Restaurants in Central Sìchuān
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A
Chén Mápó Dòufu
This plush branch of the famous chain is a great place to sample mápó dòufu (small/large Y12/20) – soft, fresh bean curd with a fiery sauce of garlic, minced beef, salted soybean, chilli oil and Sìchuān pepper. It's one of Sìchuān's most famous dishes and this restaurant's speciality. Photo menu.
reviewed
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Grandma's Kitchen & Deli
Grandma's has burgers, steaks and salads, but it's the desserts that stand out the most. Shakes and smoothies are also popular and on Sundays this place is packed with families and young children. The deli here also has plenty of fans.
reviewed
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Xiǎohuí Dòuhuā
Specialising in tofu and noodle snacks in more combinations than you'd ever think possible, eating at this cosy neighbourhood eatery is a sensory thrill. Try the crispy beef beancurd (牛肉豆花; niúròu dòuhuā) and steamed beef with rice powder (牛肉粉蒸; fěnzhēng niúròu), and don't miss the thick, succulent and spicy sweet noodles (甜水面; tiánshuǐ miàn).
Note to allergy sufferers: more than half the dishes here are served with some kind of peanut ingredient. The cooks will make them without peanuts, however, if you ask.
reviewed
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Peter's Tex-Mex
More than just the best Tex-Mex food in the city, the food served here is among the best you'll have anywhere. Once you've given the chimichangas (deep-fried burritos) a pass (it's the only dish they haven't quite pulled off), you can't go wrong no matter what you order. Try the strawberry margaritas - slightly tart, they taste like fresh berries. Service is flawless and this place attracts everyone from businessmen to Chinese families and students from nearby Sichuan University.
reviewed
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Āré Zàngcān
Right across the street from Wuhou Temple, this Tibetan restaurant looks fussy on the outside, but the 3rd floor dining room is actually bright and relaxed with small, simple tables. There's an English menu from which you can choose something simple, such as veggie momos Tibetan dumplings, or something more elaborate, such as yak stew. Service is attentive and there's an adjoining outdoor terrace crowded with leafy green plants that's perfect for warm weather alfresco dining.
reviewed
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Lǎozihào
Two brothers run this noodle place and they've turned it into a neighbourhood institution. The modernisation steamroller has forced them to move several times in recent years, but they always find somewhere else in the area to set up - their customers trailing loyally behind them. Try their fiery tomato egg noodles (番茄煎蛋面; fānqié jiān dànmiàn) to see what all the fuss is about.
reviewed
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Bāguó Bùyī Fēngwèijiǔlóu
Now at a new location, the modern decoration has given this restaurant a slightly clubby vibe. Named after the traditional cotton clothing that was worn by peasants in the eastern part of the province, the Sìchuān food here is hugely popular. There's no English spoken, but the huge plank-like menu is full of glossy multicoloured pictures, so choosing won't be too hard.
reviewed
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Lóngchāoshǒu Cāntīng
This big, bustling cafeteria style eatery can be overwhelming, but it's a long-time favourite for sampling Chéngdū snacks. The cheapest option gives you a range of sweet and savoury items, with each price bracket giving you the same deal on a grander and more filling scale. Unfortunately, it hasn't much to offer vegetarians.
reviewed
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C
Highfly Café
Along with the Traffic Hotel, this place has been a backpacker mainstay since the '90s. The happy staff get overwhelmed with hipster Chinese at times, but it's a relaxing place with great food; try the delicious calorie-laden fudge brownies. Free internet access.
reviewed
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D
Yǒngjì Tāngyuán Miànguǎn
Steamy and bustling, this little place is right near the Tibetan neighbourhood and is a terrific place to come for monstrous-sized bowls of delicious dumplings.
reviewed
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Zìgòng Càiguǎn
You'll find all the usual Sichuanese favourites with the addition of some specialities from the southern town of Zìgòng, historically one of this region's three culinary centres (along with Chéngdū and Chóngqìng). Look for the characters for Zìgòng (自贡) written in brackets after dishes. Zìgōng food uses different types of chillies and peppers from standard Sìchuān fare, and often contains rabbit meat (兔肉; tùròu), fish (鱼肉; yúròu) or frog (田鸡; tiánjī). Dishes are spicy, as you'd expect, but not quite as blow-your-head-off spicy as in other parts of the province. There's a photo menu, but to get you started try Yùmǐ Nèntù (玉米嫩兔; Y25), bonel…
reviewed
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Zhāngfēi Zhuāngyuán
The old town has plenty of noodle joints, but this large eatery with wooden tables and benches opens to the street. The ordinary beef noodles (牛肉面; niúròu miàn; Y5) are good, but you really should try the house special zhāngfēi niúròu (Y13 to Y15), which are delicious and come with side dishes of soup, cold beef slices and xiáncài, the local-speciality pickled vegetables.
reviewed
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Yùlín Chuànchuàn Xiāng
This lively open-fronted branch of the popular Yùlín chain is packed in the evenings with a hungry student crowd from nearby Sìchuān University. Choose your own skewers from a side room then cook them yourself in the boiling, spicy broth on your table. Staff will count up how many skewers you've eaten at the end of your meal. The garlic and chilli dipping sauce is Y3 extra. There's another, slightly smaller branch near Traffic Inn youth hostel.
reviewed
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E
Yángyáng Cānguǎn
Good-quality, inexpensive Sichuanese food with terrace seating, fast service and an English menu. Note, the English menu doesn't have prices, so you might want to ask for the Chinese menu (zhōngwén càidān) too.
reviewed
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Xīnjiāng Hóng Mǔdān Mùsīlín Kuàicān
This extremely popular Xīnjiāng restaurant beside Sìchuān University is a great place to sample the Uighur speciality dàpánjī (literally 'big plate chicken') – a massive portion of chicken, potatoes and peppers stewed in a savoury, spicy sauce. Even the 'small' plate (Y30) will serve two or three. When you're part-way through the meal, staff dump a pile of handmade noodles into your dish, perfect for sopping up the sauce. Lamb skewers (羊肉串; yángròu chuàn; Y1) and grilled naan bread (烤馕; kǎo náng; Y4) are good accompaniments. If you're eating solo, the dīngdīng miàn (丁丁面; Y6 to Y8) is a noodle dish worth sampling.
reviewed
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Tiāntiān Fàndiàn
Specialises in duck dishes and stews, but has the whole range of classic Sichuanese dishes including a particularly delicious clay-pot mushroom dish (干锅茶树菇; gānguō cháshùgū; Y28). No English, but has a good photo menu.
reviewed
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G
Sultan
Friendly, easygoing Middle Eastern restaurant with lamb kebabs, hummus, warm naan and homemade yoghurt. You could linger over dark Turkish coffee (there's free wi-fi), sit outside on the sunny patio, or lounge in a private room piled with cushions and puff on a fruit-flavoured sheesha pipe (Y50). The entrance is on a side road just east of Yulin Nanjie.
reviewed
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Nathan's Cafe
With a small outdoor seating area on lively 'Food Street', this place does Western breakfasts, simple noodle dishes and all the Sìchuān classics. Some English spoken.
reviewed
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H
Kampa Tibetan Restaurant
Small, friendly Tibetan-run restaurant next to Holly's Hostel serving tasty Tibetan classics like tsampa (porridge of roasted barley flour), yak meat and butter tea. English menu.
reviewed
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Jiāzhōu Hotel
Rooms aren't quite as grand as the lobby suggests, but this place is more upmarket than most and makes for a very comfortable stay. Third-floor rooms and above have internet connection for laptop users, and many rooms, even some of the cheapies, have river views. Standard twins often go for Y220.
reviewed
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Huì Zhī Fèng
Chéngdū's answer to teppan-yaki and a great place to fill up before drinks on Kehua Jie. There are tables outside, but it's more fun to sit inside, around the giant horseshoe-shaped hotplate and watch the chef griddle the dishes you've just ordered. There's an English menu, but if you're looking for inspiration, the bacon-wrapped mushrooms (培根卷; péigēn juǎn; Y20) are divine. Two dishes per person are usually enough.
reviewed
