Chinese Food NamesDishes, breakfast, desserts, dim sum and street food — with pictures and audio
Learn the names of the Chinese food you will actually eat. Each dish has its Chinese characters, pinyin, a picture, a native teacher's audio and a short note on what it is — plus the phrases you need to order it.
Explore Chinese food
Popular Chinese Dishes
What to order, and how to say it
16 dishes
- 宫保鸡丁Kung Pao chicken
- 麻婆豆腐Mapo tofu
- 北京烤鸭Peking duck
- 糖醋里脊Sweet and sour pork tenderloin
Chinese Breakfast
Street-stall favourites, from soy milk to jianbing
12 dishes
- 豆浆Soy milk
- 油条Youtiao (fried dough sticks)
- 包子Baozi (steamed buns)
- 煎饼果子Jianbing (Chinese crepe)
Chinese Desserts
From tangyuan to tanghulu
12 dishes
- 汤圆Tangyuan (sweet rice balls)
- 月饼Mooncake
- 糖葫芦Tanghulu (candied fruit skewers)
- 双皮奶Double-skin milk pudding
Dim Sum
The classics of Cantonese yum cha
12 dishes
- 虾饺Har gow (shrimp dumplings)
- 烧卖Siu mai
- 叉烧包Char siu bao (barbecue pork buns)
- 肠粉Cheung fun (rice noodle rolls)
Chinese Street Food & Snacks
What to eat at night markets and food stalls
12 dishes
- 臭豆腐Stinky tofu
- 羊肉串Lamb skewers
- 肉夹馍Roujiamo (Chinese burger)
- 凉皮Liangpi (cold skin noodles)
How to order food in Chinese
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 服务员！ | Fúwùyuán! | English Excuse me! (calling the waiter) | Note |
| 菜单 | càidān | English menu | Note |
| 我要这个。 | Wǒ yào zhège. | English I'll have this one. | Note |
| 有什么推荐的？ | Yǒu shénme tuījiàn de? | English What do you recommend? | Note |
| 我不吃辣。 | Wǒ bù chī là. | English I don't eat spicy food. | Note |
| 我吃素。 | Wǒ chī sù. | English I'm vegetarian. | Note |
| 打包 | dǎbāo | English to take leftovers away (doggy bag) | Note |
| 买单！ | Mǎidān! | English The bill, please! | Note |
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "Chinese food" in Chinese?
中餐 (zhōngcān) is Chinese cuisine as a meal or restaurant type; 中国菜 (Zhōngguó cài) means Chinese dishes.
How do you order food in Chinese?
Point and say 我要这个 (Wǒ yào zhège, "I'll have this one"). Call the waiter with 服务员 (fúwùyuán) and ask for the bill with 买单 (mǎidān).
Is all Chinese food spicy?
No. Sichuan and Hunan food is famously spicy, but Cantonese, Shanghai and northern home cooking are mostly mild. Say 不要辣 (bú yào là) for no chilli.