If you've lived in Chengdu for any length of time, you've probably acclimated yourself to the local flavours. If you're like me, you may even be at the point where any time you travel away from Sichuan, you find yourself craving a bit of ma laon your tongue. Whether you're new to Chengdu, or just looking to expand your dining horizons, you may need a quick point in the direction of unparalleled taste sensations. Here we go!

Baguo Buyi 巴国布衣 View In Map
Baguo Buyi is a Sichuan institution. It's one of the restaurants where Sichuan chefs go to learn how to be a Sichuan chef. They specialize in classic, traditional high-end Sichuan cuisine, with several of their own creations for the more adventurous eaters. It's a great place to take people from out of town at dinner-time because they feature a dinner show of Sichuan mask changing, fire breathing and some traditional dance.

Recommendations: Try the ribs (巴国长排) and the tofu-beef (豆花牛肉)

Add: 55 Shenxianshu Nan Lu, Chengdu
地址: 成都市神仙树南路55号
Tel: 028 8551 1888
Web: www.baguobuyi.com
Opening hours: 10:00-14:30; 17:30-21:30

Zhuanzhuanmo (aka The Spicy Rabbit)  成都转转磨 View In Map
Once in awhile, a restaurant constructs a dish that changes the course of history, and the lives of all who taste it. The barbecued rabbit at The Spicy Rabbit is just such a dish. I love the street rabbit in Chengdu as much as the next guy, but when you want some seriously tender, plump and juicy rabbit meat then there is only one place in Chengdu to go. Eating this rabbit is practically a religious experience. I took my good friend there a few weeks ago, we've known each other for a few years now, and since he tasted this rabbit he has been angry at me for never having taken him there sooner. Seriously, he's still upset.

Recommendations: What do you think?

Add:8 Zongnan Shenglongjie, Chengdu
地址: 成都棕南盛隆街8号
Tel: 028 8523 9229
Opening hours: 10:30-21:00

Huangchengba Snacks皇城坝小吃店
Besides hotpot, one of the things that Chengdu is most famous for is their wide variety of delicious snacks. The sheer number of different kinds of noodles and dumplings is staggering. And the fact that they are all unique, and yet equally delicious, serves to boggle the mind as it moistens the salivary glands. My favourite place to get all those snacks under one roof is Huangchengba. They have a location on Wuhou Dajie, very close to the Wuhou Temple, and there is a second location on the third floor of the Wanda Mall. Be warned, the Wanda Mall location will always be packed at dinner time, and more so on weekends. Prepare to do battle for a seat. First you grab a seat, then the waitress will give you a menu and a pencil and you will scour through it and mark the snacks you would like to try. Take your completed menu up to the register and pay, then find a waitress and give her your receipt. It’s a little complicated at first but soon you will be feasting.

Recommendations: Muer...it's like a leafy mushroom (爽口小木耳), radish (香菜萝卜丝), Dandan noodles – a Chengdu staple (担担面), another delicious noodle (甜水面), steamed ‘starch jelly’ noodles (煮凉粉), ribs (腊排骨), red oil chicken (红油鸡块) or red oil dumplings (红油水饺)

Wuzhou Dajie branchView In Map
Add: 256 Wuhou Dajie, Wuhou District, Chengdu
地址: 成都武侯区武侯大街256号
Tel: 028 8507 6117
Opening hours: 10:30－14:00; 17:00－22:00

Wanda Mall branchView In Map
Add: Wanda Mall, 3rd Floor, Chengdu
地址: 成都万达广场三楼
Tel: 028-84191518
Opening hours:10:30－14:00; 17:30－22:00

Xiao Tan Douhua小谭豆花 View In Map
While I'm on the topic of snacks, there is a small but famous douhua restaurant just north of downtown, very close to the Babao Jie Carrefour, which makes the absolute best douhua, soft tofu pudding, and steamed dumplings in town. The problem with being the best is that they will sell out almost every single day, so if you show up too late they won't have any food left to sell you. Still, if you find yourself around the Babao Jie Carrefour at about mid-day, just look for a small, unassuming restaurant that is bursting at the seams with people and has a line winding down the street. Stand in that line and wait as long as it takes to try their douhua and dumplings. You won't regret it.

Recommendations: Douhua (豆花) and steamed dumplings (蒸饺子)

Add: 86-13，Xi Da Jie, Chengdu
地址: 成都西大街86附13号
Tel: 028 8625 2753
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00

Little Raindrop小雨点锅魁小吃 View In Map
In case you're wondering, I did save the best for last. You'll remember I mentioned that every time I leave Sichuan, I long and lust for the flavors that I'm missing. Well, as soon as I return, the place where I satisfy that craving is The Little Raindrop. It's just a small place in Yulin, a little family-style restaurant with only about 15 tables, but the food there is amazing. It's one of those places where you walk in, see what someone is eating, and it will look so delicious that you will just have to order it. My favorite dishes there have always been the green pepper lean pork and their broccoli, but you should also try their fish flavored pork strips and Ants on a Tree – glass noodles with minced pork.

Recommendations: Green pepper lean pork (青椒盐煎肉), broccoli (西兰花), Yuxiang Pork Strips (鱼香肉丝), Ants on a Tree (蚂蚁上树)

Add: From 1st Ring Road go South on Fangcao Jie (芳草街）about half a block and it's on the right side, Chengdu
地址: 成都芳草东街105号附4号
Tel: 028 8196 9729
Opening hours: 10:00-22:00

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Keywords: Chengdu restaurants Chengdu food Chengdu Sichuan restaurants