Credit: chinadiscovery.com
Chen’s Mapo Tofu Restaurant goes way back in 1862 during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). First found at Wanfu Bridge, north suburb of Chengdu, the restaurant was called Chen Xingshung Eating House. Mrs. Chen was the main chef then. She cooked a tofu dish in bright red color, crispy beef cubes and spicy hot tofu diced in beautiful shapes. The story of how the name Mapo Tofu came to be is quite interesting. Mrs. Chen was a pockmarked woman who was only allowed to stay at the outskirts of the city due to her appearance. She lived by the roadside where travelers usually traverse. During those times, rich merchants usually stay within the city. One stormy night, a father and son had to find shelter at the outskirts and ended up at Mrs. Chen’s home. She made them the dish on what we now called Mapo Tofu. The two found it so delicious that whenever they visit the city, they would drop by her place to eat. Soon after more people start visiting her home, gourmands at that time also frequently visited the place and soon it became one of China’s famous dishes. The popularity of Mapo Tofu comes from its well-known taste and smell of the tender Tofu cooked in spicy ingredients everyone is impressed by it spicy, hot, aromatic, tender qualities. If you want to try the traditional and best Mapo Tofu, you should go to the Chen’s Mapo Tufu Restaurant.