Of course it is pretentious to say that I know what the best food in China is. I have been living in China for over three years now so it is safe to say that I am not an expert. However, I feel very confident that most westerners would enjoy these dishes. That is of course if they have the courage to try them. The dishes listed here may have a regional origin but most of them can be found throughout the whole of China.
Disclaimer: The names given to the dishes are descriptive rather than accurate translations.
1.) Fatty Pork
This dish is all about the warm rich taste of the fat. Initially, you will probably feel put off by placing something that is almost entirely fat into your mouth. However, once you give it a chance it will win you over. The fat melts in your mouth requiring only a few chews before swallowing. Each bite should be followed up with something that cleanses your palate such as water, beer, or rice.
2.) Seafood Noodles
To get a real feel for this dish look at the picture below. It is like somebody poured the entire ocean into the bowl without a filter. This dish not only tastes fantastic it also super fun to eat. Every incursion with your chopsticks is a treasure hunt. The noodles are often fresh and handmade while the broth is thin and the flavor varies with your location.
3.) Sweet and Sour Fish
This is the most regional dish on the list. The variety of fish dishes in China is seemingly infinite. This dish is a specialty of Hangzhou. Generally, the food in Hangzhou isn't spicy. The lack of heat is replaced by mild sauces. One of those sauces is the sweet and sour. The sauce itself is heavy on the sour and light on the sweet. It is paired with a great deal of garlic. The taste is complex with notes hitting off the tongue in sequence.
4.) Root of the Lotus Flower
The lotus flower is a beautiful flower that grows on lillies floating on the surface of the water. The root hangs down below the lillie and as it turns out, it is downright delicious. The taste is a mild cross between an apple and a potato. The dish pairs the taste of the lotus root with peppers and garlic. This gives the mild flavor a little kick. The texture is easily the most exciting part of the dish. The texture is crisp upon biting but slippery on the tongue. It is a strangely wonderful duo.
5.) Pig's Feet
You may think that I have included pig's feet on my list for shock value but you would be wrong in doing so. I understand the mental hurdle one has to jump through to eat a pig's foot. I have been there. Westerners, in particular, Americans are not used to being able to recognize the source of the meat before they eat it.
But is that really a good thing? For example, many people have no problem eating McDonald's pink mush that has long since stopped resembling anything that was once alive. Is such detachment healthy? I think not. Pig feet may require a leap of faith but once one has risen above the hurdle they should find themselves happily landing with a delicious morsel in their mouth. The meat itself is delicate and juicy. The flavor is increased with a healthy dose of spices that have been rubbed into the meat. The taste of these spices should be familiar to anyone that loves barbecued pork rubs.
6.) Sichuan Hotpot
First, I must admit that this is not one of my favorite dish. However, it is generally beloved by Chinese and foreigners alike. I personally don't find the taste satisfying because I believe the taste to be too unvaried for an entire meal. Even though the flavor doesn't interest me, I still enjoy the experience. And what an experience it is!!!
The idea behind hotpot is to throw everything and anything that was once living into a spicy simmering broth. Once it is cooked you can take it out and immediately eat it. Those familiar with fondue style restaurants can understand this method of cooking and eating. Now, the sheer variety of possible ingredients can be overwhelming. I usually let my Chinese friends do the ordering. The most exciting thing I ever pulled out of the broth was a pig's brain. The flavor is that of the broth but the texture was quite refined.
Sichuan hotpot takes on a notch of excitement above other types of Chinese hotpot. This is due to the addition of Sichuan peppers. Now the first time I had these peppers my friends failed to mention the peppers strange effects. Upon eating Sichuan peppers your lips begin to feel a little numb then they begin to tingle all over. I thought I was having an allergic reaction. I quickly informed my friends of the pending emergency in which they responded with howling laughter.
7.) Cucumber Vinegar
This is a simple and usually small dish that is used to cleanse your palate. It is on the list because of its absolute utility while eating a large Chinese meal. It is the one thing that can time and time again freshen your mouth before diving into another dish. The taste itself is cuttingly fresh. Garlic, peppers, and cilantro are often added to give extra flavor and kick.
8.) Tomato and Eggs
This is another staple for a large Chinese meal. It seems to be a reliable favorite whenever it is on the table. It is about as simple as they come. The dish consists of tomato, eggs, and salt. The tomatoes and eggs are served in large chunks along with the remaining juices they were cooked in. The freshness of the large tomato chunks lie in contrast to the comforting saltiness of the eggs.
9.) Seaweed Flavored Peanuts
If you are a nut lover, China is the place to be. I have never seen so many nuts available at a convenience store before I arrived in China. You can get 10 different nuts at your local store. Not only that these nuts are paired with different flavors. My favorite so far is the seaweed flavored peanuts. I would like to think that the seaweed makes them a healthy snack. The taste itself is as you would imagine, peanut flavor mixed with the ocean. The seaweed adds complexity to the simple taste of the peanut.
10.) Spicy Tofu
I would be remiss if I didn't include a dish with tofu. Tofu is ubiquitous throughout Chinese food. Tofu in China is not a replacement for meat as it is in some western countries. Tofu is often paired along with meat or as its own dish. There is an immense amount of variety of tofu flavors, sizes, shapes, and textures available. The dish shown below is probably the most commonly served tofu dish. The level of spice can vary wildly from not spicy to OH MY GOD! It is served with a meaty sauce. The texture of the tofu is firm on the outside while gooey on the inside. Once you bite through the outside the middle melts in your mouth.
I hope you enjoyed my list. Please upvote if you can and I would love to read your comment.