Chengdu CYTS Shanshui Fashion Hotel

This branch of the upmarket chain is furnished in a lavish but understated manner, and commands lovely views of the Twin Towers. The menu boasts the brand's signature luxury seafood lineup, but the Taizhou recipes jazzed up with local touches steal the show. Try the sea anemone glass noodles with house-made pickles – the slippery noodles soak up the tart, spicy broth. Spicy braised pork intestine with Qiantong dried tofu impresses with nice textures.

The elegant room with full-length windows feels airy and bright. In addition to booth seats, there are alsoprivate rooms for parties. The Fujian-born kitchen team ensures the authenticity of each dish. The must-try lychee meatballs are deep-fried pork stuffed with chopped water chestnuts for crunchiness. Scallion aromas and pleasing textures depict the Quanzhou speciality, crispy tofu skin rolls with a five-spice pork filling.

The result of the chef's extensive travel and gastronomic experiences, the multicourse tasting menu rolls out novel recipes with seasonal ingredients. Quality produce from all over China is deftly crafted using modern techniques. Don't miss the house-made sourdough, made with 20-year-old starter (or yeast), and steeped in complex flavours. Its crispy crust contrasts nicely with the spongy crumbs. There are only five tables, so booking is a must.

The owner’s collection of souvenirs from her trips around the world gives this spacious dining room an endearing quirkiness. Her wanderlust also translates into her quest for quality ingredients from around the globe, to be cooked in an authentic Sichuanese style. Roast pigeon smoked with Sichuan pepper leaves is simply unmissable. Cold appetisers like lamp-shadow sliced grass carp are also well made. You can opt for half portion for some dishes.

The high-end Chaimen Hui goes for an understated luxurious vibe throughout. Creative Sichuanese fare dominates the menu, courtesy of top-notch, seasonal ingredients from around the world that highlight the natural umami and layers of flavour; many dishes can be ordered in individual portions. Their ji dou hua, or minced chicken silken tofu in amber-coloured broth, boasts velvety texture and intense umami. Private rooms available for a fee.

This is the chain’s first outpost and it’s been in business for over a decade. A tank of live fish by the entrance reminds you that river and sea fish are the name of the game here. The menu revolves around novel Sichuan dishes, with a few regional offerings. For an overview of Sichuan cuisine, try the 24-flavour-profile set menu. We also recommend the preserved meat prepared in-house, or the pond loach seared with green Sichuan pepper, depicted by crisp textures and a numbing sensation.

Tucked away in a longstanding residential area, this noodle shop has a loyal following. The noodles are either served in spicy or white broth, or tossed in various seasoning pastes. For noodle soup, try their signature eight-treasure white broth made with chicken, bamboo shoots and dried seafood including shrimps, squids and oysters. Or have your bouncy noodles tossed in the famous mala chilli pork sauce for heady, addictive aromas.