Ultimate China Bucket List: 60 Food Items You Should Try On Your Trip (2025)
Introduction
This list has been curated by me, a person who has worked part-time for 8 years in Chinese restaurants and takeouts in a European country. Yes, I’m from a restaurant family. 👨🏻🍳
I am now in China permanently and frequently explore new dishes, with an aim to recommend them to family and friends. I have hand-picked these dishes to suit the tastes of those most familiar with Westernised Chinese dishes. As someone passionate about food, I know how to cook around half of the dishes on this list.
I recommend you prioritise the local dishes in the city you’re visiting first. But you should be able to find excellent versions of the other dishes in any major city. So, don’t fret. You won’t run out of options. 🍜
The items mostly originate from 5 major regions of China and only contains a few highlighted dishes for each region. You may have heard of some of them. There are dozens more dishes for each cuisine and many more regional cuisines that have not been covered here.
Wishing you an amazing food journey throughout China! 🥢
Beijing cuisine
1. 北京烤鸭 | běi jīng kǎo yā | Peking duck
2. 炸酱面 | zhá jiàng miàn | noodles with fried bean sauce
3. 饺子🥟| jiǎo zi | meat or vegetable dumplings
4. 涮羊肉 | shuàn yáng ròu | mutton hotpot
5. 糖葫芦 | táng hú lu | candied hawthorns
Shanghai and Jiangsu cuisine (Huaiyang)
6. 小笼包 | xiǎo lóng bāo | steamed soup dumplings
7. 生煎包 | shēng jiān bāo | pan-fried pork buns
8. 红烧肉 | hóng shāo ròu | red braised pork belly
9. 松鼠桂鱼 | sōng shǔ guì yú | squirrel fish in sweet and sour sauce
10. 扬州炒饭 | Yáng zhōu chǎo fàn | Yangzhou fried rice
11. 上海炒面 | Shàng hǎi Chǎo miàn | Shanghai fried noodles
Sichuan and Chongqing cuisine
12. 宫保鸡丁 | gōng bǎo jī dīng | kung pao chicken
13. 回锅肉 | huí guō ròu | twice cooked pork
14. 麻婆豆腐 | má pó dòu fu | tofu in spicy sauce
15. 四川火锅/ 重庆火锅 | Sì chuān huǒ guō/ Chóng qìng huǒ guō | Sichuan/ Chongqing hotpot
16. 担担面 | dàn dàn miàn | minced pork noodles with chili oil and Sichuan pepper
17. 辣子鸡 | làzǐjī | dry chili chicken
Xi’an and Shaanxi cuisine
18. 肉夹馍 | ròu jiā mó | meat flatbread
19. 油泼扯面 | biáng biáng miàn | hand pulled noodles in spicy sauce
20. 羊肉泡馍 | yáng ròu pào mó | shredded flatbread soaked in lamb soup
21. 凉皮 | liáng pí | cold noodles in chili and vinegar sauce
22. 烤肉串 | kǎo ròu chuàn | grilled meat skewers
All over China
23. 糖醋里脊/咕噜肉 | táng cù lǐ jǐ / gū lū ròu | sweet and sour pork (various styles)
24. 番茄炒蛋 | fān qié chǎo dàn | scrambled eggs and tomatoes
25. 葱油饼 | cōng yóu bǐng | scallion pancake
Soups
26. 酸辣汤 | suān là tāng | hot and sour soup
27. 冬瓜汤 | dōng guā tāng | winter melon soup
28. 玉米排骨汤 | pái gǔ tāng | pork ribs with carrots and sweetcorn soup
Cantonese cuisine (Cantonese / Mandarin pronunciation)
29. 虾饺 | har gow / xiā jiǎo | shrimp dumplings
30. 烧卖 | siu maai / shāo mài | pork dumplings
31. 肠粉 | cheung fun / cháng fěn | rice noodle rolls
32. 叉烧包 | cha siu bao / chā shāo bāo | barbecued pork buns
33. 奶黄包 | naai wong baau / nǎi huáng bāo | custard buns
34. 叉烧 | char siu / chā shāo | barbecued pork
35. 广式烧鹅 | siu ngo / shāo é | Cantonese roast goose
36. 烧乳鸽 | siu yu gap / shāo rǔ gē | roast pigeon
37. 云吞面 | wan tan min / yún tūn miàn | won ton noodles
38. 干炒牛河 | gān chǎo níu hé | stir fried beef rice noodles
39. 春卷 | chūn juǎn | spring rolls
40. 炸云吞 | zhá yún tūn | deep fried won ton
41. 锅贴 | guō tiē | pan fried dumplings
42. 椒盐虾 | jiāo yán xiā | salt and pepper prawns
43. 清蒸鱼 | qīng zhēng yú | steamed fish
44. 煲仔饭 | bāo zǎi fàn | claypot rice
Rice and Noodles
45. 炒面 | chǎo miàn | chow mein
46. 炒米粉 | chǎo mǐ fěn | fried vermicelli
47. 牛肉面 | niú ròu miàn | beef noodle soup
48. 蛋炒饭 | dàn chǎo fàn | egg fried rice
Breakfast
49. 煎饼 | jiān bǐng | crepe with various fillings (many varieties)
50. 油条 | yóu tiáo | deep fried dough
51. 粥 | zhōu | congee (many varieties)
52. 包子 | bāo zi | steamed buns (many varieties)
53. 牛肉饼 | niú ròu bǐng | beef pastry
❗All dumplings and buns on this page are suitable for breakfast. Please do not limit yourself to this little section. Even better, go crazy while you’re here.
Desserts and Snacks
54. 菠萝包 | bō luó bāo | pineapple bun
55. 豆花 | dòu huā | tofu pudding
56. 红豆沙 | hóng dòu shā | red bean soup
57. 汤圆 | tāng yuán | rice flour dumplings
58. 杨枝甘露 | yáng zhī gān lù | mango sago
59. 蛋挞 | dàn tǎ | egg tart
60. 双皮奶 | shuāng pí nǎi | double-skin milk
