Sichuan Cuisine is one of the delights in China. There is a popular saying among Chinese people. It goes in Chinese “Chi Zai Sichuan”. It means that people always refer to Sichuan as the land of mouth-watering food. Chinese people always say that food is the primary in their daily life. Sichuan people especially lay much emphasis on making food tasty and nutritious. Sichuan Cuisine is legendary in China for its diversity and sophistication. The Cuisine comprises Sichuan dishes, snacks and hot pot. As the capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu was awarded as the Capital of Gastronomy by UNESCO in 2010. There are a large number of restaurants in Chengdu. We have listed some famous Sichuan dishes and outstanding restaurants in Chengdu for your convenience.
Popular Sichuan Dishes
Kungpao Chicken 宫保鸡丁 Gōng Bǎo Jī Dīng [gɔ: bau dʒi: din]
Kunpao Chicken is spicy diced chicken fried with peanuts and local asparagus lettuce. It is widely known in the world. The main ingredients consist of chicken breast meat, peanuts, local asparagus lettuce, chili, ginger, and peppercorns.
Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐 Má Pó Dòu Fǔ [ma: pɔ: dəu fu:]
Mapo Tofu is also called Mapo Bean Curd. It is one of the most popular dishes in Sichuan. Mapo refers to the dish-creator, a lady who had pockmarked face. Mapo Tofu is characterized by the use of many spices, like chopped scallions, minced ginger, minced garlic, Sichuan chili sauce and peppercorn powder.
Twice-cooked Pork 回锅肉 Huí Guō Ròu [hwei gɔ: rəu]
The Twice-cooked Pork is one of the daily dishes of Sichuan People. The pork should be stewed till it becomes tender and soft. Then cool off the pork and slice it. Afterwards stir-fry the pork slices in hot oil with spices till the slices turn slightly curled. Finally add sugar and garlic shoots or celery, keep stir-frying till the flavor comes out.
Fish-flavored Eggplant 鱼香茄子 Yú Xiāng Qié Zǐ [ju: ʃæŋ tʃə dz]
The Fish-flavored Eggplant is called Yuxiang Qiezi in Chinese. It is created with eggplant and Sichuan chilli bean sauce. The eggplant is usually cut into chunks and deeply fried. Then fry the chilli bean sauce with eggplant chunks. Afterwards add chopped scallions, ginger, soy sauce, and vinegar. Finally thicken the mixture with a little cornstarch solution.
Famous Chengdu Snacks
Dandan Noodle 担担面 Dàn Dàn Miàn [dæ dæ miæ]
Dandan Noodle is a kind of hot and spicy noodle with a flavor of special sauce. The sauce is mixed with dried shrimp, shredded preserved vegetable, crushed roasted peanuts, sesame seeds, garlic, chilli oil, soy sauce and vinegar.
Long Chaoshou Dumpling 龙抄手 Lóng Chāo Shǒu [lɔ:ŋ tsau səu]
Chaoshou is Sichuan dialect for wonton. Long Chaoshou refers to the soup dumplings created by Long’s family. It is mainly made with minced pork, chopped scallions, and flour wonton wrappers.
Hotpot 火锅 Huǒ Guō [hɔ: gɔ:]
The world famous hotpot is the No.1 dish in Sichuan. There is a popular saying among Sichuan people about hotpot. It goes that Sichuan people will become unable to speak without having hotpot once every three days. Customers gather around a small pot. The pot is heated with either gas, or electricity, or charcoal. It is filled with a nutritious soup base. A dozen plates of ingredients are placed around the wok, like paper-thin slices of raw meat and chopped vegetables. The raw ingredients would be picked up and boiled in the soup base, then taken out and dipped into a bowl of special sauce before being eaten. The sauce is usually made with crushed roasted peanuts, sesame oil, chopped scallion, garlic, salt, and vinegar. The restaurants offer customers either spicy hotpot or non-spicy hotpot. The customers can also order a half spicy and half non-spicy hotpot.
Sichuan Dish Restaurants:
Ba Guo Bu Yi Restaurant 巴国布衣 Bā Guó Bù Yī [ba: gɔ: bu i:]
Address: Shenxianshu Road South, Wuhou District, Chengdu
Average Price: 60 Yuan RMB per person(based on 4 sharing)
Ba Guo Bu Yi Restaurant is located near the airport. It usually serves a welcome or farewell meal for visitor. The restaurant offers all the classic Sichuan Dishes.
Qin Shan Zhai Restaurant 钦膳斋 Qīn Shàn Zhāi [tʃɪn sæ dzai]
Address: Wuhouci Grand Avenue, Chengdu
Average Price: 80 Yuan RMB per person(based on 4 sharing)
Qin Shan Zhai Restaurant is located nearby Wuhou Shrine and Jinli Stree. It concentrates on herbal cooking. China boats a long history of herbal cooking. The herbal cuisine combines the effect of medicine and the taste of food. It is not only delicious and nutritious, but also healthy. The restaurant is elegantly decorated in traditional Chinese style. Formally attired waitresses always offer their service with a smile. Qin Shan Zhai is renowned in Chengdu with its outstanding delicious dishes and reasonable service price.
Hotpot Restaurants:
Huang Cheng Lao Ma 皇城老妈 Huáng Chéng Lǎo Mā [hwæŋ tsen lau ma:]
Address:
No.20, the Third Section of the Second Ring Road South, Wuhou District, Chengdu(成都市二环路南三段20号)
No. 106, Qintai Road, Qingyang District, Chengdu(成都青羊区琴台路106号)
Average Price: 140 Yuan RMB per person per person(based on 4 sharing)
Located on the old styled Qintai Road, Huang Cheng Lao Ma is one of the most celebrated hotpot restaurants in Chengdu. It is finely decorated, and the charge for meal is a little bit higher than the others. After dinner, you can go watching the amazing face changing show nearby.
Chongqing Red Bench 重庆红板凳 Chóng Qìng Hóng Bǎn Dèng [tsɔ:ŋ tʃɪn hɔ:ŋ bæ den]
Address: the Second Section, the First Ring Road West, Qingyang District, Chengdu(成都市一环路西二段青羊宫旁)
Average Price: 90 Yuan RMB per person(based on 4 sharing)
As one of the top ten hotpot restaurants in Chengdu, Hong Ban Deng is a window to show how much the local people love hotpot, especially at weekends. It is located nearby the famous Qingyang Temple.
Western Restaurant:
Grandma’s Kitchen 祖母的厨房 Zǔ Mǔ De Chú Fáng [dzu mu: də tsu: fæŋ]
Grandma’s Kitchen serves costumers all day long with its diverse menu. It offers costumers a variety of taste, like Italian food and French food.
Address:
No. 143, Kehua Road North, Wuhou District, Chengdu(成都市武侯区科华北路143号)
No. 99, Qingyang Avenue, Qingyang District, Chengdu(成都市青羊区青羊大道99号)
Peter’s Tex-Mex Grill 彼得西餐厅 Bǐ De Xī Cān Tīng [bi də ʃi tsæ tin]
If you are looking for a nice American styled meal in Chengdu, Peter’s is the most ideal restaurant for your stay in Chengdu.
Address:
No. 12, Tonzilin Road, Wuhou District, Chengdu(成都市武侯区桐梓林路12号)
No. 117, Kehua Road North, Wuhou District, Chengdu(成都市武侯区科华北路117号)
No. 99, Shengheyi Road, High-Tech Zone, Chengdu(成都市高新区盛和一路99号)
No.50, Guanghuacun Road south, Qingyang District, Chengdu(成都市青羊区光华村南街50号）
Halal Restaurants:
Tian Fang Lou Restaurant 天方楼 Tiān Fāng Lóu [tiæ fæŋ ləu]
Recommended Dishes:
Stir-fried Mutton with Cumin 孜然羊肉 Zī Rán Yáng Ròu [dzi ræ jæŋ rəu]
Braised Beef with Radish 萝卜烧牛肉 Luó Bo Shāo Niú Ròu [lɔ:b sau njəu rəu]
Steamed Beef-stuffed Bun 牛肉包子 Niú Ròu Bāo Zi [njəu rəu bau dzi]
Address: Floor 1, Huangcheng Mosque, No.108, Xiyu Street, Qingyang District(青羊区西御街108号皇城清真寺1楼，天方楼)
Huangchengba Beef Restaurant 清真皇城坝牛肉馆 Qīng Zhēn Huáng Chéng Bà Niú Ròu Guǎn [tʃin dzən hwæŋ tsən ba: njəu rəu gwæ]
Recommended Dishes:
Steamed Beef with spiced ground rice 粉蒸牛肉 Fěn Zhēng Niú Ròu [fən dzən njəu rəu]
Flavored fried Beef Tenderloin 飘香牛柳 Piāo Xiāng Niú Liǔ [piau ʃæŋ njəu ljəu]
Beef Soup with Tomato 番茄牛肉汤 Fān Qié Niú Ròu Tāng [fæ tʃə njəu rəu tæŋ]
Address: No. 2, Xiaojiahe Street, Wuhou District(成都市武侯区肖家河街2号)
Vegetarian Restaurant
Lotus in Clean Water Restaurant 清水荷花 Qīng Shuǐ Hé Huā [tʃin swei hə hwa:]
Recommended Dishes:
Beef-flavored Bean Curd with Black Pepper 黑椒素牛柳 Hēi Jiāo Sù Niú Liǔ [hei dʒau su njəu ljəu]
Rice Paste 米浆 Mǐ Jiāng [mi dʒæŋ]
Address: No. 33, Wuyuegong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu(成都市青羊区五岳宫街33号)
Jujube Tree Vegetarian Lifestyle Restaurant 枣子树 Zǎo Zi Shù [dzau dzi su:]
Recommended Dishes:
Delicate Pork-rib-flavored To Fu with Sweets and Vinegar 素糖醋小排 Sù Táng Cù Xiǎo Pái [su: tæŋ tsu: ʃau pai]
Tibetan Tea-flavored Hotpot 藏茶火锅 Zàng Chá Huǒ Guō [dzæŋ tsa: hɔ: gɔ:]
Address: No.27, Qinglong Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu(青羊区青龙街27号枣子树素食馆）
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Chengdu Travel Guide
Sichuan Travel Guide
Author: Tina Luo
Update:
