San Chuan
Quick info
About San Chuan
On Potterrow in Edinburgh, San Chuan is a Chinese restaurant covering both Cantonese and Sichuan cooking, offering a 17-dish menu that includes Kung Po Chicken. Large groups are seated at big circular lazy susan tables, making the room suited to sharing plates across a bigger party. A step-free entrance serves visitors with mobility needs, and high chairs are available for families with young children. Reservations are recommended, and the kitchen also serves takeaway and delivery for those eating off site. The restaurant opens daily, giving regular flexibility around meal times. Dishes can be modified on request to suit dietary requirements, though the menu itself is not always clear on which items are vegetarian. It sits directly opposite the University of Edinburgh, drawing a steady stream of regular customers from nearby.
Good to know
“Traditional Chinese recipes, including Cantonese specialties, dished up in a convivial atmosphere.”
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Menu & Prices
158 dishes · mains £4–28- Spicy Beef Tripe With Salted Sesame Butter£12.80
- Pan Fried Japanese Dumplings[8]£12.80
- Char Siu Bun [3]£10.80
- Sliced Beef & Ox Tongue In Chilli Sauce£12.80
- Sliced Pork Belly With Spicy Smash Garlic£12.80
- Smashed Cucumber Salad In Sov Bean Sauice£8.50
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention rice undercooked or lukewarm, sichuan fatty beef, overly salted dishes and vegetarian dishes containing meat.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention rice undercooked or lukewarm, sichuan fatty beef, overly salted dishes and vegetarian dishes containing meat.
Customer Review Summary
San Chuan draws repeat diners chiefly for its Sichuan fatty beef, described as tender slices in a spicy, numbing broth with fresh herbs, with crispy beef in black pepper sauce and kung po chicken also singled out as consistently good. Reviewers repeatedly praise generous, shareable portions and staff described as friendly, efficient, and quick even when the restaurant is full of regulars and students. Recurring gripes include over-salting, one diner avoiding the chilli chips and another flagging a dry frog pot as too salty, plus occasional undercooked or lukewarm rice and one report of a greasy floor near the stairs. One reviewer ordering for delivery described the chicken as grey and inedible and said a refund was requested. Most seriously, one reviewer recounts a vegetarian dish arriving with beef, then a remade version containing oyster sauce that triggered a shellfish allergic reaction, with the diner still charged for it. Despite this, most describe returning happily, with several noting large circular tables suited to bigger groups.
Customer Review Summary
San Chuan draws repeat diners chiefly for its Sichuan fatty beef, described as tender slices in a spicy, numbing broth with fresh herbs, with crispy beef in black pepper sauce and kung po chicken also singled out as consistently good. Reviewers repeatedly praise generous, shareable portions and staff described as friendly, efficient, and quick even when the restaurant is full of regulars and students. Recurring gripes include over-salting, one diner avoiding the chilli chips and another flagging a dry frog pot as too salty, plus occasional undercooked or lukewarm rice and one report of a greasy floor near the stairs. One reviewer ordering for delivery described the chicken as grey and inedible and said a refund was requested. Most seriously, one reviewer recounts a vegetarian dish arriving with beef, then a remade version containing oyster sauce that triggered a shellfish allergic reaction, with the diner still charged for it. Despite this, most describe returning happily, with several noting large circular tables suited to bigger groups.
Featured reviews
- Colleen Casey-Nelson
“Calm and comfortable atmosphere, the restaurant is located across from University of Edinburgh- convenient to attractions without being on an overwhelmingly busy street. Lots of choices on the menu, but we settled on sharing Crispy Beef with Black Pepper. The beef was particularly moist and the sauce was savory. We also had steamed rice. For drinks, we had Iron Bru and Apple Juice. The servers were very polite and our dish was prepared quickly. There was a steady stream of customers— many seemed to be regulars (a very good sign). About £3.50 for each bowl of rice. Similar pricing for each beverage. The beef dish was £13.50. Choose this place for authentic flavor, great service, delicious food, in a comfortable setting.”
- sparklyclarke
“This is a tricky one because my meal was really good! However, one our friend's doesnt eat pork so order the chicken stir fry from the chicken section of the menu. It arrived and had pork in it, even though it did not say that anywhere on …”
- stefi
“Delicious food & great service. I’m vegetarian, and while the menu is slightly ambiguous about vegetarian options, our server was very knowledgeable - many dishes can also be modified to be vegetarian, so there was more choice then I …”
- simmy hassan
“Only marked it down one star because some of the dishes are so heavily salted and when I asked if it’s possible to do it less no one understood what I meant. But regardless it’s my fav Chinese place I just sadly avoid the chilli chips which are HEAVY on the salt (don’t get me wrong I loved salted food but this is insanely salted)”
- Mr Wonderful
“Ordered via Deliveroo so can’t comment on service or atmosphere. Food however was inedible. Who wants bones and grey / pinkish chicken meat?! Very grim and promptly requested refund. Disappointing as the images of the food is very different to reality. Literally a plate of dry- grey meat..”
Amenities
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves alcohol
- Has toilet
- Serves beer
- Serves coffee
Show more amenities
- Serves late-night food
- Serves spirits
- Facilities· 3
- Quick bite
- Serves small plates
- Serves wine
- Accessibility· 1
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Location
Chinese restaurants near San Chuan
- Noodles Home4.71,2040.1 mi
lamb skewers, beef noodle soup, pork dumplings
- China Star4.15811.1 mi£10–20
roast duck, spring rolls, set lunch menu
- Jade Palace3.61451.2 mi£10–20
salt and chilli dishes, fried rice, return of the old chef
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Chuan | 4.3614 | — | £20–30 | rice undercooked or lukewarm, sichuan fatty beef, overly salted dishes |
| Noodles Home | 4.71,204 | 0.1 mi | — | lamb skewers, beef noodle soup, pork dumplings |
| China Star | 4.1581 | 1.1 mi | £10–20 | roast duck, spring rolls, set lunch menu |
| Jade Palace | 3.6145 | 1.2 mi | £10–20 | salt and chilli dishes, fried rice, return of the old chef |
The 3 nearest chinese restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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