Things You're Missing Out On At Chinese Restaurants

Chinese food has become increasingly popular in recent decades. Consumed widely, the iconic Americanized dishes have made millions for fast food eateries like Panda Express. As a Chinese-American woman eating her way through New York City, I have a distinctive perspective on the cuisine as I experience it when I visit the city's many Chinese restaurants. From hole-in-the-wall takeout storefronts to fancy modern restaurants, and even my family's own home cooking, I've had the privilege of interacting with the food in an up close and intimate way over the years. As such, I want to give you the lowdown on the dishes I notice people don't order nearly often enough at Chinese restaurants.

The popular Chinese menu items are often deep-fried versions of what I or anyone in my family would consider good Chinese food. I chock it up to the American demand for such dishes. However, if you're unsatisfied with merely chowing down on egg rolls and duck sauce, try to visit the Chinese restaurants in your city that focus on regional Chinese cuisines. Whether they specialize in food from Shanghai, Canton, Guangdong, or Hong Kong, those places will most often offer more nuanced dishes that real Chinese people (like me!) might eat. For a mouth-wateringly tasty—and way more authentic—dining experience, check out this list of dishes I order again and again wherever I can find them.

If you don't already know, Asian greens are delicious. Fresh tasting and savory, greens like bok choy, Chinese broccoli, and choy sum are prepared in a couple of ways at most Chinese restaurants. Whether they are gently steamed paired with pungent oyster sauce or stir-fried with ginger, garlic, and sesame oil, these greens are not to be missed. The next time you're dining at your local Chinese eatery, be sure to order one or two dishes of greens for the table. Feel good about eating your veggies and have a grand time doing so.

Dan dan mein, also called dan dan noodles in the United States, is a wildly popular street food in the Sichuan region of China. Think piles of fresh noodles served in chili oil. Some versions of this iconic dish include minced pork, mustard greens, or pickled veggies. I've seen additions of many other extras, too, like peanuts, scallions, soy sauce, and tongue-numbing Szechuan peppercorns. While there are many versions out there these days, dan dan noodles will always be distinctive for its long tender strands of noodle and fiery chili oil.

Universally beloved, char siu bao is a pork bun that makes my heart sing. Don't go out to eat at a Chinese restaurant without ordering some. A steamed fluffy yeast-risen bun with a filling of sweet and salty barbecued pork is something we all deserve to enjoy in life. This Cantonese snack is a real unifier, as even the least adventurous eater at the table wants in on some barbecued pork bun action.

Most Chinese restaurants offer any number of proteins seasoned with salt and Szechuan pepper. Do yourself a favor and order them! While you most often see salt and pepper shrimp on menus, look for the short ribs, tofu, and crab, too. Simple, light, and absolutely divine, these dishes showcase the ingredients rather than the sauces. While most Americanized Chinese dishes are covered in copious amounts of sauce, the salt and peppered ones stand out as delicate and unexpected. For a treat, order a few and taste for yourself.

You've probably noticed "X.O. sauce" on Chinese restaurant menus but maybe weren't sure what it was. Well, it's time to get acquainted with this excellent sauce and order everything served with it. Made with rehydrated shrimp, scallops, and Chinese pork, X.O. sauce is a fiery condiment seasoned with ginger, garlic, star anise, and cinnamon. Restaurants often offer a wide variety of dishes steeped in X.O. goodness—from noodles to vegetables to meats. You want it all. Trust me.

I grew up eating congee (also called jook), but I did not adequately appreciate it in the folly of youth. My parents forced me to eat this rice porridge when I was sick, which in retrospect probably contributed to the negative feelings. That said, as an adult I can't get enough! Rice is cooked in an excess of water until the grains become soft, mushy, and delightfully creamy. It can be eaten as-is, or garnished with pork, shrimp, chicken, or tofu. Like chicken noodle soup, congee is simple, humble comfort food that delivers the cozy feels every time. Too bad I was such an idiot when I was a kid! Gah.

Served cold with green onions and sesame oil, jellyfish may seem odd if you've never eaten it, but it's actually quite tasty. While you may think it would be slimy in texture, jellyfish is actually quite firm, resembling glass noodles. Simple and authentic, it's one of those dishes you should try at least once to see if it's for you. I have a feeling you might be surprised by how much you enjoy this Chinese delicacy.

Chicken feet—also called "phoenix claws"—are a Chinese delicacy even as they may make some people squeamish. If you can get past the ick factor of this dish, you're in for tasty treat—albeit a slightly gelatinous one. After the outer layer of skin is removed from the chicken feet, delicate skin and tendons remain. Chicken feet are prepared differently in different parts of China. While they are frequently fried, steamed, stewed, and simmer in most cases, you may find versions that are simmered in sauce as well. The intense cooking process renders the skin and tendons soft and easy to consume. I highly recommend giving this specialty a go if you've never had it.

Sea cucumbers are considered a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and should not be missed. When they are alive, these marine creatures look like spiky slugs, on the grocery store shelf they resemble sausages, and at a Chinese restaurant they take on a sheen and soft gelatinous texture. Prominently featured in Shanghainese cuisine in particular, sea cucumbers are often braised in a shrimp roe and bean paste broth. While this might not be on every Chinese menu, do order it if you find yourself at a joint that focuses on dishes from Shanghai.