Gail B.

Thanks to my Yelp Elite friend Andie for arranging a UYE here. What a fun environment that gives diners the opportunity to rent Hanfu clothing! Hanfu is the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group. Google says that they are the largest ethnic group in the world; and that they originated in the central plains of Northern China. Every dish that Andie ordered for our table was a visual feast, but the lamb skewer was the standout. It was packed with flavors that blended beautifully. Our server was excellent because she was attentive and quick. Every order was placed on the table 1-2-3. The ambiance was authentic, and the dance performance was incredible. Please watch the video below of one of the dancers leading a child in a dance. If I ever return, I might eat some Dry Pot Ox Penis (see the menu). Or I might experiment with some Dry Pot Bull Frog or Egg-Flavored Mushroom Deer Antler. I give the restaurant 3.5/5 stars, rounded to 4 because most of the food was too spicy for me.

Andie E.

** Updated to include new dishes we tried on our 2nd visit: What a unique and special evening! We had an immersive Szechuan Theatrical dinner right in Flushing! Travel back in time to the Tang Dynasty; complete with Hanfu experience! Chuan Bistro is such a beautiful restaurant; complete with a center stage for their live theatrical dance show, which occurs every hour, on the hour, starting at 7pm to 9pm. The music, Hanfu outfits, and dance performance was just beautiful! Kudos to all the performers! The restaurant has two levels, so no matter where you're seated, you have a great view of the show. The performers make a point to go to each table, on both levels as well! You can rent Hanfu outfits for the evening, for just $10! They have Hanfu for women, men and kids. If you want to take it up a notch, you can also get your hair and makeup done for an additional $40. There were 8 of us tonight, and 5 opted to wear Hanfu. This just made the evening so much more special. I encourage everyone to rent a Hanfu! Ok now onto the food! The food was excellent! We didn't have a bad dish in our selections. We wanted to order the Tea Smoked Duck but they didn't have it tonight. But there was plenty of other great dishes to pick from. I've been here twice in 10 days, and these are the dishes we've tried (shared by 8ppl): ~ Mapo Tofu ($15): standard dish; would have been better if it were spicier. *We ordered this extra spicy the 2 and time and it was much better! ~ Golden Rice Crispy Chili Beef ($26.90): Excellent dish! Great texture and so satisfying. Get this!! ~ Minced Chili & Salted Egg Shrimp ($28.90/12 Prawns): Excellent dish! The salted egg yolk flavors really shined and the Shrimp was large and delicious. Get this!! ~ Cumin Beef ($26): we usually order cumin lamb but this cumin beef was really tasty; beef was nice and tender! ~ Yu-Shiang Shredded Pork ($16.90): good dish but would have been better with some spicy peppers. ~ Sauerkraut Fish Soup ($32.90): wow, was this sour (in a good way)!! This was a large portion; enough for everyone to have two bowls each. The ingredients were fresh, fragrant and pungent. ~ Dry-Fried String Beans ($15): prepared perfectly! pungent. ~ Sweet & Sour Fish Fillet ($22): although tasty, the fish fillets were super thin and you couldn't really taste the actual fish. I would skip this dish next time. ~ Chongqing Chicken ($22.90): Great dish. Some people complain that there are too many dried chili peppers in this dish but they don't realize that this dish always comes this way. The whole point of this dish is that it is fried with those delicious dried red chili peppers!! If you like spicy, Get this! ~ Lamb Skewers ($5 each): these were fantastic! Nice cumin and spicy flavors. So satisfying! ~ Rice ($2/Bowl): entrees do NOT come with rice. Order on the side. It's a pretty large bowl. Everything was well prepared and delicious! There was not one bad dish. They have many interesting dishes in their menu! We're already looking forward to a return visit to try new dishes. Note the spiciness levels: We ordered everything medium spicy and was warned that medium spicy was very spicy but none of us thought it was spicy enough. For us, their medium spicy was more of a mild spicy. So adjust according to your own preferences! Next time, we will order very spicy! Service and hospitality were very welcoming and friendly. You place your order on an iPad but someone is always there to help you place your order and answer any questions. Also, the staff was very helpful and offered suggestions in picking the perfect Hanfu for your tastes, style and likings! This evening was a real treat. Don't wait for a special occasion to go to Chuan Bistro! Treat yourself NOW! Prices for our shared meal was very reasonable, and came out to just $29 per person (including tax & tip) on our 1st visit. On our 2nd visit, it was $35pp. And splurge for the Hanfu outfits for just $10pp.

Gordon Y.

Cuisine: 5 Service: 6 Decor: 8 Value: 6 Overall: 6 This new hot spot is known for one thing, and one thing only, the beautiful traditional performances throughout the night while diners eat. However, that's all this restaurant really offers since the cuisine is average at best. The best dishes I have tried so far include the Grilled Oyster (8/10, tender and tasty), Braised String Beans & Eggplant (7.5/10, great but greasy), Preserved Vegetable Twice Cooked Pork (7/10, too greasy again), Pine and Nut Corn (7/10, simple but good). The Couple's Delight (6/10) was average, but was definitely a bit too chewy in texture and lacked that punch of flavor from a Szechuan dish. What didn't work for me includes the Sauerkraut Duck Blood (5/10, sauce was terrible), Crispy Salted Fish Fillet (4/10, to much batter), and Garlic Braised Beef Tendon (3/10, tendon was tough while sauce was flavorless). As for the performances, they start at 7:00pm daily, but not really every 30 minutes as advertised. They are more hourly, at least on my two visits so far. What we saw were short 3-4 minutes long traditional dance performed by a lady dressed in hanfu. What we watched was nice, but it really is just a gimmick. If they only have dancers and other performers stay around doing their thing for maybe 15-20 minutes every hour, then I would think it's worth eating some mediocre food to enjoy the view.

Camille R.

I came to Chuan Bistro on a Saturday night and it was such a fun experience--definitely more than just a meal. Food highlights: The dry hot pot cabbage sounds super simple, but don't skip it. It was packed with flavor, tasted clean/healthy, and somehow became the one veggie dish my kids devoured. The lamb skewers were a huge hit--big portions, juicy, and so flavorful we ended up reordering twice. Sweet and sour fish fillet was another winner. Big portion, great for sharing, and really tasty. Yangzhou fried rice was massive--we couldn't even finish it. Loved how generous they were with the shrimp. Cordyceps flower chicken soup had a super rich, comforting broth and tender chicken, though I do wish there was a bit more meat. Mixed / miss: Dan dan noodles had great noodle texture, but the flavor balance was off--too much peanut topping and not enough chili oil, so it leaned overly nutty. Chicken skewers were the only real letdown. Every adult at our table thought the texture and taste were off--very gamey and didn't quite taste like chicken. Dessert (surprisingly a highlight!): The fermented rice glutinous balls came warm in a slightly acquired-taste syrup, but once you bite into the balls and taste the black sesame filling, it completely changes the dish--so good and my favorite of the night. The ice jelly was also amazing--light, refreshing, perfectly sweet, with toppings like haw flakes, beans, and dried fruits that all worked really well together. Atmosphere: The live performances were beautiful. The dancers in hanfu were elegant and graceful, performing from around 7-9 PM and even walking through both floors of the restaurant. It really adds to the whole experience. I was offered basement seating (private rooms), but I chose to wait for the main dining area specifically for the performances--worth it. Tip: Make reservations well in advance. Even with a waitlist, the wait can be long. Overall, a memorable night with great food, generous portions, and a unique dining atmosphere. Just order strategically!

Sally V.

Went in with a group of friends and were surprised to find the place quite empty on a Sunday afternoon. Service was quick and attentive, which we really appreciated. The decor stood out--beautiful traditional elements that created a warm and authentic atmosphere. That said, it would have been a nice touch if the dining utensils matched the traditional setting to complete the experience. The food arrived slightly cold for our taste, and while it was decent, it didn't feel particularly special considering the price. Presentation could also use some improvement. Overall, great service and ambiance, but the food has room to grow. I'd still return and hope to see some improvements next time.

Kailyn L.

I have mixed feelings about this place. Pro: the food was genuinely great. We tried the blood tofu with pork intestines and the Yu-Shiang eggplant, and the flavors of both dishes were on point! Con: the portions were on the smaller side, but most importantly, the service left a lot to be desired. During our meal, a group was taking photos on the center stage as we came during the midday when there were no performances, and it felt quite distracting. When we asked one server for a bowl of rice, we were told none was available and were instead encouraged to order fried rice. However, when we checked with another server later, we were told that plain rice was in fact available. Also, despite the place being nearly empty, the service was slow. We were almost done with the first dish before the second one even came out. Overall, while the food was strong, the service and overall experience didn't quite match up to the hype.

Lisa L.

We ordered quite a few dishes but not all pictured below. The veggies were very good, probably the most well made one I've had. The shredded potatoes were good as well. Someone in our party had said it was too sour but I found it perfect. The salted egg tofu was not worth it - I'd recommend skipping this dish. We also ordered the beef skewers which were good well made and seasoned just enough. The size was also pretty large, but at $5 a skewer it's a reasonable size. We also ordered a pickled shredded pork dish and it was a tad too sour for me, so this dish probably isn't for everyone. We also ordered a vermicelli noodle with pork and it was actually very good but heavily seasoned. It's not for everyone, but I truly enjoyed this dish. The service was excellent so I'd recommend this place.

Xue Lin L.

Chuan Bistro is a Sichuan restaurant with beautiful traditional Chinese interior design. You can also wear hanfu (what I'm pictured in) and get your hair and/or makeup done. I believe starting around 7:30 each night, there are also interactive dance performances which were entertaining. To top it all off, the food is excellent and is actually spicy so be mindful of the level you choose. Our favorite dishes were the lamb skewers and mouthwatering chicken.

Eugene C.

Made reservations for Chuan Bistro on a recent Friday night after seeing social media posts about the experience they offer. Along with some spicy food they also offer live entertainment and authentic attire to rent to go with the cuisine. All in all it was a fun experience. The food was definitely spicy and tasty. Among the dishes we ordered, we had lamb skewers, veggie fried rice, string beans, spicy chicken, and a fried brown sugar with rice dish for dessert. The inside of the place had an authentic feel to it and there was a Chinese version of Renaissance times to the experience. Overall, I would recommend checking the place out. I will say there are still parts of the experience that are a work in progress as it is a fairly new establishment such as the entertainment. Granted, we did come on the earlier side so it could be different later on and plus there's no cover so there's different expectations.

Stephanie T.

This was my first time at Chuan Bistro and it will definitely not be my last. The ambiance, hospitality, service, and food were all amazing! Chuan Bistro serves authentic Sichuan cuisine in the heart of Flushing. I had made a reservation for Monday, March 23rd at 6:00pm through their website that brings you to minitable. We were seated on the ground floor. The menu offers the bold, fiery flavors of Chengdu -- the signature málà taste that numbs and delights, but many dishes offer customization of spicy levels. We used the iPad to order and the waiter verbally confirmed our order. The menu on the iPad is in English and in Chinese. We ordered the Mapo Tofu (medium spicy), Stir-Fried Pea Shoots, Cumin Beef (mildly spicy), Shrimp and Egg Fried Rice, Sweet and Sour Fish Fillets, Wanglaoji, and Peach Soju. All the drinks and food didn't take long at all to come out. Every dish was delicious and we couldn't stop eating since the first bite. Everything was flavored really well and luscious, it definitely hit the spot. About 7:15pm, there was a dance performance at the central stage. All the tables on the ground floor and the mezzanine floor are centered around a performance stage that serves as the restaurant's focal point. The interior is a sea of warm wood tones and cascading red ribbons with traditional Chinese décor and lanterns. It is absolutely stunning and it feels like I was transported to a different place. There is also an option for a hanfu experience. We had a wonderful dining experience at Chuan Bistro and can't wait to come back!

Meini C.

Chuan Bistro has some really solid flavors--the food itself was genuinely good, especially the skewers which were well-seasoned and cooked nicely. You can tell they know how to deliver on taste when it comes to Sichuan-style dishes. That said, the experience took a turn when we found a piece of hair in one of our skewers. We brought it to the staff's attention, and while they did take it back, they unfortunately returned what appeared to be the same skewer afterward. That response was disappointing and raised concerns about food safety and how situations like this are handled. I wanted to like this place more because the food has real potential, but proper handling of issues like this matters just as much as taste. Hoping they take feedback seriously and improve their service standards moving forward.

Thu H.

Service, and ambiance here are top notch. It actually looks a lot smaller than the social media campaigns I've seen but it still lives up to the hype. Order off an iPad; drinks, skewers, and photo ops aplenty. Food wise there's a lot left to be desired if you're not into maximum levels spice and salt (even adjusted it to low). Ordered about 13 dishes- about 3 stood out as something we would order again: 1) couples delight (beef tripe & offal in chilli sauce); 2) minced chili & salted egg shrimp; 3) braised string beans and eggplant cumin lamb was a split vote. Noodles were a bit of a let down between the actual taste and texture. There was more availability for larger tables in the evening- which I assume is ground level. It definitely picked up for dinner hours when the live performance began as well (for a Friday evening it was around 730). The hanfu add-on is certainly a cute option adding to the experience. Didn't opt for it but it looked like those who did enjoyed themselves. Overall here for the vibes - probably would do a whole another assortment of food next time.

Mimee S.

Chuan Bistro has a beautiful interior that feels more upscale than the typical Chinese restaurant, but the experience was a bit mixed. We walked in around 5:30pm and were told we could have a table only if we finished by 6:30pm because the tables were reserved. It was a little surprising since the restaurant wasn't crowded and there were still plenty of open tables. Despite the nicer setting, we were given paper cups for water, which felt out of place for a such a nice restaurant. Ordering is done through an iPad, and the staff we interacted with didn't speak much English, which made communication a bit difficult. Food-wise, some dishes were quite good. The sauerkraut fish had good flavor but was much spicier than expected even though we ordered mild spice. The eggplant with string beans was well cooked and flavorful, and the chicken skewers were tasty. The braised beef with noodles came in a very generous portion but the noodle texture was too soft for my taste. One interesting thing is that they apparently start performances around 7pm, and guests can also dress up in Hanfu clothing for an additional charge, which adds a unique cultural element to the experience. Overall, the food had some highlights and the concept is interesting, but service and small details didn't quite match the atmosphere.