What’s the difference between Chengdu Hotpot and Chongqing Hotpot?
Talking about Hotpot, many Chinese outside Sichuan and Chongqing will think Hotpot is a symbol for Chongqing. It is true, that hotpot was originally from Chongqing, but Chengdu is the place where hotpot has been developed and famous.
So what is on earth the difference between Chengdu hotpot and Chongqing hotpot? I will uncover this veil for you.
Impression of Hotpot
Chengdu Hotpot:
Hotpot in Chengdu is quite gentle compared with the flavor of Chongqing hotpot. Not too greasy, not too spicy, eat and chat with your families or friends, while some other snacks will be served as well. We let the soup boil in the pot, never hurry, and help each other to take foods, which is just like a happy get-together with families or friends!
Chongqing Hotpot:
Chongqing hotpot is not spicy by the flavor, but also, looks spicy too. Because of the personality of people from Chongqing, they eat faster and also talk louder. Even the air in these restaurants will be full of the aroma of bull oil from the pot.
Sauces for Hotpot:
Chengdu Hotpot:
The flavor of Chengdu hotpot is gentle and smooth, instead of using bull oil as the base of the pot, people in Chengdu prefer rapeseed oil with fresh chili and Sichuan pepper inside it.
Chongqing Hotpot:
Chongqing hotpot has a very thick flavor, they use a lot of bull oil as the base of the pot, together with dry chili and Sichuan Pepper, which make the whole pot have a quite exciting spice in your mouth!
Dishes for Hotpot:
Chengdu Hotpot:
Chengdu hotpot can be a reflection of the local people’s life in Chengdu, exquisite and enjoyable, people can choose whatever kinds of foods they like to cook, such as non-traditional sea foods, thin steak and vegetables and so on, dishes are all put in delicate plates with nice placing. The price is higher than Chongqing Hotpot.
Chongqing Hotpot:
Chongqing hotpot restaurants still keep their original and traditional flavor, dishes as board muscle, beef tripe and duck intestine are must-ordered by Chongqing People.
Service for Hotpot:
Chengdu Hotpot:
Chengdu people like to enjoy life, so people from Chengdu also like to enjoy the service from hotpot restaurants. Generally there will be main dining hall and a lot of private rooms with beautiful waitresses with uniforms to serve for the customers, they will give you an antiseptic towel and cover your clothes and bags from the oil before you start to eat, and serve you some chewing gums after meal.
Chongqing Hotpot:
Chongqing people don’t really pay attention to the service in these hotpot restaurants correspondingly, the hotpot restaurants don’t spend much effort on service too, but this is mainly because of their personality, hot-temper, casual and straight-forward, so waitresses won’t come to serve customers voluntarily unless customers call them, which makes the meal more casual among people.
So these are some common difference between the two, now which one you would like to try?
