Beyond hotpot
Chongqing food, from morning to midnight.
Hotpot is only the beginning. Chongqing's food culture includes local noodle shops, bold Jianghu-style dishes, hot-and-sour sweet potato noodles, late-night barbecue, and chilled desserts.
Menu vocabulary
Four menu words to know.
These four words appear often on Chongqing menus. They describe a dish's flavour, not four different dishes.
Numbing
Sichuan pepper gives food a mouth-tingling sensation. It is different from chili heat.
Spicy
Fresh and dried chilies add heat. On a menu, this word signals that the dish is spicy.
Sour
Vinegar and pickled chilies add sharp sourness, especially to hot-and-sour noodles.
Aromatic
Beef tallow, toasted spices, and charcoal add the rich aroma found in many Chongqing dishes.
Chongqing food to know
Ten Chongqing foods to try.
A guide to the noodles, shared dishes, snacks, and desserts you will find across the city.
Noodles & everyday dishes
Chongqing Noodles 重庆小面
A classic everyday bowl of wheat noodles seasoned with chili oil, Sichuan pepper, and aromatics.
Noodles with Peas and Meat Sauce 豌杂面
Wheat noodles topped with soft peas and a rich meat sauce.
Hot and Sour Sweet Potato Noodles 酸辣粉
Chewy sweet-potato noodles in a spicy, tangy broth, often topped with vinegar, chili oil, peanuts, and herbs.
Shared dishes
Jianghu-Style Dishes 江湖菜
Informal Chongqing dishes made for sharing, usually with generous portions and bold seasoning.
Spicy Chicken with Dried Chilies 辣子鸡
Crisp fried chicken cooked with dried chilies. The chilies add aroma and heat; they are not all meant to be eaten.
Tofu Pudding with Rice 豆花饭
Silky tofu pudding served with rice and a dipping sauce of chili oil, soy sauce, garlic, and Sichuan pepper.
Street food & sweets
Chongqing Hotpot 重庆火锅
A shared meal in which meat, vegetables, and tofu are cooked in a simmering broth, often made with beef tallow.
Chongqing Barbecue 重庆烧烤
Skewers grilled over charcoal and seasoned with chili and cumin, commonly eaten late at night.
Ice Jelly and Brown-Sugar Rice Cake 冰粉 · 凉糕
Two chilled desserts: ice jelly and soft rice cake with brown-sugar syrup.
Chen Mahua Fried Dough Twists 陈麻花
Crisp fried dough twists from Ciqikou, available in sweet, savory, and peppery varieties.
This list is only a starting point. Chongqing has much more to taste.
Plan a day of eating in Chongqing.
Tell us what you like to eat, how much spice you can handle, and the meals you want to try. We can plan a food-focused day for your trip.
Plan My Food Day