Chengdu has long been one of China’s great food cities.
Now, the MICHELIN Guide Chengdu 2027 has given international travelers another reason to pay attention.
The latest edition features 84 restaurants, including Chengdu’s first-ever Three MICHELIN Star restaurant.
The 2027 selection includes:
- 1 Three MICHELIN Star restaurant
- 1 Two MICHELIN Star restaurant
- 13 One MICHELIN Star restaurants
- 32 Bib Gourmand restaurants
- 37 MICHELIN Selected restaurants
- 4 MICHELIN Special Awards
But the real story is not simply how many stars Chengdu has.
The guide reflects a dining scene that ranges from sophisticated Sichuan cuisine and contemporary tasting menus to noodles, dumplings, wontons and traditional neighbourhood restaurants.
For travelers who choose destinations through food, Chengdu is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Chengdu Gets Its First Three MICHELIN Star Restaurant
The biggest news from the 2027 guide is the promotion of Xin Rong Ji from Two to Three MICHELIN Stars.
It is the first restaurant in Chengdu to receive the guide’s highest distinction.
Xin Rong Ji originated from Taizhou cuisine and is known for its ingredient-focused approach.
Since arriving in Chengdu, the restaurant has increasingly incorporated Sichuan ingredients and influences into its cooking.
For international food travelers, it also represents something interesting about modern Chengdu:
the city’s dining scene is no longer defined only by traditional Sichuan restaurants.
Today, Chengdu is attracting chefs and restaurant concepts from across China while continuing to develop its own culinary identity.
Chengdu’s Two MICHELIN Star Restaurant
Yu Zhi Lan retains its Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2027 guide.
For travelers interested in refined Sichuan cuisine, it remains one of the most important restaurants in the city.
Chef Lan Guijun has spent more than four decades working with Sichuan cuisine and was also awarded the MICHELIN Guide Mentor Chef Award in the 2027 selection.
The restaurant offers a very different experience from the casual hotpot and street food for which Chengdu is often known internationally.
It demonstrates how Sichuan cuisine can also be precise, elegant and highly technical.
13 One MICHELIN Star Restaurants in Chengdu
The 2027 guide includes 13 One MICHELIN Star restaurants.
Eleven retained their stars:
- Chaimen Hui
- Fang Xiang Jing
- Furong Huang
- Ma Wang Zi (Jinjiang)
- Yin Guo
- Xu Jia Cai
- Yang Ya · Yong Ya He Xian
- Co-
- Mi Xun Teahouse
- Fu Man Lou
- The Hall
Two restaurants entered the guide with One MICHELIN Star for the first time:
Focus by Bill Yue
Focus by Bill Yue specializes in creative cuisine combining Japanese and French influences.
The restaurant also received recognition through sommelier Liu Bin, who won the 2027 MICHELIN Guide Sommelier Award.
Zinan
Zinan focuses on traditional Sichuan flavors and received One MICHELIN Star in its first appearance in the guide.
Its inclusion is particularly interesting for travelers who want to explore Sichuan cuisine in a more refined setting without losing its traditional identity.
Bib Gourmand: Where Chengdu Gets Really Interesting
For many travelers, the most useful part of the MICHELIN Guide may actually be the Bib Gourmand category.
The 2027 Chengdu selection includes 32 Bib Gourmand restaurants.
These restaurants highlight some of the foods that make Chengdu such an exciting city to eat in:
- Sichuan noodles
- Wontons
- Shaomai
- Dumplings
- Traditional home-style dishes
- Local snacks
Seven new Bib Gourmand restaurants joined the guide this year.
This is also where travelers can experience an important part of Chengdu's food culture:
great food does not necessarily require a formal dining room or a large budget.
Some of the city’s most memorable meals can happen in small neighbourhood restaurants.
Chengdu Is More Than Hotpot
Ask someone outside China what Chengdu food is famous for and the answer will probably be:
hotpot.
And yes, hotpot should absolutely be part of a trip to Chengdu.
But it is only one part of the city’s food culture.
A good Chengdu food itinerary might include:
Sichuan Hotpot
One of the city's defining communal dining experiences.
Mapo Tofu
A classic Sichuan dish built around tofu, fermented bean paste, chili and Sichuan pepper.
Dan Dan Noodles
Small bowls of noodles with a rich, spicy and savory sauce.
Zhong Dumplings
A Chengdu-style dumpling usually served with chili oil and a slightly sweet soy-based sauce.
Sweet Water Noodles
Thick, chewy noodles with a distinctive sweet, spicy and savory flavor.
Chuan Chuan Xiang
Ingredients served on skewers and cooked in a spicy broth — somewhere between hotpot and street food.
Modern Sichuan Fine Dining
Restaurants such as Yu Zhi Lan and several One MICHELIN Star venues show a more contemporary interpretation of Sichuan cuisine.
This range is what makes Chengdu particularly attractive for food travelers.
You can have a highly polished tasting menu one evening and eat noodles in a neighbourhood shop the next morning.
MICHELIN Special Awards in Chengdu
Four restaurant professionals received individual awards in the 2027 guide.
Mentor Chef Award — Lan Guijun
Chef of Two MICHELIN Star Yu Zhi Lan, Lan Guijun was recognized for both his decades of work in Sichuan cuisine and his role in mentoring younger chefs.
Young Chef Award — Yin Sicong
The chef of Bib Gourmand restaurant Yong Le Restaurant represents the third generation of the restaurant while bringing a younger perspective to traditional home-style cooking.
Service Award — Li Jiuling
Li Jiuling of One MICHELIN Star Mi Xun Teahouse was recognized for her warm service and ability to communicate the culture and character of Chengdu to diners.
Sommelier Award — Liu Bin
Liu Bin of Focus by Bill Yue received recognition for his knowledge of wine, terroir and food-and-wine pairing.
Together, these awards reflect something broader about Chengdu's restaurant scene:
the experience is increasingly about more than just the food on the plate.
Is Chengdu Worth Visiting for Food?
Absolutely.
Food is one of the strongest reasons to include Chengdu in a China itinerary.
Unlike some destinations where famous restaurants are concentrated in a small luxury dining scene, Chengdu offers food at almost every level.
You can experience:
- MICHELIN-starred fine dining
- Traditional Sichuan restaurants
- Local neighbourhood eateries
- Tea houses
- Hotpot restaurants
- Street snacks
- Modern cafés
- Creative contemporary cuisine
For food travelers, spending at least two to three full days in Chengdu gives you enough time to experience several sides of the city.
A Food-Focused Day in Chengdu
If food is one of your main interests, a day could look something like this:
Morning
Start with a local breakfast and walk through a traditional neighbourhood or market.
Lunch
Try a casual Sichuan restaurant or Bib Gourmand recommendation.
Afternoon
Visit a traditional Chengdu teahouse and experience the slower pace of local life.
Evening
Choose between hotpot, a classic Sichuan dinner or a MICHELIN-starred restaurant.
This combination often gives travelers a better understanding of Chengdu than simply checking restaurants off a list.
Do You Need to Book MICHELIN Restaurants in Advance?
For popular restaurants, especially MICHELIN-starred venues, booking ahead is recommended.
This becomes particularly important during:
- Chinese public holidays
- Weekends
- Peak tourism seasons
- Major events
Some restaurant reservation systems may also be easier to navigate with local assistance.
If a specific restaurant is important to your trip, build your itinerary around the reservation rather than leaving it until the last minute.
Planning a Chengdu Food Trip
The MICHELIN Guide Chengdu 2027 confirms something locals have known for a long time:
Chengdu is one of China’s most rewarding cities for people who travel to eat.
But the best experience is rarely about visiting only Michelin restaurants.
The real Chengdu food experience comes from combining high-end dining with neighbourhood restaurants, markets, tea houses and traditional dishes.
At Joy Traveller, we design customized journeys across China, including food-focused experiences in Chengdu.
Whether you want to explore Michelin restaurants, Sichuan hotpot, local markets or hidden neighbourhood eateries, we can build the food into your itinerary rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Planning a trip to Chengdu? Tell us what you love to eat, and we’ll help you design your China journey around it.