Chinese Food in China

A photo essay of Chinese food in China from our travels. Includes hotpot, dumplings and dishes from spicy Sichuan cuisine, Uyghur (Xinjiang) food and refined regional cuisines in Beijing. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series.

Suoman Gush Siz - Kashgar, China
"Suoman gush siz" is one of the only phrases of Uighur we learned (we're afraid to admit) while in Kashgar, China. It's this delicious dish of vegetables, peppers and homemade laghman noodles. A very welcome vegetarian change after months of mutton on the road in Central Asia. Read more about Xinjiang cuisine and Kashgar. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Chickpea - Kashgar, China
Having spent months looking at meat products in Central Asia, we were excited to see a chickpea salad (called nokot) at the night market in Kashgar, China. Tangy, spicy and covered with fresh herbs, it made for a delicious and light course for dinner. Read more about Xinjiang cuisine and Kashgar. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Xinjiang Food: Laghman Noodle Making - Kashgar, China
Pulled noodles, known in Xinjiang province (and Central Asia) as laghman noodles get thrown around, beaten and pulled to ensure the right consistency before being used in soups and suoman (noodle, vegetable and meat mixture)...Taken at the animal market in Kashgar, China. Read more about Xinjiang cuisine and Kashgar. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Fried Green Beans - Urumqi, China
Some of the best green beans we had in all of China was at the start of our trip, in Urumqi. These beans were smoky, cooked perfectly and seasoned with garlic and peppers. The been was also incredibly tender and tasty. And, no MSG. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Xinjiang Food: Yellow Noodles - Kashgar, China
Hand-made yellow noodles, (called serik ash) are piled high, ready for slicing at the food stalls outside Kashgar's Sunday Market. The dish on the left is a light mixture of noodles, herbs, and pickled vegetables served with a combination of vinegars and hot pepper sauce. Delicious, refreshing...different. Read more about Xinjiang cuisine and Kashgar. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Tofu in Hot Sauce - Urumqi, China
Slices of tofu marinated in a hot pepper sauce. Our waiter warned us when we ordered this dish, thinking that westerners can't handle spice; we loved it. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Japanese Food in Beijing, China
We were tipped off to this quasi-secret lunch place by our Beijing friends. Called "People 8," it is a fancy Japanese restaurant decked out in black (you need a flashlight to navigate the bathroom). For whatever reason, they offer a lunch menu for 38 Yuan ($5) that includes two main dishes like the one you see here. Read more about our Beijing eating experiences.
Yunnanese Pork Dish - Beijing, China
We're normally not big fans of fatty pork dishes, but this Yunnanese pork dish had thin slices of melt-in-your mouth pork doused with a rich sweet sauce. Delicious. Taken at Middle 8th Restaurant in Beijing, China. Read more about our Beijing eating experiences. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Yunnanese Greens - Beijing, China
A beautiful dish of greens at Beijing's Middle 8th Yunnanese restaurant. The food here was different, delicious and reasonably priced. And, if you looked hard enough, you could probably find a Chinese movie or TV star lurking about. Read more about our Beijing eating experiences. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Marinated Lotus Root - Beijing, China
A delicious starter of marinated lotus root at Xiao Wang's Home Restaurant in the ChaoYang district of Beijing, China. Thinly sliced, not too much vinegar in the marinade. A great palate cleanser. Read more about our Beijing eating experiences. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Kung Pao Chicken - Beijing, China
Someone tipped us off to a hole-in-the-wall place near Guomao metro station in the Chao Yang business district in Beijing. It featured a great Kung Pao Chicken for a pittance. We only wish we had found it earlier in our stay in Beijing. Read more about our Beijing eating experiences and Sichuan cuisine. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Pickled Cucumbers - Beijing, China
Pickled cucumbers serve as another light starter at Xiao Wang's Home Restaurant in the ChaoYang district of Beijing, China. Read more about our Beijing eating experiences. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Street Food Hot Pot - Qingdao, China
We stumbled upon this street hot pot area on a side street in Qingdao. It was fantastic, cheap and fun - just pick a stick out of the steaming broth and enjoy. Payment is based on the number of sticks on your plate at the end of the meal. Read more about hot pot in China. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Sichuan Green Beans - Beijing, China
One of our favorite dishes in all of China! This dish came from a hole-in-the-wall place on a side street in Chao Yang business district in Beijing. Read more about our Beijing eating experiences and Sichuan cuisine. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Shanghai Street Food - Shanghai, China
Delicious meat and vegetable-stuffed dough rounds at a street food stand in Shanghai, China. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Yuanyang Noodle Soup - Yunnan, China
A light, spicy and tangy cold noodle soup served in the market in Xinjie in the Yuanyang region of China's Yunnan province. Read more about our visit to Yuanyang and dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Chinese Salted Fish Dish - Qingdao, China
This dish may look like Pad Thai, but it's not. And those aren't noodles. They are tiny, salted fried fish. It was actually quite tasty, once we got over the fact that the noodles we thought we ordered were in fact fish. Taken a local restaurant in Qingdao, China. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Spicy Lotus Root - Kunming, China
Ready for the grill or hot pot. Taken in Kunming, China. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Yuanyang Spicy Tofu - Yunnan, China
Plain tofu dipped in a spicy soy-vinegar and cilantro sauce. Taken in the town of Xinjie in the Yuanyang region of China's province. Read more about our visit to Yuanyang and dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Fresh Rice Noodles - Kunming, China
Another street-side snack in Kunming, China. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Steamed Beans - Kunming, China
A plate of steamed and stir-fried beans made frequent, healthy and tasty appearances in Kunming, China. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Yunnanese Greens - Kunming, China
This simple restaurant in Kunming featured a cold case loaded with various greens and meat to mix and match. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Yunnanese Goat Cheese - Kunming, China
Fried goat cheese served with mixed salt is a typical Yunnanese dish. The goat cheese had more of a dry tofu consistency than the French goat cheese we're used to. Good enough, but not something we're still dream about months later. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Sichuan Hot Pot - Chengdu, China
Our first attempt at Sichuan hot pot (huoguo) in Chengdu left us with red, sweaty faces and smiles. ..This stuff is hot! ..Sichuan peppers leave one's mouth feeling numb...strangely, mildly addictive. Read more about hot pot in China. © www.uncorneredmarket.com
Beehive Noodles - Pingyao, China
Although this might look like a beehive, we believe these Pingyao buckwheat noodle arrangements are called cats ears (mao erduo). Served with a spicy tomato sauce/soup, they do the trick on a cold November day. Dig deep into Chinese food with our Demystifying Food in China Series. © www.uncorneredmarket.com