Chinabites

China Menu Response and Link Love

posted: Sep. 25, 2009

China Menu became officially available on the iTunes App Store on Sept. 21. Since then we’ve been busily contacting friends and folks we know trying to get the word out about what we think is the best way of getting a great meal in China, even if you don ...

China Caravan Themed Menu Disaster

posted: Sep. 23, 2009

There is a lot to be said for the only “Caravan” themed restaurant that I know of in China. Gold Stone Caravan restaurant resides in a renovated historical house near Green Lake in Kunming. Many of the large tables are surrounded by chairs that are literally saddles which you straddle ...

China Menu iPhone App Launched

posted: Sep. 21, 2009

Tired of hilariously unhelpful menus in China?

Grumble no more, because today we are thrilled to announce the worldwide launch of China Menu, a unique app for the iPhone and iPod Touch that helps you discover a great meal in China. Designed for newcomers to China, China Menu is a ...

The X Explodes the ...

posted: Sep. 20, 2009

These shots illustrate how many great dishes can be rendered far, far too scary to order based on their English translations alone. Incredible mis-translations here, just check out the pictures:

“Law day chicken gizzard”? What does that even mean?

“Unwearied Effort However Squid Volume” is my personal favorite from this ...

Eggplant Burning

posted: Sep. 18, 2009

It’s going to be hard to insure this restaurant if the underwriter gets a look at this menu:

Anyone know what Flammulina is?

How about Pseudoscieana?

Acid Beans and Other Goodies

posted: Sep. 18, 2009

The madly mis-translated Chinese menu goodness begins today with the slightly terrifying:

And ends with a poignant bit of political poetry:

Also, note the totally awesome dishes surrounding “Sweet and Sour was the United States” - “Great Side Dishes”.

Chinese Menu Alchemy

posted: Sep. 16, 2009

Many people readily admit the primacy of Chinese cuisine on the world culinary stage. Few know, however, the great debt Chinese cuisine owes not to the chefs and kitchens of the Tang dynasty - but rather the unsung legions of amateur Chinese alchemists, whose ill-fated experiments never produced lead from gold ...

The Sad State of China Menus

posted: Sep. 15, 2009

Any foreigner who has spent some time with their feet on the ground in China knows that translated restaurant menus in China can be hilarious, unhelpful, or even better: hilariously unhelpful. For the next couple of days we’ll be running a short series of blog posts dedicated to this ...