Chongqing is a sprawling municipality in southwest China built on hills and cliffs at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. Often called a '3D city' for its stacked roads, sky bridges, and buildings that appear to grow directly out of cliffsides, Chongqing is famous for its spicy hotpot, dramatic river views, and a public transit network that runs through the middle of an apartment tower at Liziba Station. As one of China's four direct-administered municipalities, it functions as both a city and a province-level region covering a vast, mostly mountainous territory.
Chongqing's cuisine is defined by fire, chili and the Yangtze and Jialing rivers that meet beneath the city's cliffside skyline. Mala hotpot (huoguo), simmered in a beef-tallow broth loaded with dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns, originated with river dockworkers who cooked scrap cuts in a shared communal pot, and it remains the city's signature dish. Alongside hotpot, Chongqing xiaomian (small noodles tossed in chili oil, preserved vegetables and peanuts) is eaten at breakfast on nearly every street corner, while chuan chuan (skewers dipped in the same mala broth), grilled fish (kao yu), and dry-fried spicy chicken (laziji) round out a street-food culture built almost entirely around heat and numbing spice. Riverside terraces along Nanbin Road and the stacked levels of Hongyadong pair the same hotpot culture with sweeping night views of the two-river confluence, while Raffles City's upper floors at Chaotianmen offer a newer, higher-end dining scene overlooking the water. Prices below are given in Chinese yuan (CNY) with approximate US dollar equivalents at 1 USD = 7.1 CNY.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Chongqing.
Chongqing Hotpot (Mala Huoguo)
Beef-tallow broth loaded with dried chilies, Sichuan peppercorns and doubanjiang, simmered tableside with thinly sliced meats, tripe, duck intestine and vegetables
Where to try: Peijie Hotpot, Hongyadong terraces, Nanbin Road restaurants
Price: CNY 100-250 per person (approx USD 14-35)
Chongqing Xiaomian
Thin wheat noodles tossed in chili oil, Sichuan peppercorn, preserved mustard greens, peanuts and scallions, typically eaten for breakfast
Where to try: Neighborhood noodle shops in Minzu Alley and Jiuchikan, Yuzhong District
Price: CNY 8-18 per bowl (approx USD 1-2.50)
Chuan Chuan (Skewers in Mala Broth)
Skewered meats, tofu, mushrooms and vegetables cooked communally in the same mala broth as hotpot, then billed by the skewer
Where to try: Bayi Road Food Street, Jiefangbei snack alleys
Price: CNY 2-6 per skewer (approx USD 0.30-0.85)
Laziji (Dry-Fried Spicy Chicken)
Diced chicken deep-fried until crisp, then tossed with a mountain of dried red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns until the chicken must be hunted out from the pile
Where to try: Sichuan-Chongqing home-style restaurants across Yuzhong and Jiangbei districts
Price: CNY 45-80 per plate (approx USD 6-11)
Kao Yu (Grilled Fish in Chili Broth)
Whole grilled fish finished in a bubbling chili-and-herb broth at the table, often with added vegetables and tofu skin
Where to try: Riverside grilled-fish restaurants along Jiangbei and Nan'an districts
Price: CNY 90-180 per fish, shared (approx USD 13-25)
Suancai Yu (Pickled Cabbage Fish Soup)
Fresh fish fillets simmered in a sour-and-spicy broth with pickled mustard greens, a milder counterpoint to straight mala dishes
Where to try: Sichuan-style family restaurants throughout central Chongqing
Price: CNY 60-110 per pot (approx USD 8-15)
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Peijie Hotpot (Bayi Road)
Popular Chongqing hotpot - old-style mala beef tallow restaurant in Chongqing.
Known for: Chongqing old-style mala beef-tallow hotpot; known for duck intestine and a loyal late-night local crowd
No. 1 Bayi Road, Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
Liuyishou Hotpot (Jiefangbei)
Popular Chongqing hotpot - national chain restaurant in Chongqing.
Known for: Nationwide Chongqing hotpot chain headquartered in the city; known for a consistent beef-tallow base
Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street area, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
Shu Jiu Xiang Hotpot (Nanbin Road)
Popular Chongqing hotpot - milder broth style restaurant in Chongqing.
Known for: Popular chain hotpot known for a comparatively milder spice level than old-style Chongqing broths
No. 2 Nanbin Road, Nan'an District, Chongqing, China
Xiao Tian E Hotpot (Hongyadong)
Popular Chongqing hotpot - duck intestine specialist restaurant in Chongqing.
Known for: Duck intestine specialist hotpot with river views from Hongyadong's stacked terraces
11th Floor, No. 56 Cangbai Road, Hongyadong, Jiefangbei, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
Longmen No.9 Hotpot (Nanbin Road)
Popular Chongqing hotpot - outdoor terrace restaurant in Chongqing.
Known for: Outdoor terrace hotpot on the Yangtze riverside facing the Jiefangbei night skyline
Nanbin Road, Nan'an District, Chongqing, China
Zhoushixiong Hotpot (Jiefangbei)
Popular Chongqing hotpot restaurant in Chongqing.
Known for: Jiefangbei-area hotpot chain known for tender beef and house-made shrimp paste
Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street area, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
Dezhuang Hotpot (Sanxia Square, Shapingba)
Popular Chongqing hotpot - chain since 1999 restaurant in Chongqing.
Known for: Long-running Chongqing hotpot chain founded in 1999, popular near Chongqing University
Sanxia Square (Sanxiaguangchang), Shapingba District, Chongqing, China
Xiaolongkan Hotpot (Guanyinqiao)
Popular Chongqing hotpot - modern chain restaurant in Chongqing.
Known for: Nationally expanded Chongqing hotpot chain known for its distinctive butterfly-shaped beef tallow base
Guanyinqiao Commercial District, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, China
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Chongqing Hotpot
Chongqing Xiaomian
Chongqing Street Snack
Chinese
Chongqing Noodles
Contemporary International
Fusion
International Sky
Western Fine Dining
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Mahua (Fried Dough Twist)
Crisp, twisted fried dough sold by weight in sesame, five-spice and sweet osmanthus flavors
Find it at: Ciqikou Ancient Town main street
Hand-Torn Roast Rabbit
Whole rabbit roasted, dry-rubbed with mala spice and torn apart to order at street stalls
Find it at: Bayi Road Food Street, Jiefangbei
Hot and Sour Rice Noodles (Suanla Fen)
Sweet potato starch noodles in a tangy, spicy broth topped with peanuts and pickled vegetables
Find it at: Bayi Road Food Street and neighborhood breakfast stalls citywide
Shancheng Small Dumplings
Bite-sized boiled dumplings served in chili oil and vinegar, a Chongqing snack-street staple
Find it at: Bayi Road Food Street, Jiefangbei
Oolong Cotton Candy (Dragon-Whisker Candy)
Hand-pulled maltose floss demonstrated live by street vendors, a traditional sweet snack
Find it at: Ciqikou Ancient Town
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Bayi Road Food Street (Jiaochangkou Night Market)
One of southwest China's oldest snack streets, with more than 100 food and beverage stalls covering noodles, skewers, roast rabbit and hotpot
Hours: Daily, busiest 6PM-11PM
Ciqikou Ancient Town Snack Street
Riverside old-town street lined with mahua, blood curd, bean curd and candy vendors alongside porcelain shops
Hours: Daily 9AM-9PM
Guanyinqiao Commercial District
Pedestrianized shopping and dining district in Jiangbei with hotpot chains, skewer stalls and dessert shops
Hours: Daily, busiest 6PM-midnight
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Hotpot is normally eaten from evening into the early hours; many hotpot restaurants stay open past midnight
Ask for a yuanyang (split) pot with a mild broth on one side if the straight mala broth is too spicy
Xiaomian shops are primarily a breakfast and lunch institution and often close by early evening
A service charge is uncommon and tipping is not customary in Chongqing restaurants
- Vegetarian
- Moderate - tofu, potato, lotus root, mushroom and leafy greens are common hotpot add-ins, but broths are typically beef-tallow based unless a vegetable-oil broth is requested
- Halal
- Available - Chongqing has halal noodle and hotpot restaurants, particularly around areas with Hui Muslim communities; ask for qingzhen (halal) options
- Gluten free
- Limited - wheat noodles and soy-based sauces are pervasive; rice-based dishes and plain grilled meats are safer choices
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | CNY 15-40 per meal (approx USD 2-6) | Xiaomian, street-stall skewers and snack-street tastings |
| Mid-range | CNY 100-220 per meal (approx USD 14-31) | Sit-down hotpot or grilled-fish restaurants with a full spread of ingredients |
| Upscale | CNY 300-800 per meal (approx USD 42-113) | Skyline fine dining at Raffles City's upper-floor restaurants overlooking the river confluence |