This place is ridiculous. Unbelievably authentic. Super spicy. And the giant Chengdu Taste sign out front is a misconception for the tiny restaurant. But what they lack in size, they make up in flavor.
We ordered the spicy hot pot with white fish. The tiny peppercorn like balls in the soup is Szechuan Pepper aka Sichuan Peppercorn aka Chinese Coriander. These little guys add all that flavor to the soup. You don't have to eat them, but if you do, your mouth will tingle. It seems to numb your mouth a bit, but without it you don't get the signature Chengdu hot pot Taste. The white fish in the soup was tender and flaky and buttery. The soy bean sprouts in the soup added a contrast to the pepper, providing a well-balanced bite.
If you want to be adventurous, you absolutely can with options like mung bean jelly, kidneys, and intestines or you can order plain old noodles.
Tan Tan Noodles. Not so plain after all. I have no idea what's in it or what that brown sauce is. There were some scallions I recognized in the garnish. Mix well and try to share! The noodles were perfectly cooked, al dente. The sauce...perfection. It's simplicity allows you to savor this dish. I could eat this everyday!
The last dish was the Kung Pao Shrimp. Soooo good. Shrimp was very lightly battered and had a crisp bite to it. Peanuts, chilies, and the sauce were amazing.
Too bad they don't have an alcohol license. A nice brew with the spicy food would have been great, but the tea is sufficient. Always get a pot of tea with whatever you order.
Also, the restaurant is a bit hard to find. You must use your GPS. Restaurant is settled on the backside of the main Chinatown strip mall. It seems like an alleyway. I believe the owners of the strip mall are renovating the alleyways to make room for more shops.
There is a recovering alcoholics club across the lot that is open 24/7 and always seems to have a ton of people congregating around the same time Chengdu Taste is busiest, as well, so parking may be an issue.