Food Hunting | Chengdu

Notice：This blog is integrated with my Apple Notes, frequently updated.

Any questions about Sichuanese cuisine—or Chinese food in general—feel free to Contact Me. I’m always happy to expand the content based on your needs.

I hope information I provide will guide food lovers to truly worthwhile dining experiences in Chengdu by offering well-suited recommendations. I'll be thrilled if this guide leads you to a dish you love at any of the recommended restaurants.

Don’t waste your calories on worthless food!

A List of Restaurants You Can‘t Miss

·

【Traditional Sichuanese Cuisine 】

有云·鹿洄天府1911 中国川菜体验中心 You Yun 1911 （Traditionl Sichuanese Banquet）·
· 30km from city center, recommend group size 6-10 for best BANQUET experince
· A city-center, walking-in and a-la-carte substitution：轩轩小院（宽巷子店）（Xuanxuan Xiaoyuan at Kuanxiangzi Alley）, similar classic dishes but with less consistency due to its touristy location.

玉芝兰Yu Zhi Lan （Sichuanese-Based Private Kitchen, Menu of strong chef’s mind and personal experince）·
· Michelin 2-Star and a must-eat-once-in-life restaurant in my opinion.
· In this kitchen, stock is the soul.The chef uses high-density, single-ingredient extractions to intensify the base, which back-infuses the dish with unparalleled depth. This 'origin-to-origin' pairing—such as using a concentrated prawn stock for prawns, or a nectar reduced from 180 abalones to glaze a single one—defines a singular and rigorous culinary logic.
·This experience requires deep understanding of cooking.
· Set menu for 1 guest start from 2000 rmb/pp，but 2 and above from 1700 rmb/pp

芙蓉凰 Fu Rong Huang (Traditional Restaurant Dishes with Classic Sichuanese Flavor)·
· Michelin 1-Star. This is my option if I have only 1 meal in Chengdu.
·A-la-carte menu. recommend at least 4, and group size 6-12 for best BANQUET experince.
·Reservation！or arrive at opening hour.

永乐饭店 Yongle Restaurant (Traditional Family Dishes with Classic Sichuanese Flavor)·
· Fine-Family style with some modern tech used in traditional restaurant. They ikejime freshwater fish to extend the freshness duration, even most customer cannot taste subtle difference.
·A-la-carte menu. friendly to at least 2 guests, also recommend 4-8 for best taste experince.
·Reservation！or arrive at opening hour.

黄笨笨烤铺 Huangbenben BBQ shop （Zigong Style Sichuanese Dishes and skewer BBQ, Dinner Only）·
· Fine-Jianghu Cai 江湖菜(A sichuan countryside region local style Dish) . Spicy level is higher than restaurant above. Fresh ingredients from China daily used. A branch called 笨笨小院(Benben Little Courtyard), Same quality, lunch available.
· Dont miss their top level Tomato Egg!
· Better option for group size 6-10. At least 4, order less dish.
· Reservation！or arrive at opening hour/later hour

洞子口陈式凉粉 Dongzikou Chen’s Bean Jelly （1950-1970 Style Chengdu stir-fry)·
· Very good vibe of old Chengdu street dining, but MSG Alert!
· Just steps away from 笨笨小院 （Benben Little Courtyard）

驰鹜安∙川 Chi Wu An · Sichuan （Eatery with A la carte menu and best young chef’s mind. Classic Sichuan banquet level dishes + modern inspired twist)·
· Leisure dining option for group size 2-6.

孔干饭 Kong Gan Fan Restaurant （A north Sichuan Folk flavor restaurant）
· Traditional boil and dry steamed rice with vegetable as there signature dish. and other dishes are good. Onwer’s Sichuan dialect cultural dining vibe are impressive (but in Chinese only).
· 5 branches in town, choose any. Maybe busy in rush hour.
· Better for group size 4-10. Quite affordable.

屋顶上的樱园 Ying Garden on top of the roof (A sichuan flavor restaurant in the city center)
· Both family and restaurant style dishes are on the menu. The restaurant is famous for the good quality ingredients selecting. One of their dish, pork kidney slices with fresh pepper, is recorded in Fushcia Dunlop‘s sichuan cookbook.
· Good option when you are near city center and want to eat some good sichuan flavor.
· Better for group size 4-10. Quite affordable.

【Street food & Snacks】

杨伯英传统杂酱面 Chef Yang Boying’s Traditional Noodle Shop （Noodles with great chef’s personality, lunch only）·
· Bib Gourmand. Reservation for the （甜水面）Tianshui mian!

小名堂担担甜水面 Xiao Ming Tang Dandan & Tianshui Noodle Shop （Noodles and sancks）·

八二干海椒抄手 Ba Er Dry Chilli Pepper Flavor Chaoshou （Wonton）·
· Add：猛追湾东街5号附30号, Be careful of copycats like the chain “八二小区抄手”、“干辣椒抄手”, etc！·

鲲鲲蛋烘糕 Kun Kun Egg-Baked-Pancake （Chengdu Style Taco）·
· One of the best wrapper in Chengdu, tender texture, eggy aroma crispy edge！Fillings are good too:)·

禅泉冰粉 Zen & Spring Bing fen（Bingfen, Chengdu Dessert, type of plant roots starch Jelly, called Ice Jelly）·

邱二哥锅盔 Bro Qiu’s GuoKui（Traditional style baked crispy pancake, different from Juntun（军屯）deep-fried style and North Sichuan（川北） filling Style）·

乐山鲜知味钵钵鸡 Xianzhiwei Leshan Style Bowl Bowl Chicken （blanched Chicken and veges infused in cold broth, served in bamboo skewer）·

【Hot Pot】

龙森园 Long Sen Yuan Hot Pot （Classic Chengdu style numbing and spicy broth hotpot based on rapeseed oil, while chongqing styles prefer beef tallow based broth）·
·It has a new branch at south Chengdu, little bit upgrade and fancy.

陈堂煮·井蓉堂火锅 Chen Tang Zhu Jing Rong Tang hotpot （A modern-mild spicy hotpot, high quality ingredients and service, drinkable broth! Fancy in General）·
·but spicy soup（Red Soup）only.

乐山胖哥跷脚牛肉 Leshan Fat Bro Beef Hotpot（Leshan Style non-spicy and herb aroma beef hotpot）·

鱼馆儿 Yu Guan‘er Fish Hotpot （A mainly Chengdu-Leshan fish topic hotpot located in local community）·
·Fatty soft shell turtle recommend. Rare wild captured small fish also available. Just need reservation in advance.

大河坝黄辣丁·临江鳝丝 Daheba（Big Riverbank） Yellowhead Catfish Hotpot & Leshan Linjiang Style Freshwater Eel Shredds·
·An old brand since 1982 from Leshan. A classic type of Linjiang style freshwater eel shredds served (plus deepfried eel bones ans wine pairing snacks. if you have no plan to Leshan, this is a good option)

【Local Late Night Food】

胡二哥药膳蹄花 Hu Er-ge( 2nd Brother of Hu) Chengdu style TCM（Traditional Chinese Medcine）Flavor Pig Trotter Stew·
·Opening 18:00-4:00am. List on Michelin Big Gourmand. , The TCM flavor is mainly from Chinese Angelica here. Used to be the top option but a little fall because of the list. Better visit after 12:00, dont go too early because the trotter need time. Also you can order stir-fry there. but as you can imagine, a street oily version. dont expect too much.

杨氏⼩仙⼥儿蹄花 Yang‘s Little Fairy Trotter Stew·
·Opening 18:00-6:30am. another ocal foodies choice for after drunk curing. Beside their trotter，stir fried rice are usually welcome. similar as Hu Er Ge. Chose any one.

三哥田螺 San-ge (3rd Brother) Field Snail·
·Opening 16:30-4:30am. Signature dish is Spicy field snail, besides there are also Jianghu Cai style option (a normal version of Huang benben) . Personally I think go there for late night atmoshpere rather than food quality.

葉抄手（三洞桥店） Ye’s Wonton·
·24/7. Mainly local chaoshou（aka wonton), soupy and dry stired ver. noodle, stir fries, steam dishes are available. comfort food for local chengdude living in the west part of the city.

【Ethnic Cuisine / Traditional Chinese Medicine Cuisine】

香巴拉藏宴 Xiangbala Tibitan Banquet （Tibetan food）·
· Near Tibetan residents Commnunity and Wuhou Memorial. see introduction of 成都罗马古玩市场 Chengdu Luoma vintage market below.

熟地当归 Shu Di Dang Gui （Special TCM ingredients used dishes）·
· Caution：TCM herb（Traditional Chinese Medcine，some are considered slightly “poison”）used, under TCM doctor consulting. if you have concern with food safety, plz DONT GO. Otherwise, you will tastes super unique flavors created by lots uncommon ingredients and recipes.
· Prices are quite high and needs lot of commnunication with the owner, or value is not easily perceived.

【Foreign Restraurant】

摩根扒房 Morgan Steakhouse (Dry Aged Beefsteak) ·
· Dry aging pioneer of Chengdu. Chinese wagyu. Two Branches. Reservation for dry aging products.

松笠 SongLi （Traditional Japanese Kaiseki) ·
· A very experienced Chef Adu who used to work in Japanese restaurants for decades. The ONLY Jap-flavor worth taste in Chengdu in my opinion.

Gli Azzuri （Traditional Italian Cuisine) ·
· Artisanal Pizza in town.

Ralph’s Bar (Best Burger in Town) ·
· Cocktail are super as well.

Focus by Bill Yue 岳法餐 （Classic French with Japanese Cuisine inspired ）·
·One Star Restaurant Michlin Guide in 2026. Set menu.

【Modern Chinese-Fusion Fine Dining】

配德 Pairred (Modern Nordic-Chinese)
· itamae-style modern food and wine pairing restaurants. A cool fun dining experience if you are a alcohol lover （but not for fine wine lover）

Co- Restaurant (Modern French-Chinese)
· One stars in Michelin Guide. Listed in Best 50 Asia in 2026. Set Menu but you need book around 7-10 days in advance.

吾界 WJ cuisine (Modern French-Chinese)
· “Taste-Technique”menu. A strong personality from Chef. If you want meet a cooking geek and focus on food itself, this is the option.

旦Aurore (Sichuan-based Modern Chinese)·
· Beside Fine-Dining, personally I call it Fun-dining. Sichuan flavor and menu structure on western-fine dining presentation. A childhood dining mood.
· They have a sichuan twist style Bistro on the 1st floor, in the same building.

【Others】

裙裙 Chez Qunqun Gelato ·
· Gelato inspired by Chinese flavors

花间食味·天山野蘑菇羊肉汤 Huajian Shiwei·Wild Mushroom and Mutton Sweetpotato Noodle
· Hidden cornor shop, Food critic husband + Chef wife, niche Xinjiang wild mushroom used. Also reserve for the best Cantonese syle white cut Chichen in Chengdu

Openpanda 胶泥主厨工作室 Openpanda Chef Johnny Yang‘s private studio·
· Sichuanse flavor consulting for western restaurants and cooking class
· Quite professional and not recommend to amateurs. Comparing to a normal tourist experience, price is higher but he is willing to help you handle sichuan flavor even back home. To me is much worth.

三川九味川菜体验馆 San Chuan Jiu Wei Sichuan Cuisine Experience ·
· Cooking class service and Master Banquet by a 70 years old real masters Chef Xie Chun Lin. Reservation needed.

【Drinking】

美西啤酒 Wild West Brewery （Most well-known Chengdu beer brand）·

萃坊 Stillfun （The first professional whisky bar in town）·

鹤鸣茶社 Heming Tea House （100 years old tea house in the peoples park, near the famous marriage market）·

【Food and Beverage Experience】

川菜博物馆Sichuan Cuisine Museum (1 hour drive from the city, Sichuan food culture and All-you-can-eat snack included in ticket)·

水井坊博物馆ShuiJIngFang Museum (Historical Chinese Baijiu distilllery renovation for Local Liquor Culture)·

Lost Plate Food Tours (3-hour Snack eating via Motor tricycles, but I list 3 of the stops in the list already)·

Chili Cool China Workshop (for cooking experience, non-professional kitchen cooking but a good tour experience)·

【Local Ingredients Artisans Visiting - some of them for F&B ONLY】

I have access to several Local Ingredients Producers, but half of this part is not available for none-F&B visitors.

Most of the Ingredients makers’ workshop/factory are out of the city. Usually It will take half day or whole day round trip，even longer. Depend where you want to visit and how many of them.

北边North Suburban：旺丰豆瓣（A highend doubanjiang factory at Pidu郫都 district, half day）·

西边West Suburban：蓉豆坊(A traditional tofu workshop at chongzhou崇州 district) & 半酿时光·酱油工坊（A tradtional soysauce workshop at chongzhou崇州 district. small batches maker, half day for each, 8-10 hours if both. need a lunch between. ）·

德阳 Deyang·

中江挂面（a town handmade sun-dried noodle makers at zhongjiang 中江 county, can be a tourist destination, but I know one artisan, half day tour. BTW noodle making is seasonal before summer.）·

杜智华皮蛋(a top quality Pidan aka century egg workshop at santai三台 county)·

潼川豆豉（a long history time honor brand fermented soybean santai三台 county）（short/long day tour depend on whether you visit both.）·

中坝酱油（big brand sichuan soy sauce, can be a tourist destination: industrial-ish products, company museum , day tour.）·

保宁醋（big brand vinegar near langzhong 阆中ancient city, but a secondary choice: industrial-ish products mainly, company museum can be visited by tourists, day tour）·

老坛子泡菜 （A sichuan paocai aka pickles factory, I don have access yet, but easy contact. Beside factory, there is a Paocai museum, as well as a lunch at local hundred-year-old brand Ma Wangzi马旺子. A day tour）·

幺麻子藤椒油（A vine pepper brand at hongya洪雅 county,， can be a tourist destination. directly walk in there big site and see the cultural-industrial garden. and they have a company running restaurant there too）

燊海井 (A historical salt drilling well, still able to lifting brine from 1000meter deep underground if you pay for the experience. Traditonal salt producing process can be seen. A day tour)

泰福村碳金大头菜(A long preserved mustard root factory, 20km from zigong north startion. Their products are quite popular this year because of a cooking show in China) ·

太源井晒醋 （a zigong old brand vinegar factory, can buy products at their door but I dont have access to inner part yet. need negotiation. A days tour at least）·

思坡醋(a yibin local vinegar town, 22km from Yibin west station )·

叙府糟蛋 (a unique spicy rice wine preserved egg factory, need to ) （1 to 2 days tour, I will suggest stay yibin for a while because of their diversities of noodles and street snacks. ）·

五粮液（Famous chiese baijiu factory. can be a tourist destination. directly walk in there big site and see museums and the workshps. Sorry I dont have connections there. ）

古蔺挂面（a hand made sun-dried noodle street, 153km from Luzhou Staion. 2 days tour at least）·

泸州老窖旅游区（Famous chiese baijiu factory. built a tourist destination already. not recommend according to online feedback，but you can taste some aged baijiu there if you are a alcohol lover. Sorry I dont have connections there either. ）·

雅安 Ya’an·

九襄汉源花椒（best sichuan peppercorn 贡椒，farm on top of a mountain, visiting season between May-Aug/Sep, but please be careful the raining season, usually the same duration as harvest season . 109km from Ya’an Station）·

天全芙思塔鲟鱼养殖场(one of the top chinese caviar brand Frosista’s sturgeoan farm for caviar at Tianquan天全county mountain area)（2 days tour at least and car hiring need）·

【Want Tea, Ingredients and Spicies】

五块石农贸产品批发市场 Chengdu Wukuaishi Agricultural Trade Products Wholesale Market·
· Only a few suppliers (around 20-30) left but an old chengdu market street view.
· Most supplier are moved to Hai Bawang 海霸王 wholesale market. If you need a modern, clean, bigger, busy market. Choose this further one. 8km from Wukuaishi.
· Tips：Taste and decide your fav!

·

玉林综合市场 Yulin Comprehensive Market·
· Large and good community atomsphere

成都青羊小区综合市场 Qingyang Community Comprehensive Market·

双楠综合农贸市场 Shuang Nan Comprehensive Market·

抚琴综合市场 Fuqin Comprehensive Market·

安居天涯菜市场 Anju Tianya Market·

益民菜市(长顺街店) Yimin Market （Chang Shun Street）·

红花市场 Honghua Market·
· If you booked Chili Cool China Workshop experience，they are located inside this market.

成都罗马古玩市场 Chengdu Luoma vintage market
·A market gathered of Tibetan and niche foreign flavor bars and restaurant. Yak milk latte and and bubble tea available in coffee shop there. Step distance from the Xiangbala Tibitan Banquet.
·if interested in CHINESE secondhand antique market, there is a 成都送仙桥古玩艺术城 (Songxianqiao antique & art market) near Dufu Cottage. Step distance from the Chen Mapot Tofu Flagship Store.
·Tips: order the Mapo Tofu dish ONLY if you really want to taste their so called “authentic” version.

润茂·成都国际酒店用品城 Runmao Chengdu International Hotel Supplies City
·If you want buy some ceramic plates, bowls, dishes for your restaurant or studio, there are some good brand here. My chef friends recommended me 良沅陶瓷(Liang Yuan Ceramic)/有锅有碗(Woks and Bowls) shop there. But you can walk in any interested shop in that market .

抚琴夜市 Fuqin Night Market
· One of the largest night market located in neighborhood，venders crowed, an Northwest style BBQ there is a quite old brand.
· But if you are a professional chef of restaurant owner，I dont recommend you there. 99% of the food are simple-industrial-nonlocal-influencer trend food. Its a life style but not many value on food.foo