CHENGDU · FOOD GUIDE
Eating in Chengdu
Chengdu is the heartland of Sichuan cuisine — a cooking tradition built on the numbing heat of Sichuan peppercorns (花椒, huājiāo), dried chillies, fermented black bean paste, and an instinct for complex layered flavours. The city is also where hotpot culture is practised as a leisure activity rather than simply a meal.
麻婆豆腐
Mapo Tofu
Silken tofu braised in a sauce of chilli bean paste, fermented black beans, and ground pork; finished with Sichuan peppercorn oil.
Where to try: Chen Mapo Tofu (陈麻婆豆腐), Qingyang district; any mid-range Sichuanese restaurant.
担担面
Dan Dan Noodles
Wheat noodles in a sesame-and-chilli sauce with minced pork, preserved vegetables, and peanuts.
Where to try: Long Wonton Restaurant (龙抄手), Chunxi Road; street stalls in Jinli ancient street.
成都火锅
Chengdu Hotpot
A boiling cauldron of tallow-and-chilli broth; diners cook thinly sliced meats, offal, vegetables, and tofu at the table.
Where to try: Shuguo Yan (蜀国演义), Jinjiang; Uncle Lee Old Chengdu Hotpot in Chunxi Road area.
宫保鸡丁
Kung Pao Chicken
Diced chicken stir-fried with dried chillies, Sichuan peppercorns, and roasted peanuts in a vinegar-soy glaze.
Where to try: Standard at any local Sichuan restaurant; Sichuan government banquet restaurant near Renmin Park.
钟水饺
Zhong Dumplings
Pork dumplings served cold with a chilli oil and soy dressing; named after founder Zhong Shaobai.
Where to try: Original Zhong Dumplings shop on Litchi Lane, Qingyang district.
Kuanzhai Alley / Qingyang
Kuan Alley Traditional Sichuan
- Address
- Kuanzhai Alley No.1 courtyard, Qingyang
- Hours
- 10:00–22:00 daily
- Metro
- Kuan Zhai Alley (Line 4)
- Order
- Cold appetisers, mapo tofu, twice-cooked pork
Chen Mapo Dofu
陈麻婆豆腐
- Address
- 197 Xiyulong Street, Qingyang
- Hours
- 11:00–22:00 daily
- Metro
- Kuan Zhai Alley (Line 4)
- Order
- Original mapo tofu, stir-fried pork with peppers
Hotpot Row
- Address
- Along Red Star Road / Yanshikou
- Hours
- 12:00–02:00 daily
- Metro
- Yanshikou (Lines 1/2)
- Order
- Divided tallow broth pot, pork brain, sliced beef
Chunxi Road / Jinjiang
Long Chaoshou Wonton House
龙抄手
- Address
- 8 Chunxi Road South Segment
- Hours
- 08:00–21:00 daily
- Metro
- Chunxi Road (Lines 2/3)
- Order
- Dan dan noodles, pork wontons, cold spiced chicken
Huangcheng Laofu Hotpot
皇城老妈
- Address
- 20 Kehua North Road, Chenghua
- Hours
- 11:00–02:00 daily
- Metro
- Wenshu Monastery (Line 1)
- Order
- Premium hotpot broth, duck intestines, sliced beef tongue
Bai Jia Da Yuan
百家大院
- Address
- Jinli Ancient Street, Wuhou
- Hours
- 11:00–22:00 daily
- Metro
- Gaosheng Bridge (Line 3)
- Order
- Sichuan cold dishes spread, fish-fragrant pork
Jinli Ancient Street (锦里) beside Wuhou Memorial has a lively strip of street food vendors selling rabbit heads, spicy blood tofu, and sweet glutinous rice balls — busy in the evening. Wuhou Night Market on Wuhouci Street is more local. Shuangliu Old Town (about 30 minutes south) has an excellent produce market and old-style Sichuanese breakfast shops largely unknown to visitors.