Remember when I talked about Ciqikou Ancient Town? Towards the end of my write-up, I teased that I had plans of trying out a hotpot meal from a restaurant in that area. Now if you’ve been waiting for my writeup of that meal then today’s your lucky day. The hotpot restaurant that I decided to try out was called Zhoushixiong and I had undoubtedly one of the most unique meals of my life.
The Zhoushixiong Hot Pot at Chongqing: One of the Most Unique Meals I Ever Had
So this is the facade of the restaurant. It’s still inside Ciqikou which made it really convenient as I didn’t have to go far when I was there. Once I got inside, it was surprisingly easy to get a table. If I remember correctly, it didn’t take more than a couple of minutes before we got seated. Getting our order ready was a different matter though as it did take a little time to get our hotpot ready.
When I finally did get my order all the tiredness from walking around Ciqikou Ancient Town kind of evaporated and all that was left was this primal need to get started with the meal. Now don’t get it wrong, I didn’t end up eating all of this by myself. I did have a companion with me for this meal which I don’t think I would’ve been able to finish alone.
So the star of the show here (other than the hotpot soup of course) is without a doubt these very thin slices of beef. Now, I wasn’t sure if this was wagyu but I will say that it was quite tasty. The marbling was a little inconsistent with some slices having plenty while others were on the leaner side.
Aside from the previous image, there were also other parts that were included with my order. This one had the perfect distribution of fat and meat which I actually think slightly beats out the beef earlier. Now it wasn’t as tasty but the texture of the fat as you chew on it after dipping it in either the plain or spicy hotpot soup is something else. It’s richer though it could end up being a little too overpowering.
free chongqing itinerary
Visiting Chongqing?
Get my original 4–5 day, 13-page Chongqing itinerary in PDF format, based on my real trip, with many photos, hotel, and food tips. Enter your email to receive it free.
We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
Thankfully, vegetables such as these heads of cabbage were available to cut through the richness of the fat and meat. You’re probably thinking you don’t need the vegetables but believe me, they’re going to make everything else better. The crunchy texture (don’t dip them for too long) and neutral flavor profile provides a lot of contrast to the otherwise rich and flavorful meat and soup.
Now you might be wondering what this is. It’s actually tofu skin and it’s pretty much a recommended ingredient for Chongqing hotpot. Much like the cabbage, it gives some much needed texture and it also imparts a little flavor to the meal. I consider these as really wide noodles though they’re much better and healthier in my opinion.
Chongqing Hotel Recommendations Based on My Own Stay
🔹 Ascott Raffles City Chongqing
🔹 Westin Chongqing Liberation Square
Top Activities in Chongqing
Wulong Tiansheng Three Bridges
Banquet in Ba Kingdom Royal Feast
The next vegetable that was served to us was this sliced potato. Very similar to the bean curd, you can just dunk these in your hotpot soup of choice and wait until they absorb the flavors before eating them. Potatoes are a relatively popular ingredient in Chongqing hotpot though I admittedly didn’t get that many of them for this meal.
Here’s an ingredient that I initially didn’t know anything about when I first saw it. It looked slimy and the handle of its container reminded me of a platypus’ beak for some reason. When I did end up tasting it though, I realized it was just prawn/shrimp paste and it was actually quite delicious.
If there was an ingredient that I really had a hard time wrapping my head around it was this one. It looked super sketchy and while it didn’t smell, the “sliminess” could be off-putting for some. Thankfully, I didn’t let my initial impressions get the best of me and when I tried these duck intestines I actually ended up liking them. The slightly rubbery and chewy texture was kind of refreshing and they were also able to impart a distinct flavor to the hotpot soup.
Here’s another set of greens and a bowl of dipping sauce that’s already been mixed. These weren’t anything to write home about by themselves but they still gave a little depth of flavor and nutritional value to the meal.
This was low-key, a meal that has become a core memory. No wonder people enjoy Chongqing hotpot so much. It’s got lots of flavors and textures that I think you’d be hard pressed to find in other cuisines. The spiciness and the unique ingredients could be an issue if you’re not used to them. That said, you’re in Chongqing. A stay here really won’t be complete if you’re not trying out its culinary offerings (I also recommend you try Dim Dou Duk and the stalls at Bayi Food Street and Guanyin Bridge when you visit this city).
I wouldn’t say that the hotpot meal I had at Zhoushixiong was the best that I’ve ever had (definitely better than Erchang Lao Hougou in Testbed 2). That said, it still was delicious and unique. I ended up having a better appreciation of this simple yet complex meal that people in Chongqing and Sichuan can’t seem to live without. If you do find yourself in Ciqikou Ancient Town then maybe check out this hotpot place. If you’ve already been here then you might want to hit the comments section to share your experiences with us!
