Chinese restaurants are prevalent in countries outside of China, but that doesn’t mean all of them are authentic or serve high-quality food. Sometimes the best way to evaluate a restaurant is not by the food itself but by other cues such as a cooking staff made up primarily of Chinese natives. Even those not born or raised in China are likely to have had exposure to authentic Chinese cooking growing up and inherited a classic recipe or two.

A menu written in less-than-perfect English can also signify that the food will taste more like natural Chinese dishes and less like the Americanized versions that are typically not as flavorful. If the restaurant publishes a small Chinese newspaper, diners should look for ads written in Chinese. This is a good indication that the restaurant attracts advertisers who are interested in maintaining the traditional Chinese culture through food and industry.

Low Price Does Not Always Translate to High Quality

People in Western nations have come to rely on quick Chinese takeout when they want good food but are too busy to cook. Chain restaurants have sprung up in shopping malls in the United States, Canada, and other developed nations in response to this need. Unfortunately, fast and cheap Chinese food isn’t always of the best quality. While Western nations might value convenience when it comes to eating, creating dishes that offer comfort is the main focus in China.

The old adage that you get what you pay for is as true … Read More ...