Chongqing Lao Zao — all mentions

in:Can we have an honest Szechuan conversation?216 pts
“Chong Qing Lao Zao is probably overall favorite, especially for hot pot.”
H2
in:your top 5 NYC restaurants12 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao for spicy hot pot”
H2
in:Must Eats in Queens12 pts
“- chongqing lao zao or haidilao for hot pot”
H2
in:Haven't been back in almost 15 years, what are the best eats in Queens right now?6 pts
“Chong Qing Lao Zao for the best hot pot”
H2
in:Premium / Upscale Hotpot4 pts
“CQLZ is max level authentic and incredible all around.”
H2
in:Best hot pot in NYC3 pts
replying to u/jaded-are: has anyone tried Chongqing Lao Zao in Flushing?
“I thought it was realllllly heavy on spices / oil / flavoring but ingredients quality was poor.”
H2
in:Creating a list of classic Queens spots, any recommendations?3 pts
replying to u/Nef_Fets: Here's some spots I consider classic. I think all are 10 plus years. Manducatis, Astoria Seafood, Donovans, Jackson Hole, La Flor, Taverna Kyclades, Neirs Tavern, Parkside, SriPraphai, Ayada, Arepa Lady, Rolo's, UFC, Tito Rads, Jackson Diner
“I would add Chongqing Lao Zao for hot pot in flushing.”
H2
in:Best HotPot in NYC 2025 - High Quality FRESH(!) ingredients3 pts
replying to u/Upstairs-Shoe2153: Chongqing Lao Zao and Shoo Loong Kan in Flushing
“Seconding this. Chongqing Lao Zao feels more “special” with their atmosphere”
H2
in:Best restaurants/spots that serve hot/spicy dishes?3 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao for hot pot.”
H2
in:Premium / Upscale Hotpot2 pts
replying to u/ImDaChineze: Generally speaking I like Chong Qing Lao Zao or Hai Di Lao more than I like Dolar Shop. CQLZ is max level authentic and incredible all around. Any fancy place will likely be maximum level overpriced and sacrifice a lot of flavor for the sake of having dumb menu items.
“Another vote for HaiDiLao and CQLZ! Great flavors and service.”
H2
in:"must try" chinese spots in nyc?2 pts
“Szechuan Mountain House, Jiang Nan (Shanghainese) and Chongqing Lao Zao for hot pot in Flushing.”
H2
in:What’s the spiciest god damn dish in NYC? Make me regret asking this.2 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao in flushing! There are three levels for their spicy hot pot broth, mild, medium and hot. I have a high spice tolerance, but even their medium level was crazy spicy.”
H2
in:What’s the spiciest god damn dish in NYC? Make me regret asking this.2 pts
replying to u/Confident_Blood_7912: Chongqing Lao Zao in flushing! There are three levels for their spicy hot pot broth, mild, medium and hot. I have a high spice tolerance, but even their medium level was crazy spicy.
“Seconding Chongqing Lao Zao's spicy broth. I am a spice fanatic but I had to take PTO the next day to run back and forth to the toilet.”
H2
in:I have the day off where should I go eat?2 pts
“Chongqing Lao zao for the best hot pot of your life”
H2
in:I saw a short this morning of a authentic hot pot and the interior was trying to recreate something from the 1860’s2 pts
replying to u/Separate_Addition387: You’re the best!! That’s the one!!! Thank you. Going to NY in Jan and I’m making a list…
“Best hot pot in the city! (that I know of at least)”
H2
in:Visiting NYC soon1 pts
replying to u/RNova2010: Queens has everything you could possibly want In Flushing I *strongly* suggest *Henan Feng Wei* for hand pulled noodles with lamb. Flushing is not a Chinatown but a Chinese city and hard not to find quality food. In Jackson Heights, my top choice is *Playground* which is a Thai restaurant and possibly the best Thai in NYC. I cannot say enough good things about it. In nearby Elmhurst, which is the center of the Thai community, you can also check out *Khao Nom*, *Khao Kang* and *Hug Esan.* *Sumatera* also has very tasty Indonesian food. If you’re in Elmhurst, you may as well check out the local Thai Buddhist temple which has an emerald Buddha gifted to it by the late King of Thailand. Back to Jackson Heights, try out *Mariscos El Submarino* for Mexican seafood and *Phayul* for Tibetan cuisine. In Rego Park, the best Georgian restaurant in NYC is *Marani* (it is kosher though which makes it more expensive and is closed Friday night - Saturday) and there’s a large Bukharian/Uzbek Jewish community - try out *Chaikhana Sem Sorok.*
“Hot pot: Haidilou or Chongqing Lao Zao”
H2
in:Ny in two weeks. Finalizing my restaurant list1 pts
“chongqing Lao zao for the best hot pot of your entire life”
H2
in:Heavy Foods1 pts
“Hotpot - Chongqing Lao Zao”
H2
in:Help me top last night's dinner pick: unqiue and awesome setting with great food in Queens1 pts
“For great food and feeling like you’re transported vibe, Chongqing Lao Zao”
H2
in:Anyone know any places that have extremely spicy food43 pts
“Off the top of my head it would be Somtum Der, Ugly Baby, spicy hot wings at Mudville9, chicken sandwich at Rowdy Rooster (ask for spiciest heat level), and Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Spiciest food in NYC?42 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Every Sunday is Soup Sunday. I'm running out of soups. Where are the best soups?41 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Three weeks off between jobs - what NYC restaurants are only doable on weekdays?33 pts
“I’d take the opportunity to go to Banh Anh Em and Chongqing Lao Zao - no reservations, so requires strategic queueing”
H1
in:Best Individual Hotpot spots in NYC17 pts
“The only answer is in Flushing at Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Best hot pot in NYC16 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao is the correct answer”
H1
in:Spiciest food in NYC/NJ Area? 15 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Best HotPot in NYC 2025 - High Quality FRESH(!) ingredients14 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao and Shoo Loong Kan in Flushing”
H1
in:recs for non-Americanized Chinese food ?13 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Where can I get good hot pot in Manhattan?13 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Best no frills Szechuan?12 pts
“No frills places include - Fish With You - Sichuan Mountain House - uluh - Chuan Tian Xia - Little Pepper - Alley 41 - Chongqing Lao Zao - Hupo - Grand Sichuan - Wu La Bu Huan - New World Mall (Laoma Mala Tang) - Chow House”
H1
in:What's your favorite spot for a snow day in NYC?12 pts
“Haidilao and Chongqing Lao Zao are good choices too”
H1
in:Which Restaurant(s) Makes Your Favorite Spicy Food?12 pts
“Some favs: - Hug Esan - Playground - Chuan Tian Xia - Zaab Zaab - Xu Chu - Young and Rich - Spicy Lanka - Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:NYC Sichuan Food List11 pts
“If you haven’t already, would also recommend:”
H1
in:Best Spiciest food in New York?6 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:good lunch spot to go on a weekday by myself5 pts
H1
in:Can we have an honest Szechuan conversation?5 pts
“Other pretty authentic and good places that lean more modern/trendy are Mountain House, Lunar, Nai Bros/Tai Er, and Chong Qing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Affordable Must-Try Spots Around Long-Island City?5 pts
H1
in:Looking for a restaurant with an ambiance that transports you4 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao in Flushing comes to mind for me.”
H1
in:Where can I get good hot pot in Manhattan?4 pts
replying to u/ScorpiusDX: Lao Jie Hou Yi Da Long Yi Hometown Hotpot & BBQ Chongqing Lao Zao
“All of these + Dolar Shop + Hai Di Lao.”
H1
in:Best Individual Hotpot spots in NYC4 pts
“I used to be all aboard the Chongqing lao zao hype train until I gave Beijing hotpot a try. I found it much better IMO”
H1
in:Super spicy food thread for 2026 after the closure of some OG spots4 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Places to take kids that are young but cultured please4 pts
“Hotpot: Spring Shabu Shabu, Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:Looking for a restaurant with an ambiance that transports you3 pts
“I'll 2nd all of the things listed so far (Vatan, Hangawi and Chongqing Lao Zao).”
H1
in:Flushing…. Spice!3 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao”
H1
in:your top 5 NYC restaurants2 pts
“Chongqing Lao Zao and Mala Project are competitive with the top places in Beijing and Shanghai lol”
H1
in:Most adventurous food spots in Manhattan for a special occasion2 pts
“they’re too gamey for my liking but you should give them a try.”
H1
in:Hotpots in Manhattan2 pts
“in order my favorites are 1) Spring Shabu Shabu (AYCE), 2) Chongqing Lao Zao (for the vibes)”
H1
in:Spiciest food in NYC/NJ Area? 2 pts
replying to u/justflipping: - Ugly Baby - Mala Project - Yupdduk - Somtum Der - Chongqing Lao Zao - Rowdy Rooster (there are reports that the spiciest is off menu and you have to specifically request it) - Zaab Zaab - Sigiri - Sichuan Mountain House More recs: [Anyone know any places that have extremely spicy food](https://www.reddit.com/r/FoodNYC/comments/16otlf2/anyone_know_any_places_that_have_extremely_spicy/)
“Seconding Chongqing Lao Zao as one of the spiciest meals I’ve ever had in my life”
H1
in:Best pre-US Open food options in Queens2 pts
replying to u/superturtle48: Flushing is just a subway stop or 30-minute walk away and probably has the best Chinese food scene on the entire East Coast. Check out New World Mall for a huge food court, Shanghai You Garden for soup dumplings and duck, or one of the several hot pot places.
“Mountain House, White Bear, Asian Jewels, Chongqing Lao Zao too.”
H1
in:Hotpot recommendations with no time limit in Manhattan or flushing 2 pts
“It was delicious.”
H1