9 editor picks across United States.
9 sichuan restaurants worth the trip across United States, editor-ranked. All cuisines in United States.
Han Dynasty in Philadelphia is Han Chiang's Sichuan room on Chestnut, the kitchen that ranked the spice scale 1 to 10 and made the city order dan dan noodles.
OrderDan dan noodles, dry-pot rabbit at heat 7, three-pepper chicken, mapo tofu.
TipOrder one dish below the heat level you think you can handle. The 10 scale is honest.
Chengdu Gourmet in Squirrel Hill serves chef Wei Zhu's Sichuan cooking in Pittsburgh. A James Beard nominee with a separate, fierier Sichuan-specialties menu.
OrderOrder off the Sichuan menu: mapo tofu, dan dan noodles and whatever is dressed in chili oil.
TipAsk for the Sichuan menu, not the standard American-Chinese one. Cash and card both fine; expect a wait at peak.
Mala Sichuan Bistro in Houston is the Bellaire Boulevard Sichuan room since 2011, a Michelin-recommended kitchen with serious mapo tofu, dan dan noodles.
OrderMapo tofu, dan dan noodles, dry-fried green beans, chilli-oil dumplings.
TipCold appetiser cabinet near the door has marinated beef and tendon that are the menu's quiet stars.
Han Dynasty in Philadelphia is Han Chiang's Sichuan room on Chestnut in Old City, the kitchen that ranked the city's spice scale 1 to 10 and made the dan dan.
OrderDan dan noodles, dry-pot rabbit at heat 7, three-pepper chicken, mapo tofu.
TipOrder one dish below the heat level you think you can handle. The 10-spice scale is honest.
NiHao on Boston Street in Canton is chef Peter Chang's Baltimore room, plating Peking duck, dim sum and dumplings in a busy waterfront rowhouse.
OrderThe Peking duck and a spread of dumplings and dim sum.
TipWeekend dim sum brunch is the move; reserve, because the rowhouse seats fill fast.
Z & Y in San Francisco is the Chinatown Sichuan room that hosted Obama, with a benchmark dry-fried chicken and a real numbing-spice score on the page.
OrderChongqing chicken: dry-fried with handfuls of Sichuan peppercorns and chillies.
TipAsk for the dan dan noodles 'house style' to get the version the kitchen makes for itself; off the menu.
Hwa Yuan on East Broadway brought Sichuan cooking to New York City Chinatown in 1968, closed in 1992, and was rebuilt by the founder's family in 2017.
OrderCold sesame noodles to start, General Tso's chicken in the founder's original sweet-and-savoury glaze.
TipThe cold sesame noodles claim to be the original American version; whether or not you buy that, order them.
Mala Sichuan Bistro in Houston is the Bellaire Boulevard Sichuan room since 2011, with serious mapo tofu, dan dan noodles and a chilli-oil dumpling order.
OrderMapo tofu, dan dan noodles, the dry-fried green beans and the chilli-oil dumplings.
TipOrder at least one dish from the cold appetiser cabinet near the door. The marinated beef is the menu's quiet star.
Han Dynasty's East Village outpost runs Chengdu-style numbing-spicy Sichuan in New York City. The dan dan and the dry pot are the room's calibration plates.
OrderDan dan noodles, dry pot fish, cucumber salad to cool.
TipThe spice scale runs 1 to 10; the menu says 7 is hot, the kitchen means it. Start at 5.
Guided tour · 45 minutes
Explore the Reading Terminal Market of Philadelphia on a walking tour. Learn about the market's history, hear stories of some of the family-owned merchants, and choose...
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Discover Philly's most popular food favorites on a guided foodie walking tour. Get a taste of the city's history and culture as you chow down on favorite local dishes.
Water activity · 2.5 hours
Celebrate the holiday season with a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner cruise on the Delaware River. Enjoy a festive dinner with a live DJ and games.
