Nine Great Sichuan Restaurants to Fire You Up for Winter
Winter is nearly in full swing, which means that it’s officially time for serious comfort food. While there are many dishes from Sukiyaki hot pot, to steaming, bubbling lasagna in Shanghai to soothe you in these frosty times, we swear by mala flavors to help you forget how cold the world is outside. Go to these Sichuan restaurants to warm yourself with tingling, numbing spices.
Spicy Lounge
Hidden within XIntiandi Nongtangli, Spicy Lounge serves authentic Sichuan dishes at affordable prices.
You can have some of your favorite Sichuan delicacies at Spicy Lounge. We highly recommend minced garlic with white meat, Sichuan sausages, husband and wife lung slices (an offal dish of lung or tripe with a piquant combination of chili oil, sesame paste, Sichuan peppercorns and beef stock), mouthwatering spicy chicken, and braised spicy fish with fermented soy bean paste and chili.
Average price per person: RMB 75
Address: 68 Taicang Lu
Tel: 021 6384 1382
Hours: Daily, 10am-10pm
Jin Kong Que
As the name suggests, this restaurant incorporates the peacock into the theme of their beautifully decorated restaurant.
A must-try here is the frog dish, which is made from several bullfrogs, ginger and both Thai bird’s eye and Sichuan chilies. The fiery red soup might be frightening to some, but it is truly a mouthwateringly savory and spicy dish.
Average price per person: RMB 200
Address: LG1-18, Building D, Shanghai IFC, 8 Century Ave
Tel: 021 5757 5578
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm; Fri-Sun, 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-9:30pm
Maurya
At Maurya, peacocks are also a major theme in the decoration. Additionally, girly girls will go gaga for its pink color palette.
The feminine and soft exterior is juxtaposed against the punchy menu, including dishes like the pea and osmanthus fish, made from gold colored peas – a specialty found in the Sichuan and Chongqing region.
Average price per person: RMB 200
Address: L603, L702, iapm mall, 999 Huaihai Zhong Lu
Tel: 021 5757 7077
Hours: Mon-Fri, 11am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm; Sat & Sun, 11am-3:30pm, 5pm-10pm
Panda Hometown Restuarant
Using the well-loved national treasure as its emblem, Panda Szechuan also incorporates modern graffiti into its uber hip interior design.
The specialty dish here is the drunken duck, which flavors the duck with chili and beer to a satisfying dish with an addictive amount of spice.
Average price per person: RMB 90
Address: Building 15, Shanghai Chuangyiyuan, 140 Tianlin Lu
Tel: 021 6072 6960
Hours: Daily, 10am-10pm
Pin Chuan
Housed in one of the city’s most beautiful villa spaces, the well-established Pin Chuan’s first location is on Taojiang Lu in the Former French Concession.
One of their must-try dishes here is the ribs, which goes through multiple rounds of cooking to produce an aromatic and sweet flavored meat.
Average price per person: RMB 173
Address: multiple locations
Wa Shai Chuan Cai
Opened 2 years ago, Wa Shai Chuan Cai is a relatively new restaurant in the city that serves up authentic Sichuan flavored dishes.
Their red soup chicken comes with a fiery, brightly colored soup, and their three yellow chicken dish is both tender and crispy, making it a spicy and salty treat.
Average price per person: RMB 100
Address: 7/F, West Gate Mall, 1038 Nanjing Xi Lu
Tel: 021 5289 7578
Hours: Daily, 11:30am-2pm, 4:30am-9pm
Madame Zhu’s Kitchen
The utilization of natural wood and warm colors creates a vintage and homey ambience for the diners at Hanshe China Restaurant.
This is not your typical Sichuan restaurant, because they incorporate flavors and foods from other regions in China to set their menu apart.
Average price per person: RMB 200
Address: L3, Yueda Center, No.899, Wanhangdu Lu
Tel: 021 6231 8819
Hours: Daily, 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm
Miao Xian Xian – Fresh Fish and Crab Pot
Miao Xian Xian is cute and perfect for a family gathering while also having a cool enough vibe to pregame before going out with friends.
In addition to their signature crab meat pot, another must try dish is the fresh pepper fish. You will love the tender slices of white fish flavored with chili.
Average price per person: RMB 80
Address: 2/F, 121-1 Tianlin Lu
Tel: 021 3367 5220
Hours: Daily, 9.30am-12am
Ben Lai Jing Pin Sichuan Cuisine
The clean and comfortable restaurant sells mainly Sichuan dishes, which are cooked by a chef hailing from Zigong, Sichuan. The restaurant uses peppers and chilies air-flown in from Sichuan.
While their general menu remains true to their Sichuan roots, their mao xue wang soup is a standout, using fresh ingredients like cow’s stomach, shredded eel, duck blood, meat and more.
Average price per person: RMB 120
Address: 35 Shaanxi Nan Lu
Tel: 021 6259 7290
Hours: Daily, 11:30am-10pm
If you are still feeling cold after all the Sichuan dishes, don’t hesitate to go for another round!
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