Chengdu 46
“I hadn't been in almost 2 decades but my parents still frequently go as it remains a favorite restaurant of theirs.”
“(Roll and tuck the thin pancakes for you) My favorite has always been the Pu Pu Platter to start.”
“Our favorite dishes are the Lobster with Chengdu sauce, Empress chicken, gold coins, hot and sour soup, Peking Duck.”
Chengdu 46
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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Second time dining here with a Groupon and we were not disappointed. The Groupon consists of two drinks, one appetizer or two soups and two entrées with a side of begs or fried rice for $49, a steal! We started out the meals each with a glass of wine, very generous pours. From there we got an order of the dumplings in spicy sauce but asked if they could alter the heat since my mom can't do heat but instead they put it on the side which was great. For entrées I went with the Spicy Volcano Chicken and my mom went with the Plum Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs which I had been eyeing since the first time I came that way I can get a taste.
The chicken was what I expected. A huge portion, enough that I had to take home for another meal, of stir fried chicken in a fiery ginger, garlic and red pepper sauce. We were not prepared for the Short Ribs though. Three massive pieces surrounded by a crown of broccoli that smell like a little piece of heaven. No need for a knife here, as they fell apart as soon as you took a fork to them. THEY. WERE. DIVINE!!! The delicious shrimp fried rice was also a big enough portion for both of us to share.
We have been so happy with our two experiences here and will continue to patronize this restaurant.
Chengdu 46 is a survivor, a Chinese mainstay in Clifton for decades, and rightly so, as it never disappoints.
The restaurant is located directly on Rt. 46 East, and drive carefully as it is easy to pass. The restaurant is classy and well-appointed with both tables and cozy booths. The servers are men in suits that are attentive, polite and quite hospitable. There is a full bar and the bartender is a solid mixologist.
The food, albeit pricey, is very good. The Pork Jingling arrives on a sizzling platter. The pork is thin and buttery tender, you won't need a knife. The prawn dishes are usually my second choice, as they are large and cooked perfectly. Some dishes may reflect Americanized recipes, regardless, the food is prepared quickly, with fresh ingredients and delicately spiced, I'm a fan. Dessert selections are modest, an ice cream or banana flambé type dish are your typical choices.
Chengdu 46 is currently offering a great deal, $50 for two soups, two entrees, and two glasses of wine. That would make a great date night.
Finally, there is a nice private party room available for your needs.
Where should I start? I've been coming to Chengdu 46 for well over 20 years. It's fair to say that they've stood the test of time. Yes, it's in need on an overhaul as far as decor, tables, chairs, etc. But it's NOT dirty. Just, "dated." The wait staff is always very friendly, polite, and helpful. Black jackets and bow ties all the time! Don't bother looking for crispy noodles or fortune cookies because it's not that kind of place. Instead look for outstanding gourmet Sichuan cuisine. Their Peking duck is the best I've ever had. They will gladly prepare it for eating right at your table. (Roll and tuck the thin pancakes for you) My favorite has always been the Pu Pu Platter to start. Then I normally go for my all time favorite dish, the Dragon and Phoenix. Thinly sliced chicken on one side of the plate with straw mushrooms and crispy sugar snap peas and fresh lobster meat (out of the shell) on the other. The chicken is spicy and the lobster is not. Again, don't look for General Tso's Chicken on this menu. But look for an incredible Shrimp Ball Soup or the equally delicious, Bang Bang Chicken! The Emperor's Beef is another incredible dish. Thinly sliced filet mignon with sliced crispy sugar snap peas and red peppers. They have a full bar as well. Portions are generous and you will NEVER leave hungry. I always end up taking enough home to have for lunch the following day. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for. This is one of my, "go to" places for an elegant meal on a special occasion. Or just for the hell of it!
Years ago, my project team wanted to have a group celebration to mark an important project milestone. Usually, we did Italian but I recommended Chinese – having read some good reports about this place. Despite the doubtful faces, we went and after tasting the food, I became a hero.
Recently, my wife and I were in the area and, craving an interesting lunch experience, we ate here. The results were the same. Excellent food and great service. We had the lunch special Chengdu chicken. Perfectly cooked and full of flavor. We loved it. We will go back soon, despite the long drive from Denville.
Interested in an interesting lunch of dinner? Give Chengdu 46 a try.
Chengdu 46 is not your typical Chinese-American joint, its more on the authentic Chinese side. The menu is not that large but definitely leaves you with enough options to find something you would want to try. They have an extensive list of specials (most of which I've never heard of before). They also offer a few of the more Americanized options, like chicken and broccoli but I was bummed when I realized General Tso Chicken wasn't on the menu…..that's usually my go to.
We started with the Pu Pu Platter…cant remember everything that came with it but there were some ribs, wontons and other yummy stuff. It was all pretty good but nothing spectacular. The presentation of the food was what you were paying for. It came on a nice platter with some fire in the center. We got this platter for 2 people but there were 4 of us, there was plenty of food to go around.
For the main course my sister and I split the chicken and broccoli and the shrimp noodles. We didn't order anything off the specials list because nothing really jumped out to me, I figured I would stick to what I know. The chicken and broccoli was very mediocre, the chicken was off…I think it was boiled or something? Not really sure but it wasn't the typical chicken and broccoli I was used to getting. The noodles with shrimp was very bland. Had almost no flavor at all but we still ate it.
Overall, my experience was just Ok. I probably wouldn't rush to come back here. However, if I do come back it will definitely be on a Thursday. Thursday is "ladies night" and each female gets a complimentary drink on the house. Not a bad deal. They were also ok with my mom bringing a birthday cake in from home.
Well! I had told myself we will come back to try their Beijing Duck. Because our waiter, said a lot about it the first time we ate at this restaurant. So I recently took my wife for this special dish. I have an eclectic palate for Chinese food , having lived in Hong Kong, Singapore for many years. And tried my first Beijing Duck in 1982 in Beijing most famous Tiananmen square.
Well what a big disappointment!!!!! This was no authentic Beijing duck as Chengdu 46 advertised! It was a deep fried duck!!!. the skin tasted terrible. and the meet reeked of cooking oil.
So save your money and go to Queens in NYC to have the real thing. I guess Chengdu 46 assumes that people in NJ are not educated enough to know the difference between a fried duck and a real duck. here is the recipe, which might help this restaurant next time with this nice savory dish:
Directions:
Soak the whole duck in the large pot of boiling water. Remove it as soon as the skin changes color.
Sprinkle the inside of the duck with sugar, salt, and five-spice powder. Rub the skin of the duck with molasses. Truss the duck with string and hang in an airing place for 2 hours, or put the duck in the refrigerator overnight without any cover. This will dry the skin of the duck so that it will be crispy.
Preheat rotisserie oven to 375 degrees and bake for 45 minutes or until the skin is reddish brown.
Before serving, pour hot oil over the skin to increase the crispiness. Carve the skin and meat from the duck, and serve.
Recipe courtesy of Hong Kong Restaurant,
ENJOY!!
PS: the cabbage appetizer is still my favorite.
Tuxedos and higher quality chinese food is what you can expect at Chengdu 46. This is the type of Chinese restaurant where you pay more for your entree, but know it's all white meat or made with less oil.
They have a small bar with about 7 seats and 2 medium sized rooms for tables. There are no windows which is different so it's dark.
The menu offers different dishes like heavenly chicken with ginger and garlic which I often get. They are larger pieces of chicken, not small strips. It's a light colored sauce and not too oily.
Their garlic eggplant is also very good but does have more oil in it. If you ask for less oil it doesn't have the same flavor at all…obviously.
Overall, good food to dine in or pick up. No delivery. Plan to spend $25 per person or so with an appetizer.
We have had the pleasure of dining at Cheng Du, both dining in and take out since they opened way back. We just had dinner there tonight and so glad to report the food is just as wonderful as ever. We started out with the dumplings in spicy sauce and the Bang Bang Chicken. These dumplings have spoiled me for any other dumplings. They are so light and delicate but so full of flavor. The spicy garlicky sauce they come in pairs perfectly. The Bang Bang Chicken is also excellent. Cold shredded chicken piled in a spiral covered in a dark, spicy and slightly sweet sauce topped with thinly sliced scallion is a perfect combination. The chicken is all white meat, super tender and crazy delicious. For our main courses I stuck with my favorite, Chicken Blossom and hubby went for the special Shrimp with salt and papper. Chicken Blossom is an unusual dish where the chicken is cut to resemble "blossoms" in a spicy garlic sauce with water chestnuts. A nice touch was a cold refreshing radish cut into a rose. It was crispy and juicy and a welcome respite to all the spicy food. Hubby's special shrimp consisted of giant shrimp, perfectly cooked but although a little too hot for me, they were delicious. They were served on a bed of crispy white noodles. For dessert we splurged on the Golden Bananas, lightly coated and fried in a nice, thick honey sauce. A perfect ending to a perfct meal. Not only is the food outstanding but the service is as well. Always attentive and professional. In all the decades we have frequented Cheng Du we have never had a meal that wasn't perfection. So glad to see they are still consistent and just as wonderful as they were on day one.