Must-see restaurants in Chengdu

A city classic that's always packed at lunchtime, but just squeeze onto the end of one of the benches and tuck into the house special: tián shuĭ miàn,…

Drolmala is something of a social centre for the young of Chengdu's big Tibetan community. This superb space mixes fabulous modern Tibetan cuisine with…

This high-end Sichuan joint does everything right, from service and cuisine to ambience, but it's decidedly popular so you'd do well to make reservations…

Not only will you not find no better Tibetan food in Chengdu, you'd be hard-pressed to find better Tibetan food anywhere in Tibet. Choose from a delicious…

The plush flagship of this famous chain is a great place to experience mápó dòufu (麻婆豆腐; small/large ¥12/20) – soft, house bean curd with a fiery sauce of…

This reconstructed ancient alleyway is jam-packed with tourists and Chengdu favourites like chāoshǒu (抄手, wontons; ¥12) and chuànchuàn xiāng (串串香, the…

Carefully presented, tasty western dishes such as chili con carne or Hungarian goulash as well as crisp, refreshing salads are served to a largely local…

A satisfying place to fill up before (or between) drinks on Kehua Jie. There are tables outside or seats around the tiě bǎn (铁板, hot iron plate) to watch…

It's said that people will fly across China to eat rabbit head (兔头, tùtóu) in Chengdu and this restaurant cooks it better than most. Order by the piece,…

There are lots of reasons to recommend this neighborhood place just up from People's Park. We could talk about watching the food being prepared through…

A very modern take on the traditional dumpling joints – there are several enticing varieties to choose from, including a number of more adventurous…

With big, soft sofas and ceilings festooned in Turkish lamps, this crowd-pleasing upmarket restaurant is the place to come to sample dishes from the…

The newer location of the popular local Are Tibetan Restaurant, set across from the entrance to Wuhou Temple, this branch has a little less character…

Texas-style barbecue, biscuits a Southern grandma could be proud of and a nice open-air bar facing the street – though you'll immediately forget people…

This excellent volunteer-staffed vegetarian restaurant and the atmospheric teahouse that surrounds it are on Wenshu Monastery's grounds. There's also a…

Drop in at this little hole in the wall for friendly vibes and fiery flavours – the namesake 'Century Steamed Beef' (¥22) is particularly nice, but you'll…

This simple place does a great job of Yibin-style ránmiàn (宜宾然面) noodles and a handful of other Sichuan noodle and dumpling dishes, plus it's open around…

Legit pizza is served on the small, flowery terrace of this relaxed spot in the heart of Tongzilin's bar district. They also do sandwiches and salads,…