Szechuan Palace

If there was a zero rating, I would have selected it. It saddens me to have to report this.
From about 1995 I have patronized the Chinese restaurant establishment at this address, which has undergone at least a couple of management/​ownership changes since then. When I was living in Darnestown in 1995 I used to dine in at the restaurant 2 or 3 times per month. The food was fairly good as was the service. When I moved to the other side of Gaithersburg, I did not go there a lot, but would return once in a while. The food was not nearly as good when I returned yet the service was still pretty good. The differences were supposedly due to a change in management and/​or ownership.
Now that I have moved back into the area (making it the closest Chinese restaurant to my house), the food is not as good as 20 years ago, but the service has proven to be really abominable. Tonight was the last straw. Delivery service is better than dine in, but now I have completely given up on the place.
Last month I had lunch in the restaurant with a martial arts grandmaster for whom I have served as chief assistant since 1971. Together we have dined in more Chinese restaurants in the Washington Area over that time than probably currently exist in the Washington Area, which is a lot. We used to frequent many in Chinatown in the 1970s and 80s, including Ruby Restaurant, Golden Palace, and the original Szechuan (up until then everything was Cantonese). I tried to modify my order at Szechuan Palace to match what I get for delivery, but the idiot who waited on me refused, so at that point I decided to never dine-​in there again (as the idiot appeared to have some kind of authority there).
In the early 1950s I was a toddler and dined with my family in New York City (especially, House of Louie) and learned how to eat with chopsticks before I learned to eat with a fork. I would sit with their kitchen help in a closed dining room prepping snow peas with them around a big table, because I thought it was fun. Huge pile of snow peas! And I didn’t understand a word they were saying. When my mom came to get me, both the kitchen help and I were a bit sad I had to leave. I usually cleaned more peas than any one of them and I was only 3 – 4 years old.
Tonight I started an order at Szechuan Palace for about $ 40 so I could get 2 orders of egg rolls for free (with a $ 20 order you can get 1 order of egg rolls for free). The lady on the phone said that was not possible as they would only offer 1 order of egg rolls free. I tried to appeal to her, but it was to no avail. So I cancelled the order and said I would call back. I then reworked my order to be a little over $ 20 to get my single free order of egg rolls and called back. Any decent restaurant would have honored the 2 free orders of egg rolls in the first place, but fine, I cut my order in half (their loss).
When the delivery arrived, the free egg rolls were missing altogether. I called them back to let them know and see what they were going to do about it. The lady said I could try again next time. I asked if she was going to give me 2 free orders next time and she said they would not. For some reason, their mistake at my expense was of no consequence to them. I was cheated, which I do not accept. Now the only thing I can do is no longer give them my business and encourage others to avoid borderline average food (albeit better than some other places) and unacceptable service.
I’m fed up with this place. I would recommend that no one patronize this establishment until it changes management/​ownership again. Instead, I will be getting my Chinese food from other places such as Café Hong Kong, Peking Palace, Happy Uncle, Gui Lin, Mama Wok, Yu Zhou Café, Spring Garden (a few doors down from the Chinese supermarket at Fox Chapel), and a few other places, some a little more distant.
This is my good-​bye/​good riddance to Szechuan Palace until current management/​ownership is gone. The sooner the better. We need a good Chinese restaurant around here. Xiè xiè.

Note: this review is for dine-​in, first time visiting.
This is a good place to get Chinese food! It may not be anything super fancy, but my choice of entrée — the chicken with broccoli — was good and tasted freshly made. You also get a LOT of food for the price, even by Chinese restaurant standards.
The waiter was also polite and, when we said we had to leave quickly, came out immediately with the check.
Definitely willing to go back! May improve star rating upon further visits.

Not sure what the deal is with all the terrible reviews but we had a really nice take out experience. The food was packed well and hot & fresh. The person on the phone was polite. The food isn’t too bad either. Give this place a shot.

Went here with a friend from out of town. She was really hungry so we went here because it was close to my house. She ordered the hot and sour soup. Utterly tasteless. How can you mess that up? Ordered the peking duck, which took over an hour. When it came it was dry and obviously been frozen beforehand. when I complained they pretend to only speak Chinese. Luckily I speak chinese, and they still didn’t understand. Never coming back.

I’ve gone to this place 5 or 6 times. The food is mediocre to lousy. I’m foolish enough to go back because it’s convenient for me. Hot and sour soup is never the same, always bland. Beef dishes are so bloated with water and sugar that it’s got a much different flavor than beef. Very disappointing. I’m done giving them multiple chances.

Moved here 6 years ago. Looked long and hard to find my Goto Chinese place. I love this place. Chicken consistently good. Egg foo young. Great. Have tried many in the area. I keep coming back here as my favorite Chinese in the area. Beef. Wonderful. I do sometimes eat in, but prefer take out. Never understood some of the reviews.

This place is close to my parents house and we’ve been eating in ordering out from here for over 10 years. I had a bad experience the last time I ordered carry out from here. I haven’t been to this place in four or five years. But I would like to write a review because the last time I went there was a fly in the egg drop soup. I had ordered other entrées also which seemed fine. When a friend and I reached my house we open the soup to find a fly. She was so upset that she wanted to take it back to the store so I wrote along with her. We showed it to the man at the front desk and he didn’t even apologize. He looked at us as if we were crazy and said that he would give us another one. My friend didn’t want another soup from here or any food at all for that matter. she asked for a refund for the soup. We will never go back again.

Since moving to the area, we found that this was one of the closest Chinese restaurants in the area. They have pretty quick delivery and unlike many of the other reviewers, we have yet to have a bad experience in ordering over the phone. They have pointed out to us on occasion that the price of certain items is different than what was in the menu that was printed. I don’t know how often they update it but it’s only happened on occasion. We have not been billed for delivery charges (Gas for the driver) though there is often a charge for plastic bags (which is applicable all over Montgomery County).
With all that out of the way, how is the food? The usual dishes that many people on here order (General Tso’s chicken, chicken in garlic sauce, etc.) are all pretty standard and about what you’d expect in terms of taste and preparation. We’ve recently started moving out of the comfort zone and have been trying other things on the menu and we haven’t been disappointed. The spicy beef and the Chung King beef were particular favorites. I think some of the more popular dishes are prepared in bulk and can often be ‘prepared’ for consumption fairly quickly but the others definitely have a fresher taste and often come home hotter than the others.
We’re still working our way through the rest of the menu items that seem interesting but it’s hard when you have your favorites. Still, I would try some of the other dishes available before passing a final judgement.

The «Meh. I’ve experienced better» two star rating was created for places like this. It wasn’t the worst Chinese food I’ve had, but it wasn’t the best either. The take-​out dining experience included two dinner orders of General Tso’s and Orange chicken (both spicy, but lacking flavor), white rice, egg rolls and egg drop soup. Their prices also follow the «Meh“definition too.
However, I was impressed with how quickly my order was prepared and ready to go after placing it with the lady at the front counter, making me glad I didn’t opt for delivery. 2.5 Stars.

I’m gonna be completely honest– the food here is terrible. I can’t believe I ended up returning after getting food so bad the first time.
Each time I got a General Tso’s lunch special. It was a large portion but this place sacrifices quality for quantity. Some of the chicken was cut up in huge, deformed chunks that looked kind of gross. It didn’t taste like your typical general Tso’s because it was quite tasteless. The rice had obviously been sitting out for a very long time since it was so dried out. I also ordered pork lo mein which featured greasy, bland, mushy noodles.
Do yourself a favor and don’t go here. Most Chinese restaurants in locations like this one suck. The only good Chinese restaurants I’ve been to in moco is Hollywood East Café (my fav), Seven Seas (quite good), and Good Fortune. If you can’t make it to any of those three, just go to Panda Express.

Small place; nice enough to eat in but I’ve only taken out. Messed up my order once but willing to resolve it with no real fuss. Decent, simple dishes at reasonable prices with ample vegetarian items. Pretty much the definition of average.

This used to be my go-​to Chinese restaurant. However, we recently ordered delivery. I happened to look at the itemized receipt they keep. They charged us $ 1 for gas. We had not been charged for delivery before. I called and asked if they charged for delivery. The woman quickly said, «No, we don’t.» I said, «I saw a $ 1 charge for gas.» She quickly said, «That’s not our charge, that’s the driver’s.» I said, «We’ll, then you do charge for delivery,» and she got off the phone fast. They also charged us for a plastic bag when they delivered the food in both paper and plastic. I prefer companies that are up front with costs and with better customer service.

Their philosophy is good food served with contempt for the customer.
First time I go there I decide to dine in by myself to get a feel for the place. Its very slow, no one else in the place so I’m being waited on by the lady who’s the manager.
I order a General Tso’s dinner special. She says she doesn’t know what that is. First (but not last) WTF moment. I explain that means it comes with soup. My chicken comes out fast, and I’m halfway through it when I realize I haven’t gotten any soup. I don’t really want it at this point, so I decide not to say anything.
Finally the check comes. They charge me for the regular General Tso’s, as they should, but the TOTAL IS MYSTERIOUSLY $ 2 HIGHER. And by that I mean that it is $ 2 more than the menu price plus tax. It’s so blatant I’m kind of stunned. Then I realize. They have contempt for me. Pretending not to know their own menu. Not bringing out the soup, then overcharging me. In a restaurant where I’m the only customer. I walk out, furious, and swear never to go back.
Years later I just happen to walk by and decide to go in there just to see if rude b*** lady is still working there. She is. She ignores me while talking on the phone then when I place an order and say I’ll be next door until it’s ready she rudely demands payment as if I’m some kind of thief. I kind of glance over to the other cashier, who gives me a sympathetic look like she knows exactly what’s going on. I pay and come back, rude b*** acts like she’s doing me a favor (while the nice lady packs up my food). No thank you, no nothing.
Judging from other comments on here, they pull the same kind of special-​overcharge-​rudeness on others. I’d venture to guess most of the good reviews come from people who didn’t look at their final bill too closely. I’m the last person in the world to care about a buck or two, but in principle they are stealing from me and others. That’s unacceptable. I don’t care how good the food is.

The inside could use some work — (cash register area looks cluttered, dining room used to store cases of soda) but the takeout has always been very good. Portions are large and food is prepared quickly.

I think this place is much better than other local places, such as Mings in the Kentlands. At Mings, the food tastes frozen and never tastes the same every time I’ve ordered from there. At Szechuan, the food is always consistently good, whether delivered or dining in the restaurant.

It was the worst Chinese I have ever had. And on top of that the lady that answers the phone is rude. I will be letting everyone know not to order from here. HORRIBLE!

I dont understand the other reviews. I think there may be a big difference between eat-​in and delivery. I always eat in the restaurant and this is one of the best places for fresh flavorful food. I am puzzled by the other reviews.
I would say their shrimp are small and not worth ordering but the other foods provide much value. The soups taste fresh and not salty. My wife loves their egg drop.
Manage your expectations people.

Over the past year or so the portions are smaller, the prices are higher and the service is worse. Even if you call in an order expect to wait several minutes before someone pays attention to you. The previous reviewer is correct about the menu and online prices too. It’s too bad because the food is decent but it’s not worth it. There are better options in the area.

Gave it two more tries after my last review to see if it was a fluke – it wasn’t. This used to be a great average Chinese place, but now it’s just unfortunate.
The menu print, the online ordering menu and what it actually is when you order are not the same. The are price discrepancies, special discrepancies (if you order specials, the things they advertise as being included are not) and the portion sizes have shrunk.
The only good thing is that I did manage to find more egg in my fried rice the two subsequent times, but still none of the veggies that used to be available.
Pick some other Chinese place, there are plenty around.

Updated. Used to be my go to. Went downhill.