Explore the culinary scene of China - from local favorites to fine dining.
China offers an incredible journey through 5,000 years of history, from the Great Wall and Forbidden City to ultramodern Shanghai skyscrapers. Experience diverse landscapes ranging from karst mountains in Guilin to the Tibetan Plateau, savor world-renowned cuisine, and witness the fusion of ancient traditions with cutting-edge technology.
Chinese cuisine is one of the world's most complex and diverse culinary traditions, with eight major regional styles (Cantonese, Sichuan, Hunan, Shangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui) so different they might as well be separate cuisines. China's food is defined by its emphasis on balance, seasonal ingredients, wok technique, and the five flavors (sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami). From the delicate steamed dumplings of Shanghai and the fiery mala hot pot of Chengdu, to the roast duck of Beijing and the fresh seafood of Guangdong, eating is the primary cultural experience of China travel.
These iconic dishes define the culinary identity of China.
China's most famous dish: whole duck lacquered with maltose syrup and roasted in a wood-fired oven until mahogany-glazed. Sliced tableside and wrapped in thin pancakes with cucumber, spring onion, and hoisin sauce. A Beijing ritual dating to the imperial era.
Shanghai's signature: delicate dumpling wrappers containing ground pork and a spoonful of gelatinized soup that melts when steamed. The perfect specimen has exactly 18 pleats and must be eaten carefully to avoid soup burn. Dip in vinegar with ginger.
Sichuan's iconic silken tofu in a sauce of fermented black bean paste, chili oil, minced pork, and tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorns. The combination of mala (numbing-spicy) flavor is quintessentially Sichuan. Eat with steamed rice to temper the heat.
China's most ubiquitous noodle dish: hand-pulled wheat noodles in crystal-clear beef broth topped with tender beef slices, radish, chili oil, and fresh coriander. Made by Hui Muslim noodle masters who pull and stretch noodles to order. A full meal for $2-3.
Cantonese tradition of small steamed, fried, and baked dishes served during morning yum cha tea service. Essential dishes include har gow (prawn dumplings), siu mai (pork and prawn), cheung fun (rice noodle rolls), and dan tat (egg tarts). Order by check mark on paper menu.
Bubbling broth pots at the table center into which you dip raw meats, vegetables, tofu, and noodles. Sichuan style has split pots with mala (numbing spicy) and clear broth; Beijing style features lamb in clear bone broth. Eaten over 1-2 hours with dipping sauces.
100+ restaurants, local recipes, and dining recommendations for China.
Our handpicked recommendations for the best dining experiences.
Michelin-starred restaurant in a restored 600-year-old temple courtyard near Forbidden City. Chef Ignace Lecleir creates innovative European cuisine using Chinese ingredients. Stunning setting with temple architecture and art gallery upstairs.
World-famous xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) chain maintaining exceptional quality and consistency. Each dumpling has exactly 18 pleats. Multiple locations across China, always crowded but worth the wait for perfect dumplings.
Beijing's best craft brewery serving burgers, wings, and American comfort food alongside creative beers. Industrial-chic space with outdoor seating. Popular with expats and young Chinese. Multiple locations across Beijing.
Famous night market near Forbidden City with rows of vendors selling traditional and exotic street foods. Scorpions, starfish, and crickets alongside dumplings, kebabs, and sweets. Tourist prices but fun experience.
Shanghai's premier specialty coffee chain with multiple locations. Single-origin beans, expert baristas, and modern minimalist spaces. Popular with coffee aficionados and freelancers. Pastries and light food available.
The world's first multi-sensory restaurant with only 10 seats per night. 20-course tasting menu synchronized with lights, sounds, and projections. Three Michelin stars. Most exclusive dining experience in China, requires months advance booking.
Atmospheric restaurant serving Yunnan and Southeast Asian-influenced dishes in colonial French Concession setting. Fragrant curries, grilled meats, and exotic herbs. Beautiful decor with Burmese antiques and tropical plants.
Excellent European-style bakery and cafe with fresh breads, pastries, sandwiches, and salads. Multiple Shanghai locations, perfect for Western breakfast or light lunch. High quality ingredients and generous portions.
Find restaurants that match your taste preferences.
The best local flavors at affordable prices.
Beijing's beloved breakfast crepe: a thin egg-based pancake spread with fermented black bean sauce, chili sauce, crispy wonton chip, scallions, and cilantro. Assembled in seconds by street cart vendors - the quintessential Beijing breakfast.
Xi'an's famous street food called the 'Chinese hamburger': slow-braised spiced pork belly (or lamb) piled into a flaky round bread. Vendors in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter make hundreds daily. The pork version dates back 2,000 years to the Han Dynasty.
Street BBQ skewers of lamb, chicken, squid, and vegetables grilled over charcoal with cumin, chili powder, and sesame. A night market staple throughout China with the best versions in Xinjiang and Xi'an Muslim Quarter. Eaten standing at plastic stools.
Traditional Beijing street snack of fruits (hawthorn berries, strawberries, mandarin segments) coated in cracked sugar candy on bamboo skewers. The satisfying snap of the sugar shell revealing sour hawthorn is a childhood memory for all Beijingers.
Chengdu's spicy street noodle: thin wheat noodles in a sauce of sesame paste, chili oil, preserved vegetables, minced pork, and Sichuan peppercorns creating complex flavor from just a few spoonfuls of intensely seasoned sauce.
Beijing's most famous tourist food market with 100+ stalls selling exotic Chinese street foods alongside standard snacks. A must-visit spectacle with scorpions, seahorses, and silk worms alongside more approachable roasted sweet potatoes and tanghulu.
Xi'an's historic Islamic district transforms into a food paradise after dark with hundreds of vendors serving authentic Hui Muslim dishes, lamb skewers, persimmon cakes, and hand-pulled noodles in a centuries-old commercial street.
Underground food courts beneath Chengdu's central squares offer a massive variety of authentic Sichuan street food at local prices. Hotpot, mapo tofu, dan dan mian, and Sichuan snacks at 30-50% lower than restaurant prices.
Beijing's most cosmopolitan fresh market with international ingredients, exotic Chinese herbs, live seafood, artisan cheese, and premium produce. Popular with professional chefs and home cooks for seasonal ingredients.
Navigate the local food scene like a pro.
Chinese restaurants typically open 11AM-2PM for lunch and 5PM-9:30PM for dinner - attempting to eat between these hours can be difficult at local restaurants
Sharing dishes family-style is standard - order one dish per person plus one extra, all sharing from the center of the table
Point at pictures on walls or neighbors' tables if you can't read the menu - this is completely acceptable and works perfectly
Hot tea is free and refilled constantly at most traditional Chinese restaurants - it's used to clean chopsticks and aids digestion
Loud restaurants with queues outside and Chinese families dining are the best quality indicators
What to expect at different price points.
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