To me, Chongqing is inseparable from its food. Eating here isn’t just about filling up—it’s a direct connection to local culture and emotion.

On your first visit, even breakfast can surprise you: the stools aren’t for sitting—they’re your noodle table. At noon, hot pot feels right in every season. In the afternoon, pick a food street and snack from one end to the other. After dark, barbecue still rules the midnight snack scene.

Chongqing locals have always prioritized flavor when it comes to dining. Those time-honored eateries that have stood the test of time and still thrive in the city's streets and alleys can each keep you engaged for 300 rounds of indulgence. Take this food guide and enjoy the pleasure of eating from morning till night!

Foods that can be eaten as breakfast

For Chongqing locals, breakfast often starts with a bowl of small noodles. Though small in name, these noodles are rich in flavor, with each bowl featuring a variety of seasonings like chili, Sichuan pepper, ginger, garlic, pickled mustard, and sesame paste, all complemented by a broth simmered from bones.

The preparation of condiments is also highly meticulous. The amount of oil determines the flavor of the chili oil, and the best seasoning comes from chili peppers cut with scissors. Fresh Sichuan peppercorns must be "roasted" in an iron pan to release their aroma. To maintain freshness, in addition to the traditional "three staples" of condiments, supplementary ingredients are also crucial. The order in which condiments are added and their proportions can create a myriad of flavors. As a result, different noodle shops offer a wide variety of tastes.

As times have changed, a bowl of spicy vegetarian noodles has also found its perfect companion, which Chongqing locals call "toppings." There are over 30 types of toppings, with the most popular being beef and pea and minced pork. For those looking to try something new, there are also options like the beauty-enriching pig trotter noodles, the rustic braised pork noodles, the nutritious and delicious chicken noodles, and the "three-in-one" combination of intestines, blood curd, and soft minced pork in the Changwang noodles.

Chongqing Noodles

Yu Xiaomian – Carrying the Memory of the City with Chongqing Noodles

It is often said that a Chongqing native's day begins with a bowl of xiaomian (small noodles). If the bubbling hotpot represents the character of Chongqing people, then xiaomian carries the roots of their identity, embodying the memories of the entire city. In the hearts of every Chongqing local who loves xiaomian, there lies an enduring sentiment for this humble dish.

Wonton

A dish that can be served as a main meal

After leaving Chongqing, whether it's the hotpot or the local dishes, there's always a sense that something is missing. What's actually lacking is a certain "aura"—the carefree boldness and the relaxed comfort. Gathering a few friends, sitting around a bubbling hotpot, rolling up your sleeves without a care, playing drinking games while cooking tripe—this is a scene you can only witness in Chongqing.

Chongqing locals never order a split pot when eating hotpot; mild spice is their final compromise. Traditional hotpot features a nine-grid layout, heavy with beef tallow, the broth brewed with old tea leaves, and no added spices. The dipping sauce is simply sesame oil and garlic. The local dishes are also champions of bold flavors, with robust seasonings that cure any lack of appetite and get you hooked with the first bite. For those who prefer lighter fare, if the former seems too greasy, you can also try the tofu rice in the old streets, another authentic Chongqing delicacy.

Tofu Pudding Series

Sichuan Cuisine & Jianghu Cuisine

Jiuguo Yitang Chongqing Home-style Cuisine – Reuniting with the Long-lost Taste of Chongqing Home Cooking

Jiuguo Yitang is a representative brand of Chongqing home-style cuisine, offering over 40 dishes (signature dish: pickled fish) that are all homely, flavorful, and perfect for a hearty meal. It provides customers with a more authentic and delicious dining experience. Here, every home-style dish embodies the warmth inherent in the hearts of Chongqing people; it’s a comforting solace for the soul after a long day of being away from home and busy with life.

Hot pot

Fresh Longjing Hot Pot Park – Savor the Authentic Chongqing Flavors with Spicy and Aromatic Delights

Xianlongjing Hot Pot Park is located in the Hot Pot Town of Nanshan, Chongqing. Established in 2002, it has grown from its initial six tables to a hot pot park that has now hosted over ten million distinguished guests. It pioneered the concept of large-scale outdoor landscape hot pot parks. The craftsmanship of Xianlongjing's hot pot base has been passed down through four generations and is listed in the intangible cultural heritage catalog!

20 years of authentic Chongqing flavor, our hot pot base is crafted with premium beef tallow, paired with Neihuang's new generation chili peppers, Maowen peppercorns, over a dozen health-benefiting Chinese herbs, and top-quality specialty spices. The broth boasts a bright red hue, delivering a spicy, numbing, and aromatic experience that is rich yet not greasy, hot yet not overwhelming. It remains clear even after prolonged cooking, offering a delicate texture, long-lasting fragrance, and a pure, robust flavor that leaves an unforgettable aftertaste! If you visit in the summer, don’t miss our special lotus-themed hot pot feast!

Snack-worthy delicacies

Snacks are the source of happiness for homebodies. For savory lovers, the top picks are the spicy and tangy sour and spicy rice noodles and cold jelly noodles, while sweet enthusiasts must try brown sugar glutinous rice cakes, fried fermented rice, and ice jelly. Of course, you can also head to the snack street to sample a wide variety of delicacies.

Ciji Grandma's Bridge Restaurant – Steaming, Boiling, Frying, and Braising the Unique Flavors of Boshan City

With over twenty years of history, the traditional Chongqing home-style cuisine restaurant, Waipoqiao, was rebranded as Ciji·Waipoqiao Flavor Collection in 2019, inviting renowned national designer Xie Ke to create its dining space.

The food selection includes Bao Buyuan (local desserts), Doushihua (Chongqing noodle shop), Cibaba (Chongqing pastry, also known as fried fermented glutinous rice), Kongfan, Huanhun Soup, Shaonao (intense barbecue), A Bowl of Spring and Autumn (bowl dishes), Zuojuchan (cold braised dishes), Steamed Pork with Rice Flour (steamed rib with rice flour, steamed pork intestine with rice flour, steamed meat with rice flour), and more. With the most authentic Bayu flavors and the most affordable prices, it has become a taste memory for a generation of Chongqing people.

If you want to try all these snacks in one go, head to the following snack streets!

Guanyinqiao Food Street

Recommendations: Dingjiapo Potatoes, Big Face Cat Preserved Vegetable with Braised Pork Pancake, Grandma's Grass Jelly
Address: 3rd Floor, Xing Tian Plaza, Jiangbei District, Chongqing
Transportation: Take Bus 163 and get off at Guanyinqiao East Ring Road Station

Shapingba Food Street

Recommendations: Miaodong Pork Ribs, Durian Lover, IM Tea, Baojiang Tofu, Secret Recipe Grilled Bullfrog, Lime Pork Chop, Sweet Noodles, Jingjing Lianggao, Taiyaki
Address: Next to Xinhua Bookstore, Sanxia Plaza, Shapingba District
Transportation: Take the Loop Line and get off at Shapingba Station, exit from Exit 5

Jiaochangkou Night Market

Recommendations: Ghost Crispy Pork, Golden Hoof of Fame, Roasted Crispy Pork Belly, Domineering Steak, Half-Immortal Tofu, True Flavor Hot Pot Cup
Address: Intersection of Bayi Road and Zhonghua Road, Yuzhong District
Transportation: Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Jiaochangkou Station, exit from Exit 9

Bayi Road Food Street

Recommendations: Chicken Soup Potstickers, Mountain City Small Glutinous Rice Balls, Fat Mom's Braised Delicacies
Address: Bayi Road, Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District
Transportation: Take Bus 135 and get off at Xiaoshizi Station

Foods that can be enjoyed as a midnight snack

Chongqing is not only a city of rivers and lakes, but also a "hardcore" hub for late-night barbecue feasts. Gnawing on large skewers of grilled meat, savoring big chunks of roasted sweet potato skins, and washing it all down with an ice-cold beer—it’s simply the best!

The barbecue dishes are all placed in the freezer, and you can take a plate to choose your own. Be sure to tell the boss not to cut the rice cakes, sweet potato skins, and tofu; eating them on skewers is more flavorful. It's also a habit of Chongqing people to add, "More scallions, more spicy, make the flavor stronger." The exploration of late-night snacks is not just a surrender of the taste buds, but also a dialogue between food and the night.