🍽️18 Chinese Dishes You Must Try!

Want to immerse yourself in the world of classic Chinese cuisine? We've compiled a list of dishes that are sure to capture your heart!

Ready to discover the vibrant flavors of the Middle Kingdom?

Save this list for your next trip to China! ✨

🍢 1. Kung Pao Chicken (Gōngbǎo jīdīng)
A classic Sichuan dish. Tender chicken cubes are stir-fried with peanuts, dried red chilies, Sichuan peppercorns, and a sauce made from soy, vinegar, and sugar. The crunch of the peanuts, the spiciness of the chilies, and the tender meat—this dish is sure to please. 🔥

🥟 2. Jiǎozi (Dumplings) - Dumplings
Hand-made dumplings made from wheat flour with a variety of fillings, from ground meat to shrimp and vegetables. They can be cooked in a variety of ways: boiled, steamed, or fried. Served with a sauce made from soy, vinegar, and chili oil. Juicy and flavorful, they're the perfect choice for a holiday table or a cozy family dinner 🍜.

🍤 3. Mapo Tofu (Dumplings) - Tender cubes of tofu in a fiery red sauce made from fermented soybean paste, ground meat, Sichuan peppercorns, and chili oil, topped with green onions. The contrast of the tender tofu and the vibrant spiciness will captivate you.🌶️

🍖 4. 红烧肉 (Hóngshāo ròu) — Braised Pork Belly
Pork belly slow-braised in a rich sauce of soy, brown sugar, Shaoxing wine, and anise. The result is melt-in-your-mouth pork with caramelized edges. The sweet-salty balance and rich flavor make this dish unforgettable 😋.

🍢 5. 糖醋排骨 (Tángcù páigǔ) — Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs
Crispy pork ribs coated in a vibrant red sauce made from pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, and pepper.

🦆 6. Peking Duck (Běijīng kǎoyā) - Peking Duck
Duck baked in a special oven until crispy. Served sliced with thin pancakes, hoisin sauce, cucumber, and green onions for wrapping. The ritual of assembling the dish and the contrast of the fatty duck with the crispy skin will be long remembered 🦃.

🌱 7. Stir-fried Green Beans (Gān biān sìjì dòu) - Stir-fried Green Beans
Green beans stir-fried in a hot wok with minced meat, dried chili, and fermented black beans. This dish is so popular that it can be found on the menu of almost every restaurant.

🍢 8. Shīzǐtóu (Lion's Head Meatballs)
Enormous pork meatballs (or, in more sophisticated versions, crab roe) simmered in a clear broth with Chinese cabbage. The name refers to the size of the dish—it's truly impressive!

🥯 9. Cōngyóu bǐng (Crispy Green Onion Flatbread)
Puff pastry filled with green onions and sesame oil, fried until golden brown on the outside and soft on the inside. They are eaten by tearing them into pieces and dipping them in soy or chili sauce. A simple yet delicious street snack 🥩.

🍚 10. Yangzhou Fried Rice (Yangzhōu Chǎofàn) - Yangzhou-Style Fried Rice
A favorite fried rice with diced ham, shrimp, egg, peas, and carrots. Great as a side dish or a main course.

🌊 11. Steamed Scallops with Garlic and Vermicelli (Suàn Róng Fěnsī zhēng Fánbèi) - Steamed Scallops with Garlic and Vermicelli
Fresh scallops with glass noodles, crushed garlic, and green onions, steamed. A light soy sauce enhances the seafood flavor and the aroma of garlic. 🌊 🍗 12. Hainanese Chicken Rice (Hǎinán jīfàn)
Tender boiled chicken, served sliced over fragrant jasmine rice cooked in chicken broth. Served with cucumber slices, chili-garlic sauce, and ginger-scallion sauce.

🍢 13. Guo Bao Rou (Guo Bao Ròu)
Crispy fried pork strips topped with a sweet and sour pineapple sauce with bell peppers and onions. This Northeastern Chinese appetizer will delight lovers of sweet and sour flavors. 🍢

🍝 14. Lanzhou Beef Noodles (Lánzhōu Niúròu Miàn) - Lanzhou Beef Noodles
Hand-pulled wheat noodles in a clear, fragrant beef broth with chunks of beef, cilantro, radish, and chili oil (optional).

🥟 15. Baozi (Steamed Buns)
Fluffy steamed buns (Baozi) made from wheat flour with a variety of fillings—from pork and cabbage to beef or even sweet red bean paste. The soft texture and juicy fillings make them ideal for breakfast or a snack. 🥟 🍅 16. Tomato Omelette (Xīhóng shì chǎo dàn) - Tomato Omelette
Ripe tomatoes, fried with a fluffy omelette, seasoned with green onions and a pinch of sugar. This simple yet comforting flavor pairs perfectly with rice—every Chinese person knows how to make this dish.

🍆 17. Three Treasures of the Earth (Dì sān xiān) - "Three Treasures of the Earth"
Eggplant, potatoes, and green bell peppers, fried until golden brown with garlic and soy sauce. The caramelized vegetables absorb the flavors deeply—a vegetarian dish for vegetable lovers 🍆.

🍢 18. Yúxiāng ròusī (Fish-Flavored Pork) — Thin strips of pork stir-fried with wood-boring mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and carrots in a piquant sauce made of chili, garlic, vinegar, and sugar (surprise: there's no fish in the recipe).

✨ What Chinese dish have you tried or would you like to try? Share in the comments! 😋
Bon appétit!

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