diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 42cedf51c3a86531430e310ff92b0d6c68778f86..e4ddc112c73c379c7dfb4f38c37d883d3b60ddae 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -3426,6 +3426,7 @@ LIBGRPC++_TEST_UTIL_SRC = \
     test/cpp/util/byte_buffer_proto_helper.cc \
     test/cpp/util/cli_call.cc \
     test/cpp/util/create_test_channel.cc \
+    test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.cc \
     test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.cc \
     test/cpp/util/subprocess.cc \
     test/cpp/util/test_credentials_provider.cc \
@@ -3478,6 +3479,7 @@ $(OBJDIR)/$(CONFIG)/test/cpp/end2end/test_service_impl.o: $(GENDIR)/src/proto/gr
 $(OBJDIR)/$(CONFIG)/test/cpp/util/byte_buffer_proto_helper.o: $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.grpc.pb.cc
 $(OBJDIR)/$(CONFIG)/test/cpp/util/cli_call.o: $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.grpc.pb.cc
 $(OBJDIR)/$(CONFIG)/test/cpp/util/create_test_channel.o: $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.grpc.pb.cc
+$(OBJDIR)/$(CONFIG)/test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.o: $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.grpc.pb.cc
 $(OBJDIR)/$(CONFIG)/test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.o: $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.grpc.pb.cc
 $(OBJDIR)/$(CONFIG)/test/cpp/util/subprocess.o: $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.grpc.pb.cc
 $(OBJDIR)/$(CONFIG)/test/cpp/util/test_credentials_provider.o: $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo_messages.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/echo.grpc.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.pb.cc $(GENDIR)/src/proto/grpc/testing/duplicate/echo_duplicate.grpc.pb.cc
@@ -14466,6 +14468,7 @@ test/cpp/util/benchmark_config.cc: $(OPENSSL_DEP)
 test/cpp/util/byte_buffer_proto_helper.cc: $(OPENSSL_DEP)
 test/cpp/util/cli_call.cc: $(OPENSSL_DEP)
 test/cpp/util/create_test_channel.cc: $(OPENSSL_DEP)
+test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.cc: $(OPENSSL_DEP)
 test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.cc: $(OPENSSL_DEP)
 test/cpp/util/subprocess.cc: $(OPENSSL_DEP)
 test/cpp/util/test_config.cc: $(OPENSSL_DEP)
diff --git a/build.yaml b/build.yaml
index ac61612da4074462510463f7da4ceb6eaf36a436..e89399ffa26443de5cd9e76d3095f1af15e14c2e 100644
--- a/build.yaml
+++ b/build.yaml
@@ -915,6 +915,7 @@ libs:
   - test/cpp/util/byte_buffer_proto_helper.h
   - test/cpp/util/cli_call.h
   - test/cpp/util/create_test_channel.h
+  - test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.h
   - test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.h
   - test/cpp/util/subprocess.h
   - test/cpp/util/test_credentials_provider.h
@@ -926,6 +927,7 @@ libs:
   - test/cpp/util/byte_buffer_proto_helper.cc
   - test/cpp/util/cli_call.cc
   - test/cpp/util/create_test_channel.cc
+  - test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.cc
   - test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.cc
   - test/cpp/util/subprocess.cc
   - test/cpp/util/test_credentials_provider.cc
diff --git a/test/cpp/util/cli_call.cc b/test/cpp/util/cli_call.cc
index 99fad7f2fe99e8966c2d5c204bc51b7f20f5b5ab..98b9d930d6022610fef5cf8edfe1a400bfd363fa 100644
--- a/test/cpp/util/cli_call.cc
+++ b/test/cpp/util/cli_call.cc
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ Status CliCall::Call(std::shared_ptr<grpc::Channel> channel,
   cq.Next(&got_tag, &ok);
   if (!ok) {
     std::cout << "Failed to read response." << std::endl;
-    return Status(StatusCode::INTERNAL, "Failed to read response");
   }
   grpc::Status status;
   call->Finish(&status, tag(5));
@@ -103,6 +102,7 @@ Status CliCall::Call(std::shared_ptr<grpc::Channel> channel,
                        slices[i].size());
     }
   }
+
   *server_initial_metadata = ctx.GetServerInitialMetadata();
   *server_trailing_metadata = ctx.GetServerTrailingMetadata();
   return status;
diff --git a/test/cpp/util/grpc_cli.cc b/test/cpp/util/grpc_cli.cc
index 68cf4114a8d720d3f7c61bdf5959767108a63503..c52e48bae650c1b5502de335473677a2ad80030a 100644
--- a/test/cpp/util/grpc_cli.cc
+++ b/test/cpp/util/grpc_cli.cc
@@ -32,32 +32,33 @@
  */
 
 /*
-  A command line tool to talk to any grpc server.
+  A command line tool to talk to a grpc server.
   Example of talking to grpc interop server:
-  1. Prepare request binary file:
-    a. create a text file input.txt, containing the following:
-        response_size: 10
-        payload: {
-          body: "hello world"
-        }
-    b. under grpc/ run
-        protoc --proto_path=src/proto/grpc/testing/ \
-        --encode=grpc.testing.SimpleRequest
-  src/proto/grpc/testing/messages.proto \
-        < input.txt > input.bin
-  2. Start a server
-    make interop_server && bins/opt/interop_server --port=50051
-  3. Run the tool
-    make grpc_cli && bins/opt/grpc_cli call localhost:50051 \
-    /grpc.testing.TestService/UnaryCall --enable_ssl=false \
-    --input_binary_file=input.bin --output_binary_file=output.bin
-  4. Decode response
-    protoc --proto_path=src/proto/grpc/testing/ \
-    --decode=grpc.testing.SimpleResponse src/proto/grpc/testing/messages.proto \
-    < output.bin > output.txt
-  5. Now the text form of response should be in output.txt
-  Optionally, metadata can be passed to server via flag --metadata, e.g.
-    --metadata="MyHeaderKey1:Value1:MyHeaderKey2:Value2"
+  grpc_cli call localhost:50051 UnaryCall src/proto/grpc/testing/test.proto \
+    "response_size:10"  --enable_ssl=false
+
+  Options:
+    1. --proto_path, if your proto file is not under current working directory,
+       use this flag to provide a search root. It should work similar to the
+       counterpart in protoc.
+    2. --metadata specifies metadata to be sent to the server, such as:
+       --metadata="MyHeaderKey1:Value1:MyHeaderKey2:Value2"
+    3. --enable_ssl, whether to use tls.
+    4. --use_auth, if set to true, attach a GoogleDefaultCredentials to the call
+    3. --input_binary_file, a file containing the serialized request. The file
+       can be generated by calling something like:
+       protoc --proto_path=src/proto/grpc/testing/ \
+         --encode=grpc.testing.SimpleRequest \
+         src/proto/grpc/testing/messages.proto \
+         < input.txt > input.bin
+       If this is used and no proto file is provided in the argument list, the
+       method string has to be exact in the form of /package.service/method.
+    4. --output_binary_file, a file to write binary format response into, it can
+       be later decoded using protoc:
+       protoc --proto_path=src/proto/grpc/testing/ \
+       --decode=grpc.testing.SimpleResponse \
+       src/proto/grpc/testing/messages.proto \
+       < output.bin > output.txt
 */
 
 #include <fstream>
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@
 #include <grpc/grpc.h>
 
 #include "test/cpp/util/cli_call.h"
+#include "test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.h"
 #include "test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.h"
 #include "test/cpp/util/test_config.h"
 
@@ -79,10 +81,11 @@ DEFINE_bool(enable_ssl, true, "Whether to use ssl/tls.");
 DEFINE_bool(use_auth, false, "Whether to create default google credentials.");
 DEFINE_string(input_binary_file, "",
               "Path to input file containing serialized request.");
-DEFINE_string(output_binary_file, "output.bin",
+DEFINE_string(output_binary_file, "",
               "Path to output file to write serialized response.");
 DEFINE_string(metadata, "",
               "Metadata to send to server, in the form of key1:val1:key2:val2");
+DEFINE_string(proto_path, ".", "Path to look for the proto file.");
 
 void ParseMetadataFlag(
     std::multimap<grpc::string, grpc::string>* client_metadata) {
@@ -126,28 +129,51 @@ void PrintMetadata(const T& m, const grpc::string& message) {
 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   grpc::testing::InitTest(&argc, &argv, true);
 
-  if (argc < 4 || grpc::string(argv[1]) != "call") {
-    std::cout << "Usage: grpc_cli call server_host:port full_method_string\n"
-              << "Example: grpc_cli call service.googleapis.com "
-              << "/grpc.testing.TestService/UnaryCall "
-              << "--input_binary_file=input.bin --output_binary_file=output.bin"
-              << std::endl;
+  if (argc < 4 || argc == 5 || grpc::string(argv[1]) != "call") {
+    std::cout << "Usage: grpc_cli call server_host:port method_name "
+              << "[proto file] [text format request] [<options>]" << std::endl;
   }
+
+  grpc::string file_name;
+  grpc::string request_text;
   grpc::string server_address(argv[2]);
-  // TODO(yangg) basic check of method string
-  grpc::string method(argv[3]);
+  grpc::string method_name(argv[3]);
+  std::unique_ptr<grpc::testing::ProtoFileParser> parser;
+  grpc::string serialized_request_proto;
 
-  if (FLAGS_input_binary_file.empty()) {
-    std::cout << "Missing --input_binary_file for serialized request."
-              << std::endl;
+  if (argc == 6) {
+    file_name = argv[4];
+    // TODO(yangg) read from stdin as well?
+    request_text = argv[5];
+  }
+
+  if (request_text.empty() && FLAGS_input_binary_file.empty()) {
+    std::cout << "Missing input. Use text format input or "
+              << "--input_binary_file for serialized request" << std::endl;
     return 1;
+  } else if (!request_text.empty()) {
+    parser.reset(new grpc::testing::ProtoFileParser(FLAGS_proto_path, file_name,
+                                                    method_name));
+    method_name = parser->GetFullMethodName();
+    if (parser->HasError()) {
+      return 1;
+    }
   }
-  std::cout << "connecting to " << server_address << std::endl;
 
-  std::ifstream input_file(FLAGS_input_binary_file,
-                           std::ios::in | std::ios::binary);
-  std::stringstream input_stream;
-  input_stream << input_file.rdbuf();
+  if (parser) {
+    serialized_request_proto =
+        parser->GetSerializedProto(request_text, true /* is_request */);
+    if (parser->HasError()) {
+      return 1;
+    }
+  } else if (!FLAGS_input_binary_file.empty()) {
+    std::ifstream input_file(FLAGS_input_binary_file,
+                             std::ios::in | std::ios::binary);
+    std::stringstream input_stream;
+    input_stream << input_file.rdbuf();
+    serialized_request_proto = input_stream.str();
+  }
+  std::cout << "connecting to " << server_address << std::endl;
 
   std::shared_ptr<grpc::ChannelCredentials> creds;
   if (!FLAGS_enable_ssl) {
@@ -162,25 +188,34 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   std::shared_ptr<grpc::Channel> channel =
       grpc::CreateChannel(server_address, creds);
 
-  grpc::string response;
+  grpc::string serialized_response_proto;
   std::multimap<grpc::string, grpc::string> client_metadata;
   std::multimap<grpc::string_ref, grpc::string_ref> server_initial_metadata,
       server_trailing_metadata;
   ParseMetadataFlag(&client_metadata);
   PrintMetadata(client_metadata, "Sending client initial metadata:");
   grpc::Status s = grpc::testing::CliCall::Call(
-      channel, method, input_stream.str(), &response, client_metadata,
-      &server_initial_metadata, &server_trailing_metadata);
+      channel, method_name, serialized_request_proto,
+      &serialized_response_proto, client_metadata, &server_initial_metadata,
+      &server_trailing_metadata);
   PrintMetadata(server_initial_metadata,
                 "Received initial metadata from server:");
   PrintMetadata(server_trailing_metadata,
                 "Received trailing metadata from server:");
   if (s.ok()) {
     std::cout << "Rpc succeeded with OK status" << std::endl;
-    if (!response.empty()) {
+    if (parser) {
+      grpc::string response_text = parser->GetTextFormat(
+          serialized_response_proto, false /* is_request */);
+      if (parser->HasError()) {
+        return 1;
+      }
+      std::cout << "Response: \n " << response_text << std::endl;
+    }
+    if (!FLAGS_output_binary_file.empty()) {
       std::ofstream output_file(FLAGS_output_binary_file,
                                 std::ios::trunc | std::ios::binary);
-      output_file << response;
+      output_file << serialized_response_proto;
     }
   } else {
     std::cout << "Rpc failed with status code " << s.error_code()
diff --git a/test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.cc b/test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6557b95f585cdc414dfdfc0930e3b79891c1b399
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,177 @@
+/*
+ *
+ * Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ */
+
+#include "test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.h"
+
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
+
+#include <google/protobuf/text_format.h>
+
+namespace grpc {
+namespace testing {
+namespace {
+
+// Match the user input method string to the full_name from method descriptor.
+bool MethodNameMatch(const grpc::string& full_name, const grpc::string& input) {
+  grpc::string clean_input = input;
+  std::replace(clean_input.begin(), clean_input.end(), '/', '.');
+  if (clean_input.size() > full_name.size()) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return full_name.compare(full_name.size() - clean_input.size(),
+                           clean_input.size(), clean_input) == 0;
+}
+}  // namespace
+
+class ErrorPrinter
+    : public google::protobuf::compiler::MultiFileErrorCollector {
+ public:
+  explicit ErrorPrinter(ProtoFileParser* parser) : parser_(parser) {}
+
+  void AddError(const grpc::string& filename, int line, int column,
+                const grpc::string& message) GRPC_OVERRIDE {
+    std::ostringstream oss;
+    oss << "error " << filename << " " << line << " " << column << " "
+        << message << "\n";
+    parser_->LogError(oss.str());
+  }
+
+  void AddWarning(const grpc::string& filename, int line, int column,
+                  const grpc::string& message) GRPC_OVERRIDE {
+    std::cout << "warning " << filename << " " << line << " " << column << " "
+              << message << std::endl;
+  }
+
+ private:
+  ProtoFileParser* parser_;  // not owned
+};
+
+ProtoFileParser::ProtoFileParser(const grpc::string& proto_path,
+                                 const grpc::string& file_name,
+                                 const grpc::string& method)
+    : has_error_(false) {
+  source_tree_.MapPath("", proto_path);
+  error_printer_.reset(new ErrorPrinter(this));
+  importer_.reset(new google::protobuf::compiler::Importer(
+      &source_tree_, error_printer_.get()));
+  const auto* file_desc = importer_->Import(file_name);
+  if (!file_desc) {
+    LogError("");
+    return;
+  }
+  dynamic_factory_.reset(
+      new google::protobuf::DynamicMessageFactory(importer_->pool()));
+
+  const google::protobuf::MethodDescriptor* method_descriptor = nullptr;
+  for (int i = 0; !method_descriptor && i < file_desc->service_count(); i++) {
+    const auto* service_desc = file_desc->service(i);
+    for (int j = 0; j < service_desc->method_count(); j++) {
+      const auto* method_desc = service_desc->method(j);
+      if (MethodNameMatch(method_desc->full_name(), method)) {
+        if (method_descriptor) {
+          std::ostringstream error_stream("Ambiguous method names: ");
+          error_stream << method_descriptor->full_name() << " ";
+          error_stream << method_desc->full_name();
+          LogError(error_stream.str());
+        }
+        method_descriptor = method_desc;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  if (!method_descriptor) {
+    LogError("Method name not found");
+  }
+  if (has_error_) {
+    return;
+  }
+  full_method_name_ = method_descriptor->full_name();
+  size_t last_dot = full_method_name_.find_last_of('.');
+  if (last_dot != grpc::string::npos) {
+    full_method_name_[last_dot] = '/';
+  }
+  full_method_name_.insert(full_method_name_.begin(), '/');
+
+  request_prototype_.reset(
+      dynamic_factory_->GetPrototype(method_descriptor->input_type())->New());
+  response_prototype_.reset(
+      dynamic_factory_->GetPrototype(method_descriptor->output_type())->New());
+}
+
+ProtoFileParser::~ProtoFileParser() {}
+
+grpc::string ProtoFileParser::GetSerializedProto(
+    const grpc::string& text_format_proto, bool is_request) {
+  grpc::string serialized;
+  grpc::protobuf::Message* msg =
+      is_request ? request_prototype_.get() : response_prototype_.get();
+  bool ok =
+      google::protobuf::TextFormat::ParseFromString(text_format_proto, msg);
+  if (!ok) {
+    LogError("Failed to parse text format to proto.");
+    return "";
+  }
+  ok = request_prototype_->SerializeToString(&serialized);
+  if (!ok) {
+    LogError("Failed to serialize proto.");
+    return "";
+  }
+  return serialized;
+}
+
+grpc::string ProtoFileParser::GetTextFormat(
+    const grpc::string& serialized_proto, bool is_request) {
+  grpc::protobuf::Message* msg =
+      is_request ? request_prototype_.get() : response_prototype_.get();
+  if (!msg->ParseFromString(serialized_proto)) {
+    LogError("Failed to deserialize proto.");
+    return "";
+  }
+  grpc::string text_format;
+  if (!google::protobuf::TextFormat::PrintToString(*msg, &text_format)) {
+    LogError("Failed to print proto message to text format");
+    return "";
+  }
+  return text_format;
+}
+
+void ProtoFileParser::LogError(const grpc::string& error_msg) {
+  if (!error_msg.empty()) {
+    std::cout << error_msg << std::endl;
+  }
+  has_error_ = true;
+}
+
+}  // namespace testing
+}  // namespace grpc
diff --git a/test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.h b/test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a25285b3224dcb254d86eeb876dfb5b1e06559a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.h
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+/*
+ *
+ * Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ *
+ */
+
+#ifndef GRPC_TEST_CPP_UTIL_PROTO_FILE_PARSER_H
+#define GRPC_TEST_CPP_UTIL_PROTO_FILE_PARSER_H
+
+#include <memory>
+
+#include <google/protobuf/compiler/importer.h>
+#include <google/protobuf/dynamic_message.h>
+
+#include "src/compiler/config.h"
+
+namespace grpc {
+namespace testing {
+class ErrorPrinter;
+
+// Find method and associated request/response types.
+class ProtoFileParser {
+ public:
+  // The given proto file_name will be searched in a source tree rooted from
+  // proto_path. The method could be a partial string such as Service.Method or
+  // even just Method. It will log an error if there is ambiguity.
+  ProtoFileParser(const grpc::string& proto_path, const grpc::string& file_name,
+                  const grpc::string& method);
+  ~ProtoFileParser();
+
+  grpc::string GetFullMethodName() const { return full_method_name_; }
+
+  grpc::string GetSerializedProto(const grpc::string& text_format_proto,
+                                  bool is_request);
+
+  grpc::string GetTextFormat(const grpc::string& serialized_proto,
+                             bool is_request);
+
+  bool HasError() const { return has_error_; }
+
+  void LogError(const grpc::string& error_msg);
+
+ private:
+  bool has_error_;
+  const grpc::protobuf::MethodDescriptor* method_descriptor_;
+  grpc::string request_text_;
+  grpc::string full_method_name_;
+  google::protobuf::compiler::DiskSourceTree source_tree_;
+  std::unique_ptr<ErrorPrinter> error_printer_;
+  std::unique_ptr<google::protobuf::compiler::Importer> importer_;
+  std::unique_ptr<google::protobuf::DynamicMessageFactory> dynamic_factory_;
+  std::unique_ptr<grpc::protobuf::Message> request_prototype_;
+  std::unique_ptr<grpc::protobuf::Message> response_prototype_;
+};
+
+}  // namespace testing
+}  // namespace grpc
+
+#endif  // GRPC_TEST_CPP_UTIL_PROTO_FILE_PARSER_H
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/sources_and_headers.json b/tools/run_tests/sources_and_headers.json
index 3866ebb0e55e47047ae8b8e87b6227cf0b1d6f9c..c8502907a8e8aa0bfe8d45b2739b8486e5b2540f 100644
--- a/tools/run_tests/sources_and_headers.json
+++ b/tools/run_tests/sources_and_headers.json
@@ -4377,6 +4377,7 @@
       "test/cpp/util/byte_buffer_proto_helper.h", 
       "test/cpp/util/cli_call.h", 
       "test/cpp/util/create_test_channel.h", 
+      "test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.h", 
       "test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.h", 
       "test/cpp/util/subprocess.h", 
       "test/cpp/util/test_credentials_provider.h"
@@ -4392,6 +4393,8 @@
       "test/cpp/util/cli_call.h", 
       "test/cpp/util/create_test_channel.cc", 
       "test/cpp/util/create_test_channel.h", 
+      "test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.cc", 
+      "test/cpp/util/proto_file_parser.h", 
       "test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.cc", 
       "test/cpp/util/string_ref_helper.h", 
       "test/cpp/util/subprocess.cc", 
diff --git a/vsprojects/vcxproj/grpc++_test_util/grpc++_test_util.vcxproj b/vsprojects/vcxproj/grpc++_test_util/grpc++_test_util.vcxproj
index 33860af620b65f742a630a59991d927321e2cc8f..a04969a854b8e3a93007e182b0f23982bd7eeab1 100644
--- a/vsprojects/vcxproj/grpc++_test_util/grpc++_test_util.vcxproj
+++ b/vsprojects/vcxproj/grpc++_test_util/grpc++_test_util.vcxproj
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@
     <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\byte_buffer_proto_helper.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\cli_call.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\create_test_channel.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\proto_file_parser.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\string_ref_helper.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\subprocess.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\test_credentials_provider.h" />
@@ -188,6 +189,8 @@
     </ClCompile>
     <ClCompile Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\create_test_channel.cc">
     </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\proto_file_parser.cc">
+    </ClCompile>
     <ClCompile Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\string_ref_helper.cc">
     </ClCompile>
     <ClCompile Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\subprocess.cc">
diff --git a/vsprojects/vcxproj/grpc++_test_util/grpc++_test_util.vcxproj.filters b/vsprojects/vcxproj/grpc++_test_util/grpc++_test_util.vcxproj.filters
index b35ba1fd91c8dd8d4988d9e738d1f829630b680f..a53ed91c461538e28490f3659f0161fab7455b2a 100644
--- a/vsprojects/vcxproj/grpc++_test_util/grpc++_test_util.vcxproj.filters
+++ b/vsprojects/vcxproj/grpc++_test_util/grpc++_test_util.vcxproj.filters
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@
     <ClCompile Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\create_test_channel.cc">
       <Filter>test\cpp\util</Filter>
     </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\proto_file_parser.cc">
+      <Filter>test\cpp\util</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
     <ClCompile Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\string_ref_helper.cc">
       <Filter>test\cpp\util</Filter>
     </ClCompile>
@@ -45,6 +48,9 @@
     <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\create_test_channel.h">
       <Filter>test\cpp\util</Filter>
     </ClInclude>
+    <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\proto_file_parser.h">
+      <Filter>test\cpp\util</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
     <ClInclude Include="$(SolutionDir)\..\test\cpp\util\string_ref_helper.h">
       <Filter>test\cpp\util</Filter>
     </ClInclude>