Can I Eat This?

For travelers eating in China

Understand Chinese Menus. Choose What Fits You.

Scan a menu photo or ordering screenshot. See what dishes are, likely ingredients, preparation, and taste—then optionally check them against your preferences, dietary needs, or allergies.

Scan a Menu FreeAllergies or dietary restrictions? Set your Food Profile →

No sign-up required. Includes 5 free menu analysis batches.

How it works

Understand. Check. Choose.

  1. 1Understand the menuUpload a paper menu photo or a WeChat or Alipay screenshot. See clear English dish explanations, likely ingredients, preparation, and taste.
  2. 2Check what fits youOptionally add a Food Profile to compare dishes with your preferences, dietary needs, or allergies.
  3. 3Choose what to orderReview Better, Ask, Avoid, or Unknown guidance, confirm uncertain details with staff, and add your choices to an Order Card.

Example menu result

Understand the Dish First

Every result starts by explaining the dish. Add a Food Profile to also see personalized Better, Ask, Avoid, or Unknown guidance.

Example Food Profile: No pork · No alcohol

番茄炒蛋

Tomato Scrambled Eggs

What it is: A common homestyle dish made with tomato and scrambled egg.

Likely ingredients: Tomato, egg, scallion, cooking oil, salt, and sugar.

Preparation & taste: Stir-fried · mild · savory · slightly sweet and sour

Example Food Profile: No pork · No alcohol

BetterPersonalized guidance

No obvious conflict was found for this example Food Profile from the available information.

麻婆豆腐

Mapo Tofu

What it is: A Sichuan tofu dish in a spicy, numbing sauce, commonly made with minced meat.

Likely ingredients: Tofu, chili bean paste, minced meat, Sichuan pepper, and cooking oil.

Preparation & taste: Cooked in sauce · spicy · numbing · savory

Example Food Profile: No pork · No alcohol

AskPersonalized guidance

The minced meat may be pork, and cooking wine may also be used. Ask the restaurant to confirm.

Examples only. Recipes and preparation vary. Guidance depends on the available dish information and any Food Profile you choose to add.

Scan a Menu Free

What a Menu Scan Can Show You

See what a dish is, what it may contain, and how it is commonly prepared—not just an English dish name.

Dish explanationsLikely ingredientsPreparationTaste & spiceFood preferencesDietary needsFood allergies
Understand unfamiliar dishesSee a clear English explanation without relying on a literal dish-name translation alone.
See likely ingredients and preparationReview likely ingredients, meat, common cooking methods, and taste.
Personalize the guidanceOptionally compare dishes with your preferences, dietary needs, or allergies.
Know when to askUse Ask Staff in Chinese when ingredients or preparation need confirmation.

Guidance, followed by staff confirmation

Better means no obvious conflict was found from the available information. It does not mean guaranteed safe. If your restriction is severe or strict, confirm ingredients and preparation directly with restaurant staff.

Chinese menu scanner FAQ

How is this different from a menu translator?

A translator may only give you an English dish name. Can I Eat This? China also explains unfamiliar dishes, shows likely ingredients, preparation, and taste, and can compare that information with your optional Food Profile.

Does Better mean a dish is safe?

No. Better only means no obvious conflict was found. Recipes and preparation vary, so ask restaurant staff when confirmation matters.

Can I scan a WeChat or Alipay menu?

Yes. Take a screenshot of the dishes you are considering and upload it in the same way as a paper-menu photo.

What should I do if I have a severe allergy?

Treat the result as guidance only and confirm ingredients, sauces, cooking oil, shared equipment, and preparation directly with restaurant staff.

Need more menu analysis batches?

Each recognition analyzes up to 5 related menu images. Free includes 5 batches; the China Food Pass includes 50 batches for 365 days after payment.

Get China Food Pass

Ready to Understand Your Menu?

Upload the menu in front of you. Add a Food Profile only if you want personalized guidance.

Scan a Menu Free