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Chong Qing Lao Zao

4.4 (500 reviews)
PriceyHot Pot, Chinese
Closed 11:30 am - 3:30 AM (Next day)
Updated 3 months ago

Order Chong Qing Lao Zao Takeout or Delivery

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CHONG QING LAO ZAO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Chong Qing Lao Zao

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Hot pot
Kathie H.

This was SO good! I think it's the best hotpot I've had in New York. The price was pretty good given the quality and quantity of food we got. Everything was delicious and service was fast. I love the interior design as well.

Phuong O.

Triple flavor pot -Mushroom -Chicken Herb -Tomato Milky beef Sliced beef Shredded beef with cilantro Shrimp Dumpling Shrimp paste w bamboo fungus Orinar bolas de carne Crispy squid Homemade black tofu Fried tofu Tofu skin Corn Lotus root Fresh bamboo shoots Enoku mushrooms Shiitake mushrooms Oyster mushrooms Chinese cabbage Water spinach Watercress Pumpkin pie Milk mochi Dipping sauce Other than the amazing ambiance of this place, it was ok. This was too Chinese for me... The tomatoe broth was blah, smelt like there was metal in it even though we knew it was from the tomatoes. The family really didn't even enjoy it much.

hot pot
Sophia W.

So good omg! The quality of all the ingredients is amazing, and I loved both the spicy and the tomato broths. I also liked the mala quail egg and milk mochi sides. It feels like an elegant hot pot experience because the staff are so attentive - they give you aprons and even hair ties. There are a lot of tables inside, but it does not feel cramped.

Sheena T.

One of the best hot pot places that is definitely worth the hype. The holy trinity of hot pot in flushing in my opinion is Chong Qing Lao Zao, Hai Di Lao, and Dolar Shop. Chong Qing is a city known for its cyber punk city as well as spicy foods. Even mild spicy is really spicy in American standards. Spice from Asian countries - specifically Szechuan, Chong Qing, and Thailand truly are on another level. As in your tongue feeling as it licked a battery sensation and it goes numb... Mild spice here is still spicy, so tread carefully on the spice level should you choose one for the broth base... Anywho.... The overall ambiance and decor really makes me feel like I took a trip into a well decorated restaurant in China. Everything here was truly great and worth it. It's not a place you go for a bargain, but rather a place you go to for a tasty experience with great customer service. You get a cute apron, the place is super clean, and has a real authentic feel to it with the seating. The tai chi beef and milk beef are the two plates that many people order. I also enjoy getting slices of premium lamb to go with my personal concoction of sauce that make at the sauce bar (sesame paste, peanut butter, green onions, garlic, cilantro, Lau Gan Ma). The tai chi beef and the milk beef were super tender after just a quick minute plunge in the hot pot broth. I recommend doing a dual pot with two soups in the form of half and half if you can handle some spice. Otherwise, I am a fan if the Chinese herb soup base! Will return sometime soon and will go with our family for sure.

Michelle C.

The most memorable part of the experience was the tomato broth--it was incredibly flavorful and only got better as it simmered throughout the night. The selection of meats, vegetables, and sides was solid, even though it's not AYCE. Usually, I am more of a quantity over quality girlie because I am a big eater (I work out to eat). While that was a bit disappointing at first, it's understandable given the quality of the ingredients. The quality really made up for it! It was about ~$45 per person. They don't take reservations, and as many others have mentioned, the wait can be long--about 2-3 hours on a busy night. I'd highly recommend putting your name down in person an hour or two before you are actually hungry, then spending some time exploring Tangram or Skyview Mall while you wait. Despite the fierce competition in the hotpot scene, this place remains extremely popular. The ambiance reminded me of Laojie, and the quality was just as good--if not better--than Hai Di Lao (personal preference).

Alan T.

This is my favorite hot pot place in Flushing, but it's definitely a busy place. I've had to wait for as long as 3 hours during winter, though the good thing is that you can wander around Flushing during this time, as they will txt you when it's ready. There's really not much to dislike about the place, I like the food, ambiance, and service here! They specialize in Sichuan style hotpot, though that doesn't mean everything here is spicy, so I find a lot of good things to like about their menu!

Chris V.

This place is amazing, service is extremely attentive and value is great given the quality of the food. The flavors are well mala balanced and extremely tasty, I really enjoyed the non spicy tomato broth as well. The food is fresh and no off taste even with the offal cuts. I'm looking forward to coming back on future visits! +1 Vibe +1 Taste +1 Presentation +1 Service +1 Value

Qiongqiong M.

Our fav hotpot place. Came here as we wrap up our time in NYC. If you like spicy food, this is the place to be. Super flavorful broths and fresh ingredients. The sunflower seeds and the pickles are free and delicious. We love the environment and the service here. To avoid waiting, we always come here when they open! Even on Mondays, you may have to wait a bit. This will be something I will miss every much when I move out

hot pot spread
Winni Z.

Highly recommend. Would definitely go back. The food is fresh. There is a wide selection of food for at a reasonable price point. I like the a la carte style menu. One thing to note - we got the mild hot pot base and it was still pretty spicy. If you can't handle spice well, you should ask the staff to remove some of the hot peppers since the broth gets spicier as time goes. The interior decor is also fantastic, with even the tea cups and aprons matching the vibes of the restaurant. The staff is also attentive without being overbearing. All in all, would definitely come back!

Anna S.

I often hear people refer to this place as the best hotpot place in New York City. I don't disagree, I think this place excel at all categories; great and unique food selections, beautiful interior decorations, and fantastic services. The only downside is the potential long lines but that's because of the great reputation they have built. My party actually came before 11am to wait inline and put ourself on the waitlist. We could have been seated but I was running late and everyone needs to be here to be seated. They were nice enough to still offer to seat us at 11:30am if all parties arrive then. The interior makes you feel like you have teleported to China. The rustic rural ambiance really adds to the experience. They provide you a sack to store your jackets to avoid the food smell as well as aprons for the splatter. Their self service sauce bar has plenty of options. The waiter is so friendly and kept offering to refill our pickled cabbage and cucumber seed (complimentary sides). The pickled cabbage is addicting - but also spicy! We got the mushroom soup and the tomato soup base. We all liked the tomato soup base the best but it does taste a bit more on the sweeter side.

鸳鸯 锅 / Dual Flavor Pot
Annie B.

Food/drinks: yum! Super delicious traditional hot pot. Great for sharing and large parties. I loved their bamboo covered shrimp!! Atmosphere: very cool!!! It's a themed atmosphere, it's very cramped though even in the waiting area Service: fast! Their wait policy is very strict, you should come ~3 hours before you want to eat to put your name down. They will text you when they are ready Price: $$ normal not too crazy or cheap for NY

Charlene S.

Easily the best hot pot spot in NYC!! Chong Qing does not take reservations so you definitely need to plan ahead. We joined the waitlist and the table was ready around 2.5 hours after (so long but very worth it). The interior of the restaurant is really nice and very authentic Chinese. For broth, you can choose up to 3 different selections. We went with the Spicy Beef Tallow (mild), Mushroom, and Tomato broth. Honestly the mild was not very spicy and we even asked our waiter for more spice on the side. Definitely getting medium next time. The sauce bar is very impressive and clean! Always a plus. In terms of food, we ordered a lot of the usual hot pot faves including beef, tofu, fish roe balls, potato noodles, and milky beef. Everything was very fresh and high quality. Only things I probably wouldn't get next time would be the potato noodles and milky beef as they weren't that special. Our waiter was great and we really enjoyed his service. Totally understand why this restaurant has a huge following!

Faye Y.

Food first, thoughts after... A solid choice for hot pot. Good flavor and exceptional service. The decoration and bowls used were a nice old Chinese touch. Good quality ingredients and always has a line outside the door.

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Chong Qing Lao Zao Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Chong Qing Lao Zao

Can someone on a wheelchair be seated comfortably?

Yes, the first floor has few tables you can just sit on your wheel chair and enjoy your dinner.

Can they cook without using MSG?

Are there vegetarian options for the broth?

Yes, there's a mushroom broth and tomato broth option.

Is there Plexiglass to separate tables indoor?

No there isn't.

Is outdoor dining still available?

No, only indoor seating.

Is outdoor dining still available?

Yes! Please call ahead to get the estimated waiting time. Thank you for thinking of us =]

Can I make a reseravatuon?

No, they don't take reservations anymore

View All 15 Questions

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Cuisine: 6 Service: 7…read moreDecor: 4 Value: 7 I have not been here in a long time. Maybe because the prices are no longer considered cheap eats. Or maybe because my taste buds have evolved over the years. Or maybe it's just not as good as it used to be. The answer is maybe all three and somewhere in the middle. I have never came here, or any other Latino-Chinese restaurants in NYC, for service or decor, so let's set that aside. The value is still somewhat there, but the food did not hit that nostalgic note I was looking for. I wanted to get the Fried Pork Chops (Chuletas De Cerdo Frita), but our server suggested the "juicier" Broiled Pork Chops (Chuletas De Credo Asada) instead. Sorry to report, if that's juicy, then how dry is the fried pork chops? I shutter at the thought. It was also under seasoned. I substituted the House Fried Rice for my side at an $4.50 additional fee. It was just okay and not worth the upgrade. Boneless Crispy Fried Chicken (Chicharron De Pollo) was also a disappointment. The batter was more hard than crispy, but the idea that boneless dark meat isn't more juicy simply tells me that the chef over fried the pieces. It came with Fried sweet plantains, which could have been a but more ripe but not bad. I'm not sure how I feel about the Beef Stew (Carne Guisada), which had relatively tender meat, but the sauce was so weak and lacked any real flavor. The black beans and white rice that came with it was decent. What might bring me back to this restaurant sooner rather than later was the Shrimp Egg Foo Young (foo Young Con Camarones). I felt that the eggs were cooked extremely well, but the star of the show was that delicious brown sauce full of umami. Having this over white or fried rice made this meal much more acceptable. I'm not sure when I'll have another craving for this type of food. If I do, I'll definitely get the egg foo young again. However, the other dishes were misses for me, so maybe I'll try the Fried Pork Chops and Shredded Beef in Tomato SayceRopa Vieja.

Whether you speak Spanish or Cantonese, the waiters here can help get you whatever dish your heart…read moredesires. It's amazing to step into this restaurant, it's like stepping into another world where anything is possible. I feel like home whenever I come here. My favorable dishes are the combo dishes because I can choose fried rice or noodles or French fries with a meat usually, Yummylicious to the core!

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4.1(299 reviews)
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The menu here is split into two sections, classic American Chinese take out and Sichuan cooking…read more Seems to be a fairly popular take out spot, as they were fulfilling many delivery orders while I was there, but the interior is comfortable and elegantly decorated unlike a standard take out only spot. I ordered the cured pork with garlic shoots and dry fried green beans. The cured pork was quite salty, and paired well with the buttery, tender leeks it was cooked with. The dish was not overly oily, and was pleasant over white rice. I enjoyed the chewiness of the pork which allowed you to experience the complex flavor. The green beans were well fried, with characteristic texture signature to this dish. The seasoning was very well balanced and not overpowering to the natural sweetness of the green beans. I would recommend either dish. They were both slightly toned down iterations when compared to the times I've eaten these dishes at other Sichuan restaurants in flushing, but still well seasoned and well cooked. The service was very warm and friendly, and many other customers seemed to be returning regulars.

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Chong Qing Lao Zao - hotpot - Updated May 2026

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