Man, That's Hot: Where to Get Decent Sichuan Food in Shanghai

Man, That's Hot: Where to Get Decent Sichuan Food in Shanghai
By Susie Gordon , eChinacities.com

Living in Shanghai, we’re blessed with all kinds of food to choose from. Thanks to immigration to Shanghai from other parts of China, pretty much every region of the country is represented when it comes to cuisine. The mid-country province of Sichuan, best known for its pandas, and capital city Chengdu, has brought many of its representative dishes to Shanghai (Westerners may know it better as ‘Szechwan’, from the old method of transliterating Chinese names).

When you want Sichuan food, look for the characters川菜 (chuān cài). Chuān is the nickname for Sichuan Province, just as 沪 (Hù) is Shanghai’s moniker. What you’ll find is spicy, so be warned. If you’re not keen on chili, steer clear. Sichuan cuisine’s main flavours are garlic, chili, and the particularly piquant Sichuan peppercorn. Beef is more common than in other provinces, due to the large number of cattle reared in the region, and Sichuan has gifted the rest of China with yúxiāng/魚香 (fragrant fish) and málà/麻辣 (peppery and spicy flavouring), which have become part of the cuisine of other areas. Famous Sichuan dishes include chicken with peanuts and chili (gōng bāo j? dīng/宫宝鸡丁) twice cooked pork (huíguōròu/回锅肉) and spicy tofu (mápó dòufǔ/麻婆豆腐) Sichuan hotpot (Sìchuān huǒguō/四川火锅).

So where are the best Sichuan restaurants in Shanghai?

Sichuan Citizen 龙门阵茶屋川菜馆View In Map
Once there was the Citizen Café, a popular coffee house/bar on Jinxian Lu. Then, from the same stable, earlier in 2009, came Sichuan Citizen, an equally popular emporium of all things chuān. Don’t be fooled by the small-looking interior. Once you get inside, the restaurant opens up into a big dining area and several ante-rooms. But it isn’t one of those brightly lit production-line joints. Thanks to the atmospheric lighting, cool wall art and wide, enticing menu, Sichuan Citizen retains its character. All the classics are here; the gong bao ji ding is particularly good, and prices are average.

Add : 30 Donghu Lu, near Huaihai Zhonglu, Xuhui District, Shanghai
上海徐汇区东湖路30号(近淮海中路)
Tel: 021 5404 1235

Yu Xin Chuan Cai 渝信川菜View In Map
This is one of those massive, brightly lit production-line complex joint… However, that doesn’t mean it’s bad. On the contrary, in fact. Yu Xin’s food is consistently good, especially the tea-smoked duck.

Add : 3/F, 333 Chengdu Beilu, near Weihai Lu, Jing’an District, Shanghai
上海静安区成都北路333号招商局广场3楼(近威海路)
Tel: 021 5298 0438, 5298 0439

South Beauty 俏江南
South Beauty is a China-wide chain of quality Sichuan restaurants. The French Concession branch is situated in an old colonial mansion with a lawn that’s seen its fair share of weddings. The prices are more than what you’d pay at a home-style place, but it’s worth it for the surroundings. The other branches are less well-located, but of an equal calibre.

Super Brand Mall Location 正大广场店View In Map
Add: 10/F Super Brand Mall, Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai
上海浦东新区陆家嘴西路168号正大广场10楼(近东方明珠)
Tel: 021 5047 1917, 5047 1817

Xuhui Location 徐汇店View In Map
Add: 28-1 Taojiang Lu, near Hengshan Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai
上海徐汇区桃江路28号-1 
Tel: 021 6445 2581

Larsho 揽香川菜馆View In Map
This modern Sichuan joint offers the usual suspects like mapo tofu and stir-friend prawns, as well as lesser known regional specialties such as salmon sashimi and Chongqing rabbit.

Add : 4/F, Infiniti Plaza, 138 Huaihai Zhonglu, Luwan District, Shanghai
上海卢湾区淮海中路138号无限度广场4楼(近普安路)
Tel : 021 6375 6771

Deng Jia Chuan Cai 邓记传菜View In Map
The real flavours of Sichuan (think super strong chili and extremely fresh ingredients) come alive at this Dingxi Lu eatery. It’s reasonably priced too.

Add: 737 Dingxi Lu, Changning District, Shanghai
上海长宁区定西路737号

Pin Chuan 品川酒家View In Map
Situated on a quiet street, in an area of the French Concession, Pin Chuan is the place to go when you want your spicy bullfrog served in a luxury atmosphere. It’s actually not prohibitively expensive, and the menu is rated as to how spicy the dishes are, amking it a popular expat haunt. Generally the chili level here is low by default, so ask for la de if you want your dishes spicier. Pin Chuan is especially good for fish.

Add: 47 Taojiang Lu, near Wulumuqi Nan Lu, Xuhui District, Shanghai
上海徐汇区桃江路47号
Tel: 021 6437 9361

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