What should foreigners eat in Chengdu first?

The smartest first move is not maximum spice.

I would start with:
- Dan dan noodles for a manageable first lunch
- Yuanyang hotpot so you have both spicy and mild broth
- Mapo tofu with rice for a classic dish that still feels controlled

Good supporting dishes:
- zhong dumplings
- tea-smoked duck
- sweet water noodles
- tomato egg noodles or a mild soup if you need a break

What foreign visitors often get wrong:
- trying too many heavy spicy meals in the first 24 hours
- assuming every meal has to be an extreme spice challenge
- thinking the roughest-looking restaurant is always the best first choice

Start comfortable, then go deeper. Chengdu food is much better when the trip has rhythm rather than heat panic.