Below is a mouth-watering array of main course (meat) dishes from all over China. They are arranged in the following order:
- Red meat: beef, lamb, pork, donkey and horse;
- White meat: chicken, duck, goose, pigeon, fish and seafood;
- Vegetarian options: rice, noodles, tofu, and vegetable dishes.
A selection of the top dishes from each type has been included. For the full menus click on the titles.
Beef Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skillet Beef | Tieban Niurou | Tyeah-ban nyoh-roh | 铁板牛肉 |
| Cumin Beef | Ziran Niurou | Dzrr-ran nyoh-roh | 孜然牛肉 |
| Black Pepper Beef | Heijiao Niurou | Hay-jyaoww nyoh-roh | 黑椒牛肉 |
| Stir-Fried Beef and Green Peppers | Qingjiao Chao Niuroh | Ching-jyaoww chaoww nyoh-roh | 青椒炒牛肉 |
| Stir-Fried Beef and Potatoes | Tudou Chao Niurou | Too-doh chaoww nyoh-roh | 土豆炒牛肉 |
Lamb Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xinjiang Roast Whole Lamb | Xinjiang Kao Quan Yang | Sshyin-jyang | 新疆烤全羊 |
| Northeast Mutton Slice Hot Pot | Dongbei Shuan Yangrou | Dong-bay shwann yang-roh | 东北涮羊肉 |
| Inner Mongolia Roast Mutton | Menggu Kaorou | Mnng-goo kaoww-roh | 蒙古烤肉 |
Pork Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roast Pork | Cha shao |
Cha-shaoww |
叉烧 |
| Red-Fried Pork | Hong shao rou | Hong-shaoww-roh | 红烧肉 |
| Sweet and Sour Fillet of Pork | Tangcu Liji | Tung-tsoo lee-jee | 糖醋里脊 |
| Steamed Pork | Kou Rou | Koh-roh | 扣肉 |
Donkey and Horse Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Five Spice Sauce Donkey | Wu Xiang Jiang Lürou | Woo sshyang jyang lyoo-roh | 五香酱驴肉 |
| Pingxiang Donkey | Pingxiang Lürou | Ping-sshyang lyoo-roh | 萍乡驴肉 |
| Ili Horse Meat | Yili Marou | ee-lee maa-roh | 伊犁马肉 |
Chicken Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kung Pao Chicken (Spicy Diced Chicken with Cashews/Peanuts) | Gong Bao Ji Ding | Gong baoww jee ding | 宫保鸡丁 |
| Xinjiang Large Tray Chicken | Xinjiang Dapanji | Sshin-jyang daa-pan-jee | 新疆大盘鸡 |
| Hangzhou Beggars' Chicken | Hangzhou Jiaohua Ji | Hung-joh jyaoww-hwaa jee | 杭州叫花鸡 |
| Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce | Tangcu Ji Kuai | Tung-tsoo jee kweye | 糖醋鸡块 |
| Soft–Fried Chicken with Lemon Sauce | Xi Ning Jian Ruan Ji | Sshee ning jyen rwan jee | 西柠煎软鸡 |
Duck Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing Roast Duck | Beijing Kaoya | Bay-jing kaoww-yaa | 北京烤鸭 |
| Quanzhou Ginger (Female) Duck | Quanzhou Jiang Muya | Chwen-joh jyang moo-yaa | 泉州姜母鸭 |
| Nanjing Brine-Boiled Duck | Nanjing Yanshui Ya | Nan-jing yen-shway yaa | 南京盐水鸭 |
| Hangzhou Old Duck Soup | Hangzhou Lao Ya Bao | Hung-joh laoww yaa baoww | 杭州老鸭煲 |
Goose Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roast Goose | Kao E | Kaoww Er | 烧鹅 |
| Steamed Goose Feet | Qingzheng E Zhang | Ching-jnng er jung | 清蒸鹅掌 |
Pigeon Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pigeons Marinated in Soya Paste Sauce | Jiang Zhi Gezi | Jyang jrr ger-dzuh | 酱汁鸽子 |
| Five Spice Pigeon | Wuxiang Gezi | Woo sshyang ger-dzuh | 五香鸽子 |
| Deep-Fried Pigeon | You Lin Gezi | Yoh lin ger-dzuh | 油淋鸽子 |
| Deep Fried Pigeon in Spicy Sauce | Lu Zha Luan Ge | Loo jaa lwan ger | 卤炸乳鸽 |
Fish Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yangshuo Beer Fish | Yangshuo Pijiu Yu | Yung-shwor pee-jyoh yoo | 阳朔啤酒鱼 |
| West Lake Vinegar Fish | Xihu Cu Yu | Sshee-hoo tsoo yoo | 西湖醋鱼 |
| Sichuan Poached Fish Fillets in Hot Chili Oil | Sichuan Shuizhuyu | Srr-chwann shway-joo-yoo | 四川水煮鱼 |
| Broth-Steamed Bass | Qingzheng Luyu | Ching-jnngloo-yoo | 清蒸鲈鱼 |
Seafood Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steamed Turtle | Qingzheng Jiayu | Ching-zhnng jyaa-yoo | 清蒸甲鱼 |
| Oil Braised King Prawns | You Men Da Xia | Yoh mnn daa sshyaa | 油焖大虾 |
| Macao Portuguese Fresh Garden Oysters | Aomen Pu Yuan Sheng Hao | Aoww-mnn poo ywen shnng haoww | 澳门葡园生蚝 |
| Dry-Fried Shredded Squid with Peppers | Gan Bian Youyu Si | Gan byen yoh-yoo srr | 干煸鱿鱼丝 |
Other Meat Dishes
Rice Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egg Fried Rice | jīdàn chǎo fàn | jee-dan chaoww-fan | 鸡蛋炒饭 |
| Eight Delicacies Rice | bābǎo fàn | baa-baoww fan | 八宝饭 |
| Fried Rice with Pickled Vegetables | pào cài chǎo fàn | paoww tseye chaoww-fan | 泡菜炒饭 |
| Rice in Shredded Vegetable Soup, Shanghai Style | Shànghǎi pào fàn | shaung-heye paoww fan | 上海泡饭 |
| Fried Rice with Vegetables | shūcài chǎo fàn | shoo-tseye chaoww fan | 蔬菜炒饭 |
Noodle Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noodles with Beef in Brown Sauce | Hongshao Niurou Mian | Hong-shaoww nyoh-roh myen | 红烧牛肉面 |
| Beef Stretched Noodles | Niurou Lamian | Nyoh-roh laa-myen | 牛肉拉面 |
| Sliced Noodles | Daoxiao Mian | Daoww-sshyaoww myen | 刀削面 |
| Soybean Paste | Zhajiang Mian | Jaa-jyang myen | 炸酱面 |
| Rice Noodles in Red Oil | Guilin Hongyou Mifen | Gway-lin hong-yoh mee-fnn | 桂林红油米粉 |
Tofu Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bean Curd with Mince and Chili Oil | Mapo Doufu | maa-por doh-foo | 麻婆豆腐 |
| Tofu Soup | Doufu Tang | doh-foo tung | 豆腐汤 |
| Tofu and Chopped Scallion Soup | Xiaocong Ban Doufu | sshyaoww-tsong ban doh-foo | 小葱拌豆腐 |
| Tofu Jelly | Doufu Nao | doh-foo naoww | 豆腐脑 |
| Tofu and Shrimp Balls | Doufu Xian Xia Wan | doh-foo sshyen sshyaa wan | 豆腐鲜虾丸 |
Vegetable Dishes
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fried Spicy Vegetarian Beef | Xiang La Su Niurou | Sshyang laa soo nyoh-roh | 香辣素牛肉 |
| Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs | Su Chao Tangcu Paigu | Soo chaoww tung-tsoo peye-goo | 素炒糖醋排骨 |
| Vegetarian Ham | Su Huotui | Soo hwor-tway | 素火腿 |
| Vegetarian Ants Climb Tree (vermicelli with spicy silk noodles) | Su Mayi Shang Shu | Soo maa-ee shung shoo | 素蚂蚁上树 |
| Vegetarian Drumstick with Western Gravy | Xi Zhi Su Ji Tui | Sshee jrr soo jee tway | 西汁素鸡腿 |
| Crispy Roast Duck | Cui Pi Kaoya | Tsway pee kaoww-yaa | 脆皮烧鸭 |
| Luojiang Fried Bean Duck | Luojiang Dou Ya | Lwor-jyang doh yaa | 罗江豆鸭 |
| Fried Vegetarian Crab Meat | Chao Su Xiefen | Chaoww soo sshyeah-fnn | 炒素蟹粉 |
| Seven Color Shitake Mushrooms | Qicai Xianggu | Chee tseye sshyang-goo | 七彩香菇 |
| Fried Pickle Cabbage and Bean Sprouts | Xuecai Chao Douya | Sshwair-tseye chaoww doh-yaa | 雪菜炒豆芽 |
