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    Spices 3

    3.9 (1.2k reviews)
    ModerateSzechuan
    Closed 10:30 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Spices 3 Takeout or Delivery

    Spices 3 Photos

    Business Info

    SPICES 3 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Spices 3

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    Outside entrance
    Vi T.

    Apparently this is one of the local venues that Olympic Medalist Alysa Liu and her father, Arthur frequent. So our group of 6 people decided to try this spot for lunch recently. Even though this is a Szechuan restaurant, not all dishes are mala spicy. Plenty to choose from, for those with palates that are more sensitive to higher hot/chili spice levels. There are plenty of rice plate specials under $14, as well as a family style combo of 3 dishes for under $40 (rice not included for entree dishes, extra $1.50 charge per serving). There's also some vegetarian dishes to choose from and even dedicated sections in their menu for stinky tofu (which is what they're known for), and Hunan cuisine. There are chili icons on the menu to show the spiciness level of each dish, so that you're not surprised by if or how spicy the dish is. We ended up getting the 3 entree family combo and chose the shrimp in garlic sauce, mongolian beef, and pork with shredded tofu (which is apparently one of Alysa Liu's favorite dishes from this venue). We also added the iron pot with chili and 3 kinds of tofu (vegetarian) and a pot of rice to share family style among the 6 of us. A pot of hot tea was also a standard pairing. There was a good mix in spice level between the dishes we ordered but they were all below the high/mala hot. Mongolian beef had more white onions than scallions, the pork with shredded tofu was a bit salty for my taste, and the shrimp in garlic sauce also came with bell pepper, onions, woodear mushroom and a few bits of water chestnut. The shrimp and Mongolian beef seemed to taste very similar to me, and was coated with their gravy/sauce. Unfortunately, these dishes didn't seem to have noticeable wok hei to me. Food was average and prices are reasonable. Our group tended to stick to less spicy dishes, so I may come back to try their specialty mala spicy Szechuan, Hunan, and stinky tofu dishes. It's a cozy restaurant. Indoor seating has about 6 to 8 bench style tables. Service was prompt and our dishes came out fast. Lunch for 6 of us came out to a little under $80. They are open from 10:30am on weekdays and 11:30am on weekends, they close everyday at 10pm. And as many others have mentioned, CASH ONLY.

    Isabel M.

    Went to Spice 3 with a few friends and wow the food definitely has some heat to it. If you like spicy food this place will deliver. We ordered a few dishes to share around the table which made it fun to try a little bit of everything. The flavors were really good and everything had a nice kick. It is one of those places where you take a bite and immediately reach for your water but still keep going back for more. The best part though was the price. After everything we ordered the total felt like such a steal for the amount of food we got. Definitely a great spot to go with friends and share a few dishes. I would come back again.

    Mapo Tofu with Pork, Spicy Fish Fillet w/Explosive Chili
    Winnie V.

    Spices 3 is my new go to for take out Sichuan food in the Oakland/Alameda area. My go to orders at any Sichuan space are mapo tofu, spicy fish fillet in hot oil, and spicy fried chicken. The mapo tofu here is perfectly smooth, soft, spicy, savory, and numbing. Make sure you have lots of white rice to soak up all the sauce. I always overeat when I get Sichuan food but no regrets!! I haven't tried the fish fillet in hot oil here, but I got the spicy fried chicken once and didn't like it as much. They had it as whole chicken wings rather than bit size pieces like other spots. So instead, I've recently gotten the spicy fish fillet with explosive chili lol which is like the perfect combo of what I like about the soft and smooth fish in fish fillet in spicy oil and crispy fried chicken.

    Won top soup, spicy beef bowl and combo fried rice- all half eaten. We are FULL!
    Jane M.

    Clean, fast, kind, fresh. The waitress was busy and juggled everything effortlessly. The busser/ gentleman helping was also kind and super helpful- constantly checking on tables and offering napkins/to go boxes. I was happy to receive hot tea as soon as we sat. Very nice touch Í don't always see. Would highly recommend. Genuine service and delicious food! CASH ONLY

    沙包炒饭 Combo Fried Rice
    Amanda C.

    I decided to get Spices 3 for takeout based on a local recommendation and it 100% lived up to the hype! I can't speak to the restaurant service but will check it out for my next visit. My food was still warm when it arrived as well. This time, I tried the combo friend rice and the kung pao chicken. For myself, this was plenty of food and I was able to even save leftovers! What I liked about the fried rice are the bites of onion, the crunch of the sliced green onion, the tender pieces of pork and the flavor punch of the rice itself. This is one of the best fried rice dishes I've had! For the kung pao chicken, I expected it to be really spicy because of the sauce and the dried chili. It was more of a slow burn with hits of spice in each bite that kept me coming back for more. I loved the bites of chicken with the crunch of the peanuts as well. Overall, I'm excited to try more dishes next time!

    Family Menu
    Veronica L.

    Nice Chinatown spot for Chinese food. I love their Mapo tofu. They also have a nice family menu that's affordable. Mapo tofu, green beans, bok choy, Shanghai noodles with pork, and mung bean noodles. The bok choy was salty but greens were fresh. I would definitely ask for low sodium if you are sensitive to salt. Service is ok - fast for the food to come out.

    Vegetarian Dan Dan Noodle
    William G.

    Coming into Spices 3 I was told that I would like it. Sometimes raised expectations can lead to disappointment, but I'm happy to announce that was not the case here. The vegetarian dan dan noodles were some of the best I've had with the sauce containing a unique profile of Sichuan peppercorn and garlic. An amazing "MSG combo". The flavor on the napa cabbage was similarly great and for the fried tofu, they perfectly nailed down the texture. It's crispy on the outside yet silken on the inside. Highly recommend this place!

    Sizzling Tofu with Basil
    Reeven S.

    I have been recommended this place several times and I finally gave it a try. It definitely was not a disappointing visit. The chicken wings were very tasty - love the spices in it - though surprisingly was not spicy at all! I don't have a high tolerance for spice, and this dish was definitely doable. Don't let the three chili pepper mark on the menu scare you away from trying this amazing dish! The tofu was another standout. The peppers, basil, and the glaze sauce were a great combination for a savory tofu. It really paired well with the rice. The restaurant is quite spacious. Lunch on a weekday was not busy at all. It is also cash only.

    Dianna H.

    Note: cash only!! Came for weekday lunch and only a couple tables were occupied. They have a pretty large menu selection, so my friends and I took forever to decide what to try. We ended up sharing: Salt and pepper stinky tofu ($11.95) Sichuan fish with bean chili paste ($15.95) Tan-tan noodles with ground pork ($12.95) Of the three dishes, the fish was my favorite, as I found it very tender. I have very low tolerance for spicy food, so I wasn't able to eat much of the gravy, but I enjoyed the fish and soft tofu with rice. The stinky tofu was decent, but I was underwhelmed by the tantan noodles as I found them bland. They have a ton of other items on the menu, so I'd love to come back and try the other dishes!

    Middle left: pig ears; bottom right: hot and sour soup; top right: friend's noodle soup (forgot which one)
    Vivian L.

    i came here in December craving something to warm me up and Spices 3 did not disappoint! My friend got a noodle soup and I got the hot & sour soup and pig ears. My friend's soup was good (I tried a bit) and it definitely hit the spot. The hot & sour soup was good, the right amount of spice and sour. I know not many people like it but I did. :) I think I've had better pig ears, but it was still satisfying. The portion size was extremely generous especially for my soup. A big note is that it is cash only!!! I did not have enough cash and it was night time so I was a little annoyed that there wasn't a sign or warning (might be my fault). The service wasn't anything special but we had come late at night. Parking was fine and free but I know Chinatown area is sketch at night so don't leave things in your car!

    Chicken wings with explosive peppers
    Allen Z.

    I came to Spices 3 on a Monday in the afternoon and there were 7 ppl dining inside. Plenty of seats were available. I ordered the boiled fish fillet and the chicken wing with explosive chili pepper. The boiled fish was delicious and decently spicy. I had boiled fish fillet from other restaurants and those restaurants use cabbage in the boiled fish. This boiled fish had celery and some other veggetables inside, which I didn't know what it was. The chicken wings were really salty and not really spicy. There were so much peppers and not enough wings. The wings were on the smaller side and were chopped up unlike the wings you normally get. (See picture) I walked from the 12th st Bart station to the restaurant. After walking away from Broadway, The surrounding neighborhood feels dangerous, as there were homeless and suspicious people who might rob you if you are not watching your surrounding. Safest way is to get dropped off in front of the restaurant.

    Mapo tofu and green beans
    Ann C.

    My favorite mapo tofu in the Bay Area! The Szechuan flavor is intense and not for everyone, but if you love that spicy numbing effect, spices 3 is your spot! Love all their "explosive" dishes and chili oil fish. They've got lots of seating inside with these big wooden tables and benches. Service is kind whether you're dining in or ordering out. They are cash only (for dine in) though.

    Fried 炸臭 Stinky Fried Tofu
    Callie H.

    Spices 3 is unassuming from the exterior, but the food is top notch. The service was prompt and professional. While my partner and I prefer our stinky tofu on the more pungent side, it was still quite tasty. We both loved the spicy numbing cucumbers and the chicken wings with explosive chilis. The garlic Chinese watercress was cooked perfectly and the Tan Tan noodles (not pictured) had just the right amount of chew. We got extra rice and an order of mapo tofu to-go, which was delightfully numbing. Highly recommend to those looking for a delicious meal! We'll definitely be back.

    Sweet &Sour Fish

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    2 months ago

    Really nice vibe and excellent service. This one of my favorite spots for Chinese food.

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    21 days ago

    I just received an order from Spices 3. The food was inedible. The delivery services refunded the charge.

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    Spices 3 Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Spices 3

    Does this restaurant serve stinky tofu anymore?

    Yes, they still do have a few different ones but it wasn't as stinky as before.

    Do they open dining in as today?

    Yes

    Do they offer any gluten free options?

    Yes, especially all the tofu options.

    I don't see mapo tofu in the menu - does it go by another name?

    As Kirsten said, I could only find it under stinky tofu - and there is no way that this is the dish that so many people have commented on because they would have mentioned that the tofu itself tastes like death. But a beautiful death - like a… Read more

    Does this restaurant do catering?

    I don't believe they do but you can pick up party trays to go

    How do I print a receipt from an order I placed on Yelp?

    Thank you !!

    Do they do delivery?

    yes, you can order through an app called caviar

    View All 12 Questions

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    Shan Dong

    4.2(4k reviews)
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    This place is just as un-fancy as it is delicious! Come mentally prepared to be kind of cramped and…read moreto eat in a somewhat chaotic atmosphere. Who cares though, because once you get your food, nothing else matters. The service is fast and efficient. The prices are super reasonable and portion sizes, generous. The noodles, dumplings and everything else we ordered was incredibly tasty and had that wok-infused flavor. This place is no frills and all taste. We ordered noodles, dumplings, some cold dishes and omitted egg in the veg dishes for the vegans. Everyone had something to eat and honestly for how much we ordered, it's tough to say there's anything you might not want to order. Just go with your gut! We came here after running the Oakland Marathon and left very happy and satisfied. (apologies for not being specific on what we ordered. I'll have to update later once I dig up the photos to post here.) Just come eat here, you'll be glad you did! My only gripe is that I don't live closer!!

    I never knew I could cry tears of joy over a bowl of noodles but here I am. It is absolutely…read moredangerous that Shan Dong is near my place in Oakland because I definitely will be a frequent visitor. Arrived at 1:30pm on a Sunday and the place was packed on that rainy day. I knew I was in for a treat when there is a busy spot close to closing time (3pm on Sunday), cozy vibes, and little ladies in the front making noodles. After about a 10 min wait (thank goodness for yelp waitlist), we were seated and greeted to warm barley tea at the table (nice touch). We definitely over ordered which is never the worst idea. It was definitely appreciated later that evening for dinner: Sesame Paste Noodles w/ beef - Ok, so lets get this out of the way, these were the clear winner. Hands down! Delicious and creamy noodles in the best sauce ever! Future me will be sitting in this restaurant, fat as heck, slurping up these noddles, with a big bottle os Tsingtao. Spicy Won Tons - These were the 2nd favorite, Yummy wontons dancing in chili oil. A classic. So good! Sizzling Shrimp w/ Rice - This was definitely the coolest dish out of the bunch. Shrimp and veg in a tasty sauce over a bed of rice crispies -esque rice. The best part was the snap, crackle, and pop of the rice when the shrimp was poured over. I loved how the veggies were sauteed but remained a little crunchy. I love when my veggies aren't completely cooked to death. Scallion Lamb - Like the name suggests, tons of thinly sliced lamb, cooked up with every scallion ever! This was really yummy when we first had it, but this was excellent after a few hours when the flavors married together. We had all of this and some beers! Such a perfect meal for a perfect rainy day.

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    Tasty Szechuan

    Tasty Szechuan

    4.5(334 reviews)
    13.4 mi
    $$

    To whom it may concern,…read more a soul who delights in rich umami flavors, tasty Szechuan has found a place in my heart. As you make your way to your seat the hostess brings you a small bowl of fried peanuts with hot tea, which is super generous. The menu offers traditional yet caters to the native Hayward resident who doesn't know much about the Szechuan region, I'm that resident . The booths and tables remind me of my childhood traditional Chinese restaurant back in Fresno, ca yet with a modern twist, in my opinion portions are generous as well which is inviting for a family feast...well done tasty Szechuan.

    So when ppl here say the portions are HUGE, they're really not joking. We ordered the chili fried…read morechicken, fish in hot chili oil, and the eggplant with garlic sauce and took home a full ass meal after we'd finished (over) eating. All dishes came out as we hoped/expected with both the chicken and fish providing the nummy sensation that is unique to Szechuan cuisine. We threw in the eggplant order because we wanted some veggies and something that didn't overtly threaten to numb our palettes and were very happy with that as well. Chicken was fried well and not dry at all which was a lovely experience. Fish was also flavorful and enjoyable to eat, although perhaps the least memorable of the dishes. I wouldn't NOT get any of the dishes again and might elevate the chicken as a must get if you're there for the a Szechuan experience. Well probably come back the next time we get a craving for that nummy feeling.

    Photos
    Tasty Szechuan - Toothpick Lamb with Cumin Special, Dry Hot Pork Intestine Skillet, Beef & Tendon Chili Sauce, Eggplant with Garlic Sauce, Szechuan Beef

    Toothpick Lamb with Cumin Special, Dry Hot Pork Intestine Skillet, Beef & Tendon Chili Sauce, Eggplant with Garlic Sauce, Szechuan Beef

    Tasty Szechuan - Orange chicken lunch special

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    Tasty Szechuan - 23. Cilantro Beef / 野山椒青菜牛肉絲Cilantro

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    Spices 3 - szechuan - Updated May 2026

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