The 109 Dishes of China — A Living Map

By Zhouyang · Shanghai

This is the roadmap. 109 dishes, 11 regions, one country. Every dish on this list has a story I want to tell — some I've already written, most I haven't. The ones with links are published. The ones without are coming. This list will grow. If your favorite dish isn't here, it probably means I haven't eaten it yet. Tell me where to go.

I built this list from A Bite of China (three seasons), The Story of Chuan'er (China's definitive barbecue documentary, covering 15+ provinces), Dianping's trending charts, and the eight great culinary traditions. What's missing? Barbecue. Before this roadmap, there was exactly one grilled dish on the entire site. Now there are eight coming, and they might be the most fun ones to write.

I. The Classics — 世界名片

10 dishes · 9 published
01Mapo Tofu麻婆豆腐
02Kung Pao Chicken宫保鸡丁
03Peking Duck北京烤鸭
04Xiaolongbao小笼包
05Sweet and Sour Pork咕咾肉
06Dumplings饺子
07Yangzhou Fried Rice扬州炒饭
08Hot Pot火锅
09Spring Rolls春卷
10Chow Mein炒面

II. Sichuan & The Spice Belt — 川湘渝

12 dishes · 8 published
11Dan Dan Noodles担担面
12Twice-Cooked Pork回锅肉
13Chongqing Spicy Chicken辣子鸡
14Fish-Fragrant Eggplant鱼香茄子
15Yu Xiang Rou Si鱼香肉丝
16Sichuan Boiled Fish水煮鱼
17Couple's Beef Offal夫妻肺片
18Mouth-Watering Chicken口水鸡
19Chongqing Xiaomian重庆小面
20Chairman Mao's Red-Braised Pork毛氏红烧肉
21Duo Jiao Fish Head剁椒鱼头
22Changsha Stinky Tofu长沙臭豆腐

III. Cantonese — 镬气与点心

12 dishes · 9 published
23Dim Sum点心
24Char Siu叉烧
25Wonton Noodles云吞面
26Beef Chow Fun干炒牛河
27White Cut Chicken白切鸡
28Claypot Rice煲仔饭
29Roast Goose深井烧鹅
30Salt-Baked Chicken盐焗鸡
31Poon Choi盆菜
32Egg Tart蛋挞
33Double-Skin Milk双皮奶
34Mango Pomelo Sago杨枝甘露

IV. Shanghai & The Water Towns — 江南

12 dishes · 8 published
35Shengjianbao生煎包
36Hairy Crab大闸蟹
37Drunken Crab醉蟹
38Yan Du Xian腌笃鲜
39Lion's Head Meatball狮子头
40Dongpo Pork东坡肉
41Beggar's Chicken叫花鸡
42Squirrel Mandarin Fish松鼠桂鱼
43Sweet and Sour Ribs糖醋排骨
44Wensi Tofu文思豆腐
45Crab Roe Soup Dumpling蟹黄汤包
46Crayfish小龙虾

V. The Noodle Belt — 面食帝国

10 dishes · 9 published
47Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles兰州拉面
48Biang Biang Noodles裤带面
49Oil-Splash Noodles油泼面
50Beijing Zhajiang Noodles炸酱面
51Qishan Saozi Noodles岐山臊子面
52Shanxi Sliced Noodles刀削面
53Sweet Water Noodles甜水面
54Wuhan Hot-Dry Noodles热干面
55Luosifen螺蛳粉
56Guilin Rice Noodles桂林米粉

VI. The Imperial North — 帝都·齐鲁·东北

10 dishes · 7 published
57Beijing Mutton Hot Pot铜锅涮肉
58Braised Sea Cucumber葱烧海参
59Nine-Turn Intestine九转大肠
60Sweet-and-Sour Yellow River Carp糖醋鲤鱼
61Dezhou Braised Chicken德州扒鸡
62Oil-Braised Prawns油焖大虾
63Guo Bao Rou锅包肉
64Earth's Three Fresh地三鲜
65Chicken & Mushroom Stew小鸡炖蘑菇
66Suan Cai Bai Rou酸菜白肉

VII. Into the Mountains — 云贵皖桂

10 dishes · 9 published
67Crossing-Bridge Noodles过桥米线
68Steam-Pot Chicken汽锅鸡
69Xuanwei Ham宣威火腿
70Sour Soup Fish酸汤鱼
71Intestine Blood Noodles肠旺面
72Hairy Tofu毛豆腐
73Stinky Mandarin Fish臭鳜鱼
74Li Hongzhang Chop Suey李鸿章大杂烩
75Jinhua Ham金华火腿
76Hu La Tang胡辣汤

VIII. The Far West — 新疆·陕西

8 dishes · 3 published
77Xinjiang Lamb Skewers羊肉串
78Big-Plate Chicken大盘鸡
79Lamb Pilaf手抓饭
80Samsa / Kao Baozi烤包子
81Xi'an Roujiamo肉夹馍
82Yangrou Paomo羊肉泡馍
83Liangpi凉皮
84Xinjiang Naan Bread馕

IX. Hot Pot, Cold Dishes & Dark Arts — 锅·冷·暗

10 dishes · 7 published
85Chongqing Hot Pot重庆火锅
86Chaoshan Beef Hot Pot潮汕牛肉火锅
87Sichuan Chuan Chuan串串香
88Garlic-White Pork蒜泥白肉
89Century Egg Tofu皮蛋豆腐
90Century Egg皮蛋
91Chicken Feet凤爪
92Tanghulu冰糖葫芦
93Tianjin Jianbing煎饼果子
94Buddha's Delight罗汉斋

X. Sweet Endings & Morning Rituals — 早与甜

7 dishes · 3 published
95Zongzi粽子
96Mooncake月饼
97Buddha Jumps Over the Wall佛跳墙
98Almond Tofu杏仁豆腐
99Fermented Mung Bean Milk豆汁儿
100Soy Milk + Youtiao豆浆油条
101Dragon's Beard Candy龙须糖

XI. BBQ World — 烧烤江湖 — China on Charcoal

8 dishes · 0 published
102Zhanjiang Grilled Oysters湛江烤生蚝
103Jinzhou BBQ Chicken Frame锦州烤鸡架
104Zibo BBQ淄博烧烤
105Yibin Hand-Held Roast宜宾把把烧
106Dai Minority Herb BBQ德宏傣味烧烤
107Grilled Pig Brain烤脑花
108Red Willow Branch Lamb红柳烤肉
109Grilled Pig Eyes烤猪眼

Last updated: September 23, 2026. 55 of 109 published. More coming — this is a living document. If there's a dish you think belongs on this list, tell me. I'll go eat it.

Zhouyang grew up in Shanghai and writes about Chinese food, tea, and baijiu for English-speaking readers.