China Menus

[liuzhou]

I'm often asked to translate menus for my local restaurants. Usually by foreign customers; less often by the restaurants. 

 

I thought I'd post some here. Copyright isn't an issue as they are just lists of dishes. They may be of interest.

 

First up is a small restaurant which I visited yesterday. Their menu is on the wall and they specialise in sand pot dishes. These are (almost) all in one meals with the dish of your choice served over rice cooked in a clay (sand) pot. They do come with a side of stir-fried cabbage and a bowl of thin soup (more like water). This is Chinese work/student canteen type food. Cheap and cheerful.

 

 

At the bottom of the main menu is a variety of soft drinks plus beer, which I haven't translated. Most are unavailable outside China, although Coca Cola and Sprite are there. The smaller menus on the right are for rice porridge. I haven't translated these either

 

Sand Pots

 

莲藕肉片饭 Lotus Root and Sliced Pork Rice 10

豆腐肉片饭 Tofu and Sliced Pork Rice 10

时菜肉饼饭 Seasonal Vegetable Pork Pie Rice 10

茄子肉末饭 Eggplant with Ground Meat Rice 11

鱼片煲仔饭 Fish Sandpot Rice 11

姜汁鱼尾饭 Ginger Fish Tail Rice 12

鸡杂砂煲饭 Chicken Giblets Sandpot Rice 12

冬菇骨鸡饭 Dried Shiitake and Chicken Rice 12

香辣牛肉饭 Spicy Beef Rice 16

酸甜排骨饭 Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs Rice 16

香芹腊味饭 Celery Cured Meat Rice 13

豉椒排骨饭 Salted Beans and Pepper Ribs 13

冬菇田鸡饭 Dried Shiitake Frog Rice 13

蚝油牛肉饭 Oyster Sauce Beef Rice 14

红烧带鱼饭 Red-cooked Belt Fish Rice 14

干妈五花饭 Pork Belly in Chilli Sauce Rice 14

美味叉烧饭 Tasty Char Sui Rice 14

鲜虾煲仔饭 Fresh Shrimp Sandpot Rice 14

红椒黄鳝饭 Red Chilli Ricefield Eel Rice 14

黑椒猪肚饭 Black Pepper Tripe Rice 15

肥肠煲仔饭 Pig's Intestines Sandpot Rice 15

柠檬鸭仔饭 Lemon Duck Rice 15

 

加菜每份 (以最高价)  Extra Vegetable Portion (by highest price)  4

打包盒 Take Away Box  1

 

Soups

紫菜蛋花汤 Seaweed Egg Drop Soup 8

枸杞猪肝汤 Goji Berry Pig's Liver Soup 10

车螺芥菜汤 Clam and Leaf Mustard Soup 15

西红柿蛋花汤 Tomato and Egg Soup  8

 

Vegetables etc.

炒油菜 Fried Rape 8

西红柿炒蛋 Scrambled Egg with Tomato 12

鱼腥草 Lizard's Tail 5

凉拌皮蛋 Cold Dressed Century Egg 10

凉拌黄瓜 Cold Dressed Cucumber 5

煎蛋 Fried Egg 2

 

 

Prices are in Chinese Yuan (1 Yuan = $0.15 USD / £0.10 GBP as of September 15, 2015)

 

This is number 4 on the menu

Edited February 1, 2016 by liuzhou
typo (log)

[Thanks for the Crepes]

Thanks liuzhou,

 

Interesting.

 

I will vicariously have:

 

鱼腥草 Lizard's Tail 5 ($0.75)

 

车螺芥菜汤 Clam and Leaf Mustard Soup 15 ($2.25)

 

酸甜排骨饭 Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs Rice 16 ($2.40)

 

鲜虾煲仔饭 Fresh Shrimp Sandpot Rice 14 ($2.10)

 

柠檬鸭仔饭 Lemon Duck Rice 15 ($2.25)

 

炒油菜 Fried Rape 8 ($1.20)

 

西红柿炒蛋 Scrambled Egg with Tomato 12 ($1.80)

 

So would you be kind enough to indulge me with how many people this virtual meal might be designed to feed? For $12.75, in the US, as I am sure you're aware it would feed one, and that would be at a very cheap restaurant. Okay, non-existent restaurant.

 

Also, if you care to, I would be interested in the ambience, seating arrangements, clientele they attract there etc.

[liuzhou]

So would you be kind enough to indulge me with how many people this virtual meal might be designed to feed? For $12.75, in the US, as I am sure you're aware it would feed one, and that would be at a very cheap restaurant. Okay, non-existent restaurant.

 

Also, if you care to, I would be interested in the ambience, seating arrangements, clientele they attract there etc.

 

Each sandpot dish (with accompanying cabbage and soup) is a complete meal for one in itself. So, your $12.75 meal would serve 3-4 people. And there is no tipping in 99.99% of China's restaurants.

 

The place is small and the ambiance is rough and ready, but clean. The kitchen is accidentally open plan in that you can see in clearly, but that was probably not a deliberate design feature.

 

There are two x four seat tables on the left side as you enter and on the right about six eating stations facing the wall. I was with my companion and sat facing her at one of the four seat tables. The seats facing the wall are more for lone diners (or people who don't like their companions).

 

The clientele appeared to be mainly office workers. The local branch of the communist party has its HQ almost next door and there are other office premises nearby. 100s of office workers. I haven't been at noon, but I'd be surprised if that isn't their busiest time.

It is what the Chinese call 快餐 (kuài cān) which can be translated as 'fast food'. So, it is cheap. Certainly cheaper than McDonalds or KFC, the two western fast food places in town. And a lot tastier. Not fine dining by any means but a tasty, filling, nutritious meal.

Edited September 15, 2015 by liuzhou (log)

[Thanks for the Crepes]

liuzhou,

 

It sounds like this place is right up my alley, and I wish it was in my backyard. It's not only cheaper than our fast food restaurants, but there are many more healthy and nutritious options, not to mention stuff I've never eaten before like Lizard's Tail. I dare anyone to feed four or five people at KFC or McDonald's for $12.75.

 

One question? What is two x four seating? I hope you don't mean the seats are made of a single two x four, which is, here, a construction wood lumber which is 2" x 4" when rough-sawn from the tree and then planed down to less than that.

 

We have rustic restaurants here where customers perch on wooden benches made from 2" x 4"s.  The food has to be pretty excellent to keep customers. 

 

Maybe you mean two-tops and four-tops, which would be two-seat tables and four-seat tables with regular chairs of varying comfort?

 

At any rate, I can see myself happily partaking of this restaurant. 

 

I certainly didn't mean any disrespect about the 2x4 seating, so please don't take it that way. Many restaurants in New York City do not provide seating at all, and deign to let you stand at their counter to eat their product you just paid for. We even have a few like that in downtown Raleigh. I just prefer a cushy, deeply-padded booth when I can get it. Curiosity, as usual, eats me up.

Edited September 15, 2015 by Thanks for the Crepes (log)

[liuzhou]

 

One question? What is two x four seating? 

 

Yes. I could have worded that better. There are two tables, each seating four people.

 

(We use the term 2x4 for wood in the UK too, so I should have known it was ambiguous. Been in China too long.)

[Thanks for the Crepes]

So to understand, and place myself vicariously in this small China restaurant, they offer 14 seats total and serve hundreds of office workers and students? Wow! I bet the lines are long for takeout even.

 

Thanks for sharing the insight into China; I always appreciate it, liuzhou. 

[Shelby]

This is a fun and interesting topic!

 

I would order:

 

鲜虾煲仔饭 Fresh Shrimp Sandpot Rice 14 ($2.10)

 

西红柿炒蛋 Scrambled Egg with Tomato 12 ($1.80)

[liuzhou]

I've mentioned this restaurant before on the Dinner and Lunch threads. It is the nearest decent restaurant to my second home in the countryside. It is surrounded by farmland and a forestry park and would be in the middle of nowhere serving rice to the local water buffalo if it weren't for the presence of a number of tertiary education colleges nearby - teacher training college, environmental studies college and veterinary college among others.

 

At times it gets very busy, spilling onto the sidewalk, especially at the beginning and end of semesters. At the beginning the kids still have money to spend and at the end they say their tearful goodbyes. 

 

Students on the sidewalk outside the restaurant 

 

The restaurant is a mom and pop operation. A lovely young couple from Sichuan. He does the cooking and she looks after the front of house (although she is on maternity leave now). They asked me to translate the menu years ago as there were, at the time, a number of foreign English teachers in the teacher training college. No longer.

 

Being from Sichuan, the couple include quite a number of  their local dishes on the menu, but much is generic southern Chinese. 

 

The name of the restaurant, by the way, is 那头园 / 那頭園 (nǎ tóu yuán), which is the name of their home village in Sichuan. However, many people call it "Yellow Restaurant" as it has a decidedly yellow theme. Their sign and menus, for example, are yellow.

 

 

I'd post pictures of the actual restaurant but they are finishing off a refurbishment they undertook during the summer break. Later.

 

Note: prices given are out of date. I suggest adding around 50% to get today's prices. I will check next time I am there.

 

 

那头园

 

 

精美小炒

Elegant Dishes

 

水煮鱼                        Sichuan Spicy Boiled Fish                                          28元/ portion

王胖鱼                        “King Fat Fish”                                                            22元/ portion

糖醋罗非                    Sweet and Sour Tilapia                                               20元/ portion

家炖罗非                    Family Style Tilapia                                                     20元/ portion

红烧罗非                    Red Braised Tilapia                                                     20元/ portion

豆瓣鲤鱼                    Carp in Broad Bean Chilli Sauce                                 25元/ portion

糖醋鲤鱼                    Sweet and Sour Carp                                                  25元/ portion

清蒸罗非                    Steamed Tilapia                                                           20元/ portion

外婆飘香骨                Sichuan Style Chilli Spare Ribs                                    22元/ portion

哥乐山辣子鸡            "Ge Leshan" Sichuan Style Chilli Chicken                    20元/ portion

茄汁鸡块                    Chicken in Tomato Sauce                                            20元/ portion

回锅老腊肉                Twice Cooked Aged Cured Pork                                  20元/ portion

青椒炒腊肉                Stir fried Cured Pork with Green Peppers                    18元/ portion

酸甜排骨                    Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs                                        16元/ portion

红烧排骨                    Red Braised Spare Ribs                                              16元/ portion

飘香牛肉                    Fragrant Beef                                                               16元/ portion

宫爆鸡丁                    Spicy Quick Fried Chicken Cubes (Kung-Po)              15元/ portion

宫煲鸡丁                    Quick Fried Chicken Cubes                                         15元/ portion

水煮牛肉                    Sichuan Spicy Boiled Beef                                          16元/ portion

水煮肉片                    Sichuan Spicy Boiled Pork                                          15元/ portion

鱼香肝尖                    Fish-fragrant Liver                                                      15元/ portion

熘肝尖                        Quick Fried Liver                                                       15元/ portion

圆葱焗猪肝                Onion Steamed Pork Liver                                         15元/ portion

泡椒要花                    Kidney with Pickled Chilli                                           20元/ portion

老干马爆要花            Quick Fried Kidney in Chilli Sauce                               20元/ portion

馏肉段                        Steamed Pork Pieces                                                   15元/ portion

糖醋肉段                    Sweet and Sour Pork                                                  15元/ portion

锅塌肉片                    Crispy Rice with Pork                                                 14元/ portion

鱼香肉片                    Fish-fragrant Pork                                                       15元/ portion

宫爆肉丁                    Spicy Quick Fried Pork Cubes                                   15元/ portion

宫煲肉丁                    Quick Fried Pork Cubes                                             15元/ portion

萝卜干回锅肉            Dried Radish and Twice Cooked Pork                       15元/ portion

家乡回锅肉                Hometown Style Twice Cooked Pork                          15元/ portion

洋芋回锅肉                Potato Twice Cooked Pork                                         15元/ portion

酱爆排骨煲                Spare Ribs with Soy Bean Sauce                                20元/ portion

香辣猪手煲                Fresh Spicy Pig's Trotter                                             20元/ portion

奇味鸡煲                    Strange Taste Chicken (Sesame Chicken)                  20元/ portion

酸辣猪手                    Hot and Sour Pig's Trotter                                          20元/ portion

京酱肉丝                    Shredded Pork with Beijing Bean Sauce                   16元/ portion

木耳炒鸡                    Wood Ear Fungus and Fried Chicken                         12元/ portion

水煮鳝鱼                    Sichuan Spicy Boiled Eel                                           25元/ portion

虎皮青椒                    "Tiger Skin" Green Peppers                                        10元/ portion

川汁茄子                    Sichuan Eggplant (Aubergine)                                    10元/ portion

酱茄子                        Eggplant in Sauce                                                       10元/ portion

酱炒鸡蛋                    Fried Egg in Sauce                                                      8元/ portion

鸡蛋焖子                    Braised Egg                                                                8元/ portion

香菇菜心                    Shiitake Mushroom and Cabbage Heart                      8元/ portion

酸甜鸡蛋饼                Sweet and Sour Egg Cake                                          10元/ portion

木须肉                        Mushu Pork                                                                 12元/ portion

青椒鱿鱼花                Green Peppers and Squid                                           16元/ portion

豌豆鱿鱼                    Peas and Squid                                                           12元/ portion

铁盘鱿鱼                    Sizzling Plate Squid                                                    18元/ portion

川汁鱿鱼                    Sichuan Style Squid                                                    18元/ portion

蒙古炒烤肉                Mongolian Fried Roast Meat                                      16元/ portion

孜然牛肉                    Cumin Beef                                                                 20元/ portion

沙茶灼牛肉                "Barbecued" Beef                                                       20元/ portion

肉末玉米                    Minced Meat and Corn                                               10元/ portion

香甜玉米粒                Sweet and Fragrant Corn Kernels                              12元/ portion  

孜然火腿肠                Cumin Ham Sausage                                                   10元/ portion

牛肉苦瓜                    Beef with Bitter Melon                                               10元/ portion

家常豆腐煲                Family Style Bean Curd Pot                                       10元/ portion

家常豆腐                    Family Style Bean Curd                                             8元/ portion

馅子鱼煲                    Stuffed Fish Pot                                                         20元/ portion

甜笋回锅肉                Sweet Bamboo Shoot Twice Cooked Pork                15元/ portion

红烧豆腐                    Red Braised Bean Curd                                              8元/ portion

肉炒香菇                    Fried Pork with Shiitake Mushroom                            10元/ portion

韭黄炒蛋                    Hotbed Chives Fried Egg                                           8元/ portion

茄子煲                        Eggplant Pot                                                               10元/ portion

蚝油肉丝浸时蔬        Oyster Sauce Shredded Pork w/ Vegetables              10元/ portion

 

快餐

Fast Food

 

鱼香肉丝                    Fish-fragrant Shredded Pork                                      10元/ portion

肘菜焖鸡块                Seasonal Veg w/ Boiled Chicken Piece                      10元/ portion

时菜鸡杂                    Seasonal Vegetables with Chicken Giblets                8元/ portion

豆腐鱼块                    Bean Curd and Fish                                                     8元/ portion

萝卜干回锅肉            Dried Radish and Twice Cooked Pork                       10元/ portion

回锅肉                        Twice Cooked Pork                                                    10元/ portion

糖醋鱼块                    Sweet and Sour Fish                                                   12元/ portion

苦瓜肉片                    Bitter Melon with Pork                                               8元/ portion

肉片腐竹                    Sliced Meat with Bean Curd Skin Rolls                     8元/ portion

青椒腊肠                    Green Pepper with Sausage                                        8元/ portion   

青椒猪肝                    Green Pepper with Pork Liver                                    10元/ portion

青椒豆腐丝                Green Pepper with Bean Curd Shreds                        8元/ portion

麻辣豆腐干                Hot and Spicy Bean Curd                                          8元/ portion

蒜苔炒肉                    Garlic Shoots Fried Pork                                            8元/ portion

鸡刨豆腐                    “Chicken” Bean Curd (Bean Curd and Egg)             6元/ portion

麻婆豆腐                    Mapo Bean Curd                                                        6元/ portion

莴笋肉片                    Asparagus Lettuce and Pork Slices                            7元/ portion

麻辣豆腐                    Mala Bean Curd                                                          5元/ portion

青瓜肉片                    Cucumber and Pork Slices                                          7元/ portion   

青椒炒肉                    Green Pepper Fried Pork                                            8元/ portion

木耳炒肉                    Wood Ear Fungus Fried Pork                                     8元/ portion   

肉末茄子                    Minced Meat with Eggplant                                       8元/ portion

素三丝                        Three Shredded Vegetables                                        5元/ portion

三椒炒土豆丝            Three Pepper Fried Potato Shreds                              7元/ portion

番茄妙蛋                    Tomato and Fried Egg                                                6元/ portion   

青椒土豆片                Green Pepper Fried Potato Shreds                             6元/ portion

酸菜肉片                    Pickled Cabbage Pork Slices                                      7元/ portion

鸡蛋炒韭菜                Fried Egg with Chinese Chives                                  6元/ portion

醋熘土豆丝                Vinegar Fried Potato Shreds                                      5元/ portion

酸菜肉末                    Pickled Cabbage and Minced Pork                            7元/ portion   

炮炒包菜                    Fried Wrapped Vegetables                                         5元/ portion

炮炒大白菜                Fried Chinese Cabbage                                               5元/ portion

素炒藕片                    Plain Fried Lotus Root                                               8元/ portion

鱼香茄条                    Fish-fragrant Eggplant                                                10元/ portion

素炒菜心/                   Simple Fried Vegetable Hearts/ Lettuce /

生菜/油麻菜               Oil Seed Rape                                                             5元/ portion

 

continued below

Edited September 16, 2015 by liuzhou (log)

[liuzhou]

汤美 Soup

 

青菜丸子汤                Green Vegetable and Meatball Soup                                      12

皮蛋瘦肉芥菜汤        Preserved Egg, Lean Pork, and Mustard Leaf Soup              8

三鲜汤                        Three Flavour Soup                                                                 8

豆芽猪肝汤                Bean Sprouts and Pork Liver Soup                                        6

青菜肉片汤                Green Vegetable and Sliced Pork Soup                                 6

蘑菇肉片汤                Mushroom and Sliced Pork Soup                                           6

四川煎蛋汤                Sichuan Egg Soup                                                                   6

紫菜蛋花汤                Seaweed and Egg Soup                                                          5

番茄蛋汤                    Tomato and Egg Soup                                                                        5

青菜豆腐汤                Green Vegetable and Bean Curd Soup                                  5

黄瓜皮蛋瘦肉汤        Cucumber, Preserved Egg and Lean Pork Soup                     8

苦瓜肉片汤                Bitter Melon and Pork Slice Soup                                          6

 

主食 Staples

 

炒粉                            Fried Rice Noodles                                                                 5

煮粉                            Boiled Noodles                                                                     3/3.5

蛋炒饭                        Egg Fried Rice                                                                        5

扬州炒饭                    Yangzhou Fried Rice                                                              5

玉米肉沫炒饭            Corn and Minced Pork Fried Rice                                          5

炒面                            Chow Mein                                                                             6

酸辣面                        Hot and Sour Noodles                                                                        3

拌饭                            Mixed Rice                                                                             6

饺子                            Jiaozi in Soup                                                                          3

馄饨                            Wontons in Soup                                                                    3

上汤伊面                    Instant Noodles                                                                      3

炸酱面                        Noodles in Fried Bean Sauce                                                 5

 

火锅 Hotpots

 

鸳鸯火锅  YuanYuang Hotpot (Double pot - 1 side spicy, 1 side plain)  15                             

清汤锅       Clear Soup Hotpot                                                      10

         

                                                                                                            大                     小

                                                                                                         Large                Small                

 

蒜香牛排锅    Garlic Flavoured Beefsteak Hotpot                            55                    35      

干锅啤酒鸭    Dry Pot Beer Duck                                                     40                    25

麻辣鸡锅        Hot and Spicy Chicken Hotpot                                  40                    25

黄焖鸡            Yellow Boiled Chicken                                              40                    25

干锅牛腩        Dry Pot Beef Tenderloin                                            50                    30

银针牛腩锅    Silver Needle Beef Tenderloin Hotpot                       45                    30

萝卜排骨锅    Chinese Radish/Spare Rib Hotpot                              40                    25

麻辣鱼            Hot and Spicy Fish                                                     40                    25

酸菜鱼            Pickled Vegetable Fish                                               40                    25

干锅鸭            Dry Pot Duck                                                              40                    25

滋补鸡            Nutritious Chicken                                                      40                    25

清水鸡            Clear Boiled Chicken                                                  40                    25

黄焖猪手锅    Yellow Boiled Pig's Trotter Hotpot                            50                    30

酱焖排骨锅    Boiled Spare Ribs in Sauce Hotpot                            45                     30

 

火锅生科 Hotpot Extra Ingredients

 

牛肉                Beef                                                    16

瘦肉                Lean Meat                                           14

鸡肉                Chicken                                               15

全鱼                Whole Fish                                          18

猪肝                Pork Liver                                           14

香菇                Shitake Mushrooms                            8

银针菇            Silver Needle Mushrooms                    8

凤尾菇            Oyster Mushrooms                              6

腐竹                Fuzhu (Dried Bean Curd Skin)           8

香芋                Taro                                                     8

油豆腐            Bean Curd                                           8

土豆                Potato                                                  5

大白菜            Chinese Cabbage                                5

豆苗                Bean Sprouts                                       5

菜心                Cabbage Hearts                                   5

萝卜                Chinese Radish                                   5

冻豆腐            Frozen Bean Curd                               5

水豆腐            Soft Bean Curd                                   5

鱼丸                Fish Balls                                            15

虾丸                Shrimp Balls                                        15

墨鱼丸            Cuttlefish Balls                                   15

瘦肉卷            Lean Meat Rolls                                  15

猪腰片            Pork Kidney Slices                             18

粉丝                Vermicelli Noodles                              6

Edited September 16, 2015 by liuzhou (log)

[KennethT]

Thanks for posting these... I'm enjoying this thread.

What percentage of restaurants like this in your area have menus already translated into English? Also, are there people who work in the restaurants who speak any English? I guess my real question is, if one were to order from the English menu, would anyone be there to understand what one is ordering?

The menus are quite extensive. If a non-Chinese speaking person were to go to a restaurant without an English menu, would they be able to get by? It's easy to get by in restaurants that only serve a few dishes, but other than looking at what is served on other tables and pointing, do you have an idea of how a non-Chinese speaker would fare?

[liuzhou]

Thanks for posting these... I'm enjoying this thread.

What percentage of restaurants like this in your area have menus already translated into English? Also, are there people who work in the restaurants who speak any English? I guess my real question is, if one were to order from the English menu, would anyone be there to understand what one is ordering?

The menus are quite extensive. If a non-Chinese speaking person were to go to a restaurant without an English menu, would they be able to get by? It's easy to get by in restaurants that only serve a few dishes, but other than looking at what is served on other tables and pointing, do you have an idea of how a non-Chinese speaker would fare?

 

Good question.

 

The percentage of restaurants like this with English menus is so close to zero to be about a fraction of a lot less than 1. It was only translated because for a short time they had a captive audience of foreign English teachers who couldn't deal with the Chinese menu, which is why they asked me to translate.

If there is a translation, the English and Chinese will be side by side, so when you are pointing at the English, the wait staff is looking at the Chinese.

I very occasionally come across English speakers (of varying levels) in restaurants - usually students doing part-time work. I meet a lot of people who fondly imagine they speak English, too.

 

As to a non-Chinese person dealing with these extensive menus, yes it would be difficult. Pointing at other diners' choices, as you suggest, is perfectly acceptable and in small places you can wander into the kitchen and poke around in the larder or fridge (if they have one) to make your choice. You may come across a few surprises, though.

 

When I first came to China around 20 years ago, I made a point of learning food/menu Chinese first. I could order a twenty course banquet long before I could ask for directions home.

 

Please remember, I live in a small, non-tourist city with very few foreigners. In larger cities or tourist destinations it is sometimes easier, although if you wander into a small neighbourhood restaurant in Beijing or Shanghai, they are equally unlikely to have an English menu or English speaking staff.

I think the best way to explain the situation is to ask yourself how many non-Chinese restaurants in New York have Chinese translations. I guess at least as few.

Edited September 16, 2015 by liuzhou (log)

[KennethT]

Very interesting... thanks for the explanation - although I can never imagine myself walking into a restaurant's kitchen and poking around their supplies!

I wonder if someone has made a text recognition phone app that you could use to take pictures of menus and have the app translate into other languages... but that's another topic!

[liuzhou]

This is sort of a theoretical menu.

 

I'm often asked, via my website, what foreigner visitors can expect in the way of local food. Some years back, I put together this list of dishes which appear on most local menus or which any kitchen could rustle up, even if not listed. I have known people to print it out and carry it with them in case of a sudden attack of the munchies.

 

Please note a few of the dishes are very local specialties (especially among the noodles). I haven't included prices as they vary , but generally pretty cheap. Apologies for the formatting - the board software doesn't want to play.

 

FAST FOOD

Tripe with Seasonal Vegetables                      时菜肚片

Squid with Seasonal Vegetables                      时菜鱿鱼

Sausage, Chicken and Beancurd Skin             腐竹香肠鸡丁

Chicken, Fungus and Beancurd Skin              腐竹木耳鸡丁

Bamboo Shoot with Cured Pork                      笋丝回锅肉

Stir Fried Beancurd with Fish                          豆腐焖鱼块

Ribbon Fish with Green Chilli and Ginger       青椒姜丝带鱼

Ribbon Fish with Peppers and Soy Beans       辣子豆芪带鱼

Pickled Bamboo Shoot and Soy Bean Fish     酸笋黄豆焖鱼仔

Pork with Seasonal Vegetables                      时菜油花

Pig’s Liver with Seasonal Vegetables             时菜猪肝

Ribs with Seasonal Vegetables                       时菜排骨

Beef and Bitter Melon                                      苦瓜牛肉

Beef with Green Chilli and Tomato                 青椒番茄牛肉

Eggs with Green Chilli and Tomato                青椒番茄炒蛋

Bamboo Shoot with Pork                                 甜笋肉片

Hot Pickled Mustard Shoot with Pork               榨菜肉丝

Sausage with Seasonal Vegetables                  时菜香肠

Chicken Giblets with Seasonal Vegetables       时菜鸡杂

Pigs’ Intestines with Pickled Cabbage              酸菜大肠

Pig’s Intestines with Sour Kidney Beans         酸豆角大肠

Beancurd and Minced Pork                              豆腐肉沫

 

 

 

SOUP

Fish Head and Bean Curd Soup                     鱼头豆腐汤

Clam and Green Vegetable Soup                    车螺芥菜汤

Three Flavour Soup                                      三鲜汤

Seaweed and Pork Soup                                紫菜肉片汤

Egg and Tomato Soup                                   番茄蛋花汤

Hot and Sour Soup                                        酸辣汤

Beancurd and Green Vegetable Soup              青菜豆腐汤

 

 

NOODLES and Fried Rice

Luosifen (Spicy Rice Noodles in Snail Soup)   螺蛳粉

Stir Fried Rice Noodles                                  炒粉

Stir Fried Noodles (Chow Mien)                     炒面

Yangzhou Fried Rice                                     扬州炒饭

Eight Treasures Noodles                                八珍面

Eight Treasures Rice Noodles                         八珍粉

Spicy Chicken Noodles                                  麻辣鸡面

Spicy Chicken Rice Noodles                           麻辣鸡粉

Chicken and Mushroom Noodles                    鸡丝香菇面

Chicken and Mushroom Rice Noodles            鸡丝香菇粉

Spicy Pickled Mustard and Pork Noodles        榨菜肉丝面

Spicy Pickled Mustard and Pork R/Noodles    榨菜肉丝粉

Stewed Beef Noodles                                    卤牛肉面

Stewed Beef Rice Noodles                             卤牛肉粉

‘Laoyou’ Noodles                                             老友面

‘Laoyou’ Rice Noodles                                  老友粉

Three Flavour Noodles                                  三鲜面

Three Flavour Rice Noodles                          三鲜粉

 

CONGEE (Porridge)

Three Meats Congee                                      三鲜粥

Clam and Green Vegetable Congee                 车螺芥菜粥

Shredded Pork and Preserved Egg Congee      肉丝皮蛋粥

Rice Field Eel Congee                                    黄蟮粥

Chicken and Mushroom Congee                     鸡丝香菇粥

Pork and Black Bean Congee                         蚝豉瘦肉粥

Frog Congee                                                  田鸡粥 

 

MAIN DISHES

Guangdong White Cut Chicken (Whole)          广式白切鸡（个）

Guangdong White Cut Chicken (Half)             广式白切鸡（半）

Chicken with Pineapple                                  菠萝炒鸡

Spicy Chicken with Peanuts   (Kungpo)          宫爆鸡丁

Chicken with Chilli Pepper                             辣子鸡

Chicken with Wood Ear Fungus                     木耳青椒炒鸡

Fried Chicken                                               炒滑鸡

Duck with Ginger                                          子姜炒鸭

Duck with Green Pepper                               青椒炒鸭

Frog with Seasonal Vegetable                         时菜田鸡

Deep Fried Loach                                         油爆泥鳅

Deep Fried Rice Field Eel                              油葱黄鳝

Rice Field Eel with Seasonal Vegetable           时菜黄鳝

Rice Field Eel with Garlic                              蒜子黄鳝

Deep Fried Pig’s Stomach                             油爆肚尖

Deep Fried Pigs’ Intestines                            油爆大肠

Hot Tripe                                                     麻辣肚尖

Hot and Spicy Pig’s Stomach                         麻辣肚丝

Cold Tripe in Sauce                                      凉拌肚丝

Fried Field Snail                                            炒田螺

Steamed Tilapia Fish                                     清蒸罗非

Tilapia Fish with Broad Bean Sauce               豆瓣罗非

Hot Tilapia Fish                                            糟辣罗非

Five Willow Fish                                           五柳鱼

Fish Braised in Soy Sauce                              红烧鱼块

Fried Liver                                                   香煎鱼肝

Sichuan Style Twice Cooked Pork                  川味回锅肉

Ribs Braised in Soy Sauce                              红烧排骨

Sweet and Sour Ribs                                      糖醋排骨

Deep Fried Diced Pork                                  宫爆肉丁

Spicy Boiled Beef                                          水煮牛肉

Spicy Boiled Offal                                         水煮上杂

Hot and Spicy Beef                                        麻辣牛肉

Beef in Oyster Sauce                                      蚝油牛肉

Kidney with Seasonal Vegetables                     时菜腰花

Chicken Giblets with Seasonal Vegetables         时菜鸡杂

Tripe with Seasonal Vegetables                        时菜肚片

Sweet and Sour Preserved Eggs                       糖醋炸蛋

Fried Egg                                                       炒滑蛋

Hot and Spicy Beancurd                                 麻辣豆腐

Beancurd Braised in Soy Sauce                       红烧豆腐

Eggplant Braised in Soy Sauce                        红烧茄子

Fried Bitter Melon                                          素炒苦瓜

Fried Rape                                                     炒油菜

Fried Greens                                                  素炒蕨菜

Deep Fried Green Peppers                              油爆青椒

Fried Sweet Potato Shoot                                素炒红薯苗 

 

COLD FOODS

Cold Tomato in Dressing                                凉拌蕃茄

Cold Eggplant in Dressing                              凉拌茄子

Cold Cucumber in Dressing                            凉拌黄瓜 

Cold Green Bean Noodles in Dressing 凉拌粉丝 

Cold Rice Noodles in Dressing       凉拌粉 

Cold Noodles in Dressing            凉拌面 

Cold Preserved Egg in Dressing      凉拌皮蛋 

Cold Chicken Feet in Dressing       凉拌凤爪 

Cold Jellyfish in Dressing          凉拌蛰皮 

Cold Beef Tripe in Dressing         凉拌百叶 

 

 

SNACKS

Sweet Dates                         蜜枣 

Olives                              橄榄 

Salted Plum                         话梅 

Sour Vegetable                      酸品 

Kidney Bean                         蚕豆 

Dried Apricots                      杏脯 

Peanuts                             花生 

Red Melon Seeds                     红瓜子 

Pumpkin Seeds                       南瓜子 

Sunflower Seeds                     葵瓜子 

Raisins                             葡萄干 

Dried Crab-apple                    海棠干 

Dried Apple                         苹果脯 

Dried Sweet Potato                  红薯干 

ErJiao Dates                        阿胶枣 

Beef Jerky                          沙爹 

Pistachio Nuts                      开心果 

Cashew Nuts                         腰果 

Figs                                无花果 

American Raisins                   美国提子 

Stewed Bean Curd Skin               五香豆腐干 

Stewed Beef Jerky                   牛腊巴 

Beef Kebabs                         牛肉串 

Stewed Pig’s Tripe                 卤猪肚丝 

Stewed Pig’s Ear                   卤猪耳朵 

Stewed Pig’s Intestines            卤肥肠 

Stewed Pig’s Liver                 卤横肝 

Stewed Chicken Feet                 卤鸡爪 

Stewed Chicken Wings                卤鸡翅尖 

Stewed Duck’s Feet                 卤鸭掌 

Stewed Duck’s Tongue               卤鸭舌 

Stewed Mixed Meats                  卤菜拼盘 

Fried Quail (one)                   炸鹌鹑鸟（个） 

Fried Snails                        炒田螺 

French Fries                        炸薯条 

Dried Fish                          鱼片干 

 

 

DRINKS

LiQuan Beer                         漓泉啤酒 

YuFeng Beer                         鱼峰啤酒 .

ZhuJiang Beer                       珠江啤酒 

Blue Ribbon Beer                    蓝带啤酒 

Holsten Beer                        好顺啤酒 

Anchor Beer                         力佳啤酒 

San Miguel Beer                     生力啤酒 

Qingdao Beer (Premium)              青岛啤酒（极品） 

JianLiBao (Honey Soft Drink)        健力宝 

Coca Cola                           可口可乐 

Sunrise Brand Ice Tea               旭日升冰茶 

Pomegranate Juice                   石榴汁 

Coconut Juice                       椰子汁 

Lemonade                            柠檬汁 

Orange Juice                        粒粒橙 

Eight Treasure Congee               八宝粥 

Pearl Milk Tea                      珍珠奶茶 

Fengshou White Wine                 中国丰收红葡萄酒 

Fengshou Red Wine                   中国白葡萄酒 

Qingdao Wine                        青岛葡萄酒

 

HOT DRINKS

Ginger Milk                         姜撞奶 

Pineapple Milk                      菠萝汁奶饮 

Lemon Milk                          柠檬汁奶饮 

Orange Milk                         甜橙汁奶饮 

Banana Milk                         香蕉奶饮 

Carrot Milk                         胡萝卜奶饮 

Viennese Coffee                     维也纳咖啡奶饮 

French Coffee                       法式咖啡奶饮 

Hot Milk 热牛奶 

 

 

CRUSHED ICES AND ICE CREAMS

Watermelon Ice                      西瓜冰花 

Strawberry Ice                      草莓冰花 

Pineapple Ice                       菠萝冰花 

Coconut Ice                         椰子冰花 

Mango Ice                           芒果冰花 

Green Bean Ice                      绿豆冰花 

Lemon Ice                           柠檬冰花 

Pomegranate Ice                     石榴冰花 

Hami Melon Ice                      哈蜜瓜冰花 

Milk Ice Cream                      蛋奶冰淇淋 

Coke Ice Cream                      可可冰淇淋 

 

 

Peanut Ice Cream                    花生冰淇淋 

Mango Ice Cream                     芒果冰淇淋 

Strawberry Ice Cream                草莓冰淇淋 

Orange Milk Ice Cream               橙汁奶油冰淇淋 

Four Flavour Ice Cream              四味冰淇淋 

Two Colour Ice Cream                双色冰淇淋 

Snow Princess Ice Cream             白雪公主 

Black Sister Ice Cream              黑妹冰淇淋 

 

FRUIT DISHES

Fresh Fruit Platter                 时鲜水果盘 

Ice Cream Platter                   冰淇淋果盘 

Ice Cream and Fruit Platter         水果冰淇淋杯 

Watermelon Cup                      西瓜盅 

Pineapple Cup                       菠萝盅 

Mixed Fruit Cup                     杂果盅 

 

 

TEAS

Green Tea                           绿茶 

Black Tea                           红茶 

Yunnan Tea                          云南沱茶 

Needle Tea                          毛尖茶 

Bitter Tea                          苦丁茶 

Jasmine Tea                         茉莉花茶 

Orange Peel Tea                     陈皮茶 

White Chrysanthemum Tea             杭白菊花茶 

West Lake Dragon Well Tea           西湖龙井茶 

Oolong Tea                          乌龙茶 

Blue Snail Spring Tea               碧螺春茶 

Lemon Tea                           柠檬茶 

Fruit Milk Tea                      果味奶茶 

Eight Treasures Tea                 八宝茶 

Fruit Tea                           水果茶 

Osmanthus Tea                       桂圆茶 

Red Date Tea                        红枣茶 

Grape, Ginger and Honey Tea         葡萄生姜蜜茶  

Edited September 20, 2015 by liuzhou (log)

[liuzhou]

Thought you might like to see what a Chinese hotel “western" restaurant imagines is a Christmas dinner.

 

 

My local, government owned, five star hotel  is once again offering its version of a western Christmas dinner. They offer three set menu choices. I have extracted the English (their translation! With  only a few minor corrections by me)  here. The original bilingual version can be seen in the image above. Click here for a larger version (1.7 Mb).

 

Menu A  - ¥998.00 per person (US$ 154/£103)

Christmas cocktail

Pan-fried French goose-liver

Christmas turkey salad

Double-boiled fresh abalone soup or mushroom cream soup

Abalone with Christmas turkey or sea cucumber with Christmas turkey

Double-boiled papaya pigeon with Christmas pudding

 

Menu B  - ¥398.00 per person (US$61/£41)

Christmas cocktail

BBQ fresh oyster

Christmas turkey salad

Russian bortsch or double-boiled worhole* flowers in soup

Ribeye beef steak with Christmas turkey

Almond and white egg in soup & Christmas pudding

 

Menu C  - ¥298.00 per person (US$46/£31)

Christmas cocktail

BBQ fresh oyster

Christmas turkey salad

Russian bortsch or double-boiled worhole* flowers in soup

Grilled flat sinew beef steak & Christmas turkey

Almond & white egg sweet in soup and Christmas pudding.

 

Plus 10% service charge

*Andy? This should be cordycep flowers. Neither I nor Mr. Google have ever heard of worhole in this context.

Edited February 16, 2021 by liuzhou
Link to enlargement now fixed (log)

[Anna N]

I decided as I was falling asleep last night that I would order in Chinese food on Christmas day. I am guessing the Chinese would be equally amused at what passes as Chinese. Still it is hard to believe that a western hotel could get it so very wrong.  I am awfully glad I will not be eating there on Christmas Day.   Thanks for sharing. 

[Arey]

It makes my planned Christmas dinner of roasted turkey thigh, baked sweet potato,  Brussels sprouts or green  beans , and springerlies with tea for dessert seem so humdrum. 

[liuzhou]

14 minutes ago, Arey said:

It makes my planned Christmas dinner of roasted turkey thigh, baked sweet potato,  Brussels sprouts or green  beans , and springerlies with tea for dessert seem so humdrum. 

 

I think I prefer yours! Not so keen on the sweet potato but definitely sprouts over beans. I'm off to look up "springerlies". on whatbethat.com/

Edited December 16, 2015 by liuzhou
typo (log)

[blue_dolphin]

I'm sort of curious what the "Christmas turkey salad" would be.

[liuzhou]

13 minutes ago, blue_dolphin said:

I'm sort of curious what the "Christmas turkey salad" would be.

 

Oh. That's easy. That will be turkey trimmings with raw vegetables slathered in Kewpie sweet mayonnaise. Probably with fruit, too.

[blue_dolphin]

10 minutes ago, liuzhou said:

 

Oh. That's easy. That will be turkey trimmings with raw vegetables slathered in Kewpie sweet mayonnaise. Probably with fruit, too.

 

Ewwww.  I wanted to click "like" on your post to show my appreciation for answering my question but with that answer.....I just couldn't!

[Arey]

A springerle is a traditional German cookie made with anise seeds.  I get mine at a local Greek bakery that has a German baker on its staff. Although somewhat soft when bought they tend to harden as time passes until they reach the perfect stage for dunking in a cup of tea.

The sweet potato may actually be a yam or the yam may actually be a sweet potato.  It's a tuber with an orange flesh which gets soft when baked and the skin may or may not be edible. I don't eat the skin myself, They also turn up in pies and casseroles, sometimes have mini-marshmallows on them or other things on them. 

[liuzhou]

17 minutes ago, Arey said:

A springerle is a traditional German cookie made with anise seeds.  I get mine at a local Greek bakery that has a German baker on its staff. Although somewhat soft when bought they tend to harden as time passes until they reach the perfect stage for dunking in a cup of tea.

The sweet potato may actually be a yam or the yam may actually be a sweet potato.  It's a tuber with an orange flesh which gets soft when baked and the skin may or may not be edible. I don't eat the skin myself, They also turn up in pies and casseroles, sometimes have mini-marshmallows on them or other things on them. 

 

Yes. I know what a sweet potato is. They are very popular here. I just want to skip on them.

 

Mr Google enlightened me to what a springerle is. Interesting, but I'm not a sweet person, or a person who likes sweets.

[Arey]

My remark about the sweet potato was to point out the confusion in the US over the proper name of that orange tuber which can also be white or purple and, when orange, is frequently incorrectly called a yam even tho it isn't a yam. 

[liuzhou]

This menu is a vast improvement on previous attempts. It's nearly all understandable.

 

Here is a link to my blog page which includes a historic version of Christmas dinner in the same place. At least, that is what I think it is.

 

 

[Anna N]

Oh dear. Fresh fruit with glands of a crad Japanese?  Doesn't bear thinking about.