5 More Authentic Chinese Foods You Need to Try
The Chinese food we eat in America is nothing like in China
Chinese food, we all love it. The meats and veggies dance together to make a choreography of flavors that cover all parts of your tastebuds. I’m a serial Chinese food fan, so living in China is a dream for my foodie self.
Last year, I made a blog post covering the five authentic Chinese foods everyone needs to try. Although you still need to check these foods out, this blog was written before I ventured out of my comfort zone and tried my new favorites.
So I’ve orchestrated five more authentic Chinese foods you need to try. Whether you make them at home or find them at your local restaurant, they’re a must-have.
1. Jīpí (鸡皮) (Fried chicken skins)
Crunchy, salty, and juicy, fried chicken skin is number one convincingly. This snack is one of a kind, and I love it more than anything else on this list. The ultimate compliment to a cold beer, the fried chicken skin price point is also hard to beat.
Typically costing around 15 RMB ($2.14) per serving, it’s easy to get wrapped up in its delicious trap. Yet, it would be best if you were careful, as jīpí is incredibly fatty. You cannot make it a staple of your diet, even though it tastes amazing.
2. Guo Bao Ro (东北鍋包肉) (Sweet fried pork)
Slightly following the trend set by jipi, guobaorou is an extremely crunchy fried pork. The sweet sauce it is coated in differentiates it from the previous entry.
Originating from the Dongbei region of China, guobaorou is one of the most popular foods in China. Relatively affordable, it is served in large quantities and is absolutely killer when paired with other Dongbei foods of origin.
Guobaorou is a great food to share, generally eaten around a sizeable circle-shaped table with a spinning centerpiece to pass the food between friends and family. You need to try it!
3. Laziji (辣子鸡) (Spicy chopped fried chicken)
Laziji is a fried chicken, typically still connected to bone and chopped, topped with atrocious Sichuan peppers. The chicken is insanely spicy and mouth-numbing, as Sichuan is most famous for this style of food.
Perfect to warm up with during the colder months, laziji is something you need to try at home.
4. Kaoqiezi (Grilled eggplant with garlic, oil, and meat)
Smothered with tasty oil, five spice, a heap of garlic, and ground pork, this grilled eggplant is one of my favorite foods on earth. Also hailing from Dongbei, it is often paired with guobaorou.
Coming sliced down the middle, the eggplant is cooked so perfectly that all you need to do to separate it is drag your chopstick along it to cut it into to strips. Eating it while hot is recommended, as it will melt in your mouth, bringing the oil and garlic to the perfect sync. It’s out of this world!
5. Hotpot (You already know)
A list of authentic Chinese food wouldn’t be complete without hotpot. I know it’s pretty easy to get in the west nowadays, but you know I can’t leave it off the list!
There’s something about getting around the table with friends and cooking your meat and veggies in the boiling soup together that is so communal and special. I typically go for the spiciest of the spicy, Sichuan-numbing soup. It will destroy your mouth and make you sweat for hours, just like I like.
Beef, chicken hearts, pig brain, it all tastes good no matter the cut in this delicious soupy goodness. You need to find a hotpot restaurant, trust me!
That’s the list
Well, today was a happy blog post for the author. I enjoy food more than practically anything, so being able to make a list, especially about Chinese food, is always good fun. I can’t say tomorrow’s post will be as lighthearted as this.
You can check out my TikTok, where I made videos for hotpot and Dongbei food in the last couple of weeks. Also, if you’re interested in ex-pat and Chinese content, check out these blogs here.
