Memory of Szechuan

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Reviews

1. Shanjib Chamling ★★★★☆

   We ordered a variety of dishes at Memories of Szechuan, and each one was full of flavour. The salt and pepper squid was the standout for me — perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned just right. The wonton soup was rich and comforting, and it paired beautifully with the dim sum platter, which offered a great selection of textures and tastes. The Kung Pao chicken had a great balance of heat and sweetness, while the sizzling beef arrived hot, aromatic, and full of flavour. Both dishes complemented the fried rice very well. The staff were friendly, polite, and attentive throughout our visit, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I’m genuinely surprised this place doesn’t have a higher rating, as the quality of the food is among the best I’ve had in Berkshire. Overall, it was an excellent meal, and I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys authentic Chinese and Hong Kong cuisine.

   almost 4 months ago
2. Becky Green ★☆☆☆☆

   Bland food, overpriced for what we had. Small portions & dishes were either too strong (sweet & sour chicken - definitely not correct flavour!) or tasteless (chicken chow mein & egg fried rice). Customer service awful & staff not attentive at all, barely acknowledged us. Didn’t bother to check if we were happy with the food & bought out one dish at a time for buffet choices. Also had to wait a long time for food & for them to ask for our order & drinks. Dull atmosphere. Will not be returning.

   almost 7 months ago
3. Ben Lau ★★★★★

   Best Chinese food around. Lunch menu worths every penny with a main and a soup.

   almost 9 months ago

1. Wangwen Zhao ★★★★★

   I am gobsmacked by all the low-rated reviews from non-Chinese people here. I am Chinese myself, actually from Hunan next to Sichuan, and all my family and I are crazy about food. This is indeed the best Chinese restaurant by a long mile within Berkshire or even better than many London ones. This has been our favorite spot ever since the closure of China Palace. The taste is incredibly authentic Sichuan cuisine, such as the chilli chicken with plenty of chilli and soft-fried chicken bits, as well as the pig blood hot pot, and so on. All the portions are a really good size as well. To be honest I did want to keep this place to myself as a secret, as if there are less people in the restaurant, this would mean better service for myself. That being said, the waiters are really nice people anyways. However, I am concerned that they are not receiving the recognition they deserve to better sustain their business. By the way, this is not a biased review - I don't know anyone in the business. I have merely lived in the Reading area for over 20 years. Come on all real foodies, give them a 5 star!

   1 year ago
2. Cris ★★★☆☆

   This is a run of the mill Chinese restaurant with the specialty of offering Szechuan cuisine alongside the more usual Cantonese fare. The food is very uneven in terms of quality and taste. Some dishes are divine ( like the sizzling meats, sweet and sour ribs and chicken) while others are truly bad ( like the prawn and pork dumplings or the steamed fish or the chow mein which tasted like reheated cardboard). This is usually a sign of restaurants cutting corners in terms of quality lowering the cost of dishes that are not requested very often. The truly disgusting cost cutting measure was the beer. I ordered a Tsingtao in bottle and it was truly horrendous, clearly the bottle had been washed and reused several times and the been was flat and tasteless ( and gave me stomach ache too) so clearly this beer had come from a larger low quality bottle and not surely the one they put it in after. The final nail in the coffin is that the place is expensive for what it offers. Since in reading there is little else at this level I suggest you try it and avoid unusual dishes and beers…

   1 year ago
3. S D ★★★★★

   It was very quiet, which can be good or bad depending on your preference. It meant we were served quickly! The staff explained the concept to my friends well enough. The food was great, we got a mild and a medium spice pot. Both were very flavorful. Generous amount of each selected component. Great value for money

   almost 3 years ago

1. Reef ★☆☆☆☆

   The restaurant was cold as only 1 heater was working and we had to sit there in our coats. Staff were cleaning around us while we were eating, spraying disinfectant and doing washing up at the bar. Not all dishes were hot, had to send back some prawns, which they then heated up in the microwave. The chilli squid tasted like the oil was old or reused and the plates they gave us were wet. We were made to feel unwelcome, like they wanted us to leave and we felt uncomfortable, the staff were talking loudly amongst themselves and were not attentive. It’s a shame as the last time I ate there for a family birthday the food tasted really fresh and was good, I am reluctant to go back.

   almost 3 years ago
2. Andréanne “Andie” Tremblay ★★★★★

   The food selection is great. We have visited more than six times and every new dish we try is delicious. And with a fair price. Ideal for groups who like to share.

   almost 3 years ago
3. Hope Elleston ★★★★☆

   We ordered hotpot, everything was very good. I think the cleanliness of the restaurant could be improved

   almost 3 years ago

1. TKR Wolo ★★★★☆

   Pretty unassuming Chinese restaurant near Reading station with a menu of Sichuan dishes, Cantonese dishes, Fish and Hot Pot. This time a friend and I had the hot pot and were pleasantly surprised, the soup was pretty good and we got a choice of 8 items from the menu to boil up. At about £22 per person, it’s relatively expensive but for a proper Chinese food fix I’d definitely recommend it. The waitress was friendly and there was a wide range of drinks as well as ingredients for a hot pot dipping sauce. I’d like to return and try out the Sichuan dishes.

   almost 3 years ago

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