ChengDu Cuisine
Chengdu, with its numerous popular tourist attractions, has always been a mecca for visitors from all over the world. Many tourists from other places make sure to visit popular spots like Kuanzhai Alley and Jinli Ancient Street when they come to Chengdu. However, locals are not so enthusiastic about these attractions and instead recommend two other streets. Kuixinglou Street is a street that Chengdu locals like to recommend. It has a wide variety of delicious food, and the most eye-catching is the Chengdu Foodie. The Chengdu Eatery on Kuixinglou Street boasts a dark brown exterior and exudes an elegant and dignified aura. The restaurant offers many must-try dishes, such as the "Naked Shrimp," signature grilled fish slices, and charcoal-grilled pork belly, all mouthwatering delicacies. Such a famous restaurant is always in high demand, so be sure to arrive early to avoid long queues.
Another street is Zhimin Road, which is just as famous as Kuixinglou Street. The food on this street is also renowned, especially Malubianbian Malatang, Chengdu Chike, and Yufuyuzai Pebble Hot Pot, which have almost become the representative food of this street.
Stepping into Malubianbian Malatang evokes a flood of memories, transporting customers back to bygone days. The blue tables and chairs, the old-fashioned floor tiles, and the banner proclaiming "Development is the only way forward" all tell stories of bygone times. Especially the wallpaper on the walls, which always brings back memories of family meals gathered together in childhood.
The hot pot, bubbling with steam and brimming with red oil, is a delightful experience. Tender beef, crisp tripe, and smooth pig brain, after being cooked in the broth and dipped in the original dipping sauce, are spicy, flavorful, and bring a sense of pure bliss.
There's also a Chengdu Eatery on Zhimin Road, and this one takes a fresh and elegant approach. The light yellow decor looks refined and sophisticated, and the partitions inside the restaurant feature all of Chengdu's popular tourist attractions: Kuanzhai Alley, Jiuyan Bridge, Chunxi Road, and Jinli.
The restaurant's signature dish, the "Heartless Frog," is served in a half-wine bottle. The frog meat, covered in chili peppers, is incredibly flavorful and I couldn't stop eating it.
The naked shrimp, specialty grilled fish slices, and osmanthus-infused tomatoes here are equally irresistible.
Just across the street from Chengdu Chike on Zhimin Road is Yufu Yuzai Pebble Hot Pot, a restaurant with a very distinctive feature. At Yufu Yuzai Pebble Hot Pot, the fish is freshly killed and cooked, and the fish is cooked using pebbles.
The serving of the dish is very ceremonial. There is a small seal on the pot with the words "Stone Brings Good Fortune" written on it, which is full of auspicious meaning. Then, pebbles heated to 300℃ are placed into the pot, followed by thinly sliced fish, and then broth is poured over them.
With many dishes placed around the hot pot, the rotating hot pot restaurant somehow gave the feeling of a Manchu Han Imperial Feast.
When you come to Chengdu, be sure to remember Kuixinglou Street and Zhimin Road, otherwise you'll miss out on a lot of delicious food!
