The staple foods for most people in Northern China are wheat based, such as noodles or dumplings, as opposed to the South where rice is preferred. However, many of these items can be found in restaurants in both the North and South. Look for the character 面 (mian4) to indicate a noodle shop. Click here for a printable copy of this guide.
面条 mian4 tiao2 noodles (general word)
炒面 chao3 mian stir-fried noodles
拌面 ban4 mian4 mixed noodles (without stir frying or extra flavor)
拉面 la1 mian4 "pulled" noodles; long and stringy
刀削面 dao1 xiao1 mian4 "knife cut" noodles
面片 mian4 pian4 little pieces of noodles
线面 xian4 mian4 string noodles
果条 guo3 tiao2 fried crullers
包子 bao1 zi3 steamed buns with meat or vegetables inside
小笼包 xiao3 long2 bao1 miniature steamed buns with meat or vegetables inside
馒头 man4 tou2 steamed bread without anything inside
面包 mian4 bao1 bread (Western, not Chinese bread)
馄饨 hun2 tun2 wontons
水饺， 饺子 shui3 jiao3, jiao3 zi3 dumplings
猪肉水饺 zhu1 rou4 shui3 jiao3 pork dumplings
牛肉水饺 niu2 rou4 shui3 jiao3 beef dumplings
白菜猪肉水饺 bai2 cai4 zhu1 rou4 shui3 jiao3 napa and pork dumplings
香菇猪肉水饺 xiang1 gu3 zhu1 rou shui3 jiao3 mushroom and pork dumplings
韭菜水饺 jiu3 cai4 shui3 jiao3 leek dumplings
四季豆猪肉水饺 si4 ji4 dou4 zhu1 rour shui3 jiao3 string bean and pork dumplings
四季豆水饺 si4 ji4 dou4 shui3 jiao3 string bean dumplings
芹菜猪肉水饺 qin2 cai4 zhu1 rou4 shui3 jiao3 celery and pork dumplings
西红柿蛋水饺 xi1 hong2 shi4 dan4 shui3 jiao3 egg and tomato dumplings