’t fix. The star of the show was the sour and spicy fish soup (Suan Cai Yu) a bold, aromatic broth layered with floral and herbal notes, filled with tender white fish. The heat was not overwhelming , but it was the Sichuan peppercorns that took things to another level. It wasn’t just a fiery burn more like a numbing, almost electric sensation. The mapo tofu was another standout, silky cubes of tofu floating in a deep, umami-rich sauce. The dumplings were another highlight. They had a juicy filling and were topped with a sweet bean sauce, which added a nice contrast to the savory flavors. Tai Er delivered an experience that was both exciting and unfamiliar, but in the best way possible. The bold spices, the unique textures, the way the heat and numbness played against each other yet worked together. It’s the kind of place that invites you to step outside your comfort zone, and I’ll definitely be back to explore more of what the menu has to offer.

Yingchen Zhao

All dishes are well curated and it’s a very soothing experience of my eyes. Small dishes and appetizers are very good and tasty. Their signature fish is flavorful. Very authentic Szechuan style cuisine. Recommended.

Jiachen W

Came here today with my dog and had such a great experience. Before coming I called to ask if dogs were allowed in the outdoor seating area and the guy who picked up the phone was super friendly and told me it was okay but also kindly reminded me that it might be cold outside. When I got there a server named Ray and the manager helped me get a nice little corner table indoors so my dog wouldn’t bother anyone and I wouldn’t have to sit outside in the cold. Ray even brought out a bowl of water for my dog and later offered to keep an eye on my dog for a few minutes so I could run to the restroom.

Maria Liu

The fish in sauerkraut was amazing and so were the other dishes in the combo. The place was clean and the servers were nice and attentive. Their herbal tea was delicious.

Pretty nice Sichuan restaurant at the mall. The food definitely stacks up to the competition. The sauerkraut fish was a must order and the fish tasted very fresh, the sauerkraut was crunchy and the soup was perfect. You also get to choose your sides for the sauerkraut fish and we opted for potato noodles, which turned out great as it soaked up the juices. The Chongqing chicken was good fried crunchiness. It could have been spicier, but was a good dish to complement the rice. Our little one opted for the tomato noodles with chicken wings and it tasted pretty good for a kid’s meal, not like something pre-made. The appetizer platter was just okay. While the wings were yummy, the fries were kind of weak and the third item was some sort of fried pork which was bland and soggy. Probably the coolest part of the experience was they had a convertible high chair for the booth seats which made it super convenient to seat the little one on the inside of the booth. The service was okay, as it seemed like there were too many service staff standing around in one area and they often looked confused as who to attend to. Overall our meal was yummy and we’d return.

We had a nice dinner experience at Tai Er one night during our trip to LA. Clean and bright inside and service was good. The Signature Sauerkraut Fish was absolutely delicious! I like that you can pick non-spicy soup base and just add pepper while they prepare it, you still get a kick but not OVERLY spicy! For starter the Spicy Boneless Chicken Feet and Cucumber Salad was tasty. Aside from the Sauerkraut Fish we also ordered a Braised Chicken dish, Stir-Fried Pork Belly Slices, the Stir-Fried Beef With Chili, and Stir-Fried Green Bean. Everything was flavorful and very appetizing. Great meal and would definitely recommend this joint!

Put your name on the waitlist if it’s busy! They’ll text you and you’ll have to confirm. We sat inside but there were still flies inside. We were constantly swinging our arms over the water/food when it arrived. Non-spicy sauerkraut fish - I came twice. 1st time (weekend), we got the big one, there was glass noodle in it. Lots of fish! We had a table of 4. This is the 2nd time (weekday), we got the big bowl because they had a deal of adding 2 addition items to put into the bowl. We got the flat noodle and bean curd.. We didn’t get the bean curd… and there weren’t any of the glass noodle. We did get our flat glass noodle though. I will say, there weren’t as much fish as my first time. I’m assuming they don’t do it by weight but by feel of how much they put in? or look at our table size? I’m not too sure but I was disappointed with the amount of fish. Tofu skin - cold dish - it will come really quick. Within 5 minutes of ordering. It a salty dish. It’s delicious though! Would recommend to try if you haven’t had before! Braised spinach with shrimp - I made the mistake of eating the fish bowl then this dish. There was absolutely no taste. So if you get this dish. Eat this dish first, or taste it first! Spicy squid - it comes with shrimp crackers - it’s a must get for me! I like the crispness and the spices. String beans - delicious! A bit crispy and lots of flavor. Highly recommend! Servers: very attentive. I do believe If table needs to have their food taken to go. Since they package it for us, I would prefer a guy do it as the women didn’t have enough strength to pick up the fish dish or the gloves didn’t help with the grip. Liquid splashed everywhere and the to go container was wet on the lid/sides. They still proceeded to put it into our bag without wiping it down. it was a mess when I got home. Their bag is nice though!

Frank Biermann

Pretty nice Sichuan restaurant at the mall. The food definitely stacks up to the competition. The sauerkraut fish was a must order and the fish tasted very fresh, the sauerkraut was crunchy and the soup was perfect. You also get to choose your sides for the sauerkraut fish and we opted for potato noodles, which turned out great as it soaked up the juices. The Chongqing chicken was good fried crunchiness. It could have been spicier, but was a good dish to complement the rice. Our little one opted for the tomato noodles with chicken wings and it tasted pretty good for a kid’s meal, not like something pre-made. The appetizer platter was just okay. While the wings were yummy, the fries were kind of weak and the third item was some sort of fried pork which was bland and soggy. Probably the coolest part of the experience was they had a convertible high chair for the booth seats which made it super convenient to seat the little one on the inside of the booth. The service was okay, as it seemed like there were too many service staff standing around in one area and they often looked confused as who to attend to. Overall our meal was yummy and we’d return.

GrAcIE W

We had a nice dinner experience at Tai Er one night during our trip to LA. Clean and bright inside and service was good. The Signature Sauerkraut Fish was absolutely delicious! I like that you can pick non-spicy soup base and just add pepper while they prepare it, you still get a kick but not OVERLY spicy! For starter the Spicy Boneless Chicken Feet and Cucumber Salad was tasty. Aside from the Sauerkraut Fish we also ordered a Braised Chicken dish, Stir-Fried Pork Belly Slices, the Stir-Fried Beef With Chili, and Stir-Fried Green Bean. Everything was flavorful and very appetizing. Great meal and would definitely recommend this joint!

Sherns Wang

Put your name on the waitlist if it’s busy! They’ll text you and you’ll have to confirm. We sat inside but there were still flies inside. We were constantly swinging our arms over the water/food when it arrived. Non-spicy sauerkraut fish - I came twice. 1st time (weekend), we got the big one, there was glass noodle in it. Lots of fish! We had a table of 4. This is the 2nd time (weekday), we got the big bowl because they had a deal of adding 2 addition items to put into the bowl. We got the flat noodle and bean curd.. We didn’t get the bean curd… and there weren’t any of the glass noodle. We did get our flat glass noodle though. I will say, there weren’t as much fish as my first time. I’m assuming they don’t do it by weight but by feel of how much they put in? or look at our table size? I’m not too sure but I was disappointed with the amount of fish. Tofu skin - cold dish - it will come really quick. Within 5 minutes of ordering. It a salty dish. It’s delicious though! Would recommend to try if you haven’t had before! Braised spinach with shrimp - I made the mistake of eating the fish bowl then this dish. There was absolutely no taste. So if you get this dish. Eat this dish first, or taste it first! Spicy squid - it comes with shrimp crackers - it’s a must get for me! I like the crispness and the spices. String beans - delicious! A bit crispy and lots of flavor. Highly recommend! Servers: very attentive. I do believe If table needs to have their food taken to go. Since they package it for us, I would prefer a guy do it as the women didn’t have enough strength to pick up the fish dish or the gloves didn’t help with the grip. Liquid splashed everywhere and the to go container was wet on the lid/sides. They still proceeded to put it into our bag without wiping it down. it was a mess when I got home. Their bag is nice though!

Great Sichuan food. Provided a good spice that never became unbearable. Loved the green beans, tofu and dan dan noodles. They are known for their Sour kraut fish soup, and it was tasty but def feel other items on the menu hit my personal preference better. But you should absolutely try it when visiting

Michael Quiroz

Great Sichuan food. Provided a good spice that never became unbearable. Loved the green beans, tofu and dan dan noodles. They are known for their Sour kraut fish soup, and it was tasty but def feel other items on the menu hit my personal preference better. But you should absolutely try it when visiting

We ordered the signature Sauerkraut Fish for two, which cost $52.99. it was good and not too oily. We also tried the Mouthwatering Chicken for $10.99 (so so not that good) However,the rice 🍚 was not complimentary. One small bowl cost $1.99. in comparison another restaurant we visited offers unlimited rice

It's not the best pickled fish. The sweet and sour pork ribs were delicious. However, the meat was cold when served, so it was not freshly cooked. The fish soup broth tastes authentic, but the fish meat is not. It tastes plastic. Overall, the food we ordered was not the best.

Gene Liu

We ordered the signature Sauerkraut Fish for two, which cost $52.99. it was good and not too oily. We also tried the Mouthwatering Chicken for $10.99 (so so not that good) However,the rice 🍚 was not complimentary. One small bowl cost $1.99. in comparison another restaurant we visited offers unlimited rice

Yan Li Rosa

It's not the best pickled fish. The sweet and sour pork ribs were delicious. However, the meat was cold when served, so it was not freshly cooked. The fish soup broth tastes authentic, but the fish meat is not. It tastes plastic. Overall, the food we ordered was not the best.

I went to Tai Er with my friends on Monday, and it was honestly such a disappointing experience. The service was incredibly cold and unwelcoming. The staff didn’t smile at all, and it really felt like they didn’t want us there. When the food finally arrived, the girl just dropped the dishes on the table without even saying "sorry" or offering any kind of explanation. It came off as rude and completely unprofessional.

xudong wang

The portion sizes are incredibly small! Terrible! Don't fall for it!

weng Stanley

I went to Tai Er with my friends on Monday, and it was honestly such a disappointing experience. The service was incredibly cold and unwelcoming. The staff didn’t smile at all, and it really felt like they didn’t want us there. When the food finally arrived, the girl just dropped the dishes on the table without even saying "sorry" or offering any kind of explanation. It came off as rude and completely unprofessional.