At the table
Chopped chicken can still contain bones. Check each piece before biting and set the bones aside. To request less chilli, say “少辣” (“less spicy”); the peppers may still be hot.
Contains chicken, chicken stock and cooking wine. Small bones or fragments can remain. Ask about the stock and seasonings if you have allergies; do not assume the dish is alcohol-free.
This fresh-green-chilli version is noticeably spicy; actual heat varies with the peppers and the cook. The chicken-stock preparation leaves out oyster sauce and chicken-seasoning powder, but other preparations may use different seasonings.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
One preparation uses chicken broth and omits oyster sauce and chicken seasoning. Wrinkled green chilies can be used.
Typical ingredients
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Savory and spicy
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Tender meat.
- How it’s made
- Stir-fry chicken with aromatics, add vinegar, wine and chicken stock, simmer, then finish with peppers.
One preparation uses chicken broth and omits oyster sauce and chicken seasoning. Wrinkled green chilies can be used.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Shandong.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有枣庄辣子鸡吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
Fresh chillies and a shared Zaozhuang dish
This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.
In Zaozhuang, spicy chicken can travel in gift boxes for Lunar New Year family visits as well as come to the table as a shared dish. Its fresh wrinkled green chillies contribute a distinctive local aroma. Stir-frying, a short braise and a final toss keep this version moist and savoury.