Must try food in China. 25+ most famous dishes & best food to eat in China in your lifetime

Which Chinese specialty is the most worth trying on your travel itinerary? Let Klook tell you about the delicious Chinese dishes that are popular with tourists through the must try food in china blog with 25+ most famous and best food to eat in China in your lifetime below!

When it comes to Chinese cuisine, you will not only think of the richness and diversity of dishes but also remember the delicate combination of flavors, colors and ways to enjoy them. From the rich flavors of noodles to the sophistication of steamed and grilled dishes, enjoying Chinese food is not only a part of the culture but also an extremely interesting journey of discovery. Let’s join Klook to check out the dishes that cannot be missed when you travel to this country.

Peking Duck – Chinese Specialty (#Must try food in China)

Peking duck (roasted duck) is one the most typical, signature, legendary and famous dishes, Peking duck has become a symbol of Chinese cuisine. Before roasting, the duck is thoroughly cleaned and marinated with typical spices such as malt, red vinegar, five-spice powder and other ingredients.

The special feature of Peking duck is the dark brown, thin and crispy skin, creating an attractive and flavorful outer layer. You can enjoy it with dumplings, raw vegetables and sweet sauce to enhance the deliciousness of the dish.

Sweet and Sour Pork

Sweet and Sour Pork is a popular dish in Chinese cuisine and is also loved by many people around the world. The characteristic of this dish is the harmonious combination of sourness from vinegar, sweetness from sugar and rich flavor of pork.

The most important part of sweet and sour pork is the sauce. The sauce is made from a combination of rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, tomato sauce, and some other spices such as garlic, ginger, and pepper. When the sauce has thickened and has the desired richness, it will be poured over the well-done stir-fried pork.

Sichuan Tofu

Without being too fussy in preparation, Sichuan tofu still brings you a surprising and interesting culinary experience.

When you enjoy Sichuan tofu, you will be tasted the rich and diverse flavors of the ingredients. The soft and smooth young bean curd, delicious shiitake mushrooms, minced meat soaked in spices and spices such as oyster sauce, sesame oil, fish sauce, and pepper are perfectly combined, creating a wonderful harmony.

Yangzhou Fried Rice

The origin of Yangzhou fried rice is recorded from the Qing Dynasty (1754) when Mr. Y Bingshu in the Tangzhou region created this dish.

Yangzhou fried rice is a sophisticated combination of simple but rich ingredients such as char siu, Chinese sausage, peas, and some vegetables. Each ingredient contributes to the rich and unique flavor of the dish, creating the magic and irresistible appeal of this rice dish.

Wonton Noodles

A unique combination of noodles and wontons, this dish not only requires high cooking skills of the chef but also meticulousness and sophistication in every detail.

The noodles need to be cooked just enough, soft but still retain their natural toughness and beautiful golden color. The wontons need to have a thin and even skin, revealing the soft and flavorful filling inside. Finally, the broth needs to have a moderate sweet taste, blending with the other ingredients in the bowl of noodles.

Stinky Tofu – Weird Chinese Dish

Stinky tofu is a popular street food, often appearing in night markets and Chinese streets.

Stinky tofu is usually made from fresh tofu, then fermented in brine. Each store or processor has its own way of making it, creating diversity and a unique flavor for the dish. Various ingredients and spices can be added during the marinating process to create a special flavor for the tofu.

Hainanese Chicken Rice – Easy-to-Eat Chinese Specialty

The special and notable thing about the signature Hainanese chicken rice is the way the chicken is processed and prepared. The chicken is usually marinated and cooked in a richly flavored broth. Meanwhile, the rice is often cooked in the chicken broth, creating a specially delectable flavor.

Hainanese chicken rice is often served with a wide range of spices and fresh raw vegetables. Some places also provide spicy or sweet and sour sauces to stimulate your taste buds.

Various Delicious Chinese Hot Pots (#must eat food in china)

Enjoying Chinese hot pots is a fascinating and interesting culinary experience. At Chinese hot pot restaurants, you can choose from a variety of hot pots such as Thai hot pot, Mala hot pot, Sichuan spicy hot pot, beef hot pot, tomato hot pot, mushroom hot pot, etc.

Enjoying hot pots is not only about enjoying delicious flavors but also a great way to spend time with friends and family. That is why Chinese hot pot has become an indispensable part of the rich and diverse cuisine of this country.

Longevity noodles

Originating from Zhejiang province more than 300 years ago, longevity noodles are special in that the noodles are kept at their original length, not cut short like other types of noodles.

When enjoying longevity noodles, you will have to eat the whole long noodle in one breath, without dividing or cutting it short. This action contains a profound meaning of longevity and health. In Chinese folk thinking, longevity noodles are often considered a symbol of longevity and good luck, bringing health and happiness to those who enjoy them.

Liu Sha Bao (Molten Custard Salted Egg Buns)

Liu Sha Bao is the perfect combination of a flour crust, combined with salted egg yolk and condensed milk filling.

When you bite into each piece of Liu Sha Bao, you will immediately be captivated by the blend of different flavors. The saltiness of salted egg combined with the sweetness of condensed milk creates a wonderful contrast, highlighting the richness of the filling. Each bite is not only a taste experience but also a journey through Chinese culture and culinary traditions.

Braised Pork Belly Dong Po Rou

The type of meat used in Dong Po braised pork is pork belly, with an ideal ratio of fat and lean meat. Therefore, when you eat it, you will feel the soft, fatty meat but not greasy, and occasionally the spicy wine flavor stimulates the taste buds.

The process of preparing Dong Po braised pork is not just a simple cooking process but also a delicate process, requiring meticulousness and patience. The meat is often marinated with spices such as garlic, pepper, sugar, fish sauce, and a little wine to create a special flavor. Then, the meat will be cooked in delicious coconut water and rich fish sauce until the spices are absorbed.

Jiaozi, Har gow Dumplings

Jiaozi dumplings are usually made from thin and transparent dough, made from flour and water. The filling inside is usually a mixture of pork or shrimp, seasoned to taste to create a rich and distinctive flavor.

Meanwhile, Har gow dumplings have a thicker crust and especially have a folded top like a lid, creating a beautiful shape. Dumplings are usually shrimp or prawn meat with spices such as onions, fish sauce, pepper, and a little oil to add more fat and deliciousness.

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall – Nutritious Chinese Food

Classified as a “delicacy”, this dish not only brings great flavor but is also a manifestation of luxury and class at the banquet table. The preparation process of this dish requires carefulness. Each ingredient such as shark fin, pig’s feet, chicken breast, dried scallops, abalone, … will be steamed separately in a jar, ensuring to retain the best flavor and nutrients.

After that, these ingredients will be combined in a small clay pot and cooked with Shaoxing wine and ginger. After about 15 minutes, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall will absorb the flavor and have a wonderful taste.

Beggar’s Chicken – Famous Chinese Specialty in Movies

Beggar’s Chicken is not only a delicious dish but also a part of China’s unique and rich cultural heritage. The process of preparing clay-roasted chicken begins with the selection of fresh chicken. The chicken is then marinated with fresh ginger, lemon leaves, garlic, and other spices.

Next, the chicken is wrapped in foil and clay. This process not only keeps the chicken moist but also retains the flavor of the spices throughout the baking process.

Duck Noodles – Nutritious Chinese Delicacy

Duck noodles are not only a delicious meal but also an experience of flavor and nutritional value. This dish is a delicate combination of duck meat, noodles, herbs, and spices including osmanthus, star anise, cloves, and some other spices. Next, the duck is cooked with a delicious broth. During this process, noodles are also added to the pot to cook and absorb the flavor of the broth, creating a rich and attractive taste.

Nian Gao (Chinese Sweet Glutinous Rice Cake) – Traditional Chinese Delicacy

Nian Gao is a traditional dish in Chinese cuisine, especially prepared and enjoyed during the Lunar New Year. This dish has both profound cultural value and is a symbol of family connection and unity.

Nian Gao is usually made from simple ingredients such as glutinous rice flour, sugar, banana leaves and coconut milk. The process of making Nian Gao requires meticulousness and patience, from kneading the dough, cooking the filling, to wrapping the cake.

Guoqiao Mixian (Crossing-the-bridge noodles) – The Essence of Chinese Cuisine

This is a traditional dish in Yunnan, to create a perfect bowl of Crossing the bridge noodles, the cook needs to invest in preparing a pot of delicious broth.

When eating, you will drop noodles, fish or shrimp, quail eggs, vegetables, vinegar, green onions, coriander, and fresh chili into the boiling broth. The heat from the broth will gradually cook everything and absorb the flavor.

Chinese Lamb Hot Pot

Enjoying lamb hot pot is a rich and nutritious meal. This hot pot combines fresh lamb and herbs, creating a unique and attractive flavor that no one can resist.

For the best experience, you will dip the lamb into the boiling hot pot so that the meat is just cooked, retaining the natural softness and sweetness of the meat. The aroma and sweetness of the broth along with the characteristic flavor of the lamb will bring you the perfect taste experience.

Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles

A specialty of Gansu province, Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles appeared during the reign of Emperor Guangxu and have since become an indispensable part of Chinese cuisine.

The noodle making process begins with making broth from bones combined with crispy and sweet white radish, red pepper, and green vegetables. However, the most important step is pulling the noodles. To get thin, even and chewy noodles, the cook needs to have delicate and precise noodle pulling techniques.

Cantonese Spring Rolls

Cantonese spring rolls are prepared quite simply with easy-to-find ingredients such as meat, shrimp, crab meat, century eggs and some common spices. The preparation process of this dish begins with chopping the main ingredients, and mixing them together to create a uniform and flavorful mixture.

Once the mixture is ready, the cook will use soft rice paper sheets to wrap and roll the spring rolls, then fry them in hot oil until the spring rolls are evenly golden brown.

Crispy Fried Noodles

A dish made from noodles that are fried at high temperatures and stir-fried with vegetables, meat, seafood and spices, creating an attractive and rich flavor.

Like the name of the dish, you will experience the unique flavor and crispy feeling of the noodles, along with the blend of vegetables, meat and seafood. Crispy fried noodles is not only a delicious dish but also an experience of the special flavors and culinary sensations of Chinese cuisine.

Kung Pao Chicken – Famous Chinese-Style Delicacy

Kung Pao Chicken is popular in Sichuan and Guizhou and is known for its rich, distinctive flavor.

When enjoying it, you will feel the perfect combination of soft, sweet chicken, fatty peanuts, and the characteristic spicy taste of chili. Each piece of chicken is imbued with the flavor of spices, creating a unique and attractive culinary experience.

Roujiamo – Chinese-Style Hamburger

Also known as the Chinese version of a “burger”, fried cakes are a street food with a crispy crust combined with shredded meat or other fillings. This street food originated in Shaanxi province, one of the famous destinations with diverse and rich cuisine in China.

Doughnuts are both a delicious dessert choice and a demonstration of the creativity and sophistication in the culinary arts of local people.

Candied Fruit (Tanghulu) – Famous Chinese Sweets

Candied fruit is a popular fruit candy in China. It is often seen on bustling streets, with red skewers attached to bamboo sticks.

The fruits commonly used to make candied fruit are hawthorn, citrus, cherry tomatoes, etc. The diverse and rich flavors of the fruits also make each piece of candy a unique and interesting culinary experience.

Candied Chestnuts – Delicious Chinese Snacks

Often sold on the streets, in night markets, candied chestnuts are a traditional Chinese snack, famous for their sweet taste and characteristic crunchy taste.

To prepare this dish, the cook usually starts by selecting fresh chestnuts and then roasting them in hot oil until they are golden brown and crispy. Next, the chestnuts are rolled in a layer of melted sugar, creating a thin, smooth sugar coating on the outside. This process creates a sweet flavor and a characteristic crispy shell, making the dish attractive and unique.

Enjoying Chinese food is a journey to discover the richness and diversity of this country’s culinary culture. Each dish is a delicate work of art, carrying a combination of ingredients, cooking techniques and traditional recipes.

The post first appeared on Klook Vietnam and was translated and edited by Living Nomads. If you find any images or text that belong to you, please contact us, so we can credit you or give us permission to use them. Thank you very much!

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Shanghai you can refer to

• Shanghai By Night
• Best of Shanghai Half Day Tour
• Essential Shanghai 3 Day Private Tour
• Shanghai Museum Half Day Tour
• 2 Days Shanghai Private Tour
• Modern Shanghai Private Day Tour
• Shanghai City Walking Tour
• Traditional Shanghai Private Day Tour
• Private Shanghai Classic Full Day Bike Tour
• Shanghai Disneyland Admission Ticket
• Shanghai Disneyland Admission (90 days calendar)
• Huangpu River Cruise（Qingjiang Line）
• Yu Garden Admission Ticket in Shanghai
• Shanghai Tower 118th Floor Observation Deck Ticket
• Shanghai Bund Sightseeing Tunnel
• Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park Ticket
• Shanghai Pudong International Airport Transfers
• [World Highest Skywalk] Shanghai Jin Mao Tower 88th Floor Exclusive Skywalk Experience
• [Bund View·Klook Exclusive] Shanghai Magic Jungle Ticket
• Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden
• Shanghai EF PARK Power Formula Park
• Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass
• Shanghai Disneyland (1 Day Admission/2 Day Admission)
• Oriental Pearl Tower
• CMHK | HK 7 Days unlimited data + 200 HK Local Mins + 1GB Mainland China and Macau data (HK Airport Pick Up)
• [Thailand Pick Up] Dtac GO INTER SIM Card Zone 1(Asia, Australia, USA, exclude Thailand)
• 4G LTE WiFi (MNL Airport Pick Up) for Asia
• 4G Portable WiFi (Manila Delivery) for Asia
• [Unlimited Data] 4G Portable WiFi for Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau from Uroaming (HK Airport Pick Up)
• 4G WiFi (HK Airport Pick Up) for Hong Kong/Macau/China (No Speed Limited) from Song WiFi

Read more Shanghai guide here.