Fish & Seafood Dishes

Fish is popular all over China, taken fresh from rivers or reared in fish ponds, with sea fish popular in coastal areas. Often you can choose which fish you want at the restaurant by pointing at it in a fish tank. The fish will then be weighed and the price of the dish calculated.
How Fish is Cooked and Served
The bones are seldom removed, so eat slowly. Taking bones from the mouth with the fingers and placing them on a side plate is usually considered the polite way to eat, rather than spitting them out. Fish are usually cooked whole, and most Chinese have no problem with eating the fish's head.
As fish has a very light flavor, other ingredients are added to give it what is considered "sufficient taste", particularly chilis, ginger and salt.
Fish Dishes Menu
English
Chinese
Pronunciation
Characters
Yangshuo Beer Fish
Yángshuò píjiǔ yú
Yung-shwor pee-jyoh yoo
阳朔啤酒鱼
West Lake Vinegar Fish
Xīhú cù yú
Sshee-hoo tsoo yoo
西湖醋鱼
Sichuan Poached Fish Fillets in Hot Chili Oil
Sìchuān shuǐzhǔyú
Srr-chwann shway-joo-yoo
四川水煮鱼
Broth-Steamed Bass
qīngzhēng lúyú
Ching-jnngloo-yoo
清蒸鲈鱼
Hunan Steamed Fish Head with Diced Hot Red Peppers
Húnán duò jiāo yútóu
Hoo-nan dwor jyaoww yoo-toh
湖南剁椒鱼头
Xiamen Boiled Fresh Fish
Xiàmén shuǐ zhǔ huóyú
Sshyaa-mnn shway joo hwor-yoo
厦门水煮活鱼
Zhuhai Yellow Bone Fish
Zhūhǎi huáng gǔ yú
Joo-heye hwung goo yoo
珠海黄骨鱼
Zhengzhou Three Tastes Carp
Zhèngzhōu lǐyú sān chī
Jnng-joh lee-yoo san chrr
郑州鲤鱼三吃
Dunhuang Twin Towers Fish
Dūnhuáng shuāng tǎ yú
Dwnn-hwung shwung taa yoo
敦煌双塔鱼
Shunde Chrysanthemum Sashimi (sliced fresh fish)
Shùndé júhuā yú shēng
Shwnn-der jyoo-hwaa yoo-shnng
顺德菊花鱼生
Sichuan Stewed Eel
Sìchuān huángmèn mán
Srr-chwann hwung-mnn man
四川黄焖鳗
Seafood
It is said that the Chinese will eat anything that moves, and it seems that anything that is pulled out of the sea is eaten. Turtle, shrimps, cuttlefish, squid, shark, abalone and all manner of shellfish can be found on coastal menus. The Chinese have invented many tasty ways to prepare the fruits of the sea.
Beware of seafood in cheap restaurants far from the sea as it may give you serious food poisoning.
Seafood Dishes
English
Chinese
Pronunciation
Characters
Steamed Turtle
qīngzhēng jiǎyú
Ching-jnng jyaa-yoo
清蒸甲鱼
Pan Fried Pacific Saury
xiāngjiān qiūdāoyú
Sshyang-jyen chyoh-daoww-yoo
香煎秋刀鱼
Salt and Pepper Shrimp
jiāoyán xiā
Jyaoww-yen sshyaa
椒盐虾
Oil Braised King Prawns
yóumèn dà xiā
Yoh-mnn daa sshyaa
油焖大虾
Tasty Shrimps
kǒuwèi xiā
Koh-way sshyaa
口味虾
Boiled Prawns
báizhuóxiā
Beye-jwor-sshyaa
白灼虾
Shandong Braised Original Shell Abalone
Shāndōng bā yuán ké bàoyú
Shan-dong baa ywen ker baoww-yoo
山东扒原壳鲍鱼
Minced Garlic Steamed Abalone
suànróng zhēng bàoyú
Swann-rong jnng baoww-yoo
蒜蓉蒸鲍鱼
Macao Portuguese Fresh Garden Oysters
Àomén pú yuán shēngháo
Aoww-mnn poo ywen shnng-haoww
澳门葡园生蚝
Gaoxiong Oyster Omelet
Gāoxióng ézǐ jiān
Gaoww-sshyong er-dzrr jyen
高雄蚵仔煎
Shandong Roast Oyster Locust
Shāndōng shāo lìhuáng
Shan-dong shaoww lee-hwung
山东烧蛎蝗
Fried Clams
chǎo xiǎnzi
Chaoww sshyen-zuh
炒蚬子
Minced Garlic Vermicelli and Steamed Scallops
suàn róng fěnsī zhēng shànbèi
Swann-rong fnn-srr jnng shan-bay
蒜蓉粉丝蒸扇贝
Yantai Scorpion Rolling Embroidered Ball
Yāntái xiē gǔn xiùqiú
Yen-teye sshyeah gwnn sshyoh-chyoh
烟台蝎滚绣球
Chongqing Sautéed Crab in Hot Spicy Sauce
Chóngqìng xiānglà xiè
Chong-ching sshyang-laa sshyeah
重庆香辣蟹
Chengdu Soaked Capsicum Young Cuttlefish
Chéngdū pàojiāo mòyú zǐ
Chnng-doo paoww-jyaoww mor-yoo dzeye
成都泡椒墨鱼仔
Dry-Fried Shredded Squid with Peppers
gānbiān yóuyú sī
Gan-byen yoh-yoo srr
干煸鱿鱼丝