By now we all know the mantra that, when you’re travelling, you should do all you can to eat “local”. It’s not only cheaper and easier to source (after all Thai food in Thailand is just food), it’s almost always of a far superior quality that knock-offs of already substandard fast food chains.
But while this may be easy in some countries (basically the whole of South East Asia is a foodie’s dream), China and its multitude of cuisines is a challenging prospect.
We wanted to give you the low-down on dishes you just have to sample when visiting China which are probably unlike anything you have ever eaten at your local Chinese restaurant or takeaway no matter where you live in the world.
Hold on to your chopsticks.
1. Shao Kao
We’ll start with a simple one – street BBQ. Meat is skewered, covered in spices and then flame grilled and sold to busy commuters and hungry beer drinkers. We’re definitely OK with this one.
2. Biang Biang Mian
Noodle dish described by our source as “like a really wet lasagne”. But don’t let that put you off (what do you mean it already has), these hand pulled noodles are often served in a hot and sour sauce with veg, tofu and topped with lamb, pork and any number of delicious meats.
3. Huo Guo
This dish is starting to pop up all over the world, but it’s still obscure (and delicious) enough to earn a place on this list. A pot is brought to the table, often with two or more types of broth, and heated from underneath so hungry diners can cook their meat and veg in the delicious stock. Essentially it’s a hot pot that’s great for parties. Which is a sentence that may never have been written before.
4. Ji Dan Bing
An eggy pancake, popular as a breakfast or snack food. It’s made with eggs, flour, oil and salt and often filled with a chilli sauce, spring onions and lettuce, wrapped and eaten like a burrito. Mmmm eggy salty breakfast burrito. Sorry where were we?
5. Yuxiang Rousi
This translates as “fish-flavoured shredded pork”. Yeah. The fish flavour is actually a combination of spices which are often found in Sìchuān food including garlic, onions ginger, sugar, salt, bean paste and soy sauce – no actual fish present!
6. Chòu Dòufu
Also known as “stinky tofu” the name of this dish simply means “fermented tofu”. OK we’re starting to think we shouldn’t translate the names. According to our source “it smells disgusting but is actually really good”. Ringing endorsement there.
7. Re Gan Mian
A dry noodle dish and the speciality of the central city of Wuhan. Noodles are cooked, dried and then cooked again for a distinctive chewy texture which is not at all unpleasant. The dish is often eaten for breakfast, but beware, the topping of soy, sesame and garlic will make you a rather pungent offering for the rest of the day.
8. Chinese Sausages
This one is a bit of a cheat as there are many different varieties of this tasty dish which is popular at New Year. Always worth a try wherever you are as the flavour changes from place to place – from sweet in Guangdong, spicy in Hubei to more “European” style smoked varieties in the North East.
9. Shandong Dumplings
Jiaozi are perhaps the most common type of Chinese dumpling you’ll find in China, but if you do get the chance, sample the Shandong-style dumplings. These are usually more commonly found in the north of the country and use a dumpling skin fashioned from a simple mixture of rice flour and water, with a hearty filling made from pork mince, dried shrimp, soy sauce, salt, ginger, Shaoxing rice wine, sesame oil, and chopped spring onions.
10. Jiuniang
When our source described this as “like a slightly alcoholic rice pudding” we just had to find out more. The rice itself is fermented and is served in a sweet syrup which was originally made popular as a by-product of the rice wine making process. It’s like if French vineyard owners dipped into the grape vats, scooped out the slightly alcoholic contents, put it in a bowl and ate it for breakfast. Why has this never been done?
If you liked this article check out our guide for the best first time destinations in China.
