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Thali

🇨🇳 The food of China

77 dishes from China, best known first, across 41 cities and regions.

Chinese cooking is shaped by a vast range of climates, local crops, and centuries of migration and trade. Its many regional styles use staples like rice and wheat, and balance flavors and textures with a focus on color, aroma, and nutrition. The cuisine’s diversity and techniques have influenced food cultures across Asia and the world.

  • Chopsticks and the wok are key utensils in Chinese cooking.
  • The first restaurants in the modern sense appeared in Song dynasty China.
  • Soy sauce is used in cooking, not added at the table.
  • Chinese food therapy links meals to health and balance.
  • Rice dominates in the south, wheat in the north.

The cooking of China

Chinese cuisine covers a huge variety of dishes and traditions, shaped by geography, history, and local customs. The food changes from north to south and east to west, reflecting what grows best in each region. Cooking methods range from stir-frying in a wok to steaming, braising, and baking. Flavors are balanced for taste, color, and aroma, often drawing on principles from traditional Chinese medicine. Meals are built around shared dishes, and attention is paid to the harmony of ingredients and presentation. Over time, outside influences—through trade, migration, and conquest—have added new foods and techniques, making Chinese cuisine one of the world’s most varied.

Staple foods in China

Rice is the main staple in the south, often served steamed or as congee, a rice porridge eaten for breakfast. In the north, wheat is more common, used for noodles, breads, and dumplings. Millet and other grains are also traditional. Meat is usually used in small amounts, with vegetables and grains making up most of the meal. Soy sauce, tofu, and chili oil are common seasonings and ingredients.

From region to region in China

Regional cooking in China is highly diverse. Cantonese food from the south is known for fresh ingredients and mild flavors. Sichuan cuisine from the west uses chili and spices for heat and numbing sensations. Shandong cooking in the north features wheat-based foods and seafood, while Jiangsu (including Huaiyang) in the east is famous for refined techniques like braising and stewing. Fujian, Hunan, Anhui, and Zhejiang each have their own specialties, from seafood and soups to wild herbs and pickled foods. Preservation methods like drying, salting, and fermenting are common across regions.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Chinese cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of China

Guangdong 6Beijing 5Fujian 3Guangzhou 3Guizhou 3Shanghai 3Hangzhou 2Nanjing 2Shaanxi 2Tianjin 2Wuyi Mountains 2Xi'an 2Xinjiang 2Anxi County 1Chang'an 1Changsha 1Changzhou 1Chaoshan 1Chaozhou 1Gansu 1Guangxi 1Hebei 1Hohhot 1Jilin 1Jinan 1Lanzhou 1Longjing 1Luzhou 1Meijiawu 1Minnan region 1Nanxiang 1Ningbo 1Pu'er 1Qiandao Lake 1Shanxi 1Shi Feng 1Sichuan 1West Lake 1Yangzhou 1Yantai 1Yunnan 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
TeaVegan茶 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA drink made by soaking tea leaves in hot or cold water Drink Pasta 🇮🇹 Italy and 1 moreUnleavened dough shaped and cooked, a staple of Italian cuisine Main dish, Lunch, Dinner TofuVegan豆腐 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSoft white blocks made by curdling soy milk and pressing the curds Main dish Candy 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSmall sweet treats made mainly from sugar or sweeteners Sweet or dessert, Snacks RamenMeatラーメン 🇯🇵 Japan and 1 moreJapanese noodle soup with Chinese-style wheat noodles in hot broth Soup, Lunch, Dinner CaviarFish or seafood 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreSalt-cured fish roe, most prized from sturgeon of the Caspian and Black Sea Sauce, pickle or ferment, Snacks KumisКымыз 🇲🇳 Mongolia and 4 moreFermented mare's milk drink from the Central Asian steppe Drink Naanनान 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreLeavened flatbread baked in a tandoor or on a pan, soft and spotted with golden brown Bread, Lunch, Dinner Bubble tea珍珠奶茶 🇹🇼 Taiwan and 5 moreSweet tea with chewy tapioca pearls, served hot or cold Drink GuinnessVegan 🇮🇪 Ireland and 5 moreA dark Irish stout with a creamy head and dry, roasted flavour Drink Soy milkVegan豆奶 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA plant-based drink made by soaking, grinding, and boiling soybeans Drink, Breakfast, Snacks Lei chaVegan擂茶 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreA Hakka tea-based drink or soup made with ground tea, nuts, seeds and grains Drink Shanghai fried noodlesMeat上海粗炒 🇨🇳 ChinaThick wheat noodles stir-fried with beef or pork, bok choy, and onion Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Mu kropMeat 🇹🇭 Thailand and 4 moreThai-style fried pork belly with a crunchy golden skin Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Tofu skin roll 🇨🇳 ChinaTofu skin wrapped around a savoury filling, served steamed or fried as dim sum Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Laba garlicVegan 🇨🇳 ChinaGarlic cloves pickled in vinegar for the Laba Festival in northern China Sauce, pickle or ferment Chuanr串 🇨🇳 ChinaGrilled skewers of meat, seafood or vegetables from northern China Grill or roast, Dinner, Snacks Foie grasMeat 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreFattened duck or goose liver, a French delicacy served whole or as a spread Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Peking duckMeat北京烤鸭 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreCrisp-skinned roast duck from Beijing, carved and served with pancakes and condiments Main dish, Dinner, Lunch MatchaVegan抹茶 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreBright green Japanese tea powder made from shade-grown leaves Drink Iced teaVegan 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreChilled tea served over ice, sometimes sweetened or flavored with fruit Drink, Lunch, Dinner OolongVegan烏龍茶 🇨🇳 China and 3 moreA semi-oxidized Chinese tea with a wide range of flavors and aromas Drink Mooncake月饼 / 月餅 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA round Chinese pastry with sweet or nutty filling, eaten at the Mid-Autumn Festival Pie or savoury pastry, Tea time, Snacks Fried rice 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreCooked rice stir-fried with eggs, vegetables, meat or seafood, and seasonings Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Pierogi 🇵🇱 Poland and 6 moreDumplings of unleavened dough filled with savory or sweet mixtures Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner Bento弁当 🇯🇵 Japan and 4 moreA Japanese meal packed in a box, often with rice, meat or fish, and vegetables Main dish, Lunch Congee粥 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreRice simmered in water to make a soft, comforting porridge Main dish, Breakfast, Dinner SojuVegan소주 🇰🇷 South Korea and 3 moreClear Korean spirit distilled from grains or starches, usually enjoyed neat Drink Spring roll春卷 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA thin wrapper rolled around vegetables or meat, served fried or fresh Main dish, Snacks, Lunch Chicken soupMeat 🇺🇸 United States and 4 moreA hot soup of chicken simmered with vegetables, noodles or grains Soup, Lunch, Dinner Wonton云吞 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreChinese dumplings with a thin wrapper, filled and served in soup or fried Dumpling, Lunch, Dinner Baozi包子 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSteamed wheat buns filled with meat or vegetables, common across China and beyond Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks Chow mein炒麵 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreStir-fried noodles with vegetables and often meat or tofu Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Jiaozi餃子 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreChinese dumplings with meat or vegetable filling, served boiled, steamed or fried Dumpling, Breakfast, Lunch Butter teaབོད་ཇ་ 🇨🇳 China and 4 moreA hot Himalayan drink of tea, yak butter and salt, churned to a creamy texture Drink, Breakfast, Snacks Zongzi粽子 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSticky rice parcels with sweet or savoury fillings, wrapped in leaves and steamed or boiled Main dish, Lunch, Dinner SeitanVegan 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreWheat gluten shaped and cooked as a meat substitute Main dish Dim sum点心 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA variety of small Chinese dishes served with tea, often for brunch Main dish, Breakfast, Lunch Naengmyeon냉면 🇰🇵 North Korea and 3 moreLong, chewy noodles served cold, often in a tangy broth or spicy sauce Noodle or pasta dish, Lunch, Dinner Red bean pasteVegan 🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreSweet or plain paste made from boiled adzuki beans, used in East Asian desserts Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Pu'erVegan普洱茶 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreAged and fermented tea from Yunnan, shaped into cakes or bricks Drink Kung Pao chickenMeat宮保雞丁 🇨🇳 ChinaSpicy Chinese stir-fried chicken with peanuts and chili peppers Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Nian gaoVegan年糕 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSticky rice cake enjoyed at Chinese New Year for good luck Sweet or dessert, Snacks Sugarcane juiceVegan 🇮🇳 India and 6 moreFresh juice pressed from sugarcane stalks, sold widely as a street drink Drink, Snacks Odenおでん 🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreJapanese one-pot dish of assorted items simmered in soy-flavored dashi broth Soup, Dinner, Lunch Tangyuan汤圆 / 湯圓 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreGlutinous rice balls, often filled, served in sweet or savory broth Sweet or dessert, Snacks BaijiuVegan白酒 🇨🇳 China and 1 moreClear Chinese spirit distilled from grain, with a range of aroma styles Drink EdamameVegan枝豆 🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreYoung green soybeans boiled or steamed in their pods, often served salted Main dish, Snacks, Lunch
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Every Monday: seven dishes you may not know, what the world is cooking this week, and one way of eating.