Take China Group Tours in 2025 to enjoy 30% discount compared to a private tour. Same Experience & Lowest Price!
Top 20 Chinese Dishes: Pillar of Chinese Food
Must-Try Most Popular Chinese Food: Everyday Eats
What to eat in China? Start with the everyday eats!
1. Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐)
"Seriously, this dish is so good. It's got that awesome numbing spice thing going on, makes your lips tingle. I can't stop eating it, and the sauce is amazing with rice."
One of best traditional Chinese dishes is Mapo Tofu. Mapo Tofu is a cornerstone of Sichuan cuisine originating in 19th-century Chengdu, characterized by silken tofu cubes simmered in chili-oil sauce with minced beef or pork.
Flavor: If you like Mexican or Thai food, you'll probably like this dish too. It has that same kind of spicy, numbing kick.
How to Eat like a local: Rice is essential! Spoon the tofu and broth over your rice for maximum flavor. They have a mild version too if you're not into spicy.
Where to Find Traditional Authentic Chinese Food: Chengdu, Sichuan.
Average Cost: $2.06 - 3.43
2. Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁)
"I love how the peanuts are crunchy and the chicken is so tender. I like to pile them on my rice like a little pyramid. It's got that awesome sweet and spicy thing going on, with a little tanginess too. I'm a total Kung Pao Chicken fanatic!"
If you see a traditional Chinese food list, Kung Pao Chicken is definitely gonna be near the top. This is a Qing Dynasty-era stir-fry created for Governor Ding Baozhen. It consists of diced chicken, dried chili peppers, and peanuts, all stir-fried together.
Nowadays, it's become a staple in everyday cooking. Check Chengdu Food Tour.
Flavor: Numbing, Spicy, Sweet, Sour, Salty.
How to Eat like a local: With chopsticks, take a bite of the perfect combination: diced chicken, peanuts, and scallions.
Where to Eat: Chengdu, Beijing.
Average Cost: $2.47 - 3.57
3. Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes (西红柿炒鸡蛋)
"When I'm not sure what to eat, I always make this. Tangy tomatoes, salty eggs, and I like to add sugar to make it sweet and sour. It's so good - try it with sugar! "
This is a must-learn dish for every Chinese home cook. In the north, this dish tends to be salty, while in the south, it leans towards the sweeter side.
Flavor: Tomato + egg = flavor heaven! That tangy and creamy combo is addictive.
How to Eat like a local: Pile the veggies and sauce onto your rice with a spoon.
Where to Eat this Chinese Cuisine: Any City in China.
Average Cost: $2.06
4. Twice-Cooked Pork (回锅肉)
"It looks so shiny and oily, but it's not greasy at all! The skin is chewy, and the pork just gets more flavorful as you chew it."
Speaking of most popular Chinese food, don't miss Twice-Cooked Pork (Hui Guo Rou). This prized Sichuan dish features twice-cooked pork belly, stir-fried with spicy bean paste and garlic sprouts until caramelized.
Flavor: Savory and not oily.
How to Eat like a local: Take a slice of meat, a piece of garlic sprout, and a fermented black bean, and eat them all together.
Where to Eat Traditional Chinese Dish: Chengdu, Chongqing
Average Cost: $4.81 - 5.49
Unlike other tours that offer the same old dishes, we take you on a China food tour! Our local guides know the best traditional Chinese dishes and will happily help you plan your foodie itinerary. Consult Asia Odyssey Travel now!
5. Dumplings (饺子)
"Nothing beats dumplings. I love grabbing a plate with a little drink. I usually go for whatever filling, but pork and chive dumplings are always my #1."
Dumplings (Jiaozi) have been around for over 1800 years, and they're super popular in Northern China. They used to be just for special occasions, but now they're an everyday food, and you can find dumpling restaurants all over the South too.
The fillings are endless - from pork and cabbage to fancy seafood, you can pretty much wrap anything in a dumpling!
Flavor: Thin skin, tender filling.
How to Eat like a local: Having some dumpling soup after the dumplings.
Where to Eat Traditional Chinese Dish: Any City in China.
Average Cost: $2.75 - 5.49
6. Baozi & Xiaolongbao (包子&小笼包)
"I travel a lot for work, and you can find baozi and xiaolongbao everywhere. I've even tried making them myself, but they never taste quite right. There's just nothing better than having a warm baozi or xiaolongbao for breakfast."
Baozi and Xiaolongbao are must-tries when it comes to most popular Chinese food. Baozi are big, fluffy buns packed with fillings, kind of like giant, soft dumplings. Xiaolongbao are their adorable little cousins - delicate and juicy.
Flavor: Mellow.
How to Eat like a local: For Xiaolongbao, slurp the soup first.
Where to Eat: Shanghai.
Average Cost: $0.69 – 3.43
7. Fried Rice & Chow Mein (炒饭&炒面)
"My friends' go-to dish when they first started cooking was fried rice or noodles. She likes to throw in different veggies sometimes, and I always joke that she's a real chef."
Fried rice and noodles are iconic Chinese late-night snacks. They're usually made with a super-hot wok and a quick stir-fry – the perfect go-to meal for most Chinese people when they need something fast.
Fried rice, a resourceful way to use leftovers, varies regionally: sweet and savory in the Southeast, famous Yangzhou style in Jiangnan, and cured meat in the Southwest. Fried noodles offer even more flavor flexibility.
Flavor: Wok hei is the soul of the dish, and every flavor – salty, savory, and sweet – is brought to its peak.
How to Eat like a local: Scoop up the crispy edges of the fried rice. Add chili oil to your chow mein.
Where to Eat: Any City in China.
Average Cost: $1.37 - 2.06
8. Zhajiangmian (炸酱面)
"Zhajiangmian is the bomb."
Zhajiangmian is a traditional authentic Chinese food. The sauce is a rich, savory blend of ground pork and fermented soybean paste. The noodles are special, hand-made for a chewy texture. Feel free to add toppings like shredded cucumber for extra freshness.
Flavor: Rich, savory, and slightly sweet.
How to Eat like a local: Toss quickly to coat each noodle with sauce.
Where to Eat: Beijing
Average Cost: $2.06 - 2.75
Beyond the Basics: Best Traditional Chinese Dishes for Gatherings
Ready to go beyond mild Chinese dishes? Banquet food awaits! Trust Asia Odyssey Travel's local food expertise, just one taste will leave you richly rewarded.
1. Peking Roasted Duck (北京烤鸭)
"First thing I ate in Beijing, almost ten years ago, and I still crave it."
Peking Roasted Duck is one of the most famous dishes among top 20 Chinese dishes, with a history that goes back to the imperial kitchens of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
It's known for its unique roasting technique, using fruit wood in a hanging oven. Quanjude, a restaurant founded in 1864, is practically synonymous with Peking Roasted Duck.
The duck is roasted to perfection using this special method and served with thin pancakes, scallions, cucumbers, and sweet bean sauce.
Flavor: Crispy, tender, spicy, and sweet.
How to Eat like a local: Dip the duck skin in sugar. Then, wrap the duck, scallions, and sweet bean sauce in a pancake and eat it.
Where to Eat: Beijing
Average Cost: $27.20 - 53.30
Check 10 Best Beijing Food ->>
2. Sweet and Sour Ribs (糖醋排骨)
"I made this dish for Chinese New Year, and it was a total hit! It was one of the stars of the dinner table. I've made it twice since then, too."
This is a Chinese version of "comfort food", with a variety of flavors, the most famous of which is the Shanghai version with its rich, brown sauce.
Flavor: Biting through the caramelized shell releases a rich, meaty aroma. A touch of acidity balances the sweetness, and the meat has a stringy quality.
How to Eat like a local: Wear gloves to eat the ribs, then mix the leftover sauce with rice.
Where to Eat: Shanghai.
Average Cost: $6.59 - 12.09
3. Hot Pot (火锅)
"Nothing a hot pot can't fix. Just chill and dip!"
Hot pot is the quintessential social food in traditional Chinese cuisine. Sichuan and Chongqing spicy hot pot, Chaoshan beef hot pot, and old Beijing copper pot hot pot each hold a significant place in the hearts of Chinese food lovers.
Sichuan and Chongqing spicy hot pot is mainly made of tripe, duck intestines, tofu and other ingredients, with a wide variety. It tastes spicy, fresh, fragrant and rich.
Chaoshan beef hot pot is mainly made of beef. It is light and can taste the original flavor of beef.
Old Beijing copper pot is mainly made of mutton. It is mellow and is served with mutton slices, Chinese cabbage, tofu and other ingredients.
How to Eat like a local: Meat first, then veggies, and don't forget to make your dipping sauce.
Where to Eat: Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu.
Average Cost: $13.74 - 41.21
Unlike other tours that take you to generic restaurants, Asia Odyssey Travel customizes private tours just for you. Our local guides will recommend the most authentic Chinese cuisine.
Contact us for China tours including Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Yunnan!
4. Cantonese Dim Sum (粤式早茶)
"Six in the morning and there's a line for breakfast? Trust me, it's worth the early wake-up call."
Cantonese dim sum is a brunch tradition in Guangdong, enjoyed with family and friends. From its humble beginnings as a dock worker's respite, it's now a social staple - a must-try feast! Don't miss the har gow, char siu bao, and chicken feet.
Flavor: Dim sum dishes often share these flavor profiles like fresh, sweet and savory.
How to Eat like a local: Order a pot of tea and two baskets of dim sum.
Where to Find Traditional Authentic Chinese Food: Guangzhou.
Average Cost: $5.49 - 10.98
That's not all! Discover more delicious Cantonese Food ->>
5. Deep-fried Shrimp (油爆虾)
"You might see this and think, 'Oh, it's like honey walnut shrimp!' But no way. This is way better. The shrimp are perfectly cooked, and the sweet and sour sauce is the perfect mix of sweet and tangy."
Originating in the late 19th century, deep-fried shrimp became popular due to the abundance of fresh seafood. This dish uses a sweet and savory sauce and a quick stir-fry to lock in the shrimp's freshness and tenderness.
The chef's acrobatic wok tossing adds an extra touch of flair, and you'll feel the shrimp dancing on your tongue.
Flavor: Sweet and Savory.
How to Eat like a local: Eat it whole, shell and all.
Where to Find Traditional Authentic Chinese Food: Shanghai.
Average Cost: $9.34 - 17.57
6. Fish Head with Chopped Pepper (剁椒鱼头)
"You gotta try this fish head! It's got this awesome spicy and sour thing going on. Give the Kung Pao Chicken a break."
This is a spicy dish from Hunan, China. It originated with fishermen in the Qing Dynasty. If you want a spicy kick, try it - you'll see everyone's faces turn red!
Flavor: Tender fish head, tangy and spicy chopped peppers.
How to Eat like a local: Start by fish cheeks.
Where to Eat: Hunan
Average Cost: $12.8 - 23.07
7. Sichuan Mala Chicken (辣子鸡)
"I'm hooked on this spicy chicken! It's got that real Southwest China taste."
Sichuan Mala Chicken (La Zi Ji) rose to prominence in the 1990s, fueled by the popularity of Chongqing's "La Zi Ji Street," a concentrated area that, at its peak, housed over 30 restaurants specializing in this dish. It has since become a well-known representative of Chinese cuisine.
This dish consists of bite-sized chicken pieces that are deep-fried until crisp and nearly boneless, then stir-fried with a generous quantity of dried chili peppers.
Flavor: Numbing first, spicy later.
How to Eat like a local: Soy milk helps cool down the spice.
Where to Eat: Chongqing, Chengdu.
Average Cost: $7.96 - 13.45
Unique Picks from Top 20 Chinese Dishes: Found Nowhere Else
Beyond everyday favorites and banquet dishes, the top 20 Chinese dishes also include unique culinary experiences. Continue browsing our traditional Chinese food list and join our mouthwatering China food tour!
1. Liangpi (凉皮)
"They're all slippery and coated in chili and vinegar - talk about a flavor punch!"
Liangpi, originating in the Qin Dynasty, is one of most pupular Chinese food in Shaanxi Province. Made from steamed rice flour, it's typically topped with cucumber strips, chili oil, and other seasonings.
If you're visiting Xi'an in the summer, join the locals and cool off with a bowl of liangpi.
Flavor: Sour, spicy, and chewy.
How to Eat like a local: A quick toss coats every noodle with chili oil.
Where to Eat: Xi'an
Average Cost: $1.10 - 1.65
Read What to Eat in Xi'an ->>
2. Rou Jia Mo (肉夹馍)
"This Rou Jia Mo is like a Chinese hamburger - fresh bread, juicy pork, and it's so good when it's still warm!"
Rou Jia Mo, a nearly thousand-year-old dish, features juicy braised pork nestled in a slightly dry bread. It is traditionally served with Liangpi. Fans of hamburgers will find this familiar combination of bread and filling appealing.
Flavor: The bread is both chewy and crispy, and the pork is melt-in-your-mouth tender.
How to Eat like a local: Lean and fat or lean only.
Where to Eat: Xi'an
Average Cost: $1.37 - 2.06
3. Dongpo Pork (东坡肉)
"Tender, wobbly fatty meat is slowly braised in yellow wine until it melts in your mouth. I could eat three bowls of rice with this."
Dongpo Pork, created by the Northern Song Dynasty writer Su Shi, is made by slow-braising pork belly until it's a rich, glossy red. The melt-in-your-mouth texture is truly worth a try.
Flavor: Sweet, salty, and not greasy.
How to Eat like a local: Eat the meat, then spoon the gravy over your rice.
Where to Eat Chinese dish: Hangzhou.
Average Cost: $5.22 - 9.34
Got the cravings? Contact Asia Odyssey Travel to plan your perfect food tour.
4. Claypot Rice (煲仔饭)
"That sizzle when the clay pot hits the table? So good! The cured meat makes the rice taste amazing, and you gotta get to that crispy bit at the bottom - it's the best."
Clay pot rice, a Guangzhou street food staple, features rice slow-cooked in a clay pot with toppings like cured meats and ribs. The resulting fusion of flavors and textures creates a deeply satisfying culinary experience.
Flavor: Salty and Fresh.
How to Eat like a local: Drizzle soy sauce along the edge of the clay pot, then scoop the rice from the outside in.
Where to Find Traditional Authentic Cantonese Food: Guangzhou.
Average Cost: $3.43 - 5.49
5. Crossing-the-Bridge Noodles (过桥米线)
"Eating this in Yunnan is like a science project - so many fresh ingredients! That first bite is amazing."
This dish was created by the wife of a Qing Dynasty scholar for her husband who was studying hard. It consists of a hot broth, raw ingredients, and rice noodles. You choose what ingredients to cook in the broth.
Flavor: Light and fresh.
How to Eat like a local: Add the meat first, then the vegetables, and finally the rice noodles.
Where to Eat Chinese Food: Yunnan.
Average Cost: $4.12 - 6.86
Check more details about Yunnan Food ->>
Plan A Chinese Food Tour with Asia Odyssey Travel
Most tours include best traditional Chinese dishes, but finding authentic restaurants is the challenge. That's where we come in!
Asia Odyssey Travel's local guides know the best spots for truly authentic cuisine and can tailor-make itineraries to suit your travel needs.
Our professional English-speaking guides are happy to answer any questions you may have, and we're proud of our over 95% positive feedback rating.
Data in submission...
