Chinese food is one of the best parts of living in China. It is also one of the most overwhelming. The variety is staggering and what counts as “Chinese food” changes completely depending on which part of the country you are in.
This guide helps you navigate food as an international student, from university canteens to street food to food delivery apps.
University canteens: your primary food source
Every Chinese university has one or more canteens (食堂, shítáng). These are your cheapest and most convenient option:
- Breakfast: 3-8 CNY. Rice porridge, steamed buns (baozi), dumplings (jiaozi), soy milk, eggs
- Lunch and dinner: 8-15 CNY. Rice with 2-3 dishes, noodles, or set meals
- Operating hours: Breakfast 6:30-9:00, Lunch 11:00-13:00, Dinner 17:00-19:00
Most canteens have 10-30 food stalls serving different regional cuisines. You point at what you want, the server plates it, and you pay at the end. Payment is by WeChat Pay, Alipay, or a campus meal card.
Tip: The best-value canteen option is usually the “set meal” (套餐, tàocān), which gives you rice plus 2-3 dishes for a fixed price. Individual dish ordering adds up faster.
Regional Chinese cuisines
China has eight major regional cuisines, each with distinct flavors:
| Cuisine | Region | Defining Flavor | Popular Dishes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sichuan | Southwest | Spicy, numbing (Sichuan pepper) | Mapo tofu, hotpot, kung pao chicken |
| Cantonese | Guangdong | Light, fresh, dim sum | Char siu, dim sum, wonton noodles |
| Shandong | North | Savory, wheat-based | Braised dishes, dumplings, pancakes |
| Jiangsu | East | Sweet, delicate | Sweet and sour flavors, river fish |
| Hunan | Central | Hot and sour | Smoked meat, chili-heavy stir-fry |
| Fujian | Southeast | Seafood, umami | Seafood soups, braised meats |
| Anhui | East-central | Hearty, wild herbs | Stewed dishes, mountain vegetables |
| Zhejiang | East coast | Light, subtle | West Lake fish, Dongpo pork |
The food in your university’s city will lean heavily toward the local cuisine. A student in Chengdu will eat very differently from one in Harbin. Understanding your city’s culture and character includes understanding its food.
Dietary restrictions and halal food
Halal food (清真, qīngzhēn)
China has a significant Muslim population, especially in northwestern provinces. Most large universities have a dedicated halal canteen or halal section. To find halal food:
- Look for the green Arabic/Chinese “清真” sign on restaurant fronts
- Ask the international student office where the halal canteen is
- Lanzhou beef noodle shops (兰州拉面) are everywhere and are almost always halal
- Muslim Quarter areas in cities like Xi’an, Beijing, and Guangzhou have concentrated halal options
Vegetarian food
Vegetarianism is less common in mainstream Chinese dining but is understood in Buddhist contexts:
- Buddhist restaurants (素食, sùshí) serve fully vegetarian menus
- Many canteen stalls have vegetable-only dishes
- Tofu, mushrooms, and vegetable stir-fry are available everywhere
- Tell the serving staff “不要肉” (bú yào ròu, “no meat”) when ordering
Vegan food
Veganism is harder. Dairy is not common in traditional Chinese cooking, which helps. But many sauces and broths use animal-based ingredients (oyster sauce, chicken stock). Your best bets:
- Buddhist restaurants (often vegan by default)
- Cook your own food when possible
- Learn to specify “no meat, no eggs, no milk” in Chinese
Food allergies
Chinese kitchens use shared equipment and cross-contamination is common. If you have severe allergies (peanuts, shellfish, gluten):
- Learn the Chinese words for your allergens
- Carry a card explaining your allergies in Chinese
- Be cautious at canteens and street stalls where ingredients are not always labeled
- Consider cooking your own food for meals where risk is high
Food delivery apps
Food delivery in China is fast, cheap, and ubiquitous:
- Meituan (美团): The largest food delivery platform. Available as an app or WeChat mini-program
- Eleme (饿了么): Owned by Alibaba. Second largest platform
How it works:
- Open the app
- Browse restaurants near you (filtered by cuisine, price, rating)
- Select dishes and place order
- Pay with WeChat Pay or Alipay
- Wait 20-40 minutes for delivery to your dormitory
Typical delivery meal cost: 15-35 CNY, including delivery fee. Slightly more expensive than canteen food but with more variety.
Language tip: These apps are in Chinese. Use your phone’s translation feature if needed. Some restaurants include photos of every dish, which helps.
Street food worth trying
Chinese street food is cheap, varied, and everywhere:
- Jianbing (煎饼): Savory crepe with egg, crispy cracker, and sauce. 5-10 CNY
- Chuan’r (串儿): Grilled skewers, meat or vegetables. 2-5 CNY per skewer
- Rou jia mo (肉夹馍): Chinese “hamburger” with braised meat in flatbread. 8-15 CNY
- Tanghulu (糖葫芦): Candied fruit on sticks. 5-10 CNY
- Baozi (包子): Steamed buns stuffed with meat or vegetables. 1-3 CNY each
Safety tip: Stick to street stalls with high turnover (long lines = fresh food). Cooked-to-order stalls are generally safer than pre-prepared food sitting out.
Grocery shopping
For cooking or snacking, supermarkets and convenience stores are everywhere:
- Large supermarkets: Walmart, Carrefour, RT-Mart. Full range of groceries
- Convenience stores: FamilyMart, 7-Eleven, Lawson. Quick meals and snacks
- Wet markets: Fresh produce, meat, and seafood at lower prices. More intimidating but cheaper
- Online grocery: Meituan Maicai and JD Fresh deliver groceries to your door
International food
Missing home food? Options exist:
- International restaurants are common in Tier 1 cities but expensive (50-150 CNY per meal)
- Import grocery stores sell foreign brands at 2-3x the home country price
- Taobao has imported foods delivered anywhere in China
- Many international student communities share recipes and ingredients
Navigating menus and food stalls is much easier with a few basic phrases. Our survival Mandarin guide covers the food vocabulary you will use daily. If the cultural differences around food are getting to you, our culture shock guide explains why and how to adapt.
Stay connected with other applicants
Join 2,000+ CSC applicants in our Telegram group. Get food tips and restaurant recommendations from students in your city.
Join the CGS World Community on Telegram →
Never miss a CSC deadline. Subscribe for life-in-China tips and student guides.