My Favorite Chinese Food
- Unconventional Chinese
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
This time, our theme is Chinese Food 🍜🥢! Keren, Juno, Jin, and Luna from Unconventional Chinese, along with special guest Richard, shared their favorite Chinese dishes.
Watch our live stream here:
Juno: Taste of Home – Qingdao Beer Clams
Juno, from Qingdao, introduced her favorite hometown dish, Qingdao Beer Clams (青岛啤酒蛤蜊, qīng dǎo pí jiǔ gé lí). Clams (蛤蜊, gé lí) are a type of seafood, affectionately called "gala" in Qingdao. This dish is perfect for those who don’t drink alcohol because it allows you to enjoy the malty aroma of beer and the sweetness of clams without getting drunk.
🍴 Clam variations:
Clam Dumplings (蛤蜊饺子) 🥟: In coastal cities, clam meat is often used in dumplings.
Clams with Tofu (蛤蜊配豆腐) 🍲: Clams and tofu are stewed together for a rich, flavorful broth.
During the summer in Qingdao, it’s common to see people gathering outdoors, enjoying seafood with Tsingtao Beer (青岛啤酒)—a lively and social tradition!
Jin: Rice Lover’s Dream – Hunan Stir-fried Pork
As a native of Hunan, Jin’s favorite cuisine is, of course, Hunan food (湘菜)! 🌶 Hunan Stir-fried Pork (湖南辣椒炒肉, là jiāo chǎo ròu) is often called the "national dish" of Hunan! 🌶 Unlike Sichuan peppercorn (花椒), which creates a numbing sensation, Hunan chili peppers (辣椒) add a fragrant spiciness that enhances the flavor of the pork.
🌶 "Rice Lover’s Dream" (干饭神器, gān fàn shén qì) – a dish so tasty and spicy that it makes you want to eat more rice!
🔥 Jin’s “Budget Version” Tip If you can’t find authentic Hunan-style stir-fried pork abroad, try using Costco’s smoked bacon as a substitute—it still delivers a similar rich and smoky flavor!
Luna: Bold Flavor Challenge – Sichuan Intestine Noodles & Pig Brain
Luna brought some Sichuan delicacies for those who love bold flavors (重口味, zhòng kǒu wèi)!
🌀 Fei Chang Fen (肥肠粉, féi cháng fěn) ✔️ "Fei Chang" (肥肠) refers to pig intestines, which are thoroughly cleaned, braised, and have a chewy texture. ✔️ "Sweet Potato Noodles" (红薯粉, hóng shǔ fěn) are silky and smooth, making a perfect combination with the intestines!
🧠 Pig Brain (猪脑, zhū nǎo) – A Challenge for Your Taste Buds! ✔️ "You are what you eat" (吃什么补什么) – In Chinese tradition, eating a specific animal part is believed to benefit the corresponding human organ. ✔️ Pig brain has a tofu-like texture, soft and creamy but with a very mild taste, requiring seasonings for better flavor. ✔️ This is a bold dish—if you're adventurous, give it a try!
Richard: The Magic of Taiwanese Street Food
Richard introduced Taiwanese street food, a must-try if you visit Taiwan! Here are some night market classics (夜市经典):
🌭 "Big Sausage Wraps Small Sausage" (大肠包小肠, dà cháng bāo xiǎo cháng) ✔️ "Big Sausage" (大肠) is a glutinous rice sausage. ✔️ "Small Sausage" (小肠) is a sweet Taiwanese sausage. ✔️ This snack is called the "Taiwanese Hot Dog", a quick and tasty option for busy workers!
🍜 "Large Intestine Noodles" (大肠面线, dà cháng miàn xiàn) ✔️ A famous Taiwanese dish featuring thin noodles and braised pig intestines for a soft and flavorful experience. ✔️ Garlic paste + cilantro are essential toppings that enhance the taste.
🍗 "Super Large Fried Chicken" (超大鸡排, chāo dà jī pái) ✔️ "Bigger than your face" (比脸还大) – Taiwanese night market chicken cutlets must be huge to be considered authentic! ✔️ Crispy on the outside and juicy inside, perfect for snacking while exploring the night market.
🥟 "Gua Bao" (刈包, guà bāo) – The Taiwanese Burger ✔️ A fluffy bun filled with pork belly, peanut powder, pickled mustard, and cilantro, creating an explosion of flavors! ✔️ This snack is so popular overseas that in the U.S., it sells for $8 each, much more expensive than in Taiwan!
If you want to learn more fun Chinese and explore topics like Chinese food, culture, and travel, subscribe to our Unconventional Chinese YouTube channel! 📺 Stay tuned for more fascinating Chinese topics!
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