I learned of Chef Tan in a 5/17/26 review on the Washington Post, and I got hungry. I got a couple friends to meet me there for lunch last Thursday and yum! We couldn't stop eating...I took another friend there last night for dinner and yum again! I always judge a Chinese restaurant by their Special Fried Rice and Chef Tans' was great both times I ate there. The tongue/tripe appetizer is delicious especially for the adventurous, we paired it with the scallion pancakes ( this is the crack,) which should be ordered at every visit. We tried the lamb and the pork with dried tofu and again we just couldn't stop eating it. All of it hit the mark! I'm ready to go again! I was a bit disappointed with the Fried Chicken, it was very crispy but flavor wise it wasn't remarkable. Good service and efficient, the chef sends the food out as he finishes it so everything comes fresh from the kitchen. Nice space, kid friendly, lots of parking! Totally worth it! read more

Two Haiku Review: Great Chinese restaurant Serving Hunan cuisine, I Really liked P3, The la zi ji, and J2, the stir-fry lamb. Worth Trying this place out! read more

This place is definitely a spot that leans more towards a spot you go with family or friends who want particular Chinese (Hunan in particular) dishes that may not be on menu elsewhere. The sliced beef and tripe in sauce, spicy stir-fried beef aorta & chicken offal, and salted egg yolk with shrimp were all very good. Only thing I would say that I was disappointed in were the shrimp chips that came with the salted egg yolk shrimp as it was not crisp at all, it felt either undercooked or just stale as it felt as if I bit into a packing peanut instead but overall. I would absolutely go back here to get the same thing or even try something else on the menu as it is quite extensive. read more

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This place is pretty good for the area! It is definitely a bit pricier, but that's expected for the location and type of restaurant. It's decorated very nice inside and spacious. The waitress we had was really nice and I like how they have gum at the front in the way out. I love how the sliced duck also comes with a large bowl of soup and pancakes, sauce, cucumbers, and scallion. The cauliflower pork, lamb, and fried tilapia were also good. I wasn't the biggest fan of the Chinese broccoli dish as it was more mild. Parking can also be a bit tough. read more

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Intrigued both by the prospect of a new Chinese cuisine and the strength of a review in the Washington Post, my wife and I decided to have a lunch date at Chef Tan in Vienna. When we arrived, we found a reasonably full dining room with an equal split of Chinese guests and gringos like us. We ordered three dishes and received our food after a very short wait. The most compelling dish we had was the chili, eggplant, and century egg. A server brought out the dish in a wooden mortar and pestle and pounded it tableside. The flavors were bold and unique, with bites of bright, spicy green chili complementing both silky, sweet pieces of eggplant and salty, savory preserved eggs. We've never tried anything similar and found the flavor profile addictive. The other two dishes we had tasted good, though the flavors were surprisingly more muted. Hunan cuisine is widely considered to be the spiciest of all regional Chinese dishes, and we detected only minimal heat in the otherwise solid Hunan Lamb and Griddled Fish. The former comprised soft slices of tender lamb tossed with some mild chilis and cilantro. The ingredients were cooked well and the flavors were comforting. The latter fish dish had large chunks of battered flounder stir fried with dried chilis, mushrooms and other Chinese vegetables. The cookery on the dish was superb in that the fish remained crisp throughout our meal and some of the normally tough vegetables possessed a tender texture. The vibe here is clean and comfortable; it's not necessarily fancy but far from a hole in the wall. Our server was friendly and happy to see we enjoyed our food. Overall, while not quite as spicy as we had hoped, the dishes we tried at Chef Tan nonetheless satisfied, and we look forward to returning to sample more unique Hunan food. read more

We had three tables of ten and the restaurant very accommodating for us. The service was fast and efficient. The best part of the night was the authentic Hunan cuisine. Every dish was favorable and unique. Really good stuff if you like it a bit spicy! read more

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Looking for a new, authentic Chinese food experience, we found Chef Tan in Danor Plaza, Vienna. Chef Tan's is straddling the new and the old - menus are on your phone via QR code on the table, and the servers have iPads to transmit your order to the kitchen. But the food is classic authentic. I got the Mapu Tofu, and the spices were brighter with a slightly different flavor profile than the typical Mapu Tofu from standard Chinese restaurants. My favorite was the Fish Griddled, tender thin filets of fried fish sauteed with vegetables and spices. Overall, a culinary taste adventure with authentic Chinese food. Give Chef Tan's a try! read more

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Coming from LA, Chef Tan is a breath of fresh air. One of the best hunan Chinese restaurants in the DMV. The J3 Stir-Fried Diced Chicken with Milet Pepper was my favorite, juicy chicken and just the right amount of spice. The J1 Stir-Fried Beef with Celery was also a great follow up. The service was cordial and observant. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming! read more

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Decently solid Chinese food but I do prefer the Peter Chang restaurants better. Service and food comes out pretty fast. The chicken steamed dumplings were huge and tasted homemade. However we tried the hunan lamb and the chicken lo mein and both seemed to lack both flavor and spice. The lo mein especially needed more salt. Maybe I would try some other dishes if I was in the area. read more

This place is a little more upscale than the typical Chinese restaurant, but my family wasn't particularly impressed by the food. While it is authentic Hunan cuisine and flavorful for the most part, certain stylistic choices and the lack of vegetables did not reflect the diversity of Chinese cuisine. I was also slightly put off by the fact that three of our serving dishes were chipped, which felt inconsistent with the refined atmosphere this restaurant seems to be aiming for. The only dish I would wholeheartedly recommend is the glutinous rice cakes with brown sugar (found in the dessert section but served as an appetizer). read more

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Chef Tan offers authentic, spicy Hunan food. Service is casual but friendly from the waitstaff. Prices are reasonable and depend on your order. A few menu items were unavailable. Dish highlights: 5*Stir-Fried Pork Intestines - Delicious. 5*Minced Pork with Sour Pickled Bean - Excellent with rice. One of our favorite dishes. 4*Spicy Pepper Beef Tripe - Good, but can be chewy. read more

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Incredibly good. Read about them in wapo and the review was spot on. Authentic. Delicious. Spicy. Great staff. Clean spot. Easy ordering and payment systems. All you could ask for in an unassuming spot. Will return. read more

Chef Tan offers up authentic Hunan style options. You know the restaurant is legit when you walk in and almost every customer is Chinese. The food is good though the prices are quite high as compared to everywhere else. Understandably this is Vienna, but even within Vienna there are other legit Chinese restaurants with a lower price range. Still, we would come back as the flavors here are quite good. read more

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Food: AUTHENTIC! AUTHENTIC! Authentic Hunan cuisine that you won't find in any other restaurants for chinese food. Foods include aorta, century eggplant, stinky tofu (REAL STINKY!!), and more. Service: super fast and if you pay cash you get a 12% discount off the price ;) Ambiance: perfect for first dates or large gatherings read more

Chef Tan - Chinese Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

At Chef Tan, the kitchen channels the unapologetic boldness of Hunan cuisine--fermented heat, fresh chiles, and layered aromatics delivered with notable precision. The Century Egg with Chili & Eggplant is a revelation and a must-order: creamy, pungent yolk and silky eggplant meld into a deeply savory, chili-laced mash that lingers memorably. The Sautéed Sliced Lamb in Hunan Style follows with tender, well-seasoned slices that showcase the kitchen's deft hand. Elsewhere, the Hunan Style Fried Tilapia is flavorful but lacks the same distinction, while the Stir-Fried Beef with Celery--though tasty--suffers from a less ideal cut. The Sautéed Cauliflower with Pork lands as competent but unremarkable. A meal here underscores both the heights and occasional inconsistencies of a kitchen otherwise committed to vibrant, authentic expression. read more

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Chef Tan is a Hunan restaurant in Vienna that opened up recently. My friends and I got dinner this past Thursday and had a great experience. The interior is pretty new and clean, and the service was very attentive. The food came out 10 minutes after we ordered online via Chowbus. Our server stopped by to check in on our group to make sure we enjoyed the food and joked around with us. P4 CHEF TAN FRESH FISH W. PICKLED VEGETABLES 老坛酸菜鱼 - 35.99 This is more of a Sichuan-classic, but a favorite within our group, so we had to order it. The portion size was large, but we've seen similar portions at other restaurants for a cheaper price. There was plenty of fish, which was soft and tender, soaking up the soup very well. The soup was creamy and not too spicy, which was warming and soothing. There was also plenty of pickled veggies and glass noodles to keep the flavors and textures interesting. Overall, this was a great choice, and we liked that the soup didn't taste overly oily or greasy. P11 SALTED EGG YOLK W. SHRIMP 咸蛋黄虾球 - 20.99 This is more of a Cantonese-origin Chinese dish that was very savory (from the salted egg yolk layer) and flavorful. The shrimp were perfectly fried and the amount of salted egg yolk in each one really seasoned it deliciously. The shrimp chips mixed in were a nice touch, but a bit stale. I really enjoyed the shrimp and salted egg yolk combination and would recommend giving it a try. J8 CLAY POT TOFU 砂锅豆腐 - 19.99 This was listed under the Hunan-style dishes, but I thought it was a pretty generic Chinese option. The tofu was seared nicely on the sides, super soft and soaked up the sauce well. There was bits of minced meat, too. One of my friends really liked the sauce (which I thought was a tad watery). Despite the simplicity, it was very flavorful. V6 SAUTEED STRING BEANS 干煸四季豆 - 15.99 This is a classic vegetable dish. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't exceptional. My friends liked this a lot more than me and think it's one of the best string beans (prepared in this style) they've had. Overall, you can't go wrong with this one, but I'd venture out to try something different next time. Overall, the food was very good and flavorful, but the pricing is what you'd expect in the area. I'd definitely come back for the dishes we ordered and would love to try other Hunan specialties in the future. read more

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We dined here on a Saturday night as a party of 5 and had a wonderful experience. We didn't have a reservation, but we showed up when they opened (around 5pm) and we were seated promptly. We were seated in the back corner since we had a child. The staff was prompt and guided us to order using the QR code. We ordered: - hunan style stinky tofu (stinky, spicy, and colored black just like the one I've had in Changsha) - century egg with chili and eggplant (sooo good and different from anything I've had here. My mom said this is just like she's had in Hunan) - sautéed slice lamb in hunan style (good, but I thought I would like this more) - sliced pork with dried tofu (so good, a classic) - a stir fry pork belly with peppers Everything was sooo delicious, hot, and authentic and I absolutely can't wait to return with my family! read more

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Food is authentic and really delicious! 2nd time here. Service is pretty prompt and nice. Ambiance is big clean setting; new authentic Chinese restaurant. Can't wait to come back tomorrow to try more dishes. Great find. read more

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We decided to try out Chef Tan in Vienna for their Hunan dishes and we were very impressed with the food! My favorite was the lamb which was seasoned with cumin and was a little spicy. The lamb was sliced very thin and tender. The cubed chicken was very good also, and was seasoned very different than the lamb. The chicken was very savory, and even less spicy. The pork knuckles were also very good, savory with a bit of numbing oil that I could taste. The pork was tender and flavorful. The stinky tofu was the spiciest of all the dishes, crispy outside and like a fried/puff tofu inside. All the dishes are authentic Chinese dishes and all very well executed. The restaurant itself has an upscale feel and is very inviting. We will definitely be back when we want some really good authentic dishes in an upscale atmosphere! read more

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When I first visited this restaurant, I thought the food tasted pretty good. The only downside at the time was that it was expensive. However, after returning several more times, I noticed that not only were the prices getting higher and the portions getting noticeably smaller, but more importantly, the food quality was also declining. During our most recent visit, we ordered a fish dish that cost around $38. The fish was clearly not fresh, so we asked the restaurant to remake it. Unfortunately, the replacement dish still had a strong fishy odor. At that point, it became obvious that this was not just an isolated incident, but rather a decline in the quality of the ingredients they use. In addition, the restaurant charges a fairly high service fee. We had a party of 11 people, and the restaurant automatically added a 22% gratuity to the bill. What made it even worse was that the gratuity was included in the taxable amount, meaning customers ended up paying additional tax on top of the tip. The restaurant also has a rewards points system, but the way they calculate points feels extremely stingy and misleading. The staff explained that customers earn one point for every dollar spent. However, instead of calculating points based on the total bill, they calculate points separately for each individual dish, and any amount under one dollar does not count toward points. Since almost every dish on the menu ends in ".99," this effectively means the restaurant excludes $0.99 from every single item purchased. Honestly, I have visited countless restaurants in my life, and every other rewards program I've seen calculates points based on the total amount spent. I have never seen a restaurant go out of its way to calculate points separately for every dish like this. It gives the impression that they are intentionally trying to take advantage of customers, which leaves a very poor impression. On top of that, during our most recent visit, I asked the cashier at the front desk how I could check my rewards points balance. Her response was simply, "I don't know," delivered in a cold and dismissive tone. She showed no interest in helping me or finding another employee who could assist. I honestly don't know whether she simply didn't care because the restaurant is busy enough that customer experience no longer matters to them. In the end, our group of 8 adults and 3 young children spent over $270, yet everyone left only partially full, and some of the food was not even fresh. It was an extremely unpleasant dining experience. I believe this will be my last time visiting this restaurant. In the future, I would rather choose restaurants that offer better value, better food quality, and more respect toward customers for group gatherings. I also would not recommend this restaurant to my friends. read more

I brought my Chinese parents here for dinner and they both enjoyed it! Everything tasted flavorful without being too salty. Our favorite was the fresh fish with pickled vegetables; the fish was fresh and the broth wasn't too sour. Their sauteed lamb and Chinese mustard greens were also tasty and well prepared. read more

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Definitely one of my favorite Chinese places. It gets busy so you may want to make a reservation. Parking is free. Love to atmosphere and the service is really good for a Chinese restaurant. They sell stinky tofu which I'm not a fan of but my husband and his mom loves it. She even drinks the sauce. The green beans and cabbage were excellent. The ribs had a spicy kick with lots of flavor. I always get the fish. read more

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Saw that this place sold stinky tofu and I've never seen/had black ones, so came here to try! It did not disappoint! I haven't seen/found any in the area as good as this one, highly recommend if you like this dish/want to try it. We've tried a few other dishes as well and its all delicious! No misses yet! Great spot for Chinese food and if you like spicy food! In regards to the price point, I do think some of the items are a bit high, but food is solid. Especially since there's dishes you can't make at home (like the stinky tofu :) haha) - Hunan Style Stink Tofu (Juicy!, Make sure to coat and eat with the sauce!) - Spare Ribs w/ Spicy Cumin Seasoning (Yum! Wish there was more meat! Lol) - Spicy and Sour Ribeye Pot in Pumpkin Sauce (Pleasantly surprised, didn't know what to expect, but definitely enjoyed the dish overall; especially the clear noodles and flavor in this dish/soup) - Iron Plate Mongolian Beef (Bit sweeter side, but good) - Stir Fried Eggplant w/ Green Pepper (Flavorful, what you'd expect for a good Chinese eggplant dish) Simple modern restaurant vibe. read more

The food was amazing. Our water glasses were never empty. The servers answered all our questions, made modifications, and the food arrived hot, fast, and perfect. Leave room for dessert: try the rice cakes with brown sugar. Oh. My. Gosh. Yum! read more

Would recommend this Hunan Chinese restaurant! Came spontaneously for an early Friday night dinner. We were seated quickly but the restaurant was packed by the time we left around 7. All the dishes were great and had that Chinese authenticity that's missing at in the food at some other restaurants, and for this reason we would definitely come back! They have 2-3 large lazy Susan tables for larger parties and overall appreciated that even the 2 person tables had a lot of room. read more

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We were surprised and excited when looking at the menu at Chef Tan to see so many dishes we had never tried before. We had to give some a try so we mixed some familiar with some new. On this day, we opted for the acclaimed house specialty of stinky tofu, the steamed dumplings, pressure cooked pork belly, Hunan style fried tilapia whole fish and spicy and sour ribeye in pumpkin sauce. We placed our order using the QR code on the table and our server promptly came out of the kitchen to verify that we were ok with spicy, with the fact that the fish was whole and had bones and that the tofu was stinky, etc. We took this as gentle concern seeing that it was probable that we were new to several of these dishes. After triple checking that we liked spicy, our order was placed and arrived promptly. The dishes were spicy (and we do spicy) and they were very tasty. The stinky tofu did kind of smell like feet, but the tofu had such a wonderful consistency and the sauce was so tasty that we ordered extra rice to pour it over. Our favorite dish was the whole fish which was delicious. The restaurant was open and spacious and not too loud even when full of families. The service was great. Parking is easily available in the lot out front. read more

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This is a restaurant specializing in Hunan cuisine. As one grew up there, I would say it has probably everything I expect from a Hunan restaurant. Spicy as it is, it did not lose the flavor of the food's original taste. It balances the spicy with the room for people with regular spicy tolerance to enjoy. The service was great, with good check-ins, and you can feel lots of the servers really loved the food. The environment was decent. Nothing outstanding from either good or bad. read more

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This restaurant looks so classy on the inside. The food is also phenomenal. Every dish comes with a lot of spices and flavors, so make sure you can eat spicy when coming here. They can make things less spicy, but it'll still have a lot of peppers in it. When you get seated, you'll scan a QR code on the table which leads you to an online menu that you can order from. If not, you can also order the traditional way with the waitress. read more

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A small group of us came in on a weekday for lunch, we chose Chef Tan's because of their unique Chinese menu, which is authentic Hunan style food. Our server was excellent, she was very descriptive and helpful with the menu and making suggestions. As a result, we ordered many entrées and some appetizers to try an assortment of dishes. We got chicken, beef, pork, and some veggie dishes too and all were made with very fresh ingredients and tasted great. Their jasmine tea is amazing as well, so get a pot or three! I drank one whole pot myself. Some favs of mine were the spare ribs, they had an amazing flavor, were extremely tender, and a nice spice to them. Another fav of the group was the beef with cilantro (they subbed the beef & celery for beef & cilantro) - The amount of cilantro was amazing, there was so much and the depth of flavor of the entire dish was great! We also really enjoyed their griddle fish. They use flounder for this dish and it tastes great! Very fresh fish that is freshly battered and fried. The flavor of the "sauce" in it was nice, not too spicy. It's a softer 'fry' and less bold type of dish when compared to Peter Chang's Bamboo Fish, but looks slightly similar. A very nice appetizer was the scallion pancakes! They came out piping hot and so flavorful! Their cold beef & tripe had a nice, smokey, "chili oil" flavor to them. Highly recommend stopping in if you like authentic Chinese foods, as they make great Hunan. But they also have American style dishes too. They even have some quasi-American style Chinese dishes, like the cumin line-up. I'll definitely return! read more

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Welcome to Vienna, Chef Tan! Currently in their soft opening, this is the first DC location of this chain that serves up Hunan-style eats. The menu is quite extensive, including various apps and cold dishes, soups, fried rice, both Hunan- and Sichuan-style specialties, and even lunch options. Our party ordered the following to share: +Dan Dan Noodles +Scallion Pancakes +Spicy Crispy Short Ribs +Fried Fillet Fish with Lychee Sauce +Mongolian Beef +Bok Choy with Garlic +and, the Eggplant with Garlic Sauce Everything came out made-to-order, and the portions were pretty good to share within our group. The space itself has a good amount of seating, and the staff were pretty friendly and attentive. Located at the Danor Plaza of the previously occupied space of Zenola. Plenty of parking in the shared plaza lot. +Hunan-style cuisine +friendly staff & service +located in the Danor Plaza read more

Amazing Xiang cuisine. You could taste the Wok Hei in all the dishes. Everyone loved the ribs-crispy on the outside, flavorful and tender on the inside. It takes some culinary skill to be able to achieve that. There's not one dish that we didn't like. Service is good. We ordered through a tablet so that's convenient, if only the signal inside the restaurant wasn't suboptimal. Atmosphere-wise it's pretty standard...for what I'd expect to find in China, but considering it's a Chinese restaurant in the US and the second ever Xiang restaurant in the DMV it's probably way above standard. It's bright, modern, and spacious with a semi-open kitchen. read more

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Fantastic Chinese place. As soon as you walk in you know this place is the real deal given the large presence of Chinese eating there. The roast duck is amazing albeit nit cheap but well worth the wait. Pre-ordering is recommended. The dishes are a good size. Probably the first Chinese place we didnt take anything home given dishes were so good. A must to try. read more

If you're craving authentic Chinese food packed with bold flavors, Chef Tan in Vienna is a must-try. They are known for their Szechuan and Hunan cuisine, this spot brings the perfect balance of spice, aroma, and richness that's hard to find elsewhere in the DMV. We enjoyed: - Spare Ribs with Spicy Cumin Seasoning - Chef Tan Special Fried Rice - Fish Griddled - Spicy Stir-Fried Beef Aorta and Chicken Offal Every dish was incredibly flavorful and cooked to perfection. The portions were large and ideal for sharing, making it perfect for family dinners or group gatherings. The restaurant itself is beautifully designed with a clean, modern aesthetic and traditional Chinese touches. They even have the classic round tables with turntables, which made the experience feel truly authentic. The staff were extremely friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. read more

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Authentic hunan style restaurant in Vienna. VA. Try it, the food is good and the ambience is bright. There was a long waiting waiting outside. read more

Chef Tan stands out as one of the area's go-to spots for authentic, spicy Hunan-style Chinese food with a modern, upscale feel. It's not just another Americanized Chinese place; the menu leans heavily into bold, regional flavors with lots of heat, fragrant spices, and dishes you do not usually see in standard takeout. The food is flavorful and well-seasoned, especially the spicier options, so it is a great pick if you enjoy real heat. Signature items include the fresh fish with pickled vegetables, spicy and sour ribeye pot in pumpkin sauce, and stir-fried free-range chicken with old ginger, along with Hunan specialties like stinky tofu and cumin-spiced ribs. There is also a section of American-style Chinese favorites such as lo mein and fried rice, which makes it easy to bring friends who prefer more familiar dishes. The interior as classy, stylish, and much nicer than a typical strip-mall Chinese spot, which makes it feel special enough for date nights and celebrations while still being relaxed. The staff are friendly, attentive, and working hard to keep up with the steady crowds. The restaurant has quickly become popular with both local Chinese diners and Vienna foodies, which adds to the lively atmosphere at dinner. Chef Tan brings something new to Vienna: genuinely spicy Hunan and Szechuan-style dishes with complex flavors, generous portions, and an elevated setting. Between the standout specialties, polished dining room, and welcoming staff, it is already being recommended as a must-try Chinese restaurant in the area, especially for anyone seeking authentic regional cuisine rather than typical takeout. read more

My new favorite place! The food is soooo good and the service is great! We ordered a ton and were amazed by how quickly everything came out. read more

Chef Tan - Chinese Near Me - Vienna, Virginia

Sooo good. We tried this new Chinese restaurant and it was a huge hit... lots of non conventional items on the menu (plus a few common ones for simple eaters) . We tried pork with bamboo shoots and beef with Chinese celery. The pork was a really light yummy flavor. It's a mild one. The beef, my wife ordered with extra spicy, was delicious lots of beef with Chinese celery (sort of cross between parsley and celery) cut short and nice and tender good flavor, and some red chili peppers... so good. We wanted a vegetable and they were out of the string beans so the waiter recommended the cabbage... I would not have chosen this but it was so good. Super flavorful and cooked just right. Not soggy but also not raw like a salad. Light glade or sauce on it. They added some chili peppers because my wife loves spicy!!! Go try it read more

This new restaurant introduced our family to new authentic Chinese dishes that we've never tried before. All were delicious and unique. The decor is modern, clean, and classy. The service was attentive. Overall a great addition to Vienna! read more

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Tried another time and it's good. I liked the cauliflower. Seems that they are having more business haha read more

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The dishes have wok hei, all freshly stir-fried, and the flavor is excellent with an authentic Chinese taste. A lady from Fujian named Summer provided especially good service. I'll definitely come back again. read more

Chef Tan - Chinese Near Me - Vienna, Virginia