Chengdu's Must-Visit Restaurant: Chen Mapo Tofu

🇨🇳 Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China ♥️ Chen Mapo Tofu (陈麻婆豆腐) Introducing Chen Mapo Tofu (陈麻婆豆腐), a must-visit restaurant in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China. There are several chain locations of Chen Mapo Tofu throughout Chengdu, but I visited the flagship store (陈麻婆豆腐旗舰店). Conveniently, the flagship store is just a 15-minute walk from Du Fu Thatched Cottage, making it a great spot to visit after your meal. The dish Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐) originated in 1862 when a couple with the surname Chen developed it while running a tofu shop. This makes Chen Mapo Tofu the original restaurant for this iconic dish. I visited during a weekday lunch, and it was so popular that there was a waiting line shortly after we were seated. We ordered Mapo Tofu, white rice, a pork belly dish, stir-fried eggplant, and fried tofu. The total cost was 118 yuan. The menu offers a variety of traditional Chengdu dishes and tofu specialties, making it hard to choose. The Mapo Tofu features a spicy and numbing mala-flavored sauce paired with silky, soft tofu that was absolutely delightful. It paired perfectly with white rice. The fried tofu dish was especially memorable, with a crispy exterior and moist interior. The stir-fried eggplant was sweet and savory, and the pork belly dish was also deliciously sweet. During our meal, there was a traditional Sichuan opera face-changing performance, adding to the experience. The staff were very friendly, and the restaurant's interior had a nostalgic charm, allowing us to feel the old-world atmosphere of Chengdu. If you're traveling in Chengdu, make sure to dine at Chen Mapo Tofu (陈麻婆豆腐) 🇨🇳♥️