⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ · ¥30–60/person
Chen Mapo Tofu Restaurant serves the original mapo tofu in the restaurant opened by its inventor — Chen Mapo (pockmarked Mrs. Chen) — in 1862. The dish she created — silken tofu in a fiery sauce of doubanjiang, ground pork, and Sichuan peppercorn — is one of the most famous in Chinese cuisine. This restaurant is where the original recipe is still served, using the same Pixian doubanjiang fermented for three years.
["Order the original mapo tofu — do not order a 'mild' version", 'The dish is meant to make your lips numb (ma) and spicy hot (la) — both sensations together', 'The restaurant is plain and unpretentious — this is a local institution, not a tourist experience', 'The small branch on Yulong West Street is better than the larger tourist-facing branches']
The original mapo tofu restaurant — featured by The Food Ranger, Mark Wiens, and Strictly Dumpling
Address (English): 197 West Yulong St, Qingyang District, Chengdu
Address (Chinese — show to driver): 青羊区玉龙西街197号
Take Didi (China's Uber equivalent) and show the Chinese address above. Or use the metro — all major Chengdu attractions and restaurant districts are well-connected.
Most restaurants in Chengdu accept Alipay and WeChat Pay. Both apps now accept international credit cards — set up Alipay before arriving in China. Some traditional restaurants prefer cash.
Citizens of 54+ countries can visit China for up to 240 hours (10 days) without a visa. This restaurant is fully accessible during a visa-free transit stay in Chengdu.
Read the Full Visa-Free Guide →Sichuan Hot Pot
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