Fried, crispy, and appetizer dishes

Aromatic Cold Appetizer Plate

Cold dish · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes plus chilling

Aromatic Cold Appetizer Plate recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Beef Teriyaki Sticks

Skewers · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes plus marinating

Beef Teriyaki Sticks recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Cha Gio

Fried roll · Makes 16 · 1 hour

Cha Gio recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Chicken Teriyaki Skewers

Skewers · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes plus marinating

Chicken Teriyaki Skewers recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Chinese Fried Chicken Wings

Fried appetizer · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes

Chinese Fried Chicken Wings recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Chinese Restaurant French Fries

Side dish · Serves 2–3 · 30 minutes

Chinese Restaurant French Fries recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Crab Rangoon

American Chinese · Makes 24 · 40 minutes

A crab rangoon recipe with cream cheese, crab or imitation crab, wonton wrappers, and American Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Crispy Pan-Fried Noodles

Noodle dish · Serves 3–4 · 40 minutes

Crispy Pan-Fried Noodles recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Crispy Roast Pork

Roast meat · Serves 4 · Advanced · Overnight drying plus roasting

Crispy Roast Pork recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Crispy Shredded Beef

Fried beef dish · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes

Crispy Shredded Beef recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Dry-Fried Green Beans

Sichuan-inspired · Serves 3–4 · 25 minutes

A dry-fried green beans recipe explaining Sichuan-style dry-frying and menu literacy.

Egg Fried Rice

Technique · Serves 2 · 20 minutes

An egg fried rice recipe focused on rice texture, egg, scallion, soy sauce, and menu-literacy notes.

Egg Rolls and Spring Rolls

Fried appetizer · Makes 12 · 1 hour

Egg Rolls and Spring Rolls recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Fried Dough / Youtiao

Fried dough · Makes 8 · 1 hour plus resting

Fried Dough / Youtiao recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Fried Oysters

Fried seafood · Serves 2–3 · 30 minutes

Fried Oysters recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Fried Shrimp Balls

Fried appetizer · Makes 16 · 45 minutes

Fried Shrimp Balls recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Fried Wontons

Fried appetizer · Makes 24 · 40 minutes

Fried Wontons recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Home-Style Stir-Fried Rice Noodles

Rice noodle dish · Serves 3–4 · 30 minutes

Home-Style Stir-Fried Rice Noodles recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Pu Pu Platter

Appetizer platter · Serves 4–6 · Assembly plus frying

Pu Pu Platter recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Salt and Pepper Tofu

Cantonese-inspired · Serves 3–4 · 30 minutes

A Cantonese-style salt and pepper tofu recipe with crisp tofu, garlic, scallions, chiles, salt, and white pepper.

Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp, Ribs, or Seafood

Fried dish · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes

Salt-and-Pepper Shrimp, Ribs, or Seafood recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice

Fried rice · Serves 3–4 · 25 minutes

Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Sesame Balls

Dim sum · Makes 12 · 50 minutes

Sesame Balls recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Shandong-Style Sweet-and-Sour Fish

Shandong-inspired · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes

A Shandong-style sweet-and-sour fish recipe with crisp fish, vinegar, sugar, tomato, and northern menu-literacy notes.

Shanghai Stir-Fried Rice Cakes

Jiangnan · Serves 3–4 · 35 minutes

A Shanghai stir-fried rice cakes recipe with napa cabbage, pork or mushrooms, soy sauce, and chewy niangao.

Shrimp Toast

Fried appetizer · Makes 12 · 40 minutes

Shrimp Toast recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pork, or Shrimp

Takeout-style · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes

Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pork, or Shrimp recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken

Taiwanese · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes

A Taiwanese popcorn chicken recipe with five-spice, white pepper, basil, sweet potato starch, and night-market menu-literacy notes.

Takeout Fried Rice

Rice dish · Serves 3–4 · 25 minutes

Takeout Fried Rice recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

War Su Gai / Almond Boneless Chicken

Fried chicken dish · Serves 3–4 · 45 minutes

War Su Gai / Almond Boneless Chicken recipe with ingredients, method, substitutions, and Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Xinjiang Lamb Skewers

Xinjiang · Serves 3–4 · 35 minutes plus marinating

A Xinjiang lamb skewers recipe with cumin, chile, salt, and northwestern Chinese menu-literacy notes.

Yangzhou Fried Rice

Jiangsu · Serves 3–4 · 30 minutes

A Yangzhou fried rice recipe with shrimp, egg, peas, ham or char siu, scallions, and Jiangsu menu-literacy notes.