Sichuan Jin River — Restaurant in Rockville

I was very displeased with the treatment I received when I went to this location. After sleeping on a couple of things last night it made me write this review. My teenager wanted to try something close in the neighborhood. It was during lunchtime and she knows the pricing during that time frame. She went in and placed an order and the woman asked her regular and somehow my daughter thought she meant lunchtime pricing and it came out to be $32.35. So as a parent I went over to find out what happened and where the miscommunication happened. I asked the women at the front desk to speak to the manager. She told me she was the manager. After I started explaining the situation for the next 10 minutes she over talked me and would let me explain or get my point across. Telling me how I didn't understand her point with not allowing me to convey my point. She was rude/nice when trying to ensure that I understood what she was saying. She went on to tell me that my daughter was just a customer so, she didn't look at her age. I explained to her that it was lunchtime so, why would you ask a student if they wanted a regular meal if it was lunchtime pricing? Where was the adult in the situation. You know that she has never been to your establishment and didn't take the time to explain what was being ordered before you charged her card? Yes, her card!! A high school student!! After letting me speak and hearing what I had to say, she told me I received the food. Which by the way I was very disappointed in the quality and the taste. But, that was not the reason I went to the location it was because of the price. I was told my daughter could have asked questions, but this is your establishment and anytime I have ever been any place they explain there processes and tell you about there lunch specials. This was her money that she spent and was disappointed that so much of her money came out of her account. You saw an opportunity to over talk her like you did me and charged her card before she realized the pricing. You took advantage of a teenager because, you knew she wouldn't catch it. So I wouldn't recommend this location to anyone. If you can take advantage of our youth, you are not a place that I would want to patronize. I live right across the street and you have lost my business. The fact that you rude when I came down to inquire was...

Truly cannot recommend this place enough -- Sichuan Jin River is my new go-to for authentic and delicious Chinese food! They have a wide array of my childhood classics, and they certainly take the "Sichuan" in their name seriously, so be prepared for some heat (and some numbing)! I came with a group of four on a chilly, rainy DMV evening, the perfect weather for some hot Chinese fare.

We got an array of seafood and veggies, including their Whole Fish & Bean Jelly in Hot Sichuan Sauce, Mapo Tofu (without the pork), Stir-Fried String Beans, and Crispy Rice Cake & Vegetables in White Sauce. It's hard to pick a favorite from that list since every single item was executed to perfection.

As far as the proteins go, the fish was delightfully tender and perfectly seasoned; the Sichuan hot sauce absolutely packed a punch and paired wonderfully with the steaming white rice. I appreciated that the kitchen allowed us to modify the mapo tofu to take out the pork, and I'm so glad we had the opportunity to try it! Like the fish, the tofu was super tender and the hot, numbing sauce was perfect.

The veggies were equally delicious -- the string beans were crispy on the outside and soft in the center, with a great char from the wok and a huge punch of flavor from the blackened garlic. Both the crispy rice cakes and vegetables were certainly crispy; the veggies were fresh and not too overcooked, and they paired wonderfully with the light white sauce. If you do order this one, definitely try to eat it quickly, though, as the crispy rice cakes will lose their battle with the sauce after 10-20 minutes and get a touch soggy.

Not only was everything delicious, but it was also super affordable! Our individual bills (not including tip, but including tax and two other meat dishes beyond what I listed above) came out to ~$20! Not bad at all for a DMV restaurant and a pretty hefty meal.

So if you're craving some authentic, no-frills Sichuan food at an affordable price point, definitely give Sichuan Jin...

My recent dining experience at Sichuan Jin River restaurant left me deeply dissatisfied, to say the least. The level of service I encountered was undoubtedly the worst I have ever experienced. From the moment I walked in, there was no greeting or acknowledgment from the staff, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere that set the tone for the entire meal.

To compound my disappointment, I was taken aback by the forced tipping policy. It is unacceptable for a restaurant to impose mandatory gratuity. Tipping should be at the discretion of the customer and reflect the quality of service received. The practice of coercing patrons into paying tips not only goes against ethical norms but also detracts from the genuine nature of gratuity.

Moving on to the food, I found it to be average at best. The most notable disappointment was the quality of the meat, which was far from fresh. It was evident that the ingredients lacked the freshness and flavor one would expect from a reputable restaurant. Additionally, some of the vegetables were difficult to chew, suggesting poor preparation and insufficient attention to detail.

Given the abysmal service, the forced tipping policy, and the lackluster quality of the food, I have no intention of ever returning to Sichuan Jin River restaurant. As a customer, I value a welcoming environment, attentive service, and high-quality cuisine, none of which were present during my visit.

I sincerely hope that the management of Sichuan Jin River takes this feedback seriously and endeavors to make significant improvements. In such a competitive industry, it is vital to prioritize customer satisfaction and strive for excellence in all aspects of the dining experience.

In conclusion, I strongly advise against visiting Sichuan Jin River restaurant based on the incredibly poor service, lack of greeting, forced tipping policy, and subpar food quality. There are numerous other establishments that provide superior dining experiences and deserve...