top 3 nostalgic chinese foods
I miss China. I miss its walkability, and I miss its food—its food is incredible.
One of my favorite dishes is fèichángfěn (肥肠粉)—spicy, tangy, and mouth-numbingly good. It’s a bowl of slippery, glass noodles bathed in a deep red, chili-infused broth that tingles with the numbing heat of Sichuan peppercorns. One of the best parts? The fèicháng (肥肠), or braised pork intestines.I know that intestines may seem off-putting, but they are so delicious!!! Tender yet slightly bouncy, they soak up the broth’s rich, umami-packed flavor, making every bite an addicting mix of spice, savoriness, and warmth.
China's fruit tea and bubble tea scene are on another level too!!! The drinks are fresher, more creative, and way better than what you typically find in the U.S. One of my go-to brands is GuMing (古茗) or Goodme. Their menu is endless: plump, juicy grape tea crowned with a creamy yogurt foam and chewy bubbles; zesty passionfruit bursting with citrusy sweetness and crunchy seeds; coconut milk swirled with earthy matcha. If you look GuMing up on Xiaohongshu (小红书), you’ll find photos of the most vibrant, refreshing drinks imaginable.
Also, their classic breakfast foods?? SO GOOD!! One of my all-time favorites is yóutiáo (油条), a golden, deep-fried doughstick that’s light, airy, and crisp on the outside, yet soft and pillowy inside. It’s best eaten fresh, dunked into a steaming bowl of savory rice porridge (zhōu, 粥) or paired with warm, slightly sweet dòujiāng (豆浆), or soy milk. The contrast is perfect—the yóutiáo soaks up the soy milk like a sponge, giving you a mouthful of crispy, doughy goodness with a hint of nutty sweetness.
I'm miss chinese food a lot. (or china overall)