Food & Restaurants
Practical restaurant and food guides for first-time visitors to China.
Food belongs in your first-72-hours setup too. A good meal can rescue a rough arrival day. A confusing menu, hidden price, allergy issue, or failed QR order can make it worse.
Food and restaurant questions
- How do I order food in a Chinese restaurant if I cannot read the menu?
- How do vegetarians order food in China?
- How do you handle food allergies in Chinese restaurants?
- What restaurant phrases should I save before going out?
- Should I eat only at restaurants with posted prices in China?
- How do I avoid being overcharged by small vendors?
First meal rule
For your first meal after landing, choose reliability over adventure: visible prices, clear photos, simple ordering, working payment, and a place close to your hotel. Save the tiny local adventure for later, once your phone, payment, and translation setup are working.