China Food Guide: Ordering, Menus, Allergies & Payment

Quick answer: You can eat well in China without speaking Chinese. Use photo menus or camera translation, confirm portion size, save allergy information in written Chinese and keep Alipay, WeChat Pay or backup cash available. Choose dishes by destination rather than looking for one generic version of “Chinese food.”

Last reviewed: July 2026. Restaurant QR menus, payment flows and opening hours change. Check the current branch in Amap before making a special journey.

How foreign travelers order food in China

Most meals use one of four ordering systems. At a counter, point to the food or a picture and show the quantity. At a table-service restaurant, staff may give you a printed menu or ask you to scan a QR code. Food courts often require ordering and paying at individual stalls. Busy street stalls usually expect a short order, immediate payment and space for the next customer.

Situation	What to do	What to check
QR menu works	Scan with the camera, Alipay or WeChat, then use pictures or translation.	Table number, quantity and whether payment happens in the menu.
QR menu opens but payment fails	Show the completed order to staff and ask to pay separately.	Do not submit the same order twice.
Printed Chinese menu	Use camera translation, then point to the original Chinese dish name.	Portion size, spice level and price per item or weight.
Street stall	Point, show a number with your fingers and confirm the displayed price.	Whether the price is per piece, portion or weight.

If another table has the dish you want, politely point and say zhe ge (这个, this one). Before ordering seafood, tea or premium meat, ask whether the price is per plate, person, pot or 500 grams. That one check prevents most surprise bills.

What to eat by region

China’s regional food differences are large. A useful first trip connects meals to the city instead of repeating the same safe dishes everywhere.

Destination	Good first dishes	What to expect
Beijing and North China	Peking duck, dumplings, zhajiangmian, lamb skewers	Wheat noodles, breads, roast meat and hearty portions.
Xi’an and Shaanxi	Biang biang noodles, roujiamo, liangpi, lamb paomo	Wheat, vinegar, chili oil and Muslim-influenced food streets.
Shanghai and Jiangnan	Xiaolongbao, shengjianbao, scallion-oil noodles	Dumplings, braised dishes and some gently sweet flavors.
Chengdu and Sichuan	Mapo tofu, dan dan noodles, hotpot, chuanchuan	Chili heat plus the numbing aroma of Sichuan pepper.
Guangzhou and Guangdong	Dim sum, roast meats, wonton noodles, claypot rice	Fresh ingredients, lighter seasoning and many shared dishes.

Start with the Chinese breakfast guide, then use city pages for local meals: Peking duck in Beijing, zhajiangmian (fried sauce noodles) in Beijing, biang biang noodles in Xi’an, xiaolongbao in Shanghai and the Sichuan food guide.

How to choose a restaurant or food stall

• Search the Chinese restaurant name in Amap / Gaode Maps and select the correct branch.
• Read recent photo reviews instead of relying only on an old English blog recommendation.
• Prefer a busy place with a focused menu and steady turnover.
• At a stall, choose food cooked in front of you and served hot.
• Check the final metro time or save the hotel address before an evening food walk.

Tourist areas are useful for convenience, but the most crowded main street is not automatically the best meal. Walk one or two side streets, compare current reviews and stop where local customers are ordering the same specialty repeatedly.

Vegetarian, halal and allergy planning

Vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free and severe-allergy requests require more than translating one ingredient. Meat stock, oyster sauce, lard, peanut oil and shared cooking equipment may not be obvious from a dish name. Prepare a written Chinese note that explains what you cannot eat and whether trace contact is dangerous.

• For halal meals, look for the characters 清真 and use the halal food in China guide.
• For vegetarian meals, see the vegetarian food guide and ask about broth and cooking oil.
• For a severe allergy, use a professionally checked allergy card rather than relying only on live machine translation.
• Choose a simpler restaurant where staff can stop and understand the request.

Useful Chinese ordering phrases

English	Chinese	Pinyin
This one	这个	zhe ge
One portion	一份	yi fen
Not spicy	不辣	bu la
Less spicy	少辣	shao la
I do not eat…	我不吃…	wo bu chi…
No peanuts	不要花生	bu yao hua sheng
The bill, please	买单	mai dan

These phrases help with ordinary preferences, but “no peanuts” is not a complete severe-allergy warning. Show the full written allergy message before ordering.

Payment and table manners

Alipay and WeChat Pay are common at restaurants and stalls. Set them up before the meal using the Alipay guide for foreigners and the WeChat Pay guide. Keep a second payment method and modest RMB cash for a failed QR payment.

Shared dishes are normal at group meals. Wait until everyone has food before taking large portions, use serving chopsticks when provided and place bones or shells on the small plate. Tea may be refilled automatically. Tipping is not expected at ordinary mainland Chinese restaurants.

Food safety without avoiding street food

The practical signals are turnover, temperature and clean handling. Choose a busy stall where food is cooked in front of you, avoid lukewarm items left uncovered and be cautious with seafood displayed without effective chilling. Carry tissues and hand sanitizer. If your stomach is already unsettled, choose a simple cooked meal instead of trying several rich snacks at once.

For an evening tasting route, use the China food streets and night markets guide. Order one portion to share first; you can return for more after seeing the size and spice level.

China food FAQ

Can I order food in China without speaking Chinese?

Yes. Use picture menus, camera translation, pointing and simple quantity gestures. Keep the original Chinese dish name visible so staff can confirm the correct item.

Is Chinese food always spicy?

No. Spice varies by region and dish. Sichuan and Hunan food often uses more chili, while many Cantonese and Jiangnan dishes are mild.

Is street food safe in China?

Choose busy stalls with high turnover and food cooked hot in front of you. Avoid lukewarm food that has been sitting uncovered and use extra care with seafood.

Can restaurants in China handle food allergies?

Some can, but severe allergies need a clear written Chinese allergy card and direct confirmation about stock, sauces, oils and shared equipment. Choose a restaurant where staff have time to understand the request.

Do I need cash at restaurants in China?

Mobile payment is common, but keep modest RMB cash and a second payment method in case a foreign card or QR payment fails.

More China food guides

• Chinese dumplings guide
• Guangzhou dim sum guide
• Xi’an Muslim Quarter food guide
• Chengdu hotpot guide
• Chinese tea guide for travelers

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