Chengdu's Hot Pot Heaven: A Foodie's Guide To Sichuan's Spicy Delights

Chengdu is known for its hot pot, a representative of Sichuan cuisine that is popular across China. The dish is characterised by its numbing and spicy flavours, which are said to leave diners sweating and feeling refreshed.

Hot pot restaurants can be found on almost every street in Chengdu, but the quality and taste vary. Some of the more renowned hot pot restaurants in the city include Shu Jiu Xiang Hotpot, Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot, Moon River Hot Pot, and Lao Ma Tou Hotpot.

Shu Jiu Xiang Hotpot

The restaurant offers a dual pot setup, with an outer ring of spicy and numbing stock soup and an inner ring of non-spicy soup. The menu is extensive, with plenty of local flavours and innards. The service is localized, with staff tending to speak only Mandarin.

The restaurant is located at Unit 2, Block 11, Nijiaqiao Road, Wuhou District. It is open 24 hours and can be contacted on the phone number 85570362.

Huangcheng Laoma Hot Pot

Chengdu Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot is a popular hot pot restaurant in Chengdu, China. It is known for its upscale atmosphere, beautiful building, and impressive décor. The restaurant has multiple locations in Chengdu, with the original and headquarters located in the city centre. The restaurant offers private dining rooms as well as public dining halls, with spacious seating arrangements that ensure privacy.

Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot serves a variety of local dishes, including marinated beef, goose intestine, shrimp balls, spicy fish head, mushrooms, and vegetables. The restaurant offers a choice of broths for the hot pot, including a spicy and clear broth option. The menu also features a range of meat, vegetables, tofu, and noodles that can be cooked in the hot pot. The restaurant provides iPad menus for ordering, as well as traditional ordering methods. Payment can be made through mobile apps or in person.

The service at Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot is attentive and helpful. The wait staff are knowledgeable and offer to cook the food for first-time hot pot diners. The restaurant also features traditional Chinese music and local Sichuan opera performances, including the famous Bian-Lian (face-changing) act.

The price range at Huangcheng Laoma Hotpot is on the higher end, with excellent food and live performances providing good value for money. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance, especially for larger groups.

Xiao Long Kan Hot Pot

Expect to find a long line during lunch and dinner time, so make sure to arrive early if you want to eat at this popular hot pot spot. The average cost per person is CNY 91. The restaurant is open from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, seven days a week.

Da Long Yi Hot Pot

Chengdu, China, is known for its hot pot, and Da Long Yi Hot Pot is one of the city's most popular hot pot restaurants. Founded in 2013, Da Long Yi has since expanded to over 2000 stores worldwide, including locations in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Singapore. The restaurant offers an authentic Sichuan hot pot experience, with a focus on spicy flavours.

The signature dish at Da Long Yi is the house special spicy butter hot pot, a mix of over 20 spices that are prepared for 4-5 hours. The long cooking time ensures a high degree of integration between the oil and spices, resulting in a rich, bright-coloured broth. In addition to their signature spicy option, Da Long Yi also offers a mild mushroom broth and a tomato soup option.

The hot pot experience at Da Long Yi is interactive and fun, with guests cooking their own food in the boiling broth. A variety of raw side dishes are available to choose from, including meat, seafood, and vegetables. The restaurant also offers gluten-free and dairy-free options to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Yue Man Da Jiang Hot Pot

The hot pot broth at Yue Man Da Jiang is cooked with over 30 types of Chinese fragrant herbs, resulting in a flavourful and aromatic soup base. The restaurant offers a range of fresh ingredients to cook in the broth, including meat, seafood, and vegetables. Recommended dishes include fresh duck intestines, lotus root, and red wine beef.

The restaurant provides a unique dining experience, with a focus on the local culture and traditions of Sichuan Province. The price per person is around CNY 70, making it an affordable option for those looking to indulge in a delicious hot pot meal.

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