I've come back over and over again for Tai Er's delicious "Sauerkraut Fish". The unforgettable slurps of beautifully poached fish in a spicy, hot and sour broth. Yum! Comfortable is their dining room and efficient is their takeout orders. The one huge complaint of mine is that they have always MISSED giving our table or with my takeout orders a dish with each visit. Grrr! CHEERS!

Food: The sauerkraut fish was a standout dish, offering a unique and flavorful experience. The combination of spicy, tangy, and numbing flavors was a delightful surprise. The refreshing teas were a perfect complement to the meal. Cost: The prices were reasonable, especially considering the quality and quantity of the food. Environment: The restaurant was spacious and clean, with plenty of seating. The open kitchen window provided a fun and interactive dining experience. Service: The service was efficient and friendly. The food was served promptly. Uniqueness: The sauerkraut fish was a unique and delicious dish that sets this restaurant apart. The open kitchen concept and the fun board games added to the overall dining experience. Great place to come if you have a large party as well.

Went back the next day because it was just that good. Got it to go and it tasted fine after popping into the microwave for a little bit. Can't wait to try the tomato flavor next!

I've walked pass this spot in the Tangram Mall soo many times and finally decided to stop by to check them out. We got the Sauerkraut Fish For Two ($50), which came with sauerkraut and radish. I'm not sure if it was supposed to come with glass noodles or that costed extra to add into it, but we were under the impression it would come with it and didn't get the noodles. Overall this was good. Definitely recommend getting the bowl of rice, which is $2 each. We also got Choy Sum with Bean Curd Salad ($8), which is a nice refreshing dish to balance out the spicy Sauerkraut Fish dish.

It seems as sauerkraut fish is the rage in flushing these days so I decided to try out this one in Tangram. This one is apparently a chain from China and is making a debut in both California and now NYC. We were seated and offered tea and water. We were able to order everything on our phone using a QR code located on the table which I thought was super convenient. We got the fried pork, choy sum in broth, and the non spicy sauerkraut fish with added chewy wide noodles. The pork was super crispy with a light batter. The vegetable was a little bland but hey it's vegetables. The fish dish however has a SUPER flavorful broth with a deep meaty flavor that contrasted with the sour pickled vegetable. The fish was super tender and flakey and the added noodles gave it a good chewy texture. Overall I recommend trying this place out for a fancy version of the sauerkraut fish dish. I will definitely be back to try the spicy version!

Went to try their sauerkraut fish. It was pretty good. I loved having that paired with the glass noodles. But careful of those black peppercorns. Bit into one of those. The restaurant was clean and they were quick to serve us our drinks. It may be because it was busy, but it took a while for our dishes to arrive. It almost felt like they forgot to bring us a couple of our dishes. However overall a lovely experience.

A testament to the growing popularity of Sichuan cuisine in the US is further exemplified with Tai Er (太二), one of China's most successful restaurant chains. Flushing becomes the second location in the country, and third overall on the continent (#1). While there are tastier options in the area, I would give Tai Er a thumbs up overall. Located inside of Tangram on the second level, Tai Er has a healthy crowd of diners practically every night. Since they don't take reservations, waits are a frequent thing here. (#2) The interior is modern all around, with clean bathrooms and large seating areas. The open kitchen has a view for the public side, so anyone can witness the prep for all dishes and witness the cauldron of hot oil hitting the food. The ambiance is as chaotic as the staff, which is often seen scrambling to deal with all the customers present (seated) and potential (waiting). Like many trendy Chinese places nowadays, ordering is done through mobile phones. The platform is geared toward Chinese speakers / writers, despite some major mistranslations on the online ordering system and some potential for mishaps in case of substitutions. Staff is present to help with this, but as always, having a Mandarin speaker or 10 will be very helpful. Their claim to fame is their take on suan cai yu (酸菜魚), which some might know as the Sichuanese style fish in pickled mustard greens to which they've dubbed "Signature sauerkraut fish". Another popular Sichuanese dish, the poached fish in hot oil (水煮魚) is also among their specialties, and served in some of the largest plate-bowls I've seen. The spice kick is not significant, at least for mala-ready tastebuds, but this is a solid output that if done consistently, is worthy of a repeat despite the overly inflated price tag of $60 per bowl. My group and I ordered several other dishes that included mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐), fuqi feipian (夫妻肺片 - couples delight?), poached sliced beef in oil (水煮牛), mouth watering chicken (口水雞), and a simple Chinese broccoli (芥藍) that was all solid. It was all very family style appropriate, with enough heat in each dish to satisfy the average spice seeker. Some other random things I loved: :: The branded mugs. There is a complimentary rose tea that is served at the end of the meal, which I appreciated. :: Shout out to all the Zojirushi rice cookers on the counter. Respect. :: The little table game everyone can shake around for a "lucky stick." This is the most Chinese thing I've seen in a while. While not everyone in my group was about it, I certainly enjoyed myself. Barring some minor service issues, the prices, and the general disorder of the place, I still think there's a lot of potential here and I can't wait to come back to try more. ___________ (#1) Arcadia, CA and Richmond, BC being the others. AKA some of the most Chinese of Chinese enclaves on the planet. (#2) Part of a larger group? Prepare to wait even longer.