It is wise to learn something about how to order at restaurants in the city, and here are some suggestions.
Sichuan Cuisine made it a hit online during the third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting, held July 23-24 in Chengdu, as Mapo Tofu and Double-cooked Pork Slices, two common homemade dishes in Sichuan, were the most popular orders among the guests at the event from all over the world. Chengdu is to host an increasing number of international events and welcome more and more visitors, and it is wise to learn something about how to order at restaurants in the city. Here are some suggestions.
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Suggestion 1:
Know the name of some common Sichuan dishes：
|
Type
|
English Name
|
Chinese Name
|
Pinyin
|
|
Sanck
|
Hot pot
|
火锅
|
huǒ guō
|
|
Chuan Chuan
|
串串
|
chuàn chuàn
|
|
|
Pot Chicken
|
钵钵鸡
|
bō bō jī
|
|
|
Mao Cai
|
冒菜
|
mào cài
|
|
|
Staple Food
|
rice
|
米饭
|
mǐ fàn
|
|
fried rice
|
炒饭
|
chǎo fàn
|
|
|
Dandan noodles
|
担担面
|
dàn dàn miàn
|
|
|
Yibin spicy noodles
|
宜宾燃面
|
yíbīn rán miàn
|
|
|
sauce noodles
|
炸酱面
|
zhá jiàng miàn
|
|
|
Dessert
|
cold Jelly
|
冰粉
|
bīng fěn
|
|
cool cake
|
凉糕
|
liáng gāo
|
|
|
shredded starch
|
凉虾
|
liáng xiā
|
|
|
Popular Dish's Name
|
Mapo Tofu
|
麻婆豆腐
|
má pó dòu fu
|
|
Kung Pao Chicken
|
宫保鸡丁
|
gōng bǎo jī dīng
|
|
|
Fish-flavored Shredded Pork
|
鱼香肉丝
|
yú xiāng ròu sī
|
Kung Pao Chicken (Spicy diced chicken with peanuts)
Suggestion 2:
How to read menu
It will be nice if the menu has English translation. If not, you must know the general way to name local dishes: there are two parts in the names, the first part indicates the cooking methods — steaming, stir frying, boiling, braising etc., and the latter indicates the ingredients. Check it in your guidebooks and you could have what you want.
How to read menu
It will be nice if the menu has English translation. If not, you must know the general way to name local dishes: there are two parts in the names, the first part indicates the cooking methods — steaming, stir frying, boiling, braising etc., and the latter indicates the ingredients. Check it in your guidebooks and you could have what you want.
Suggestion 3:
Tips to order
Tips to order
- You will be lucky if someone around you can speak Englsih and you can order what you want directly. But if there is no such person, you have another option — copy the order by your neighbors.
- If the menu has pictures, just point to what you want.
- Some tools are recommended: Google Tranlation or language translation App.
- Try to learn some basic Chinese to order dishes or ask native people for help.
- To get the best Chinese food, ask Chinese foodies: friends, colleagues, or people in the community who are interested in authentic flavors.
- Remeber to remind the restaurant of the spicy level you want — light, medium or very spicy, even if they do not ask.
|
Phrase
|
Chinese
|
Pinyin
|
|
I don't want chilies.
|
我不要辣。
|
Wǒ bú yào là.
|
|
I don't want MSG.
|
我不要味精。
|
Wǒ bú yào wèijìng.
|
|
I don't want it too salty.
|
我不要太咸。
|
Wǒ bú yào tài xián.
|
First Touch of Authentic Sichuan Food
Gastronomic enthusiasts Marc (France) and Arturo (the US) came to Daronghe Restaurant in Chengdu to learn how to cook Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken.
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