While I'm not exactly the most familiar with the food scene in Portland, I do have some level of familiarity with authentic Chinese cuisine, and I can say with the utmost confidence that Sichuan Kitchen is some of the best I've tasted thus far. The restaurant is small, relatively quiet and decorated nicely. The service was very friendly. The menu seems to be very focused, showcasing a handful of shareable plates, vegetarian items, rice/noodle dishes and entrees with authentic Szechuan flavors. Boyfriend got spicy noodles and I got braised beef noodles. We also got a side of their homemade chili oil, and in response to this the server asked us if we wanted our meals to be extra spicy. How could we turn that offer down? As soon as that bowl of noodle soup came out, I knew I was in for a great meal. It smelled intoxicating. It was the angriest shade of red possible, which is exactly what I like to see when I'm eating something supremely spicy. The broth and chili oil were both full of flavor, the beef was tender and the noodles had a delightfully chewy texture. Taking everything into account, Sichuan Kitchen served me one of the most memorable dishes I've ever had. There's really no other way to put it. If you're in the area and you find yourself craving the authentic numbing spicy flavors of Szechuan Chinese food, Sichuan Kitchen is the answer. read more

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My wife, two sons, and I visited Sichuan Kitchen in July 2026 for an early dinner (5:00pm) on a Tuesday night. Street parking a block away was easy to find at 5pm. The interior is pleasant with decorative paper lanterns on the ceiling giving the impression of "pillowy clouds". My two sons enjoyed the Zhong Dumplings (delicious mix of sweet and savory), which was the highlight of the meal. We also had 2 orders of the soup noodles with minced pork and 1 order of the braised beef noodles. A dish we shared was the fried green beans (which was very tasty). However, the soup dishes were slightly too salty. Also, the quantity of beef was slightly less than I had expected. That said, the service was attentive, and excellent (before the 6pm rush). Overall, we enjoyed our meal and would dine here again. read more

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This is one of my favorite places in Maine. Authentic food, made with all of the love and fresh ingredients. My go to order is cucumbers, mushrooms, and fiery fish. Be sure the get the honey citron tea. Nick is AWESOME, he's so helpful and attentive and makes the entire experience even better. Do yourself a favor and go. read more

Sichuan Kitchen continues to be one of the best restaurants in town - the food is consistently excellent, flavorful and fresh! Food comes out quickly and it feels like one of the only places you can sneak into in town without a reservation on a weekend night. If you love deeply flavorful, spicy asian flavors, you will love Sichuan Kitchen! read more

Pretty mid, apparently the chef is from Sichuan but maybe she's toned down the menu for the audience. It was the point in the trip where we needed Asian food but should have held out for a few more days :p read more

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We were in New England for 7 days and I'm not exaggerating when I say this was best food we had. We walked in on a cold rainy night and the food felt like a warm hug. Ordered the Daikon Salad, the dumplings in chili oil and the poached fish in fiery sauce. Each dish was exceptionally made. This is not your typical Chinese food. It's flavor packed and delicious. As the name suggests, this is a "Sichuan" place. Most dishes are made with Sichuan peppercorns. Just be mentally prepared and expect the dishes to be spicy. Our face was sweating and tongues were numb, but the flavor got us hooked on and we demolished the plates in no time. read more

Sichuan Kitchen - Poached Fish in Fiery Sauce - Szechuan Near Me - Portland, Maine

Tasty food, good portions and great service! There are good vegetarian options on the menu, especially if you like noodles.

I'm very impressed with Sichuan Kitchen. This isn't your typical, greasy Chinese takeout. This is thoughtfully prepared, wholesome food that tastes excellent. Here's what we ordered, in order of deliciousness: Zhong Dumplings. These were the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. I'll remember these dumplings after I've forgotten everything else about our meal. Garlic Broccoli. Perfect texture. Not overwhelmingly garlicky. Mushroom Salad. Again, perfect texture. However, a bit overwhelmed with the flavor of sesame oil. Soup Noodles with Minced Pork. This was an entree-sized dish. It was healthy, with large servings of bok choi. However, I thought it was too salty. Overall, we were very happy with our meal. When in Portland, I wouldn't hesitate to return to Sichuan Kitchen. read more

Shared two dishes, a cold noodle dish special with chicken and a homemade sauce, and their fried eggplant, not beaded, with another proprietary sauce. Both were different from other dishes we've had in Chinese restaurants, and really excellent. read more

There's a reason I haven't ordered from here in a while. Not only can I make a better version of this at home on my own, but the prices are higher now, and the quality of ingredients noticeably lower. The food is fine. It's not a *bad* experience, but this was the last straw. I only ordered from here tonight because I had a hell of a day and wanted something comforting and familiar, but it no longer lives up to any sort of standards. read more

I've been here three times now, and have had lovely experiences each time. It also has the stamp of approval from my mom, who is Sichuan-born and raised! The restaurant interior is airy, clean, and welcoming. The service is always warm and efficient. And we were pleasantly surprised to see some classic Sichuanese dishes (Tian Shui Noodles, Angus Beef with Sichuan Pickled Chilis) that you don't always see in the States. Dishes we'd recommend: the mapo tofu, cucumber salad, and angus beef. The fish with pickled greens and green beens are also very good. I'd skip the Tian Shui Noodles, and though the twice-cooked pork was well made, it didn't have any spice at all and a bit too much sugar, which wasn't to my taste. Generally, the food had more numbing spice than fiery spice -- perhaps good for a non-Sichuanese palate, but I definitely wish the dishes were hotter. Around dinnertime, there's usually a ~30-minute wait, and I don't think the restaurant takes reservations, so I'd plan around that. Overall: I'll definitely be back! This is a solid Sichuanese spot, especially in Portland, which -- for all of its good food -- is quite lacking in Chinese cuisine. read more

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Sooo good! We love Szechuan food and this didn't disappoint! The spice ratings were right on but we didn't go higher than a 3, and the 3 had some major tingling and numbing. The mapo tofu was the best we've ever had, most places don't seem to get it right. Portion sizes were HUGE we had tons of leftovers so the value was great. Food and service was so fast, quality, flavors, just everything hit the mark! read more

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Today was my daughter's 20th birthday and she chose to spend it here! The restaurant is cozy, small and intimate. Giant paper lanterns adorn the ceiling. It was a cold February evening, but this place was warm! It felt very comfortable. Wait staff was great! You could really hear their passion and knowledge about the food they make and serve, down to descriptions of menu items, suggestions based on personal taste and preferences, which menu items to match and compliment each other. Collectively, we ordered: -soup dumplings -gong bao chicken -a fancy angus beef and cloud mushroom plate -fried green beans with pork and pickled mustard greens -soup noodles -jasmine rice -cucumber salad -and my personal FAVORITE the freakin Tian Shui Noodles!!!!! Oh my goddddddddd the noodles are thick, long homemade! Cut in house. Served in a garlic chile sesame sauce with sesame seeds and peanuts. I'm drooling and I will be haunted by this dish and want more right now. I'm typing this as we drive back to Gardiner, I'm tempted to turn around and order three to go. Does that sound nuts? Please eat here! Right now. Don't hesitate. Right across from the State Theater on Congress. Go! One other thing I need to say, they saw it was my daughter's birthday and allowed us to have her cake and gifts there. This accommodation was very kind, thank you! read more

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their cucumber salad could bring me back from the dead. The lights on the ceiling are fierce too. Very friendly staff + SINGLE STALL BATHROOM (win) read more

4.5 stars! The flavors are authentically Sichuan, although there was minimal peppercorn flavor, and the owners are from Chengdu. I love the Zhong dumplings, although only 5 came with the order. The Zhong chili sauce is heavenly and the leftovers can be used as a dip for any of the other dishes. If you like a little spice, definitely order them. The tian shui noodles were a bit too al dente. By the time I ate them they were a solid brick that needed to be pried apart. The taste was 7.5/10. But the Zhong sauce from the dumplings saved the noodles. The Angus beef with Sichuan pickled chilis was delicious but way too greasy. I would request low oil next time. Many negative reviews come from people who order pu pu platters and don't have the taste for authentic Sichuan cuisine. Portions were tiny for the price. My one entree and two tiny apps came to over $55 to go including tip and mandatory kitchen tip. read more

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I'd like to give this 3.5/4 stars. Generally, I like the food a lot, but the quality isn't always consistent. Some days, the braised beef noodles is a great dish, and some days the beef is really tough and pieces of it are inedible. I didn't particularly like the cucumber salad and wouldn't order it again. I like the spicy and sour soup noodles, I just wish the braised beef noodles were consistently delicious. read more

We tried the dry fried chicken and the double cooked pork. Both were absolutely delicious, but the double cooked pork took the prize as best. We came here while visiting Portland looking for some authentic Sichuan food, and this restaurant definitely didn't disappoint. Real Chinese food is the best! Sichuan Kitchen is definitely a must try. read more

I love to stop here when I'm in Portland. The food is incredibly flavorful. The mapo tofu is a spicy hug and the beef in fiery sauce will leave you happy and sweating. Order the homemade chili oil. I love this place read more

Sichuan Kitchen located in the heart of downtown portland. My girls and I went to taste the menu and here were my thoughts. It's a rather small restaurant serving chinese sichuan cuisine. We went around 5pm and the ambience was okay, it was pretty quiet but I definitely think it'd be pretty in the evening. The service was nice, we got seated promptly and got drinks and food in quickly. However, we did find it a bit strange when one of our plates took much longer than the other two. We had asked our server and he stated that they come fresh out as they finish it. However, when her food did come, it was cold and you could tell it was definitely not fresh off the stove. So it wasn't ideal. The food. The eggplant dish was quite nice, it had minced beef and was doused in a super umami sour sauce. It was a bit too sour than normal but it was overall a 3/5 for me. The hot and sour noodles were pretty good and definitely has that peppercorn Sichuan kick thar eventually numbs your mouth. Noodles were cooked well and flavors were there. The beef/pork bones were nice and flavorful but meat was tough. I think this is a place you should try if you're used to the chinese sichuan intense flavors or if you want to get a brand new taste experience. For me, it wasn't a hit. Overall a rating of 2.5/5 for pricing, portions, taste and service. read more

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Great food and great service. Recommend egg fried rice and fried chicken thighs. The cold sake was fantastic

Had a great meal here for lunch. Shared an order of the favorable Zhongshan Dumplings and knew this place was a winner. So different that dumplings ordered elsewhere. We each had three dumplings and licked the plate! For lunch I ate the Mapo Tofu - sort of a tummy warming, savory soup/broth with lots flavors and depths! Have to say my tongue was tingling hot, but so worth it! Husband had the Peas & Bacon(made in house) which was bright and fresh, like a dish Grandma would make! The peas had a nice crispness to them and the saltiness of the bacon balanced it wonderfully! The total lunch bill for one soda, dumplings, and two entrees was $55, a bit pricy for lunch, but the servings were huge and your getting two to three meals in each entree. We enjoyed Sechaun Kitchen and will be back. read more

Sichuan Kitchen - Peas & in house made Bacon - Szechuan Near Me - Portland, Maine

there's a lot to love about sichuan. lots of great dishes, tea, and i love the atmosphere! it's small and intimate, and i love the hundreds of hanging paper lanterns. the servers are also very knowledgable about the menu and give great advice. i love the gung pao chicken, the dry-fried chicken, and the soup dumplings. we didn't particularly care for the cucumber salad. highly recommend the honey citron tea! as much as i love this place, the menu tends to stay the same and hasn't really changed over the years. the dishes are great - but i don't really feel the need to go here more than maybe once a year. regardless, still a great place! read more

Taken here by family while visiting Portland for the holidays. Can't say I've ever had this style of Chinese food. It was absolutely amazing. Unfortunately several of the items we wanted to try including a citrus tea were unavailable. That said, the alternatives were very good. Server assisted us in understanding the spice level. Even with the lowest, the heat built up over time. Cucumber salad, string potatoes and soup noodles were tasty. It was a cold day and the unusual down-spout heating system worked perfectly. Lovely interior and a few panda pictures in the decor. I would definitely return and want to try the dishes we came here for. read more

It's very disappointing when you go to a restaurant specifically because of a menu item they display on their website only to find out they don't even have it anymore, and it's not even actually on their menu. The squid stir fry that looks so amazing is apparently a thing of the past. Don't believe the website (selection and prices are very out dated) I ended up settling for something else and regretted the decision. I went with the tofu skin, which is usually one of my favorites anywhere I've tried it, but the texture was overwhelming slimy like mucus. I suspect the cucumbers may not have been as fresh as one hopes. The texture was what you'd expect from cucumbers that are off.. slimy like that. The cloud mushroom salad was tasty. It had a nice garlic/soy taste and was refreshing.. but it's not so much a salad at all, and more qualifies as a $12 side of cold mushrooms. We left with apologies and chose not to eat. The waitstaff was kind and understanding. It was quite busy and the environment was welcoming, so I doubt our experience is typical. read more

Last time I was here I was hoping to get the cold noodles, which was a seasonal dish not quite available yet. Today I came back and had them. They were excellent, though I think, all things considered not as good as the amazing dry fried chicken I had the time before. These noodles are SPICY and so so so good. The sesame flavor is fresh and everything just comes together so well. You have probably not had cold noodles like these anywhere else. I also got the cloud ear mushroom salad which was even more unique to my experience than the noodles. I have never had something quite like this. The texture and taste of the dish is one of a kind. They are not spicy, as the menu says, but they are very, very garlicky, which can come off as spicy beware. As before I did have to sit at the bar, but it wasn't as uncomfortable as last time, and I also didn't feel out of place as there was a couple also at the bar. As I was finishing up, I overheard the table behind me placing their order say "We just want to try everything!" And it's true, there isn't a single item on the menu that doesn't sound incredible. So I'll keep sitting at the bar if that's what it takes. :) read more

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Sichuan Kitchen was one of the highlights of our Portland trip! After trying out some restaurants that had high reviews but left us disappointed, we were hopeful that this one would work out and I'm so glad it did. We ordered the Zhong dumplings, double cooked pork and stir fried green beans. All three items were delicious, perfectly cooked and had wonderful flavor. We can't stop thinking about those dumplings and the chili sauce that came with it. If we could have taken a gallon of the chili oil home with us, we would have done it in a heart beat. We will definitely come back if we ever visit Portland again! read more

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Lunch here was an absolute treat! From the decor to the food, everything was exceptional. The egg fried rice was over the top and the pork dumplings were the best I have ever had. A small yet big enough space with thoughtful lighting and clean tableware was a noticeable plus in an age where the thought process is that bigger is better. Thoughtful and efficient wait staff. From soup to nuts, I give them a five- star rating. Terry M read more

Tastes great but hoped for more beef when spending $37.51 and checking off Extra Beef. Also a legible sign not hidden by another would help folks driving by to spot the place. read more

Sichuan Kitchen - Braised Beef Noodles - Szechuan Near Me - Portland, Maine

We've been going to SIchuan Kitchen since they reopened after the Pandemic. Even gave them a 5* a year ago (under old account). But I feel they are slipping in food prep and quality for a while now. Food is still very tasty and HoT (in a good way). But our goto dishes: Gong Bao Chicken and especially Yu-Xiang Eggplant (maybe the best bites in Maine) are getting thicker and pastier everytime we go. Last week, the Eggplant was almost stuck to the spoon (yuck). Guys stop with the thickener! Service is always great, very attentive, and the decor is fine. I just wish I can go back to 5* for food read more

Deep flavors. Generous portions. Kindly service. If you like authenticity this is a great spot.

The food was amazing and was one of the best Sichuan cuisine I've had! It was spicy and flavorful! We ordered the daikon salad, spicy dumplings, and poached fish in fiery sauce and they were all amazing dishes. read more

Wow, what an amazing little place in Portland. Service is awesome and extremely nice. The interior decor also makes the place very intimate and a vibe. It's a little small and gets pretty packed at night but it's well worth the wait. The food is immaculate. Delicious, flavorful, and so authentic. Prices were hit or miss but overall, it's very well worth your money. I highly recommend the Gong Bao Chicken ($20) as well as the Double-Cooked Pork ($19). A wonderful experience all around. I will absolutely be coming back and sharing this place with my friends and family. read more

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I have been here twice and the food has been delicious! They have a separate menu for vegetarians/vegans. I love that! You know your options and ordering is much easier. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was clean, casual, and comfortable! read more

Went here last weekend on a guys trip, big party they split into two tables. We all said it was the best food we had all trip, and best asian food we have had read more

Great cozy atmosphere. Everything we had was delicious. 4 of us split several apps and entrees and the bill only came to $100. Will definitely go back soon! read more

I suddenly had this urge to get that mala flavor in my mouth -- the numbing but spicy flavor -- that tingling you get on your tongue enveloped in the warmth of the heat. Coming to sichuan kitchen, I'm surprised at the crowd that dines here -- it shocks me to see the type of people that I do eat here, because pretty much everything has some spice in it, except for some of the more generic dishes. But it makes sense -- small tables for 2-4 people means that it's designed for Portland. However, it doesn't mean the flavor is different. Like most Chinese food, this is all supposed to be eaten family style -- you order a bunch of dishes and share. Unfortunately with small groups and dietary restrictions, it makes it harder and so we end up eating just a few dishes. Cravings kicking in, I've tried the ants climbing a tree, the soup dumplings, the pork buns, the fish stew, and the beef noodle soup. The sichuan cuisine is fairly true to its namesake -- not so Americanized but there are some minor differences. Order anything that sounds familiar (fried rice, dumplings) for non spicy foods. Having eaten through Sichuan before, it's not the exact same but it's surprisingly good and will definitely bring you to the stalls where you get massive vats of fish in their spicy stock, stir fried egg plant, and wonderfully spicy noodles. Order a lot and bring the rest home. read more

Great vegan options on top of being delicious! The staff is great and the place is always relaxing. Obsessed with the vegan mapo tofu.

My husband's co-worker highly recommended this restaurant. After our lovely evening there I understand why. Our waitress was so sweet, friendly, caring and courteous! She gave many of her favorites as recommendations. We tried a few appetizers, zhong dumplings, cucumber salad, pork buns, sichuan style ribs. All was fantastic. Everything was so perfectly cooked and flavorful. Our entrees were next, he ordered soup noodles with minced pork. I ordered tea smoked duck in an aromatic broth. Everything was amazing. The only reason this restaurant is given the 4 star above which I could make 4.5 was just due to timing. My dish takes a lot of time and preparation. My husbands dish did not. He is the type of person that will not eat until all have their food. His dish was brought fairly quickly to the table. Mine, almost 40 min later. My husband and I love to eat out and he has worked in this business for a very long time. We are very understanding, it was not anyone's fault that my dish came out when it did. It was just a matter of time. Our waitress checked in on us several times, apologized several times. All very much appreciated. Let me tell you, this duck dish was worth every damn minute! It was one of the best dishes I have had in a very long time. I looked at my husband and said this is my new chicken soup. If I don't feel well I want this! We also had a good laugh, due to the size of my dish. It was much larger then I was anticipating. We will most definitely return! read more

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I've heard some good things about the Asian food in Portland so I was excited to try this spot, but honestly it felt quite short of my expectations. They were quite strict with substitutions in a way that I've never encountered at a Chinese restaurant (I wanted the noodle in my noodle soup switched with the type of noodle that was featured in a different noodle soup on the menu). The noodles I got also came too soft and overdone. The wood ear mushroom salad was also not very flavorful. They also forgot my other appetizer so I got it at the very end of my meal, when I was already done with the rest of my food. The appetizer (zhong dumplings) ended up being the best thing I ate, so it's a real shame. I don't think I'll be visiting again, but giving it 3 stars because my (non-Asian) friends did end up enjoying their dishes. read more

Sichuan Kitchen - Spicy Sour Soup Noodle - Szechuan Near Me - Portland, Maine

I ordered double cooked pork and stir-fried squid in sichuan-style. Both dishes were okay. Both dishes did not taste like sichuan dishes. It tasted more like typical Chinese takeout. Would not recommend if you are looking for that authentic Sichuan flavor and spice. read more

Sichuan Kitchen - Double-Cooked Pork - Szechuan Near Me - Portland, Maine

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