30 Popular Chinese Dishes to Order in China

Visiting China and not sure what popular Chinese food you need to order? These delicious and authentic dishes are must-haves when visiting!

When traveling in China, one of the best ways to experience the local culture is by sampling some of the country’s most popular dishes. From dumplings to chow mein, there are many delicious options to choose from.

You may be used to Chinese-American cuisine, but the dishes served in China are often quite different, and most of the time, even better!

Here are 30 of the most popular Chinese dishes to order in China!

1. Peking Roast Duck (Běijīng kǎoyā)

Peking roast duck is one of the most popular Chinese dishes to order in China originating from Beijing, and for good reason! This succulent duck dish is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, making it a real treat.

To try this delicious duck meat while in China, be sure to order it at a local restaurant. When you order, you might also find that it comes with other fixings such as julienned cucumbers and green onions with thin pancakes to eat them on.

2. Kung Pao Chicken (gōngbào jīdīng)

Kung Pao chicken is a spicy Chinese dish made with chicken, peanuts or cashew nuts, and chilies. They also add other vegetables such as onions and bell peppers to the dish.

It’s a very popular Chinese dish to order in China and can be found in most restaurants. If you’re a fan of spicy food, then this is the perfect dish for you! Just be sure to order it mild if you can’t handle too much heat.

3. Sweet and Sour Pork (tángcù lǐjǐ)

This dish is exactly what it sounds like – sweet and sour pork. It’s a popular dish in China that can be made with pork. The meat is cooked in vinegar and sugar sauce which then turns out sticky to the touch.

Usually, in China, there aren’t any added vegetables to this Chinese dish so you can eat all the meat you want! You’ll want to ask for some rice to eat with your sweet and sour pork!

4. Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs (tángcù paigu)

Just like the dish mentioned above, sweet and sour pork ribs are another popular Chinese dish to order in China and will most likely be found in restaurants rather than homes.

The preparation for tangcu paigu is very difficult as the dish needs to maintain high heat without burning the ribs, but also hot enough to create a delicious, crispy skin.

When you’re out in a highly-rated restaurant in China, see if this dish is offered on the menu!

5. Char Siu (chāshāo)

Char Siu is a popular Cantonese dish to order in China made with pork marinated in spices to create a sweet flavor.

The pork is then roasted or barbecued on a skewer until it is nice and tender. Char Siu can be served as a main dish or as an ingredient in other dishes like rice or stuffed inside a baozi.

6. Twice-Cooked Pork Slices (huíguōròu)

The dish known as twice-cooked pork slices, or hui guo rou, is a popular Chinese dish that is made with pork mixed into cabbage. The pork is first boiled and then stir-fried with vegetables, making it twice-cooked.

Hui guo rou is often served with chilies and Sichuan pepper and white rice on the side.

Rou jia mo is a popular Chinese snack that is made of beef and bread. It can be served with green onions and spices but is generally delicious with just the meat and bread.

Rou jia mo is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for satisfying hunger. When traveling in China, be on the lookout for rou jia mo being sold by street vendors.

8. Squirrel Fish (sōngshǔ yú)

Although very weirdly named, squirrel fish, or sōngshǔ yú, is a very delicious and popular Chinese dish to order in China! It is very difficult to make at home, so you’ll see most people ordering this dish in restaurants.

Squirrel fish is a whole fish that is filleted, fried, and then smothered in a red sweet and sour sauce all over–no actual squirrels are involved in the cooking!

Squirrel fish will often be found during special occasions like weddings or birthday celebrations.

9. Hot Pot (Huǒguō)

Hot pot is more of an experience than a special type of dish to order in China. You’ll usually want to go with a group of friends and order a pot to be set in the middle of the table. You can then choose your broth (we usually go half spicy and half non-spicy).

Then everyone can add their favorites into the pot which includes everything from beef, pork, chicken, or seafood to mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, or more vegetables.

When all of the food is cooked in the boiling pot of soup and spices, then you can take out your food and eat it with various dipping sauces.

Chinese hot pot is a fun dish to eat with friends and family, and is perfect for wintertime!

10. Lotus and Rib Soup

Lotus and rib soup is a popular Chinese dish to order in China that is made with lotus root and pork ribs. The lotus root is sliced into thin strips and then boiled in a broth until they are cooked through. The pork ribs are boiled in the broth until they are cooked through.

The dish is often served with rice or noodles and is flavored with salt, soy sauce, and Chinese Five-Spice powder. You can also add chili or Sichuan pepper to taste.

11. Wanton Soup (húndùn)

Hun dun, or wonton soup, is a very popular and delicious Chinese dish to order in China that is made with wontons and vegetables, usually bok choy. The wontons are made with pork, shrimp, and chives, and are boiled in a broth until they are cooked through.

You can add your own chilies and Sichuan pepper to the soup to taste. It can be found in most restaurants, but not usually as street food!

12. Dim Sum (diǎnxin)

Dim sum is a Cantonese dish originating from the city of Guangzhou consisting of small bite-sized portions of food served in steamer baskets or on small plates.

There are many different types of dim sum available, from dumplings and buns to cakes and pastries, so there’s sure to be something to everyone’s taste.

When in China, be sure to order some dim sum for breakfast or lunch with tea – you won’t regret it!

13. Dumplings (jiǎozi)

Dumplings, better referred to as jiaozi, are a popular Chinese dish to order in China and can be found at most restaurants and most definitely by vendors on the street. They’re made with dough and filled with meat, vegetables, and spices.

There are many different types of dumplings, but the most popular ones are pork and chive dumplings.

Jiaozi are usually boiled or steamed, and eaten with a dipping sauce. My personal favorite though is having them fried!

Small soup dumplings, or xiao long bao, are the opposite of wonton soup. Instead of the broth being outside the dumplings, they are prepared with congealed broth on the inside and steamed to melt and cook.

The inside is usually filled with meat, vegetables, and spices. You will usually find them steaming in several layers of bamboo or metal pans. The best ones are always with vendors on the street or in a local neighborhood!

Make sure to take caution when you take a bite as the soup inside may burn your tongue!

15. Steamed Buns (bāozi)

Baozi is another type of steamed bun that is popular to order in China. They are made with a thicker or breadier dough, making the bun turn out fluffy and soft. You can have baozi sweet or savory.

The sweet baozi are filled with either red bean paste or egg custard. My favorite though is to get 2 meat-filled baozi for breakfast for less than $1! You might find some with sweet pork or just pork with cabbage or onions.

You will usually find a store vendor that primarily sells baozi. They steam these bao buns in very large stacks of bamboo trays as this is a staple food in China.

16. Fried Rice (chǎofàn)

One of my favorite Chinese dishes to order in China is fried rice or chow fan. Fried rice is a dish that is made with cooked white rice, vegetables, and soy sauce-based sauce. It can be served as a main dish or as an appetizer.

Fried rice is also affordable and can be found at most restaurants in China. Usually, the street vendors who make chow mein will also have chow fan on hand!

17. Fried Noodles (chǎomiàn)

Even better than chow fan is fried noodles or chow mein. This is a popular Chinese dish to order in China that is made with noodles and vegetables. The noodles are stir-fried with vegetables and a soy sauce-based sauce.

The dish can be served either as a main dish or as an appetizer. It is usually quite affordable and can be found at most restaurants in China or found as street food.

If you purchase chow mein from a street vendor, you’ll see them fry it in front of you–some may even ask if you want an egg to go with it!

18. Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles (lanzhou là miàn)

Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles, or lanzhou la mian, are a popular Chinese dish to order in China that is made with wheat flour dough. The dough is stretched and pulled until it becomes thin strands of noodles.

The noodles are then boiled in a broth until they are cooked through. The dish is often served with green vegetables and beef slices. You can also add chili or Sichuan pepper to taste.

You can find lanzhou la mian at most restaurants in China, but it is especially popular with the Muslim community in China.

19. Fried Sauce Noodles (Zha Jiang miàn)

Zha jiang mian is a popular Chinese dish to order that is strongly tied to Beijing. Zha jiang mian is fried noodles and a sauce made of pork and a sweet bean sauce. The sauce is thick and flavorful, and pairs well with the crispy noodles.

You can find these noodles all over the street vendors or in most restaurants.

20. Biang Biang Miàn

Biang biang noodles are a specialty of Shaanxi Province and are known for their thick and chewy texture. The noodles are made from flour, water, and egg, and are served with a variety of toppings, including pork, beef, vegetables, and chilies.

Biang biang noodles are a hearty and filling dish and are perfect for a meal or snack. When traveling in China, be sure to try biang biang mian!

Fun fact: This noodle dish is also known as yóu pō chě miàn. The Chinese characters for biang biang mian are so complex, that they needed another name to make it easier to spell out!

21. Hot Dry Noodles (re gan miàn)

Hot dry noodles, or re gan mian, are found mostly in the Hubei province of China. The dish is made of wheat flour noodles that are boiled and then stir-fried with chili peppers, thus getting its name “hot.”

The noodles are served dry, or without soup, and are typically very spicy and have a very peanutty taste, making them very popular with Westerners. You can find this Chinese dish to order in most restaurants in southern China and also as street food.

22. Ma Po Tofu (Mápó dòufǔ)

Mapo tofu is a popular Chinese dish to order in China that is made with tofu and minced meat. The tofu is cooked in a spicy, oily sauce made with chilies and Sichuan pepper.

This is one dish that may make your mouth go numb from the spice levels! Although tofu is the only ingredient in the title, don’t mistake it for a vegetarian dish!

23. Home Style Tofu (Jia Chang dòufǔ)

Home Style tofu is my personal favorite of all the tofu Chinese dishes to order in China. I have never really enjoyed tofu before this dish!

The tofu is fried to a crisp then cooked with other vegetables like bell peppers and carrots, and topped with a light, non-spicy red sauce. You can find this dish in most restaurants, but each one will have a different take on it!

24. Stinky Tofu (Chou dòufǔ)

Stinky tofu is a controversial Chinese dish to order in China, made with fermented tofu. The tofu is then deep-fried and often served with chilies and Sichuan pepper.

The dish gets its name from the pungent smell that it emits. Many people either love or hate the smell of stinky tofu, and aren’t able to move past that to taste the dish.

Stinky tofu is definitely something that you should try if you are brave enough to move past the smell (I definitely wasn’t!).

25. Fried Eggs and Tomato (fànxǐe jīdàn)

This popular Chinese dish to order in China is known as fried eggs and tomato, or fanxie jidan.

The eggs are fried in a pan until they are cooked through, and then the tomatoes are added to the pan and cooked until they are soft. This dish is usually served with white rice or noodles.

Note: Although this dish sounds so simple, it is absolutely delicious and I still haven’t figured out how to make it taste the same at home!

Fried lotus is a Chinese dish to order in China made with lotus root. The lotus root is sliced into thin strips and then battered and fried. Sometimes you’ll find red peppers, Sichuan numbing peppers, and sugar added to the fried lotus.

This fried lotus can be compared to getting a side of fries with a meal. Fried lotus can be found in most restaurants in China.

Just a warning, when you first bit into lotus for the first time, you might be surprised to find that you have a feeling of eating hair. This is normal as lotus root has a stringy substance that pulls away once you bite into it!

27. 3 Treasures (di san xian)

Di san xian, literally translated as 3 treasures, is a popular vegetable Chinese dish to order in China made of eggplant, green peppers, and potatoes. The vegetables are fried and then cooked in a savory sauce. This dish is hearty and flavorful and is perfect for satisfying hunger.

You can find 3 treasures in most restaurants and they usually don’t stray very far from eggplant, green peppers, and potatoes.

28. Shredded Potatoes (Tu Dou Si)

Tu dousi is a popular Chinese dish to order in China that originated in the Sichuan province and is made of thinly shredded potatoes. The potatoes are stir-fried with similarly cut carrots and spring onions with added white vinegar.

This dish is simple but flavorful and filling. You can eat the shredded potatoes with other dishes or by themselves; sometimes having it cold is even better.

29. Chinese Cucumber Salad (Pai Huang Gua)

Pai huang gua is a popular Chinese dish to order in China made of smashed cucumbers. After smashing the cucumbers, it is then mixed with a variety of spices including vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil.

This dish is light and refreshing and is perfect for a summer meal as you eat the cucumbers cold.

30. Scallion Pancakes 

Chinese scallion pancakes are thin and crispy with scallions mixed into the dough. They are fried so the outside is crispy while the inside is soft and chewy – not very similar to the fluffy pancakes you may be picturing!

They can be served alongside another Chinese dish or you can purchase them as street food for a snack. There may even be some restaurants that will cook an egg and add a sweet sauce to this pancake and turn it into a delicious wrap.

General Tso’s Chicken

General Tso’s chicken is a popular Chinese dish that is made with breaded, fried chicken that is then tossed in a sweet and sour sauce. The dish is heavily battered and coated in sugar, making it a favorite among those who enjoy sweet and savory flavors.

While the dish is popular in America, it’s typically not found in China. It sounds pretty similar to the sweet and sour pork listed in this post, but the taste will be different.

Beef and Broccoli

Chinese cuisine doesn’t usually have broccoli as an ingredient, so you may not find this delicious dish in China. But broccoli beef is a popular Chinese dish to order in America.

This dish is made with strips of beef that are stir-fried with broccoli and a savory sauce. You may find beef and broccoli in an authentic Chinese restaurant in America though!

Chop Suey

Chop suey is a Chinese-American dish where vegetables and a variety of meats are stir-fried together. It is usually served over rice or noodles and can be very greasy and heavy.

While chop suey is popular in America and was an adaption from the Chinese people, it’s not a dish that is commonly found in China.

Crab Rangoon Wantons

Crab rangoon wontons are a type of dumpling that is popular in America, but not so much in China. These wontons are made with crab meat and cream cheese inside a wonton wrapper and are usually fried and dipped in a sweet and sour sauce.

As you are traveling around in China, just keep in mind that you won’t find this delicious dish on the menu!

Egg Rolls

Egg rolls are a popular appetizer in America, but they aren’t typically found in China. These rolls are made with an egg wrapper that is filled with a variety of ingredients including pork, shrimp, and vegetables. They are then deep-fried and served with a sweet and sour sauce.

You may find egg rolls in a tourist area, but if you are in a more local area, egg rolls may not be on the menu!

Spring Rolls

Spring rolls originated from southeast Asia, made with fresh ingredients such as cucumbers, carrots, and cilantro with a type of meat.

The spring roll wrapper is rice based so it’s not typically cooked but dipped in warm water to be more malleable.

Although spring rolls do have an Asian origin, you most likely will not find them on a Chinese restaurant menu.

Egg Drop Soup

Egg drop soup is made with beaten eggs that are slowly stirred into boiling hot broth. The eggs cook and form thin strands, resulting in a light and tasty soup.

This soup is usually garnished with chives, scallions, or chilies for added flavor. Although you may find egg drop soup in Chinese-American restaurants, you might have a hard time seeing it on the menus in China.

Fortune Cookies

Fortune cookies are a popular American dessert that is not typically found in China. These cookies are made with thin cookie dough that is wrapped around a piece of paper with a prediction or fortune inside.

While fortune cookies are tied to Chinese culture, they actually have closer ties to Japan and America.

When traveling in China, it’s important to note that the cost of food will vary depending on the area you are visiting. In general, food is relatively affordable and you can find many restaurants that offer a wide variety of dishes for under $10.

Street food is also a great option if you’re looking for cheap and tasty eats! You’ll find that street food is even less than the same dish you find in restaurants and tastes just as good!

Here are a few helpful Chinese food phrases to help you when you order a Chinese dish in an authentic Chinese restaurant:

• rou (row) – meat, usually meant for pork
• ji rou (gee row) – chicken
• ju rou (jew row) – pork
• niu rou (neo row) – beef
• mifan (mee-fun) – white rice
• mian (mee-an) – noodle(s)
• shu cai (shoe xhai) – vegetables
• shui (shway) – water
• re/bing (rur/bing) – hot/cold
• he shui (hur shway) – drink water
• chi mifan (cher mee-fun) – eat rice
• yao – I would like/I want
• duo shao qian? (dwuo shao chien) – how much is it?
• mai dan (my dun) – check please
• ji ge ren? (gee guh wren) – how many people?
• # ge ren – # of people

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Is it rude to finish your food in China?

When you are ordering food to eat in a Chinese restaurant, it’s not rude if you don’t finish your food. You’ll most likely be eating with a group of friends and you may finish your food altogether anyway.

However, if you are invited to visit a Chinese friend, it is more appropriate to leave a little bit of food on your dish to compliment the cook.

Do people tip in Chinese restaurants?

No, tipping is not a rule or expected in China. Do not leave a tip–just pay the amount the waitress quotes for you. There is also no sales tax, so what you see on the menu is what you will pay.

Are there mistakes to avoid when ordering food in China?

The best way to avoid mistakes when ordering food in China is to do your best to select a restaurant with pictures. This way, you’ll at least see what you are ordering since you won’t be able to read the menu.

When you eat with chopsticks, the biggest mistake to avoid is placing your chopsticks standing up in your bowl of rice–this is a big no no! Doing so is only reserved for the dead.

So there you have it, a list of 30 popular Chinese dishes to order while traveling in China!

Keep in mind that some of this delicious Chinese food may not be available in all areas, but hopefully this list will give you a better idea of what to expect when ordering traditional food in China.

Happy eating!

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