Just within China, there are more regional cuisines than you realize. Everything from history to environment, climate and outside cultural influence affected how Chinese regional cuisine evolved into what it is today. In this new series we will be taking you through different typical meals for different regions in China. Then you can use Spoonhunt to find these foods nearby you!
Let us know which of these is your favorite in the comments below.
Beijing 北京
Beijing’s breakfast specialty is called Mung Bean Milk 豆汁 Dòuzhī. Often eating with fried dough to dip in it, it has a slightly sour taste. People outside of Beijing usually hate it, but true Beijingers love it!
Tianjin 天津
This popular morning and late night street snack originated in Tianjin. Chinese Crepe 煎饼果子 Jiānbing guǒzi is made with egg, cilantro, fried dough and often times meat and sauce. It’s the Chinese breakfast burrito.
Northeastern China 东北
Colloquially known as Dōngběi, Northeastern China has a very unique cuisine featuring wheat products. Their everyday, go-to breakfast is Dough Drop Soup 疙瘩汤 Gē da tāng. This popular breakfast soup consists of flour noodles, egg, tomato, vegetables and shrimp.
Shandong 山东
Made from grass jelly, sweet potato powder, prawn sauce, soy sauce and sesame sauce, Shandong’s signature breakfast is Men Zi 焖子 Mènzi. While this breakfast is eaten in other Chinese cities like Hebei, Tianjin and Henan, Shandong has their own signature version.
Hubei 湖北
Wuhan Hot Dry Noodles 武汉热干面 Wǔhàn rè gān miàn is a breakfast specialty of Hubei. Noodles for breakfast is quite common in China and Hubei’s version are firm, golden and savory. The dry spicy flavor is a great way to wake up in the morning.
Jiangsu 江苏
Soup Dumplings 灌汤包 Guàn tāng bāo is an expat favorite in Shanghai, but in Jiangsu province it’s a delicious breakfast. The skin is delicately wrapped around the meat and soup inside so as not to break open. Now you have an excuse to have soup dumplings earlier in the day!
Shanghai 上海
Arguably Shanghai’s most popular breakfast food among locals is Shanghai Big Wontons 上海大馄饨 Shànghǎi dà húntún. Wontons come in different shapes and forms based on location, but Shanghai’s wontons are big and round. Local Shanghai streets are filled with Wonton vendors in the morning.
Fujian 福建
Fujian is located in Southeastern China and their signature breakfast is Satay Noodles 沙茶面 Shā chá miàn. Featuring fresh seafood ingredients like shrimp and cuttlefish, Fujian breakfast is savory and spicy. Most places have their own homemade satay sauce, making every place unique.
Zhejiang 浙江
The crispy cousin of the Jiangsu Soup Dumplings, Zhejiang Province local breakfast favorite is Pan Fried Dumplings 生煎包 Shēng jiān bāo. Filled with meat and soup, this dumplings have thicker skin and a crispy bottom. Eastern China loves dumplings for breakfast.
Guangdong 广东
Getting into southern cities and provinces of China, Guangdong’s favorite breakfast is influenced by Cantonese cuisine and dim sum. Chang Fen 肠粉 Cháng fěn is a rice noodle roll often with signature char siu pork inside. Make sure to dip yours in soy sauce!
Sichuan 四川
In true Sichuan fashion, even their breakfast is spicy. Their signature breakfast dish is a special kind of Wonton called Spicy Oil Wonton 红油抄手 Hóng yóu chāoshǒu. While the wontons themselves are the traditional square folded skin with meat and vegetables inside, the chili oil it’s dunked in is where the taste really comes from.
Chongqing 重庆
Chongqing’s name is often lent to describe spicy hot pot, so it only makes sense for their signature breakfast to be just as spicy as Sichuan’s. Chongqing locals love eating Hot and Sour Noodles 酸辣粉 Suān là fěn for breakfast. The see-through cellophane noodles, meat and peanuts will tingle your tastebuds.
Xinjiang 新疆
Way out west in China is the Xinjiang province, where ethincally Uyghur people make up a majority of the population. As such, their signature breakfast is Muslim influenced: Roast Flatbread 烤馕 Kǎo náng. Made from milk, sesame, flour and egg, this large flatbread is best served fresh from the circular kiln.
Shaanxi 陕西
Dubbed the “Chinese hamburger,” Shaanxi’s signature breakfast food is the Rou Jia Mo 肉夹馍 Ròu jiā mó. The pork is stewed for over 6 hours, while the flat bun is pan fried. This juicy combo is a perfect breakfast option.
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