Explore｜The Ultimate Guide to Chinese Food

As a foreigner in China, the first thing you’ll realize about Chinese food is that it’s nothing like the "Chinese food" back home. Say goodbye to your orange chicken, General Tso, and fortune cookies. Welcome to the land of spicy, soupy, and smoky flavors that can either make you a kung fu master or a helpless noob.

But wait—how do you even describe Chinese food? Forget Michelin stars, let’s explain it the only way we truly understand: through video game characters! 

1. Hotpot – The Ultimate MMORPG Raid

Think of hotpot as a boss fight in a MMORPG.

·  First, you pick your team (friends or coworkers). 

·  Then, you choose your weapons (broth flavor: spicy or mild ).

·  Finally, you battle waves of enemies (meats, veggies, tofu, weird things you don’t recognize but eat anyway).

Challenge Mode: Someone in your team always insists on the spiciest broth. You think you can handle it… until your HP (stomach) starts burning.

2. Dim Sum – The Gacha Game of Food

Eating dim sum feels like playing a gacha game—you never know what you’re gonna get!

·  Some dishes are S-tier (legendary): soup dumplings (小笼包), BBQ pork buns (叉烧包). 

·  Others? Trash-tier pulls—like that one weird chicken foot dish your Chinese friend swears is amazing but you just can’t.

Pro Tip: Always bring a Chinese friend to translate the menu, or you’ll end up with a plate of something mysterious and squishy.

3. Lanzhou Noodles – The FPS (First-Person Slurp-er) Game 

Lanzhou beef noodles are an FPS game, but instead of guns, it’s chopsticks vs. slippery noodles.

·  Speed is key: locals finish a whole bowl in 3 minutes—while you’re still struggling with your first bite. 

·  The broth is your ammo: too much soup slurping, and you lose the real battle (eating the actual noodles). 

·  The final boss? Not splashing broth on your white shirt. (Spoiler: You will lose.)

4. Peking Duck – The Prestige RPG Character 

Peking Duck is like a high-level RPG character:

·  Expensive to train (cook)

·  Requires expert gear (crispy skin, thin pancakes, perfect dipping sauce)

·  Elite-tier stats in flavor

 The first bite? Absolute victory. The last bite? You question all life choices and consider ordering another one.

5. Malatang – The Rogue-Class Assassin

Malatang (麻辣烫) is like a rogue-class assassin:

·  Looks innocent on the outside, but attacks when you least expect it.

·  Starts off mild… then BOOM! Spice attack! 

·  Your tongue? On fire. Your dignity? Gone. Your nose? Running a marathon.

But like all rogues, it's dangerously addictive. One bowl and you’re hooked for life. 

Final Boss: Can You Survive Chinese Food? 

So, do you think you have what it takes to conquer Zhongcan (中餐, Chinese food)? Take this quick quiz and find out!

✅ If your favorite meal is dumplings, you’re a casual player—welcome to the tutorial stage!  

✅ If you can handle Sichuan spice, you’ve unlocked Pro Mode—respect. 

✅ If you can eat stinky tofu without flinching, you’re an S-tier legend—a true Chinese food warrior!