To investigate the influencing factors and decision-making processes of dietary choices among community-dwelling hypertensive patients, and to provide a basis for guiding and improving their dietary behaviors, this study conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 16 purposively sampled hypertensive patients (with diverse demographic characteristics) and their caregivers/cohabitants. Following interpretative phenomenological analysis principles in qualitative research, Van Manen"s method was applied to describe and interpret patients" daily dietary experiences. Four core categories were identified: self-efficacy, family dynamics, social support, and socio-cultural-economic factors. Results showed that patients" cognition and preferences toward food properties, influenced by health literacy, physical/mental status, and social role changes, played the most direct and crucial role in dietary choices; professional guidance (community level) and intergenerational support/communication (family level) exerted external impacts. Finally, targeted dietary intervention suggestions were proposed based on the influencing mechanisms, providing a reference for community chronic disease management.