For spice lovers, stepping into Chongqing feels like arriving at a second home. Chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns are indispensable in local cooking—even stir-fried vegetables get a quick sizzle with a few chilies. This is especially true for Jianghu-style dishes, where meat hides amidst layers of chili and peppercorns, delivering sweat-inducing heat that’s utterly addictive. Of course, those who can’t handle the heat will find plenty of local delicacies to soothe their stomachs.
Here's an updated guide to Chongqing's must-try foods.
Snacks (Street Vendor Edition)
1. Ice jelly, chilled shrimp, and chilled rice cakes — Local specialty desserts
Brown sugar syrup forms the base, while the ice jelly is made by kneading the seeds of the “ice jelly tree.” It's topped with raisins, hawthorn berries, peanuts, and other ingredients.
Oh, and if you spot a vendor selling ice jelly and cold shrimp, you can ask the auntie to mix them together—that way you can try both.
The ice jelly and cold shrimp from roadside stalls taste pretty much the same; any place you pick will be delicious.
2. Ice Tangyuan
Serve cooked tangyuan with ice and brown sugar syrup. Freshly made tangyuan taste even better.
3. Small glutinous rice cakes
Street vendors typically sell this dish, using a machine resembling a unicycle. They slice glutinous rice dough, coat it with bean flour, drizzle it with brown sugar syrup, and serve it hot.
4. Cold Noodles
Alkaline noodles, a cold noodle dish with seasonings, are incredibly satisfying in summer. Locals even pair them with congee, perfectly executing the carb-on-carb combo. Absolutely true.
5. Roasted Sweet Potato Skins / Roasted Tofu Skin
Highly recommended—a whole block of dried tofu skin wrapped around pickled radish. One bite and the aroma hits you like a punch.
6. Spicy and Sour Noodles
Chongqing specialty snack: sweet potato starch noodles topped with minced pork sauce and peanuts in the broth—absolutely delicious.
7. Crispy Pork
Pork coated in batter and deep-fried, commonly sold at food streets and available as a snack at hot pot restaurants.
Main Course Recommendations (Spice Level Challenge)
Beginner Level:
1. Tofu Pudding Rice
Local daily fare: order your own tofu pudding, dip it in condiments, and enjoy it with rice. Most tofu pudding rice restaurants also sell steamed dishes—try a steamer basket of braised pork belly or steamed pork with rice flour.
Recommended: Renhe Shuishangpiao, Jiujiu Tofu Pudding House
2. Pig's Feet Soup
Braised pork knuckles with split peas inside, the broth is incredibly rich. The peas have a smooth, velvety texture, and the knuckles are perfect for dipping in seasonings and pairing with rice.
Recommended: Hu Ji Pork Knuckle Soup [visited by Xiao Zhan], Shuangbei Old-Established Pork Knuckle
Advanced Version:
1. Noodles / Wontons
In fact, small noodle soup with wontons is a staple in locals' daily diets, so you can grab a bowl downstairs in any residential complex and it won't disappoint.
Upgrade Edition:
1. Hot Pot
Hot pot is literally everywhere in Chongqing—wherever there are people, there's a hot pot restaurant. Friendly reminder: if it's your first time in Chongqing, start with mild or slightly spicy broth. Locals rarely go beyond medium spice during gatherings, with most sticking to mild. Extra spicy is extremely rare.
Some residential building hotpot spots might not offer dual-flavor pots and only serve red broth. If you're not used to spicy food, opt for a dual-flavor pot at chain restaurants, which usually provide this option.
Both neighborhood hotpot spots and chain brands offer great flavor. Neighborhood joints evoke nostalgia and down-to-earth charm, while chains provide better dining environments and consistent quality thanks to streamlined supply chains.
Breaking news! Xiaomu offers authentic commercial hotpot base paste—a 1:1 replica of Chongqing restaurant flavors. Click the image above to shop now.
Must-Order Hot Pot Dishes
Most hot pot restaurants have signature dishes—just order those and you can't go wrong.
Souvenirs to Bring Home
1. Ciqikou Chen Sesame Twists
Must-Buy Reason: So flaky it crumbles, so fragrant it's addictive. Over a dozen flavors available—try before you buy.
Shopping Guide: Look for the longest queue on Ciqikou Ancient Town's main street. The shop sign reads “Chen Jianping Twisted Doughnut Flagship Store.” Freshly fried on-site for ultimate crispiness~
2. Hechuan Peach Slices
Must-Buy Reason: A sweet treat combining glutinous rice and peach slices
Where to Buy: Generally available at specialty shops in scenic areas
3. Hot Pot Base
Local families often buy base sauces from supermarkets to cook hotpot at home or add flavor to dishes like braised beef. All brands taste decent, though they don't quite match the restaurant experience. Chongqing locals seek the ultimate rich, fatty aroma when dining out, so commercial sauces feature much stronger beef tallow flavors.
Commercial Base: We have a limited supply of commercial-grade base here. It perfectly replicates the restaurant flavor at a 1:1 ratio. Detailed ingredient ratios are provided in the link—get your set today. Invite family and friends over to savor authentic Chongqing flavor. Click the image below to purchase (shipping included, dear).
4. Fuling Pickled Mustard Greens
An essential accompaniment for plain congee at breakfast, it's also used in wontons and as a topping for noodles, with extremely high consumption.
5. Wulong Sweet Potato Starch
Wulong sweet potato starch noodles are commonly found in hot pot restaurants. Cooked in spicy broth, they become firm, chewy, and flavorful.
Sweet potato starch noodles can be purchased at scenic spots in Wulong and Chongqing's urban areas.
6. Fengdu Spicy Chicken
Previously popularized by Yu Hui Tong Xing, the chicken is marinated in chili oil—not spicy, but deeply flavorful. The meat absorbs the aromatic essence of chili peppers. After finishing the chicken, use the marinade to cook noodles—absolutely delicious.
7. Rongchang Braised Goose
No need to elaborate—recently, the “Hyperthyroid Brother” and “Brined Goose Brother” have made Rongchang brined goose a sensation. Most brined food stalls in the city center sell brined goose, though you'll find the most authentic version in Rongchang itself.
Every district in Chongqing boasts its own attractions, local specialties, and signature dishes—one trip simply isn't enough to see, eat, or bring back everything. So, friends, remember to pace yourselves—or bring along some buddies for multiple visits!
