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    Little Tao

    4.4 (58 reviews)
    Open • 10:30 am - 9:00 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Little Tao

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    I am so glad I stop by at this place !
    Keiichi H.

    I tasted owner chef was not cooking on my 4 orders anymore For this prices it was quite wasting money Below the average experience with new chef or substitute chef. I used to work at few restaurants so I know running restaurants is very tough business, But, still, Food is art and we need good one hopefully every day. we go for chef's own creations not recipe and ingredients. Way Too Much Money for Below Average Tasting Food !! Some restaurants do like this, open restaurants with amazing experienced chef and train few chefs and quality and enjoyment go down. I was so disappointed to know this horrible pattern is on this restaurant. I hope it's temporary hiccups . . .

    Sichuan Twice Cooked Pork Belly
    Gary G.

    Small little place on Comm Ave, with about a half dozen tables. Authentic Sichuan with a good mix of dishes mostly appealing to a Chinese clientele. Service is unpolished but friendly, and they'll guide you through the menu with enthusiasm. Dry Chili Tiger Shrimp: Shells on, flavor in, and stays on even if the shells come off. Nicely spicy but well rounded. Plump shrimp and lots of them. Soft Tofu Fish in Chili Sauce: Very delicate fish, with force heat, some oil, and some herbs and peanuts. I could do without the peanuts, but interesting addition. Sichuan Twice Cooked Pork Belly: A standard dish at Sichuan places, and this one is as good as anyone's. Moist, tender, thin-cut pork with a light coating of spicy, slightly oily sauce, celery-like veggies, and some chile peppers. Flavor, crunch, and heat. Great with white rice. Spicy Cumin Beef: Similar to the lamb dishes with cumin had elsewhere, this was tingly spicy, with tender beef that still had some juices. Nice contrast of spices and fresh herbs. Signature Kung Po Chicken: Probably geared for less adventurous diners. Usually the Americanized stuff is a little sweet, but rather than swinging the pendulum in the opposite direction, they leaned in harder and made it even sweeter--with loads of honey, not sugar--but tempered that with an extra potent dose of fiery red peppers. Looks like a lot of peanuts, but many of them are actually large slices of garlic. Braised Beer Duck: This hearty, stewy dish is perfect for the colder weather. The duck is soft, on the bone (requiring some tentative eating, but no less enjoyable), and spicy from the rich broth. Lots of large chunked lotus root and some other vegetables along for the ride. Great on white rice. Wontons in Chili Oil: Wasn't expecting so much broth, but a nice surprise. Spicy stuff, and by no means blow your face off spicy, but the peppers and spices divided a constant tickle to the throat (a la Gene's wonton soup dish for those familiar). Smoky Tea Flavored Duck: Quite possibly my favorite dish of 2022. Great color (inside and out), great texture, great juiciness, great smoky flavor. Signature Fish: High ticket price ($37), but high quality, high voltage flavor, and even high theater (served in a huge coffee-table-like tray, hot and bubbling), even though it's tilapia. Fried to a crisp and then simmered to keep it both flavorful and tender. Lots of peppers for heat and lots of herbs for both textural and flavor contrast, along with a thin, chile peppery, oily sauce that had none of the sweetened brown glop found in most suburban Sichuan whole fish dishes. Decent amount of vegetables (mostly lotus root, jicama, onion), tofu, and aromatics. Twice Cooked Pork Belly Noodle: Ordinary noodles not much different from linguine, but served with a lively, thin, spicy sauce. Studded with leeks and onions in addition to the slightly charred, slightly wobbly pork. Satisfying. Tao Tao Noodle: Flavorful, with beans, nuts, and herbs, and the noodles sometimes soft, sometimes more pleasantly al dente. Basil Eggplant: Sweet, spicy, herbal. Melt-in-mouth tenderness. Somewhat oily sauce, but very doable. Sichuan Stewed Pork: About a dozen sizable slices of pork belly, stewed to become very tender, and with a very similar texture to Jewish deli brisket or pastrami. Nice saltiness and vegetal complement from the little chopped pieces beside it. Leafy, beany, salty, delicious. Basil Eggplant: Mildly spicy but more sweet, though a restrained sweetness and a nice blend. Very tender. I'm not much of an eggplant guy but I always wind up taking more of these than I expect, because it's very appealing. Beef With Cumin Lunch Plate: Seemed different from the entree, as the lunch plate version had more sauce, less spice, and less cumin. I did like the extra sauce for use with the rice. Had I not had it their previous way, I'd love this dish. I'll still get it again, but prefer the entree version. Stir-Fried Garlic Pork Ribs: Very crisp and very succulent bone-in pork, with garlic, ginger, and herbs adding flavor. No sauce to speak of, but juicy enough not to need one. Not necessarily an appetizer, but it makes a good makeshift one. Chengdu Stewed Duck: Tender pieces on the bone, in a very spicy thin broth balanced by herbs. Lots of poultry flavor in the broth. Under what's visible are glass noodles, bean sprouts, soybeans, and other vegetables, but it's mostly a meatfest and a delicious one at that. Some offal in there too, but minor. Eggplant in Mashed Chili: A cold appetizer with the feel of a tapenade, only spicier. Lots of green color from slightly pickled peppers, with purple eggplant underneath. Overall, fantastic. Not every dish is what you expect, so always ask about the preparation and whether it's hot or cold. But more often than not, the meal will have at least one and usually two wow-factor dishes.

    Mimi C.

    Sichuan cuisine is super popular but I've been reluctant to try it because I cannot really handle spicy. However, I decided to give it a try with my friends and was very surprised that the spiciness wasn't too bad. Well, I've requested very mild. To my surprise, I absolutely loved the food here. Each dish had its own unique bold flavors. The staff were friendly and helpful with recommendations. The atmosphere is chill. Definitely a must visit!

    Shardul T.

    Great place for a quick Sichuan meal! I found this place is very convenient to park and have a quick lunch/dinner stop. Paid parking is available right outside the door of this restaurant. We found the food was epic : special shoutout to the fish! Ambiance is good, but space is congested. Service was quick but our server missed a few requirements and we needed to re-ask them. Overall, moderately recommended.

    Sichuan spicy chicken lunch special
    Gloria H.

    We were going back and forth on where to have a weekday lunch in Allston and finally decided on Little Tao. I'm so glad we tried it! I'll definitely be coming back. The food came out very quickly and was all delicious. We got the weekday lunch specials, which range from $14.95 to $15.95. They all come with rice, which was really delicious! The rice has the perfect balance of sticky and al dente, and paired wonderfully with the food. The complimentary pickled vegetables were also delightfully mala, savory, and crunchy! I got the pickled fish fillet ($15.95) which was amazing! The soup had an addicting savory flavor without being sour and the fish was very tender. I usually don't eat much rice but the soup + rice combo was so good! I would come back just for this. The Sichuan spicy chicken ($14.95) came highly recommended by other reviewers, and I'm happy to share that it was amazing! Great flavor, big pieces of chicken, very fresh and crispy. The chicken took slightly longer than the other dishes, I assume because it was being freshly fried. I would definitely get this again. We also tried the braised beef brisket ($15.95) and braised chicken ($14.95, bone-in). I think the brisket could've been better, and what I tried was a bit tough. I think the other dishes we got were better than these. It's a small restaurant and there aren't many tables, so I imagine it gets quite busy in the evenings. Can't wait for my next visit!

    Menu
    Angela S.

    Unassuming storefronts are often the sign of a good authentic Chinese restaurant. There are only about 5 small tables, but each of them was full on a cold weekend afternoon around 3pm. The menu has solid traditional Chinese options and the portions are amazing. We tried the Sichuan beef noodle soup, yang chow fried rice, crispy cucumber, and kung pao chicken. Even though those dishes sound basic, each one tasted like the true homey Chinese dishes they are, and not the American-taste adjusted versions. Next time, I'd love to try their spicier dishes like soft tofu fish fillet in chili sauce and lamb marrow pot. They seem to do pretty well in takeout orders as well. I'm glad to see there's strong demand for this in Boston so hopefully more and more authentic Chinese spots stick around.

    Sichuan Sichuan Traditional Dumplings (8PCS)
    Lily L.

    Food: I thought the food here in very tasty and authentic. Sichuan Dumplings: I really liked the sauce. It reminded me of the dumplings that I had in Chengdu. Tao Tao Noodles: I'll admit, I've never really seen chickpeas in much of Chinese cuisine. But the overall flavor of the dish is great. Mashed eggplant: The sauce on the eggplant was great. Ambience: The restaurant seems tidy. It's not the most romantic of the atmosphere but it's nice. Service: We came and it wasn't very busy. So it was easy to order. Food came out quickly. Overall: I highly recommend this restaurant if you want tasty Sichuan cuisine.

    Dry pot Stir-Fried Fish Fillet with Dry Chili
    Rebeka S.

    I absolutely love Little Tao! My personal favorite Sichuan style Chinese restaurant in the Boston area that's affordable. Why does this place stand out to me? It's because the food here especially the dry pot, isn't too greasy or oil! I never leave with an upset stomach. Food always comes out fast, hot, and flavorful without being too overwhelmingly spicy! Everything about this place is enjoyable from the food to the cozy atmosphere. It's a tiny place, so perfect for grabbing lunch with a small group of friends or even dining alone. Staff is quick and attentive to customers. Can't wait to be back.

    Braised Beef Brisket with Potato Sichuan Spicy Chicken Stir Fried Cabbage with Dry Chili Wonton in Chili Sauce They are delicious
    Jamie S.

    Food here are delicious. We enjoyed them very much. The restaurant looks nice and cozy. It likes family restaurant. There are meter parking in the front.

    Twice cooked Szechuan pork belly and spicy cabbage  Sichuan Twice Cooked Pork Belly Stir Fried Cabbage with Dry Chili
    John M.

    Just may be the best Szechuan (Sichuan) restaurant I've found in the Boston area. This is probably not a secret either as on a Sunday night the restaurant was packed. Space is small but service was very polite and quick. The food was very well done with well balanced spice and not just an 'attack on your taste buds' barrage of peppercorn and other flavors. For two people we ended up getting an appetizer (wontons in chili oil) two dishes (tea smoked half duck and twice cooked Szechuan pork belly) with the house special cabbage and a side of rice. This was enough food that we took half home.

    Stir Stir-Fried Pork intestine with Dry Chili
    Paul T.

    The Tao Tao noodle and stir fired pork intestine with dry chili was a home run. So happy we found this place!

    Pumpkin Pencake (4 Pcs)
    Taylor S.

    I can't believe I hadn't heard of this place until now!! Little Tao is a hole in the wall Sichuan restaurant in Allston. The food is BOMB...literally every dish is a flavor bomb. We got a huge spread: the garlic cucumbers, tao tao noodles, twice cooked pork belly, spicy chicken noodle, pork trotters soup, and pumpkin pancakes. The spicy chicken noodle dish was insanely good.. I've had both these dishes separately (chili oil noodle and dry fried chicken) but never together! It was a total explosion of spice. The chef can go super but is also happy to adjust to mild too! The pumpkin pancake tasted like sweet fried mochi with a chewy center. It was the perfect end to the meal. Definitely would order both noodle dishes, the pork belly, cucumbers and pumpkin pancake again. I really want to go back to eat more noodle dishes and also try the beef noodle soup. Overall a wonderful experience and the staff are so kind and treat you well! We'll definitely be back for more noodle dishes.

    Scott C.

    Little Tao is a very underrated Chinese restaurant located off one street from the busy Allston Asian scene. I ordered take out after seeing an advertisement on Uber eats. The menu is comprehensive and has some of the best finds in terms of Chinese cuisine. I ordered the sour stir fried potatoes, five spice braised beef, and bang bang chicken is sesame sauce. Overall very reasonably portioned for two people to eat. The veggies seemed fresh void of the sogginess or poor odor. The beef paired excellently with the house dry rub. The bang bang chicken was very saucy with a hint of spice if you're into that kind of chicken. Would definitely order again!

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    The food here is good but I find the bathroom placement right next to the kitchen very unsanitary. Plus the bathroom smelled bad

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    1 year ago

    This place is fabulous - try spicy Szechuan chicken and Shanghai dumplings. aAl the noodle dishes tea great too.

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    2 years ago

    staff/boss is a Chinese, every cold, face, we don't feel we are welcome. We don't want to come back again.

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    2 years ago

    Very rude service and did not deliver what I ordered. If you want anything with flavor or spice (any level) go to another place.

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    Ask the Community - Little Tao

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    Mountain House

    Mountain House

    4.4(212 reviews)
    0.2 mi•Allston/Brighton
    Casual dining
    Romantic vibe

    Perhaps it's been too long since I've had good Chinese food, but this is the first time I've found…read moreSichuan cuisine to be this delicious... This is the closest I've had to modern Chinese cuisine in Boston so far. Swing Pork Belly 晾衣白肉: My first time trying Lizhuang pork belly, I'd heard so much about it! The pork belly was sliced ​​very thinly, chilled to perfection, and served with refreshing cucumber slices--not greasy at all. The minced fresh garlic was a bit too spicy for me, but the chili oil was very fragrant, making it very flavorful overall. Yibin Style Ran Noodles 宜賓燃麵: Another first time trying this, how could noodles be so delicious... The alkaline noodles were thin and firm, with a great texture; the flavor was oily, savory, and slightly spicy, with a delightful sweet aftertaste--fragrant but not greasy. The cucumber shreds added to the overall refreshing taste. Green Pepper Mao Xue Wang 青一色毛血旺: My first time trying Maoxuewang with green peppers, and it was surprisingly fresh and clean, with a medicinal aroma. The spiciness was only mild, and it wasn't oily at all. The ingredients were good: the pig's blood and konjac were smooth and chewy, the pork aorta was crisp and springy, the celtuce were crisp, and the eel shreds were chewy and crunchy--a very rich selection. Spicy Frog Lover 舌尖上的蛙跳: Relatively average. It had the classic Sichuan boiling flavor, but the broth was almost like it had been thickened with cornstarch; the frog meat was a bit firm, not tender; and the pickled vegetables were too acidic.

    Mountain House was a solid Sichuan meal. We ordered the sliced beef and tripe in chili oil, Sichuan…read moreboiled beef, and Chongqing style spicy chicken. Everything came out flavorful, spicy, and packed with that numbing Sichuan peppercorn kick. The spicy chicken was probably my favorite crispy, well seasoned, and loaded with dried chilies. The boiled beef had a rich, spicy broth and was great with rice. The beef and tripe appetizer was also really good and had a nice balance of chili oil, sesame, peanuts, and that signature mala flavor. Portions were generous and the food definitely delivered if you're looking for authentic, bold Sichuan flavors. Overall, a very good meal and somewhere I'd come back to.

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    BOS Sichuan Taste

    BOS Sichuan Taste

    4.0(34 reviews)
    0.2 mi•Allston/Brighton

    This past weekend I saw a free delivery special from Door Dash so decided to give this place a…read moreshot. I had just tried Boston Soup Dumpling and wanted to see how the two compared. I was shocked by the price for the soup dumplings...until they arrived. $12 is great until you realize they're bite size. I'm also not sure if it was because I got them delivered, but they were rlly lacking soup. They were frankly a bit dry. The entire order didn't come with any sauces either so I had to use what I had at home. The chili pork dumplings made up for the soup ones. Super solid. They have their dough down to a science. Some of the best I've had. I am not sure I'd order from here again, gonna stick with Boston Soup Dumpling for time being!

    in my opinion this is a great spot for sichuan food (i am surprised by the negative reviews). BOS…read morehas a minimalist aesthetic and a large menu of options. We got the wontons, dan dan noodles, and i believe a sezchuan pork noodle dish. The wontons were fantastic, the pork was so well seasoned, the casing was soft, and the sezchuan was delicious and the perfect amount of spicy. I wasn't sure abotu the dan dan based on appearance being just the meat and noodles but the meat was seasoned very well, so it was super flavorful. The noodles were bouncy, and the sauce gave you the classic numb! The last noodle dish we got was good, not super memorable. Service was fast!

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    Mala Restaurant - Cold Noodles

    Mala Restaurant

    3.9(397 reviews)
    0.2 mi•Allston/Brighton
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    Food was goooood, especially given Boston's food scene. Everyone at the table enjoyed every dish,…read moreand this place is a great bang for your buck. The portions were also fairly large, which was a big reason I rated it so highly. The dan dan noodles were really flavorful, and the pork was . Easily one of my favorite dishes. The beef with green peppers had the perfect spice level. The beef was tender and well-seasoned, the peppers were cooked nicely, and the two flavors complemented each other really well. You also can't go wrong with the stir-fried green beans and eggplant. Both were cooked and seasoned well, and this was another favorite. The small Szechuan dry pot was pretty good too. We chose beef, lotus root, cabbage, and cauliflower. It wasn't overly oily, and I really liked all the vegetables. The beef was just okay, but we had already ordered beef in another dish, so we probably should've chosen a different meat for more variety. Overall, the food was flavorful, the portions were generous, and the prices felt very reasonable. Definitely a solid option for sharing a bunch of dishes with a group.

    I came here today with my friend and she recommended it highly. We took our toddlers who are 3 and…read moreeven they weren't picky and loved the beef skewers. We got dumplings, pork belly skewers,beef skewers and a spicy chicken plate with red hot peppers. I didn't have a favorite because it was all delicious!! Service was very good and attentive

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    B2J Tasty Pot

    B2J Tasty Pot

    4.8(58 reviews)
    0.3 mi•Allston/Brighton

    Spicy sour broth the golden broth is our favorite. Service…read morehas been fine! Our server this last time was very kind! We usually order: Small combo golden spicy sour broth - 1lb. Beef + fish - bean curd skin + spam - fried milk curd + spicy chicken (cold) or crispy pork belly This is definitely enough for 2 of us, probably 3 people even depending on how big of an eater group you have! Everything came out quickly, i enjoy the broth a lot, it's not overly spicy and the sour tang is yummy. The beef is super tender, we usually bring the beef to the top so it doesn't end up overcooking while being in there. Feels like a good portion. The sides you add to it are also dumped in there pretty hefty. The crispy pork was alright, it would be nice if a bit crispier, ours didn't have that crunch when initially biting into it. Maybe not the way it's supposed to be but for me anyways. The milk curd was good to me, light flaky crispy. The lady loves the cold spicy chicken dish, that's almost a meal in itself. Will be back!

    B2J Tasty Pot is so good, I ended up coming here two nights in a row for dinner!…read more My first visit here, we ordered a combo for 2. This comes with a small pot with 1 lb of your choice of broth & protein (fish, beef, or both), 2 add-ons to your pot, 2 appetizer sides, and 2 bowls of rice. We did: - fish and beef with signature spicy sour broth (mild spicy) - 2 add ons: bean curd sticks + spam - 2 sides: spiced chicken w/ chili sauce & house made fried milk custard The combos are such a good deal! If you order a small pot of fish & beef on its own, it's $39.99. For $26 more, you get 2 add ons, 2 sides, & 2 bowls of rice. BUT I guess if you're not too hungry, you could totally get away with ordering just the pot! We typically order appetizer dishes whenever we go out to eat & had planned to get some sides anyways, so the combo deal worked in our favor. With that being said, i think next time we come, we could totally do the small pot with 1 side = $50. Honestly, it did end up being way more food than we could finish & we had leftovers to take back with us. For my second visit, we were a party of 5 and decided to get the combo for 3! This includes a medium pot (1.5lb protein of choice), 3 add-ons, and 3 side dishes. This was the perfect amount of food for us. I think if we had done the combo for 4, it would've been way too much. I'd say, the combos are great but totally not necessary. Only go for it if you actually see some appetizers & add-ons you'd like. The spiced chicken is my favorite side/appetizer! It is served cold & is decently spicy. Both visits, I opted for the same broth & protein: fish + beef. Fish & beef were cooked perfectly. I liked that the beef was soft & not hard to chew. The mild spicy broth is spicy but not too spicy where you'd need to take a break in between or need a beverage. I liked that the spice did not take away from the flavor. Service was great! The staff that helped us were all super kind and helpful. Well air conditioned & we found the restaurant to be very clean. Would totally come back again.

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    Dolphin Bay - Popcorn chicken

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    4.3(615 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Allston/Brighton
    •$$

    So happy I finally got to come back here after all these years! I grew up eating here when they…read morewere still in Rowland Heights, so coming back brought back so much nostalgia. The best part is that the food still tastes exactly how I remember it -- some things really never change! I got the ground pork rice and chicken cutlet rice, and both were just as delicious as I remembered. Of course, I also had to get the milk tea, and it seriously still tastes the same as it did 10+ years ago. That first sip instantly brought me back to my childhood. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere was clean, comfortable, and had a really nice vibe. It made the whole experience even better, especially being back at a place that has so much sentimental value for me. It's always special when a place you grew up eating at can maintain the same taste and quality after all these years. Definitely a nostalgic favorite for me and somewhere I'll keep coming back to!

    Small place but serves a decent amount of food. Customer service was great. The staff were…read moreattentive and even bagged my leftovers for to-go. I was kind of disappointed with the spicy wonton noodles, hence why I rate it 3/5 stars. The spicy wonton noodles wasn't spicy enough, or even at all. I don't have a high spice tolerance and even then I barely felt a kick. The lack of spiciness made the dish a bit bland overall. The popcorn chicken was good. Crispy. Tasty. I should've just gotten this with rice.

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    Cubist Circle - Yu hsian shredded pork (鱼香肉丝)

    Cubist Circle

    4.3(26 reviews)
    1.4 mi•Brookline Village

    A solid Chinese restaurant for the area. I have been to its Weymouth location. Not sure if this…read morelocation is newer than Weymouth or not. Limited street parking out front, but there are more street metered parking on the side street (next to the green line). The restaurant is much smaller than the Weymouth location, and the menu selection is also different. The server asked me to scan the QR code on the table for the menu, so I'm not sure if they have a paper menu. You can place the order directly via the QR code. I requested one dish to be non-spicy, and they were able to accommodate that. The only thing was that both dishes were a little bit too salty than my liking. I came here during a weekday lunch, and it wasn't super busy. I would return again.

    The best of the best!! The fish in a pot (干锅鱼)is the best!! It was crispy outside and very juicy…read moreand tender inside, the flavor was perfectly balanced with salty, peppery, and chili seasoning. Beef and tripe was very well seasoned and no weird taste at all. The duck blood is the best duck blood in Boston, very tender and delicious. The cost of the dishes surprisingly a little bit cheaper than other restaurants. Even though the restaurant was super super busy, a lot of people waiting for a seat, and there was only one server, a very friendly man, we had water refilled and all the dishes arrived quickly. The service was great. Because the food was so good, many people willing to wait for a seat. I love the small busy restaurant kind of ambience. I will definitely go back soon!

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    Cubist Circle
    Cubist Circle - Chongqing noodles (重庆小面)

    Chongqing noodles (重庆小面)

    Cubist Circle - Mellow lunching

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    Mellow lunching

    Little Tao - szechuan - Updated October 2026

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