🥢 Food & Dining Etiquette
What to eat, how to eat it, and the unwritten rules — so you dine like a pro in China.
The Eight Great Chinese Cuisines
Sichuan Cuisine (川菜)
Famously numbing-spicy (málà). Iconic dishes: Mapo Tofu, Water-Boiled Fish, Twice-Cooked Pork, Kung Pao Chicken.
Can't handle spice? Say 'Bù yào là' (no spice) or 'Wēi là' (mild). Even 'mild' can be intense — split-pot hot pot is the safest bet.
Cantonese Cuisine (粤菜)
China's most internationally known cuisine — light, fresh, delicate. Iconic dishes: White-Cut Chicken, Roast Goose, Har Gow (shrimp dumplings), Char Siu.
Guangzhou's morning tea (Yum Cha) is the perfect Cantonese experience. Har Gow, chicken feet, and rice noodle rolls are the essential trio. Tipping does not exist in China.
Shandong Cuisine (鲁菜)
Northern China's foundation — salty, rich, umami-forward. Iconic dishes: Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions, Sweet & Sour Pork, Nine-Turn Intestines.
Beijing roast duck actually traces its technique to Shandong cuisine. Dumplings (jiǎozi) are the quintessential northern home-cooked staple.
Jiangsu Cuisine (苏菜)
Huaiyang school — exquisite knife work, elegant flavors. Iconic dishes: Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish, Braised Tofu Threads, Crab Roe Lion's Head Meatballs.
Nanjing and Suzhou are the best cities for Jiangsu cuisine. Shengjianbao (pan-fried buns) and xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are must-try Suzhou-style dim sum.
Hunan Cuisine (湘菜)
Even spicier than Sichuan — pure, direct heat. Iconic dishes: Chopped Pepper Fish Head, Stir-Fried Pork with Chilies, Spicy Crayfish.
Changsha is Hunan cuisine's capital. If you're a spice challenger, Hunan cuisine is more direct and intense than Sichuan.
Fujian Cuisine (闽菜)
Seafood and soups take center stage. Iconic dishes: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Lychee Pork, Oyster Omelette.
Shaxian Delicacies — China's most ubiquitous budget food chain — originates from Fujian. Cheap, tasty, and found in every Chinese city.
Zhejiang Cuisine (浙菜)
Light, delicate, ingredient-driven. Iconic dishes: Dongpo Pork, West Lake Vinegar Fish, Longjing Shrimp.
Hangzhou is the center. Eating Dongpo Pork with Longjing tea at a lakeside restaurant is the most Hangzhou experience you can have.
Anhui Cuisine (徽菜)
Mountain ingredients, heavy oil and color. Iconic dishes: Stinky Mandarin Fish, Hairy Tofu, Li Hongzhang Hotchpotch.
Anhui flavors are bold and may be challenging for first-timers, but stinky mandarin fish (chòu guì yú) is a worthy classic if you're adventurous.
8 Dishes You Must Try in China
Beijing Roast Duck
BeijingCrispy skin, tender meat, served with sweet bean sauce and thin pancakes. Recommended: Quanjude, Siji Minfu, Dadong.
Xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings)
ShanghaiThin-skinned, juicy, bursting with broth. Proper technique: place in spoon, nibble a hole, blow to cool, sip the soup, dip in vinegar, eat. Try: Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant, Jiajia Tangbao.
Hot Pot
Chengdu / ChongqingThe ultimate social dining experience. Dip raw meat and vegetables into boiling broth, customize your dipping sauce. Chongqing-style is spicier, Chengdu-style more aromatic.
Lanzhou Beef Noodles
Nationwide / 全国各地Hand-pulled noodles in clear broth. Five elements: clear soup, white radish, red chili oil, green garlic sprouts, yellow noodles. The most authentic is in Lanzhou, Gansu, but any Lanzhou noodle shop nationwide is delicious.
Roujiamo (Chinese Burger)
Xi'an / 西安China's answer to the hamburger. Braised pork chopped and stuffed into a baked flatbread, intensely savory. Paired with cold noodles (liangpi) is the classic combo.
Char Siu (BBQ Pork)
Guangdong / Hong KongSweet-savory, honey-glazed roast pork with a caramelized exterior and tender inside. Best over rice or lo mein at a Hong Kong-style cha chaan teng.
Shengjianbao (Pan-Fried Buns)
Shanghai / 上海Crispy-bottomed, tender-topped pork buns. Same warning as xiaolongbao — the broth is scalding hot. Try: Yang's Fried Dumplings.
Guilin Rice Noodles
Guilin / 桂林Guilin's daily staple for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Rice noodles with braising sauce, fried soybeans, pickled beans, and crispy pork — best eaten dry-mixed.
Table Manners Quick Reference
| ✅ DO | ❌ DON'T |
|---|---|
| Use serving chopsticks or spoons when taking from shared dishes (many restaurants provide these) | Don't dig through shared dishes with your personal chopsticks |
| Let elders or hosts start eating first as a sign of respect | Never stick chopsticks upright in a rice bowl (resembles incense for the dead — bad luck) |
| Tap two fingers on the table when someone pours your tea — a Cantonese custom meaning 'thank you' | Don't point at people with chopsticks or drum on bowls (rude) |
| Order 1-2 more dishes than the number of people; taking leftovers home is normal | Don't order individual portions — Chinese meals are shared |
| When the host puts food on your plate, say thank you and try it | Don't be loud or rowdy (may be unwelcome in some restaurants) |
| Say 'Wǒ chī hǎo le' (I'm done eating) when you finish | Don't spit bones or shells directly on the table — use your plate |
Ordering Tips & Useful Phrases
📋 Ordering Tips
- • Point at photos on the menu — most Chinese restaurant menus have pictures
- • Use Dianping to find highly-rated nearby restaurants and check recommended dish rankings
- • Say 'Bù yào là' for no spice, 'Wēi là' for mild spice
- • 'Xǐshǒujiān zài nǎr?' — Where's the bathroom? 'Mǎi dān' — Check, please
- • Most restaurants support QR code ordering — scan the table QR, order on your phone
🍽️ Dietary Notes
- • Don't drink tap water — boiled water or bottled water only
- • Street stall hygiene varies — be cautious if you have a sensitive stomach
- • Chinese people habitually drink hot water (rè báikāi) — restaurants serve free hot water
- • If you have food allergies, prepare a Chinese-language note to show staff using a translation app
- • Halal restaurants (Huí zú cān tīng) are easy to find in major cities, especially Xi'an
- • Tipping culture does not exist in China — no need to tip