Practical help for travelers
Practical Guides for Eating in China
Understand how restaurants and menus work, learn what unfamiliar dishes may involve, and prepare for dietary needs or food-allergy conversations.
Eating in China
Practical help with ordering, restaurant routines, QR-code menus, payment apps, and eating out without fluent Chinese.
Understanding Chinese Menus
Clear explanations of dish names, common ingredients, cooking methods, flavors, and unfamiliar menu formats.
- How Chinese QR-Code Restaurant Menus WorkChinese restaurants often use scan-to-order QR menus. Here's what the code connects to, how to use it, and what to do when it's all in Chinese.
- Chinese Dish Names That Don't Mean What You ThinkWhy "fish-fragrant pork" isn't actually a fish dish, and "saliva chicken" isn't what it sounds like. Chinese dish names often describe flavor, not contents.
Dietary Needs
Practical guidance for vegetarian, vegan, halal-style, no-pork, no-alcohol, spice, raw-food, and offal preferences.
Food Allergies
Preparation and communication guidance for travelers managing food allergies while recipes and kitchens may vary.
Understand the Menu in Front of You
Upload a menu photo or ordering screenshot to see clear dish explanations, likely ingredients, preparation, and taste.
Scan a Chinese MenuNeed help using the scanner? Visit the Help & FAQ.