Site Guide
How to Use This Site
Use ChinatownMenu.com as a menu-decoding reference. Start with the restaurant format, then move to dishes, ingredients, dietary signals, and pronunciation.
Fast paths
| Need | Start here |
|---|---|
| I do not know what a dish is. | Dish Guides |
| I do not understand a sauce or ingredient. | Ingredient Guides |
| I am at a specific kind of Chinese restaurant. | Restaurant Format Guides |
| I have a dietary restriction. | Dietary Ordering Guides |
| I want a quick printable reference. | Printable Cheat Sheets |
| I want to understand the overall system. | Menu Literacy System |
Recommended workflow
- Identify the restaurant format: dim sum, hot pot, barbecue, bakery, cafe, regional specialist, or takeout.
- Use the dish guide for unfamiliar names.
- Use ingredient guides for sauces, starches, spices, and preserved foods.
- Check risk cards for common dietary signals.
- Use pronunciation and phrase support only as a communication aid.