Enjoying A Meal At A Chinese Restaurant

When it comes to eating out there is no doubt that one of the most popular options is Chinese cuisine. Such a range of options when it comes to whether you want to eat more healthy, a huge variety of dishes using differing herbs, spices and produce, it makes sense that it is a favourite for many people. But what often happens is you find a few preferred dishes and then order those each time you visit or get take out. Special fried, rice, chicken chow main, General tao chicken, pork balls and so on. But Chinese food has a lot more delicious items on the menu so why not try something different and explore more options? Here is a look at the regional styles you might check out.

Understanding the different Chinese culinary regions

While you could just work your way through the menu it might help you to understand that just as there are different regions here with different regional foods too, so too does China. In general, you have Northern and Southern cuisine and the differences in them come down to the difference in the climates of the two. The north is colder so dishes reflect that with heavier dishes with noodles and dumplings and a lot of use of vinegar, garlic and oil. In the South, it is warmer and more produce grows so more produce is found in the dishes along with more a leaning towards rice. You might have a Chinese restaurant that features dishes from both areas, but some also focus on one or the other. 

You can then break down those styles further into regional flavours and selections.

• Hunan - Dishes from Hunan are commonly cured or steamed and their flavour profiles are on the sour and spicy side.   
• Sichuan - A great option to have alongside something mild or a soup as this region is known for its fiery and spicier dishes.    
• Fujian - Very colourful with vinegar and wine as key flavours, seafood is a big specialty in this region.  
• Canton - Actually comes from Chinese chefs in Hong Kong with varied ingredients but fast cooking dishes that are fragrant and fresh.  
• Anhui - Uses herbs and wild game and can be quite oily, popular cooking methods are stewing and braising.   
• Jiangsu - Food in the regions has an interesting mix of sweet and salty flavours and is known for wonderful sauces and soups.   
• Zhejiang - There are three types of Chinese cuisine here, Hangzhou, very crisp and tasty, Shaoxing which leans heavily on poultry dishes and Ningbo that is salty and favours seafood.  

Summary 

With this kind of knowledge when you next head out for a good meal at a good Chinese restaurant you can scan the menu with a better understanding of flavour profiles as well as meats and vegetables used. Explore the regions one at a time, or mix styles as you prefer depending on what you enjoy and what your restaurant offers!