Chengdu food culture is very famous at home and abroad. There is a statement that “All good foods are found in Chengdu”. Chengdu food belongs to the Sichuan Cuisine tradition, one of the eight major cuisine schools of China, which is famous for its hot and spicy flavor. The Sichuan cuisine is commonly blended with the ingredients Chili. Chili when used in the right proportions brings out the flavors of a dish. I

 

n recent years, Sichuan dishes have developed very fast. In addition to the Mapo Toufu, Long Dumpling, Han Steamed Bun, Dragon Dumpling with Meat Stuffing and other famous snacks, more popular dishes are being derived from the hot pot such as boiled kebabs, hot boiled dishes, and lengdanbei.

 

If you are not used to spicy food, Sichuan dishes can be a little hard on the palette. Once you get used to the spice, it becomes easier to enjoy food in Chengdu.

 

Chengdu Cuisines
Chengdu Hotpot
Hotpot is very popular in Chengdu and is known for its spicy and hot flavor. Chengdu Hotpot can be seen near the Chun Road Market, as well as along the river. A big pot filled with hot spicy oil and surrounded by plates of raw meats and vegetables. The pieces of meat and vegetables are sliced very small so they will cook very quickly. Most of the pots used in hotpot are divided into two sections. One half is filled with the spicy oil, and the other is filled with a delicious broth for those who are not a big fan of spicy foods.

 

Chengdu Stir-fry (Tie Ban Shao)
Chengdu Stir-fry is also unique. Various meats and vegetables are ready to be chosen by customers. After the customers chose what they want to eat, which are then deep fried in oil for a minute or two. After the ingredients are fried, they are removed from the skewers and finely diced. They are then stir fried in a wok and other ingredients chosen by the customer are added. Finally they are served. Rice can usually be added for a small extra charge. It is delicious, and spicy, but for customers who do not like spicy food, peppers will not be added during the cooking process.

Chao Shou (Chengdu Wonton)
Chao Shou is also a local specialty. It is a little similar to dumpling, also stuffed with pork and vegetables, and the difference is that the dough is thinner and served in a soup. There are two kinds of soups available: spicy, or not spicy. Each one makes the dish taste completely different.

 

Bang Bang Chicken
Bang Bang ChickenIt is a traditional local dish that actually originated in Leshan, and was introduced to Chengdu in 1920. To prepare this dish a flaming stick is used to reheat a cooked chicken so that the meat becomes light and flaky. The chicken is served with sesame and soy sauce. This is one of the tastiest cold dishes in Chengdu and less spicy than many others which are popular here.

Guoba Roupian
Guoba Roupian is a special dish unique to Chengdu. This tasty dish is served in two separate parts; a golden crust of cooked rice in one bowl and hot sauce in another. The hot sauce is immediately poured on the rice which crackles at the sensation!

 

Chengdu Snacks
When it comes to local Chengdu snacks, most of them are made up of rice, flour and grains. They are characterized by a delicate appearance, high quality and low price. Many famous snacks originate from street peddlers in old times.

 

Ma La Tang (Tongue Numbing Soup)
This is an excellent way to test your spicy food eating capacity. These restaurants have large bowls of spicy chili peppers and other spices floating in boiling water over a flame. You pick out as many skewers of meat or vegetables as you would like and then cook them in the pot yourself. Normally there will be a bowl of sesame oil, oyster sauce, and diced garlic to dip the food in to deaden the spiciness.

 

Cold Noodles （Jisi Liang Mien)
Cold Noodles (Jisi Liang Mien) is a traditional cold dish from Sichuan, which has become popular all over China recently, especially in the north. Noodles are first cooked and then left to cool. They are then served with either bean sprouts or sauce, or eaten with shreds of chicken meat, pork and ham.

 

Fu Qi Fei Pian (Husband and Wife Lung Slices)
This snack can be enjoyed on the streets of Chengdu, as well as be ordered as a cold starter at a restaurant. It's made of thinly sliced beef, bovine lung or tongue, that has been seasoned with chili oil, pepper, sesame and peanut.