Restaurants

Common Mistakes Customers Make At Chinese Restaurants By Felicia Lee Nov. 22, 2025 3:19 pm EST

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Chinese food is enormously popular among American diners, so much so that Chinese restaurants outnumber all the US outlets of McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Wendy's combined. But despite its popularity, Chinese cuisine still remains a bit of a mystery for many American diners, who tend to stick to the same tiny handful of familiar dishes. And for the unacculturated, some of the features of Chinese restaurants, especially the more traditional ones, can be intimidating.

But they don't have to be. As a proud third-generation Chinese-American who grew up in my grandparents' and uncle's restaurants, I'm here to tell you that Chinese dining is not r

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