# I'm going to China--but I don't like Chinese Food **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 10, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817 "2018-06-10T13:59:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/1 "2018-06-10T13:59:22Z")
Like the title says; I am one of those fussy eaters who is very picky and narrow on what they eat. Basically Beef, Pork or Chicken, but not to seasoned or mixed with ‘other’ stuff. Don’t like hot (spicy) foods. Now I will be in a tour group with other Americans/Canadians so I’m sure they are used to folks like me, and I can live a long time on rice and multi-vitamins, but are there any suggestions from out China-located or previous visitors there on what I might try that would be good for a fussy eater (The late George Carlin once defined ‘fussy eater’ as “Big Pain in the Ass”, which I admit to). As noted above, I am on a tour, so suggesting places to see is appreciated but time is limited. I will have 2 days in Hong Kong pretty much on my own and any thoughts are welcome–I don’t think I’ll be getting back to that part of the world anytime soon and want to see as much as I can. If I don’t starve first…🆒😉 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/2 "2018-06-10T14:23:53Z")
One of my sisters is an \*extremely \*picky eater. She went to Poland with my mom, and pretty much subsisted on McDonald’s - burger, plain - no nothing - just burger and bun. I have no advice to offer you - just felt compelled to share. Hope you have a great time before you starve to death!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/3 "2018-06-10T14:26:38Z")
No advice, but your user name is perfect! 🙂 Have fun. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/4 "2018-06-10T14:30:10Z")
Firstly, you’ll be staying in a Western style hotel so eat a big breakfast which will be very familiar fare. Secondly the Chinese cuisine you’ll have offered is very different to what you’d expect stateside. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/5 "2018-06-10T14:47:03Z")
You can often find simple, steamed fish dishes which rely on soy, garlic and ginger and won’t scare the horses too much. Couple that with simple steamed rice, fried rice or veg (steamed or stir-fried) and you should be fine. But, yeah, as has been said the traditional chinese cuisine can be a world away from western versions and you can into deep, entrail-laden water if you veer too much into the exotic. Or even not particularly exotic, chicken feet and duck hearts are not looked upon as particularly out of the ordinary. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/6 "2018-06-10T14:52:53Z")
I spent several weeks in China, and saw very little food that was familiar from USA-style Chinese restaurants. Which makes sense. You wouldn’t expect an entire country of two billion people to subsist on one genre of restaurant food! Of course, it was still pretty exotic, and not the type of fare to enthuse a “picky eater.” It also varied wildly by region, so if you are traveling around, you’ll get a new set of options with each move. But - I also saw plenty of McDonald’s restaurants, and even more KFCs. Also a few Pizza Huts and other western chains. Also lots of street food that didn’t look too different from the Halal Huts you see in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/7 "2018-06-10T14:54:16Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Secondly the Chinese cuisine you’ll have offered is very different to what you’d expect stateside. That’s a bit of [an](https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-asia-beijing-china-chinese-food-food-market-snake-spider-68488579.html) [understatement](https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-a-selection-of-delicacies-on-a-chinese-market-including-scorpion-seahorse-33147998.html). ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/8 "2018-06-10T14:56:18Z")
I wouldn’t worry. In China, it’s just called “food”. ---
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/9 "2018-06-10T15:12:59Z")
In one of Anthony Bourdain’s last tv appearances he was eating a rabbit head on a stick in Hong Kong. Local delicacy ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/10 "2018-06-10T17:01:26Z")
Where in China are you going? That can make a big difference in terms of spicy vs. non-spicy food. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/11 "2018-06-10T17:55:37Z")
> [@cgg419](#): > > In one of Anthony Bourdain’s last tv appearances he was eating a rabbit head on a stick in Hong Kong. Local delicacy Ooooh, did he do it Easter style & bite the ears off first? ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/12 "2018-06-10T17:56:26Z")
lucky for you there they just call it “food”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/13 "2018-06-10T18:22:31Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Firstly, you’ll be staying in a Western style hotel so eat a big breakfast which will be very familiar fare. > > Secondly the Chinese cuisine you’ll have offered is very different to what you’d expect stateside. Much thanks, I perhaps wasn’t clear, I _never_ have eaten in a “Chinese” restaurant in the USA, so I doubt that I will be much tempted by one in China. And I concur with the Hotel breakfast, I have done that on a lot of trips. > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I spent several weeks in China, and saw very little food that was familiar from USA-style Chinese restaurants. Which makes sense. You wouldn’t expect an entire country of two billion people to subsist on one genre of restaurant food! Of course, it was still pretty exotic, and not the type of fare to enthuse a “picky eater.” It also varied wildly by region, so if you are traveling around, you’ll get a new set of options with each move. > > But - I also saw plenty of McDonald’s restaurants, and even more KFCs. Also a few Pizza Huts and other western chains. Also lots of street food that didn’t look too different from the Halal Huts you see in NYC. Ah, McDonald’s and KFC; I think for all of McDonalds’ reputation, KFC just might be more popular world-wide (don’t have any statistics). I survived four years in the Middle East with those (and a few others), so three weeks in China won’t be too bad…:eek: As for travel, I’m doing the normal tourist shuffle, Peking/Forbidden City/Great Wall/Terra-Cotta Warriors/3-Day Seven Gorges Cruise on Yangtse River/Shanghai for a couple of days, and then fly to Hong Kong. All escorted up to Hong Kong. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/14 "2018-06-10T18:50:41Z")
The term “Chinese food” is overly simplistic. There are eight major cuisines, some of them radically different from the others The mModern “Eight Cuisines” of China are Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan, and Zhejiang. It would be like shunning pizza because you don’t like “American food” after tasting grits. ---
**Author:** ![cgg419](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cgg419/32/2847_2.png) [@cgg419](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cgg419)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/15 "2018-06-10T19:21:51Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Ooooh, did he do it Easter style & bite the ears off first? Someone else must have beat him to it, they came earless. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/16 "2018-06-10T19:49:26Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > …As for travel, I’m doing the normal tourist shuffle, Peking/Forbidden City/Great Wall/Terra-Cotta Warriors/3-Day Seven Gorges Cruise on Yangtse River/Shanghai for a couple of days, and then fly to Hong Kong. All escorted up to Hong Kong. I did the Yangtse River cruise, but it was on a very downscale vessel. The only food was very native stuff, or cardboard bowls of “just add hot water” ramen. I ate a lot of the ramen. You will most likely be on a more upscale vessel with more international options. And Shanghai is a VERY international city. You’ll find cuisines from all over the world. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/17 "2018-06-10T20:38:31Z")
So, you have never had any Chinese food and you don’t intend to try it in China? Huh. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/18 "2018-06-10T20:57:39Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Ah, McDonald’s and KFC; I think for all of McDonalds’ reputation, KFC just might be more popular world-wide (don’t have any statistics). I survived four years in the Middle East with those (and a few others), so three weeks in China won’t be too bad…:eek: Note that from what I’ve heard (never been to China), KFC over there sells food tuned to local tastes. So it might not be exactly what you’re used to. And as others said, you’re hardly going to be the first foreigner who doesn’t want to eat Chinese food. I’m sure there will be options. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/19 "2018-06-10T21:14:21Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > So, you have never had any Chinese food and you don’t intend to try it in China? > > Huh. The OP admits right off the bat that he’s a fussy eater and quite picky with a very narrow range of what he eats. Why would anyone expect that to change just because he’s travelling? Sure, it’d be nice if he was able to indulge in a new dining experience while on the road but it doesn’t sound like he’s wired that way. Kudos to him for making plans ahead of time for how to cope. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817/20 "2018-06-10T22:17:14Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > The OP admits right off the bat that he’s a fussy eater and quite picky with a very narrow range of what he eats. Why would anyone expect that to change just because he’s travelling? Sure, it’d be nice if he was able to indulge in a new dining experience while on the road but it doesn’t sound like he’s wired that way. Kudos to him for making plans ahead of time for how to cope. Picky eater can mean “I only eat sweet and sour pork with plain rice, and I pick out the bell peppers.” At first that’s what I thought he meant. Not even trying Chinese food at all, then jumping into a three week trip there, is quite an example of jumping into the deep end while not wanting to get your head wet. I had been thinking of a few Chinese foods that are less exotic than a peanut butter sandwich, but it sounds like the thread was more a commentary on an odd situation than a solicitation for advice. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-china-but-i-dont-like-chinese-food/815817.md?page=2)