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 they sprinkle Sichuan peppercorns 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)
A traditional hot pot restaurant located in a residential building, priced at 60–80 yuan per person.
Ordering Tips: Blanch beef tripe seven times up and down; duck intestines for just ten seconds. Ordering “mild” reveals you’re a tourist; asking for “regular” heat with less salt shows you’re a pro.
🛒 Street Food
Chongqing XiaomianChongqing Noodles
Chongqing locals start their day with Chongqing-style noodles. Eating them while sitting on small stools by the roadside—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 sold out.
Ordering Tips: If you can handle spice, ask for “ganqiao” (less broth, more toppings); if not, ask for “qing tang” (clear broth).