Chef Yan 川府人家 - Fairfax, Virginia

E Z.

Chef Yan 川府人家 was highly recommended by our local friend as their go-to spot for delicious Sichuan cuisine. We were impressed by the extensive menu and the bold, flavorful dishes. Service was quick and friendly, though we visited in the afternoon when it wasn’t busy. Portions were generous—we all had leftovers to take home. Parking was plentiful, making it a convenient stop. Overall, a fantastic experience and a must-visit for Sichuan food lovers!

Bo

Chef Yan is a great spot for authentic Szechuan food in NOVA. The flavors are bold, so spice lovers will be happy. My favorite dishes were the spicy chicken and mashed pepper with eggplant and eggs.The menu has a good variety, and everything tasted fresh and well-prepared.

Service is efficient. There's no need for reservations, which makes it an easy choice for a spontaneous meal. The only reason for four stars instead of five is that the spice level can be intense for some, and a few dishes might be on the oily side.

Overall, it’s a fantastic place for real Szechuan cuisine, and I’ll definitely be back!

Zhaoying L.

I would not recommend dining here.
Last night my husband and I had dinner at Chef Yan. Toward the end of our meal, I noticed a white residue on the inside wall of my hot water cup. It was sticky, had a certain thickness, and could be scraped off easily. Since I am 8 months pregnant and cautious about hygiene, I called the waitress over to find out what it was. The waitress took the cup away and returned, saying it had been washed and that the chef and dishwasher claimed it was oil. However, I pointed out that it didn’t have the texture, smell, or appearance of oil.
My husband and I spent about an hour there trying to figure out what it was; most of the time, they just left us alone and kept us waiting. The manager refused to come because it was late but called to say she understood my concern and asked me to go home and contact her if I experienced any issues. Meanwhile, the waitress was very rude, impatient, and even aggressive, asking if I planned to file a lawsuit or what I wanted to do.
On top of this, two of the dishes we ordered had an odd oil smell. The next day, both my husband and I experienced diarrhea. After sharing this experience on rednote in Chinese, within an hour, six other people commented, saying they had encountered dirty tableware or experienced stomach issues, including diarrhea or gastroenteritis, after dining at this restaurant.

Brendan P.

I have been here twice, the first was just decent but the second was great! I got the grilled/roasted fish both times and the spicy (medium) spice is much better than the non spicy garlic flavor. The crispy pork was a bit overcooked the first time I went. According to my wife, the peppered eggplant was extremely spicy but tasted good. Worth going a couple times to try different things, I'd say pretty authentic Chinese food!

Yongmei Z.

The little restaurant is located in a street mall which makes parking easy. Despite the humble exterior the inside is nice and clean. Food was authentically delicious, comes in generous portion and reasonably priced. We ordered three entrees and one desert. We loved the green Sichuan peopercorn fish, green pepper stir fry shredded pork and pickled long bean chicken gizzards. We will come back again!

Shao

You don't know who Chef Yan is? Me either, but does it bother me? Nah. Just like how I have no idea who General Tso is, I gave this Chef Yan place a try and was happy to report that this place was great! They offer a wide range of authentic Chinese food options, but also offer classic American Chinese foods too! I had a great time here with the delicious food and the friendly staff, but I gotta complain that while I was there, the whole place was whisper quiet...they didn't put on any music! It did make the experience a bit awkward, but at least the decor of the place was pleasant to my eyes and very clean. Come and give it a try, if you like.

Novi B.

Went for dinner to this place. I looked it up, Sichuan food. And this one was recommended. I ordered dry fried cauliflower, crispy duck, double cooked pork. Food came fast, taste good however service was not good. All the servers wore earpieces, it took sometime to catch their attention. The place wasn’t that busy. Overall it was an ok experience for me and my friend.

Tony W.

Always happy to find another authentic Chinese restaurant, especially Sichuan style since those are rare and good ones are even more rare. Don't come here for fast Chinese take out, come here for a genuine meal. Bring a few people so you can get a good spread. Bonus if you can bring a friend who read/speaks Chinese.