New Sichuan Restaurant Opening Soon In San Mateo County

SAN MATEO, CA — A new Sichuan restaurant that has become well known in New York and Los Angeles is coming to San Mateo.

Tai Er in San Mateo located at 98 E 4th Ave. offers a culinary experience, distinct from its New York City and Los Angeles grab-and-go origins.

The restaurant is slated to open the week of Aug. 25 and guests can expect signature dishes, including sliced fish poached in bone broth with house sauerkraut, chili oil chicken, cumin lamb, spicy pork belly, seasonal vegetable dishes, and desserts like mango pomelo sago and sticky rice cake with ice cream.

Since 2015, Tai Er,, which in Mandarin literally means "too serious about food," has brought people all over the world the Sichuan dining experience. The brand's name reflects its pursuit of perfection and obsessive dedication to flavor. They have aimed to perfect the exact seconds fish should be cooked, and have become known for their signature house-fermented sauerkraut fish, SuanCai.

Tai Er uses a traditional fermentation method, relying only on pure salt and sugar — claiming to never use hemical additives. Restaurant representatives said that every batch is naturally aged in classic clay jars for 23 days under carefully controlled temperature and humidity. Only premium small-leaf mustard greens are chosen for their crisp texture and bright flavor. The result is a tangy, fragrant SuanCai.

This new Bay Area flagship restaurant offers a sit-down dining experience, showcasing Sichuan's richness, balance, and elegance, rather than just its heat.