Taste is a highly rated Chinese restaurant in Palo Alto, CA, serving flavorful dishes that bring comfort, convenience, and quality to every meal. With a 4.60-star rating from 1,027 reviews, Taste is a favorite destination for guests who want fast service, local specialty dishes, lunch, dinner, and a welcoming solo dining experience in Palo Alto.
Whether you’re stopping in for a quick midday meal or settling in for a relaxing evening dinner, this Palo Alto Chinese restaurant delivers satisfying food with the warm hospitality that keeps customers coming back.
Taste also offers wheelchair-accessible car park, wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible seating, and wheelchair-accessible toilet access, making it a comfortable and convenient choice for more guests. To enjoy a top-rated Chinese restaurant in Palo Alto, CA with fresh flavors, efficient service, and a friendly dining atmosphere, visit Taste for your next lunch or dinner.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Taste
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
玉米豬肉 / 韭菜鮮蝦 / 素 / Choice of Pork & Corn/Chives & Shrimp/Veggie.
Six crispy sesame balls with a sweet red bean filling.
Steamed buns filled with creamy custard, served as a trio for a sweet Dim Sum experience.
6.25一欄選一樣，其他任選5樣 choose one in 6.25 line,choose five in other line
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Golden-fried wontons filled with a mix of crab and cream cheese, served with sweet and sour sauce.
Crispy golden veggie egg rolls filled with a mix of fresh vegetables, served with a side of sweet chili dipping sauce.
Savory pot stickers filled with minced ingredients, pan-fried to a golden crisp, served with a side of dipping sauce.
Crispy, golden-brown pancake with fresh scallions, offering a savory and slightly chewy texture.
Hand-pulled Lanzhou-style noodles in a clear broth, topped with beef slices and radish, garnished with chopped green onions.
Chongqing numbing spicy vermicelli noodle soup featuring tender lamb slices, garnished with fresh herbs and peanuts.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
A bowl of braised beef brisket with noodles, accompanied by bok choy in a savory broth.
Spicy.
Rice noodles in a clear broth, accompanied by slices of pork, fish cakes, and fresh greens.
Spicy.
雞、牛、蝦 / Include Chicken, Beef, Shrimp.
雞、牛、蝦 / Include Chicken, Beef, Shrimp.
Chinese Sausage & Shrimp.
Crispy yellow noodles topped with shrimp, beef, and green vegetables in a savory sauce.
A mix of rice stir-fried with assorted vegetables and scrambled eggs.
Vegetarian.
Stir-fried wide rice noodles with beef, bean sprouts, and sliced onions in a savory sauce.
Spicy.
Jasmine white rice.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
A traditional Sichuan dish featuring a spicy broth with a variety of entrails and vegetables, topped with a generous sprinkle of chili.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
A classic Sichuan dish featuring chicken submerged in a spicy chili oil sauce with a variety of vegetables and skewers.
Pickled calamari and prawns tossed with crisp bell peppers and vibrant greens, garnished with a side of fresh herbs.
Stir-fried fish fillet with crisp snap peas, carrots, and black fungus in a savory sauce.
Spicy.
Sautéed shrimp accompanied by a medley of fresh vegetables including broccoli, carrots, and snap peas.
Sautéed lamb paired with a variety of mushrooms, garnished with fresh herbs.
Thinly sliced beef sautéed with a variety of mushrooms, typically includes a savory sauce.
Spicy.
Savory shredded pork in Beijing-style sauce atop a bed of fresh pea sprouts.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Tender beef brisket stewed with mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and a blend of traditional Chinese spices.
Spicy.
Tender beef slices stir-fried with black pepper, onions, and mixed bell peppers, served on a sizzling plate.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Sliced beef quickly stir-fried with onions, typically served in a savory sauce that may include soy and garlic elements.
Sliced lamb stir-fried with onions, typically seasoned with a blend of spices unique to Mandarin-style cuisine.
Crispy fried fish topped with a vibrant sweet and sour sauce, garnished with diced vegetables and green peas.
Crispy chicken pieces coated in a sweet and savory sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Spicy.
Sliced chicken stir-fried with fresh broccoli, typically includes a savory brown sauce.
Bite-sized chicken pieces coated in a glossy sweet and sour sauce.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Sliced beef and broccoli stir-fried, typically includes a savory brown sauce.
Crispy shrimp coated in a creamy honey glaze, topped with candied walnuts, presented with a garnish.
A medley of stir-fried broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, and other seasonal vegetables.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Sautéed pumpkin with a golden hue, lightly seasoned and served as a vegetable side dish.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Stir-fried eggplant and green beans in a savory sauce.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Steamed bok choy paired with Chinese black mushrooms in a savory sauce.
Stir-fried wood ear mushrooms with Chinese yam, accompanied by crisp green beans and red bell pepper slices.
Spicy.
Pork and vegetable wontons in a savory broth. Available in small or large sizes.
West Lake beef soup with tofu, available in small or large.
Chicken & corn soup with choice of small or large size.
Cordyceps flower and chicken in a nourishing broth. Available in small or large sizes.
Glutinous rice balls, sweet fermented rice soup. Available in small or large.
Crispy deep-fried sweet sticky rice accompanied by a side of brown sugar for dipping.
Spicy.
Diced chicken stir-fried with peanuts, chili peppers, and a hint of garlic in a spicy sauce, typically includes vegetables.
Spicy.
Sliced chicken breast stir-fried with a medley of fresh vegetables, served alongside steamed rice.
Spicy.
Sliced beef stir-fried with fresh broccoli, often accompanied by a savory brown sauce.
Spicy.
Spicy.
Shrimp stir-fried with fluffy scrambled eggs, typically includes green onions.
Stir-fried mixed vegetables featuring a variety of fresh greens and sliced bell peppers.
Refreshing chilled tea, perfectly brewed for a revitalizing experience.
Jiaduobao herbal tea, a canned beverage, is known for its blend of traditional Chinese herbs.
Refreshing, Sparkling Beverage with a Zesty Ginger Kick
Effervescent water, available in small or large sizes.
Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Fanta
Classic citrus refreshment.
Refreshing citrus beverage.
A gently sweetened beverage derived from whole soybeans, offering a smooth and subtly sweet taste.
Hear from our valued guests
Taste! The interior was bright, warm, and cozy. The workers are really friendly and the food comes out really quick. Most importantly, each of the dishes we ate were light, high quality, and I could not stop eating! Order: - Honey walnut shrimp: a childhood treat, not too sweet, crispy on the outside soft on the inside, and the cucumbers were thin and refreshing. A great combo. - Braised beef soup. My go to dish everywhere I go. The noodles were soft, the bokchoy was fresh, and i enjoyed drinking the soup! - Stir Fried Pea Sprouts with Garlic: my favorite type of vegetables! Light, garlicky and buttery. I think I ate the whole plate myself… - Pickled Cabbage Clay Pot with Beef: if you are in the mood for light soup, pickled vegetables, and noodles then this would be a great dish. I believe this dish is also served spicy. - Fried steam buns: I was so full by the end of the meal, but this dish was a great ending. They came in bite sized portions and could be easily eaten as a small treat! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Taste and hope you guys can try it yourselves!
Fun noisy Chinese restaurant. Very large portions... hard to order for one. All the classics of Sichuan cuisine, including whole fish. Also dim sum. Fairly oily cooking.
I’ve never been more excited to have my leftovers tmrw at the end of a meal! We came down from SF and couldn’t have been happier with the service, restaurant, and above all else the food! The Sichuan style food was much more authentic tasting than places in the city — and the spice level was perfect! We ordered 6 dishes and none of them disappointed. We got the cumin lamb, chili won ton, hot & sour soup, kung pao chicken, Beijing beef w/ pea shoots, crab Rangoon, tan tan noodle, and Couple’s Delight. Honestly they were all prepared perfectly and would recommend to any coming here. Leaving numb, full, and very happy!
Check out this hidden gem on University Ave if you love authentic Chinese food! Price is quite reasonable given the location! recommend: Bo Bo Chicken: Spicy and delicious! Tea-smoked duck is my favorite! Taste and texture are very similar to Peking duck: skin is crispy and meat is tender, perfect amount of fat, yum! Roasted Pork knuckles: melt in your mouth delish! Salted egg yolk Pumpkin: sweet pumpkin is wrapped in a thick layer of salted egg yolk and fried to a crisp, beware salted egg yolk is super addictive! Also love the hot and sour noodles with pork intestines, hands down authentic! They have both spicy and non-spicy food so everyone would be accommodated! Overall a great place for authentic Chinese food if you are close by!
Great Chinese food! They do really good spicy food, but their other dishes are really good. This time we got the cumin lamb and it was delicious! Would recommend if you’re looking for a Chinese restaraunt in Palo Alto. Service is good. They were attentive in taking our orders and making sure we got everything we needed. I don’t think we waited too long to order, get our food, or get the check. The inside is pretty. They have many Chinese decorations so it feels very nostalgic of a classic Chinese restaurant. As for seating they have indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating have the heater stands. Parking: There are many parking garages in Palo Alto so it’s not too hard for us to find parking
This place was exceptional! Some 9/10 and above dishes! The skewer pot was so good! So well balanced and slightly spicy. The spicy pickled fish soup was great! Everything was amazing! One of the most authentic Chinese food I had in a while. Palo Alto is blessed with this spot!
What a gem in such a beautiful building! The food is absolutely authentic and delicious, the service is great, and the atmosphere is wonderful. 👍 Have to try their new desserts! 🥰
We did catering through Kiki. She is super nice and super helpful. Nice food planning for us. Give them a try and make sure you ask for her
It’s hard to miss this one on the busy University Avenue with their bright red China elements — and maybe really hard to beat too. This is probably the only Chinese restaurant around here with such an inviting outdoor patio, which makes it perfect for us since our dog babies can relax too. The menu strikes a really smart balance between authentic Sichuan spicy dishes and more Americanized Chinese classics, so there’s something for everyone. The signature spicy fish fillet in flaming red oil is a must-try — bold, fragrant, and so satisfying it might have just saved me an expensive flight back to China. The chili oil wontons are my personal favorite starter and never disappoint. This is an easy repeat spot for us, and we’ll definitely go back around CNY days.
Had a fantastic meal at Taste! The mapo tofu was easily the highlight—absolutely yummy, literally melted in your mouth, and had the perfect level of heat. The eggplant was also very tasty, and the scallion pancakes were a solid, good choice. For the mains, I’d probably skip the chow mein next time and double down on the fried rice instead, which was excellent. We paired everything with the chrysanthemum tea, which was so refreshing and did a perfect job offsetting the rich flavors of the dishes. Definitely coming back!
Common questions about Taste
Taste is located at 423 University Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United States, Palo Alto, CA, United States.
You can reach Taste by calling +1 650-323-6488.
Taste has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 1027 customer reviews.
Taste features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Taste features the following service options: Outdoor seating, No-contact delivery, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Taste features the following highlights: Fast service, Serves local specialty.
Taste features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Taste features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Comfort food, Healthy options, Quick bite, Small plates, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Taste features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
Taste features the following amenities: Restroom.
Taste features the following atmosphere: Casual.
Taste features the following crowd: Groups.
Taste features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Taste features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Taste features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs.
Taste features the following parking: Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
Request a table and we'll confirm your booking shortly.
