\t\tA lot of that stuff is only available in ritzy restaurants, and we’re often more than happy to eat in little hole-in-the-wall places<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n \tThat means it’s possible to have the phrase book and actually not be able to order anything. This article is supposed to solve that problem.<\/p>\n
\tFurthermore, most foreigners I know in China have found those few things they like to eat and just keep ordering them over and over. Nothing wrong with that. Who wants to memorize a huge list of dishes when we can learn just a few and be happy every time?<\/p>\n
\tSo, by observing what I and other foreigners like to order, I’ve put together a little list of sure-fire winners that should be not only available most places in China but also nutritious (y\u01d2u yíngy\u01ceng \u6709\u8425\u517b<\/span>) and tasty (h\u01ceoch\u012b \u597d\u5403<\/span>).<\/p>\n \tThe Chinese generally seem to divide foods into four main categories:<\/p>\n
\n- \t\tfàn \u996d<\/span> = rice<\/li>\n
- \t\tmiàn(tiáo) \u9762(\u6761)<\/span> = noodles<\/li>\n
- \t\tt\u0101ng \u6c64<\/span> = soup<\/li>\n
- \t\tcài \u83dc<\/span> = everything else (vegetables, meats, dishes that don’t involve rice or noodles and are not liquid-based)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\tWe’ll take the categories one by one. Why go category by category? If you ever go out to eat with a Chinese person, they will ask, “What do you want to eat? Rice? Noodles…?” much like in the West we say, “Mexican? Thai? Chinese…?” so you have to know the different classes of food.<\/p>\n
\tThis is not meant to be a comprehensive list, but rather just the “all stars” for foreigners’ palettes.<\/p>\n
\tfàn \u996d<\/span> = rice-based dishes<\/h2>\n\n- \t\tm\u01d0fàn \u7c73\u996d<\/span> = good ol’ white rice (I always get weird looks when this is the first thing I order).<\/li>\n
- \t\tj\u012bdàn ch\u01ceofàn \u9e21\u86cb\u7092\u996d<\/span> = fried rice with scrambled eggs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\tmiàntiáo \u9762\u6761<\/span> = noodles<\/h2>\n\n- \t\tniúròu l\u0101miàn \u725b\u8089\u62c9\u9762 <\/span>= beef pulled noodles*<\/li>\n
- \t\tniúròu ch\u01ceomiàn \u725b\u8089\u7092\u9762<\/span> = beef stir-fried noodles (“chow mein”)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\t*NOTE: usually, this kind of noodles is sold in Muslim-owned eateries, so pork is out of the question.<\/p>\n
\tt\u0101ng \u6c64<\/span> = soup<\/h2>\n \tMost foreigners don’t order soup when out on their own.<\/p>\n
\tcài \u83dc<\/span> = the “meat and potatoes” dishes<\/h2>\n \tròu \u8089 <\/span>= meat<\/h3>\n\n- \t\tx\u012bhóngshì ch\u01ceodàn \u897f\u7ea2\u67ff\u7092\u86cb<\/span> = scrambled egg with fresh tomatoes (southern China)<\/li>\n
- \t\tf\u0101nqié ch\u01ceodàn \u756a\u8304\u7092\u86cb<\/span> = <\/span>scrambled egg with fresh tomatoes (northern China) <\/span><\/li>\n
- \t\tg\u014dngbào j\u012bd\u012bng \u5bab\u7206\u9e21\u4e01<\/span> = Kung Pao chicken<\/li>\n
- \t\tdàsuàn\/suànmiáo ch\u01ceo ròupiàn \u5927\u849c<\/span>\/\u849c\u82d7<\/span> \u7092\u8089\u7247 <\/span>= garlic seasoned greens and pork slices<\/li>\n
- \t\ttángcù l\u01d0 j\u01d0 \u7cd6\u918b\u91cc\u810a<\/span> = Sweet and sour pork<\/li>\n
- \t\tti\u011bb\u01cen niúròu \u94c1\u677f\u725b\u8089<\/span> = sizzle-plate beef<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\tsh\u016bcài \u852c\u83dc<\/span> = veggies<\/h3>\n\n- \t\tq\u012bngcài \u9752\u83dc<\/span> = a green vegetable probably from the cabbage family<\/li>\n
- \t\ts\u0101n xi\u0101n dòufu \u4e09\u9c9c\u8c46\u8150<\/span> = tofu with veggies<\/li>\n
- \t\tti\u011bb\u01cen qiézi \u94c1\u677f\u8304\u5b50<\/span> = sizzle-plate eggplant<\/li>\n
- \t\thóngsh\u0101o qiézi \u7ea2\u70e7\u8304\u5b50<\/span> = eggplant in gravy<\/li>\n
- \t\t(ch\u01ceo) b\u014dcài (\u7092<\/span>)\u83e0\u83dc<\/span> = (stir-fried) spinach<\/li>\n
- \t\tg\u0101n bi\u0101n t\u01d4dòu s\u012b \u5e72\u7178\u571f\u8c46\u4e1d<\/span> = Chinese French fries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\txi\u01ceocài \u5c0f\u83dc<\/span> = snacks<\/h2>\n \t(although they can be, these are usually not ordered in restaurants with the above dishes)<\/p>\n
\n- \t\tji\u01ceozi \u997a\u5b50<\/span> = dumplings<\/li>\n
- \t\tb\u0101ozi \u5305\u5b50<\/span> = steamed white stuffed bun<\/li>\n
- \t\tb\u01d0ng \u997c<\/span> =round, flat cake \/ cookie \/ generic pastry (there are so many kinds all over China, I just use this generic term)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\tExtras<\/h2>\n\n- \t\tlàji\u0101o \u8fa3\u6912<\/span> = hot peppers (most Westerners seem to go without)*<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\t*NOTE: The way to make sure your food doesn’t have spicy peppers added is to order the dish and then immediately say:<\/p>\n
\n- \t\tbú yào (fàng) làji\u0101o \u4e0d\u8981<\/span>(\u653e<\/span>)\u8fa3\u6912<\/span> = I don’t want (you to put in) peppers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\tConspicuous in their absence from the list<\/h2>\n\n- \t\tAll kinds of fish<\/strong> (too much work picking out the bones–if I’m burning more calories eating it than I’m taking in, it’s just not worth it)<\/li>\n
- \t\tOther dishes with a lot of bones <\/strong>(such as what Kelly Fitzpatrick calls “chainsaw chicken”–you know, where it looks like they just took a chicken and cut up the whole thing with a chainsaw and threw it in the pot)<\/li>\n
- \t\tSoups<\/strong> (I don’t know why, I guess we foreigners are looking for something more filling)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n