Written by Veronica |
Chongqing is not only a beautiful mountain city boasting wonderful landscapes, but also the no. 1 China tour destination for food lovers. As an essential branch of Sichuan cuisine, Chongqing food also features spicy, numbing flavor, and tourists can enjoy a wonderful food tour in Chongqing as there is a great variety of local dishes and snacks to choose from, such as hot pot, Chongqing noodles, and spicy wontons. No idea of what to eat in Chongqing? Then, you can find inspiration from the following list of the top 12 foods to eat in Chongqing. Each of them will impress you with its distinctive flavor and taste.
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Quick Guide: Find Your Perfect Chongqing Bite
Types |
Representative Dishes |
Classic cuisine |
Hotpot, Chongqing style boiled blood curd, Chongqing chicken with chilies, Chongqing grilled fish, chicken hotpot stew, tofu pudding with rice, boiled fish with Sichuan pickle |
Authentic snacks |
Chongqing noodles, hot and sour glass noodles, spicy wontons in chili oil, glutinous rice balls in mountain city, Chongqing shao pi, Ciqikou Chen’s fried dough twist, oil tea, triangular cake |
Desserts |
Glutinous rice balls in mountain city, ice jelly, cold rice cake, sticky rice cake with brown sugar, red bean soup |
Top 12 Dishes You Must-try in Chongqing
1. Chongqing Hot Pot
If you can’t decide what to eat for your first meal in Chongqing, just go to a hot pot restaurant. Hot pot is also one of the most popular foods in China. Different from the mild and abundant flavor of Chengdu hot pot, Chongqing hot pot highlights a spicy and pungent flavor and its soup stock is mainly made from beef tallow with plenty of chili peppers and numbing peppercorns. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful it becomes.
The classic dipping sauce preferred by the locals includes sesame oil + minced garlic + salt/MSG/coriander. About the average cost, it is about CNY 80 – 120 per person.
Ordering tips: The must-order dishes are tripe, duck blood, duck intestines, and ox aorta. If you can’t handle spicy food, the double-flavor hot pot is a perfect choice for you. This kind of pot is divided into two sections, with one side filled with spicy broth and the other side light flavored soup stock like clear broth, tomato-flavor soup and mushroom soup.
2. Chongqing Noodles (Chongqing Xiao Mian)
Want to try the authentic breakfast? Chongqing noodles are definitely the first choice. It is also one of the top 10 Chinese noodles. The secret of the noodles lies in the blend of seasonings at the bottom of the bowl. It consists of over 10 condiments, including glistening chili oil, lard, ginger and garlic soup, roasted peanuts, and fresh scallions, etc. After the noodles are cooked, put into the bowl and pour savory bone broth. With only about CNY 10 – 15, you can enjoy a delicious meal.
Ordering Tips: To experience the most authentic flavor, simply tell the clerk, “A bowl of pea mixed noodles, dry style, mildly spicy” (一碗干馏豌杂，微辣). The standard portion is 2 liang of noodles (100 g), you can also order 1 liang (50g) or 3 liang (150g) based on your own needs.
3. Chongqing Hot and Sour Glass Noodles (Chongqing Suan La Fen)
Hot and Sour Glass Noodles is a kind of traditional Chongqing food that can be easily found at roadside booths and stalls. As its name indicates, the sour and spicy flavor created by chili oil and vinegar is the greatest characteristic of the dish.
The glassy noodles are made of sweet potato powder and feature a chewy and elastic texture. The noodles well absorb the rich flavor of the soup stock. Fried peanuts and Sichuan pickles are two important toppings of Chongqing Suan La Fen, adding a crunchy taste to this dish. Also, choose mild spicy. You can also order soymilk or ice jelly to relieve the spiciness.
4. Spicy Wontons in Chili Oil (Hongyou Chaoshou)
Chaoshou is another name for wonton in Sichuan and Chongqing. It is a kind of bite-sized dumpling but with a thinner skin and juicy pork stuffing. In Chongqing, this kind of food is often served in a bowl of steaming soup stock with red chili oil (“Hongyou” in Chinese) floating on the top. It is the most classic and recommended.
Besides Hongyou Chaoshou, wontons with clear soup, garlic sauce or sesame paste can also be found in Chongqing, which cater to the taste of tourists who prefer a light flavor and are more acceptable to most foreign tourists.
5. Chongqing-Style Boiled Blood Curd (Chongqing Mao Xue Wang)
Mao Xue Wang is a traditional Chongqing cuisine originating from Ciqikou Ancient Town in the 1940s. Its cooking technique is very simple – simmering, but it creates the strong and rich flavor that makes diners want more.
Actually, Mao Xue Wang is like a “small-sized hot pot”, with duck blood curd as the main ingredient as well as some side dishes such as tripe, ox aorta, lunch meat, bean sprouts and celery boiled together in the thick, spicy stock broth. All the food will fully absorb the thick aroma of the soup, and the rich, fiery flavor makes Mao Xue Wang a perfect dish to go with rice.
Order tips: usually, the dish is served in small, medium and large portions, suitable for 2 – 3 people, 3 – 4 people and more than 4 people, respectively.
Best Chongqing tour packages with local food tasting:
- 1 Day Chongqing City Tour
- 4 Days Chengdu & Chongqing Highlights Tour
- 5 Days Chongqing Yangtze River Cruise Tour with Wulong
6. Chongqing Chicken with Chilies (Chongqing La Zi Ji)
For natives, La Zi Ji is one of their favorite Chinese foods in Chongqing to go with wine, due to its unique spicy flavor and the tender texture of the chicken. The dish will give you a visual shock once served. Red dried chili peppers and Sichuan peppers are piled up high and the golden chicken dices are hidden in it. You will feel like hunting for treasures when eating. The meat tastes crispy on the outside but tender on the inside with a spicy and numbing flavor.
Eating Tips: Usually, a standard portion is enough for 2 – 4 people. It is highly recommended to pair it with rice.
7. Chongqing Grilled Fish (Chongqing Kaoyu)
Chongqing Grilled Fish is a traditional Chongqing food starting from the Wanzhou District of the city and has been a must-try dish in local night markets. The dish well combines the spicy, fiery flavor of Chongqing Hot Pot with the smoky taste of the outdoor barbecue.
To get a crispy crust, juicy texture, and spicy, thick flavor, the fish needs to go through three cooking phases, namely grilling, stewing and boiling. Besides the fish, there are also some side dishes, like bean sprouts, potatoes, bean curd sheets, konjac, etc.
Ordering tips: Though grass carp and common carp are the most traditional choices of fish, there are more small fish bones. So Longsnout catfish and Qingjiang Fish, with mostly just a central spine, are highly recommended for international travelers. Garlic flavor is the best alternative option for tourists who do not eat spicy food.
8. Chicken Hotpot Stew (Ji Gong Bao)
Ji Gong Bao is a classical Chongqing cuisine famous for its fresh and tender meat and strong-flavored sauce. The chicken needs to be marinated and pan-fried first. Then simmer the chicken dices with spices, bean paste, soy sauce, and sugar as well as other side dishes, like potatoes, ham, and mushrooms, until the meat is properly cooked and the soup thick and rich. The Chicken Pot is often served with rice. The thick sauce of Ji Gong Bao and rice really makes a perfect match.
9. Tofu Pudding with Rice (Douhua Fan)
Douhua Fan is a popular homemade Chongqing food, consisting of a bowl of tofu pudding, a bowl of rice, and a dish of spicy dipping sauce. The tofu pudding itself has a really light flavor, so the dipping sauce is the soul of this dish. Made of chili oil, Sichuan pepper powder, minced garlic, chopped scallions, soy sauce and other ingredients, it endows a fresh and spicy flavor to the dish.
Just pick up one piece of tofu pudding, let it be fully coated with the specially-made sauce, and then eat the tofu together with the fragrant rice. The tender and smooth tofu pudding will create a magic combination with the spicy sauce and the chewy rice.
Eating tips: the dipping sauce is self-mixed. If you do not like spicy taste, try the combination of soy sauce, sesame oil and chopped scallions.
10. Glutinous Rice Balls in Mountain City (Shancheng Tangyuan)
Tangyuan is a traditional dessert in Chongqing with over 800 years of history. The most distinctive feature is its small size, only a quarter of that of ordinary tangyuan. These bite-sized round balls are made of glutinous rice flour with different kinds of fillings such as black sesame, red bean paste, peanuts, and date paste. Put one rice ball into your mouth, and you will feel the sticky wrapper melting on your tongue and the sweet filling flowing to every corner of your mouth, which will give you a refreshing taste after enjoying other spicy, hot Chongqing foods.
11. Chongqing Bang-Bang Chicken
This classic cold dish comes straight from Chongqing’s street food scene. Its name is interesting, all about the rhythmic “bang-bang” sound of wooden mallets tenderizing the chicken. Tender shredded chicken sits on a base of crisp bean sprouts, smothered in a bold sauce mixing spicy chili oil, nutty sesame paste, and that signature Sichuan peppercorn tingle. For the authentic experience, follow locals to Ciqikou Market’s sizzling stalls or family-run joints where it’s been perfected over generations.
12. Chongqing Shao Pi (Grilled Sweet Potato Skins)
This classic Chongqing street snack works magic with sweet potato starch, transforming humble ingredients into a crispy-chewy delight. Vendors slap the sweet potato skin onto scorching griddles, where the edges puff into golden waves while the center stays satisfyingly chewy.
Then the vendors slather on spicy chili oil, pile tangy pickled radish, sprinkle crunchy fried shallots, and toss fresh cilantro over the crispy-skinned wrap. Finally, wrap the ingredients into Shao Pi and fold it into a portable packet.
Eating Tips: It’s a delicious mess meant to be eaten standing up, chili oil dripping as you bite through the crackling shell. Some vendors will also add fish mint herb. It has a special herbal flavor with a slightly fishy smell. Most foreign tourists can not accept the flavor. So remember to check with the vendor and ask them not to add it.
Where to Enjoy Chongqing Food
You can find Chongqing’s culinary scene everywhere, for example, bustling markets, historic alleys, and riverside hubs. From fiery hot pot dens to neon-lit night markets, here is a guide introducing the top areas to savor authentic local flavors:
1. Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street (解放碑步行街)
- Location: Yuzhong District.
- Highlights:
Bayi Good Food Street (八一好吃街) food recommended: Xiao Mian (Chongqing noodles). Hongyou Chaoshou (spicy wontons). Suan La Fen (hot & sour glass noodles). Hot pot: Liuyishou Hot Pot. Xiaolongkan Hot Pot.
- Why Go:It’s quite tourists-friendly, for most shops provide English menus.
- How to Get to: metro line 2: Linjiangmen Station; metro line 1/6: Xiaoshizhi Station
2. Hongya Cave (洪崖洞)
- Location: 88, Jialing River Binjiang Road, Yuzhong District.
- Highlights:
Stilted Building Food Court: Bang-Bang Chicken. Grilled Sweet Potato Skins.
Night Market: Chongqing Kaoyu (grilled fish).
- Why Go: Iconic views + food; ideal for sunset dinners.
- How to Get to: metro line 1/6: Xiaoshizhi Station
3. Ciqikou Ancient Town (磁器口古镇)
- Location:Shapingba District, 14km from downtown.
- Highlights:
Traditional Snacks: Chen Mahua (twisted fried dough), Mao Xue Wang (blood curd stew), and Shancheng Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls).
Teahouses: Order a cup of tea after having Douhua Fan (tofu pudding rice) in Ming-Qing-style buildings.
- Why Go: It’s a place where historic charm meets rustic flavors.
- How to Get to: metro line 1: Ciqikou Station
4. Nanbin Road Night Market (南滨路夜市)
- Location: Nan’an District, along the Yangtze River.
- Highlights:
Spicy skewers of lamb, squid, and tofu. La Zi Ji (chili chicken). Crafted beers.
- Why Go: Visitors can enjoy food in lively atmosphere with riverfront views.
- How to Get to: metro loop line: Danzishi Station; metro loop line/line 6: Shangxinjie Station
5. Jiaochangkou Night Market (较场口夜市)
- Location: Near Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District.
- Highlights:
Chongqing Shao Pi (crispy potato skins), Tian Shui Mian (sweet-water noodles).
- Why Go: Most dishes would be under ¥20.It a place where locals unwind after work, but remember some stalls only accept cash.
- How to Get to: metro line 1/2: Jiangchanglou Station
6. Guanyinqiao Food Street (观音桥好吃街)
- Location: Jiangbei District, near Guanyinqiao Metro Station.
- Highlights:
Modern Fusion: Here’s a lot of trendy cafes serving Mala Xiang Guo (dry hot pot) and Ice Jelly desserts.
Underground Food Hall: 100+ vendors under Raffles City mall.
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- Why Go:Mix of traditional and hipster eats.
- How to Get to: metro line 3/9: Guanyinqiao Station
How to Plan a Chongqing Food Tour
For tourists who plan a Chongqing food tour, the 1-day itinerary below has covered several food streets and the nearby major attractions, allowing you to enjoy most classic food and snacks and visit attractions in one tour.
Morning: Ciqikou Ancient Town: wander around the ancient town and taste Shancheng Tangyuan and Chen Mahua twisted fried dough. It is also the birthplace of Chongqing-Style Boiled Blood Curd.
Afternoon: take metro line 1 to Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street. Admire the People’s Liberation Monument and explore Baiyi Good Food Street. You can also enjoy a hot pot here. Then walk to Hongya Cave to marvel at the magical stilted houses and wait for its amazing lighting moment. The scenic area also provides various snacks.
Evening: the last stop is Nanbin Road, where you can take metro line 6 to get there. In Nanbin Road, you can not only taste snacks in night markets, but also appreciate the brilliant night view across the river.
Eat Through Chongqing with China Xian Tour
Do you want to taste the authentic Chongqing food? Travelling with China Xian Tour, we can plan a food tour for you. As one of the best travel agencies in China, we have been dedicated to providing high-end, customized China tours for international travelers for about 20 years. Our travel expert will listen to your desires carefully and then craft an unforgettable trip specially for you. If you want to enrich the travel experience, we can also recommend some popular attractions and include into the trip based on your interests. Of course, we will arrange hotels, tickets and transportation for you. Just contact us now.
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