A One-Night Homage to Chengdu’s Beloved “Fly Restaurants”

On 13 November 2025, Grand Majestic Sichuan will welcome back celebrated food writer and Sichuan cuisine expert Fuchsia Dunlop for a one-night culinary collaboration with Executive Chef Theign Phan. The duo presents a bold reinterpretation of Chengdu’s Cangying Guanzi, or “fly restaurants”—a beloved dining style where dishes are so irresistible that they draw crowds like flies.

Priced at HK$888++ per guest, the 10-course sharing menu pays tribute to these lively, homespun eateries that define everyday Sichuan life. The dishes are unpretentious, vibrant and designed to evoke the bustling energy of the original establishments where diners queue at communal tables for freshly plated fare.

Expect elevated yet soulful renditions such as Mapo Tofu with Abalone, Fish Fragrant Eggplant and Prawn Fritters, Home-style Mussels with Pickled Chilli and Celery, and Toothpick Lamb. Refreshing cold starters like Silken Beancurd with Avocado and Century Egg and Husband and Wife Mushroom Slices round out the meal, which concludes in classic Sichuan style—not with dessert, but a comforting Pickled Mustard Greens Soup with Shredded Duck and Vermicelli.

Recreating the Ritual of Spontaneity

This fly restaurant-inspired experience is deeply personal to both Dunlop and Chef Theign, who travelled to Chengdu together in 2023 and visited legendary institutions such as Dongziko Chenshi Liangfen. There, dishes are placed fresh off the stove onto long communal tables, with guests selecting and tallying their own plates at the end—no menu, no ordering, just pure culinary instinct.

That spontaneous, communal spirit will be reimagined in the Grand Majestic Sichuan dining room for one evening only.

A Rare Sichuan Masterclass with Dunlop and Chef Theign

The collaboration continues on 16 November with an intimate masterclass hosted by both Fuchsia Dunlop and Chef Theign. Limited to just 12 guests, this exclusive workshop (HK$688 per person) explores the history, complexity, and techniques behind Sichuan cooking.

Attendees will enjoy unlimited Champagne and three varieties of house cold brew tea while diving into the cultural and technical foundations of the cuisine from two of its most passionate champions.

Venue and Reservation Details

Location: Shop 301, Alexandra House, 18 Chater Road, Central, Hong Kong
Reservation: Book here
Instagram: @GrandMajesticSichuan

Whether you’re a lifelong Sichuan food lover or a newcomer looking to explore the cuisine in its most authentic and dynamic form, this two-part celebration at Grand Majestic Sichuan is not to be missed.

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Images: Grand Majestic Sichuan