Kung Pao chicken, Mapo tofu, dumplings, noodles, the list goes on forever. Chengdu is often referred to as the culinary capital of China, and it is full of amazing restaurants offering all of the classic Sichuan dishes. In fact, 30% of Chinese restaurants in China are Sichuan restaurants, making it the top Chinese cuisine in China.
Our Chengdu Food Tours offer the best of the best and if you’re not in town you can order our Sichuan Recipe Box to your doorstep. If you are in Chengdu, we’ve put together a list the best restaurants in Chengdu to try in this amazing city. All of them offer a great variety of dishes in a foreigner-friendly environment with English menus. Our recommendation? Try them all.
Located on a busy local street behind the CBD’s fanciest shops, this spot is extremely popular with long-time locals for their traditional flavors. You may notice a larger number of older customers who enjoy the classic dishes here which taste the same way they did a generation ago. The stylish restaurant offers a huge menu with photos, and their sister store outside specializes in very authentic marinated meats. All ingredients are freshly procured the same day, which is proven by the queue it often draws from locals. The menu also has English translations. Average price here is about 73 RMB/ person.
Opening Hours: Daily from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM
What To Order:
Address: 62-64 Huaxing Street. Accessible by 2nd Chengdu People’s Hospital Subway Station on line 3 or line 4, exit A, about 0.6km.
Show Your Taxi Driver: 你好，请带我去盘飧市,华兴街62-64号(近王府井,锦江剧院旁)，谢谢。
Google Map; Baidu Map
Step aside Beijing, because Chengdu has its own version of roasted duck complete with a wood-fuelled oven and racks loaded with roasted birds. Our founder Ruixi grew up eating at this restaurant, and we understand why it’s still one of her favorites. The roasted duck here can be enjoyed Beijing style, sliced at your table for only a fraction of Beijing’s price, or Chengdu style, served atop a rich and slightly spicy soup. We recommend the latter for a local experience but honestly, neither will disappoint. The menu includes photos and English translations. The average price here is about 73 RMB/ person.
Opening Hours: Daily from 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM
What To Order:
Address: 9 Gu Wolongqiao Street, 3rd Floor, accessible by Tianfu Square Subway Station on line 1 or line 2, exit 1, about 0.8km.
Show Your Taxi Driver: 你好，请带我去张烤鸭(青石桥总店)，古卧龙桥街9号，近青石桥市场，谢谢。
Google Map; Baidu Map
Authentic local Sichuan food is very well represented here at Ji Mao restaurant. Combining modern decoration, creative dishes with traditional flavors creates a unique experience that showcases what the cuisine accomplishes and is capable of. Samples of food are prepared by the door so that the guests will know exactly what to order. Each dish is big in portions and meant to share, so you will leave full and satisfied. This restaurant chain is quite popular with many locations, the one we provided below is their flagship restaurant. To reduce waiting time, we will recommend you to avoid lunch and dinner peak times. The average price here is about 70 RMB/ person.
Opening Hours: Daily from 11 AM to 2:30 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM
What To Order:
Address: 167 Yulin West Road, accessible by Yiguanmiao Subway Station on line 3, exit B, about 0.76km.
Show Your Taxi Driver: 你好，请带我去鸡毛店(玉林店)，玉林西路167路，谢谢。
Google Map; Baidu Map
Our founder Ruixi’s eyes light up at the mention of this place. Her family has been coming here since she was born and they say the flavor hasn’t changed since. The specialty here is the fresh squirrel fish: fried, covered in sweet ‘n sour sauce, and served whole (head included). The presentation is special, you’ll just have to see it for yourself! Average price here is about 48 RMB/ person.
Open Hour: Daily from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and 5 PM to 9:30 PM.
What To Order:
Address: 16 Yulin Dong Street, accessible by Nijiaqiao Subway Station on line 1, exit A, about 0.4 km.
Show Your Taxi Driver: 你好，请带我去天添饭店(玉林东街店)，玉林东街16号，谢谢。
Google Map; Baidu Map
This is the spot to get your noodles and dumplings. Every kind imaginable is served, making this one of the best and most popular spots in town. This time-honored brand is truly not to miss. There is no English menu available, but there are photos of each dish behind the counter where you order. Just take our recommendations below! The average price here is about 22 RMB/ person.
Open Hour: Daily from 7:30 AM to 9 PM
What To Order:
Address: 56 Shuwaer Street, accessible by Taisheng Road South Subway Station on line 4, exit B, about 0.8km.
Show Your Taxi Driver: 西月城谭豆花（春熙路店），提督街暑袜北二街56号
Google Map; Baidu Map
Chengdu hotpot is so essential to local cuisine that we’ve created an entirely separate list of hotpot joints for you to try. Check them out here!
When I close my eyes and think of Chengdu, it’s not skyscrapers or pandas I see first – it’s a smell: chili oil, caramelized sugar, and the comforting aroma of yeast drifting up from sizzling griddles filled with golden half-moons of dough. These are dan hong gao (蛋烘糕), translated directly as egg baked pancakes, and to me they’re my entire childhood wrapped up in a delicious package.
We’ve put together a list the best restaurants in Chengdu to try in this amazing city. All of them offer a great variety of dishes in a foreigner-friendly environment with English menus. Our recommendation? Try them all.
Everyone knows that they need to try hotpot when visiting Chengdu, but few people know about the different types of hotpot the city has to offer. Take a look at our list of the best hotpot in Chengdu and the different ways locals enjoy this insanely spicy soup and the best places to find it!
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