The Little Fleet has always been a favorite spot of mine, but this was my first time trying Crocodile Palace and it absolutely lived up to the hype. Even on a fairly busy Saturday night, the service was fast, friendly, and efficient. I ordered the Mapo Tofu, and as someone who is very critical of tofu dishes, this one seriously impressed me. The tofu was perfectly crispy, packed with flavor, and honestly one of my favorite vegan tofu dishes in Traverse City. The rice was fluffy, the portion was generous, and for around $16, I left completely stuffed. We also tried the cucumber salad, which was fresh, flavorful, and huge. My only small note is that both dishes came with quite a bit of cilantro, so I'd probably ask for lighter cilantro next time. Other than that, the food was incredible and honestly so good that we're already considering going back again today! read more

Spicy is one thing. I love spice. This food tasted like straight up perfume or gasoline. I am a foodie and love spicy food but when the flavor tastes like some kind of chemical, something is definitely wrong. I'm super bummed because I expected greatness from all the stars and reviews! Idk what you guys had but mine was terrible. Sorry. If you like the taste of chemicals, perfumes and gasoline! You found your spot! read more

I wasn't expecting to find places in traverse city that offers this level of Szechuan food. Good food overall, it is a bit salty but hits the spot. Would recommend for Chinese food lovers to just give it try here. read more

Crocodile Palace - Mouth watering chicken, dandan noodles, cold noodles, students noodles, fried rice, rice cake - Salad Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

After arriving in Traverse City, I was happy to find this place. I wanted something different and this definitely satisfied me. The location is extremely small with not a lot of seating, so I was happy that I had placed my order online and picked it up. It's right off a gas station, so I almost missed it initially! I wanted to try a bunch of different things with my spouse, so we got a good amount. This included the smashed cucumber salad, numbing chicken wings, spicy cold noodles, and laziji chicken. I was a bit worried about the spice level, but it wasn't overwhelming to either of us. Please note that I'm used to spicy food. I saw in a different review that their mouth went numb and tasted like salt. I didn't get the salt flavor, but yes, there is numbing (or your tongue tingles). That's supposed to be there. It's Szechuan. If you've never experienced it before, it could be a bit unsettling! All of our food was delicious! I loved the cooling from the cucumbers after eating the chicken. We tended to alternate bites to get some relief and alternating flavors. Our favorite, though, was the spicy cold noodles. It tasted very fresh. I wish it had a bit less oil, but I still loved it! I'd definitely come back if I were in the area again. This was a treat and I enjoyed getting to try some Szechuan flavors. read more

Easily the best Chinese food I've ever eaten. I read other reviews before going, and I still wasn't ready for the explosion of flavors each of the dishes we ordered had to offer. They only do takeout, because the entire shop is basically their kitchen. We ordered at the counter and had food ready in about 10 mins. (It's also really close to the beach, so I would highly recommend taking your food down there to eat.) We ordered mapo tofu, Dan Dan noodles with tofu, and dry chili chicken (I think that's what it was called) and each one was absolute perfection. It also comes with white rice. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Crocodile Palace - Dan Dan noodles, dry chili chicken, mapo tofu - Salad Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

It is authentic yes, is the portion small, also yes. Good try on Sichuan cooking, but Sichuan food is more than just spicy. It is not buffalo wings. They are missing the "Ma" flavor in their chili oil. Need more Sichuan peppercorn and less chili flakes to have a good balance. If you cannot handle heat that well, try the cold noodle dish, it is easier to enjoy when your mouth is burning. Also the spice doesn't burn your mouth forever, it has delay start and it will go away without any drink. I like that they use good ingredients and effort. Everything is good, chicken is tender and smooth. If only it is less spicy and more ma, then it will be perfect. Also for Chinese food and it doesn't come with white rice, that was disappointing. Room for improvement. read more

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What a find! Two dudes that clearly live to create! Small establishment pushing out a fun take on Szechuan cuisine. For those who have complained about the spice, it's SZECHUAN, so mind the pepper scale on the menu. :) I also read another subjective critique that argues his dish was not hot enough. Yall... Try. This. Place! It's fun, a new experience, and the food is awesome. By far one of the best meals I've had in Michigan, and the best meal I've had in northern Michigan; hands down. read more

Whoa! This was our first time and this is my jam! So fricken good. Spicy! But they accommodated to mild requests for kids. Excellent quality and wham bam delicious. Ordered enough for leftovers and I'm looking forward to it. It's take out only but there are parks near by. read more

Good food, fair prices, nice staff and a friendly atmosphere. Try the calamari with a spicy Thai dipping oil. You would be disappointed. Plus the bar has some nice wines to pair with the Calamari. read more

I can't quit thinking about this place! Had the cold noodles, Dan Dan, cucumber salad and the chicken thigh dish that I can't remember the name. So amazing and great portion sizes. Will be going back read more

As I'm headed to our next destination after a lunch at the food truck location and last night's dinner at this location, I'm trying to convince my husband that we should get it to go to take home with us...6 hours away. My God I love this place. This is not your typical overly sugary to go Chinese food. This is unique and has depths of flavor. Our to go order: Chicken and dried shrimp fried rice - hands down the crowd favorite. It wasn't "fishy" like I feared but a perfect blend of flavors. How can something that seems so simple taste so spectacular? Every grain of rice was consumed. Each grain of rice was perfect fried with a small amount of crispness. Beef and rice cakes - spicy but oh so good. If you like noodles, you should like rice cakes. Szecheun spicy is a differing type of spicy. It's numbing and a bit floral but in a good way! This dish was very unique and we loved it. Cold noodles - bright and full of flavor! Little spicy but my two year old (he has a love of spicy food) was able to handle. The grown ups stole some bites and we loved it as well. Cucumbers - very spicy! I prefer the recipe served at the food truck loc but my husband preferred these. Chicken (forget the name but it's the hot one not the poached one) - one of the most unique dishes I've had. Great balance of sour and spicy, nice mixture of textures from the meat, veggies, and peanuts. This is served w rice. Very good! Hands down the best Chinese food we have ever had. Please come to Indianapolis. Now, to figure out how to get it back to Indiana with me. read more

So we were recommended this place by the owner/chef of Modern Bird and was not disappointed. I ordered the cold noodles, my wife ordered the wontons, and we split the pork belly. 10/10 all around. Don't blink if you are trying to find it as it's a small take out place but what they do in that small space is magic! read more

We really enjoyed our meal. This is a carry out place and is an unusual location but the food was delicious. We got the bear paw tofu, dan dan noodles and pork dumplings. We liked all of it. Its spicy so if you would like it more mild, let the staff know upon ordering. read more

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I would make a trip back to Traverse City just to eat here again. Incredible flavors, spice, and ingredients. read more

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This place is so freaking good. If you don't enjoy every bite, then you simply don't like amazingly flavorful food! Bravo gentlemen! Hats off to you all. Cheers. read more

This is not the city for food. Aside from cherries. Was hoping this was a hidden gem. It's not. Food is overpriced and not flavorful. Staff is meh. Only good this about this place was the music. read more

I ordered Dan Dan noodles and absolutely selected the tofu option instead of Pork as I don't eat meat. I've not eaten meat for 30 years. They just didn't want to refund the item or remake it which was completely bizarre. When I got home they were filled with pork crumbles. I called Crocodile Palace that night and they assured me they would refund me the $16 Dan Dan noodles. Several days went by and I called back as there was never a refund so I asked if they would at least remake them how I ordered them without pork. The second time I called I was told that I didn't select tofu and that they would not refund me nor remake the noodles. Crocodile Palace was willing to loose me and everyone I know as a customer at the expense of $16. Food was interesting but now I refuse to order again due to saying they will refund me, then going back on their word and didn't contact me again, and wouldn't even remake the dish. I was mistreated and wouldn't want the same to happen to you. I spent over $100 dollars as well. Crocodile Palace does not deserve your hard earned money when they do not care about their customers. 2 Stir-fried gai lan $24.00 Smashed cucumber salad 1 $10.00 Hot & sour soup 1 $16.00 Dan Dan noodles 1 $16.00 Laziji chicken 1 $16.00 Side Rice 1 $2.00 Sichuan Mouth Watering chicken 1 $14.00 Subtotal $98.00 Tax (Sales Tax) $5.88 Total $105.88 read more

So good! I get the student noodles with ground tofu at their Little Fleet location. Food is always hot and fresh, and staff are always friendly! read more

Great food, great people, just generally great to have something like this available in Traverse City. That's not all: They've altered the menu a few times already and introduced some new dishes. I like the mapo tofu, the stir-fried potato slivers, and the chicken wings. I've had bits and pieces of other dishes I like, too. I'd encourage new diners to explore the menu. read more

The food is authentic Chinese cuisine, just like back home. Thank you for providing such delicious meals! Wishing you great success and growth! read more

This place is amazing. I ordered near everything on the menu. Dan Dan noodles, mapo tofu, fried rice, pork belly, maybe more. I'm full of bliss. It's spicy and they know what they are doing. Eat here. You won't regret it. read more

Outstanding authentic Chinese food. Service was quick and the staff was very friendly

Amazing Sichuan gem! Had it twice while passing through Traverse City, I will be back every time I'm in the area.

Spotless, well maintained carry out Chinese. But wow, that's some spice baby! I loved the menu, just can't do spice like this anymore. Our mouths were numb. But I wish them well, really interesting food! read more

So good! Easily the most flavorful food in Traverse City. Fun level of spice. My favorites are the cucumbers and Dan Dan noodles. I'll never be able to get back into ketosis but it's worth it, 10 out 10. Would do again. read more

Delicious Sichuan fare. We enjoyed the dumplings, Dan Dan noodles, and kung pao chicken. The sauces were extraordinarily flavorful. Came because of mention in NY Times last weekend. read more

Great flavors! Ordered the cucumber salad, bok choy, and bears paw tofu, and a side of rice. Tofu was my favorite. I'd recommend treating it like small plates and ordering a few things to share along with a side of rice. I'd probably be a little disappointed if I just ordered any of these as a whole meal but when treated like a side it was yummy! read more

Crocodile Palace - Cucumber salad, shrimp bok choy, Bears paw tofu - Salad Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Stoked to have this little gem - diff than any other Asian type eatery here. It's all take away, but there is a little table outside to wait at - bear paw tofu was delicious, slightly sweat and savory and without any weird fish taste. Dan Dan noodles were good kind of floral and a little spicy so keep that in mind. The cold noodles with chicken and sesame were bomb. The fire wings are crunchy and have a diff kind of flavor than any others in town- kind of like five spice with chili - good tho - excited to come back and try the other stuff- would be super amazing if they'd do egg-rolls or spring-rolls too. Hint hint. The kitchen is super clean and open and vibey. Overall dig them and it was worth the drive from west bay. read more

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This place was amazing! I got the cucumber salad, cumin lamb & rice cakes, and the red braised beef noodle soup. The lamb and rice cakes were definitely my favorite, but the five spice in the noodle soup was such a delicious flavor bomb and the cucumber salad was the perfect cool, crunchy counterpoint. All in all, a delicious meal!! Note: this place is takeout only. read more

This place delivers when it comes to flavor. Great food and my bear paw tofu was delicious. My toddler couldn't stop eating the salted cod fried rice, and my husband loved his gong bao chicken. We'll definitely be back. read more

Crocodile Palace - three take out containers of food on a table - Salad Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Very tasty and well prepared food. You should have an appreciation for hot/spicy foods, as many of their dishes are made in such a manner.

This tiny place has a very small menu, many of spicy dishes, but it serves the best Chinese food I've had in TC in ten years.

This place is amazing. The food is so flavorful, so fragrant, and yes -- SPICY. Not Midwest Spicy -- actually spicy! Standouts include the dan dan noodles, poached chicken, cold noodles, and the mapo tofu. Try everything you can! read more

10/10, I would come back just for the cucumbers. I can not recommend enough. The spice on the Dan Dan is spicy and perfect. The chicken is perfect. The rice? Perfect. The only mistake? Was me not ordering 1 of everything and 2 cucumbers. read more

Was not expecting to find authentic Sichuan in Traverse City but this place was BOMB!

Pleasantly surprised. Perfect spice combination and aroma. Worth the effort to visit - just outside of downtown. Takeout only.

Delicious. Appeared to be legit Sichuan fare and delivered. Mapo Tofu was just what I needed on a cold rainy day. Dan Dan noodles are what they should be. Tongue numbing heat. The dumplings were a flavor bomb. Go here asap read more

Food was great, but not the same as real sichuan food(its close enough). Pricy for the portions.

First time trying this place. I had no idea this restaurant was here. It is next to impossible to find quality ethnic food of any kind in this city. This place is a gold mine. Also, I'm vegan and there's very little to choose from in traverse city. The kitchen is open and super clean. Nice guys. I ordered bear paw tofu and it's amazing. With a side of rice, there's enough tofu for two people easily. The Dan Dan noodles with tofu has so much flavor. Really unusual spices. This is the real deal. So glad I tried them! read more

Very disappointing! Got the chicken and fried rice. It was a box of rice with about 5 chicken bits and flakes of chicken skin. Empty of nutrition. This place boasts culinary chief but no chief I've ever known from a culinary institute would dare let this box of rice go out the door. read more