Chongqing Food Guide
What to Eat, Where to Find It, and How to Order Like a Local
🥢 Must-Try Dishes
Chongqing Hot PotChongqing Hot Pot
Chongqing hot pot is spicier and more numbing than Chengdu hot pot. The beef tallow broth is rich and full-bodied, and the Sichuan peppercorns are sprinkled on as if they were free.
60–100 yuan per person
Where to Eat
Yuzhong District (渝中区)→Dalong Hot Pot / Xi Damei (大龙火锅 / 席大妹)
Old-style hot pot restaurants in residential buildings, 60–80 yuan per person.
Tips for Ordering Food: Boil beef tripe for a few minutes; blanch duck intestines for ten seconds. Ordering “mildly spicy” makes you look like a tourist; asking for “regular spice level with less salt” makes you sound like a pro.
🛒 Street Food
Chongqing-style NoodlesChongqing Noodles
For Chongqing locals, the day begins with “xiaomian.” Sitting on small stools by the roadside to eat it—this is the most everyday, down-to-earth vibe of Chongqing.
8–15 yuan per bowl
Where to Eat
Jiangbei District (江北区)→Tikan Noodles (梯坎面)
Opens at 7 a.m. and closes when items sell out.
Tips for Ordering Food: If you can handle spicy food, ask for “dry-steamed” (less broth, more filling); if not, ask for “clear broth.”