China
Chinese Food Guide for Travelers
Chinese cuisine encompasses eight major regional traditions, each as different as French from Mexican. Sichuan's fiery mapo tofu, Cantonese dim sum, Beijing's roast duck, and Shanghai's soup dumplings barely scratch the surface.
Eight Great Cuisines
Sichuan is fiery. Cantonese is refined. Shandong is seafood. Hunan is pure chilli. Fujian is light. Jiangsu is braised. Zhejiang is fresh. Anhui uses wild herbs.
Dim Sum Etiquette
Dim sum is brunch with small dishes and tea from rolling carts. Go early weekends. Har gow, siu mai, char siu bao, cheung fun are essentials.
Street Food Culture
Jianbing, roujiamo, chuan'r, stinky tofu, baozi, tanghulu. Night markets are the best places to graze.
Navigating Menus
Menus organised by cooking method and ingredient. Lucy translates Chinese characters instantly. Picture menus are common at tourist restaurants.
Must-Try Dishes
Peking Duck
$$$Lacquered roast duck carved tableside, wrapped in pancakes with scallions and hoisin.
Contains meat, gluten
Xiao Long Bao
$$Shanghai soup dumplings: thin wrappers encasing hot pork broth.
Contains gluten, meat
Dim Sum
$$Cantonese tradition of small steamed and fried dishes with tea.
Varies widely
Mapo Tofu
$Sichuan's silky tofu in fiery numbing chilli-bean sauce with minced pork.
Contains soy; may contain meat
Kung Pao Chicken
$Sichuan stir-fry with chicken, peanuts, dried chillies.
Contains meat, peanuts, soy
Hot Pot
$$Communal simmering broth where you cook raw ingredients at the table.
Varies by ingredients
Char Siu
$Cantonese BBQ pork: sweet, sticky, caramelised.
Contains meat, soy
Jianbing
$Chinese breakfast crepe with egg, crispy wonton, scallions, and sauces.
Contains gluten, eggs, soy
Menu Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Chao | Stir-fried | Cooking Methods |
| Zheng | Steamed | Cooking Methods |
| Kao | Roasted | Cooking Methods |
| Ji | Chicken | Proteins |
| Niu rou | Beef | Proteins |
| Zhu rou | Pork | Proteins |
| Hai xian | Seafood | Proteins |
| Doufu | Tofu | Proteins |
| Fan | Rice | Staples |
| Mian | Noodles | Staples |
| Mai dan | The bill | Dining |
Dietary Restriction Guide
Vegetarian
Buddhist vegetarian restaurants exist throughout China. Tofu, mushrooms, vegetables extensively used. Say 'wo chi su'. Watch for hidden meat stocks.
Vegan
Buddhist restaurants are the safest bet. Mapo tofu (without pork), stir-fried vegetables, rice. Many sauces contain animal stock. Say 'wo chi chun su'.
Gluten-Free
Rice dishes, stir-fried vegetables, steamed fish are gluten-free. Soy sauce contains wheat. Noodles and dumplings contain gluten.
Common Allergies
Soy, peanuts, and sesame are extremely common. Shellfish in many sauces. MSG is widely used. Communicate allergies in written Chinese.
Ordering Tips
- •Tap the table twice with bent fingers when someone pours tea for you.
- •Dishes are shared communally. Order one less dish than the number of people plus rice.
- •Chopsticks only. Never stick them upright in rice.
- •It's polite for the host to order. Order variety: cold dishes, hot dishes, vegetables, meat, soup.
- •Tipping is not customary in mainland China. In Hong Kong, 10% is standard.