chengdu street food tour

Top 5 Chengdu Night Markets of Street Food

Chengdu is known as the "land of abundance" and is famous for its delicious food. except the usual and traditionally popular tourist must-go places such as jinli street, kuanzhai alley, wenshufang and chunxi road, here we include some of the best and most local food streets and night markets to explore in chengdu that are popular and known among local people. these night markets for food may not be known by travelers yet these are the authentic food and loved by local foodies..

Jianshe Alley Night Market

Chengdu Night Market

Yemaozi Night Market

Location Map

Recommended time to spend : 2-3 hours, business hour : 17:00-23:00.

Fuqin Night Market

Location: Easy to get to by metro

Business Time: 17:00 - 23:30 Everyday

Features: Barbecued Food, Oldest Night Market of Chengdu, Authentic, Decent Prices

Fuqin Night Market is located by the northwest of 1st Ring Road of Chengdu. It is one of the oldest night markets in Chengdu with authentic feeling of the “Old Chengdu”. Using metro it is easy to get to from the station of Fuqin by metro line 5. Recommended food include Fuqin No.1 Barbecue, Zige Kababe, Old Chengdu Chuanchuan, Barbecued Sweet Potato Bread, Barbecued Fish/Squids/Toufu, Dan Hong Gao, Fried Sweet Sticky Rice Bread, Fried Chuanchuan, Antie Li’s Potato Slices...

Business Time: 11:00 - 23:00 Everyday

Features: Chengdu Authentic Street Food, All Kinds of Snacks, Well-Organized

Jianshe Alley Night Market is located by the northeast of Chengdu between 1st and 2nd Ring Road. It is an authentic night of market of Chengdu Taste and style. By metro it is easy to get to using line 6 and get off by metro station University of ESTC Jianshe North Road. Recommended food include Grandma Xue’s Dan Hong Gao, Bamboo Milk Tea, Banxian Rabbit Head, Small Spring Rolls, Zhang’s Hotpot Noodle, Barbecued Sweet Potato Bread, Barbecued Pig Foot, Bing Fen...

Location: Center Part of City, Easy to get to by Bus

Business Time: 16:00 - 22:00 Everyday

Features: Street Food of all over China, All Kinds of Snacks, Sheltered

Yemaozi Night Market is one night market that is close to the center of City and super easy to get to. “You don’t find food stands offer the same food” is what local people say about this night market. Yemaozi Night Marlet doesn’t only have a good location but also has food from different parts of China. Recommended food include Chaoshan Chaluo, Plum Flower Cake, Barbecued grinded Shrimp&Fish, Plum Ice Sweet Dumplings......

Sanse Street Night Market

Location: South 3rd Ring Road, Easy to get to by Metro

Business Time: 18:00 - 23:00 Everyday

Features: New Food Street, Foreign Snacks/Drinks, Expensive, Young People

Sanse Street Night Market is a new food street establised due to the developement of the southern part of urban Chengdu (the newer part of Chengdu) where many young people work and live. Sanse Street is popular on social network and has the name of “Small Thailand” due to its foreign snacks and use of canopies with lights. Snack/food sellers are mainly young people. There are two parts of of the night markets: one is the barbecue and beer section and the other is mainly seats area with drinks and other snacks that are usually considered good to take social network-worthy photos. Many of the stall -owners here are doing part time and many are of styles. It is a night market of young people although some thinks food may be overpriced and this market maybe overhyped. It is good to see the other side of bustling night life of Chengdu young generation.

Liulangwan Night Market

Location: Wenjiang (western suburb of Chengdu)

Business Time: 16:00 - 24:00 Everyday

Features: Big Night Market, All kinds of Local Food, Far from City Center

Liulangwan Night Market is by some considered one of the best night market and a big night market. Its location is far from the city center of Chengdu. By metro it takes around 1h to get to. But metro line 4 gets to the night market directly from city center without transit. Liulangwan night market is usually crowded and prices are good. Some cosider it is the biggest night market of Chengdu that you can find basically all kinds of local snacks/food here.

Chengdu Tour Guide can arrange night market tour to the listed night markets to show you the best food to explore in Chengdu, please feel free to send us inquiry.

Ticket Information

Free of Charge.

Eat Like a Local: Chengdu Street Food Night Tour

• Local English-speaking guide
• Authentic local snacks
• Qianfeng Road, M3HV+W36, Qian Feng Lu, 李家沱 Cheng Hua Qu, Cheng Du Shi, Si Chuan Sheng, China, 610051 A friendly English-speaking guide will meet you at 6:30 pm at exit B, Qianfenglu Station of Metro Line 3
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Qianfeng Road M3HV+W36, Qian Feng Lu, 李家沱 Cheng Hua Qu, Cheng Du Shi, Si Chuan Sheng, China, 610051 A friendly English-speaking guide will meet you at 6:30 pm at exit B, Qianfenglu Station of Metro Line 3 See address & details
• 1 Jianshe Road Stop: 2 hours Chengdu is well-known as a popular destination for street food lovers, any visitor is faced with a multitude of choices mouse-watering snacks when comes the center of Sichuan cuisine, this small group walking tour with a foodie as your guide make things easier. Let an insider lead the way to some of best food stalls and eateries to sample classics, such as pancakes, noodle, dumpling, Chuanchuan, and more. Vegetarian and other dietary options are available, too. The guide will meet you at B exit, Qianfenglu Station of Metro Line 3, walk to famous street food nearby, recommend 3 or 4 unique popular snacks to taste and optional upgrade to hot pot dinner are available. Read more
• You'll return to the starting point

• stevengD6087KV 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Do this tour! Wells was an outstanding guide at the Chengdu Panda Research and Breeding Base. His warm personality and exceptional English made us feel instantly comfortable. He shared fascinating panda facts throughout our tour and even helped us navigate the area and catch our train afterward. I highly recommend Wells for an informative and enjoyable experience! Read more Written April 23, 2024
• rjdchurchill 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour Great tour. Even though our hotel was outside the official pickup zone, the tour operator responded quickly with a clear solution for pick up. Our tour guide, Wells, was on time, friendly and knowledgeable. He knew the shortcuts through the Panda reserve and where to go to most likely see the animals. He was attentive to our needs and a really pleasant companion. A great morning excursion despite crazy rain! Read more Written April 18, 2024
• galiyahk 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Visit pandas and see authentic China. I couldn't see traditional Tea houses nowhere else in China, only in Chengdu! Book this tour with Silvia, who has a kind and positive personality. All tour guides have completed university and know the history very well, making it very interesting to listen to them. We started our tour early to reach the Panda Base by 8 am. It's best to go there as early as possible to avoid crowds. Trust me, wake up at 6 am if needed :) so you can better see and enjoy the lives of the pandas. This was the reason I went to China and I was so happy to see these cute creatures. Later, we went to a Zen Buddhist monastery on a famous street. I was amazed at how everything is still so authentic in China—temples, tea houses, food, tea bars, and ear grooming. Afterwards, we went to People's Park. I visited on a Friday, which was a public holiday. Wow, the things you will see there will amaze you. Then we had traditional green tea in a tea house. Actually, I haven't seen such tea houses in either Beijing or Hangzhou. So, please enjoy every moment there. Later, we also went to another tourist spot—a street where you can buy lots of souvenirs, clothes, sweets, and more. Read more Written April 16, 2024
• Global43336417712 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Wonderful experience The views were amazing and I was lucky to be able to visit with good weather and a good guide. My guide Leila was friendly and very knowledgeable. Could tell that she's passionate about her job as she explained the significant of each location. I had a good time chatting with her and she even helped me get a bracelet at a nearby coffee place. Thank you so much. Definitely highly recommend this tour and if you have Leila as your guide, you'd be in good hands! Read more Written March 19, 2024
• maggiemight6 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Unforgetable Experience! Experience of a lifetime for me, even if I was just cleaning their enclosures and preparing their food. Although you cannot touch them, you do get much closer to these magnificient animals than the zoo experience. The information imparted on their care and efforts made to rehab them back into a wild habitat is truly inspiring. The lunch was simple, yet very tasty. The tour guide will take pictures/videos of you during the panda care part of the day as you cannot take your own camera into their enclosures. At the end of the day, you do get swag including your certification certificate as a panda volunteer. As it was winter school break, there were several children volunteers and efforts were made to have them in a different group than adults, which I appreciated. Read more Written January 28, 2024
• Aleksey K 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Pandas are awesome Had a fun time seeing pandas. Kudos to Worley, who guided me through the entire experience. Expect to be ready to depart around 7am to see animals before their feeding time, when they rush to their enclosures! And make sure to brush up on your sculpturing skills to make the best panda cake out there! Read more Written December 30, 2023
• Klara S 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great volunteering experience I had such a great a time visiting the Panda base and also being a volunteer, which I booked out of curiosity, but I’m glad I did. As a volunteer you get not only to clean the panda’s cage (which actually felt rewarding) but also to see the pandas being fed from a close distance. The whole day was very well organised and special thanks belong to my tour guide Rosalin who was there with me the whole time. She is such a lovely and funny character and I believe we truly got along. She is very knowledgeable about pandas and the history of the panda base as well. Read more Written November 25, 2023
• danielfA2194ED 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A nice insight in pands and Chengdu Booked this tour to get an overall impression on Chengdu and the pandas, as my time was limited. Alice picked me up from the hotel with a driver and explained to me everything very clearly and with lots of insights. I got a great view on the giant panda and small panda and could see many of them. Although crowded, we got along quite smooth. The Wenshu Yuan monastery was very impressive, and Alice knew a lot about it. The walk through the people's park with a delicious tee was a good closure of an interesting day. Thank you, Alice, for your passion and insights. Thanks also to the driver, who picked us up and dropoedus safely. I'm looking forward to the next tour with you guys. Read more Written November 4, 2023
• Dark U 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience What an amazing experience. This was my first time seeing pandas and it did not disappoint. My tour guide was Alice who was so lovely and kindly took photos throughout for me. I opted to do the panda volunteer experience and I’m so glad I did. I was able to see the pandas up close and it was such a quiet special experience. The rest of the zoo had so many beautiful pandas. My favorite was Bai Yun, she was draped over her enclosure setting in the typical funny panda way. I felt so well taken care of throughout the tour and would highly recommend doing the volunteer experience if you get the chance. Read more Written October 16, 2023
• mingo6 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A+ tour guide Daniel was an excellent guide and catered the tour to our group and needs. Super attentive, knowledgeable and genuinely interested in giving us the best possible experience. He also gave us an awesome hotpot recommendation for dinner. Read more Written September 28, 2023
• Bernie M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great experience I had Madonna as my guide showing me around the panda centre and it was a lovely morning! She knew the best routes to take to see the pandas and knew a lot of information! Pictures were taken and she let me keep the ones taken on her Polaroid camera which is a nice keepsake! I had a great experience and can’t recommend her enough Read more Written September 17, 2023
• phillipyoon 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing day with pandas I had a great trip with my tour guide Worlie. She had such great knowledge of the centre and took me through the most efficient routes to let me see all the pandas on site without having to queue up. I would not have been able to do this tour without my tour guide. I highly recommend Worlie to anyone who is interested in seeing pandas during their stay in Chengdu! Read more Written September 9, 2023
• L5892FThilaryb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great day A busy venue so a guides knowledge is valuable. Rosalie’s English and personable nature were excellent. Read more Written August 26, 2023
• kindallt2016 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles I had a great experience Wen was a great guide. She was kind, knowledgable, and understanding. She made the trip great and supported me during the entire experience. The ride to the Panda base was comfortable, and she created a comfortable experience for me at the base. She has ambition, and I enjoyed listening to her share her knowledge about the pandas. Read more Written April 4, 2023
• aoifes878 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Mesmerised from the start Fantastic and interesting show! There was a great atmosphere at the show and the acts were of great variety! Read more Written August 9, 2022

More to explore in Chengdu

Buy it with

Eat Like a Local: Chengdu Street Food Night Tour provided by Sam Tour China

• 5 Chengdu Food Streets

In the Land of Abundance, many cuisines are offered. Hot pots, snacks and delicacies and the Sichuan cuisine dishes are considered essential to the life of the native Chengdu people. A gourmet street easily tempts visitors.

1. Kuixinglou Street

Old German-style buildings that have lain idle for years are now transformed into very modern looking constructions in black and white. A small street includes more than a dozen shops scattered from one end to the other. Graffiti is seen on the walls of the street. Western restaurants, vegetarian restaurants and authentic local restaurants provide visitors with a variety of food options.

Recommendation: Shaocheng Weidao (Familiar Taste from a Brand New Restaurant), Super-in Chwan Chwan (Hot Skewers in Hot Pots), ‘No Cat French Desserts’, and ‘Lobster Island’ are all good choices. Address: Kuixinglou Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China. How to get there: Take the bus No. 341, No. 54, No. 48 or No. 30 and get off at Yushu Street East Station. It is within the walking distance. Nearby attractions: Kuanzhai Xiangzi (Wide and Narrow Alley) and Du Fu Caotang (Du Fu, a poet's residence, a thatched cottage).

2. Yuling Living Square

Visitors can experience ordinary life here down in the alleys around Yulin Community. The slow life is right there for any tourist to see. Hot pots, skewers, rabbit meat barbeque, rabbit kidneys (yes, Chengdu people have a fondness for meats, internal organs and the brains of rabbit), crawfish, and barbeque and grill dishes. It is definitely a gourmet paradise in local people's eyes.

Recommendation: Wangma Shredded Rabbits and Yulin Chuanchuanxiang (Sichuan skewers) Address: Yulin Street, Wuhou District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China. Transportation: Take bus No. 153 or No. 1006 and get off at Yulin East Road Station. The Living Square is within walking distance. Nearby attractions: Wuhou Shrine and Du Fu Caotang

3.Xiangheli Lane

This lane is an ancient residential community with many of the characteristics of Chengdu. Now it has become a special dining street. The Gourmet business is booming here in east Chengdu. Most of the shops only open after 10 o'clock in the morning. It is quiet in the street during the day time. In the evening, people gather here. There are hot pot barbecues and small restaurants all along the street.

Recommendation: Ziwei Grilled Fish, Weng's Bobo (jar) Chicken and Kang's Grilled Bullfrog Address: Intersection of Tianxiang Street, Chenghua District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province, China How to get there: Take Bus No. 8, No. 106 or No. 237 and get off at Mengzhuiwan Jiekou Station. Or take Metro Line 4 and get off at Yushuang Road Subway Station. Nearby attractions: Wuhou Shrine

4.Chunxi Road

Both locals and visitors in Chengdu love Chunxi Road. Take-away foods are provided everywhere. It is often surprising that such rich kinds of desserts are offered for such reasonable prices. A place where both local and exotic cuisines are available is a blessing for foodies.

Recommendation: Xiao Tan Douhua (beancurd), Yutian Hotel, and Xiaolongkan (the top hot pot brand in Sichan) Address: Chunxi Road, Jinjiang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province How to get there : Take Metro Line 2 or Line 3 and get off at Chunxi Road Station. Nearby attractions: Wuhou Shrine and Kuanzhai Xiangzi (Alley)

5.Jinli Lane

Jinli Lane, the most ancient commercial street in Chengdu, is a great place to see local folk arts. It is a must-see for tourists visiting Chengdu. Almost all the special Chengdu snacks can be found here: sweet water noodles, buckwheat noodles, San Dapao (sticky rice balls, which make a lot of loud noise in the making), Sugar and Oil Guozi (fried sticky rice balls with black sugar and sesame seeds) and Dan Hong Gao (folded tender cake with eggs blended into the flour). The antique streets there are a great scene with people strolling and enjoying snacks. The local opera, tea drinking or Guzheng performances are also good choices.

Recommendation: Damiao Hot Pot, Golden Beef Pancake Address: 1, No. 231, Wuhouci Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China How to get there : Take the bus No.1, No.57, No.82, No.334, etc., and get off at Wuhouci Bus Station. The restaurants are within the walking distance. Nearby attractions: Wuhou Shrine, Du Fu Thatched Cottage and Jinsha Site Museum

• Top Chengdu Delicacies
• Top 5 Chengdu Cuisine Restaurants

Chengdu Evening Food Tour

Daily at 6:30pm / Duration 3.5 hours

$69 USD per adult / $55 USD per child

Fully Operated by Tuktuk

The Essentials:

30% of all restaurants in China serve Sichuan cuisine, making it the most popular Chinese cuisine in China. In the world of food, that’s definitely a big deal. Come and see the best the capital of Sichuan cuisine has to offer, on a tour designed by our founder Ruixi Hu, who is born and raised here in Chengdu. This tuk-tuk tour includes unlimited food, beer, and soft drinks where you’ll try at least 10 dishes across 4+ stops, plus one local bar.

All food, local beer, and soft drinks at a combination of sit-down, safe-to-eat restaurants and street stalls, and one local bar.

Small groups of 2-12 people per tour.

Start & End Location

This tour starts  at Yushuang Road Subway Station. An email will be sent with detailed meeting location details immediately after booking. The tour ends at a local bar, approx. 10 minutes walk from a nearby subway station.

Cancellation Policy

Reservations cancelled 48 hours or more before your tour start time are fully refundable.

Dietary Requirements

We are happy to welcome vegetarians, but please let us know prior to your tour date as same day requests cannot be guaranteed.  Please note, spiciness can be adjusted from virtually unnoticeable to mortally terrifying, please let your guide know what you prefer. Message us prior to booking if you have any questions.

What You'll Do:

Meeting Location

This tour starts at Yushuang Road Subway Station. An email will be sent with detailed meeting location details immediately after booking.

Cruise the City

Enjoy unlimited local beer, water, and soft drinks while exploring Chengdu’s backstreets by tuktuk to discover all of our favorite spots for Chengdu’s best food.

Chengdu Street Crepes

This classic local street food comes in one of 4 flavor profiles: sweet, salty, spicy, and strange. Pick your poison(s) and discover this addictive treat that is unique to Chengdu at a street-stall-turned-shop that has served up strange (and everything else) for over 30 years.

Sichuan-style Wontons

These dumplings are every local’s favorite and come in 5 flavors. Learn why locals call them “Chaoshou,” and test your spice threshold at a family restaurant where they’re made to order by the same hands that have been folding them for generations. 

All the Noodles

Originally served on the street by men who carried the ingredients around on bamboo poles, Dandan noodles are possibly the OG hawker dish. We’ll try a classic Dandan recipe along with a variety of other local favorite Chengdu noodle dishes.

Classic Sichuan Dishes

Sample local delicacies and classic Chengdu dishes, like Mapo Tofu swimming in a bowl of numbing and spicy chili oil (don’t worry, there’s plenty of not-so-spicy dishes here as well).​

Local Plum Wine

Try locally made Chengdu spirits in a 70s-80s themed bar that captures a unique turning point in China’s history. The bar is a 10 minute walk to the nearest subway station.

Plus More Surprises!

* This itinerary is subject to changes and adjustments based on daily vendor operations and availability, but it will always be awesome.

Click here to book by WeChat.

About This Tour:

There are a million reasons Chengdu is an international food destination. It’s a UNESCO city of gastronomy. It’s the most popular Chinese cuisine in China. Not only is Chengdu the capital of Sichuan cuisine, but also the capital of eating out, with the highest per-capita ratio of restaurants, hot pot eateries, and teahouses in all of China. And at the same time, you could know all of this and yet know very little about food in Chengdu.

On this tour designed by our founder (and Chengdu native) Ruixi Hu, travel through her hometown by tuktuk and encounter spots you could never find on your own for a mix of street food, sit-down restaurants, and family-run joints. In the capital of all things cultured, delicious, and unique, visit the eateries that took her a lifetime to discover on our very special evening food tour.

Featured In:

“You won’t forget it after you try it.”

“Set on the ground floor of a colonial-style terrace with simple wood furniture and rows of framed awards on the walls, the first restaurant Mungxi takes me to specialises in “folded arm”, Sichuan-style pork dumplings served in either a clear broth or in a texture-rich sweet and spicy sauce. The pastry is thin and melts in the mouth. The minced pork stuffing tastes tellingly home-made. These dumplings are like kisses, and come with an interesting backstory.”

Eating the BEST of Chengdu Food with Lost Plate and Aleese Lightyear.

Jump into the deep-end of Chengdu’s food scene with Lost Plate Food Tours with this video by Itchy Feet on the Cheap.

Customer Reviews:

Frequently asked questions:, how much food and drink will i get.

We are not a tasting tour, we provide much more than a full meal’s worth of food so we recommend you come prepared to eat.

This tour covers a large range of what Chengdu can do – street eats and sit-down Sichuan eateries. You’ll try at least 10 dishes of unlimited food, but the most food is at the last restaurant so we recommend pacing yourself until then. Local beer and soft drinks are also unlimited until the bar, where the first round is on us. Our online reviews agree that there is more than enough to eat, we got you covered!

What if I’m vegetarian or have special dietary requests?

When booking online, you’ll have the opportunity to let us know if you have any dietary restrictions or special requests. Please use this field to let us know about your requests and we will follow up if there are any problems or questions. 

Our tours have been designed to accommodate as many diets as possible, including vegetarian, while still remaining stupid delicious. Just keep in mind that there will be dishes that don’t have a direct substitute – many of the places we visit specialize in one type of cuisine/dish, and therefore don’t always provide a lot of alternatives. Please let us know prior to your tour date as same day requests cannot be guaranteed. This tour is not recommended for gluten free or vegan diets.

Will I need to walk very far?

Not really, this is a tuktuk serviced tour that covers about 10km of the city.  This distance is split up between 5 stops, but there will be super short walks from the tuktuk to each restaurant. If you have mobility issues please let us know.

What ages qualify for child pricing?

Our child pricing is valid for ages 4 through 15. Children ages 3 and under are free.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at 6:30pm at the Yushuang Road subway station  which services subway line 4. You’ll get the exact address, directions, and transportation details immediately after booking.

The tour ends at a bar which is approx. a 10 minute walk from a nearby subway station. Your guide will point you in the right direction for wherever you need to go next, or you are welcome to stay at the bar as long as you like!

How many people will be on my tour?

Our minimum is 2 and maximum is 12. There’s no flag to follow, or megaphone, or tacky uniforms. It’s small enough to be intimate, but big enough to get away with trying several dishes at each stop. You’ll get plenty of face-time with the experts. Bottom line is, you’ll follow the guide through a super-local experience and make friends along the way.

How long does this tour last?

This tour lasts about 3.5 hours and ends in a bar, it’s not uncommon for guests to stay and keep the drinks going afterward.

What happens if it rains or the weather is hot or cold?

All of our tours are rain-or-shine, so w e suggest you dress for the weather. In rare cases of extreme weather, your guide will cancel the tour and provide a full refund.

Do you offer private tours for special groups/events?

Yes we do! If you would like to book a special tour for your organization or group, just contact us and we’ll take care of you.

Should I sign up for multiple Lost Plate Tours? Are they all different?

We have many happy customers who do more than one of our tours in Beijing and across China! We have designed our tours to focus only on food from each city. This means that each dish, story, and vibe is unique to each tour and there aren’t any repeats.

Most people are very surprised how much the cuisine changes as they travel throughout China, and our tours are a good way to discover those differences. We encourage you to pick the tours that best fit your itinerary and we offer a 10% discount if booking more than one tour.

Do you offer discounts?

We sure do! If you decide to do more than one tour with us we are happy to offer you a 10% discount off your total amount. It doesn’t matter if the tour is in the same city or a different city, we want to keep feeding you as long as you let us. Our online booking system will automatically deduct the discount from your total if booking online at the same time. If you decide to add more tours later, your original confirmation email will include a promo code to use on those bookings. Also, children ages 4-15 receive a discount on all tours (3 & under are free).

What is your cancellation policy?

Bookings cancelled 48 hours or more before your tour are fully refundable (100% refund). Bookings cancelled within 48 hours notice are not refundable. Cancellations must be communicated by email to [email protected] or by phone. If you would like to reschedule your tour with less than 48 hours notice, we will need to charge 50% of your total since we are unable to fill your spots at short notice.

Check Out Some Other Awesome Experiences:

Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour

Shanghai Evening Food Tour

Xian Evening Food Tour by Tuktuk

Ask us anything, we love a good question..

$69 USD/person

Food Tour Locations

Beijing, China

Chengdu, China

Guangzhou, China

Lijiang, China

Shanghai, China

Suzhou, China

Xian, China

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Bangkok, Thailand

Portland, OR USA

Terms & Conditions

Health & safety, multi-day trips.

View Upcoming Trip Schedule

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Email: [email protected]

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USA: +1 503 409 5593

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For the ultimate foodie experience in China, I highly recommend a trip to Chengdu. This unique destination in the Sichuan Province is one of the top destinations for food lovers around the world.

As the locals will tell you, walk out the front door and you will find good food in Chengdu . In fact, the city is so well known for its culinary offerings, it was named UNESCO City of Gastronomy.

Joe and I spent some time sampling the amazing food in Chengdu after our journey to Everest Base Camp in Tibet . In our Chengdu food guide, you’ll find some of the must try foods in China’s City of Gastronomy.

This food guide has four section

Chengdu Food Tour Video

• Chengdu Street Food
• Sichuan Dishes in Chengdu

Tips for Eating in Chengdu

Table of Contents

In this video you will get an idea of all the delicious food Chengdu has to offer.

Chengdu Street Food 成都小吃 (Chéngdū xiǎochī)

Don’t miss these popular street foods when you’re in Chengdu.

Suān là fěn 酸辣粉

Liáng fěn 凉粉 Jelly Noodle (Yellow and/or White)

Tián shuǐ miàn (甜水面) Sweet Water Noodles

Chuàn chuàn xiāng 串串香 Skewers

Hóng yóu chāo shǒu 红油抄手 Wontons in Red Oil

Dān dān miàn 担担面 Dan Dan Noodles

Guō kuī 锅盔 Meat Pie

Chòudòufu 臭豆腐 Stinky Tofu

Sān Dàpào 三大炮 3 big cannons

Gěn zhēng ròu 粉蒸肉 Flour Steamed Meat

We ate some of the best Chengdu street food by walking around the city and sampling from a variety of vendors. There are also plenty of vendors selling specialities that aren’t specific to Sichuan, so be adventures and don’t limit yourself. Some other street foods to look for when in season: táng chǎo lì zi 糖炒栗子 sugar roasted chestnuts, gānzhè zhī 甘蔗汁 sugar cane drink.

Sichuan Food in Chengdu 四川菜 (Sìchuān cài)

There’s more than street food in Chengdu. Sichuan has an incredible array of dishes that will tantalize your tastebuds. These are some of our favorite Sichuan dishes found in Chengdu.

Huǒ guō 火锅 Hot Pot

Kǎo yú 烤鱼 Grilled Fish

Huí guō ròu 回鍋肉 Twice Cooked Pork

Má pó dòu fǔ 麻婆豆腐 “Pockmark” Tofu

Shuǐ zhǔ yú 水煮鱼 Water Boiled Fish

Order dishes without MSG, sugar, chili, meat , etc… Dishes such as dan dan mian are made to order where each ingredient is spooned into a bowl. Joe and I often ordered our dishes without MSG and sugar which each restaurant was able to accommodate.

Ask for vegetarian options  Let the wait staff know you want to eat vegetarian by telling them 1) 我吃素 wǒ chī sù  which translates to “I eat vegetarian” or 2) 我不吃肉 wǒ bù chī ròu which translates to “I don’t eat meat.” I was able to find many vegetarian options in Chengdu using those two phrases.

Local street food areas  Jianshe Alley, Chenghua Qu, Chengdu Shi, Sichuan Sheng.

Try dishes that aren’t Chengdu specialties  You can find other types of cruise from all over China in Chengdu. One of our favorite restaurants was a hand pulled noodle shop lán zhōu lā miàn 兰州拉面 down the street from our rental apartment.

Bonus Tip: Use the subway to get around Chengdu. It’s easy to use and rail stations are conveniently located throughout the city.

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• Food + Drink

What to eat in Chengdu? — 19+ must-try, famous food & best Chengdu street food to eat

Chengdu is a famous culinary city in the western China. In the large city, visitors can find countless restaurants serving extremely delectable Chengdu street food. The most prominent flavor of this region is the spicy taste of Sichuan cuisine. The most popular dishes are noodles, dumplings, sweets, floating cakes, salads and soups. Diners have the opportunity to enjoy rich flavors in popular kiosks or luxury restaurants. Joining us to learn more about the most outstanding dishes in the city that you should try once when coming to Chengdu.

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So, what to eat in Chengdu? Let’s check out our top rated 19+ top Chengdu local food, best food in Chengdu and must eat in Chengdu including famous food in Chengdu (Chengdu famous food) as well as best Chengdu street food you should try when coming to the ancient city of Sichuan region!

Liángfěn noodles (Cold spicy jelly noodles) (# chengdu street food)

Liang Fen noodles are a popular Sichuan snack that is loved by many diners. In Chengdu, you can find many variations of it, from dishes that only include noodles and spicy red chili sauce to dishes that will be served with herbs like coriander to increase the taste.

Liángfěn noodles have noodles quite similar to the Vietnamese version of vermicelli. Each strand of noodles has a transparent color and is made from pea, sweet potato or green bean starch. Therefore, it has a soft and chewy texture, giving it an extremely pleasant chewing feeling. Coming to Chengdu, every noodle shop will have a signature sauce that creates its brand. However, what this dish has in common is the spicy red chili sauce that comes with chili powder and a amount of garlic salt.

In some places, diners can request to reduce and add more spices and sauces to suit their taste. Besides the signature spicy sauce, you can find other versions served with soy sauce. This dish often sells extremely well during summer days. Because this dish helps local people feel refreshed and easy to eat during the hot summer days.

Tian Shui Mian (Sweet Water Udon Noodles)

Noodles are a popular dish in Eastern cuisine from Vietnam, China, Korea to Japan. Noodles can be served hot or cold in liquid noodles, dry noodles, or noodles mixed with sauce. Most of these dishes have a savory flavor and are eaten as the main dish of the day. However, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a noodle dish with an extremely unique flavor in Chengdu. This dish is called Tianshui mian – Sweet Water Udon Noodles by Sichuan people.

Tianshu mian noodles in local cuisine are a popular breakfast dish. This sweet noodle dish includes fresh hand-made noodles, sugar, sauce and a little meat or topping to add flavor. When serving it in a bowl, the chef adds a little spicy red chili oil. The sweet and spicy flavor is one of the flavors that locals absolutely love.

The noodles in the tianshui mian bowl are made with white flour and a little salt. When kneaded to combine, the dough is flattened and cut into wide strips. The finished product after cooking will have a soft, chewy texture. The sauce in this dish is not as bright red as the dishes you often see in Sichuan cuisine. It is usually brown or black in color but the spicy taste is no joke.

It is the unique preparation method that creates the different color of this sauce. The chef uses soy sauce mixed with sesame oil, black pepper, brown sugar or white sugar to create flavor. Besides, they will add cinnamon powder and bay leaves to create a characteristic passionate and somewhat bitter flavor.

In each shop, you will see sellers quickly scooping noodles, toppings, sauces and chili oil into bowls to serve diners. You will see the trays full of ingredients quickly disappear with the continuous serving speed. There, the seller will let you choose (or encourage you) to choose sauces with different spiciness and different toppings to suit your taste.

Dandan noodles (dàndàn miàn) (# chengdu street food)

Another unique noodle dish that diners cannot miss when coming to Chengdu is Dandan noodles. In Chinese, people call this noodle dish 担担面 – dàndànmiàn /dan-dan-myen/.

Dandan noodles are the choice of many locals and tourists alike. People are fascinated by it because of the chewy texture of the noodles mixed with the irresistible rich sauce. Each strand of Dandan noodle is made from white flour and prepared fresh on the day. The chef will roll out the dough thinly and use a knife to cut it into long strips. When diners order, the dried noodle bundles are cooked in boiling water and then picked up in a large bowl. The toppings of this dish are extremely diverse from minced meat, chopped salted vegetables, chili oil, fresh chili, Sichuan pepper and green onions. Sometimes, diners can find some stores that add sesame sauce to their noodles.

The soft and chewy noodles served with a spicy and salty sauce, plus a bit of crunch from the pickled vegetables, are truly mouth-watering. The highlight of the dish is the salty and spicy taste, so ask the seller to reduce the sauce and chili to suit your taste.

Dumplings (# what to eat in chengdu)

When it comes to Chinese cuisine, dumplings are considered one of the most typical and popular dishes. Therefore, it will be more familiar to many familiar tourists than the two noodle dishes mentioned above.

There are many variations in the form and flavor of this beautiful little dumpling across China. In Chengdu city, local people like to prepare dumplings with typical spicy seasoning. This dumpling is sold in stalls along the streets. Visitors have two options to enjoy: regular dumplings and dumpling soup. The common point of these two dishes is the dumpling itself.

The dumplings are filled with ground pork mixed with traditional spices (such as pepper, soy sauce, green onions, ginger,…). The shell is a layer of soft, chewy wheat flour. For regular dumplings, each serving will include buns and accompanying dipping sauce. This sauce is a spicy and salty red chili oil made from chili oil, chili powder or whole cut chili peppers and maybe a little sesame oil.

When you eat, you will feel the characteristic spicy flavor mixed with the delicious dumplings. As for dumpling soup, this will be a lighter option for those who can’t eat a lot of hot and spicy foods. The broth poured over the cake has a sweet taste and is not spicy at all. Enjoying the soft, sweet meat cake and hot broth will make your body warmer and more comfortable.

Wonton (lóngchāoshǒu) (# famous food in chengdu)

Similar to the dumplings we mentioned above, wontons are a dish that is also very popular in Chengdu. This dish in Chinese is transliterated into lóngchāoshǒu – meaning dragon claw.

Sichuan people in this city have a delicious way of preparing wontons that you cannot miss. Looking at the neat batches of wontons, you would definitely think that it was made from a modern technology.

Bu, each wonton is handcrafted by expert craftsmen. They have experience and talented hands that can knead dough, roll out the dough and shape wonton better than any type of machine. The crust is made from premium white flour, so although it is fragile, it retains its firm and chewy texture even after being cooked. That texture is described by Sichuan people as “thin as paper and smooth as silk”.

The wonton has a filling that is a blend of minced pork with chopped-cabbage and spices. The wontons are cooked in a sweet broth made from bones (chicken, duck, pork) stewed for many hours. The starch from the crust makes the liquid thick and greasy. This dish tastes best when served hot. For many Chinese people, wontons are easy to eat and nutritious, so they are given priority to patients, young children or people in need of nourishment.

Mapo tofu (# chengdu best food)

Tofu is a popular and very familiar dish for Vietnamese and Eastern cuisine. This ingredient is healthy and can be processed into many delicious dishes. Each place and each different region has recipes with different flavors for dishes with tofu. In Chengdu in particular and China in general, the most delicious and famous dish is Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐) – or people often call it /maa-por doh-foo/.

This dish is really famous among foreign tourists. Therefore, when they come to this city, they must once find and enjoy it. Mao tofu is a dish with a harmonious blend of tofu and creamy sauce. The tofu ingredients in this dish must be silken tofu with a smooth and fatty texture. To make a delicious sauce, the chef must use minced pork (or beef) cooked with jicama, onions, peas, wood ear mushrooms, soy sauce, chili powder,… All ingredients The ingredients are stir-fried until cooked evenly, then add water and tapioca starch to make the smooth sauce.

The flavor of this famous tofu dish is truly extremely delicious. The soft, smooth, fatty tofu will melt right in your mouth. Meanwhile, the rich, crunchy, spicy, aromatic sauce of the bean tubers makes the tofu pieces even more delicious. This dish is delicious just eaten on its own. However, this is also a very “rice consume” dish! Try it and see, you’ll knock out your bowl of rice without even realizing it.

Kung Pao Chicken (# best food in chengdu)

Chicken meatballs in Cantonese are called Kung Pao, while in Mandarin it is called Gongbao jiding – 宫保鸡丁. Literally, the name of this dish means chicken meatballs that protect the royal court.

To prepare this dish, the chef will have to cut the chicken into bite-sized cubes. Then, this meat is fried with dried chili, ginger and peanuts until golden and fragrant. When serving on a plate, they will sprinkle a little green onion to enhance the taste and make it more eye-catching. This dish will make your tongue tear when you eat its original taste. Therefore, if possible, please tell the chef to leave a little chili to suit your taste.

The flavor of this dish is characterized by tender chicken served with crunchy peanuts and fragrant spices. The chicken is cut into bite-sized cubes so you can put the whole piece in your mouth. When enjoying, remember to include peanuts. These two different textures and flavors combine well to create a delicious, mouth-watering whole.

Chinese steamed buns (# must eat in chengdu)

China in general and Chengdu in particular is a dumpling paradise. This traditional dish is enjoyed by people at all times of the day. In this city, diners have the opportunity to find and experience different flavors with shapes and sizes from big to small.

The common steamed buns will be quite similar to the preparation of the dumplings that we often eat in Vietnam. The outer dough is made from fermented white flour so it is fluffy and soft. The filling inside can be salty or sweet depending on the customer’s choice. With traditional spices such as chili powder, Sichuan pepper, ginger, soy sauce,… the steamed buns here will bring a different flavor to you.

Korean steamed dumplings (# chengdu local food)

Korean steamed dumplings in Chengdu? You heard right! This is a unique dish that you should try when coming to this city.

Korean steamed dumplings in Chengdu city have a quite long history. In 1914, chef Han Yulong was the first to bring this dish here. He serves it in the Yulong Park noodle shop at the south end of Golden Cow” (Jinniu) District. From then on, steamed buns became a familiar dish for local people. When Han Yulong passed away, his son – Han Wenhua continued and created new flavors to serve diners. Some of the most attractive and popular cakes are shrimp dumplings, bacon dumplings and meat dumplings.

The common thing of this type of dumpling is its excellent quality. The shell is made from premium white flour mixed with lard, sugar, and salt. The filling will depend on the flavor and include: fresh meat, pork fat, spices and sauce. After the process of kneading, tempering, and steaming, the round, white dumplings will come out of the oven looking like cute pigs. The dumplings is always moist and hot. The shell is soft and fragrant while the filling is rich and flavorful.

Different from traditional Chinese steamed dumplings, this dish has an outer shell like a har gow (shrimp dumpling). Therefore, you will feel like it is a giant version of Chinese dumplings.

Chinese-style burger

The next dish is also steamed buns but prepared in a different way. That unique thing is the way people put filling and sauce into these vegetarian buns to make a delicious dish. The bun is cut in half to sandwich the filling and sauce inside. For many people, this method reminds us of burgers, tacos or even sandwiches. The soft, moist buns is served with a rich, spicy filling, making it very mouth-watering. Enjoying this dish will give you a feeling that is both strange and familiar and worth experiencing.

Sichuan Fuqi Feipian (Husband and Wife Lung Slices)

Sichuan cuisine has a popular preparation method that is to mix ingredients in a spicy chili sauce. Among them, sliced lung mixed with chili sauce is a famous specialty of Chengdu city. This dish is usually made from pig lungs (some people will use cow lungs) cut into bite-sized pieces. This part of the lung will be mixed with some spices and accompanying vegetables such as green onions, roasted peanuts, and coriander to create a delicious flavor.

The name of the very sentimental-sounding lung dish comes from a story in history. According to local legend: This dish came from a married family living in a small town near Chengdu city in the early years of the 20th century. The husband’s name was Zhao Hanhua and his wife make a living by selling food on a street cart. The dish they sell to people in the area is sliced cattle lungs mixed with spicy and sour vinegar sauce. That simple but attractive flavor has made the lung dish spread everywhere. That’s why people in the area call it Husband and Wife Lung Slices.

To this day, although we can no longer meet the couple from that day, diners still have the opportunity to enjoy it in restaurants in Chengdu. Although this dish is simple, it surprises many foreign guests because of its easy and savory taste. The piece of lung is processed cleanly so when you eat it you will feel it mixed with delicious spices. The texture of the dish is slightly crunchy, chewy of the lungs and nutty of the peanuts. Try this dish once and you will enjoy it very much.

Guo Kui (Chinese Meat-Stuffed Flat Bread)

A unique dish of local people that you should not miss when coming to this city is guokui. Its shape will remind you of popular pancakes or sandwiches. In Chengdu, they are sold in roadside stalls and are often enjoyed take-away style. Because, Guokui is a dish that is prepared quickly and can be easily taken with you and enjoyed.

Diners looking for Guokui can choose from two different types that prepared differently. The first type is crustless grilled meat pie. This dish is made from many different ingredients, in which red chili and black pepper are the spices that give the dish its basic spicy taste. The second type of Guokui is prepared like a sandwich and is more greasy. With this type, diners have two options: salty dishes and sweet dishes. Guokui of the second type have a bread crust and are filled with meat or sweet filling. After forming into cakes, Guokui is fried in an oil pan until golden and crispy on the outside.

Chinese cuisine cannot be complete without the salty and crunchy taste of pickled vegetables. People here often prepare this dish to preserve it through the cold winter. The flavor and texture of these ingredients will change significantly compared to when they were fresh. Preparation methods also vary depending on how they want the texture and flavor of the finished dish to be. The most common are pickling and vinegar.

Sichuan people have many ways to enjoy salted vegetables. The simple way to taste the pure flavor is to eat it directly. This way, you will enjoy the extremely delicious crunchy taste. Besides, people can prepare it into mixed dishes, stir-fried dishes, stews,… extremely diverse.

At stores specializing in selling pickled vegetables in the city, you will find dozens of dishes with rich colors and shapes. Ask around and start a conversation with the shop owner, they are extremely friendly and will probably let you enjoy a sample before deciding to buy the one you like.

Youtiao (Chinese Fried Dough)

Traditional snacks of Chengdu people are also extremely popular. Walking around the busy streets, you will find crispy quiche that is quite similar to your childhood cakes. This fired dough is made from flour that is molded into a rope shape, then fried and soaked in sugar. Although not too outstanding, this is also one of the dishes you should try when you come here.

Skewers (Chuan Chuan)

If you introduce cuisine in Chengdu and forget to mention skewers, it would be a big mistake. In Chinese culture, skewers with delicious food are extremely popular. On the street there are dozens of shops preparing many different styles from cold dishes, grilled dishes to dipped dishes. Ingredients are diverse from vegetables to meats. After eating the salty skewers, you can have dessert with cool and sweet fruit skewers right in the stall next door.

There are 2 types of Chuan Chuan: one is like hot pot, food on sticks that diners boil themselves in a small hot pot. The rest is cooked by the chef and customers can eat it directly as it is cut up on the table.

Of course, both allow customers to choose what they like, including meat and vegetables. Because a stick of food is not much in quantity, it is also affordable so that a diner can enjoy chuan chuan by himself.

Custard tarts

At pastry shops in the city, visitors can easily find beautiful small milk cream tarts. This tart is compact in the palm of your hand, golden in color in an aluminum mold. In the local language, people call this dish “Dàn tǎ”. This tart will probably be quite familiar to you because it is similar to the cakes sold in KFC stores.

However, its taste will surprise you. The tart has a crispy, flaky crust like a layer cake. The tart’s filling is rich with eggy flavor and moderately sweet, making you ecstatic. We are sure that one cake will not satisfy your taste buds, so please buy a little to eat!

Sichuan hotpot

Sichuan Hot Pot is more than just a meal, it’s a journey and the soul of Sichuan cuisine. Imagine a bubbling pot of spicy broth, surrounded by an array of fresh ingredients like meat, vegetables and thinly sliced tofu.

The communal aspect of sharing and cooking your ingredients in a simmering broth makes it a social and flavorful event.

Pineapple sticky rice

Half a pineapple filled with sweet sticky rice, some pineapple and goji berries. Pandan sticky rice is served on a small plate and served with two small plastic spoons.

Sipping tea in Chengdu

Amidst the spicy dishes, Chengdu’s tea culture offers a refreshing contrast. Teahouses are a common sight, offering a peaceful environment in which to enjoy various types of tea while engaging in leisurely conversations.

Zhangcha Smoked Duck (tea-smoked duck)

Zhangcha duck is a smoked duck dish with tea and camfor, originating from Sichuan province. Preparing this meal is a 5-step process. First, it is marinated, then boiled, dried, smoked and finally fried.

Stinky tofu

The last dish on the list is probably the dish that brings many challenges to you. Stinky tofu is always famous among gourmets because of its unique and wonderful flavor. This dish is likened to durian or blue cheese because if someone is addicted, they will be very addicted, but once they cannot eat it, it is impossible to accept its smell. Even though it’s a long way away, you can already smell the smell of this dish being prepared in the store.

This dish is often deep fried and served with herbs and soy sauce. Besides, in Chengdu there is also a rather strange purple stinky tofu dish. This dish is served as a soup with a rich broth and generous amounts of chili, garlic and scallions. Ignore its unpleasant scent, try bravely putting it in your mouth! Who knows, you might be one of the people who likes this dish.

Chinese cuisine always has its own recognizable features. In Chengdu city, the dishes here often have the typical spicy flavor of Sichuan people. You will have the opportunity to experience countless new and extremely attractive things. Our list will be useful suggestions for your journey of discovery. However, try paying a little attention to find more delicious dishes!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Chengdu you can refer to

• Dujiangyan Panda Base and Mount Qingcheng Tour from Chengdu
• Chengdu Gourmet Night Group Tour
• Chasing Dawa for 3 days and 2 nights (free Tibetan travel photography + Gedi Ram +
• Dawa Gengza + Shenmu Lei)
• Chengdu Radio and TV Tower Admission Ticket
• Essence of Chengdu City Private Day Tour
• Chengdu Downtown Private Car Charter
• Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class
• Dujiangyan Admission Ticket Chengdu
• Chengdu Food Day Tour with Chengdu Giant Panda Base Ticket
• Dufu’s Thatched Cottage Ticket Chengdu
• Classic Chengdu One Day City Tour
• Giant Buddha and Tea Terrace Town Day Tour from Chengdu
• Chengdu Private Day Tour (With Visit to Chengdu Panda Base and Hotpot Experience)

Read more top places to visit in Chengdu here . Read more China guide here .

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Chengdu Street Food: What Are the Most Popular and Tasty Snacks in Chengdu?

Chengdu Street Food Markets and Food Street

There are a number of food markets and food streets in Chengdu, and each market has its specialty. But here we are going to discuss some of the Chengdu’s most popular and visited food markets and streets.

Contact us for hassle-free food tour: 2.5-Hour Chengdu Food Tour by Tuktuk

Jinli Food Street – The Pedestrian Street:

Famous Dishes of Jinli Street:

• Níu Ròu Jiāo Biňg – Pancakes stuffed with Beef and vegetables.
• Liáng Miàn – Boiled, air dried noodles served with vegetables (carrot, cabbage, egg, and cucumber) and a variety of sauces such as sesame, vinegar, or soy sauce.
• Chòu Dòu Fu – Fried stinky Tofu made with brine from fermented milk, vegetables, and meat.
• Lǔ Cài – Meat and vegetables braised in water at low heat and served with a soup base and noodles.

Yangxixian Food Street – The Muslim Quarter:

Yangxixian Food Street is Chengdu’s main and most popular food street, also known as the Muslim Quarter or Huimin Street. This food street is famous for its profound Muslim culture and foods. If you are a meat lover then Yangxixian food Street is the best place to eat. Many delicious meat dishes including lamb and sheep meat are served in this area. Visitors can taste some of the delicious cakes, skewed barbequed meat, a number of dry fruits, pieces of bread and candies and other sweets here. You can also take sweets box from the Xi’an Sweets, who makes a great sweet gift box in just 25 to 50 RMB.

Famous Dishes of Yangxixian Food Street:

• Roujiamo – Xi’an’s most famous dish, freshly baked buns stuffed with marinated lamb or beef.
• Yangrou Paomo – Traditional dish Uygur dish, pita bread soaked in Lamb soup.
• Xi’an Dumplings – Bean threads in Shaanxi flavorings.
• Cold Noodles – made from rice or flour.

Huaxing Street

The Huaxing Food Street, Chengdu is known for its noodles and egg-fried rice since the Qing Dynasty. Here you can experience the taste of Chengdu street food best noodles and egg-fried rice which are served in beautiful traditional pots. The fried rice and noodles are served in color copper pots, bronze tripods, copper scoops, and copper spoons. The serving contains red tomato which serves as a soup base, with some green vegetables, egg fried rice, and noodles. One can also enjoy the different flavored teas at the Yue Tea House, Tangyuan and spicy wontons at Huaxing Street.

Location: Huangxing Road, Tianxin District, Changsha 410002, China

Yuling Living Square:

Yuling Living Square is the right place for the people who love to eat, drink and have fun late at night. This place is filled with locals as well as the visitors at night and it looks beautiful. There are many traditional food restaurants, snack carts, and bars. You can taste the best barbeque, shrimps, hot pot, and stews in Yulin Square. The food in this area has the traditional taste and served with a beautiful serving.

• Barbequed Meat – Lamb meat, beef marinated with different spices and cooked on charcoals or wood.
• Hot pot or Chinese fondue – A dish served with spicy soup base and herbs, meat balls or fish and vegetables.
• Shrimps – Sizzling shrimps served with potato sticks and grilled vegetables.
• Stew – Tender beef, cooked with onions, tomatoes, and spices. It’s a dried beef dish.

Location: Yulin Food Street is located to the south of Chengdu.

Fengdu – Fengyun Street:

If you want to taste the unique yet delicious food in Chengdu then you must visit the Fengdu food street. It is one of the high ranked food places of Chengdu. One of the best things about this street is that you can enjoy the imported beer at Beer Castle. Other than Chinese cuisine, you can enjoy the French and Milia Russian Cuisine too.

Famous Dishes to Eat:

• Shushi Street – Right next to Fengdu, there is also the Sushi Street where sushi lovers can have Chengdu’s most delicious and mouthwatering sushi.
• Xiaoyu & Miles life Hot Pot – Noodles, vegetables and meatballs served with a soup base and different sauces.
• Donnie and Sancha Wild Fish – Grilled or steamed fish with spices.
• Leshan Dried Food - made from the internal organs of a bull.

Location: Fengdu Street is situated at intersect of Jiannan Blvd and Tianfuyi street.

The Most Popular and Traditional Chengdu Street Food:

If you are still looking for some traditional and famous Chengdu street food then here we have listed some of the most delicious, unique yet traditional foods which can satisfy your food palate in Chengdu. You can find these dishes in the main city and are served in almost all restaurants.

Guo Kui, 锅魁 - Deep Fried Meat Pie:

The Gou Kui is the small pie of pancakes which are made with tender dough and ground meat. The dough is stuffed twice with chili pepper and Sichuan peppercorn spiced grounded beef and folded into the shape of a pie. These pie are then fried deep and baked in a charcoal pit.

Tian Shui Mian, 甜水面 - Sweet Water Noodles:

Tian Shui Mian is the uneven roped shaped noodles which are thick like chopsticks. The noodles are served with a strongly flavored sauce, sprinkled with granular sugar. It tastes like cupcakes with maple glazed beacon topping. This dish is unique as well as delicious.

Pu Gai Mian, 盖面 - Bed-Spread Noodle:

Pau Gai Mian is another noodle dish which is served with soup or flavored chicken broth. The boiled noodles soaked in different flavored (steak, ribs, pickles, meat, wild chicken) stocked, simmered with tender chicken is very delicious and gives you a chewy mouthfeel.

Zha Chun Juan, 炸春卷 - Fresh Spring Rolls:

White flour wraps filled with the vegetables of your choice such as cucumber, seaweed, pickles, blanched potato, soybeans, tofu, leafy vegetables and glass noodles, red oil and some other sauce and then deep fried. The spring rolls are served with strong spicy sauces and these rolls are perfect for the vegetarian and enough to fill your stomach.

Related Tours

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3-Hour Walking Tour in Chengdu People's Park and Learning Mahjong

2.5-Hour Chengdu Food Tour by Tuktuk

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Top 10 Chengdu Street Foods

Chengdu is China's food city where the locals and tourists spend much time eating and sampling the abundant street food and snacks. People come from around China and around the world aiming to enjoy the local food. The city is known for the spicy and pungent Sichuan-style cuisine.

Common snacks in Chengdu include noodles, wontons, dumplings, pastries, tangyuan (sweet rice balls), salads and soups. You'll find these snacks sold in kiosks and restaurants along the street and in market areas both for sit in and take out. Though you'll also find these dishes served in more expensive restaurants too, this is the kind of food that people can order and eat quickly or take with them in paper bowls or in hand. Here are 10 common snacks that you'll enjoy in Chengdu.

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• 1-Day Chengdu Panda and Sichuan Cuisine Tour
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1. Sweet Water Noodles

Tianshui mian (甜水面) means 'sweet water noodles'. It is a typical snack of Sichuan cuisine . It is a sweet dish made with thick hand-made wheat noodles, sugar, sauce and a little meat or condiments for flavoring. They add red chili oil, so it stings the way that local love. They love this sweet and hot kind of snack.

The noodles are made of wheat flour and salt. The resulting noodles are chopped thickly. The sauce isn't red like most Sichuan foods are, but dark or brown. They make various varieties of it by mixing soy sauce with roasted sesame paste, black peppercorn, and brown sugar or white sugar. Along with perhaps cassia cinnamon and some bay leaves, they concoct a spicy dark, slightly bitter and hot sauce that is a contrast to the common red-hot dishes.

Most restaurants and snack kiosks will allow you, even encourage you, to add your choice of spices and toppings. Little bowls of condiments are laid out for the customers to use liberally.

2. Clear Jelly Noodles in Red Chili Sauce

Liangfen (凉粉 liángfěn 'cool rice noodles') is another well-known representative of Sichuan street snacks nowadays. There are several varieties of it. Some liangfen swim in red chili oil soup that might have sesame oil. Some herbs such as cilantro are generally added to taste. In Chengdu, they make the thick translucent noodles from pea starch, sweet potato starch or mung bean starch, so there are three common varieties to try.

Each restaurant and stall has its own special homemade sauce, but besides chili oil and a generous portion of chili flakes or powder, they'll generally add garlic, salt, and other spices. In many restaurants, you can add extra herbs and spices to your noodles as you like it.

The spicy hot noodles make a good contrast to the sweet wheat noodles, and you'll usually find the sweet noodle dishes sold by the same restaurants or adjacent restaurants or kiosks. In addition to the red chili sauce variety, another variety of liangfen is made with bean paste sauce. The locals think liangfen helps them to adapt to high temperatures of the Chengdu summer days.

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3. Dumplings

Dumplings (水饺) are a common food all across China, but the Chengdu people like them with a spicy flair. While the first two noodle dishes are local specialties that are not commonly eaten in other parts of China or overseas, most tourists in China will be familiar with dumplings. Dumplings of many varieties are sold everywhere along street stalls and in street-food and takeout restaurants.

Dumplings usually have pork fillings, and you can either order regular dumplings in a dish with sauce or dumpling soups.

The red chili oil dumplings taste spicy and salty. It is the most common type of dumplings. The red oil dumplings are made with chili oil, ground or cut up chili pepper, and perhaps sesame oil.

The soup dumplings have a light and delicate taste; delicious soup with the dumplings makes you feel healthy, and it's easy for your stomach to digest. Elderly Chinese people usually don't prefer red chili oil, so they prefer the dumpling soups.

4. Mapo Tofu (aka: 'Pockmarked Granny Beancurd')

Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐 /maa-por doh-foo/) features tofu served in a chili-and-bean-based sauce and topped with minced meat such as pork or beef.

Seasonings include water chestnuts, onions, other vegetables, or wood ear fungus.

The taste of Mapo tofu is fittingly described as numbing, spicy-hot, fresh, tender, soft, aromatic and flaky. Mapo tofu is not exclusive to Sichuan Province. You'll find it in other provinces too.

5. Spicy Diced Chicken (Kung Pao Chicken)

Kung Pao chicken is its Cantonese name, and in Mandarin it is called Gongbao jiding (宫保鸡丁 Gōngbào jīdīng /gong-baow jee-ding/ 'Palace-Protector chicken cubes').

The dish is prepared by frying diced chicken and dry red pepper with golden peanuts. Spicy diced chicken is more popular among Westerners than mapo tofu.

When you're in a restaurant, you can order the dish with less spice. Otherwise, you might find yourself primarily eating red chili pepper with bits of chicken and peanuts.

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Longchaoshou (龙抄手 lóngchāoshǒu 'dragon fried hands') are what Sichuanese people call wontons. Wonton soup is common in Chinese restaurants overseas, so you'll recognize it in Chengdu, but maybe you've never had any as delicious as Sichuan's wontons since these are made not in factories but often carefully by hand in the restaurants and made with authentic natural ingredients.

Longchaoshou's main features are thin skins made of wheat flour, stuffing and a tasty soup. The wonton skins are slowly rubbed and rolled to be translucent skins that are said to be "thin as paper, fine as silk." The soup is made from boiling chicken, duck, or parts of pigs, and they deem it ready after being slowly simmered and stewed to make it creamy. See more about How to Cook Wontons .

7. Korean Steamed Buns

Korean steamed buns (韩包子) have over 80 years of history. In 1914, Han Yulong (韩玉隆) opened a "Yulong Park Noodle Shop" in the south end of Gold Street. They were popular.

After Han Yulong's death, his son Han Wenhua (韩文华) started to concoct new varieties such as 'southern shrimp buns', 'ham buns', and 'fresh meat buns'.

They use fine white powder, pork grease, sugar and flour to make the skin of the steamed buns. They insert various fillings such as fresh meat, fat, spices and sauces. Then they steam it as shown in the picture.

8. Dandan Noodles

Dandan noodles (担担面, dàndànmiàn /dan-dan-myen/) are thin, long noodles topped with a sauce made of preserved vegetables such as mustard stems, chili oil, fresh chili, Sichuan peppercorns, minced pork, and scallions. Sometimes there is also sesame paste in the mixture.

Dandan noodles are a famous Chengdu snack. Rolling the flour to make the noodles, boiling them until they are cooked, and scooping minced pork onto the noodles is how they make them. The noodles are thin, and the sauce is flavorsome. Tasting a little bit salty and spicy, people still think it is very delicious. Dandan noodles are widely served in Sichuan restaurants and are often served as a banquet dessert.

There are various varieties, but Chengduers often prefer a flavorful combustion of nutty, spicy, and smoky with lots of red chili oil as in the picture.

9. Husband and Wife Lung Slices in Chili Sauce 夫妻肺片

Pork lungs in chili sauce or beef lungs in chili sauce are two varieties of what locals call fuqi feipian  (夫妻肺片 fūqī fèi piàn). It is a special and well-known flavorsome dish in the Chengdu area.

According to legend, early in the 20th century in a small town near Chengdu, a man called Zhao Hanhua (郭朝华) and his wife trundled around carts in the streets with vinegared cattle lung slices. The dish was so popular that locals started calling it a special name: 'Husband and Wife Lung Slices'.

10. Guokui (Meat Pies/Sandwiches)

Guokui (锅魁 /gwor-kway/ 'wok outstanding') is to the liking of many foreigners since it is somewhat reminiscent of pancakes, crepes, or sandwiches. Guokuis are also a handy kind of food for take-out or for buying and eating at street stalls. It can be served quickly, and you can eat it as you walk.

There are actually two kinds of guokui . One kind is a baked meat pie. There are various fillings, and red chili and black peppercorn add the characteristic spiciness. There are hundreds of small open to the street restaurants and street stands selling these. It makes for a ready snack.

The other kind of guokui is like a pita bread sandwich. It is bread filled with meat and/or other fillings. There are sweet varieties kind of like a dessert and hot varieties. This kind of guokui is less oily. You'll have many choices of these guo kui to choose from when you come to Chengdu. You might also find or be able to order vegetarian guokui like a salad in a bread.

Good Places to Taste These Snacks

1. Chunxi Road (春熙路) is located in Jinjiang District, Chengdu. It is a prosperous and time-honored commercial street in the downtown area of Chengdu. A large variety of delicious snacks are available in Chunxi Road including a number of famous snacks of time-honored Chinese dishes such as Zhong Dumplings, Pork Lungs in Chili Sauce, Korean Steamed Buns, Long Chao Shou, Dandan Noodles and Clear Noodles in Chili Sauce.

2. Jinli Snack Street (锦里小吃街) is now the most famous snack street in Chengdu. It is located near Wuhou Temple (武侯祠). There are various Sichuan snacks available in the street.

3. Kuan-zhai Lane" (宽窄巷子) is located to the west of and a little to the north of Tianfu Square. It is just a block north-west of the People's Park. It is a great place for relaxing and dining with lots of (expensive) tea houses, restaurants and local snacks.

Enjoy Chengdu's Street Food while You Tour the Highlights with Us

Start a food adventure with us...

Dumplings, wontons, jelly noodles, and a great variety of hundreds of kinds of desserts and snacks not mentioned on this street food page are waiting for you to try them.

So are fine Sichuan restaurants where we can introduce you to your favorite meals whether it is Chengdu hotpot or gourmet several course meals.

Allow our local guides to help you discover the culture of Chengdu's cuisine in a One-Day Chengdu Food Tour . Alternatively, you can use our Create My Trip service to tailor-make a unique tour.

Chengdu not only has beautiful natural scenery but also spectacular historical sites. And if you are planning a trip to Chengdu, we can combine going to your favorite kind of restaurants for meals with our recommended Chengdu tours such as:

• 2-Day Panda Keeper and Chengdu Highlights Tour : A classic panda and Chengdu tour.
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I visited Dollywood's sister theme park in the Ozark mountains. The hidden gem's attractions and food were just as good as Disney's.

• I visited Dollywood's sister theme park, Silver Dollar City, in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri.
• I was blown away by its high-quality entertainment and coasters, amazing food, and friendly staff.
• I've been to theme parks all around the world , and this is one of my favorites. 

One of my favorite hidden-gem theme parks is Silver Dollar City, nestled in the Ozark Mountains in Branson, Missouri.

It's a sister park to one of my other favorites, Dollywood . Both are owned by Herschend Family Entertainment, though Silver Dollar City opened first in 1960.

The park is a true hidden gem. First of all, it's an incredible value. Its highest-tier season pass currently costs under $300, and a one-day park ticket is under $100. For context, daily access to only one Disney park usually starts at $150 — and the most basic seasonal pass to Disney World is typically over $1,400.

The park itself is just great, too. I've visited theme parks all over the world and this now ranks as one of my favorites. Here's why I fell in love during my recent visit.

The park leans heavily into its old-school mountain-town theme

Themed to resemble an 1880s mountain village, Silver Dollar City had an authentic feel thanks to the local, multigenerational craftsmen who work in the park throughout its shops and streets.

The atmosphere felt both immersive and transportive as I discovered unique shopping opportunities, like hand-carved furniture, glass-blown home décor, and homemade candy.

Demonstrations were a big part of my experience, and I got to watch people altering leather, carving wood, and blowing glass — all things I'd never seen done in a theme park before.

Even the park's main guide, The Pathfinder, was themed.

It's designed to look like an old-school newspaper and contains a map, showtimes, and information on current events.

It's also built on top of a cave, which visitors can tour

The park is built on top of one of the oldest attractions in the area, Marvel Cave. Theme-park admission includes a tour of the caves, which was incredible.

We traveled 300 feet down into the limestone cave for a stunning view of the Cathedral Room, one of the largest cave rooms in the country.

The park is also home to some of my favorite roller coasters and a lot of unique attractions

The park blends its history with the future in the form of precedent-setting roller coasters .

My favorites include Outlaw Run, one of the steepest wooden coasters in the world, and Time Traveler, one of the steepest, tallest, and fastest spinning coasters in the world.

There are also unique attractions at Silver Dollar City that I haven't experienced anywhere else — Grandfather's Mansion was one of my favorites.

Grandfather's Mansion is a classic fun-house-style walkthrough attraction that's been at the park for decades. It was pure fun playing with my senses through different rooms in the mansion, including an upside-down room and an off-balance room.

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But above all, my favorite attraction is Fire in the Hole . The current reiteration pays homage to the original over-50-year-old indoor dark coaster. In its newer version, the $30 million attraction combines the nostalgia of the original with the technology of today.

The ride is of a high quality I don't see often outside of Disney or Universal parks.

The food is fantastic and unique

I'm a big foodie — especially at theme parks — and I was happy this park's eats lived up to the hype.

Silver Dollar City has the usual theme-park offerings, like hamburgers and hot dogs, but also offers many unique bites like its famous cinnamon bread and hand-twisted pretzels.

One of my favorite eateries on the property was Rivertown Smokehouse, which served some of the best barbecue I've ever had .

Visitors could watch staff smoke and carve food right in front of them in the open-air kitchen. I really enjoyed the smoked turkey and succotash and their accompanying sauces.

I also liked stopping at Eva & Delilah's, the bakery located by the park's exit, to pick up homemade treats on the way home.

The entertainment was outstanding

Tons of shows and events were happening at Silver Dollar City during my visit. The park brings in national acts throughout the year for different musical festivals — and access to these performances is included with regular park tickets.

I really enjoyed the park's iconic Silver Dollar City Saloon comedy show, which has been entertaining guests for over 50 years.

During my visit, the park was also offering a Broadway-style musical production of A Dickens' Christmas Carol. Housed in a full-scale theater, the show blew me away and was comparable to national productions I've seen.

I was also impressed by An Old Time Christmas, the theme park's seasonal event . It was unlike any Christmas event I've experienced at a theme park.

In addition to having seasonal foods and shows, the park had millions of lights and hundreds of decorated trees. It felt incredibly festive, and I loved walking around.

Every staff member I interacted with in the park was incredibly friendly and kind

I've visited theme parks all over the world, but I've yet to meet staff members as friendly as the ones at Silver Dollar City.

Many of the longtime employees were almost like characters in themselves, with throngs of guests waiting to meet and chat with them.

A highlight of my visit was meeting June Ward, who heads up the park's candy store, Brown's Candy Factory. She's worked at the park for over 50 years.

My visit was comparable on all levels to Disney, and I can't wait to return

Silver Dollar City checks all the boxes for me: high levels of theming, great attractions, fantastic food, and friendly staff.

I loved all the rides, especially the roller coasters, but I especially enjoyed exploring the shops and eating unique bites. This is a really special place that's different from any other park, and I plan to return year after year.

With its location in the touristy area of Branson there's so much to do locally — including seeing Dolly Parton's Stampede dinner show — that it makes for a great theme-park vacation far more unique than the typical visit to Disney.

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