Huoguo Fever: Chengdu’s Best Places to Eat Hotpot

Huoguo Fever: Chengdu’s Best Places to Eat Hotpot
By Nick Callos , eChinacities.com

Sichuan is home to some of the spiciest Chinese cuisine, including the famously spicy Sichuan hotpot. Eating hotpot in Chengdu is mandatory for those visiting the city. For those living here, anything short of loving it is sin. There are tons of great hotpot restaurants in Chengdu, and finding one is as easy as spotting a 7-11 in Hong Kong. But where exactly are Chengdu’s best hotpot restaurants? Needless to say some hotpots in Chengdu are better bang for your Yuan, and some simply taste better than others. So if you want the low-down on four good places to eat hotpot in Chengdu, scroll on down.

1) Da Miao 大妙 View In Map
There are several Da Miao Hotpot restaurants in Chengdu and it is one of the best hotpot options here; the oil is fresh, the service is fast and flawless, and the flavour is pure and crisp. Unlike other hotpots, you will not be spending the next day on the toilet after a night of eating this. If it weren’t for the high prices, it would take the prize as best place to eat hotpot at in Chengdu; the beef dish here, feiniurou, is 108 RMB and the cheapest beer is the Chunjing Snow Beer, for 20 RMB. Dishes under 25 RMB are few and far between. This may be a turn-off, but rest assured; Da Miao’s hotpot is fiery yet delicate and the meat here is smooth and tender. If you don’t mind spending a few extra Yuan, this is the place to go to.

Where Da Miao excels is its atmosphere; this Chengdu hotpot restaurant radiates with a unique, ancient Chinese feel and eating here is a cultural experience in and of itself. You can enjoy an authentic Sichuan Opera performance while chewing on your meat and vegetables. You can also reserve your own private room that comes equipped with a big, flat-screen TV, a bathroom and resting chairs.

Add: 16 Zhaixiangzi, Qingyang District, Chengdu
地址:成都市青羊区窄巷子16号
Tel: 028 8624 5678
Opening Hours: 10:30-22:30
Price: 230 RMB plus per person. A table of four should expect to spend nearly 1,000 RMB

2) Hong Ding Fang 红鼎方 View In Map
Located right near Chengdu’s South bus station, this hotpot restaurant is priced in the mid- range and has a relaxing, garden restaurant design. Chengdu is overrun with Chongqing hotpots, but this restaurant is an authentic, local-style hotpot that rivals its neighbouring Chongqing giants.

While their hotpot is not as spicy as others it possesses a succulent, mouth-watering flavour that keeps customers coming back. For those who can’t eat really spicy food and want a more manageable hotpot spice level, this restaurant is a good one to check out. The flavour here is pleasing and gentle, like Chengdu’s culture and people. Vegetable dishes here range from 4 RMB to 8 RMB; meat dishes are 8 RMB and up. They don’t skimp on the dishes either. Beers here start at a respectable 8 RMB as well.

Add: 75 Xinnan Lu, Wuhou District, Chengdu
地址:成都市武侯区新南路75号
Tel: 028 8544 5588
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00
Price: 40-60 RMB per person. A table of four should expect to eat for around 180 RMB

3) Hong Lajiao Niuza Hotpot 红辣椒牛杂火锅 View In Map
Hong Lajiao Niuza Hotpot is a great beef hotpot restaurant with great value, so if you’re a hotpot beef lover on a budget, this hotpot restaurant is king. Specialising in a wide variety of beef dishes, this hotpot serves up beef and other dishes at extremely reasonable prices. I recently went to this place with a group of six people; ten beers and plenty of food later we had altogether spent 210 RMB. Almost every dish here is under 12 RMB, with the most expensive being the cow penis at 15 RMB a plate.

Having recently opened, local knowledge about this place is limited. I personally haven’t had a hotpot of better value in terms of price and flavour. Beers are between 8 RMB and 12 RMB. Check it out if you are looking for quality budget hotpot.

Add: 1 Dongsheng Jie, Jinjiang District, Chengdu
地址:成都市锦江区东升街1号
Tel: 028 8982 1660 
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00
Price: 25-40 RMB per person. A table of four should expect to eat for around 140 RMB.

4) Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot 皇城老妈火锅 View In Map
This hotpot is named after the former imperial palace that was taken down right before 1970 to make room for Tianfu Square. Many locals consider this to be the best Sichuan hotpot in Chengdu. Like Da Miao, the setting of this hotpot possesses a distinct traditional Chinese feel; the outside setting is brimming with an ancient aristocratic flavour.

With several locations throughout Chengdu, Huangcheng Laoma can be reached pretty easily from almost any area of Chengdu. However, do not expect to get a cheap dinner here. Prices are upper mid-range to expensive. The meat dishes stand out so be sure to sample a variety of them.

Add: 20 Erhuan Lu 3rd South Section, Wuhou District, Chengdu
地址:成都市武侯区二环路南三段20号
Tel: 028 8513 9999
Opening Hours: 11:00-23:00
Price: 80-120 RMB per person. A table of four should expect to eat for around 380 RMB. 

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Keywords: Best hotpot Chengdu value hotpot Chengdu spicy hotpot Chengdu beef hotpot Chengdu

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