Grand Sichuan (St. Marks)

I love this place because it is one of the only places downtown for real Sichuan food. Do not order from here if you don't understand what real Sichuan chinese food is. It is very spicy, sour, oily, and salty. Most of the dishes are all those combined. The Sichuan food you get at your local takeout place is a bastardized version and tastes nothing like the real thing. I hope they don't change or else I'll have to trek to Midtown to get the real deal. I only gave this place 4 stars bc it isn't always consistent with some of their more signature dishes like Hot Oil Beef. Sometimes, they dredge the beef slices in too much flour and then wok it up. The real way to make the dish doesn't use flour.

Written by Karen C. on 8/18/2012 | 9 other reviews | Member since 2010
Karen ordered from here within the last year

Some of the dishes are fantastic, especially the gui zhou chicken. Five stars for sichuan food (really good), two stars for the other menu items (not good). STICK TO THE SICHUAN.

Written by Matthew E. on 11/1/2011 | 4 other reviews | Member since 2009
Matthew ordered from here over a year ago

Grand Sichuan is for us a Chinese restaurant of exceptional quality. I've been to China MANY times, including the provinces of Hunan and Sichuan where many of this place's special dishes come from. I can confirm they are executed perfectly. I particularly recommend some of the odd dishes like the pumpkin which is cooked with ginger into a delicious vegetable, the conch appetizer in a spicy wasabi/mustardy sauce, the Hunan Beef is great as is the CUMIN BEEF, a favorite. Sour string beans are an acquired taste which Mao loved and me too. Price can't be beat.

Written by William E. on 8/30/2011 | 23 other reviews | Member since 2011
William ordered from here within the last year

This is definitely not classic Sichuan food...the spicy is just oily and too salty. Plus, they left out items in my order, the delivery guy was on the phone when delivering the food. Food, fail. Service, double fail.

Written by Oi Yin L. on 6/27/2011 | 7 other reviews | Member since 2009
Oi Yin ordered from here over a year ago

I love Grand Sichuan - by far the best delivery Chinese in the East Village. Their portions are always generous and you can't go wrong if you order from the "authentic sichuanese" parts of the menu. Delivery favorites are the cucumbers, the beef tendon and the chicken and loofah soup.

Written by Zoe Y. on 4/6/2011 | 3 other reviews | Member since 2008
Zoe ordered from here over a year ago

Great stuff. Stay away from the "American Chinese" dishes and stick to the Sichuan specialties. Red Cooked Pork is always great, and the spicy chicken delivers the goods. Tea-Smoked duck was a bit of a letdown (a little too greasy) but otherwise they've always been very solid.

Written by Seth G. on 4/5/2011 | 5 other reviews | Member since 2009
Seth ordered from here over a year ago

i am american but used to live in beijing china. this place has some real authentic sichuan food, unlike most the crap in this city. I don't know any place in new york to get this type of food outside of some places in flushing queens.

Written by HMS S. on 3/17/2011 | 12 other reviews | Member since 2007
HMS ordered from here within the last year

This place is not your typical American Chinese restaurant. If you're looking for General Tso's Chicken or Sweet and Sour Pork, look elsewhere. It either won't be what you expect, or will be what almost seems to be deliberately horrible. I suspect the kitchen hates it when people order that, but they're great at everything else so I won't hold it against them. If you're looking for a place that does American Sichuan dishes better than most in Manhattan, you've come to the right place. I highly recommend any of their dishes with Black Bean sauce, the Kung Bao, and essentially anything on the menu that you haven't heard of before or involving the word Sichuan. The delivery here is very fast during the day, but can take some extra time at night, which is the only reason I give this place four stars.

Written by Ryan B. on 2/12/2010 | 8 other reviews | Member since 2008
Ryan ordered from here over a year ago

I love sichuan style chinese and their Mapotofu is the best!

Written by saya h. on 12/4/2009 | 19 other reviews | Member since 2008
saya ordered from here over a year ago

I recently relocated from the Midtown East area down to the East Village. One of the few things I miss is a decent Chinese restaurant. My old neighborhood had nothing but decent Chinese restaurant. I was hoping my order from this place was going to be decent, given the fact that there is another Grand Sichuan, where I used to live. The only decent thing on this menu was their free soda that came along with it's lunch. I ordered the General's Tao Chicken. First of all the chicken dish they gave me was a "WATERY SOUP." When I opened it up, I swear, 90% of the dish was diluted with water. Their pork lo mein was nothing but GREASE. I was better off riding a taxi back to my old neighborhood for some decent Chinese food.

Written by Vivianne Y. on 2/3/2009 | 9 other reviews | Member since 2008
Vivianne ordered from here over a year ago

Some of the best Sichuan food in Manhattan

Written by David F. on 5/21/2008 | Member since 2006
David ordered from here over a year ago

Quite good Sichuan food, interesting menu.

Written by Matthew K. on 4/11/2008 | 13 other reviews | Member since 2007
Matthew ordered from here over a year ago

Received food in timely fashion. DO NOT order cashew chicken unless you like mushy extra tender meat. This was so repulsive I had to throw it out.

Written by russell h. on 3/11/2013 | 2 other reviews | Member since 2013
russell ordered from here within the last year

Their soup dumplings are delicious, but expect at least one to break open during delivery. The General Tso Chicken is unlike many I've had, but very tasty and with a variety of vegetables. It's my go-to Chinese lunch special.

Written by Tim B. on 2/2/2013 | 7 other reviews | Member since 2010
Tim ordered from here within the last week

This place is horrible. I ordered a simple soup and a salad and I got so sick. Suffice to say I will never order from here again.

Written by Mustafa S. on 2/1/2013 | Member since 2008
Mustafa ordered from here within the last year