Rice is the staple food throughout Southern China, but is also commonly served in the north as well. Many Chinese restaurants, especially in the South, will serve a bowl of white rice automatically to every patron even without asking. Below are some additional variations of rice and rice products. Click here for a printable copy of this guide.
|
 |
(°×)Ã×·¹ |
(bai2) mi3 fan4 |
Plain white rice is the staple food throughout
Southern China, and chances are when eating out in the South, it will be
served to you whether you ordered it or not. In Chinese cuisine, the function
of rice is to make you feel full, as opposed to ²Ë(cai4), the word for the
other dishes, which are supposed to help you finish your rice. |
 |
³´·¹ |
chao3 fan4 |
Fried Rice is the Chinese equivalent of
chili. The byproduct of excess meat, vegetables, and rice, plus an egg or
two, fried rice came about as a way to make use of excess groceries after
a meal. Thesedays, it's commonly ordered in restaurants as an alternative
to white rice. |
 |
Ã×·Û |
mi3 fen3 |
rice noodles |
 |
ËÄ´¨Á¹·Û |
si4 chuan1 liang2 fen3 |
Over the years, the Chinese have come up with several new and creative
ways to eat rice. If you like your rice long, flat, squishy, and spicy,
then Sichuan Cold Rice Noodles make a great appetizer.
They are typically topped with a spicy sauce and cilantro, and served cold
or room temperature. |
 |
°è·Û¸É |
ban4 fen3 gan1 |
thick rice noodles with sauce mixed in |
 |
Ï¡·¹£¬ Öà |
xi1 fan4, zhou1 |
rice porridge |
