How to Get Good Food in China

There is so much fun to be had just trying to get a meal in China. The types of food available can be intimidating. Things you see in the marketplace make you wonder just who eats this stuff. They can send you running to the nearest McDonalds, with your tail between your legs. To the Chinese, any creature that moves has got to be full of protein- and nothing goes to waste. There’s hardly any refrigeration, and the meat sometimes sits out in the sun for days before it is sold. These people must have iron constitutions. However, things are not as difficult as they seem, and an adventurous spirit will be amply rewarded.
You know you’re in China when you are standing on the bus, head and shoulders above everyone else, and looking across a sea of only black hair. You are not Chinese if you don’t have black hair. Well, actually, I did come across an albino Chinese woman in my travels, who was easy to spot, so there must be a handful of natural blonds in their billion strong population. But otherwise, it’s a pretty homogenous group. They are very traditional, have a strong sense of family, and eat whatever nature will provide. Unfortunately, the young generation has quickly grown fond of video games and American fast food. If you want to impress a girl, the KFC is the coolest place to be. Of course, it’s not the cheapest option in China, like it might be in the U.S.A. Combo meals still cost around $5, while local meals can be less than $1. For me, I wish those $1 meals were available at home for any amount of money. It’s an interesting juxtaposition, to want what the other has. One thing is for sure- the street food in China will keep you healthier, and I think it’s much better tasting, too.
There are endless stalls along the streets with different specialties. A typical stall has around 30 baskets full of vegetables and meats available. The meats are usually skewered, and often marinated, and the veggies are fresh. They give you a basket, and you fill it with whatever ingredients look good, and hand it over to be cooked. This way, you never have to be difficult by substituting items on the menu- you picked them out. They combine and season your selection appropriately, and serve it with some white rice on the side, and free tea. The meals never cost me more than $1.50, and they were always a lion’s share. If you want a liter of beer, and you probably will because of the spicy chilies, that’s an extra 80 cents. Then you stumble back into the street, unsure whether it’s the beer or the chili peppers making you dizzy, but it was a great meal.
Eating in the restaurants with table service is still very economical, but it’s a bit more challenging. Only restaurants in the most touristy areas will have menus in English, and even then you might be surprised what you’re served. Knowing no Mandarin, I would just walk around the restaurant and look at what other people were eating. When I saw something that looked good, I would get the servers attention, point to the dish, and then point to myself. It was the easiest way I could think of, and this technique never failed. The other people in the restaurant were always watching with amusement. When it came time to pay, I couldn’t read the bill, because even the numbers were in Chinese, so I would hold out my money and they would take the correct amount. Maybe I was overcharged once or twice, but I don’t think I ever paid more than $5 for a meal, and I was glad to give the extra tip. It was also good to have a “go-to” meal. Some days, I wasn’t in the mood for experimenting, so I learned how to say Kung-Pao Chicken in Mandarin. It was a common dish found in most restaurants that I could ask for by name, and I knew I liked it. I ate a lot of Kung-Pao Chicken.
Chinese food in China is really quite different from how we think of it in America, and the cuisines can change drastically from province to province. So don’t let a little thing like the language barrier get in the way of a good meal.