Chongqing Little Swan Hot Pot 重慶小天鵝

One of the most well-known Chinese dishes out of Chongqing is the Chongqing Numbing Hot Pot.  We did a little bit of research and found out that a restaurant by the name of Little Swan is supposed to be quite well known.  We made our way there in the middle of the afternoon when it wasn’t too busy and ordered a double pot – one section for the spicy, numbling broth and the second section for a non-spicy broth.

I was quite surprised to find that the broth was actually from a package that looked like it had been sitting on the shelf for a long time.  The fat had made it jelly up and it took a while for it to dissolve into the hot water.  Thinking back to it now, I’m not sure if I was expecting the kitchen to have brought out a broth that that they’d been cooking for hours and hours, but I certainly didn’t expect it to come from a package.   

The meal was good, but left a bit to be desired for.  I don’t like spicy food very much, but my friend does and she also mentioned it wasn’t the best hot pot she’d ever had.  I definitely think it’s still worth trying since it’s such a popular dish, but now that I have, it might not be something I need to try again!  Perhaps the disappointment of the pre-packaged broth made me enjoy it less.
Chongqing Little Swan 重慶小天鵝
Various Locations Throughout China