Great Sichuan 大四川 — Restaurant in Johns Creek

I recently stopped by Great Sichuan Restaurant for dinner, and it was a solid choice for some comforting Chinese takeout-style eats. The place has that classic casual vibe—think bright lighting, simple wooden tables, and a no-fuss setup that's perfect if you're just popping in for a bite without the fancy frills. It's not trying to be upscale, but it feels welcoming and efficient, especially during busy midday hours.

I ordered the beef with vegetables, hot and sour soup, and beef noodles—all classics that hit the spot. The beef with vegetables was tender and packed with crisp broccoli, carrots, and peppers in a savory sauce that wasn't overly sweet or greasy; it balanced flavors just right. The hot and sour soup was a highlight—tangy, spicy, and loaded with tofu, mushrooms, and bamboo shoots, with that perfect silky texture from the egg ribbons. Finally, the beef noodles were hearty and slurpy in the best way: wide noodles tossed with thinly sliced beef, green onions, and a light broth that soaked up every bit of umami without being too heavy.

Service was impressively quick—even with a short line, my order was ready in under 10 minutes, and the staff was friendly without hovering. Portions were generous for the price, and everything arrived hot and fresh. If you're craving straightforward, tasty Sichuan-inspired fare in a relaxed spot, this is worth a visit. I'd go back for more of that soup alone!...

Visited Great Sichuan today based on a recent review by the AJC. It wasnt particularly busy but we did notice that several tables had been X'ed out to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Our server (one of the co-owners of the restaurant) wore a mask throughout so we were pretty confident dining-in. Our order was as follows:

1. Jasmine Hot Tea - I judge Chinese restaurants by the quality of their tea and Great Sichuan has the real thing: full sized tea leaves steeped at the right water temperature.
2. Dumplings in Chili Oil - The dumplings were quite large and was well stuffed with meat. The chili oil wasn't spicy but was flavorful.
3. Cumin Lamb - The lamb was tender, had a nice crunch and was not oily at all, which was a pleasant surprise. Definitely prefer this version to Tasty China's and the old Cafe Q's due to the clean taste.
4. Mala Fragrant Pot - Packs a punch of flavor with a wide combination of ingredients, some of which I didn't recognize. Had the distinctive taste of Sichuan peppercorns which I enjoy.

Unfortunately, our eyes were bigger than our stomachs. Portions are big so we would have been satisfied with two dishes . We will definitely be back to try out other interesting choices on their extensive menu like the...

Another DanDan Noodle craving led me here to try someplace difference after already experiencing Masterpiece’s and being underwhelmed, especially at the portion size.

What I can say is that GS definitely gives you a bigger overall portion of noodles, but still lacks a bit in terms of how much meat is included :( They do give the option of beef or pork (I went with pork) which is different, and their sauce was abundant - I had to tilt/drain and spoon off several oily tablespoons; it also had a flavor that was kind of, I dunno, tomato-ey? But it was good. And I again requested “extra spicy” and oooomg I think they have MP beat there too, like my ears were popping 🔥 Kudos!

I also tried the “mala beef rolls” which were very pungently flavorful and spicy too, but also kinda… meh otherwise. Felt like children’s finger food, kinda cheap with the cold, dry flour tortilla and iceberg lettuce being the only other ingredients. I could see this being better reworked as a deep-fried egg roll type of dish, or maybe even adding a sauce/dipper? Def not worth $10.

Overall, the portions were better, the flavors alright… nothing go-out-of-my-way craveable but not bad either. And it was ready to-go in like 10mins. I would try more dishes here if in...