Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Spices 3 in Oakland

4.2 (199) 370-372 12th St, Oakland, CA 94607, United States

Categories

Chinese restaurant
Asian restaurant
Takeout restaurant
Restaurant
Sichuan restaurant

Location on the map

Oakland, Alameda County, California, US

Phone: +1 510-625-8889
Site: https://spices3.com/

Opening hours

Monday:10:30 AM–9:30 PM
Tuesday:10:30 AM–9:30 PM
Wednesday:10:30 AM–9:30 PM
Thursday:10:30 AM–9:30 PM
Friday:10:30 AM–9:30 PM
Saturday:11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Sunday:11:30 AM–9:30 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.2

199 Reviews for Spices 3 2024:

Review №1

2023-12-02 04:55:14

If you are around china town, you must go here!! The food is delicious and the service very fast! They serve hot tea for everyone while you wait. My favorite dish is the fish in garlic paste and chilli oil. It is sooo delicious and savory. The fish is enough for 2 people if you get some rice! Highly suggest getting the garlic sauteed eggplant as well.

Review №2

2023-07-07 22:07:47

During my recent visit to Spices 3 in Oakland, I tried their Gangsta CasseroleＭurder Style hot pot with seafood, pork blood, intestines, beef, tofu, and vegetables. While the portion size seemed reduced compared to previous visits, the broth was less oily and salty, which was a positive change. However, the hot pot arrived at our table not heated hot enough, affecting the cooking process. Overall, the ingredients provided a diverse range of flavors, but improvements in portion size and hot pot temperature would enhance the experience.

Review №3

2023-08-03 03:12:56

They have vegan dishes and dishes that can be made vegan. It’s amazing. I recommend eating there because the food comes out hot, and it’s better that way.

Review №4

2022-10-08 03:36:16

As a person who’s born and raised in China, I can tell you that the spicy Chinese food here is truly amazing. Their La Zi Ji is my favorite — please try it out!

Review №5

2023-02-27 00:20:50

Got the dry braised green beans and the spicy chicken wings. The green beans were well seasoned, and not too salty or over cooked. They had a nice bite. The wings were down right addictive. They were perfectly crunchy, savory, and spicy. I will definitely come back.

Review №6

2019-02-09 05:16:30

Great affordable food in a nice place. They are now inside hot pot house. The mapo tofu is delicious and the beef and broccoli is great. The couples delight is a great app or the scallion pancake is delicious.

Review №7

2023-08-25 06:24:03

The food was awesome and reasonably priced ! Plenty of vegetarian options :)

Review №8

2018-11-02 05:21:15

Spicy and delicious! I came here a bit tipsy and ended up ordering like a starving savage. The portions are insanely huge—one dish could serve two—but the two of us ordered 3 (spices 3!) and got mega bloated on this spice grub. The chicken with red oil, beef noodle soup and fried rice are all very, very tasty. All reasonably priced, too!

Review №9

2021-09-05 02:16:36

It seems as the place was closed from the outside but the sign said open and had pretty good reviews so we went in. Its a large place inside and smelled delicious. We ordered a chicken hot pot, spicy combinatiom chow mein, seafood noodles and spicy fried tofu. Everything was delicious! We all ended up sharing our food which was not the original plan. The hot pot was enough for 4 of us plus took two full containers to go. The spice is delicious and a slow burn but not too bad. I believe they use szechuan chillis which give you a tingle and I really like it.They take cash only and close at 3pm to open again later. Everything was served hot and fast and we enjoyed it. Definitely will visit again and tell friends.

Review №10

2019-12-23 18:23:49

Things are getting too spicy for the pepper!Spices 3 has a great variety of meals and they are reasonably priced and perfect for sharing! I tried the chicken wings with explosive chili sauce and the diced string beans. The chicken wings were spicy, but definitely not an unbearable spicy level. There was so much of the explosive chili sauce which is just dried peppers, which made it a bit difficult to eat along with the chicken. Also the wings are pretty small, like half the size of a typical wing. The string beans were very tasty, and Ive never seen them chopped so small!The inside of the restaurant is super cozy and I LOVE all the artwork! Very unique. They are cash only, but our server accepted Venmo which is nice because I didnt have cash. Also the service wasnt that great, we pretty much had to get the servers attention for everything.Overall the food was great and I loved the inside of the restaurant! I wish they had a little better service and they really need to get a card reader...

Review №11

2023-09-22 19:05:22

Overall, was ok. The crispy duck was not crispy.The spicy fried chicken was not as we thought it would be. But the spices fried rice was good!

Review №12

2023-06-20 15:55:42

Some of the best, most authentic Chinese food Ive ever had in the US! Amazing flavor and taste. Closed my eyes and felt like I was back in Hong Kong or China

Review №13

2023-11-19 23:46:33

My go-to for take out. Love their food and care for customers. They also have a cool mural on their wall!

Review №14

2019-02-13 00:55:33

Highlight of the meal was 辣子鸡, really good spicy fried chicken! The pieces are bigger than other kinds I’ve had, but very delicious.

Review №15

2023-05-15 21:44:33

Everytime Im near I try my best to make time to eat here because its always SO delicious. My favorite dishes are mopo tofu with pork, cumin lamb, their Spicy chicken wings, green beans with black bean sauce and kiss of fire orange chicken. Always served with some jasmine tea and always get extra rice to balance out the spicy! Great service and despite how the outside looks its always packed with local folks.

Review №16

2017-12-29 23:44:03

Great spicy Chinese food in Oakland. The spicy chicken in the boat is the best! Also spicy fried fish is good too!

Review №17

2019-02-24 21:45:11

Pretty good! Its also quite affordable. They are well known for spicy food, but they also have good options for non spicy food!

Review №18

2023-03-11 04:55:48

Great food and quick service. Beware of the portions. It’s giant!!! We barely made a dent on our soups and we ordered small!! Same with their curries and wings. Expect any dish to easily feed 2-4 people.

Review №19

2016-11-14 19:25:46

Love the mao xue wang, one of the few stores where the ingredients are not boiled to death. The pickled fish soup and the couple spicy cold dish are okay.

Review №20

2019-10-12 00:57:44

The food was very tasty and seemed authentic (I went with friends that would know better than me). All the dishes we got were good. This place is cash only. I want to say it came out to $20 per person for a fair amount of food. The spicy chicken wings (fried chicken) was particularly good. I would go back.

Review №21

2022-11-12 18:27:29

Tried Spices 3 for the first time last night after seeing it recommended many times, and it was delicious!! I was wanting something basic so I just got hot and sour soup and mixed veg with chicken, and it hit the spot. Could tell it was great quality, and extremely tasty. I just finished off the soup at 10:30am the next day it was so good! Excited to try other items off the menu.

Review №22

2022-10-12 03:39:59

Cool wall decors but the inside needs an update. Bathroom needs cleaning. But... the foods is really really good. Go for the food.

Review №23

2022-12-23 23:27:31

First time here and we ordered Salt and Pepper Calamari, Spicy Fried Rice and Beef Noodle Soup all tasted great. But the Salt and Pepper Calamari was very tasty, a must get. Well diffidently come back and try other foods.

Review №24

2023-02-13 05:21:45

This is a cash-only establishment. I’d suggest ordering in person because, in my experience, it was hard to understand the shop runner’s English on the phone. In person, they can give good suggestions on what to order according to your preferences.In my case, I had a sour vegetable dish here that my Chinese colleagues ordered for me before so I wasn’t sure about its name. The shop runner suggested #88 and #22. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Review №25

2019-10-21 05:32:37

Dinner was delicious. Great traditional Chinese restaurant! Would definitely come back again.

Review №26

2019-12-29 03:43:46

Low priced value Chinese food. Dishes Hot and spicy in large volume. Good for beer or wine.

Review №27

2023-01-22 15:22:36

Awful customer service, food is ok. Not authentic. Just like other reviews, their customer service is absolutely terrible. I read that in the review and thought May be I will have different experience. Nope. They’re right. First I had to get my own menu after sitting down for 5 minutes, they don’t take cards, cash only. Didn’t check in to see if you need anything else. They had a bowl of new year candies on the register, my kid grab one and she immediately removed the whole bowl and hid it. Don’t recommend this place.

Review №28

2023-10-02 00:38:41

The best orange chicken I ever had. Came two days in a row to have it.

Review №29

2023-07-06 20:05:07

A mom and pop joint. The orange chicken is pretty tasty and really good quality, highly recommend trying it.

Review №30

2022-01-30 22:47:08

Authentic Sichuan cuisine. If you like spicy food, you should try this place!

Review №31

2023-10-07 23:46:24

Authentic Chinese food with reasonable prices. My favorite Chinese restaurant as a Chinese who lives nearby!

Review №32

2021-03-21 01:35:14

The duck was great! The shrimp fried rice was average. CASH ONLY

Review №33

2023-09-09 20:18:07

Great food great price

Review №34

2023-11-28 01:47:51

Food is good reasonable price, lack of communication

Review №35

2022-10-07 02:22:54

I cant get enough of this place. I get take out from here every other time I come to the Bay. Its my benchmark for Szechuan-style. Unlike many Chinese spots, all of the sauces are rich and flavorful and the dishes are only soupy if they are soup. Get some, be happy.

Review №36

2022-07-12 06:06:09

This is one of the hot spots in Oakland, literally. I have been to this restaurant numerous times and there are some real winners on the menu . Recommended: lamb with cumin spice; and ma po. I always order the dishes extremely spicy. Portions are generous, Prices are reasonable and service is very friendly.

Review №37

2022-07-09 15:53:34

CASH ONLY! Average dish is $13, and the serving sizes are huge. My boyfriend and I got the crispy duck and the szechuan fish. If you like spicy food, def recommend this szechuan restaurant! good portion size, very filling.

Review №38

2022-12-07 22:38:54

8.9/10 overall. Great portions. Good fried squid. Good fried rice. Great chow mien. Unique spices are fantastic. Spicyness 7.1/10.

Review №39

2022-06-05 01:12:23

Spices 3 used to be my all-time favorite Chinese restaurant, but in the past year or so the quality has changed a lot. I can only guess they got a different chef, or something, because at one point, the quality suddenly nose-dived. I typically get the kiss of fire orange chicken, and it used to be my favorite dish at any Chinese place, and for whatever reason, its completely different now. I can only describe it as a slop, with very bland and mediocre chicken and breading. The flavor profile definitely leaves something to be desired. I would much rather order from another Chinese restaurant at this point, and dont really order from here anymore. Too bad.

Review №40

2021-09-05 05:56:17

Absolutely fantastic food. Cant wait to get back.

Review №41

2023-08-15 03:56:54

Absolutely delicious food I ever had at this place.

Review №42

2021-12-20 05:16:58

The first few times we ordered, the food arrived hot and was very good. The most recent order, Spicy Beef with Basil was prepared with tough, almost inedible beef. S complete disappointment. Also, we ordered a soda and paid$2.00 for a can, not even a 16 or 20oz bottle! We all pay for delivery, employee benefits and tax so this was a slap in the face. I doubt in the overall scheme of business offering a small bottle of soda will ruin their bottom line. Once my favorite now, not so much.

Review №43

2020-08-22 05:02:36

Not really digging the MAO poster, but holy god the spicy fish is good!

Review №44

2021-08-05 17:56:33

My favorite restaurant in the Bay! Have been going here for years and where I always take out of town guests. The explosive tofu is incredible and unique- have yet to find it anywhere else. The house chow mein, eggplant in garlic sauce, and diced string beans with bean curd are my staples. And the complimentary hot tea is always nice.

Review №45

2021-07-07 12:32:45

The food was excellent. Not my first time. Eggplant in garlic sauce and double fried bacon dish were great. Panfried noodles as well.Overall 5 stars for food only. Experience two years back was great. Not this time.Overall experience was not great for two reasons. They were busy working on pick ups and failed to come to the only table they had guests. Had to call them even to place order. Also homeless people peed behind a car right outside the window where we were sitting. Emeryville and Oakland folks, pick up or delivery highly recommended at this point.

Review №46

2019-06-28 13:07:42

This is my favorite restaurant by far in the Bay!! While there are a few dishes that are not as spectacular as the rest, most are phenomenal. I love the fish in chili oil, eggplant with garlic sauce, rice cakes with pork, lamb ribs, snow tofu, iron pot tofu, sizzling tofu, scallion pancakes, hot pot, and the duck among others. Prices and portions are very reasonable. Lots of seating, never have to wait. Great place to go in groups to try many different dishes. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

Review №47

2021-06-08 05:11:35

Our go to delivery - tasty and open late. My favorite is cumin lamb, but we also have ordered the Shanghai fat noodles, dry fried green beans and orange beef and both are delicious. Im normally a big fan of scallion pancakes but havent liked theirs, but that might just be delivery.

Review №48

2022-12-29 04:50:52

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PLACE!!! Soooo yummy. Must get Spicy chicken wings, marinated cucumber and fish in red oil. I am obsessed. Fast service too! :)

Review №49

2021-08-15 03:53:04

Hands down the best Sichuan restaurant in East bay! We have been eating here for 10 years, from the original small size store to the current larger room.The food remains the same authentic flavor, No kidding.You Must try their fried stinky tofo, cold noodle, and chilly fish! Super super nice staff and always treat family eaters with extra service.

Review №50

2022-07-04 03:08:20

Terrible. Would give 0 stars if I could.We ordered for pickup and went to the shop later to pick it up. We said our order - told the lady EVERY ITEM WE ORDERED to make sure it was the correct order, and came home with the bag she handed to us. We got home and realized she gave us the wrong order. Heres what happened next:1. We call to tell her what happened, and the lady says can you come back? Your order is still here. NO APOLOGY.2. We go back, she BLAMES US oh, you took the wrong order. SHE GAVE US THE WRONG ORDER3. She FORCES US TO PAY EXTRA, saying we didnt pay enough for the first order. WELL SHE GAVE US THE WRONG ORDER AND CHARGED US FOR THE WRONG ORDER.We had to drive 30 min out again to pick up this freakin order she messed up. All she had to do was just HAND THE CORRECT ORDER. And because SHE couldnt do that simple task, WE had to waste 1 hr of our time and gas, and was LATE for our plans. AND NO APOLOGY.

Review №51

2018-05-29 20:38:18

Restaurant is located in a semi safe area but its a cash only. Place is usually packed and their food (for the most part) are very good. As the name implies, their signature dishes are their spicy hot dishes; they do have no spicy dishes, but theyre so-so.Couple of their must try are their fried chicken, and their spicy beef tofu (Grandma Tofu). Their three dishes for $26.95 are a good value and can feed four adults.The restaurant can benefit from a good cleaning especially the vents in the restrooms.

Review №52

2021-12-24 05:37:57

The business tried to overcharge us initially by only including the total cost on the bill. When we asked for the bill to be itemized, the itemized cost did not match what was on the menu. It took a few back and forth for the bill to be corrected. It didn’t really feel like an honest mistake and I wonder how much extra money they’ve scammed out of customers by doing this. It was a bizarre experience but the food wasn’t bad.

Review №53

2021-08-01 20:18:52

I still remember going here years ago. I had never had the opportunity to try stinky tofu before. And I still have the strong vivid memories of those pungent aromas. I know stinky tofu isnt for everyone, but it was delicious. We had a couple different varieties and they were exquisite. Unfortunately where I live there isnt really a market for this and I cant find any. Cant wait to visit the region to have some more tofu.

Review №54

2019-12-02 04:20:24

Really great food. Could have sworn they were across the street last time I had them, but the food was just as good as I remember. Got a hot and sour soup that was rich and delicious, and then the chicken basil over rice, which was just the perfect level of spice. Best chicken basil Ive had since Camber closed. Glad to add this back into the rotation of Chinese restaurants.

Review №55

2021-02-23 05:57:19

Ordered about $70 bucks worth and the dumplings in red oil about the only thing I could eat. The fish fillet, wings and calamari salt and pepper, chicken had way too much spice. Not hot but like someone put an entire bottle of lemon pepper on just one entire. Me and my husband couldnt even eat it. Tossed everything but the dumplings. Not worth the money. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things. But I wont ever order from this place again.

Review №56

2021-05-16 19:17:03

Spices 3 is pretty great for a late night food run. I am a big fan of szechaun food for the numbing sensation and usually get a couple of different dishes with green beans on the side so I at least have something decently healthy to go with my meal. I think sometimes the food gets me feeling that spicy vibe and other times it has not. A couple things this place does great is getting nice cuts of pepper in the dishes and I am a sucker for a great fried rice- this places gets that right every time! If you are wanting to check out a new szechuan place this would be a great place to start.

Review №57

2020-05-13 16:56:32

Dont be scared off by the sketchy neighborhood - its nice inside! Its quickly become a lunchtime favorite. Get the fried fish with explosive chili peppers - such a unique flavor sensation! The fish is very tender, surrounded by a spicy coating that tingles on your tongue. The string beans are great, and the smoked bacon with dried beancurd is absolutely out of this world! Try this place - you wont be sorry! Cash only, but you can eat very well for very little.

Review №58

2021-09-06 01:13:37

Most dishes are super salty. They do not bring out all dishes together. Some take up to ten minutes apart from each dish making the other dishes cold or group eat at different times. You need to ask for water. Can’t finish some dishes since they have little to no flavor. They

Review №59

2020-04-11 07:19:17

Nine of us were looking for a place that was open to have dinner on Christmas and we lucked out. Spices! III was really good. I wouldn’t call it fancy but there’s a tall was that’s painted nicely with images and Chinese characters. We had 2 soups and 8 dishes. I especially liked the basil chicken and the tofu dish and garlic eggplant - but the Mongolian beef and sweet and sour pork were great also. Will definitely go back. Plus it’s a block and a half from 12th Street BART.

Review №60

2020-05-21 14:45:46

Spices 3 (or just “Spices”, as we call it), is possibly my favorite restaurant on the planet. The flavor and care put into each dish is phenomenal. The staff is amazing. Menu highlights for me include the Numbing Vegetarian Hot Pot, Twice Cooked Pork, Tofu with Explosive Chili Pepper, and Tofu Pockets with Sesame Sauce. Don’t hesitate! Get some Spices in your life today!

Review №61

2020-07-06 20:05:01

About 5-6 years ago I gave them a stellar review. Was ordering from them at least once a week. Now I have to reconsider.They have too much variation in who cooks the food, and the results show.I just ordered a dish Ive normally loved, and its flavorless. Not the first this has happened.Also, I have a dish where I order extra broccoli. I do this because they normally give you THREE pieces. Extra is $2. Thats like 20% the cost of the dish for about 8 pieces of broccoli.Get your consistency back, and stop nickel-diming everyone for everything, like White Rice.

Review №62

2018-07-09 01:31:41

So good! Just need to go at a time when no one orders stinky tofu! (Unless thats your kind of dish!) I highly recommend the spicy fried chicken wings, green beans, tendon, and beef noodle soup! Actually, pretty much everything Ive gotten has been good. Definitely for spicy eaters

Review №63

2018-11-09 19:58:29

I have always liked Spices 3. I always get their Salt and Pepper Stinky Bean Curd. Up until my last visit 2 weeks ago, everything had been very very good. So the last time I was there the stinky tofu was unacceptable quality - 1) It didnt smell right soon as I got to my car. 2) When I got home and opened the box, it didnt look right : some of the tofu were brown and looked stale 3) Eating it confirmed some of the tofu was indeed stale- a lot of the pieces were very soggy.I called to let the restaurant know and was told that their usual chef left and went out of the country. I explained the whole situation and the gentleman was professional in handling it. He asked what I would like to happen. I did say that if a new batch was to be made, I want to make sure that the tofu is NOT STALE. He then just offered to give me a full refund for the bad dish as he said it was how this current chef prepares it so it may end up the same way. (The tofu was not stale he said. But I know what fresh and stale is.) I dont think Ill be back anytime soon which makes me feel sad because this was a favorite of mine to go to when Im craving Szechuan and for late night eats.

Review №64

2019-02-16 21:27:34

Never been in-person, but I order delivery from them regularly. Generous portions at a fair price, and most everything Ive tried is fresh and delicious. Id say the only flaw is that the spice level is pretty gentle at best, but spice level is a preference thing anyways.My favorite dishes are the seafood ones: Fish with Tofu, Twice-Fried Fish Fillets, Sizzling Calamari with Basil and Jalepenos. Their chicken isnt bad either though - the salt and pepper chicken is a simple, but addicting appetizer. They recently took off Beef Tendon Stew from their delivery menu, but that was also one of my top favorites; whenever I get to visit in person one day, I hope itll still be there.

Review №65

2020-01-29 07:49:14

Seemingly limitless choices at this restaurant. Wide variety of spiciness levels, but even dishes with 3 pepper signs (the spiciest) were not unbearably hot. All plates were delicious, and prices are great - though unfortunately its a cash only place.

Review №66

2019-07-13 04:01:54

I went here on the recommendation of several people. They told me it was spicy, but I felt it was quite bland even though I ordered one of the hotter items on the menu.The service was pretty curt and they only take cash.They did have a funny menu and offered some more authentic Chinese dishes like stinky tofu, but it was just okay.

Review №67

2023-07-03 04:54:33

Best Chinese food I’ve ever had.

Review №68

2021-07-18 08:06:10

Their food is truly delicious! I havent tasted everything on the menu, but thats my goal 😂 The only reason they got 4 out of 5 stars is because they are a cash only establishment and that can be inconvenient at times... Like today 😔

Review №69

2019-12-26 19:03:58

Food here is soooooo good, their fish filet, their pork, the beef everything they have with explosive chili peppers is excellent. Their veggies go so well with their food, just make sure you eat everything with rice or it will over power your taste buds. Such a good place.

Review №70

2018-05-05 06:33:52

Best Szechuan Ive ever had in Oakland. Granted, that list is small -- and I dont live in Oakland -- but still phenomenal food. Would highly recommend if you have time. Great portions, we got the Green Beans, Eggplant, Ma Po Tofu, and Chicken in Exploding Pepper. So good, you gotta go.

Review №71

2019-06-18 01:33:18

Everything I have had here is absolutely amazing! The food is reasonably priced and the portions are massive!I am in Oakland weekly for work and I always make it a point to come here.The only downside is it is cash only, but its worth going to the ATM!

Review №72

2018-12-29 02:30:02

It’s pricy, but more importantly the orange chicken was so salty that it was almost inedible—maybe an unholy amount of msg? They suggest that it’s spicy, but the burning in my mouth was not spiciness, definitely just over salting. The hot and sour soup was good and filled with good stuff like generous tofu and some bamboo shoots and not much in the way of mushrooms, but $7.95 is pricy. The menu is a bit limited compared to other places. The staff are pretty friendly. It’s cash only, so there’s that. It’s a comfortable space with lots of seating and a variety of table sizes. In short, I might try it again and get a different entree, or just get the soup, but it’s likely I’d just pass and try other places because there are certainly enough around.

Review №73

2018-11-14 16:57:32

Great food and customer service.

Review №74

2021-02-06 02:34:07

New review for 2021- consistently reliable in quality and flavor. Dishes pack a punch, a touch on the saltier side, but still a good choice. Recommended dish pairings: wonton soup with their Tofu and explosive peppers.

Review №75

2023-03-19 21:36:04

Definitely best chinese food place in the bay,its not for the faint tho, very spicy and very delicious.

Review №76

2019-03-24 16:53:51

The best szechuan restaurant in the Bay Area Ive ever tasted. I eat here once a week. They have a couple of branches but the one in Oakland is the best. Get the exploding spicy chicken(but ask for no bones, trust me, its better.), the flaming spicy oil fish and twice cooked bacon.

Review №77

2019-11-18 19:55:28

Ordered Chicken and Mixed Veggies. The dish did not contain any chicken. Also ordered the Salt and Pepper pork chops that i though would come dry but was more like a bbq. The taste was very bland and because i ordered delivery wasnt mush i could do about it.

Review №78

2018-12-01 21:01:34

This place has an extensive menu with a wide ranging option of spiciness; we came with a group of 6 people and thats definitely the way to do it-- more people means you get to try more stuff! Everything was delicious, we didnt leave any food on the table. Definitely planning on coming back.

Review №79

2019-07-23 22:25:18

4 stars for taste but three stars overall due to the following negatives.This review is based on ordering having tried several dishes, including the ma po tofu, orange beef, and mongolian beef.The good - taste is good, nearly spot-on to what we had in Shanghai in restaurants that featured similar spicy dishes. However, a big negative is way too much oil is used in making these dishes, even after we had asked for less oil. There was about 1/4 inch of oil floating on top of the dish, every dish. This is not surprising since this is how a lot of food is like when we ate in Shanghai, and the chef here probably wont adjust his cooking (how much oil goes into a dish) simply because someone makes that request.In addition, the menu is not very clear in describing dishes. For example, we ordered the orange beef, thinking that the beef would be wok fried/saute. When it came out, it was obvious the beef had been deep fried, then saute in the sauce. This is not very appetizing, and adds a lot of unnecessary fat and calories to the dish. Moreover, there was barely a taste of orange flavor/scent in the dish. We would not order this one again.Besides being too oily (which you might be able to spoon out or avoid), the ma po tofu was very flavorful and we would order again, however, were not sure we would visit again knowing that everything that comes out of the kitchen will be swimming in a pool of oil or red chili oil ;/

Review №80

2016-11-28 09:52:58

Delicious Chinese food. I like the Kiss Of Fire (either chicken or beef), the Cumin Lamb, and the Dan Dan Noodles, all of which are spicier and more flavorful than any other restaurant Ive tried. Im taking off one star because it might not be the cleanest place.

Review №81

2017-12-27 21:03:05

The proverbial hole-in-the-wall with excellent Chinese food. Their menu has over 150 items including unusual dishes like stinky tofu. They have the most authentic kung pao chicken that I have tasted in the bay area. The prices are very reasonable but note that they are strictly cash only. No credit cards, no checks.

Review №82

2022-10-22 05:59:55

I walked by this place for years, never checked it out but tonight I ordered takeout and this is the best Chinese food I’ve ever had. Blew my mind!

Review №83

2016-06-15 18:23:43

The waitress there delayed orders from customers on purpose. I was there twice recently and ordered beef noodles. The first time, the waitress kept me waiting for twenty minutes, despite of no other customers in the dinning room. On another occasion, the waitress simply ignore my order and kept me waiting. I left with disappointment. Warning! If you dont order big meal at that restaurant, they will keep you waiting for long time. Even worse, you will not be served.

Review №84

2022-11-24 03:18:35

Extremely rude and impolite staff. They did not have service at all. All they did was throwing menu on the desk. The woman at the counter had very bad attitude Like customers owed them something . She took in my tip without saying Thank You. Never come to this place!

Review №85

2015-11-03 20:51:01

I love the fried rice at this place. I usually get the spicy chicken fried rice which is the bomb! I also like to get the wings but I dont like how they cut them in half -- so each winget is in half. It makes the experience less enjoyable. BUT I still really like it.

Review №86

2013-01-08 22:34:12

I had lunch here today. The food was incredible. I like spicy food. Their ratings go from one pepper (spicy) to three peppers (EXTREMELY SPICY). My friend and I ate family style. I had the sizzling chicken. It was one pepper and very spicy with jalapenos and red pepper. He had the twice cooked bacon which was two peppers. No discernible difference between the two, but both were very spicy. The taste of the food was great. And the sizzling chicken came out in foil over an iron skillet. I burned my finger and the roof of my mouth. Be careful! Someone else told me that they had the pork intestine and it was great. The food was awesome and Ill be back.The service was good and the food came out very quickly. We had to ask for water a couple times and they were out of watermelon water - oh well.A couple downsides are that the place has very little going for it in the way of decor. I like the cute logo, but once youre inside its like every other Chinese restaurant in Oakland. The second is that its CASH ONLY.

Review №87

2015-06-20 20:36:10

Spicy Fish fillet bowl with flaming red oil... Was best in class. So much garlic not too spicy and wonderfully fresh leafy green water vegetables. Damn so good.Fried chicken wings in explosive chili pepper was really good as well.Dont get the spicy beef noodle soup. It was not good. Would have been five stars without it.

Review №88

2018-09-14 00:11:40

CASH ONLY. Credit card companies are eating into the minor profits of family owned restaurants.Both the eggplant dish, and braised tofu were tasty.The tofu of the braised tofu was soft, and had no indication of having been braised.Good in-general, eggplant was especially tasty.Guidepost.us

Review №89

2017-02-11 03:25:10

Have ordered several times online through grubhub; delicious food, quick and timely service! The Szechuan chili oil dishes that include garlic are PHENOMENAL (we always order ours with fish rather than the listed options of chicken or beef - another sign of great customer service, theyre open to compromise), and the surprising diversity of vegetable dishes is a nice touch. Im trying the Numbing Cucumber dish tonight.

Review №90

2018-11-14 22:06:18

Food is amazing! The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars is because its cash only and the waitress doesnt speak English. You have to know what exactly you are ordering or there is a good chance shell put in the wrong order like that happened to me and my friend.

Review №91

2017-12-03 01:39:44

My place to go for spicy, *numbing* spicy food. Some of the stuff is not that great (hot and sour soup, Im looking at you), but all the entrees Ive had were out of the ballpark good. Recommend the string beans with bean curd and black bean sauce and the ma po tofu.

Review №92

2018-05-06 06:24:45

Great spicy food. This is szechwan food made Taiwanese style. There are spicy and non spicy options. My favorites are the fish fillets in explosive chilis, the diced green beans, and I always ask for an eggplant dish without the sweet sauce (the one on the menu is often sweet). The vegetarian chow mein is also really good. The service is a little slow, but theyre nice.

Review №93

2017-03-12 15:09:50

Hands down the best spicy Chinese food in town. Absolutely authentic if you know what you are ordering. Be adventurous and get their stinky tofu selection. Worth every penny.

Review №94

2023-01-22 05:01:08

Food is delicious. The five stars for service and atmosphere are relative to location.

Review №95

2016-05-02 19:02:24

3.5 stars, rounded down.Had the fried tofu here, which is definitely 5 star. Its a dish comprised of crunchy fried nuggets of tofu in a basket of hot peppers. Delicious and has a kick to it.That was a wonderful bonus. However, the main draw and the reason I came here was for the Flaming Red Oil dish (with both beef and chicken). It didnt give me food poisoning, but it was slimy and not as spicy as I had hoped. I am in love with the Sichuan melt-your-face spiciness that you find in their water boiled beef dishes. Instead, it had a kick to it, but it wasnt incredible.I think probably the best Sichuan food Ive had weirdly enough was in Vancouver. But Cheng Du definitely has some great spots.

Review №96

2020-06-30 02:59:12

I always get delivery from from door dash.The food is really delicious. It is a tad on the greasy side but tbh that’s why I love Chinese food and therefore this place. Spices are spicy. Flavors are poppin.

Review №97

2013-01-02 03:42:57

Simply the best, hands down. Hard to say anything more. Everything I ever had was amazing, chicken, duck, eggplant, tofu. The service is amazing, food comes fast, if I lived close Id go every other day.

Review №98

2022-11-27 08:33:41

Outstanding vegan options — try the yuxiang qiezi (garlic eggplant) and lazi doufu (yummy flavorful fried tofu)employees are very friendly too!!

Review №99

2020-11-11 22:43:28

Really delicious, authentic, and relatively cheap prices too. Their cold dish pork ears were great. Ill definitely order again.

Review №100

2020-03-10 00:36:57

Customer service was horrible.They need a real lesson in servicing their customers.How about starting with a smile, asking how may I help you, do have any questions, might I suggest you try this dish. Lastly, thank you sho much for coming and for Gods sake dont have your hand (fingers) in your mouth in front of the customer as well as put the customers change in their hand for Christ sake. The food wasnt that great either.

Review №101

2019-12-07 06:21:31

Last time I was here was in the early 2010s. Its high quality Chinese 麻辣 food that gives your taste buds vertigo, but in a good way. They go hard. I cant wait until I get the chance to come back here

Review №102

2017-12-08 14:31:21

Literally my favourite Chinese joint in Oakland. Love Szechuan food, and prices are hella reasonable. The dishes are a little on the greasy side, so dont come if youre watching the scale haha. Also, cash only! I recommend the garlic tofu

Review №103

2018-01-18 23:26:38

Very authentic Szechuan restaurant. This place is for spicy food lovers. Favorite foods are stinky tofu (range from fried, mapo tofu, to casserole with pig innards). Price is decent, around $60 to 70 for 2, but cash only.

Review №104

2017-01-01 18:37:12

Been a few times, the food is always spectacular. The last time I was there I wanted to be adventurous, so I tried the ma-po stinky tofu...BAD IDEA. The best way for me to describe it would be like faceplanting in a pile of horse manure...0/10 would not recommend.

Review №105

2018-05-22 20:10:55

Some dishes much better than other, but overall a little too greasy. And nothing was really spicy enough. White wine was on the warm side, but it was a massive pour for $5! Cash-only, so come prepared

Review №106

2022-05-18 14:12:39

The food was different and tasty. There was something about the food that made my tongue feel a bit numb for some reason and didnt like the fact that they only accept cash.

Review №107

2018-07-31 20:04:21

I love this place. The food is always good and consistent. The service is quick and good. Make sure you reach early so that u get a spot, it gets pretty crowded during lunch hours.

Review №108

2017-04-12 02:41:34

Been here before about 5 years ago and remembered how good it was so hopped off the BART for some spicy eats. BUT (& that was a big but) I couldnt get anybody to seat me or even acknowledge my presence. The food on other peoples plates looked good. . .

Review №109

2017-01-11 05:37:30

Extremely bad! We ordered a take-out and found out no rice inside. We called back and were told that we should know that rice should be ordered separately. They didnt inform us such when we were placing the order over the phone. I seriously believe it is just an excuse they use for forgetting to put rice in the pack.

Review №110

2017-05-16 05:07:23

Possibly the best wings I have ever had, they cut the nuckle off both ends and deep fry them wiyh chili peppers. The salt and pepper calamari is amazing too. I have been coming to Oakland for years and just found out about this place.

Review №111

2011-07-14 19:06:45

The food is awesome here. We get take out at least once in a typical week. Our favorites are Changsha lamb, shredded pork with cabbage, and the tofu with explosive chili peppers.

Review №112

2018-07-04 22:25:47

This place is one of my favs.Street parking (can be tough on busy days/nights)Sometimes there can be a wait.The menu is large, but the food is delish. I cant ever recall having a bad food experience there.Service is meh, at best. Sometimes I get lucky and get some good service, but service isnt why I go. I go for the food. Enjoy!

Review №113

2018-07-24 18:59:48

Very good food especially fried garlic dishes! But it was a bit confusing about where to sit and people were allowed to get a seat ahead of us while we were waiting on a clean table. Also waited forever to pay.

Review №114

2022-02-11 02:22:09

Mediocre. The food had random cold spots in it, which lets me know it was microwaved or reheated out of the fridge/freezer. Taste and consistency were average.

Review №115

2018-09-09 13:12:21

A real dive. Heavy on the oil and not very fresh tasting. Got the flaming beef, skillet tofu, stinky tofu, and smoked bacon. Flaming beef was the best. Another example of gross Americanized Chinese food that will make you feel terrible about yourself.

Review №116

2023-04-07 17:45:45

DAMN KUNG PAO TOFU HAD SOME HEATSO MANY PEPPERS. I loved it though, will be coming back

Review №117

2018-01-01 23:38:23

Our go-to for good, fast Sichuan food. Recommended: Hot & spicy beef combination (appetizer), hot & sour stir-fry potato strips, chicken wings with explosive chilli peppers, Chinese smoked salty ham stir-fry with leek,dry braised string beans or stir-fry chinese watercress (neither are spicy).

Review №118

2019-04-07 00:38:32

Delicious food in a bland-to-ugly setting. You can order from the counter or sit down and be served. Its great for lunch groups since you can order ahead and have the food brought out altogether once you arrive.

Review №119

2017-12-11 04:06:37

Delicious Sichuan food. Great flavors on several dishes including the pickled cucumber, spicy small lamb ribs, fried calamari, fish in 3 oils, and fried chicken bites.

Review №120

2016-10-15 04:20:10

Not for the faint-of--heart foodies or Panda Express crowds but Jonathan Gold types will find plenty to enjoy.I recommend the numbing spicy beef tendon, fried stinky bean curd with explosive chilly pepper, and pickled cabbage with fish fillet soup.Fans of Mission Chinese will be pleased to find Mr Bowiens inspiration here.Cash only, open till 11pm

Review №121

2014-09-01 20:16:33

The decor is nothing to talk about, but this restaurant serves some of the best spicy sichuan chinese food. My favorite dish is the salt and pepper chicken. The prices are also lower than the sichuan restaurants in SF. The restaurant is hilariously located next door to an adult smut shop.

Review №122

2023-08-05 02:32:07

Crab Rangoon and rice very good

Review №123

2013-08-13 05:28:12

Watch because those 3 star dishes are very hot. We havent had anything bad there. They get crowded at lunch time so make it there early. If you have a group of 5 or more, call ahead and reserve a table.

Review №124

2018-12-16 01:55:17

The sever over charged me. When i questioned her about it, she said I had to pay the tip and the different for the incorrect amount just happen to be the tip. NO WHERE in the restaurant does state that the tip is included. Not on the receipt, not on the menu, no signs on the wall... When I asked her to brake down the bill she could not.

Review №125

2022-10-17 23:22:09

It’s an authentic kind of place. I don’t expect everyone to think this is the best, but it is definitely a delicious experience that is great for groups.

Review №126

2019-06-08 22:16:28

Great food for delivery, but the dishes dont come with rice which was pretty bad. Standard delivery generally comes with it, was unpleasantly surprised this didnt. Food quality was on point.

Review №127

2019-05-13 01:29:29

The takeout portions are so small, it seems they are taking advantage of takeout orders. $75 of entrees should have served 8 people but barely sufficed for 5. I should have taken photos showing the 2/3rds empty boxes. And on top of that it wasnt even good.

Review №128

2019-05-19 21:27:17

Open late, serving delicious, spicy Chinese food. Cash only.

Review №129

2012-09-29 13:50:51

I am in a perpetual search for a satisfying bowl of noodles.Although I love our food selection in the bay area, what is lacking is hand pulled wheat noodles that is easily accessible in Asia. I am not talking about that store bought manufactured noodle crap. (Yeah Im high maintenance when it comes to noodles! So what?! )What I would order here:Szechuan Beef Noodle - Large ($7.95)The Szechuan Beef Noodle at Spices 3 is reminiscent of Taiwanese style beef noodle soup with a spicy and numbing Szechuan pepper kick. The noodles are perfectly cooked al dente and have that wonderful hand pulled texture. There are large pieces of beef and lots of it. The small size is definitely enough for even the hungriest carnivore, however the large size is the one to get. At only $1 more, you can double your portion!I would recommend bringing back the leftovers for later or sharing a bowl. By sharing, you may even create your own Lady and the Tramp Disney moment. Tres romantique nest pas? Youre welcome.

Review №130

2017-09-06 22:07:17

What a great place! Food was WONDERFUL! Great service and the food was on our table before my second sip of beer! (We ordered 7 different dishes between 4 of us!)

Review №131

2018-04-28 01:50:55

Fried pork chops were very good and the eggplant dish, most food was ok except for the stinky tofu with bbq sauce which was too salty and we were told that the sauce would be on the side but it was actually on the stinky tofu.

Review №132

2020-06-18 01:05:59

This place would have a much higher rating if the food wasnt so oily. There was so much oil at the bottom of my Mongolian beef dish that it makes us think twice about going back

Review №133

2013-07-21 05:11:51

Amazing chinese food. everything we ordered was great, but id especially recommend the string beans and the pork with pickled pepper. very good prices, and nice service as well.

Review №134

2023-10-27 22:58:29

Affordable food and yummy too

Review №135

2020-01-26 03:30:48

Poor food, and extremely slow service.20 minutes between each dish. So slow we left without our main (and therefore hungry), after asking several times for it.Plus cash only.

Review №136

2020-01-18 19:20:16

Super good food at a really nice price, literally beat my favorite restaurant Wojia locates in Albany, which is probably 30% more expensive. Super good place, my new fav. Highly recommended.

Review №137

2019-01-04 00:49:56

Very bad experience in the place. they force customer to pay in cash but charge you tax! very bad attitude also. they charge rice for $1.5 and the second bowl for $5! Disgusting place! 欺骗客人，态度恶劣，无良商家

Review №138

2016-12-05 21:09:43

Super delicious, especially the dry string beans dish, all the fish dishes, Ma Po tofu and cold cucumbers. Cash only. Really good.

Review №139

2019-03-04 00:37:51

Excellent food for the price, and lots of choices to try from the menu.Recommend to try wings, fried fish, hot pot bowl and Mapo tofu!

Review №140

2021-02-07 22:21:37

Spicy delicious and perfect. Something for everyone. Great prices. 2nd favorite restaurant in Oakland. Thanks Spices for being amazing!!

Review №141

2018-11-11 16:02:20

Their new location (across the street from the old one) is much more spacious and comfortable. The best Sichuan in Oakland easily, and probably this whole part of the east bay.

Review №142

2017-10-25 19:28:37

Szechuan food done right! It can be a bit chaotic and food comes out at random, but the quality is excellent. Try the wontons in red oil and the cucumbers with numbing spice!

Review №143

2019-03-04 23:01:07

Good food but the people here are not nice and they be just on their phones and when you try to call them to ask and get something you know and feel it that they get irritated. Yes the food are delicious but alck of hospitality.

Review №144

2018-02-04 21:32:01

My go-tos are the Mapp tofu and braised green beans. Cumin lamb good. Depending on whos cooking the salt and pepper squid is good.

Review №145

2019-09-26 22:55:22

We love this Cash only spot in Oakland outer China town. Eat in if you can as the dishes are better served up fresh.

Review №146

2022-03-28 22:43:25

Pretty good food.....customer service is terrible / unfriendly / impolite. Might be cultural, who knows. Come here for the food but not the service.

Review №147

2017-03-14 00:06:56

Food is very good, but spicy as other reviews have noted. Good prices. I look forward to exploring the menu.

Review №148

2018-06-02 19:01:57

Food tasted OK. Not anything special. Price listed on Google is about 40% less than the actual. My husband and I both got a bit stomach sick.

Review №149

2020-02-08 05:20:46

Really good Sichuan food. Probably some of the best Ive had in the area. Would recommend and will definitely eat again.

Review №150

2018-05-20 07:06:02

Not as that good as other customers’ review. The spicy Chicken did not taste as the real ones. Also, they only accept cash and the service was not professional!

Review №151

2017-09-13 04:31:19

Food is crazy fresh and tasty ... in 36 years Ive never had such quality Chinese food. Easy 6 out of 5 stars!!

Review №152

2015-11-17 06:44:07

Lots of great dishes, especially if you like spicy food.The stinky tofus were also one of the best Ive had outside of Taiwan.

Review №153

2017-12-27 04:34:53

Food is delicious! The simplest dishes are very tasty like their fried rice, they raised the bar!

Review №154

2016-06-17 05:19:32

My 2nd having this style of Chinese food and everything was yummy and spicy! we had tan tan noodles, wonton in red oil, cumin lamb and Kung pao shrimp.

Review №155

2018-02-17 23:15:48

Best orange chicken Ive had in my life! Nothing I have ordered in this restaurant has ever disappointed me. Great place!

Review №156

2019-06-10 05:23:23

My daughter is a local and recommended this place. Great variety for authentic Chinese meals and also meals for a less adventurous pallet.

Review №157

2017-10-10 23:50:56

Great Szechuan place! Not as upscale and fancy as China Village, but very tasty, definitely one of my favorite places for satisfying my spicy cravings.

Review №158

2017-12-01 03:41:20

What the place lacks in ambiance, it makes up in taste. Dan Dan Mein and hot oil won ton are my favorites. Reasonable price and huge variety of choices.

Review №159

2019-12-02 22:12:09

I love how spicy the food is here. They use the szechuan peppercorns, so my whole face goes numb. Its so delicious!!

Review №160

2018-03-24 22:16:06

This restaurant has very good spicy chicken wings. The food is pretty spicy but I like it. I would go again.

Review №161

2022-06-22 16:29:37

Best Chinese food in the Bay Area!!! Everything on the Menu is Delicious.

Review №162

2017-07-04 02:03:12

Chinatown classic. Fantastic food, affordable prices. Always come with a group to order a variety of dishes, something new every visit. Cash only.

Review №163

2021-11-04 21:31:48

If you dont care about service, then the food here is amazing, especially the authentic Sichuan dishes.

Review №164

2016-06-30 23:06:53

Great hole in the wall, the food is very full of interesting spices for instance eucalyptus and the menu is huge! Overall great value to boot

Review №165

2018-02-25 21:58:24

Love this place... ignore the location, its worth it.

Review №166

2018-01-05 06:13:53

Good place to have schezuan chinese food . Their lunch combo of 4 dishes with rice is awesome and. Plentiful for 3 people.

Review №167

2016-05-13 04:41:55

Super legit. Some of the best spice Ive had. Great fried rice as well. Lovely service.

Review №168

2018-03-01 22:11:45

This place is a superior yum-yum. Get the dan dan noodles, salt and pepper calamari, red oil wonton, spicy green beans, and an onion cake.

Review №169

2017-08-01 04:36:13

Placed an order through Grub Hub. Meal was delivered with no rice. When we called they basically said there was nothing they could do. Delivery driver was also rude.

Review №170

2018-05-16 05:47:05

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Oakland. If you like relatively spicy Szechuan food this is the place to go.

Review №171

2015-12-10 22:22:03

Great prices for the food. Their dishes are very flavorful but expected the spicy to be spicier.

Review №172

2022-07-15 05:53:46

Authenticated Chinese food served by them and very testy at economical price

Review №173

2020-01-10 21:30:44

Not bad. The stinky tofu is a little fascinating. Im not sure if I like it, but would definitely try it again.

Review №174

2019-11-10 06:18:51

The cup they gave me to drink water out of was completely dirty. I could scrap the insides of the cup and get junk under my nail. I

Review №175

2019-01-22 20:34:26

First of all service is 0 very poor, and later they said they accept only cash, i said we do not carry cash, n ask me to go to next store they have ATM. They should tell me before order food.

Review №176

2018-02-11 01:42:12

Extra point for having stinky tofu. Their tofu with chili peppers is delicious with just enough Sichuan peppercorns.

Review №177

2019-08-19 05:37:51

Spice salads are tasty, but the hot dishes are just so so, not recommended for that.

Review №178

2017-01-22 02:38:46

Solid overall with a great swath of Sichuan dishes but some are half executed such as cumin lamb with none of the necessary crispy / charred edges

Review №179

2018-01-18 18:04:55

This is great food and if you like it hot, you probably cant find more appropriate food.

Review №180

2022-02-15 03:49:48

Great late night (by Bay standards) option in Oakland. Payment only in cash or Venmo.

Review №181

2015-04-06 00:42:59

Fresh food, well spiced, great crispy duck and combination rice... the best duck ever! Very clean and well prepared food!!!

Review №182

2017-03-05 11:12:32

Amazing sichuan food! The fish boat (Fried fish filet in flaming red oil) is the absolute best thing ever.

Review №183

2019-08-08 22:35:52

Always a great place to stop when you are in the area- menu is exploding with goodies - hard to go wrong. Sometimes there is a wait- but well worth it!!

Review №184

2019-06-30 15:20:45

The chicken/fish with explosive chili peppers (not spicy but great flavor) is awesome!

Review №185

2019-01-28 01:59:22

Really solid food at a good price. I like the fact that they have some community tables.

Review №186

2019-07-13 18:01:49

Really good tea! And the noodles I had were fantastic, everyone should try this place.

Review №187

2018-03-10 15:42:07

The food was gross. I really dont understand why this place is often packed! Acquired taste I guess.

Review №188

2018-04-14 20:12:44

The best spicy food in the entire Bay Area, prices are reasonable and service is always fast.

Review №189

2017-10-29 01:45:03

Table service was a little slow, but the food was great. I bought the Garlic Chicken with a side on the side.

Review №190

2023-07-13 23:28:27

Great authemtic Sechuan food

Review №191

2017-12-13 02:47:33

CASH ONLYPretty good food. Huge selection. Very quick service and return times.

Review №192

2023-07-26 21:53:28

This could work 635!

Review №193

2021-10-30 22:52:31

One of the best Chinese restaurants weve been to outside of China!

Review №194

2020-02-05 22:23:46

Wait staff incredible rude. Yelled at me to “hurry up and order!” Hygiene issues. Greasy floor.

Review №195

2020-12-29 23:08:56

Spices3 is an DT Oakland treasure.

Review №196

2021-09-02 22:28:20

Love this place,price is good,so is the food,get to try everything.

Review №197

2019-03-04 08:00:04

Too bad! Parking on steet go inside restaurant eat and come out car had been breaking window and lost some items. Ill never come back this place

Review №198

2018-02-12 04:48:04

Probably one of the best Chinese restaurants in Oakland. The crispy duck is very good.

Review №199

2019-11-30 22:32:04

CASH ONLY PLACE. Spice was good but toned down from the amount of nonasian customers I saw there.