A Day’s Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner#

A typical day of eating in Shenyang is structured around three main meals.

Breakfast (早饭 - Zǎofàn) is usually quick and simple. People might grab something on their way to work or school. Common options include:

• Baozi (包子): Steamed buns with various fillings like pork and cabbage, or just plain.
• Mantou (馒头): Plain steamed bread.
• Zhou (粥) or Congee: Rice porridge, often plain or with some pickles.
• Youtiao (油条): Fried dough sticks, often dipped in soy milk (豆浆 - Dòujiāng).
• Jianbing (煎饼): A savory crepe-like wrap cooked on a griddle, filled with egg, herbs, and sometimes crispy fried dough. You can find this at street stalls.

Lunch (午饭 - Wǔfàn) is often a bigger meal, especially if people are working or studying. Many eat at company or school canteens, small local restaurants, or bring food from home. It usually includes rice or noodles with one or two dishes featuring meat and vegetables. Portions are usually generous.

Dinner (晚饭 - Wǎnfàn) is typically the largest meal and often eaten at home with family. This is where people relax and enjoy a variety of dishes. It’s usually a spread of several dishes served with rice.

Home Cooking vs. Eating Out#

Home-cooked meals are central to life here. Families cook dishes like:

• Stewed dishes (炖菜 - Dùn cài): Hearty stews are very popular, especially in colder weather. Examples include pork ribs with potatoes and beans (排骨炖豆角土豆) or chicken stewed with mushrooms (小鸡炖蘑菇).
• Stir-fries (炒菜 - Chǎo cài): Quick and flavorful dishes using various meats and vegetables.
• Dumplings (饺子 - Jiǎozi): Making dumplings is a common family activity, especially on weekends. Fillings vary widely.
• Dishes with pickled cabbage (酸菜 - Suān cài): Northeastern cuisine heavily features fermented or pickled cabbage, used in stews (酸菜炖粉条 - Suāncài dùn fěntiáo) or stir-fries.

Eating out is also common, especially for lunch or socializing. Local restaurants serve similar hearty dishes. Street food offers quicker, often grilled or fried options like chuan’r (串儿 - skewers of meat and vegetables), grilled corn, or various fried snacks.

Flavors of the Northeast: Key Ingredients and Spices#

Shenyang food, part of Dongbei (Northeast China) cuisine, is known for being savory, sometimes salty or sour (from pickled vegetables), and warming. Key ingredients include:

• Pork, chicken, and various freshwater fish.
• Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and taro.
• Cabbage, Chinese cabbage, and especially pickled cabbage (suan cai).
• Mushrooms, particularly dried mushrooms.
• Soybeans (for tofu, soy sauce) and wheat (for noodles, dumplings, buns).
• Corn and other grains.

Common spices and flavorings are soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic, scallions, star anise, and sometimes dried chilies or Sichuan peppercorns, though it’s generally less spicy than southern cuisines. Lard is sometimes used for cooking, adding richness.

Special Occasions: Festivals and Weekends#

Festivals are marked by specific foods. The most important is Lunar New Year (春节 - Chūnjié), where families gather to make and eat a large number of Jiaozi (饺子), dumplings. They symbolize wealth and good fortune for the coming year. Other festival foods might include special sticky rice cakes (年糕 - Niángāo) or elaborate banquets.

Weekends often mean more time for cooking elaborate meals at home or gathering with family and friends for a shared meal, either at home or a restaurant. Making dumplings together is a popular weekend activity.

Quick Bites and Sips: Popular Snacks and Drinks#

Snacks you might see people enjoying include:

• Chuan’r (串儿): Grilled skewers of lamb, chicken, vegetables, etc. A popular evening snack.
• Roasted sweet potatoes (烤红薯): Especially common in cooler months, sold by street vendors.
• Various pastries and baked goods.
• Seeds (瓜子 - Guāzǐ): Melon or sunflower seeds are a common casual snack.

For drinks, tea and hot water are always popular. Soy milk (豆浆 - Dòujiāng) is a common breakfast drink. Beer (like local Snow Beer or Harbin Beer) is widely consumed with meals, especially dinner. Baijiu (白酒), a strong alcoholic spirit, is often drunk during formal meals or banquets. Sweet drinks like fruit juices and sodas are also readily available.

A Few Food Customs#

Like much of China, sharing dishes is the norm when eating with others. Food is usually served on communal plates in the center of the table, and individuals take portions with their chopsticks.

There aren’t many strict food taboos for most people, but politeness is important. Don’t stick your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice (it resembles incense at a funeral). It’s good manners to try a bit of everything offered and not to waste food. When drinking alcohol with others, it’s customary to toast frequently.