Chengdu Food Guide for Foreign Travelers: Eat Like a Local Without Burning Your Tongue (2025 Mild-Spice Edition)
- DolphinUnion
- Oct 6
- 5 min read
Think Chengdu food = fire-level spice? Think again. Yes, Chengdu is a UNESCO “City of Gastronomy.” But 70% of Sichuan dishes are not spicy — or only mildly so.
I once watched a Mexican friend order “extra spicy” hotpot. He took one bite… and asked for milk. “I thought I could handle it,” he said, sweating.
Here’s the truth: you don’t need to love chili to love Chengdu food. This guide shows you exactly what to eat — from zero-spice soups to mild noodles — with clear spice levels, real restaurant names, and tips to order safely. No guesswork. Just delicious, stress-free meals.
Zero Spice Zone: Safe, Tasty, and Totally Non-Spicy
Many tourists avoid Chengdu food fearing heat. But some of the city’s best dishes have zero chili.
Kai Shui Bai Cai (开水白菜, “Boiled Cabbage”) looks like plain soup. But it’s made with 6 hours of chicken, duck, and ham broth. Tender cabbage floats in golden liquid. It’s been served at Chinese state banquets.→ Try it at Jin Xuan Sichuan Cuisine (锦轩川菜厅) inside Jinjiang Hotel (锦江宾馆).
Lai Tang Yuan (赖汤圆) are sweet glutinous rice balls. Fillings include black sesame, rose, or red bean. Some even look like pandas! Open until midnight at No. 27 Zongfu Road (总府路).
Dou Tang Fan (豆汤饭) is yellow pea soup over rice. Simple. Comforting. Served at tiny stalls on Pao Tong Shu Street (泡桐树街).
A Canadian family told me: “We thought everything was spicy. But Dou Tang Fan was our kids’ favorite.”
Order these with confidence. They’re 100% safe for zero-spice eaters.
Mild Spice Zone: Flavorful but Not Fiery
Ready for a little kick? These dishes use chili for aroma, not pain.
Zhong Dumplings (钟水饺, Zhōng Shuǐjiǎo) come in red oil sauce. But it’s sweet and nutty — not hot. Eat them with Bing Fen (冰粉), a cool jelly dessert.→ Best spot: People’s Park (人民公园, Rénmín Gōngyuán), inside the historic Heming Teahouse (鹤鸣茶社).
Gan’s Pig Intestine Noodles (甘记肥肠粉, Gān Jì Féicháng Fěn) look scary — red broth, floating oil. But the spice level is mild. The noodles are chewy. Add a Guokui (锅盔) — a stuffed flatbread — for the full experience.
Tian Shui Mian (甜水面) are thick noodles in sweet-spicy sauce. Not hot. Just deeply flavorful.→ Long Chao Shou (龙抄手) in Chunxi Road serves the best version.
A UK student said: “I ordered Zhong Dumplings thinking they’d burn. But they were sweet and rich. I ate two plates!”
Ask for “mild” or “very mild” — most places will adjust.
Medium Spice Zone: For Those Who Like a Real Kick
If you enjoy Thai or Mexican food, you can handle this level. But always ask for “wei wei la” (微微辣) — “very mild spicy.”
Kou Shui Ji (口水鸡, “Saliva Chicken”) sounds odd, but it’s tender poached chicken in fragrant chili oil. At Rong Fu Family Banquet (蓉福家宴), they make a “tourist-friendly” version.
Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐) is more about numbing Sichuan pepper than heat. At old-school restaurants like Chen Mapo Tofu (陈麻婆豆腐), you can say “less chili, more pepper.”
A Brazilian traveler tried Mapo Tofu for the first time. “The tingling feeling was fun! Not painful at all,” she said.
Don’t skip these — just speak up. Most chefs are happy to help.
Hot & Heavy Zone: Skip Unless You’re a Spice Warrior (Chengdu food guide for foreign travelers)
Avoid these unless you’re trained:
Hotpot (火锅, Huǒguō) with “spicy” or “extra spicy” broth
Chuan Chuan Xiang (串串香) — skewers in red oil
La Zi Ji (辣子鸡) — fried chicken buried in dried chilies
But here’s a trick: order hotpot with “qing tang” (清汤) — clear broth. Dip meat in mild sesame sauce. You’ll still taste the experience — without the burn.
A German backpacker learned this the hard way. “I ordered ‘medium’ hotpot. Couldn’t sleep for 2 nights,” he laughed.
Stick to clear broth if you’re curious but cautious.
How to Order Safely: 4 Tips Every Foreigner Needs
Use simple English + Chinese phrases:
“No chili, please” = “Bu yao la jiao” (不要辣椒)
“Very mild” = “Wei wei la” (微微辣)
Look for spice labels: Many modern restaurants (like Song Yun Ze (松云泽)) show spice levels on menus — 🌶️ = mild, 🌶️🌶️🌶️ = hot.
Hong Tang Ci Ba (红糖糍粑, brown sugar rice cakes) Always get a cooling side: Bing Fen (¥5), Hong Tang Ci Ba (红糖糍粑, brown sugar rice cakes, ¥8), or Suan Mei Tang (酸梅汤, sour plum drink).
Follow trusted food tours: GetYourGuide’s “Non-Spicy Chengdu Street Food Walk” hits Kuanzhai Alley (宽窄巷子) for crystal dumplings and Kui Xing Lou Street (魁星楼街) for Bing Fen — all zero spice.
Best Restaurants by Category: Safe, Tasty & Local-Approved
Classic & Safe: Long Chao Shou (龙抄手, Chunxi Road)
Must-try: Clear soup dumplings, golden thread noodles
No spice. Great for families.
Metro: Chunxi Road Station (春熙路站), Line 2
Upscale & Customizable: Rong Fu Family Banquet (蓉福家宴)
Mouthwatering chicken, soft tofu — all adjustable
Quiet, clean, English menus
Address: No. 375 Wan Dong Road, Tianfu New Area (天府新区万东路)
Street Food Route (Zero Spice!)
Kuanzhai Alley (宽窄巷子): Crystal Shao Mai (水晶烧卖) — translucent, pork-filled dumplings
Lao Zao Tang Yuan (醪糟汤圆) — sweet fermented rice balls Pao Tong Shu Street (泡桐树街): Lao Zao Tang Yuan (醪糟汤圆) — sweet fermented rice balls
Kui Xing Lou Street (魁星楼街): Bing Fen with fruit — ¥6 and refreshing
A Korean mom on this route said: “My daughter ate everything. No tears. Just smiles.”
Why This Guide Works: Real Experience, Real Results
I’ve lived in Chengdu more than 10 years. I’ve taken over 100 foreign guests to these exact spots. I know which dishes scare newcomers… and which win them over.
Chengdu food isn’t about pain. It’s about flavor, balance, and joy. And yes — you can enjoy it all, even if you hate spice. (Chengdu food guide for foreign travelers)
Real Traveler Stories: “I Ate Chengdu Food — And Loved It!”
“I was so scared of spice,” wrote Sophie from France. “But your guide led me to Lai Tang Yuan and Dou Tang Fan. Now I’m obsessed.”
Another reader, Kenji from Japan, said: “The mild Mapo Tofu changed my mind. The numbing taste was amazing — not hot at all.”
These aren’t just meals. They’re your gateway to Chengdu’s soul.
Ready to eat like a local — without the burn? Save this guide. Open AMap or DiDi. Search the restaurant names in English or pinyin.
And if you want my free Chengdu Food Map (with QR codes for ordering), just DM me. Happy eating!
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