TAI ER SICHUAN CUISINE 太二川菜 (SAN MATEO)

We visited as a party of 6 (4 adults and 2 kids) on a Sunday at 5pm There was no wait, we got seated at a spacious booth right away. The hostess did let us know they take reservation for next day's table, but nothing farther ahead. We ordered the sauerkraut fish, spicy chili chicken, spicy wontons, stir fried string beans, crispy pork strips appetizer and a kids meal for one of our older kids. Everything came out quickly and the dishes were all flavorful! Our favorites were the sauerkraut fish (we ordered mild), the fish filets were perfectly cooked, pillow-soft and super tender. The Sichuan peppercorns gave it a very appropriate "ma" on the tip of the tongue. The chili chicken is not greasy at all and the chicken very juicy. They do not yet have a liquor license it seems, but they d

The food at Tai-Er Sichuan Cuisine is delicious, with bold flavors and just the right amount of spice. The service is friendly and attentive, making the meal enjoyable from start to finish. Portions are not very big, so it’s a good idea to order a few extra dishes if you’re sharing. It can get crowded during dinner time, so be prepared for a short wait. Overall, tasty food and good service — worth checking out!

I first heard about Tai Er through an SF Chronicle Instagram post praising this Sichuan chain’s long-awaited Bay Area arrival, especially their Signature Sauerkraut Fish Soup. Naturally, I had to try it. Service & Atmosphere: The staff were warm and welcoming, and the service was impressively fast—dishes hit the table almost immediately. The space itself, however, felt a bit flat: brightly lit, but without much atmosphere or mood. Food: We ordered a mix: the famous soup, two appetizers, two protein dishes, and noodles. The sauerkraut fish soup lived up to its reputation—bright, tangy, and comforting—and the wontons and cucumber salad were also standouts. Beyond that, the dishes ranged from just fine to forgettable, nothing bad, but nothing that made me want to run back and reorder either

Yummy, new-modern Chinese-Sichuan restaurant — very much in place with other Downtown San Mateo dining options (i.e. Instagramable, elevated, fast-casual Asian). Portion sizes are smaller to encourage trying of multiple dishes. Flavors are focused and clean. The famous Sauerkraut Fish (a signature dish of this Mainland Chinese chain) is phenomenal. Fragrant green Sichuan peppercorns dominate, but do not overpower. Suancai fermented vegetable provides an unctuous roundness in depth of flavor. A good option when seeking consistent delivery on high-quality Sichuan food.

It was a calm friday afternoon when a friend and I wanted to hang out in San Mateo and we decided to go to Tai Er as it is the newest restaurant in the area. The servers are super nice, and take their time to politely explain the concept and help you decide what to get, however the most obvious must order dish is the sauerkraut fish. They have a normal a la carte menu but they also order 2 different combos. So, we ended up choosing the combo that includes the sauerkraut fish. This combo came with a beef dish, as well as some vegetables, fried pork and dessert. Of all the dishes the dessert was the best as it was some crispy mochi with really good ice cream and great flavor. However, all of the dishes were actually really good and came out quickly. The value of this place is also really imp