Dianping's Must-Eat in Chengdu, Sichuan: Michelin "Rongrong Pu Gai Noodles": Palm-sized noodle
When visiting Rongrong Beida Pu Gai Noodles, you can't miss their signature dish: Pu Gai Noodles. Originating in Sichuan, this noodle dish has a long history. Originally enjoyed by farmers in the fields, it has now become one of Chengdu's signature food.
The Moment You Step Into the Shop, the Authentic Taste of Old Chengdu Greets You
Rongrong·Beida Pugaimian is located on a street in the city. From the outside, the shop isn’t luxurious, but it carries a simple, unadorned charm.
Upon entering, a rich, mellow aroma of noodles seems to instantly fill the space. This fragrance is so enticing it makes one’s mouth water, even capable of making you momentarily forget the hustle and bustle of the outside world. A bowl of pugaimian—simple yet uniquely flavorful.
👨🍳 The Magic Show of Hand-Pulled and Freshly Boiled Pugaimian
The most eye-catching feature isn’t the menu but the workstation at the kitchen entrance. Several masters busily work around a large dough basin. They skillfully pinch off a piece of dough, and with a few flips of their palms, stretch it into a palm-sized sheet. They then toss it into a pot of boiling water, where it floats to the surface in under a minute. This scene harks back to the ingenuity of Rongchang dockworkers in the Qing Dynasty—to save time, they would tear large sheets of dough directly into the pot, giving rise to the name "pugaimian" (bedcover noodles), as the sheets resembled bedcovers.
"One liang gets you two sheets, two liang gets you three" is an unspoken rule here. Unlike the typical计量方式 of most noodle shops, Rongrong sells pugaimian by the sheet. The small one-liang portion isn’t even listed on the menu—only regulars know to order it directly. This unique selling method allows diners to pair it with several different toppings, a hidden way of eating known only to true foodies.
🍜 Must-Try Topping Review: A Symphony of Sichuan Flavors That Captivates with One Bite
🔥 Classic Beef Pugaimian
Made with slow-braised beef with tendons, each piece is thumb-sized and glistens coated in a red oil broth.
The beef is braised until tender but not mushy, with a pleasant chewiness to the meat fibers when bitten into. The rich broth, mixed with red oil, remains clear and not muddy.
The most delightful surprise is the soft peas hidden at the bottom of the bowl—creamy and sandy, they deliver a double dose of carb-loaded joy when eaten with the noodle sheets.
The palm-sized noodle sheets perfectly hold the broth. Chews like Shaanxi belt noodles.
Unique Cultural Ambiance
Rongrong·Beida Pugaimian offers more than just great food—it immerses you in the rich local culture of Chengdu. Most of the staff are locals, speaking with thick Sichuan accents, and their service is warm and enthusiastic. Compared to the modernized service of other eateries, the pace here feels like the slow, leisurely rhythm of old Chengdu life, making you feel as though you’ve blended into the unhurried lifestyle of Chengdu locals.
Whenever bowls of steaming pugaimian are served, accompanied by the laughter and chatter of diners, the dining experience here becomes a dual delight for both the palate and the ears.
For food lovers seeking authentic Chengdu flavors, Rongrong·Beida Pugaimian is an unmissable culinary journey. Every bite of the noodles, every drop of the broth, embodies the unique warmth and passion of Chengdu.
The shop opens at 7:30 every morning, and by 8 a.m., it’s already filled with regulars from the neighborhood. In the evening, office workers after work and students after school pack the small shop, the air filled with the aroma of noodles and the sound of conversation. A longtime customer who’s been eating here since 2013 says, "I just love the chewiness of the noodles, the freshness of the broth, and the authentic taste—it’s hardly changed over all these years."
📍探店指南 / Exploration Guide
Address: No. 2-4, Jiefang Road Section 2, Jinniu District, Chengdu (Beidamen Store). Also has a branch on Guojielou Street, Qingyang District.
Business hours: 7:30–21:00 (It’s recommended to avoid the peak hours from 12:00 to 13:30).
In Chengdu, a city renowned for its food, Rongrong·Beida Pugaimian is like alow-key master interpreting the philosophy of "the greatest truths are the simplest" with its most unadorned craftsmanship. When you bite into the broth-soaked pugaimian, feeling the chewiness of the noodle sheets, the aroma of the toppings, and the creaminess of the soft peas, you’ll understand why this small shop has stood firm for 20 years in Chengdu’s highly competitive noodle scene—because it has preserved the old flavors and retained the烟火气 (lively atmosphere) of old Chengdu. The next time you pass by Beimen Daqiao, why not stop here and let a bowl of steaming pugaimian warm your stomach and your heart?
