Chongqing : Indulging in Chongqing's Irresistible Street Food Delights

Chongqing is renowned for its diverse street food scene. The spiciness of chili oil and numbing heat will challenge your taste buds, but the cool street desserts offer a refreshing contrast.

Chongqing Street Food

Ciba, a representative Chinese snack, can be found abundantly in Chongqing. Many vendors can be seen pushing carts selling ciba cut into small pieces from metal barrels and coated with soybean flour. The aroma of the rice cakes and soybean flour is irresistible.

Ciba

In the streets of Chongqing, you will often come across individuals carrying two buckets on a shoulder pole. What snacks they offer is a matter of luck. Sometimes, it might be liangfen (cold noodles) or chilled shrimp, both made from rice and possessing a jelly-like texture. Drizzled with brown sugar syrup, they become even more delightful. Occasionally, the buckets might contain douhua, a soy-based dessert commonly served as a sweet treat in Guangdong province. In Chongqing, people add ingredients like chili oil, scallions, and cilantro to enhance its flavor. At times, you might find something surprising in the buckets, such as braised fatty intestines cooked with soybeans until tender and chewy.

Braised Fatty Intestines

Guoba yangyu, a crispy and delicious dish, is another must-try. Small potatoes are fried to a crisp, chopped, and mixed with cilantro, chili oil, cumin, and other seasonings. You can select your preferred toppings, but if you can't stand the taste of fish mint, be sure to inform the vendor in advance.

Guoba yangyu

The flavors of Chongqing can be found in every corner of its streets. If you see a noodle shop with many people sitting outside, some even placing their bowls on plastic stools to eat, don't hesitate to step in. It's guaranteed to be an affordable and delicious dining experience.