How spicy is Shu Jiu Xiang, and can I order a milder broth?

The default broth is 中辣 (medium spicy), which is intense for most foreigners. Ask for 微辣 (mildly spicy) if you are new to mala. Better still, order the copper yuanyang pot: one half is the numbing-spicy mala broth and the other is a milder tomato or mushroom broth, so you can dip more delicate items on the gentle side.

Is there an English menu and which Shu Jiu Xiang location is best for tourists?

The Taikoo Li B2 outlet is the most foreigner-friendly, with English staff and a full English menu, sitting in the heart of the tourist area. It also has the longest queues. Budget roughly 150 to 220 RMB per person. Reserve ahead through WeChat or Trip.com, and visit off-peak around 5 PM or 9 PM to avoid the worst waits.

What should a first-timer order at Shu Jiu Xiang hotpot?

Start with the hand-cut beef plates, which are sliced tableside, plus fresh duck blood, goose intestine, and lotus root. Cook items briefly in the bubbling broth, then dip. The complimentary mango sago acts as a palate cleanser between spicy bites. Pace yourself; hotpot is meant to be a slow, two-hour social meal, not a rush.

Shu Jiu Xiang Hotpot, Chengdu: Map & Visitor's Guide (2026)

Sichuan's most famous hotpot chain — copper-pot mala broth, hand-cut beef, and tomato-tea palate cleansers.

At a glance

What it is: Food
Also known as: 蜀九香火锅 (Shǔ Jiǔ Xiāng Huǒguō)
Opening hours: 11 AM – 11 PM
Time needed: 1.5-2 hours
Best time to visit: Off-peak: 5 PM or 9 PM; weekday
Getting there: Metro to the door
English: Full English menu
Cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard
Entry: Walk-in — no booking
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi
Address: B2, Zhong Shamao St (Taikoo Li), Jinjiang District · 锦江区中纱帽街(太古里)地下二层

See Shu Jiu Xiang Hotpottickets & tours

Trip.com link · we earn a small commission · disclosure

Shu Jiu Xiang (蜀九香) is Chengdu's flagship hotpot brand, founded 1995 and now with the most location density in the city. The signature pot is a copper double-pot (yuanyang) with the mala (numbing-spicy) broth on one side and a milder tomato or mushroom broth on the other. Order: hand-cut chuanchuan beef plates, fresh duck blood (essential), goose intestine (鹅肠) and lotus root. Average ¥150-220 per person. Spicy tolerance: ask for 微辣 (mildly spicy) if you're new; the default is 中辣 which is intense for most foreigners. Best location: Taikoo Li B2 outlet — heart of tourist area, English staff, longest queues but most foreigner-friendly. Reservations via WeChat or Trip.com.

Highlights

Copper Yuanyang PotHalf mala, half mild — Chengdu's classic format
Hand-cut Beef (现切牛肉)Order the special; cut tableside
Mango Sago Palate CleanserComplimentary; saves your tongue between bites

What Chinese travelers actually do here

Distilled from Chinese-language travel notes — the practical tips most English guides miss.

▸Visit around 5 PM or 9 PM on a weekday; the Taikoo Li branch draws the city's longest hotpot queues at standard dinner hours.
▸Goose intestine cooks in seconds; the local trick is the seven-up-seven-down dip, then eat it crisp, not chewy.
▸Order the complimentary mango sago early and sip it between spicy rounds to reset your tongue before the mala overwhelms it.
▸Ask staff to mix you the classic sesame-oil and garlic dip bowl; it cools the burn far better than the spicier dry dips.
▸Duck blood and beef should go in the mala side; leafy and delicate items belong in the milder tomato or mushroom half.
▸Cards and free wifi are available here, but confirm your reservation on WeChat or Trip.com since walk-in waits get long.
▸It sits underground on B2 of Taikoo Li; ride the metro and enter through the mall rather than hunting for a street door.

Photos

What travelers say (3 reviews)

HotpotFan·TripAdvisor·5/5

Best Sichuan hotpot for first-timers. Half-spicy / half-mild pot. ¥150-200/person.

2026-04-12

蜀九香·Xiaohongshu·5/5

蜀九香火锅最受欢迎连锁！鸳鸯锅 + 牛油底料正宗。¥150/人。

2026-03-18

Mike L.·Ctrip·5/5

Tourist-friendly, English menu. The numbing-spicy is no joke — start with mild.

2026-02-20

Watch creators visit Shu Jiu Xiang Hotpot

Each clip is timestamped to the moment the creator arrives at this stop.

Sichuan Hotpot in Chengdu — A Spicy Food Adventure

Strictly DumplingStarts at 2:00

Frequently asked questions about Shu Jiu Xiang Hotpot

How spicy is Shu Jiu Xiang, and can I order a milder broth?: The default broth is 中辣 (medium spicy), which is intense for most foreigners. Ask for 微辣 (mildly spicy) if you are new to mala. Better still, order the copper yuanyang pot: one half is the numbing-spicy mala broth and the other is a milder tomato or mushroom broth, so you can dip more delicate items on the gentle side.
Is there an English menu and which Shu Jiu Xiang location is best for tourists?: The Taikoo Li B2 outlet is the most foreigner-friendly, with English staff and a full English menu, sitting in the heart of the tourist area. It also has the longest queues. Budget roughly 150 to 220 RMB per person. Reserve ahead through WeChat or Trip.com, and visit off-peak around 5 PM or 9 PM to avoid the worst waits.
What should a first-timer order at Shu Jiu Xiang hotpot?: Start with the hand-cut beef plates, which are sliced tableside, plus fresh duck blood, goose intestine, and lotus root. Cook items briefly in the bubbling broth, then dip. The complimentary mango sago acts as a palate cleanser between spicy bites. Pace yourself; hotpot is meant to be a slow, two-hour social meal, not a rush.