Chinese Food - Quick Guide

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	Gong1 Bao3 Ji1 Ding1 宫保鸡丁 This is the world famous Kung Pao Chicken. Many Westerners love this dish. Originally from Sichuan(Szechwan) Kung Pao Chicken consists of small cubes of chicken stir fried with peanuts, cucumbers and hot peppers.
	la4 zi3 ji1 辣子鸡 The long lost cousin of Kung Pao Chicken, "Spicy Chicken Bits" is spicier than Kung Pao, but not as sweet, and without the peanuts.Chi
	tie3 ban3 niu2 rou4 铁板牛肉 With the sizzle of a fajita plate and the flavorings of garlic, onions, and green peppers, "Skillet Beef" is always a big hit with Westerners in China. Though this can be absolutley delicious, the quality of beef in many of China's extremely small restaurants can be a little dubious. At such restaurants I have found the pork and chicken dishes to be a safer bet.
	qing1 jiao1 chao3 niu2 rou4 青椒炒牛肉 The staple dish, Beef with Green Peppers. Tastes great. Just don't order it if trying to impress Chinese friends. This dish is probably the Chinese social equivalent of a McDonalds hamburger. g
	tu3 dou4 chao3 niu2 rou4 土豆炒牛肉 Stir-Fried Beef with Potatoes can be ordered in virtually any Chinese restaurant.
	shui3 zhu3 niu2 rou4 水煮牛肉 Sichuan province has long been known for its ridiculously spicy cuisine. However "Boiled Water Beef" is not too spicy (for a Sichuan dish). Morsels of beef along with a mixture of vegetables which can include (among other things) bok choy, lettuce, and sprouts are cooked and then served in a big vat of hot oily soup.visa
	qing1 jiao1 chao3 rou4 si1 水煮牛肉 In Green Pepper Pork Strings, pork is stir-fried with green bell peppers or green hot peppers depending on the cook's interpretation of "green pepper.
	yu2 xiang1 rou4 si1 鱼香肉丝 "Smells Like Fish Pork" is a sweet and moderately spicy Sichuan pork dish cooked with wood ear mushroom and green hot peppers. Don't let the name fool you. This dish, if cooked properly, does not taste anything like fish. This dish definately appeals to many Western taste buds.
	gu1 lao3 rou4 菇老肉 Literally means "ancient old meat." A dish which is popular around the world, Sweet and Sour Pork, can be found throughout many regions of China. Cutlets of pork are deep fried, taken out of the wok, and then stir-fried along with potatoes and a sweet, ketchupy sauce. It's then often topped with scallions. This dish is also commonly served with pineapples. A must try when in China.
	ma2 la4 dou4 fu2 麻辣豆腐 Mala Tofu is a well-known Sichuan dish consisting of little more than cubes of tofu stir-fried with hot peppers and Sichuan peppers. If you can't take spicy food, don't even bother. If you are in China for a short time, probably give this dish a miss as lot of Westerners are not huge fans of tofu.
	jia1 chang2 dou4 fu2 家常豆腐 The interpretation of Homestyle Tofu often depends on what restaurant you visit and what chef is on. Common recipes call for ingredients such as green peppers, wood ear mushroom, and onions, all cooked together in a thick, brown sauce.
	hong2 shao1 ri4 ben3 dou4 fu2 红烧日本豆腐 Red-Cooked Japanese Tofu is not a Japanese dish, but rather a Chinese dish made with tofu made with egg extract. Red-cooked Japanese tofu is another dish whose intricacies can be left up to its preparer, but usually includes ingredients similar to Homestyle Tofu
	sun2 gan1 chao3 rou4 si1 笋干炒肉丝 For something unique, try Dried and Processed Baby Bamboo Shoots with Pork. If you like spicy food ask for it with hot peppers (??? jia1 la4 jiao1).
	gan1 bian4 tu3 dou4 si1 干煸土豆丝 Spicy Sichuan Style Potato Slices is probably the closest thing to french fries in Chinese food, except they are spicy, very spicy.
	gan1 bian4 si4 ji4 dou4 干遍四季豆 Spicy Sichuan Style "4 Season Beans" are cooked the same as Spicy Sichuan Potato Slices, but with green beans instead of taters.
	yu2 xiang1 qie2 zi3 鱼香茄子 Like "Smells Like Fish Pork," "Smells Like Fish Eggplant" tastes nothing like fish. Instead the eggplant cooked in a thick, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce, with onions, peppers and possibly small pieces of pork.
	chao3 qing1 cai4 炒青菜 炒青菜 is a general term for Stir-Fried Green Vegetables. Just ask for 炒青菜and you will get the default vegetable of the day.
	cu4 liu1 da4 bai2 cai 醋溜大白菜 Bok Choy, which in Chinese is called "big white vegetable," has a tendency to suck up flavor better than green leafy vegetables and Sweet and Sour Bok Choy takes advantage of this by calling for liberal usage of vinegar and sugar. If you like spicy food, ask for it with hot peppers (??? jia1 la4 jiao1)
	dan4 chao3 fan4 蛋炒饭 Egg Fried Rice is the Chinese equivalent of chili. The byproduct of excess meat, vegetables, and rice, plus an egg or two, fried rice came about as a way to make use of excess groceries after a meal. Thesedays, it's commonly ordered in restaurants as an alternative to white rice.
	ga1 li2 niu2 rou4 fan4 咖喱牛肉饭 Curry Beef with Rice is usually topped with potatoes, carrot shards, and often a green vegetable. This dish is commonly served as a single person meal, rather than as a dish. It makes for a great meal when you are eating alone, or not in the mood for going family style.
	xi1 hong2 shi4 chao3 dan4 西红柿炒蛋 Stir Fried Egg and Tomatoes is exactly what it sounds like. It can be found in nearly any Chinese restaurant.
	tang2 cu4 pai2 gu3 糖醋排骨 The Chinese eat their ribs diced up into small pieces and Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs is no exception. In this sweet dish, the rib meat is served along with taro (pictured) or potato. This dish is simply fantastic, though the quality of it various drastically from restaurant to restaurant. Ordering "tang cu pai tiao" instead should get you basically the same dish but with more meat and less bones.
	xiao3 long2 bao1 小笼包 Miniature steamed buns with meat or vegetables inside. "Little Cage Baozi" are the miniature version of baozi. They are usually bought by the plate (see pic) and are easier to eat with chopsticks than the big ones, although considerably less portable.