Chengdu Taste closed down for a while before reopening on the 2nd floor at 808 Sheridan Street in Honolulu, upstairs from its former location. It’s a Szechuan restaurant, a spin-off from several sister restaurants in Los Angeles. It specializes in dishes that are hot. Peppery hot. Szechuan peppers that produce tingling in your mouth and lips, plus various hot peppers that produce sweat and related symptoms. And oh, so very good!
We hadn’t managed to get back there since they reopened. Last night we went with a couple of friends. Same management, many of the same servers. A bigger space with more tables. It was busy, but there was not wait in getting seated at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday evening.
The main menu includes photos and descriptions. The additional page of additional items is all in Chinese characters with no photos. You’ll have to ask your server to explain those options to you.
What can I say about the food? It was all wonderful. We over-ordered to get more tastes, and all of the things we ordered were wonderful. One–the chicken with double peppers–was a bit too wonderfully spicy for some, although it had a wonderful taste and hidden textures.
Take a peek at our repast. Click below for more.
Discover more from i L i n d
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
3 “wonderful”s and a “wonderfully” in one ‘graf. Must have been wonderful.
I think it was just wonderfully early and a long way before coffee when that was written.
It’s one of the very few authentic tasting Chinese restaurants in the States and we’re lucky to have it here on Oahu.
BTW…why, why WHY is our little podunk island so messed up when it comes to the pleasure of ordering a SIMPLE BEER to go with a meal??? BYOB at so MANY establishments?? REALLY??? Chengdu Taste was MADE FOR a Qingdao or the like to go with the meal. Trust me…I lived 13 years in China.
Does it have to do with forced bribery of liquor license inspectors? The cost of obtaining a liquor license?? Typical Hawaii gov red tape?? It really makes us look ghetto.
Eh, give me Thai food any day. Yummmmm.
We’ll have to try it. Our favorite (well, only) Szechuan place is Joy Cup Noodles Mean, a delicious, hole-in-the-wall place on Kalakaua Avenue almost opposite the end of Kanunu Street (below Philip Street). Country music. Adjacent to foot massage. I only know the few vegetarian options, but we keep going back. Automobile parking is in front and not plentiful.