I ordered through DD and Chuan Cafe has never disappointed me with their togo orders. It's consistent everytime. I LOVE the spicy chongqing chicken, chili wontons, chicken lo mein, wonton soup and more. It's delicious. Love it!
Nestled discreetly in the heart of Eastern Raleigh, Chuan Cafe is a culinary treasure waiting to be discovered. Situated conveniently close to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh on New Bern Avenue, this quaint eatery was recommended to me by my children, and I must say, it exceeded all expectations.Upon entering, I was enveloped in a wave of nostalgia, reminiscent of cherished memories from my childhood. The ambiance exudes simplicity and warmth, with an unassuming interior design that instantly puts one at ease. It's the kind of place where you feel like you've come home, even if it's your first visit.Now, let's talk about the food - simply put, it's phenomenal. Every dish on the menu is crafted with care and precision, resulting in flavors that dance on your palate and leave you craving for more. One standout dish that stole the show for me was the beef stew soup with noodles. From the moment it arrived at the table, I knew I was in for a treat. The aroma alone was enough to whet my appetite, but it was the first sip of the rich, flavorful broth that truly captured my heart. Each spoonful was a symphony of taste, with tender chunks of beef, perfectly cooked noodles, and an assortment of aromatic spices that left me utterly speechless. Even after I had finished every last drop, my mouth continued to water at the mere memory of its exquisite flavor.In addition to the beef stew soup, Chuan Cafe offers a diverse range of culinary delights to suit every palate. Whether you're in the mood for savory stir-fries, comforting noodle dishes, or tantalizing appetizers, there's something on the menu to satisfy every craving.Parking: The restaurant offers many parking spaces for its patrons.Wheelchair accessibility: It has reserved spaces for people with wheelchairs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sesame Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Dan Dan Noodles, Chili Chicken, Noodles, Spring Rolls, Garlic Shredded Pork
Esther Todd
I’ve been coming here for 2+ years. This place is consistently amazing. Bamboo Flounder, Mongolian Beef, and Beef Noodle Soup are addictive. Chili Wontons or Green Beans are great apps to share.My only recommendation is to specify the level of heat you want, else the Szechuan spice will sweat you out.
This is hands down, the best Chinese food and some of the best food overall in Raleigh. It's not even close. I hope they find a new home cause the area is rough, but I'm glad to not ever have a wait dining in. The food is incredible and the owners are so nice. Service is so efficient considering they get tons of online orders. I'm in love with chuan cafe. It's a little pricey but you should order to share and quality isn't cheap.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kristina Vasquez
Ho fun is one of my favorite dishes. The plate of it I got here was fantastic. I will absolutely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lyssa LaRosa
I didn't go inside so I can't give that a fair assessment, but I placed an online order for lo mein and some spring rolls. My husband went inside to pick everything up. As he walked outside I noticed the portions were small for the price. Not at all what you would expect from your local chinese restaurant. When I opened everything up to eat, I began with the spring rolls. I opened them up to a nasty smell. They were burnt and misshapen. I took a bite and they tasted worse than the smell. Then I moved on to picking thru the noodles with my fork to notice SEVERAL small pieces and a few longer pieces of brown/black colored hair in both servings of lo mein. At this point it was 9:15 and I tried to call the store back, only to get no answer. There are no other forms of contact on their website, no email or a contact us option, nothing. That leads me to believe this may ne a common issue they just dont want to deal with. I am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED in this restaurant and will only be returning to get a refund and return the food with hair in it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Dana Ramsey
I order from this restaurant from WAY across town because it is absolutely delicious! The veggies are exceptionally good. I’ve never had anything here that I didn’t rave about!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Manthana Hanklang
Chuan Cafe is one of the best Chinese food options around here. It offers Szechuan cuisine with minimalistic decor. A must-try is the Bamboo Flounder Fish, and the Dry-Fried String Beans were really good! Some dishes might cause a mouth-numbing sensation due to Szechuan peppers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: String Beans
Selina Cole
Authentic Szechuan food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mapo Tofu, Szechuan Chili Wontons 6, Braised Beef in Chili Oil
Denise M.
Me & my son made a trip here to find out about all the good reviews we saw online concerning these dishes. We ordered takeout of Mongolian Beef & Braised Beef in Chili Oil. Not as spicy to me as stated by many, the flavor is kind of bland on both, and I would not go out my way to go here again. The food is sitting in a lot of peanut oil. I would not recommend this place even with its cleanliness & good customer service.
We ordered food to-go and it was really lovely! The vegetarian entrees had a lot of flavor and spice, and were cooked enough to still have a little crunch. This is the best Szechuan we’ve been able to find in Raleigh so far!Dietary restrictions: Vegetarian
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mapo Tofu, Hot & Sour Soup
Aki Vogel
Of all the great restaurants that RTP has to offer, Chuan Cafe is amongst the top three for me. Their Szechuan food hits differently - so much savory flavor with the perfect numbing sensation and spice levels. Our go-to meals are spicy Chongqing chicken, bamboo flounder, toothpick lamb, and dry fried green beans. We always opt to dine-in because the restaurant has a nice interior and the staff are attentive. I hope this restaurant continues to thrive!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Toothpick Lamb
A W
TLDR; overpriced, poor service, food is just “ok”We ordered take out and given the $18 price tag for a chicken dish, I assumed it came with rice (as the menu online does not specify). We called the restaurant no less than six times to inquire - no one answered and it goes to a mailbox that is full. When we did get our food we found that rice was not included with the chicken dishes we ordered, so we ended up having to make rice at home. The food is just okay for the price tag and the fact that it does not include rice. Additionally, it is very disappointing that it is nearly impossible to get in touch with anyone at the restaurant.
Food: 3
Service: 2
Jolina C.
Had an absolutely lovely family-style meal here with some friends recently. (We ordered a few different entrees and shared everything--because how can you choose just one or two from their menu??) My absolute fave were the Bamboo flounder fish (fried and seasoned so perfectly!), the bamboo shoots, and spicy beef noodles! Chuan Cafe is a Raleigh gem in an unassuming location--and it is well worth the visit for some good Chinese food different from your regular takeout Chinese, and the friendly service.
Regine L.
The food that I got was delicious but I got it through delivery I think it was with DoorDash but if not, it was Uber Eats so I haven't actually been in the restaurant.
I ordered through DD and Chuan Cafe has never disappointed me with their togo orders. It's consistent everytime. I LOVE the spicy chongqing chicken, chili wontons, chicken lo mein, wonton soup and more. It's delicious. Love it!
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Mongolian Beef, Noodles, Szechuan Chili Wontons 6, Pork Dumplings
Nestled discreetly in the heart of Eastern Raleigh, Chuan Cafe is a culinary treasure waiting to be discovered. Situated conveniently close to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Raleigh on New Bern Avenue, this quaint eatery was recommended to me by my children, and I must say, it exceeded all expectations.Upon entering, I was enveloped in a wave of nostalgia, reminiscent of cherished memories from my childhood. The ambiance exudes simplicity and warmth, with an unassuming interior design that instantly puts one at ease. It's the kind of place where you feel like you've come home, even if it's your first visit.Now, let's talk about the food - simply put, it's phenomenal. Every dish on the menu is crafted with care and precision, resulting in flavors that dance on your palate and leave you craving for more. One standout dish that stole the show for me was the beef stew soup with noodles. From the moment it arrived at the table, I knew I was in for a treat. The aroma alone was enough to whet my appetite, but it was the first sip of the rich, flavorful broth that truly captured my heart. Each spoonful was a symphony of taste, with tender chunks of beef, perfectly cooked noodles, and an assortment of aromatic spices that left me utterly speechless. Even after I had finished every last drop, my mouth continued to water at the mere memory of its exquisite flavor.In addition to the beef stew soup, Chuan Cafe offers a diverse range of culinary delights to suit every palate. Whether you're in the mood for savory stir-fries, comforting noodle dishes, or tantalizing appetizers, there's something on the menu to satisfy every craving.Parking: The restaurant offers many parking spaces for its patrons.Wheelchair accessibility: It has reserved spaces for people with wheelchairs.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sesame Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Kung Pao Chicken, Dan Dan Noodles, Chili Chicken, Noodles, Spring Rolls, Garlic Shredded Pork
I’ve been coming here for 2+ years. This place is consistently amazing. Bamboo Flounder, Mongolian Beef, and Beef Noodle Soup are addictive. Chili Wontons or Green Beans are great apps to share.My only recommendation is to specify the level of heat you want, else the Szechuan spice will sweat you out.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Orange Chicken, Mongolian Beef, String Beans, Mapo Tofu, Szechuan Chili Wontons 6
This is hands down, the best Chinese food and some of the best food overall in Raleigh. It's not even close. I hope they find a new home cause the area is rough, but I'm glad to not ever have a wait dining in. The food is incredible and the owners are so nice. Service is so efficient considering they get tons of online orders. I'm in love with chuan cafe. It's a little pricey but you should order to share and quality isn't cheap.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ho fun is one of my favorite dishes. The plate of it I got here was fantastic. I will absolutely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I didn't go inside so I can't give that a fair assessment, but I placed an online order for lo mein and some spring rolls. My husband went inside to pick everything up. As he walked outside I noticed the portions were small for the price. Not at all what you would expect from your local chinese restaurant. When I opened everything up to eat, I began with the spring rolls. I opened them up to a nasty smell. They were burnt and misshapen. I took a bite and they tasted worse than the smell. Then I moved on to picking thru the noodles with my fork to notice SEVERAL small pieces and a few longer pieces of brown/black colored hair in both servings of lo mein. At this point it was 9:15 and I tried to call the store back, only to get no answer. There are no other forms of contact on their website, no email or a contact us option, nothing. That leads me to believe this may ne a common issue they just dont want to deal with. I am EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED in this restaurant and will only be returning to get a refund and return the food with hair in it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I order from this restaurant from WAY across town because it is absolutely delicious! The veggies are exceptionally good. I’ve never had anything here that I didn’t rave about!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chuan Cafe is one of the best Chinese food options around here. It offers Szechuan cuisine with minimalistic decor. A must-try is the Bamboo Flounder Fish, and the Dry-Fried String Beans were really good! Some dishes might cause a mouth-numbing sensation due to Szechuan peppers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: String Beans
Authentic Szechuan food.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Mapo Tofu, Szechuan Chili Wontons 6, Braised Beef in Chili Oil
Me & my son made a trip here to find out about all the good reviews we saw online concerning these dishes. We ordered takeout of Mongolian Beef & Braised Beef in Chili Oil. Not as spicy to me as stated by many, the flavor is kind of bland on both, and I would not go out my way to go here again. The food is sitting in a lot of peanut oil. I would not recommend this place even with its cleanliness & good customer service.
Restaurantji Recommends
We ordered food to-go and it was really lovely! The vegetarian entrees had a lot of flavor and spice, and were cooked enough to still have a little crunch. This is the best Szechuan we’ve been able to find in Raleigh so far!Dietary restrictions: Vegetarian
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mapo Tofu, Hot & Sour Soup
Of all the great restaurants that RTP has to offer, Chuan Cafe is amongst the top three for me. Their Szechuan food hits differently - so much savory flavor with the perfect numbing sensation and spice levels. Our go-to meals are spicy Chongqing chicken, bamboo flounder, toothpick lamb, and dry fried green beans. We always opt to dine-in because the restaurant has a nice interior and the staff are attentive. I hope this restaurant continues to thrive!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Toothpick Lamb
TLDR; overpriced, poor service, food is just “ok”We ordered take out and given the $18 price tag for a chicken dish, I assumed it came with rice (as the menu online does not specify). We called the restaurant no less than six times to inquire - no one answered and it goes to a mailbox that is full. When we did get our food we found that rice was not included with the chicken dishes we ordered, so we ended up having to make rice at home. The food is just okay for the price tag and the fact that it does not include rice. Additionally, it is very disappointing that it is nearly impossible to get in touch with anyone at the restaurant.
Food: 3
Service: 2
Had an absolutely lovely family-style meal here with some friends recently. (We ordered a few different entrees and shared everything--because how can you choose just one or two from their menu??) My absolute fave were the Bamboo flounder fish (fried and seasoned so perfectly!), the bamboo shoots, and spicy beef noodles! Chuan Cafe is a Raleigh gem in an unassuming location--and it is well worth the visit for some good Chinese food different from your regular takeout Chinese, and the friendly service.
The food that I got was delicious but I got it through delivery I think it was with DoorDash but if not, it was Uber Eats so I haven't actually been in the restaurant.