Sometimes in the least expected places one can find the most exquisite restaurants. Looking for a place to eat after an upset with 419 West Restaurant for not having enough parking spaces to accommodate their booked customers, after canceling the reservation that I made through Open Table, I drove off to a tiny strip mall next door, and there I found this place called Szechuan Chinese Restaurant. After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Szechuan Restaurant in South Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. As I was walking towards the restaurant after parking my car, since I hadn't had an opportunity to research it to find out if it was good, I asked one of their customers who was also headed that way and he replied: "After more than 40 years of being their customer, I haven't found a place with better Chinese food." What an outstanding live testimony to the place, I thought to myself. Then as I got closer, Their windows were displaying framed articles about the restaurant. Inside, the owner was seated at his open office located in front of the restaurant, and the walls around him were inundated with framed awards and photos related to the restaurant. The owner, very friendly and hospitable, greeted me, and explained how since Covid they no longer had table service. But you would look at the menu, order and pay there, and then the food would be taken to your table in take out containers by a young lady server. As I went through their beautiful and extensive menu, he was able to notice that I was not too familiar with many of the items on the menu, so he helped me by asking me some questions of my likes and providing some recommendations. I ended up ordering a Coke to drink. A Vegetable Spring Roll as appetizer, as well as a Scallop Roll from the Sushi Bar. And as my main entrée I ordered the Pork Szechuan Style with their Fried Rice. And for dessert they had only three options Cheesecake, Chocolate Cheesecake, or Donuts. I went for the Chinese Donuts because I always wanted to try them. After ordering and paying with my credit card, I went to their dining room to look for a table to sit at. I picked a booth next to a window to provide enough natural light to be able to photograph the food nicely. The server brought me a plastic bottle of coke with a styrofoam cup with ice. The dining room was very nice and had the most beautiful and elegant fish tank that I've ever seen in a restaurant. It's a pity that they hadn't return back to regular table service since Covid is now under control. While waiting for my food to be prepared, I walked over to the Sushi counter to watch the Sushi Chef prepare my Scallop Roll. I invite you to view my photographs and videos accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. Finally, the friendly young lady brought my food to my table on a tray which she placed on the table. Both her followed-up to see how I found the food and to see ifvI needed anything else. What can I say, the food was amazing! From the Sushi to the Pork in the Szechuan sauce, to the Spring Roll, and Fried Rice. By the time I ate the donuts they had cooled down and hardened and were a bit dry inside. While I was enjoying my meal, several customers stopped by to pick up their To Go orders that they had ordered by phone or through their website. Others came with the intention of eating in but when they found out the situation, they ordered for Take Out instead. And a family who came to eat in, left when they found out the dining situation. The dining experience is not the same eating out of plastic containers. It's like drinking wine out of a plastic cup is not the same as drinking it out of a Baccarat wine glass. I highly recommend that the owner return back to the normal way of operating a restaurant. The inside of the restaurant is much too beautiful and the food much too exquisite not to do so. read more

See all

service. Even on Christmas Eve when half of Roanoke wants Szechuan and things get a little busy, they are uber-professional. Dumpling SAUCE is amazing. I think it's made fresh. I would LOVE the recipe. read more

No waiters, you have to pay before you eat, you tip before you eat, and you have to order at the register. But the food is AMAZING!!!

Moo Goo Guy Pan was bland. chicken was dry and chewy. I have given this place every chance to something right. Will not eat here again. Red Palace is actually better food. Also, higher priced, as if you are getting a great product. Not so. read more

The quality of their food has dropped off tremendously, especially the last 3 years as I've been going to this Szechuan and the one across from Lewis Gale forever I can honestly say that I've had better Chinese at some of the cheaper Chinese restaurants The service is questionable as well because when I walked in to pickup my order, I wasn't greeted and I felt like I was bothering them read more

Great food not enough for delivery but food was great. I wasn't informed that my food was at the door on the floor, no one called or text me after I been requiring about my food. I just happen to take a chance and check outside of door and it was sitting there ‍‍‍ read more

I always enjoy their food. Hot and tasty. Love the favor. My go to for Chinese food. The stuff are very friendly and helpful.

This place's chinese food was very disappointing. The sushi is ok but im not ordering chinese from here again. All of the food is too sweet and they stuffed my dumplings in a box so it was just a inseparable clump when i got it. read more

Going in i did not have high expectations, i had never heard anything about it before and it was very understaffed, but it was definitely one of the best chinese meals ive ever had. i will definitely be going back, but for takeout only read more

This place was once exceptional, now it's just weird. The dine in experience is not even as enjoyable as Panda Bear and to be honest the Panda Bear food is better. I hate what has become of this once great restaurant has morphed into. read more

Honestly when I started going here around 6-7 months ago it wasn't too bad. Here recently we ordered chicken and broccoli and general tsos and they served us chicken that was cooked earlier in the day and was hard and over cooked with a few pieces of fresh chicken in the mix. To me that was a slap in the face. You can tell this business is trying to cut corners and save money by serving below standard quality food. I will definitely not be back here and recommend anyone wanting Chinese in the area to go to Red Palace next to tanglewood. I've been there roughly 10-20 times over the past year and it has been really good quality Chinese food that never lets me down. If this restaurant decides to start serving better quality food, then I might be back but again I'm not gonna chance it and waste my money like I did last weekend. Buyer beware read more

Ordered the golden shrimp, seafood soup, and shrimp with garlic sauce for dinner and was not disappointed! The golden shrimp was the best thing I've ever gotten at a Chinese restaurant- large shrimp with cheese wrapped in ham and deep fried in a crispy shell! The seafood soup was alright but I was very impressed with the shrimp and garlic sauce. That will be my go-to entree order from now on! Them menu said it was spicy but unfortunately my spice tolerance is high so I couldn't taste any spice if there was some in there. I'm looking forward to trying more menu items! read more

Used to love Szechuan for lunch or dinner, but most recent dinner convinced me that they have lost their edge. Staff just wants you to eat and leave unless they know you. They are very quick to remove dishes (even if there is food on them), grabbing them with a "you done?" They do not refill drinks, and offer no condiments- we had to ask twice for hot mustard and then it was whisked away before we were through with it. Chicken with peanuts had nice quantity and nicely chopped ingredients, but no taste- even with red Chinese peppers. Wife had Thai noodles and vegetables, and got a pile of sauté vegetables and very few noodles in a sauce. No taste, sloppy and slippery, and not a good experience. When leaving, got a "See you later" and no 'thank you'- I think they will NOT see us later. Not worth the premium price. read more

Good food. Nice service. Great variety. Not like I use to get in China. Not the same but better than most. read more

See all

Had dinner delivered and the food was very disappointing. When I called they told me the Spring rolls were ordered frozen and that is why they were not good. We will not be eating here again. read more

Szechuan Restaurant serves primarily Chinese cuisine with some Japanese selections. During my last trip, I got the tuna hand roll and eel sashimi. The temperature of the rice was desirable and the eel and tuna were flavorful. The prices were competitive with other sushi bars. The ambiance was relaxing and intimate. I will be eating at Szechuan again! read more

Szechuan Restaurant - Tuna Hand Roll and Eel Sashimi - Chinese Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

Super nice people and much quicker ready time than Cafe Asia 2. The food just isn't as good. For convenience, ease of pickup, I recommend.

I have had their food twice, lo mein and pad thai first time was take away and I had the pad thai, didn't taste like any pad thai I've ever had and it's one of my favorites so I've had it at many different places. Notability, it was incredibly sweet, almost bordering on dessert level of sweetness and the noodles were clumpy and mostly stuck together. Gave them one more try and got the lo mein which was also too sweet but surprisingly otherwise bland and tasteless. Won't be going back again. read more

Carry out from Szechuan has been a treat every time that we have ordered during this pandemic! The food never disappoints! It is fresh, delicious, and perfectly prepared! Szechuan has been a favorite restaurant of ours for many years! read more

This place is traditional style Chinese and it is great. We had tempura green bean. This was something I never have had during my travel but they were great. A new favorite. This went well with my other appetizer of shrimp spring roll. This is a lighter version of spring rolls and it is a rice paper wrap with a filling of carrots, spring onion and shrimp The topper was Perking Duck. This is something not found in Chinese Restaurant. This is because of effort required to make. The duck skin is separated from the meat without completely removing creating and air pocket. The duck is then roasted and the meat is soft and tender while the skin is crisp. The duck is then sliced and in flour shell (tortillas like) the duck meat, skin, spring onion slivers and plum sauce are wrapped burrito style. A whole duck will make 8 wraps enough for 3 or 4 persons. Did I mention they have a sushi bar. They also pay attention to how the food display. See the white flower on the plate? This is a carved onion. So if you want authentic Chinese food stop by but take your time, this is not a place to rush your meal. read more

Szechuan Restaurant - They pay attention to details. See the white flower, that's a carved onion. Making a meal that taste good with a strong presentation - Chinese Near Me - Roanoke, Virginia

This Szechuan was our go-to for YEARS. It was the best in town and our very favorite. The last several times we have gotten food from here has been horrible. Everything is different, the recipes have changed, the prices are sky-high. Last night we had a huge craving and thought we'd give it one last go. NOPE. The amount of oil is disgusting; it did not used to be this way. Everything we ate last night seemed to have been crafted from cornstarch, sugar, and oil. Nothing seemed fresh. I could get something out of the freezer section at Kroger that is far superior. So sad to say we are never ordering from here again. We miss the old food. A LOT. read more

The egg drop soup was standard, thick and without vegetables, with a good flavor. The spring roll had a strange taste to it like it had been cooked in old oil. The steamed dumplings meat was seasoned well, but the dumpling wasn't steamed long enough to seal the dough. Finally, the shrimp tempura roll was excellent. Plenty of food with each dish - with the exception of the spring roll - to last for several meals should you wish. read more

Crappy manager doesn't give appropriate information to a racist delivery driver. Pepper steak is extremely greasy.....

Ordered takeout and was very disappointed. Chicken in both dishes was tough, like it had been reheated and not made fresh as well as the vegetables in the dishes. This will be our last order from this restaurant. Not quality good for the price read more

Ordered take out online and overall quality was poor. We ordered fresh rolls and received fried rolls. The orange scallops were most likely pollock or some other cheap white fish shaped into the shape/size of scallops. The moo shu vegetable was poor quality, overly sauced with flour tortillas that were stuck together. Won't be visiting again. read more

Ordered take out for drunk munchies later and the food was great. We ordered two lunch specials (~8 each) and they came with spring rolls, crab ragoons, and Chinese doughnuts! Also cooked super fast, definitely had our orders ready in under 10 mins. read more

2nd time trying this restaurant and we chose delivery...1st time it was good, this time...Well it was disappointing. Spring rolls were a joke, size of a pinky finger. Chicken was stringy and over cooked, couldn't even eat it. Teriyaki beef was more like teriyaki vegetables, 1% beef. Pan Fried wonton couldn't eat them as they were hard as a rock. Fried rice was just okay, nothing to write home about. Guess the family keeps on looking for a better Chinese restaurant. Overall it was edible but that was about it, very disappointing dinner. read more

I will not be ordering takeout from here again. Ordered my usual Prawns Szechuan Style Shrimp and the shrimp was inedible. Tough and chewy and an off smell when I opened the container. Watery liquid at the bottom of the meal. Called the restaurant to let them know, and response was unacceptable. Said I needed to return the "product" so they could see it, as if they didn't believe me. Trying to let them know, but was made to feel they didn't believe me. Be careful with takeout! Check before you leave. Not worth it to take the "product" back. read more

Scrupulously clean with good food, a lunch menu and hardworking staff. Nothing fancy, but a pleasant experience.

I have loved your restaurant for the last 20 years. I generally come once every 2 months or so because I don't live in Roanoke. Well, today just became my last visit. I requested a small cup of teriyaki sauce for my #1 Lunch. The young lady said she would check on it. Then another women brought me soy sauce. I told her I wanted teriyaki sauce and she said it would be $1.50. Are you kidding me? $1.50 for a tablespoon??? Anyways, I think it was one of the owners who told me it would be $1.50. At least, she is always there when I and my family come. But, you will never see me again. That is pretty poor service and I will no longer honor your establishment. I realize I don't spend a lot of money there but talk about poor customer service and greed. My goodness. She ought to be ashamed of herself. read more

I can't speak more highly about this restaurant. My coworker told me that they have won many awards in Roanoke and I can see why! I started with the Crab Rangoon which was perfectly cooked. The stuffing was meaty and full of crab. They even offered a sweet and sour sauce and horseradish sauce. For my meal I had the sushi platter for $25.99 and it was huge! I could only eat half of it but the selections were great and even had neat rolls that weren't traditional sushi like the General Tso's roll. The staff was attentive and my drink never reached below 3/4 of the way down. I would highly recommend this place! read more

See all

Reading the other reviews I have to wonder what they are talking about. We've been eating here for 24 years. It's still excellent. we love the the seafood curry soup for two. The food here is always super fresh. The place is clean and the service is courteous. My favorite dish is the shredded beef szechuan. Please do not confuse it with the location behind Crossroads Mall and across from Townside Square - we avoid that location. read more

If you are looking for a cheap all you can eat buffet, go someplace else. I do not think this place is expensive but it is not cheap. But in return you get properly prepare food with very good service. I really liked the grilled squid, Ja Jiam Mein Noodles and the Hot bean curd Szechuan style. I did not care for the szechuan wontons. I did not think the food was spicy but if you are sensitive you may want to ask for mild and I am sure they could turn up the heat if you desired. read more

See all

Just ordered and brought home Orange chicken and Combo rice with 4 Spring rolls. Orange chicken and Combo rice were pretty good, but while my wife stayed her spring rolls were good, mine ate and tasted like left overs from lunch, yesterday. I gave her a bite and she smeared at it like I did. If you order from here, make sure all of your food is hot, not just that main dish. And quite frankly, the main dishes weren't that hot either. Kind of disappointed in this order; makes me hesitant to ever order again. read more

Great food very friendly, service staff, great drinks and atmosphere. Very reminiscent of the food quality I used to get in New York City. Was so happy to find such an enjoyable restaurant with great food. read more

I think it is fine here but not my favorite. If you have MSG sensitivity be sure to ask for no MSG and get the steamed rice instead if the fried. The soups and egg rolls already contain MSG. I have eaten here many times and the food always seems consistent. The service is very efficient. I have never felt like I received poor service at all. read more

Stopped in here on a whim....very nice people. We had mai tais which were very good. Hubby and I split the happy family which made us very happy. Super yummy. We also had an order of the shrimp appetizer which was shrimp with cream cheese and some sort of ham rolled in a wonton wrapper, it was very good. Would definitely recommend. read more

My mom, stepdad and I are on vacation and are currently staying in a hotel 2 minutes down the road from this establishment. I'm eating my food while I am typing this review and it honestly isn't terrible, it just eats as I saw in another very accurate review "like leftovers". The breading of the orange chicken is slimy and falling apart as opposed to being crisp how I usually like it but I suppose that's a preference. The hot and sour soup simply isn't good, and the spring rolls are mediocre. To review my experience in chronological order, it all began when I ordered online and was supposed to receive a confirmation by e-mail and never did. After this I called to make sure they got my order and after looking up the name in their computer they said they did. Okay, whatever. Here's where things started to baffle me. My extremely saucy orange chicken was packaged inside of the same take-out boxes they put rice in. You know the flimsy little boxes with the flimsy little metal handle? Yeah, one of those... and when I say it was leaking everywhere, it was leaking through the sides of the box and all over everything. I carried the leaking box inside where they re-packaged it in the same exact kind of box, placing it in an extra layer of protection via paper bag this time. I accepted defeat on this matter. Just when I thought the chaos that had ensued was over? No silverware! Off to KFC I went where the kindest boy gave me 1) Plates! Because as I said previously we are in a hotel with nothing to eat off of, and no bowls or boxes any human would be capable of eating saucy chicken out of from Szechuan Restaurant (Incorporated?) I'm also admittedly confused by the name... and 2) Silverware! Because that doesn't come with food I suppose. If the food had been out of this world, or even above average for that matter I would've chalked everything off and simply let it go... but sadly there was no redeeming quality. I wouldn't return. read more

Quiet and well kept interior, and super friendly staff. Maybe a teensy bit leaning toward overattentive but I came at the beginning of the lunch hour so they had a full staff on board for just a few people. At least 4 different people checked on me. I ordered the moo goo gai pan lunch plate. It was really good! Fresh ingredients and perfect mild sauce. I give it four stars just because the ingredients on my plate did not match what the menu listed. Might seem like a small thing but that's how I decide what to order plus I don't care for zucchini, the added ingredient (water chestnuts were missing). Also, my hot tea was lukewarm. Still totally drinkable but I was wanting something hot. read more

They took some time delivering my two orders about an hour but the food was steaming hot and soo good!