Hot pot, skewers, dan dan noodles, rabbit heads... 20 local-favorite spots from hole-in-the-wall stalls to century-old restaurants. Eat your way through Chengdu the right way.
Chengdu was named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy for a reason. The capital of Sichuan is basically one giant, delicious, mouth-numbingly spicy restaurant. This guide takes you from sizzling hot pot to humble street snacks, with everything in between.
The Main Event: Sichuan Hot Pot
Beef tallow hot pot is the soul of Chengdu food. Rich, deep-red broth simmering with Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies β that signature "mala" numbing-spicy flavor that makes Sichuan cuisine famous. Order the holy trinity: beef tripe, duck intestine, and yellow throat. Dip everything in a sesame oil and raw garlic bowl to cool the heat and amp up the flavor.
For classic hot pot, locals swear by Shu Daxia and Hai Di Lao (yes, the famous one β it's popular for a reason). For something a little more off the beaten path, try a smaller neighborhood spot β the ones with no English sign and a line out the door are usually the best.
Street Food & Snacks
Hot pot gets all the hype, but Chengdu's real magic is in its street food. Start with chuanchuan β cold pot skewers where you grab sticks of meat, veggies, and tofu from a spicy broth and pay by the skewer. It's like hot pot but faster, cheaper, and perfect for solo travelers.
Dan dan noodles are the classic Chengdu breakfast β thin wheat noodles tossed in a ground pork and chili oil sauce, named for the street vendors who once carried them on shoulder poles. And after all that spice, cool down with a bowl of bing fen β hand-rubbed ice jelly topped with brown sugar, glutinous rice cakes, and peanuts.
For the adventurous: spicy rabbit head. It's a Chengdu late-night staple, braised in five-spice or mala flavor. Yes, it's a rabbit head. Yes, locals love it. No, it's not for everyone. But if you're going to try it, Chengdu is the place.
Time-Honored Classics
Chengdu has no shortage of century-old eateries. Head to Long Chao Shou for wontons in spicy red oil, Zhong Dumplings for their signature sweet-spicy chili oil dumplings, and Fu Qi Fei Pian for sliced beef and offal in chili sauce. The portions are small, so order a few dishes and share β that's the Chengdu way.
No food tour of Chengdu is complete without a trip to a teahouse. Head to Heming Teahouse in People's Park for gaiwan (lidded bowl) tea, people-watching, and maybe even an ear-cleaning (it's exactly what it sounds like, and it's weirdly relaxing). Pair your tea with a bowl of sweet bean curd dessert and you've got the perfect Chengdu afternoon.
One pro tip: when in doubt, order "wei la" (mild spicy). The local spice level is no joke.