Interpretation of Chinese Menu, Just Know This and You're OK

Isn't It Easy?

If you want to order something other than skewered lamb at a lamb skewer restaurant but have no idea what the dishes are, and end up ordering stir-fried dried tofu every time, pay attention. Here are four common Chinese menu terms. If you know these four words precisely, ordering Chinese food becomes much easier.

Jingjiang

Jingjiang (京醬), meaning "Beijing sauce," can be thought of as a type of Chinese soybean paste. A representative dish with the word "Jingjiang" is "Jingjiang Rousi," which is thinly sliced pork stir-fried in sweet bean sauce. The dish features salty stir-fried pork served wrapped in tofu skin along with shredded green onions, cucumbers, carrots, and cilantro. Once you taste it, you won't forget the sweet yet savory flavor.

Yuxiang

Yuxiang (魚香), meaning "fish fragrance," is a seasoning made from doubanjiang (fermented broad bean paste), sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, and other ingredients. It was originally created to mask the fishy smell of fish, resulting in a strong spicy, sweet, and sour flavor. Common dishes on Chinese menus like "Yuxiang Eggplant" and "Yuxiang Mushrooms" feature this sauce over eggplant and shiitake mushrooms. The flavor of the spices is subtle and not overwhelming, pairing well with rice and enjoyed by almost everyone.

Xiangla

Xiangla (香辣) means fragrant and spicy. It is similar to mala in its spiciness but lacks the numbing, tingling sensation unique to mala. Instead, it has a strong chili oil heat that makes you keep eating even while fanning yourself. It is a perfect pairing with beer. Representative dishes include Xiangla Shrimp, where whole shrimp are deep-fried and stir-fried with spicy seasoning; Xiangla Rousi, stir-fried pork with spicy sauce; and Xiangla Chicken Wings, fried chicken wings coated in spicy sauce.

Hongshao

Hongshao (紅燒) is a cooking method where seafood or meat is cooked and then simmered with soy sauce and sugar until the flavors meld. The ingredients take on a dark reddish color and have a strong sweet and savory taste. Hongshao Rou, also called "Hongshao Pork," is a pork dish prepared using this method. The tender meat melts in your mouth, and the sweet, rich sauce pairs perfectly when served over rice.

Confidently order Chinese food now!