Chongqing traditional catering industry has gained new vitality based on Jiefangbei Business Circle

A staff was greeting diners kindly at the door (photo provided by Waipoqiao Restaurant)

Recently, Waipoqiao Restaurant, located in Jiefangbei Business Circle of Yuzhong District, Chongqing, reopened after a year of suspension and renovation. The restaurant, which is based on Chongqing traditional home-cooked food, responded to the upgrade plan of the Jiefangbei Business Circle, and has optimized the brand to meet the changing consumer demand.

Du Bin is the founder of Waipoqiao Restaurant. Raised by his grandmother, Du Bin missed his grandmother’s home-cooked food when he grew up. Therefore, he opened Waipoqiao (i.e. bridge to grandma’s house) Restaurant, so that he can help retain the love and taste of local food in Chongqing people’s memories. In 1999, Waipoqiao Restaurant entered Jiefangbei Business Circle. Over the past 20 years, many diners have turned from children to parents, and they will bring their children to the restaurant.

Glutinous rice cake, a kind of signature snack in Waipoqiao Restaurant (photo provided by Waipoqiao Restaurant)

Many employees have been working in Waipoqiao Restaurant for over ten years. Zhou Yan, in charge of making glutinous rice cakes, was a little girl when she worked as an apprentice in the restaurant 20 years ago. To many diners, the food cooked by her has the childhood taste. There are many staffs of grandmother’s age in the restaurant. They serve all the customers kindly, as if they are loving grandmothers.

In recent years, Chongqing has been developing rapidly. In order to meet the needs of people, Jiefangbei Business Circle has been constantly upgrading. Old stores and restaurants like Waipoqiao have also joined the upgrade plan of Jiefangbei and gained new vitality.