Chinese cuisine is incredibly diverse. This guide helps foreigners navigate regional cuisines, ordering food, and dietary considerations.
8 Major Chinese Cuisines
| Cuisine | Region | Characteristics | Famous Dishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sichuan | Southwest | Spicy, numbing | Hot Pot, Mapo Tofu |
| Cantonese | Guangdong | Light, fresh | Dim Sum, Roast Duck |
| Shandong | North | Salty, seafood | Sweet & Sour Carp |
| Jiangsu | East | Sweet, delicate | Squirrel Fish |
| Zhejiang | East Coast | Fresh, fragrant | Dongpo Pork |
| Fujian | Southeast | Umami, soups | Buddha Jumps Over Wall |
| Hunan | Central | Spicy, aromatic | Chairman Mao’s Pork |
| Anhui | East | Herbal, wild | Stewed Turtle |
Street Food Must-Try
- Jianbing: Breakfast crepe with egg (¥5-10)
- Chuanr: Lamb skewers (¥2-5 each)
- Baozi: Steamed buns (¥2-8)
- Malatang: DIY spicy hot pot (¥20-40)
Ordering Food
- Use translation apps (Pleco, Google Translate)
- Look for picture menus
- Point at other tables’ dishes
- Learn key phrases: 这个 (this), 多少钱 (how much)
Dietary Considerations
- Vegetarian: Say 素食 (sùshí), but watch for meat stock
- Halal: Look for 清真 (qīngzhēn) restaurants
- Allergies: Carry allergy card in Chinese
- Spice level: 微辣 (mild), 中辣 (medium), 特辣 (extra spicy)
Payment & Tipping
WeChat Pay and Alipay accepted everywhere. Cash still works. Tipping not expected in regular restaurants. Service charge sometimes added in upscale places.