Bao Gogo
Order: truffle and Nanxiang pork xiao long bao, Chongqing fried chicken, dry-fried eggplant
Sichuan Food in Atlanta:
Where to Eat Mala, Mapo Tofu and Dan Dan Noodles
The short answer: Atlanta's Sichuan restaurants are spread across the metro. On Buford Highway, start with Gu's Kitchen or China Kitchen in Chamblee; in Duluth, Masterpiece; intown, Urban Hai, Urban Wu or Jia Szechuan; in the suburbs, Sichuan House in Johns Creek, Chuan Tasty in Alpharetta and Tasty China in Marietta. Sichuan (川菜, also spelled Szechuan) cooking is known for mala: chili heat plus the tingling numbness of Sichuan peppercorns.
| Area | Sichuan restaurants | What to order |
|---|---|---|
| Buford Highway (Chamblee, Doraville) | Gu's Kitchen, China Kitchen, Good Harvest, Yummy Spicy | Zhong dumplings, Chengdu cold noodles, dry pot |
| Duluth | Masterpiece, Xin's Chinese Cuisine | Fish in chili oil, dong po pork belly |
| Intown Atlanta | Urban Hai, Urban Wu, Jia Szechuan, Gu's Dumplings | Hot and numbing flounder, dry-fried eggplant, dan dan noodles |
| Decatur | Hai Authentic Chinese | Handmade dumplings, Sichuan chili chicken |
| Johns Creek and Alpharetta | Sichuan House, Great Sichuan, Chuan Tasty | Mapo tofu, hot-boiled fish, cumin lamb |
| Marietta | Tasty China, Wei Authentic Chinese Cuisine | Fish in red chili oil, chili wontons |
| Sichuan hot pot | Chong Qing Hot Pot (Chamblee), Chuan Yu Hot Pot (Suwanee), Xi Hotpot (Duluth) | Mala broth with sliced beef and lamb |
All Sichuan restaurants on our list
Chilispot
Order: chef's special grilled fish, spicy Sichuan wontons, salt roasted pork, mashed eggplant with century egg
China Kitchen
Order: Master Dumplings in sweet-spicy sauce, spicy chicken, minced pork noodles
Chong Qing Hot Pot
Order: Chongqing-style seafood and beef hot pots, crispy fried pork pot, spicy chicken
Chuan Tasty
Order: Sichuan specialties from the Hai/Urban Hai group
Chuan Yu Hot Pot
Order: all-you-can-eat individual or split pots, bone or spicy broth
Dumpling Garden
Order: shrimp-topped siu mai, xiao long bao, cumin lamb stir-fry
Fire Stone Chinese Cuisine
Order: dry-fried eggplant, mapo tofu, hot and numbing beef rolls, braised fish in chili oil
Good Harvest
Order: Sichuan dry pot, all-you-can-eat hot pot, golden pepper flounder
Great Sichuan
Order: Sichuan dishes alongside Americanized Chinese favorites
Gu’s Dumplings (Krog Street Market)
Order: Zhong-style dumplings in chili oil, dan dan noodles
Gu’s Kitchen
Order: Zhong-style dumplings in sweet chili oil, Chengdu cold noodles, mapo tofu, Sichuan fries
Hai Authentic Chinese
Order: handmade Sichuan dumplings, dan dan noodles, Sichuan chili chicken
Handmade Dumplings and Noodles
Order: wood ear and tofu skin vegetarian dumplings, cumin beef noodles, dry-fried eggplant
Imix Hot Pot
Order: Chinese hot pot plus stir-fries, dumplings and noodles
Jia Szechuan
Order: made-to-order minced pork dumplings, black vinegar peanuts, dry-fried green beans
La Mei Zi
Order: Taiwanese beef noodle soup, braised beef scallion rolls, pork belly buns, spicy lamb
LanZhou Ramen
Order: hand-pulled beef or roast duck noodle soup, crispy pan-fried potstickers, Chinese hamburger
Masterpiece
Order: Zhong dumplings in chili oil, dong po pork belly, chili-dusted fried eggplant, fish in chili oil
Nine Spices Hot Pot
Order: conveyor-belt individual hot pots, DIY sauce bar
Noodles Bar and Dumpling
Order: crispy-bottom beef buns, pork and chive dumplings, hot and numbing beef
Northern China Eatery (BeltLine)
Order: shrimp, pork and chive dumplings with optional crisp bottoms, tiger salad, mapo tofu
Sho Spicy
Order: cumin lamb, dry-fried eggplant, Sichuan-style bamboo fish, salt and pepper spare ribs
Sichuan House
Order: Master Zhong's spicy dumplings, mapo tofu, Chengdu kung pao chicken, hot-boiled fish, cumin lamb
Taste of Min
Order: blue crab congee, dry pot fish fillets, twice-cooked pork, mapo tofu
Tasty China
Order: dry-fried eggplant, braised fish in red chili oil, cumin lamb, mapo tofu
Urban Hai
Order: whole roasted Peking duck, pork and crab xiao long bao, hot and numbing flounder
Urban Wu
Order: fish in chili oil, dry-fried eggplant, dan dan noodles
Wei Authentic Chinese Cuisine
Order: Sichuan chili wontons, dan dan noodles, Sichuan-style eggplant in garlic sauce
Xi Hotpot
Order: Chongqing mala hot pot, milk-marinated thick-cut beef, fried crispy pork
Sichuan dishes to know
- Mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐 mápó dòufu): soft tofu in a spicy, numbing sauce of fermented bean paste and minced beef or pork.
- Dan dan noodles (担担面 dàndàn miàn): wheat noodles with chili oil, ground pork and preserved vegetables. Stir before eating.
- Zhong dumplings (钟水饺 Zhōng shuǐjiǎo): pork dumplings in sweet soy sauce and chili oil, a Chengdu snack.
- Boiled fish (水煮鱼 shuǐzhǔ yú): tender fish slices in a deep bowl of chili oil and peppercorns. Eat the fish, not the oil.
- Chili chicken (辣子鸡 làzǐ jī): crisp chicken bites hidden in a pile of dried chilies.
- Dry pot (干锅 gānguō): meat and vegetables stir-fried in a sizzling, sauce-coated wok, with no broth.
- Dry-fried green beans (干煸四季豆 gānbiān sìjìdòu): blistered beans with garlic and minced pork; a good mild side.
- Kung pao chicken (宫保鸡丁 gōngbǎo jīdīng): chicken with peanuts and dried chilies, less sweet than the American version.
Tips for ordering Sichuan food
- Balance the table: one or two very spicy dishes, one mild vegetable, and plenty of rice.
- Ask for less spicy (少辣 shǎo là) if you're new to mala. Most kitchens will adjust.
- The numbing tingle comes from Sichuan peppercorns, not chili. It fades after a few minutes.
- Cool down with rice or a sweet drink rather than water.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best Sichuan food in Atlanta?
Our list above covers Sichuan restaurants across the metro. Buford Highway in Chamblee and Doraville has the most choice, with more in Duluth, intown Atlanta and the northern suburbs.
Is Sichuan the same as Szechuan?
Yes. Sichuan is the modern pinyin spelling of the province's name; Szechuan is an older spelling still used on many American menus.
Is all Sichuan food spicy?
No. Many Sichuan dishes are mild or sweet and sour, such as dry-fried green beans, tea-smoked duck and twice-cooked pork with less chili. Ask the restaurant which dishes are mild.
What is mala?
Mala (麻辣 málà) means numbing and spicy: the combination of Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers that defines Sichuan cooking and Chongqing hot pot.
Where can I get Sichuan hot pot in Atlanta?
Chong Qing Hot Pot in Chamblee, Chuan Yu Hot Pot in Suwanee and Xi Hotpot in Duluth. See our hot pot guide.