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A little preparation. A much better adventure.Independent travel advice · Made for China
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A taste of Chengdu

Chen Mapo Tofu (Qinghua Road)

陈麻婆豆腐 (青华路店)

The direct descendant of the 19th-century shop that invented mapo tofu, still the reference version of the dish.

¥60–120≈ US$8.94Michelin Bib Gourmand 2025 (Chengdu)Qingyang, Qinghua Road
Plan your meal Open map

Why come here

A place worth making time for

MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Chengdu 2027 (¥ price band; flagged by the guide as 'worth queueing for')

The house favourites

What to order

Point at the Chinese. Staff will understand it even where the menu has no English at all.

  • Mapo tofu in the stone pot (麻婆豆腐)
  • Zhong dumplings in sweet garlic soy (钟水饺)
  • Lotus-leaf steamed pork in spiced rice flour (荷叶粉蒸肉)
  • Mapo tofu with long-snout catfish (江团麻婆豆腐)

What it actually tastes like

This is the reference standard for 麻辣 málà and it is not toned down for visitors. The 花椒 Sichuan pepper is dusted on at the end, so the numbness hits the lips first and keeps buzzing for minutes. The zhong dumplings are the opposite surprise: a sweetened soy-garlic sauce on a dumpling, which throws people who expect vinegar.

Allergens in this kitchen

soygluten/wheatsesamefishshellfish

This is the kitchen, not one dish. Woks, fryers, blanching water and utensils are shared in almost every Chinese restaurant, so for a serious allergy treat the whole premises as the unit rather than ordering around it.

Get to know the menu

Local specialities to try here

Mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐Numbing-hot and oily, deeply savoury from fermented bean paste, heavy on Sichuan pepperZhong dumplings 钟水饺Sweet-savoury, garlicky, gently chilli-hot