[pacman]

Any suggestions on how to order at a Chinese restaurant where nobody speaks English (and we don't speak Cantonese)?

For dim sum we found a list of dim sum dishes with pictures and explanations in Chinese and English which we've printed out and will bring along. That way we can just point at the pictures and order!

But for other things than Dim Sum, are there sites with something similar which we could print out and bring with us? Or does anyone have better suggestions?

We'd rather not go to the usual touristy (and overpriced?) restaurants in the tourist areas all the time, but have plans to really explore HK while we're there

[freeier]

do a picture card set with all the things that u like ? 8-P

[pacman]

Originally Posted by freeier

do a picture card set with all the things that u like ? 8-P

Yes, that's that's what I asked about

Do you know of any websites where there are pictures and names (in English and Chinese) of various dishes? The more the better.

[freeier]

ops. how did i misread that..hmmm..
why not try google or wikipedia it ... shld have somethings ...

[pacman]

Originally Posted by freeier

ops. how did i misread that..hmmm..
why not try google or wikipedia it ... shld have somethings ...

No problem
I figured the people here, many living in HK, would know more than most websites (besides, I've searched a lot but only found websites which describe how to order dim sum. From the looks of it, it seems that all HK people eat is dim sum, which we all know is wrong of course)

Another thing: what kind of tea do they have at a typical Chinese restaurant? I heard somewhere that you're asked when they show you a table, which tea you want.

[goodkarma]

pacman, how abt finding a menu you do like that is bi lingual and then copy it but, of course, get rid of the logo and address so you don't upset the other proprietors.

[yu270322]

bring a chinese guy over there

[pacman]

Originally Posted by goodkarma

pacman, how abt finding a menu you do like that is bi lingual and then copy it but, of course, get rid of the logo and address so you don't upset the other proprietors.

That's an excellent idea!!
Thanks

[flyingchair]

Allegedly true story.

American tourist walks into Dai Pai Dong and sits down. He can't read the menu as there is no English one. One of the waiters knows some english, enough to suggest that fried rice would be the perfect dish for him.

The tourist feeling remarkably savvy realises this is the tourist friendly stuff and he insists on trying something else saying, "no, not that, I'd like to try something you eat."

After much argument the waiter relents and says okay.

He turns up at the tourist's table five minutes later with McDonalds.

[pacman]

Originally Posted by flyingchair

Allegedly true story.

American tourist walks into Dai Pai Dong and sits down. He can't read the menu as there is no English one. One of the waiters knows some english, enough to suggest that fried rice would be the perfect dish for him.

The tourist feeling remarkably savvy realises this is the tourist friendly stuff and he insists on trying something else saying, "no, not that, I'd like to try something you eat."

After much argument the waiter relents and says okay.

He turns up at the tourist's table five minutes later with McDonalds.

Hehe!!
Actually that's a little along the lines of what I'm afraid of when I've been searching for Chinese restaurant menus on the web. Most of them turn up to be Chinese restaurants in the US, and I've been told that several dishes which are supposedly Chinese such as "Sweet and sour pork" or "beef chop suey" aren't Chinese at all, but "invented" for foreigners asking for Chinese food
That's not what I'm looking for while in HK!
I want to try something I can't usually get back home, or at least not as authentic. Still, I'm not interested in "unusual" stuff such as intestines, dog (yes, I know it's illegal in HK and has been for a while) and so on.


By the way, I did in fact find a menu from what seems to be a HK restaurant: China garden menu.

Is that a representative menu for any Chinese restaurant in HK? If so, any recommendations?
Dim Sum of course is a must, but we want to eat other things than that every day