6. Thick rice balls – cífàntuán
Usually served with soy milk,
cífàntuán is another popular breakfast snack that’s enjoyed across
Shanghai,
Hong Kong and
Taiwan. Piping hot clumps of steamed rice are wrapped in a crispy sheet of thin dough
(you tiao), resembling something similar to a sushi roll.
Cífàntuán can be either sweet or savoury – for a sweet one, try a sugar and sesame seed filling, and for savoury opt for flaked pork, mushrooms and pickled veg. The stalls behind Plaza 66 in Shanghai are a good place to start, but get exploring to find your own favourite.
7. Fried rice – chǎo fàn
From east to west,
chǎo fàn is one of China’s most well-known dishes. An egg is cracked into the wok first, followed by rice, spring onions and then small pieces of beef
(niúròu), chicken
(jī) or pork
(zhūròu). The spoon clangs against the well-oiled wok as it’s all continuously tossed and turned on a high heat.
The final result is then poured out into a bowl and served, steaming hot, right in front of you. As the rice is quite thick, it should be easier to grasp clumps of it with your chopsticks – but if you’re still a novice, using a spoon is fine, too.
Feeling inspired by the variety of Chinese food? Also read our guide to Taiwan street food: dishes you must try.
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