Chongqing Food - What and Where to eat in Chongqing

As a natural neighbor of Sichuan Province, the taste and flavour of Chongqing's food shares many similarities with that of Sichuan cuisine, with the emphasis on hot and spicy dishes. It is widely held that Chongqing dishes are somewhat heavier in taste and flavour than Sichuan dishes. 

The most renowned and ubiquitous Chongqing dish is spicy hotpot. As a general guide, if the sharp, spicy taste is too much, visitors are advised to order Yuanyang Hotpot at half strength that they may enjoy the essence of this famous dish. Other local dishes are spicy escargots, spicy fish, spicy beef and spicy chicken. In terms of local snacks, the must-try delicacies are Maoxuewang (a dish stewed with the dried blood cubes of chicken and duck, along with cubed tripe with spicy sauce), Chaoshou (meat dumplings with spicy sauce), Matuan (fried glutinous rice balls with sweet stuffing) and Jisi Liangmian (cool noodles with chicken shreds).

For the best places to try Chonqing's street food, we particularly recommend Nanbin Rd., Jiefangbei area, Yangjiaping area, Nanfang Huayuan, Quanshuiji Street, Three Gorges Square and Ciqikou. 

Chongqing Food Streets

There are two main food streets in Chongqing, the Bayi Road and the Ciqikou Ancient Town.