The single most important thing to understand about eating in China: there is no such thing as "Chinese food" as a unified cuisine. China is a continent-sized country with eight major culinary traditions, each as distinct from one another as French is from Thai. What you eat in Sichuan bears almost no resemblance to what's on the table in Canton.
This is great news for travellers — every city you visit is a completely different food experience. The challenging part is knowing what to look for, and how to navigate menus, ordering systems, and local customs that can feel opaque at first.
The Eight Cuisines (八大菜系): Sichuan (川), Cantonese (粤), Shandong (鲁), Jiangsu (苏), Zhejiang (浙), Fujian (闽), Hunan (湘), Anhui (徽). Most restaurants in China specialise in one regional style.
Street food is some of the best food in China — don't be afraid of it. Look for stalls with a queue of locals, high turnover, and a visible cooking process. These are almost always safe and delicious.
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The world-famous "mala" (麻辣 — numbing and spicy) flavour comes from a combination of dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns that create a unique tingling sensation on the tongue. Sichuan food is intensely flavoured, fragrant, and not for the spice-averse — though many dishes come in non-spicy versions if you ask.
Signature Dishes
Hot Pot 火锅 huǒguō
Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐 mápó dòufu
Dan Dan Noodles 担担面 dàndàn miàn
Kung Pao Chicken 宫保鸡丁 gōngbǎo jīdīng
Twice-Cooked Pork 回锅肉 huíguō ròu
Best cities: Chengdu, Chongqing
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Cantonese Cuisine
粤菜 · Yuè Cài
🌸 Mild🌿 Umami🍯 Lightly Sweet
The cuisine that gave the world dim sum. Cantonese cooking emphasises the natural flavour of ingredients — fresh seafood, steamed vegetables, lightly seasoned sauces. It's the most internationally recognisable Chinese cuisine, though the authentic version is far more refined than what most people have tried abroad. Dim sum brunch (饮茶, yum cha) is a cultural institution.
Signature Dishes
Dim Sum 点心 diǎnxīn
Char Siu Pork 叉烧 chāshāo
Steamed Fish 清蒸鱼 qīngzhēng yú
Roast Duck 烧鸭 shāoyā
Congee 粥 zhōu
Best cities: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong
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Beijing Cuisine
京菜 · Jīng Cài
🧂 Salty🫙 Rich🌿 Savoury
Beijing's cuisine reflects its history as an imperial capital — hearty, substantial, and built for cold northern winters. Wheat-based dishes (noodles, dumplings, steamed buns) dominate over rice. The city is also famous for its street food culture around Wangfujing and the hutongs, offering skewers, sesame flatbreads, and stinky tofu.
Signature Dishes
Peking Duck 北京烤鸭 Běijīng kǎoyā
Zhajiangmian 炸酱面 zhājiàng miàn
Dumplings 饺子 jiǎozi
Lamb Hot Pot 涮羊肉 shuàn yángròu
Jianbing 煎饼 jiānbing
Best cities: Beijing, Tianjin
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Shanghai & Jiangsu Cuisine
沪菜 · Hù Cài
🍯 Sweet🫙 Rich🌿 Umami
Shanghai cuisine is sweeter and oilier than most other Chinese styles — braised meats are lacquered with sugar and soy, and dumplings are filled with rich pork soup. The region's proximity to the Yangtze Delta means excellent freshwater seafood and hairy crabs in autumn. Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are perhaps Shanghai's most famous export.
Signature Dishes
Soup Dumplings 小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo
Red-Braised Pork 红烧肉 hóngshāo ròu
Pan-Fried Buns 生煎包 shēngjiān bāo
Hairy Crab 大闸蟹 dàzhá xiè
Scallion Noodles 葱油面 cōngyóu miàn
Best cities: Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou
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Hunan Cuisine
湘菜 · Xiāng Cài
🌶️ Very Spicy🍋 Sour🧂 Salty
Often said to be even spicier than Sichuan — but without the numbing Sichuan pepper. Hunan cooking is dry-spicy, sour, and intensely smoky. The cuisine uses a lot of cured and preserved ingredients, fresh chillies (not dried), and garlic. It's the food of Mao Zedong's homeland, and Chairman Mao's Red Braised Pork is now a national icon.
Signature Dishes
Mao's Red Pork 毛氏红烧肉 Máo shì hóngshāo ròu
Stir-fried Pork with Chilli 小炒肉 xiǎochǎo ròu
Steamed Fish Head 剁椒鱼头 duòjiāo yútóu
Rice Noodles 米粉 mǐfěn
Best cities: Changsha, Zhangjiajie
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Xinjiang Cuisine
新疆菜 · Xīnjiāng Cài
🫙 Hearty🌿 Cumin-forward🌸 Mild to Medium
Xinjiang cuisine reflects the region's Central Asian and Muslim Uyghur heritage — lamb is king, pork is absent, and the flavours lean towards cumin, caraway, and chilli. The food is hearty and meat-forward, with flatbreads (naan), hand-pulled noodles, and whole-roasted lamb. Xinjiang restaurants are found all over China and are a great option for travellers avoiding pork.
Signature Dishes
Big Plate Chicken 大盘鸡 dàpán jī
Hand-Pulled Noodles 拌面 bànmiàn / laghman
Lamb Skewers 羊肉串 yángròu chuàn
Polo (Pilaf Rice) 手抓饭 shǒuzhuā fàn
Naan Bread 馕 náng
Best cities: Ürümqi, Kashgar — and Xinjiang restaurants nationwide
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Yunnan Cuisine
滇菜 · Diān Cài
🍋 Sour🌸 Herbal🌿 Earthy
One of China's most underrated cuisines — fresh, herb-forward, and deeply influenced by neighbouring Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. Yunnan is famous for its wild mushrooms, cross-bridge noodles, and air-dried hams. The food is less oily than most Chinese cuisines and tends to be lighter and fresher, with bright citrus and herb notes.
Signature Dishes
Cross-Bridge Noodles 过桥米线 guòqiáo mǐxiàn
Steam Pot Chicken 汽锅鸡 qìguō jī
Fried Goat Cheese 煎乳饼 jiān rǔbǐng
Wild Mushroom Hot Pot 野生菌火锅 yěshēng jūn huǒguō
Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles 米线 mǐxiàn
Best cities: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang
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Must-Try Dishes
Things every visitor should eat at least once
Street Food
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Jianbing
煎饼 jiānbing
Crispy crepe with egg, hoisin, chilli paste, and a cracker inside. The ultimate Chinese street breakfast — found everywhere.
Nationwide · ¥5–12
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BBQ Skewers
烧烤 shāokǎo
Everything from lamb to squid to lotus root, grilled over charcoal with cumin and chilli. A nightly street food ritual.
Nationwide · ¥2–8 per skewer
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Roujiamo
肉夹馍 ròujiāmó
Often called the "Chinese burger" — braised pork stuffed into a flatbread. Xi'an's most famous export after the terracotta army.
Xi'an & nationwide · ¥8–15
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Tanghulu
糖葫芦 tánghúlu
Candied hawthorn berries on a stick — the quintessential Beijing street snack. Crunchy, sweet-sour shell, soft fruit inside.
Northern China · ¥5–10
Sit-Down Dishes
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Peking Duck
北京烤鸭 Běijīng kǎoyā
Lacquered roast duck served with thin pancakes, spring onion, and hoisin. A full Peking duck experience at Quanjude or Da Dong is a bucket-list meal.
Beijing · ¥200–400 for a full duck
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Xiaolongbao
小笼包 xiǎolóngbāo
Shanghai soup dumplings — bite-size parcels of pork with hot soup inside. The ritual: bite a small hole, sip the soup, then eat the whole thing.
Shanghai · ¥25–60 per basket
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Hot Pot
火锅 huǒguō
Simmering broth at the table, into which you dip raw meat, vegetables, tofu, and noodles. Social, interactive, and one of China's most beloved dining formats.
Nationwide · ¥80–200 per person
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Lanzhou Beef Noodles
兰州拉面 Lánzhōu lāmiàn
Hand-pulled noodles in a clear beef broth with chilli oil and sliced beef. One of China's most ubiquitous and beloved noodle dishes — found in every city.
Nationwide · ¥10–20
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Mapo Tofu
麻婆豆腐 mápó dòufu
Silken tofu in a fiery, numbing sauce of fermented black beans, chilli, and Sichuan peppercorns. One of China's most addictive dishes.
Sichuan & nationwide · ¥20–45
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Dim Sum
点心 diǎnxīn
The Cantonese brunch tradition — dozens of small dishes (dumplings, buns, rolls, puddings) served from carts or ordered on a checklist. Best experienced in Guangzhou.
Cantonese cities · ¥60–150 per person
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How to Order Food
QR menus, language barriers, and practical tips
Ordering food in China has been almost entirely digitised. Most restaurants no longer have physical menus — you scan a QR code on the table with WeChat or Alipay, browse the menu (often with photos), and order directly from your phone. The food comes to the table without you needing to interact with a server.
The QR Code Ordering System
1
Scan the QR code on your table
Open WeChat or Alipay, tap the scan icon, and point at the table's QR code. This opens the restaurant's ordering mini-program directly in the app.
2
Browse by photos
Most menus have photos for every dish. You don't need to read Chinese — tap what looks good. Prices are shown in yuan (¥).
3
Use the in-app translate function
Both WeChat and Alipay have built-in translation. In WeChat, press and hold on any Chinese text to translate it. In Alipay, the translate icon appears throughout the app.
4
Confirm and pay
After ordering, pay through the same app. The bill is settled digitally — no need to ask for the check.
Can't get the QR system to work? Just point at what you want on the menu or at another table, or hold up fingers to indicate quantity. Restaurant staff are accustomed to international visitors and will figure it out.
Useful Phrases for Restaurants
Situation
Chinese
Pinyin
Meaning
Getting a table
两个人 / 三个人
liǎng gè rén / sān gè rén
Table for 2 / 3
Ordering
这个，谢谢
zhège, xièxie
This one, please (point at menu)
No spice
不要辣
bù yào là
No chilli / not spicy
A little spicy
微辣
wēi là
Mild spice level
Bill please
买单
mǎi dān
Check / bill please
Delicious
很好吃
hěn hǎo chī
Very delicious
Water please
要水
yào shuǐ
Water please
Tap water is not safe to drink in China. Ask for bottled water (瓶装水 píngzhuāng shuǐ) or hot/warm water (热水 rèshuǐ), which restaurants almost always provide free. Ice in drinks at reputable restaurants is generally fine.
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Dietary Requirements
Vegetarian, halal, allergies, and other needs
China can be challenging for those with strict dietary restrictions — vegetarians in particular will find that many dishes listed as "vegetable" contain meat stock, lard, or small amounts of pork. Being explicit and knowing the right phrases helps enormously.
🥬 Vegetarian
Buddhist-style vegetarian restaurants (素食 sùshí) are the safest option — fully meat-free, often excellent. Found near temples in most major cities. In regular restaurants, be very specific.
我是素食者，不吃肉、鱼和海鲜
Wǒ shì sùshízhě, bù chī ròu, yú hé hǎixiān
I am vegetarian — no meat, fish, or seafood
🌱 Vegan
Veganism is rare in China but growing in cities. Stick to Buddhist vegetarian restaurants. Be aware that egg and dairy appear in many "vegetable" dishes even in regular restaurants.
不吃肉、鱼、蛋、奶制品
Bù chī ròu, yú, dàn, nǎizhìpǐn
No meat, fish, eggs, or dairy
☪️ Halal
Halal (清真 qīngzhēn) restaurants are widespread — especially Xinjiang and Lanzhou noodle restaurants, which are Muslim-run and pork-free. Look for the Arabic script or 清真 sign at the entrance.
我需要清真食物，不吃猪肉
Wǒ xūyào qīngzhēn shíwù, bù chī zhūròu
I need halal food — no pork
🚫 No Pork
Pork is the dominant meat in Chinese cooking. For pork-free options: Xinjiang restaurants, Lanzhou noodle shops, and seafood restaurants are all safe bets.
我不吃猪肉
Wǒ bù chī zhūròu
I don't eat pork
⚠️ Nut Allergy
Peanuts and sesame are very common in Chinese cooking and are often hidden in sauces. Be explicit and consider carrying an allergy card in Chinese.
我对花生/芝麻过敏，非常严重
Wǒ duì huāshēng/zhīma guòmǐn, fēicháng yánzhòng
I am severely allergic to peanuts/sesame
🌾 Gluten-Free
Gluten-free is a very unfamiliar concept in China. Soy sauce (含麦 hán mài) contains gluten. Rice-based dishes are generally safer — try rice noodle restaurants and Cantonese rice dishes.
我不能吃麸质，不能吃小麦
Wǒ bù néng chī fūzhì, bù néng chī xiǎomài
I cannot eat gluten or wheat
For severe allergies, consider printing an allergy card in Chinese before your trip. Several websites offer customisable cards in Chinese for common allergies — worth doing for anything life-threatening.
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Finding Food & Delivery
Apps for discovering restaurants and ordering in
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Dianping (大众点评)
China's Yelp — the definitive restaurant review platform. Has ratings, photos, menus, and user reviews for virtually every restaurant in China. Best used via the built-in mini-program in WeChat. Interface is Chinese, but photos and star ratings speak for themselves.
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Meituan (美团)
The dominant food delivery app. If you're staying in an apartment or want food delivered to your hotel, Meituan delivers from thousands of restaurants within 30 minutes. Requires Chinese or linked Alipay/WeChat account to use.
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Ele.me (饿了么)
Alibaba's food delivery platform — a close competitor to Meituan. Integrated directly into Alipay, making it slightly easier for foreigners who have set up Alipay with a foreign card.
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Amap / Gaode (高德)
The best navigation app also has a restaurant discovery feature. Search "restaurant" near your location in English and it will show nearby options with ratings. More foreigner-friendly than Dianping.
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SmartShanghai / TheBeijinger
English-language city guides with curated restaurant recommendations for expats and tourists. Excellent for finding international food, brunch spots, and English-friendly restaurants in Shanghai and Beijing.
VPN
⚠️ Google Maps / Yelp / TripAdvisor
Google Maps and Yelp require a VPN in China and their China data is often outdated or incomplete. TripAdvisor works without a VPN but has limited China coverage. Use Dianping and Amap for local restaurant discovery.
Practical tip: For most travellers, the easiest approach is to walk around a neighbourhood and look for restaurants with full tables and a visible kitchen. A queue outside at lunch or dinner time is a reliable quality signal in China.
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Dining Etiquette
Customs to know — and a few myths to ignore
Things You Should Know
🍽️ Sharing is the norm
Chinese meals are almost always communal — dishes are placed in the centre and everyone takes from them. Don't order one dish per person; order several to share.
🥂 Toasting is important
If drinking alcohol, wait for a toast before the first sip. The host usually initiates. You say 干杯 (gānbēi — "dry cup" / cheers) and drink together.
💳 The host pays
Fighting over the bill is common and expected — the person who invited usually insists on paying. Don't be surprised if someone snatches the bill from you; return the favour next time.
🍵 Pour for others first
Fill your neighbours' glasses or teacups before your own. It's a small gesture that signals consideration and is deeply ingrained in Chinese dining culture.
🥢 Chopstick rules
Don't stick chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice (resembles incense at a funeral), and don't pass food chopstick to chopstick (associated with funeral rites). Place them on the rest when not in use.
🍜 Slurping is fine
Slurping noodles is not considered rude in China. Neither is talking loudly or gesturing expressively at the table — Chinese dining is social and lively.
🚫 No tipping
Tipping is not customary in Chinese restaurants — it can actually cause confusion. Don't leave money on the table.
A Few Myths
You don't have to eat everything offered
It's perfectly fine to politely decline a dish you don't want. Nobody will be offended.
Forks and spoons are available
At virtually every restaurant that serves foreigners, just ask if you're struggling with chopsticks — nobody will judge you.
Not all Chinese food is spicy
Cantonese, Shanghainese, and Beijing cuisine are generally mild. If you're spice-sensitive, say "bù yào là" (不要辣) when ordering.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common food questions from foreign visitors
Yes — food safety standards in China have improved dramatically over the past decade, especially at restaurants frequented by locals. Street food with high turnover and a visible cooking process is generally very safe. Avoid pre-cooked food that has been sitting out for a long time, and don't drink tap water.
Almost every restaurant will have forks, spoons, and sometimes knives available — just ask. Nobody will be offended. Many restaurants in tourist areas proactively offer forks to foreign visitors. Soup spoons are always on the table. You'll be absolutely fine.
China is exceptional value for food at every level. Street food: ¥5–20 per item. A proper sit-down meal at a local restaurant: ¥30–80 per person. A mid-range restaurant with dishes: ¥80–200 per person. A high-end restaurant experience (Peking duck, fine dining): ¥300–800+ per person. International food (Western restaurants, Japanese, Korean) tends to be more expensive — ¥100–300 per person.
In major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu), yes — there are excellent Western restaurants, international chains, Japanese, Korean, and Southeast Asian restaurants. In smaller cities and rural areas, options become limited quickly. McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, and Pizza Hut are ubiquitous nationwide and can be a familiar fallback.
Some exotic meats exist in specific regional markets or adventurous restaurants, but the vast majority of Chinese food — even at street level — is completely familiar: chicken, pork, beef, lamb, fish, and tofu. You will not accidentally eat something unusual at a normal restaurant. If you're concerned, stick to dishes you can identify from the photos on the menu.
For popular restaurants and special experiences (Peking duck restaurants, famous hot pot chains like Haidilao, dim sum institutions in Guangzhou), booking ahead is strongly recommended — queues can be hours long. For everyday local restaurants, just walk in. Booking is done via Dianping or WeChat mini-programs; for foreign visitors, asking your hotel to call ahead is the easiest option.
Mild stomach issues are common for first-time visitors as your gut adjusts to new ingredients and bacteria — usually passes within 1–2 days. Stay hydrated with bottled water. For more serious reactions, especially allergic reactions, go directly to the nearest hospital emergency department (急诊室 jízhěn shì). International hospitals in major cities have English-speaking staff. See our Medical guide for recommended hospitals by city.