Food allergies and clear dining requests in Chongqing

A clear request makes a meal in Chongqing (重庆) easier to plan. Tell staff about your allergy or food preference before ordering, then check the ingredients and how the dish is prepared. These Chinese phrases help you explain no chilli, no coriander leaves, and specific food allergies while you choose noodles, hotpot or another meal.

Explain your meal before ordering

Choose a restaurant where you can speak with staff before the order goes to the kitchen. Show your written request, point to the dish, and ask the server to check with the cook. If they cannot confirm the ingredients and preparation, choose another dish or venue.

Make your need clear. A taste preference, a vegetarian or halal diet, an intolerance, and a food allergy need different explanations. Tell staff which applies to you. Lactose intolerance concerns lactose, the sugar in dairy. Milk allergy is a different condition. Say which one you have. Our vegetarian and vegan guide and halal guide has cards for those diets.

Make the flavour fit you

Use these phrases before the cook starts. Cilantro and coriander leaves name the same herb. If you dislike it, ask to leave it out.

Mild spice still includes chilli. Ask about chilli and Sichuan pepper separately if you want neither. A ready-made spicy sauce may already contain both, so ask for a dish the kitchen can prepare as requested. These flavour phrases do not explain a food allergy.

Name your allergy clearly

Use the sentence that matches your allergy, then explain the exact ingredient:

Use these ingredient names when you adapt your card:

Seafood is a broad word. If your allergy is to fish, shrimp, crab or another specific food, put that exact name on your card. A request to leave off peanuts or sesame needs the allergy sentence too, so staff understand why the whole recipe matters.

Save a complete written card

Write all your food allergies in the local language on a card. Save it on your phone as text or a clear photo so you can show it without internet access. Here is a peanut-allergy example:

我对花生过敏，少量也可能引起过敏反应。请确认所有食材和调料都不含花生，并用清洗干净的锅具和餐具单独制作。能做到吗？

Meaning: I am allergic to peanuts. Even a small amount may cause an allergic reaction. Please confirm that all ingredients and seasonings contain no peanuts. Prepare the meal separately. Use pots and tableware that have been washed clean. Can you do this?

Replace peanuts with your own exact allergens before saving the card. Show the card to the server and ask them to check the ingredients and cooking setup with the cook. The card states your request; their answer helps you choose the meal.

Check noodles, stock, oil and sauces

A noodle bowl might look simple, but it can contain several seasonings. It may contain soy sauce, lard, peanuts and sesame paste. Recipes vary, so check your actual bowl.

Ask about your allergens in the broth, cooking oil, sauce and garnish. Peanuts, sesame, soy, egg, milk, wheat, fish and shellfish are useful names to check against your own list. Ask staff to check ingredient lists on bottled seasonings too. Our street food guide helps you recognise dishes; choose a stall meal only when its ingredients and preparation can be confirmed.

Removing a food from the plate is insufficient, and normal kitchen heat does not remove its allergen risk. Ask about clean equipment and separate preparation before the meal is made.

Agree on the hotpot setup together

For Chongqing hotpot, discuss everyone's needs before choosing the broth and plates. The Traditional Chongqing hotpot uses beef-tallow seasoning. Ask staff about allergens in the stock, oil, dipping sauces and preparation tools.

A split pot or separate bowl does not establish separate preparation. Shared ladles, chopsticks and sauce spoons can move food between dishes. Ask the staff what they can prepare separately, and agree how your group will use the table. An individual meal may suit you better if staff can confirm its ingredients and preparation. Each diner should keep their own eating chopsticks, and use the serving tools agreed with staff.

Keep meals easy through the day

If you travel solo, save your card and choose your first meal near your hotel, where you have time to ask questions. In a group, explain whose meal has an allergy request before anyone places an order. Point out which plate is yours, and keep sauces separate as agreed with staff.

Our guide to eating like a local gives you more meal choices. Keep your prescribed allergy medicine and action plan with you, and let companions know where they are. Our travel safety guide has local emergency numbers.