How should I order hotpot if I do not eat very spicy food?

At a glance

• A split pot is 鸳鸯锅, yuanyang guo. China Highlights' Chongqing guide describes half-spicy/half-non-spicy pots, including mushroom or tomato options. [1]
• The same travel-operator guide warns that Chongqing's mild option can still feel very hot to a first-time visitor. Choose the broth by ingredients and preference, not only the mild label. [1]
• Order three parts separately: the soup base, ingredients to cook and dipping sauce. Confirm the base and any per-person sauce charge before payment.
• For allergies, tell staff which ingredients must be avoided and check preparation; a split pot does not by itself answer a cross-contact question. [2]

What to do next

1. Before choosing the restaurant, ask whether it offers a genuinely non-spicy broth and the pot arrangement you want. For a mixed group, confirm a split pot; for someone who cannot eat chilli, choose a separate suitable pot if sharing would cause a problem.
2. Show 不要辣椒, no chilli, and point to the broth you want. Ask about its stock and seasoning when you avoid meat, seafood or another ingredient. A mushroom or tomato name describes flavour, so still ask what the base contains.
3. Start with a modest selection of ingredients and a staple you like. Ask staff to identify each plate, explain whether it is raw and show the cooking instructions for that item rather than assuming all pieces need the same time.
4. Keep utensils for raw ingredients separate from those used to eat. Ask for help with the first round and follow the restaurant's item-specific cooking guidance. Add more food after you understand the pot and the group's appetite.
5. Build a dipping sauce from ingredients you recognise. Ask which sauces contain sesame, peanuts, seafood or other relevant ingredients before mixing them, and avoid turning an otherwise suitable meal into an unclear sauce bowl.
6. Review the final bill for broth, ingredients, sauce, drinks and any additions. Keep the order small enough to finish comfortably; you can add another plate more easily than undo a large unused selection.

If your situation is different

Your friends want very spicy food: use a split pot if the restaurant can provide a suitable mild side for you. Keep serving utensils organised and ask for a separate pot when the restriction is more than a taste preference.

You are vegetarian or vegan: explain the stock, fat and sauce requirements as well as the plates. Confirm the broth first; vegetables cooked in an unsuitable base do not solve the dietary issue.

You have a serious allergy: use a venue able to explain ingredients and preparation, and follow your action plan. Ask about shared utensils and equipment rather than relying on the visible dividing wall in the pot.

You are eating alone: ask about an individual pot or smaller set and compare what is included. A large shared base and several full plates can be excessive for one person even when each item seems inexpensive.

Common mistakes

• Ordering mild and discovering it is still too hot: request a non-spicy base explicitly.
• Assuming tomato or mushroom means vegetarian: ask about the stock and cooking fat.
• Cooking every ingredient for the same short time: ask staff for item-specific instructions before starting.
• Forgetting separate broth and sauce charges: review all components when ordering rather than only plate prices.

Quick questions