Here are a few simple dishes that are favorites of people across China.
Download a printable more complete menu in PDF format.
For Pictures of Chinese Dishes including the ones listed below please visit the link.

1. Earth, Three, Fresh – 地三鲜 – Di San Xian – The dish is a succulent mix of potatoes, sweet peppers, and eggplant fried in a brown sauce. Mainly eaten in north eastern China but found throughout.
2. Tomato Fried Eggs – 西红柿炒鸡蛋 – XiHongShi Chao JiDan. This ubiquitous dish is another icon of Chinese cooking. People say that eggs and tomato were made to be together and maybe that is the reason every place seems to have it. It is always quick to arrive at the table, simple to make, tasty, and cheap. A perfect dish to include in your repertoire. Do to different dialects, in some places it may be called as fanqie chaojidan 番茄炒鸡蛋.
3. Thin Potato Strips – 土豆丝 – TuDou Si – Another simple dish that all kitchens in China serve. If they have potatoes, a knife and a wok they can make it! But the story of sliced potatoes isn’t as simple as it would appear; restaurants serve this dish in a variety of styles that you will need to choose from. The most common is qingchao 清炒 clear fried. Expect just plain potatoes fried in a bit of oil. As simple as potatoes get. Then the next level up the tudousi 土豆丝¸ ladder is suan la 酸辣 sour hot. Finally, there is the Xiangla 香辣. This is by far the most addictive style so be mindful of how many times you order it. For this dish ultra thin slices of deep fried potato are mixed with hot peppers, sprinkled with spices, then heaped into a tall pile for serving.
4. Slapped Cucumber! 拍黄瓜 Pai HuangGua- A constant in everyones China diet. This cold dish is a great starter and also an effective palate primer. The simple and potent combination of cucumber, oil, and garlic gets any meal started off on a good note.
5. Peanuts in Vinegar 老醋花生 Lao Cu HuaShengMi Old Vinegar Peanuts – Another cold dish and another useful palate teaser. The dish is just what it says it is peanuts in vinegar. Plus, if you need an extra dose, the peanuts are a good source of protein…
6. Sesame Paste Lettuce 麻酱油麦菜 Majiang youmaicai – fresh vegetables are often hard to come across in China because many people prefer to eat food that has been cooked. This dish however is a shinning example of freshness with its cool sesame dressing and crisp lettuce leaves. Majiang Youmaicai works as a great complimentary dish.
7. Fish Flavored Eggplant, 鱼香茄子 YuXiang Qiezi. Don’t worry this is still a vegetarian dish even though the name might make you think otherwise. The dish originates from the western chinese province of Sichuan. Sichuan is known for its spicy food and flavorful cooking. This eggplant dish incorporates both into a great sweet and slightly spicy entree.
8. KungPao Tofu, Gongbao Doufu – 宫爆豆腐 (palace eruption tofu). I haven’t seen this dish in many restaurants in China. In fact I have only seen it in 2 to date. But it was so good both times that I thought it deserved to be on the list. If you are in the beijing area I have included a map so you can visit the restaurant yourself.