Fish is popular all over China, taken fresh from rivers or reared in fish ponds, with sea fish popular in coastal areas. Often you can choose which fish you want at the restaurant by pointing at it in a fish tank. The fish will then be weighed and the price of the dish calculated.
How Fish is Cooked and Served
The bones are seldom removed, so eat slowly. Taking bones from the mouth with the fingers and placing them on a side plate is usually considered the polite way to eat, rather than spitting them out. Fish are usually cooked whole, and most Chinese have no problem with eating the fishs head.
As fish has a very light flavor, other ingredients are added to give it what is considered “sufficient taste”, particularly chilis, ginger and salt.
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yangshuo Beer Fish | Yángshuò pÃjiÇ yú | Yung-shwor pee-jyoh yoo | é³æå¤é é±¼ |
| West Lake Vinegar Fish | XÄ«hú cù yú | Sshee-hoo tsoo yoo | 西æ¹éé±¼ |
| Sichuan Poached Fish Fillets in Hot Chili Oil | SìchuÄn shuÇzhÇyú | Srr-chwann shway-joo-yoo | åå·æ°´ç ®é±¼ |
| Broth-Steamed Bass | qÄ«ngzhÄng lúyú | Ching-jnngloo-yoo | æ¸ è¸é²é±¼ |
| Hunan Steamed Fish Head with Diced Hot Red Peppers | Húnán duò jiÄo yútóu | Hoo-nan dwor jyaoww yoo-toh | æ¹ååæ¤é±¼å¤´ |
| Xiamen Boiled Fresh Fish | Xià mén shuÇ zhÇ huóyú | Sshyaa-mnn shway joo hwor-yoo | å¦é¨æ°´ç ®æ´»é±¼ |
| Zhuhai Yellow Bone Fish | ZhÅ«hÇi huáng gÇ yú | Joo-heye hwung goo yoo | ç æµ·é»éª¨é±¼ |
| Zhengzhou Three Tastes Carp | ZhèngzhÅu lÇyú sÄn chÄ« | Jnng-joh lee-yoo san chrr | éå·é²¤é±¼ä¸å |
| Dunhuang Twin Towers Fish | DÅ«nhuáng shuÄng tÇ yú | Dwnn-hwung shwung taa yoo | æ¦ç åå¡é±¼ |
| Shunde Chrysanthemum Sashimi (sliced fresh fish) | Shùndé júhuÄ yú shÄng | Shwnn-der jyoo-hwaa yoo-shnng | 顺德èè±é±¼ç |
| Sichuan Stewed Eel | SìchuÄn huángmèn mán | Srr-chwann hwung-mnn man | åå·é»çé³ |
It is said that the Chinese will eat anything that moves, and it seems that anything that is pulled out of the sea is eaten. Turtle, shrimps, cuttlefish, squid, shark, abalone and all manner of shellfish can be found on coastal menus. The Chinese have invented many tasty ways to prepare the fruits of the sea.
Beware of seafood in cheap restaurants far from the sea as it may give you serious food poisoning.
| English | Chinese | Pronunciation | Characters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steamed Turtle | qÄ«ngzhÄng jiÇyú | Ching-jnng jyaa-yoo | æ¸ è¸ç²é±¼ |
| Pan Fried Pacific Saury | xiÄngjiÄn qiÅ«dÄoyú | Sshyang-jyen chyoh-daoww-yoo | é¦ç ç§åé±¼ |
| Salt and Pepper Shrimp | jiÄoyán xiÄ | Jyaoww-yen sshyaa | æ¤çè¾ |
| Oil Braised King Prawns | yóumèn dà xiÄ | Yoh-mnn daa sshyaa | æ²¹çå¤§è¾ |
| Tasty Shrimps | kÇuwèi xiÄ | Koh-way sshyaa | å£å³è¾ |
| Boiled Prawns | báizhuóxiÄ | Beye-jwor-sshyaa | ç½ç¼è¾ |
| Shandong Braised Original Shell Abalone | ShÄndÅng bÄ yuán ké bà oyú | Shan-dong baa ywen ker baoww-yoo | å±±ä¸æå壳é²é±¼ |
| Minced Garlic Steamed Abalone | suà nróng zhÄng bà oyú | Swann-rong jnng baoww-yoo | èèè¸é²é±¼ |
| Macao Portuguese Fresh Garden Oysters | Ãomén pú yuán shÄngháo | Aoww-mnn poo ywen shnng-haoww | æ¾³é¨è¡åçè |
| Gaoxiong Oyster Omelet | GÄoxióng ézÇ jiÄn | Gaoww-sshyong er-dzrr jyen | é«éèµä»ç |
| Shandong Roast Oyster Locust | ShÄndÅng shÄo lìhuáng | Shan-dong shaoww lee-hwung | å±±ä¸ç§èè |
| Fried Clams | chÇo xiÇnzi | Chaoww sshyen-zuh | çè¬å |
| Minced Garlic Vermicelli and Steamed Scallops | suà n róng fÄnsÄ« zhÄng shà nbèi | Swann-rong fnn-srr jnng shan-bay | èèç²ä¸è¸æè´ |
| Yantai Scorpion Rolling Embroidered Ball | YÄntái xiÄ gÇn xiùqiú | Yen-teye sshyeah gwnn sshyoh-chyoh | çå°èæ»ç»£ç |
| Chongqing Sautéed Crab in Hot Spicy Sauce | Chóngqìng xiÄnglà xiè | Chong-ching sshyang-laa sshyeah | éåºé¦è¾£è¹ |
| Chengdu Soaked Capsicum Young Cuttlefish | ChéngdÅ« pà ojiÄo mòyú zÇ | Chnng-doo paoww-jyaoww mor-yoo dzeye | æé½æ³¡æ¤å¢¨é±¼ä» |
| Dry-Fried Shredded Squid with Peppers | gÄnbiÄn yóuyú sÄ« | Gan-byen yoh-yoo srr | å¹²ç ¸é±¿é±¼ä¸ |
Travel with China Highlights and Taste Authentic Chinese Cuisine
Eating Chinese Food in a Local Restaurant
If you want to try authentic Chinese food, China Highlights tours offer you an opportunity.
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The Race to Find China’s Best Seafood
What is the best fish to eat in China?
Of course, the best fish choice is white fish but you can also use salmon or trout. You should know that besides ginger and scallion combination another common combination is ginger and garlic. Although most people go for white fish, salmon is equally popular in China. What I like most about it is the fact that it is quick and easy to prepare.
How to eat fish in China?
China has provinces along the sea and lakes. Such provinces have most of their staple food being fish and all other forms of seafood. Today, we look at the different fish recipes. The most common method of food preparation here is stir-frying, steaming and deep frying. The same methods are often used to prepare the fish.
Can you eat seafood in China?
The Chinese have invented many tasty ways to prepare the fruits of the sea. Beware of seafood in cheap restaurants far from the sea as it may give you serious food poisoning. If you want to try authentic Chinese food, China Highlights’ tours offer you an opportunity.
Why is fish a staple food in China?
Fish is a staple food in China and other parts of Asia. We are lucky to be home to most of the best fish species in the global scene. No wonder, we have enough to feed us and the global market as well. China has provinces along the sea and lakes. Such provinces have most of their staple food being fish and all other forms of seafood.