Understand what you're ordering in China.
Discover what Chinese dishes actually are — from ingredients and flavors to cooking methods and allergens.
Scan a Chinese MenuChinese cuisine includes thousands of dishes, with different ingredients, flavors, cooking methods, and regional traditions.
If you are traveling in China and cannot read Chinese menus, understanding the dish name is only the first step. Knowing what is inside — the ingredients, the flavors, the spice level — can help you make better choices and avoid surprises.
Foodknowing helps travelers understand Chinese dishes before they order. Know what this dish actually is before you order it.
Wonton
Wontons are Chinese dumplings made with thin wrappers folded around a savory filling of pork, shrimp, or vegetables. They can be served in soup, with noodles, or tossed in a sauce.
Kung Pao Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken is a classic Sichuan dish featuring tender chicken cubes stir-fried with dried chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, peanuts, and vegetables in a savory, slightly sweet sauce.
Mapo Tofu
Mapo Tofu is a famous Sichuan dish featuring silky tofu in a spicy, numbing sauce made with fermented black beans, chili oil, and Sichuan peppercorns.
Sweet and Sour Pork
Sweet and Sour Pork features crispy battered pork strips in a vibrant orange-red sauce balancing sweetness and tanginess, often with pineapple and vegetables.
Peking Duck
Peking Duck is China's most famous dish, featuring whole roasted duck with crispy skin, served with thin pancakes, scallions, and sweet bean sauce.
Braised Pork Belly
Braised Pork Belly is a classic Chinese dish featuring tender pork belly slow-cooked in a rich, savory-sweet sauce until it becomes melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Chinese Hot Pot
Chinese Hot Pot is a communal dining experience where diners cook raw ingredients in a simmering flavorful broth at the table, creating a social and interactive meal.
Fried Rice
Fried Rice is a versatile Chinese dish of stir-fried rice with vegetables, eggs, and often meat or seafood, seasoned with soy sauce and aromatics.
Chow Mein
Chow Mein features stir-fried noodles with vegetables and meat in a savory sauce, creating a crispy-bottomed noodle dish with tender toppings.
Spring Rolls
Spring Rolls are crispy cylindrical snacks made of thin pastry wrapper filled with vegetables or meat, deep-fried until golden and crunchy.
Wonton Soup
Wonton Soup features delicate pork-filled dumplings in a clear, aromatic chicken or pork broth, garnished with scallions and sometimes seaweed.
Dan Dan Noodles
Dan Dan Noodles are spicy Sichuan noodles topped with a sauce of chili oil, ground pork, preserved vegetables, and Sichuan peppercorns.
Twice-Cooked Pork
Twice-Cooked Pork is a classic Sichuan dish featuring pork belly that is first boiled, then sliced and stir-fried with leeks, chili bean paste, and garlic.
Sichuan Hot Pot
Sichuan Hot Pot features a fiery red broth with Sichuan peppercorns and chilies, cooking raw ingredients in a shared, social dining experience.
Tomato and Egg Stir-Fry
Tomato and Egg Stir-Fry is a beloved Chinese comfort dish of fluffy scrambled eggs and tender tomatoes in a sweet, savory sauce.
Char Siu
Char Siu is Cantonese roasted pork with a sweet, caramelized exterior and tender, flavorful interior, typically served with rice or in noodles.
Xiaolongbao
Xiaolongbao are delicate Shanghai soup dumplings with thin skins, filled with pork and a generous amount of savory jelly-like broth.
Biang Biang Noodles
Biang Biang Noodles are wide, belt-like noodles tossed in chili oil and spices, a iconic Shaanxi dish with a distinctive name that has no standard Chinese character.
Lanzhou Beef Noodles
Lanzhou Beef Noodles are a famous Muslim-Chinese noodle soup from Gansu province, featuring hand-pulled noodles in a clear, aromatic beef broth.
Cumin Lamb
Cumin Lamb is a stir-fried Xinjiang dish of tender lamb pieces with cumin, chili, and onions, creating a smoky, spicy, and aromatic experience.
Chinese menus can be confusing. Understand ingredients before you order.
Some dishes are much spicier than they look. Know what to expect.
Learn about common allergens in Chinese cuisine before you order.
Discover dishes you might never have heard of. Expand your culinary horizons.
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