When ordering Chinese food, many of us fall back on familiar favorites like lo mein or sweet and sour chicken. But there’s a whole world of incredible dishes hiding in plain sight on those menus!
I’ve rounded up 10 underappreciated Chinese dishes worth trying next time, plus 5 popular options that might not deserve their spotlight status.
1. Mapo Tofu: Spicy Sichuan Sensation
Silky tofu swimming in a fiery red sauce dotted with ground pork creates magic in your mouth. The numbing Sichuan peppercorns make your taste buds tingle in the most delightful way.
Don’t let tofu’s bland reputation fool you – this dish packs serious flavor punch!
2. Congee: The Ultimate Comfort Bowl
Rice porridge might sound boring until you try congee topped with crispy fried dough, century eggs, or tender pork floss. This breakfast staple doubles as sick-day medicine in Chinese households.
Warm, filling, and infinitely customizable – it’s like a hug in bowl form!
3. Xiao Long Bao: Soup Dumplings Worth The Burn
Ever had soup inside a dumpling? Little wonders contain meat filling plus gelatin that melts into broth when steamed. The proper technique: nibble, slurp, then eat.
Yes, you might burn your tongue. No, you won’t regret it for a second!
4. Dry-Fried String Beans: Veggie Game-Changer
Forget mushy vegetables! Green beans are blistered in hot oil until wrinkled, then stir-fried with minced pork, garlic and Sichuan peppercorns. The wrinkly exterior hides an explosion of umami inside.
Even vegetable skeptics find themselves reaching for seconds.
5. Scallion Pancakes: Flaky Flavor Discs
Imagine buttery, flaky layers with fragrant scallions folded inside a crispy-chewy pancake. The dough gets rolled, coiled, and flattened multiple times to create those perfect layers.
Tear off a piece, dunk in black vinegar, and experience textural heaven!
6. Dan Dan Noodles: Spicy Peanut Perfection
A tangle of chewy noodles sits beneath a mountain of spicy, numbing sauce laced with peanuts, preserved vegetables, and ground pork. The name comes from street vendors who carried poles (dan) with noodle buckets.
Mix thoroughly before eating for flavor nirvana!
7. Salt And Pepper Squid: Crispy Seafood Delight
Tender squid pieces get coated in a whisper-thin batter before being flash-fried and tossed with salt, pepper, chilies, and garlic. Each bite delivers perfect crunch followed by juicy squid.
The simple seasoning lets the fresh seafood shine brilliantly!
8. Char Siu: Sweet-Savory Pork Candy
That glossy red pork in your fried rice deserves its own spotlight! Char siu marinates in a blend of five-spice, honey, hoisin, and rose wine before slow-roasting to caramelized perfection.
The edges get sticky-sweet while the center stays juicy and tender.
9. Hot Pot: Interactive Flavor Adventure
Why let someone else cook when you can DIY? Hot pot features a simmering broth centerpiece where you cook thinly sliced meats, seafood, vegetables, and noodles tableside. Each morsel absorbs the rich broth flavors.
Half the fun is creating your perfect dipping sauce!
10. Twice-Cooked Pork: Belly-Good Flavor
Pork belly gets boiled until tender, then sliced thin and stir-fried with leeks, fermented black beans, and chili bean paste. The edges crisp beautifully while the fat renders into melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
Spooned over rice, it’s pure comfort food magic!
11. RETHINK: General Tso’s Chicken
This sticky-sweet deep-fried favorite isn’t actually from China – it was invented in New York! While tasty, it bears little resemblance to authentic Chinese cuisine.
The heavy breading and sugary sauce mask the chicken’s flavor completely. Try something more authentic next time!
12. RETHINK: Crab Rangoon
Those crispy cream cheese wontons? Pure American invention! Real Chinese cuisine rarely uses dairy products like cream cheese. While undeniably delicious as a guilty pleasure, they’re about as authentic as fortune cookies.
Save stomach space for genuine Chinese appetizers instead.
13. RETHINK: Egg Rolls
American egg rolls with thick, bubbly wrappers stuffed with cabbage and mystery meat are distant cousins of delicate Chinese spring rolls. The authentic versions use thin, crispy wrappers with fresh fillings.
Next time, ask if they have spring rolls instead!
14. RETHINK: Sweet And Sour Chicken
That neon orange sauce drowning chunks of battered chicken? It’s mostly corn syrup and food coloring. Authentic Chinese sweet and sour dishes use natural ingredients like hawthorn fruit and rice vinegar for subtle tanginess.
Your taste buds deserve more complexity!
15. RETHINK: Fortune Cookies
Surprise! These after-meal treats were invented in California, not China. You won’t find them in any restaurant in Beijing or Shanghai. They’re actually based on a Japanese cookie recipe!
Chinese meals traditionally end with fresh fruit, not cryptic paper messages.