At the table
Serve the chicken and broth in a bowl. Watch for bones and let the hot broth cool before sipping.
Contains chicken, often cut on the bone. Check any added herbs or seasonings if you have dietary restrictions.
The basic dish uses chicken, ginger, scallion and salt. Some versions add goji berries or other herbs; ask which version is being served.
Chicken pieces and broth make a shareable meal. Remove bones from a small portion and let it cool before serving.
Recipes vary. Ask the restaurant about ingredients and serving before you order.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
Some versions add herbs.
Typical ingredients
In some versions
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Chicken savor.
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Chicken pieces in broth.
- How it’s made
- Steam in the special pot.
Some versions add herbs.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Yunnan.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有汽锅鸡吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
Jianshui steam-pot chicken turns local pottery into a cooker
Jianshui steam-pot chicken is tied to the town’s unglazed purple pottery. The chicken cooks in a clay pot set over boiling water: steam rises through a central spout, then condenses inside as the meat cooks, forming a clear broth. The special vessel makes pottery part of the cooking method, not just the servingware. The local cooking technique is listed as a Yunnan provincial intangible cultural heritage project, linking a familiar chicken dish with Jianshui’s pottery craft.