Sichuan Impression

Having been a fan of Sichuan Impression since their Valley Blvd days, I was thrilled to finally visit their new location on Main St, especially after their well-deserved Michelin recommendation. And let me tell you, the experience did not disappoint!

First off, the new space is immaculate. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into the ambiance, and it pays off. The sleek, modern decor adds a touch of elegance without losing the authentic charm that Sichuan Impression is known for.

But what truly sets Sichuan Impression apart is, of course, the food. And I'm pleased to report that the move hasn't affected the quality one bit. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly by the staff, who were attentive and knowledgeable about the menu.

They reopened the restaurant at this place, the entire environment of it feel upgraded and you can even feel more comfortable seating here. We had “Mao cai”, “toothpick lamb”, “qiao jiao beef soup” and shrimp scrambled eggs each of them all tasted very nice. If you’re not a spicy person, then you still recommend to try little spicy for touching their local flavor.

Nice Sichuan Food. Witness it from a local shop near Valley BLVD to the center space of Alhambra main Street. The new place is decorated in a really fancy style with big windows of full sunlight. Also there are larger dining tables and bar areas. Regarding with the food, they are not so spicy to meet the local demands. Really Enjoy the Tea Smoked Pork Ribs as it's crispy enough. Beef Brisket and tofu soup are nice choices. Every time, we would also choose the Boiled Fish with Rattan Pepper and Mini Lamb Skewers. Spicy Frog Dry pot and Fred shrimp Dry Pot are also in good taste. The desserts of fried rice cake with brown sugar is a one for sharing. The School Yard Ice Jelly might be a little sweeter than others'. We try the special drink of Rose honey Tea as it is wonderful. It would be better to call more guys dining together to try more different items. Worth it!

Sichuan Impression, the newest addition to Alhambra’s vibrant culinary scene, has swiftly become a local favorite in the San Gabriel Valley, renowned for its tantalizingly spicy Sichuan cuisine. This sister branch of the famed Century City restaurant has elegantly carved its niche amidst the spicy food landscape dominated by Chengdu Taste and Chengdu Impression. For those previously daunted by endless waits at other establishments, Sichuan Impression proves to be a revelation, a beacon of culinary brilliance.

My visit on a leisurely Sunday afternoon revealed an establishment that effortlessly balances demand and service. Securing a table through Yelp's waiting list was a breeze, and once seated, the convenience of ordering via QR code streamlined the process. The gastronomic journey commenced with the "Impressive" cold noodles—a dish that impeccably marries texture with a subtle yet engaging heat, setting the stage for what was to follow.

The temptation continued with the red chili oil wontons and the enticingly peppery "Impressive" dumplings, setting a high standard for flavor and spice. Even the classic Kungpao chicken, though not notably spicy, left an indelible mark with its perfectly crisped chicken, melded with peanuts, scallions, and dry chilies—a rendition that redefines this timeless dish.

However, the true star of the evening was the toothpick mutton with cumin—a poetic indulgence, delivering a delightful two-pepper sensation that entices the taste buds and keeps you coming back for more, despite the gradually numbing ma la effect.

The unanimous choice of every table, the fish in pepper corn soup, did not disappoint. Its tender, numbingly spicy essence offered a symphony of flavors—a perfect amalgamation of taste and sensation.

Not only did Sichuan Impression excel in its culinary offerings, but the service was also efficient and prompt. The parking convenience, tucked away in an enclosed garage, added to the overall experience. The restaurant's interior is a fusion of modern elegance and subtle Asian touches, contributing to a comfortable and inviting ambiance.

In conclusion, Sichuan Impression isn't just a restaurant; it's a gastronomic voyage through the numbingly spicy yet remarkably flavorful world of Sichuan cuisine. With its impressive array of dishes, efficient service, and inviting ambiance, it stands tall among the valley's culinary gems, beckoning both connoisseurs and novices alike to savor its culinary brilliance.

It’s my friends’ 2nd visit and my first time, this restaurant was Michelin guided 2021, the location is in the downtown of Alhambra, every dishes we ordered was fine taste, traditional but also creative, we finished our 7 dishes, and the dessert. And we walked to have a Taiwanese shakes tea after lunch, very satisfying!! I definitely will return with my family!

Wow! Absolutely amazing food and service. All the food are authentic but it is one of the best chinese food I ever had. Price is reasonable, and nice atmosphere. Must place to go in LA area!

I’ve been coming here since they first opened up at this location. I was there today and learned of the news that they will be moving from this Valley Street location to a spot on Main Street. I am assuming it would be a lot harder to get a table once they move but hopefully the quality and service remains stellar.

On my visit here today I ordered my three staple dishes: Mapo tofu, boiled fish in chili oil, and the mini skewer lamb. Those three dishes has never failed me. The Mapo tofu has the perfect spice level and flavor. The mini skewer lamb is so good especially the fatty pieces. Though I will say all the little red chilies are always unnecessary in that dish. The showstopper will always be the boiled fish in the chili oil. It has the perfect amount of sour and spice and a good portion of fish. Those three dishes and a side of rice and I’m good. I need nothing else except a candy from the bowl in the front on my way out. I wish this restaurant the best on their move but I know they’ll do better on Main.

Side note: The server asked us where we parked and let us know that we needed to move our cars because it was street cleaning day. Who does that? Much respect and very appreciated

Got the toothpick lamb and boiled boneless fish, both were excellent. The potatoes showed up a bit late so we didn't eat much of them and ended up taking home leftovers, it was a lot of food. Ordering and the wait-list are done completely through the Internet.

Friendly staff provides excellent recommendations. Ordered the Boiled Fish With Rattan Pepper Soup and Dumplings. The soup is definitely meant to be eaten with at least 2 people I was very hungry and ate it by myself but would not recommend. The soup is very spicy that after 4 sips it begins to numb your mouth as is normal with spicy Chendu style food. Dumplings were so firm and hearty...That oily chili sauce is so good. Fish soup has generous amounts of fish, mushroom and bean sprouts. Chili and whole black peppers are all over the soup so if want to avoid some heat and numbness there is some scooping to do. I was treated in a friendly manner the staff kept touching tables making sure everything is fine. Very Nice atmosphere and clean. Definitely must have and bring a group of friends!

One of the better experience of Szechuan food I had. One thing I notice was good customer service, servers were always fill your water and checking on you. Food service was fast, delivered in about 5 minutes after we order. Food quality is very good, delicious. Try the pork ribs and lamb on sticks. Pork ears is great too for appetizer, and the cold noodles.

Fantastic food! I’ve been looking for a Sichuan place to become a regular at in the area and this takes the cake! Highlights this trip were the crab and the pork ribs (photographed below). Don’t miss the green beans and king pao chicken either!

Perfect seasoned! It’s my first time here and i only tried 3 dishes, but it’s definitely inpressive.

Kong pao, is the best, loving it get a little crispy on the edge makes the texture more interesting. The seasoning is perfect, not too much, just perfect.

Mapo tofu is extremely soft and flavorful. You should expect yourself getting too much carbs cause it will invite you add another bowl of rice. Evil!

Bean Jelly is one of their signature, love the seasoning, a bit sour, a bit spicy, with strong peanut fragrance. But the texture isn’t my cup of tea. It’s a me thing, i still recommend this dish for the perfect flavour.

They offer so many different dishes, and i swear i will comeback for em very soon! Cause it leaves me a fantastic impression of sichuan for sure.

My first time having real Szechuan food. These are some of the boldest, most delicious flavors I've ever encountered. The kidney meat is very lean and tender. The boiled fish is very soft and flavorful too!

A modern ambient look as we walked in the restaurant. We came in around 6pm on a weekday and there was no line. They use a self ordering service with QR code, quite convenient.

The food came relatively quickly. They're all pretty good, but it wasn't so good to the point where we're impressed. It's average given the price point, but I do like the kitchenware that they use.

They have free parking in the garage. I'd come back once a while as it has decent food and a good dining atmosphere.

Some of the best Szechuan food I've had in Alhambra. Spicy and numby! The service is great and the atmosphere is a mixed bag of young and old. The mapo tofu was a bit on the salty side though and not as smooth, silky and numby like some other places.

Do you like spicy food? Anything here is good for a spicy fix. Enjoyed the dry pot. All of the ingredients were high quality too.

My absolute favorite, it is always out of this world good. Spicy, but different than what you are used to. They use sichuan peppercorns which give you a numbing sensation and it is absolutely weird the first time but adds to the experience!

This place is very good and authentic Chinese food. The spice is not too strong but just enough. The service is fast and good. The environment is very clean. I recommend the toothpick lamp and the pig feet.

Location is actually somewhat invisible and really close to a few of my favorites. We had the pork intestines and potato. That dish was amazing and tender. It was not chewy.

Beef soup had a significant amount of flavor and condiment was perfectly.

Customer service was good and I would like to come back on a busier time to fully experience the following.

Would definitely recommend the following place.

Takeout didn't change how delicious the food is! I ordered stir fry pork intestines for the first time and it was delicious. It's savory and flavorful and not too spicy. The celery in the dish is sweet and amazing. I also ordered toothpick mutton and Mao cai, which are the usual, and they were exactly how I remembered it.