Chongqing is reputed as a paradise of foodies. The city has all kinds of restaurants and food stalls where you can pick up a cheap and tasty meal for less than RMB10. Different from many other Chinese cuisines, Chongqing dishes are ideal for the solo diner - arriving in small individual sized portions!
Chongqing Hotpot
Chongqing is all about hotpot. The hotpot is a super-spicy boiling broth into which fresh raw ingredients are dipped until they are cooked through. In the restaurant you could choose the ingredients you like and add them to make your own broth. Local people love red soup broth which is full of mouth-numbing peppers and head-burning chilies. Chongqing hotpot ingredients include all types of vegetables and meat.
There are different spicy types for you to choose from: clear (no spicy), mild, medium and extra spicy broth. A two-sectioned port (called Yuanyang Guo) is recommended which has a clear broth separated from the spicy one. For most travelers, even mildly spicy will be very spicy.
Sliced Meat with Crispy Rice
Sliced meat with crispy rice is a favored local dish of Chongqing. The meat tastes soft and tender while the rice is crispy. When the dish is served, you can even hear the sizzling sound emerging from the rice.
Chongqing Noodles
You might want to try the common noodle dishes. Spicy flavored noodles might be better for your health because the spices kill bacteria. If you are eating at a cheaper restaurant, make sure the meal is served hot. Eat cold or room-temperature food only at the cleaner places.
Old Sichuan Beef Jerky
Beef Jerky is a kind of Sichuan snacks which was first produced in 1937. To make it, high quality fresh beef is mixed with sugar, salt, natural flavor, plant oil and so on. The Beef Jerky is nutritious and chewy, and tastes really good.
Pork Leg with Rock Candy
Pork leg cooked with rock candy is a most favored local dish for Chongqing people. The dish features red and bright in color, tender taste, and sweet flavor.
Yongchuan Bean Sauce
Yongchuan Bean Sauce is only produced at the Yongchan County of Chongqing. The sauce is stewed from beans, sticky rice, distilled spirit and other special ingredient. The sauce tastes really fragrant and it is a best ingredient to cook Chongqing Cuisine.