¥¥¥¥SichuanGuomao CbdBeijing
Lao Chuan Ban opened in 1979 as Sichuan's Beijing office restaurant and has served homestyle Sichuan dishes to the public since 1995, in a hutong in Beijing.
OrderMouth-watering chicken in peanut and sesame sauce, fuqi feipian and maoxuewang.
TipThe restaurant opened in 1979 for the Sichuan provincial office; Ctrip lists a waiting area, free Wi-Fi and baby chairs, so arrive early at mealtimes.
¥¥¥¥SichuanGuomao CbdBeijing
Ji Chuan, on the ground floor of the Atour Hotel on West Dawang Road, is Michelin Selected for Chongqing-leaning Sichuan cooking and bingfen in Beijing.
OrderOrder the mapo tofu with marbled beef and the pickled chillies with peach kernels, then the bingfen.
TipExpect an intense tingly numbness from the signatures; the bingfen dessert and the array of alcoholic drinks help put out the flames.
¥¥¥¥SichuanDongzhimen GuijieBeijing
Hu Da Restaurant, the Guijie flagship at 233 Dongzhimen Inner Street in Beijing, is known for spicy crayfish and never closes, a landmark on Ghost Street.
OrderCrayfish in garlic or Sichuan-spice flavours, Chongqing-style la zi ji chicken and mala scallops.
TipIt never closes, so a late table is easier than at dinner; Ctrip's dish list leads with garlic crayfish, Chongqing spicy chicken and mala scallops.
¥¥¥¥SichuanOld CityShanghai
Tan Sichuan Cuisine at Yu Gardens in Shanghai holds a Bib Gourmand for Chengdu-style Sichuan food with a Nine-Turn Bridge view from upstairs.
OrderOrder the saliva chicken in chili oil and the whole fish cooked yuxiang style.
TipIt carries backing from Chengdu's THE BRIDGE but runs its own menu; the dan dan noodles and mapo tofu are also strong here.
¥¥¥¥SichuanWangjing 798Beijing
Lanren Yeyu in the Yihaodi Art Park on Shunbai Road in Beijing cooks fiery Sichuan dishes, led by boiled fish in chilli oil and a half-soup bullfrog.
OrderThe boiled fish in chilli oil over bean sprouts, and the half-soup bullfrog.
TipIt sits inside Zone D of the Yihaodi Art Park and has its own parking; lunch runs to 16:00 and dinner starts at 17:30.
¥¥¥¥SichuanFrench ConcessionShanghai
Sichuan Citizen on Wukang Road in Shanghai serves amply spiced Sichuan classics and cocktails in a bamboo-clad room, from the team behind Citizen Cafe.
OrderPepper beef, a stone pot dish and the twice-fried eggplant.
TipThe two-storey restaurant handles groups well; at busy times it can take a while to flag down a server.
¥¥¥¥SichuanGulou NanluoguxiangBeijing
Lanren Yanfu Renjia near Anzhen Bridge in Beijing cooks Zigong salt-house Sichuan dishes, prized for freshness, tenderness, numbing heat and aroma.
OrderThe Zigong salt-house dishes, which the Chaoyang district guide singles out as the specialty.
TipThe Chaoyang district guide describes a colourful, stylish room; lunch and dinner are split, with service from 17:00 to 21:30 in the evening.