Yuxin

Although this Sichuan eatery -- originally from Beijing -- is not the spiciest in town, it does the best Sichuan food around with herbs and chilis shipped straight from Chongqing.

Yuxin's most booked location on Chengdu Lu takes up an entire floor and draws crowds of diners every night. Reservations are strongly recommended. Or bring a book.

After seeing the crowds, it should come as no surprise that the chain has developed a cult-like following among Shanghai's spice lovers.

Once you're seated don't be daunted by the huge, illustrated menu showing fish and fowl draped in obscene amounts of chili.

Start off slow, with cold liangfen (mung bean noodles) covered with mouth-numbing mala peppercorns, chili oil, sesame and a minced garlic dressing.

If you can endure full-on heat, venture an item from Yuxin's Double Peppercorn menu. The "Double Pepper Frog" is a favorite.

Yuxin’s sui zhu yu is the best in Shanghai.

If spicy is not your thing -- or you just need to douse the flaming red oil in your mouth -- try the tea smoked duck. Yuxin's duck is leaner than its Peking cousin, but delicious sandwiched in little white mantou buns.