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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

No.37 Lao Yuan Ba Chao Shou

老院坝抄手 37号

A plain neighbourhood chao shou shop that has been feeding its own street for over a decade and picked up a Bib Gourmand for it. Chao shou are Sichuan wontons - thinner skin and more of it than a Cantonese dumpling, pleated loosely so the tail floats free - served either in a clear pork broth or, better, in the hot-and-sour or red-oil dressing. A bowl plus a plate of noodles is a complete cheap lunch.

¥20-40 per person≈ US$2.98Michelin Bib Gourmand 2027Chengdu - the MICHELIN listing does not publish a street address for this shop (see unverified)
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Why come here

A place worth making time for

MICHELIN Bib Gourmand, MICHELIN Guide Chengdu 2027 (¥ price band, dumplings category)

The house favourites

What to order

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

  • Red-oil chao shou (红油抄手)
  • Hot and sour chao shou (酸辣抄手)
  • Chao shou in clear broth (清汤抄手)

What it actually tastes like

The red-oil dressing is chilli-forward with a sweetened soy base and a sesame-paste edge; the hot-and-sour version leans hard on Sichuan vinegar, which reads as very sharp if you are not expecting it. 花椒 is present but lighter than in a hotpot. Ask for 清汤 qīng tāng, clear broth, for a version with no chilli at all.

Allergens in this kitchen

gluten/wheatsesamepeanutsoyegg

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.