Top 10 Must-Try Foods in Chongqing: A Guide for Gourmets

Quick Info

🏠 Location: Chongqing, China
🌡️ Best Food Season: September to December (cool climate, best appetite)
💰 Average Cost: 50-200 RMB/meal (approximately 7-30 USD)
💳 Payment Methods: WeChat, Alipay, UnionPay, International Credit Cards (VISA/MasterCard)
📱 Essential Apps: Dianping, Meituan
🗣️ Useful Phrases: Mala (very spicy), Wei la (slightly spicy), Bu yao la (no spicy)

Introduction to Chongqing Food Culture

Chongqing, a city renowned for its "spicy" flavor, is where the millennium-old Bayu culture has steeped into a unique culinary soul. I've witnessed dock workers cradling a bowl of steaming noodles in the early morning, the aroma wafting with the river breeze; in the afternoon, listened to old neighbors recounting how they savor life's flavors through the boiling red oil of hotpot; and at night, watched foreign tourists' expressions of nervous excitement when trying skewers for the first time, feeling the city's vibrant atmosphere. As a key birthplace of Sichuan cuisine, one of China's eight major cuisines, Chongqing has been developing its signature "mala" (numbing and spicy) culinary culture since the Ming and Qing dynasties, blending rich ingredients from Yangtze River shipping with the unique geographical climate of the mountain city, forming the irresistible Chongqing flavor we know today.

Top 10 Must-Try Foods

1. Chongqing Hotpot 🔥

In the evening, pushing open the door of a hotpot restaurant, you'll be greeted by the steam and tempting aroma of boiling red oil. The hostess warmly invites you in: "Come on in, please!"

• Recommended Restaurants:
• Hongyadong Old Hotpot (Old brand, authentic nine-grid, traditional red oil)
• Liu Yishou Hotpot (Chain brand, suitable for first-timers, offers English menu)
• Features: Nine-grid copper pot (dividing the pot into different temperature zones), on-site sauce preparation, restaurant's unique red oil
• Ordering Tips:
• Must-try ingredients: Freshly cut beef tripe (tender and chewy), beef aorta (crispy and tender), premium beef slices (flavorful and juicy)
• Special dishes: Duck intestine (recommended 2-3 minutes), brain (Chongqing specialty, delicate taste)
• Light options: Sliced meat (request non-spicy sauce), mushrooms, seasonal vegetables
• Eating Tips: Start with vegetables to enhance the soup base, cook meat for 3-5 seconds, seafood for 7-10 seconds

2. Chongqing Noodles 🍜

• Recommended Restaurants: Mawangzi Noodles, Yangji Longfu
• Features: Chewy noodles, rich broth, abundant toppings
• Best Time to Eat: Breakfast or lunch
• Ordering Tips: Adjust the spice level according to personal preference

3. Spicy Chicken 🐔

• Recommended Restaurants: Taoranju, Yuanlaosi
• Features: Dry, aromatic, and spicy, with tender chicken
• Side Dish Suggestion: Pair with rice to balance the spiciness

4. Mao Xue Wang 🥘 (Spicy Blood Curd Stew)

• Recommended Restaurants: Yuwei Xiaoyu (offers English service), Pangzi Roast Meat
• Features: Numbing, spicy, fresh ingredients. This dish is similar to Spanish Morcilla blood sausage, showcasing the ultimate use of ingredients. Western diners are often amazed by its layered taste, akin to enjoying a well-crafted red wine stew.
• Health Tip: First-timers should try a milder version, ask to reduce spiciness
• Foreign Tourist Tip: If you are not accustomed to organ meats, opt for the pure meat version

5. Sour and Spicy Vermicelli 🍲

• Recommended Restaurants: Yaomeizi Sour and Spicy Vermicelli, Zhangji Sour and Spicy Vermicelli
• Features: Sour and spicy, with chewy vermicelli
• Eating Suggestion: Best enjoyed hot

6. Jianghu Dishes 🥬

• Recommended Restaurants: Hongyadong Jianghu Dishes, Laojiekou Jianghu Dishes
• Features: Unique taste, affordable price
• Recommended Dishes: Pickled pepper beef, boiled fish

7. Chongqing Dumplings 🥟

• Recommended Restaurants: Xieji Dumplings, Chen Mapo Dumplings
• Features: Substantial filling, rich broth
• Best Time to Eat: Breakfast or late-night snack

8. Spicy Skewer Soup 🍖

• Recommended Restaurants: Zhongshuijiao Spicy Skewer, Laojiekou Spicy Skewer
• Features: Choose your ingredients, cooked on demand
• Ordering Tips: Request separate seasoning

9. Chongqing Grilled Fish 🐟

• Recommended Restaurants: Wanzhou Grilled Fish, Dezhou Grilled Fish
• Features: Crispy outside, tender inside, with a rich flavor
• Recommended Side Dishes: Enoki mushrooms, bean sprouts, potatoes

10. Skewers in Hot Oil 🍢

• Recommended Restaurants: Malubianbian Skewers, Gangguanchang Skewers
• Features: Variety of choices, pick your own
• Dining Suggestion: Best with 2-4 people for more combinations

Practical Tips

Dining Advice 💡

• For first-time Chongqing food explorers, start with mild spicy (Wei la). For Western diners, this can be likened to a level 2-3 Mexican chili heat.
• Prepare anti-spicy drinks: yogurt (similar to Greek yogurt), lemon water, coconut milk (recommended for Southeast Asian visitors). Vegetarians can choose pure vegetable hotpot, with mushrooms and tofu products.
• Avoid eating spicy food on an empty stomach, start with some rice or bread. If you can't handle spicy, request non-spicy dipping sauce.
• Ensure the freshness of ingredients.
• Dine during off-peak hours to avoid queues.
• Most well-known restaurants accept international credit cards; it's best to confirm in advance.
• Download the international version of Dianping, which supports an English interface.
• 'No spicy' in Chinese: 不要辣/不放辣

Cultural Tips 🎭

• Chongqing locals take hotpot seriously, with a "nine-grid" pot for different ingredients.
• Locals often eat noodles or dumplings in the morning.
• Skewers are an essential part of Chongqing's nightlife.
• Chongqing cuisine emphasizes a balance of "mala," "fragrance," and "freshness."

Health Tips 🏥

• Those with stomach issues should be cautious with Chongqing hotpot.
• It is advisable to have necessary digestive medications on hand.
• Control spicy food intake in hot weather.
• Pay attention to food hygiene, choose reputable vendors.

Foodie Map

🏮 Jiefangbei Food Street: Concentration of classic restaurants
🏮 Hongyadong: Gathering place for traditional snacks
🏮 Guanyinqiao Pedestrian Street: Modern food hub
🏮 Ciqikou Ancient Town: Street of traditional snacks
🏮 Nanshan Yikeshu: Perfect spot for food with a view