Chinese cuisines can be divided into eight different types based on the origin. They can be also being described as regional cuisines as they belong to eight different regions. These regional cuisines includes Cantonese, Fuji an, Shandong, Zhejiang, Sichuan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Hunan.



The menu page will usually contain pictures of the dishes in order to help those fresh faces sitting for the first time. These are some certain particular sequence in which dishes are served in Chinese dinner.

At first it is best to go for cold dishes. These cold dishes are almost similar to appetizers. Almost in all the places these are served first which will be usually followed by dishes that are hot, dessert and soups.

Seafood is also very popular cuisine. An interesting fact about seafood is that one should choose their needs i.e. fish from the fish tank fresh before the dinner. Almost every choice will be there before you ranging from flounder to oysters.

Tea is the most preferred drink in a Chinese dish table. Along with this alcoholic drinks are also considered. Each and every person will have there own rice dish as well.

All other dishes are usually kept in the center of the table. Usually a platform that rotates forms the center of table. This part will be a platform that will be raised above the normal level of the whole table surface. This will help the person to take the dishes according to ones wish without disturbing others.

If fish was the dish that one ordered then yet again an interesting fact will be that the head part will be still is attached with the body. Even if the dinner is a formal one or let it be an informal one, the fish should be always pointed to the most distinguished guest. Spoons are placed in the table from the beginning onwards and when the soup arrives then these spoons can be well used. Spoons again are used to scoop food into the bowl of rice. Plain eating is preferred if one does not know how to use chopsticks. Communal serving is preferred for deserts and like all others this will not be served individually. A dim sum dish or pastry is preferred as desert. This desert can be hot or cold.

With Chinese food, let it be vegetable or meat, the prepared food will be usually be bit size. Thus there is no need for tearing the food before eating it. All of those will be in a form such that it is easier for direct picking and eating. Knives and forks are not used as they consider these as weapons. It is also considered ungracious to make the guests cut the food items.

Chicken is yet another popular Chinese meal. Chicken is usually cut into pieces before serving unlike the fish. The reason why fish is served in full is that it is considered wholeness of things culturally. Beef is less preferred and instead pork is served more. This is mainly due to aesthetic and economical reasons. The color of meat as well as that of the fat is found more appetizing in Chinese. The taste and color is found sweeter and delicious. Easier digestion is also there due to the very special Chinese way of preparations. In the west of the country beef is popular as these places are more influenced by Islam. In the north of the country lamb is preferred most.

Vegetarianism is only practiced by a small part of the population like that in west and is not therefore uncommon. These vegetarian dishes contain more vegetables which include mushroom, bok Choy, sprouts etc. imitation meet are also used which imitates the taste, appearance and smell of duck, and chicken etc. soy proteins are mostly used to prepare these food items. Imitations of sea food items are also very much available which are made from vegetables like konjac. Cold beverages are not supported traditionally in Chinese as it is considered to halt speedy digestion of hot food items. Instead hot water and tea are very much used. But now soft drinks and beer are served along with the food items. All these make Chinese dinner in China one of the most treasured not only in Asia, but in the whole world as well.