China Restaurant Menu With Prices

China Restaurant Menu with Prices can feel like a map of a very large country. You have the bold heat of Szechuan, the gentle sweetness of Cantonese dishes, and the smoky, rustic flavors of Hunan cooking. For many diners, the first challenge is not picking a dish, but figuring out why the prices vary so much between a mild Kung Pao and a fiery Mapo Tofu.

That difference often comes down to ingredients and preparation time, not just the spice. In this guide, we break down a typical China restaurant menu with prices so you know exactly what you are paying for before you order.

China Restaurant Menu With Prices

We have organized this guide by the most common menu sections you will find in a standard Chinese restaurant. Prices are average estimates for a mid-range sit-down spot in the US, but they can shift based on your city and the restaurant’s specific sourcing.

Appetizers And Small Plates

Starting with appetizers is the best way to sample several textures. These are usually the cheapest items on the menu, but they add up fast if you order too many.

Spring Rolls (2 pieces): $3.50 – $6.00. Often filled with cabbage and carrots.
Pork Dumplings (6 pieces): $6.00 – $9.00. Steamed or pan-fried.
Shrimp Toast: $5.00 – $8.00. Fried bread topped with shrimp paste.
Hot and Sour Soup (bowl): $3.00 – $5.00. A peppery, tangy starter.
Wonton Soup (bowl): $4.00 – $6.50. Clear broth with pork wontons.
Barbecue Pork (Char Siu): $8.00 – $12.00. Sliced, sweet, and roasted.

If you are dining alone, one soup and one dumpling order is usually enough. For a group, pick three or four appetizers to share.

Chef’s Specialties And House Favorites

This section is where the restaurant shows off. These dishes often use premium proteins like shrimp, scallops, or filet mignon. The prices here reflect the higher cost of those raw ingredients.

General Tso’s Chicken: $12.00 – $16.00. Sweet, slightly spicy, deep-fried.
Orange Beef: $13.00 – $17.00. Crispy beef with a citrus glaze.
Mongolian Beef: $14.00 – $18.00. Usually served with scallions or onions.
Seafood Delight: $16.00 – $22.00. A mix of shrimp, scallops, and fish.
Peking Duck (Half): $25.00 – $35.00. Served with pancakes and hoisin sauce.
Salt and Pepper Shrimp: $15.00 – $20.00. Shell-on, fried, and seasoned.

Ask your server if the chef’s specials come with rice. Some restaurants include it, while others charge an extra $2.00 for a side of steamed rice.

Szechuan And Hunan Dishes

These are the spicy sections. The prices here are often similar to the chef’s specialties, but the flavor profiles are different. Szechuan uses numbing peppercorns, while Hunan is more straight-ahead hot and sour.

Kung Pao Chicken: $11.00 – $15.00. Peanuts, dried chilies, and diced chicken.
Mapo Tofu: $9.00 – $13.00. Soft tofu in a spicy ground pork sauce.
Twice Cooked Pork: $12.00 – $16.00. Pork belly with leeks and chili paste.
Dry Fried Green Beans: $10.00 – $14.00. Szechuan style with minced pork.
Hunan Chicken: $12.00 – $15.00. Stir-fried with fresh green chilies.
Dan Dan Noodles: $10.00 – $14.00. Spicy sesame sauce with ground pork.

Spice level matters for price. If you ask for extra chili oil or extra Szechuan peppercorns, some restaurants will add a small surcharge, usually $1.00 to $2.00. This is rare, but you should check the menu notes.

Cantonese Classics And Dim Sum

Cantonese food is usually lighter and focuses on steaming and fresh vegetables. Dim sum items are small plates, often served during lunch hours. The prices are lower per item, but you need several to feel full.

Steamed Rice Rolls (Cheung Fun): $5.00 – $7.00. With shrimp or beef.
Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings): $5.50 – $8.00. Translucent wrappers.
Siu Mai (Pork Dumplings): $4.50 – $7.00. Open-topped dumplings.
Chicken Chow Mein: $10.00 – $14.00. Crispy noodles or soft noodles.
Beef and Broccoli: $11.00 – $15.00. A staple Cantonese dish.
Sweet and Sour Pork: $11.00 – $15.00. With pineapple and bell peppers.

Dim sum is often cheaper if you go before 3 PM. Some places offer a “small plate” price tier that is $1.00 to $2.00 less than the dinner price.

Fried Rice And Noodle Dishes

These are your value items. A single order of fried rice or noodles can feed two people if you also have an appetizer. The protein choice changes the price significantly.

Vegetable Fried Rice: $8.00 – $10.00.
Chicken Fried Rice: $9.00 – $12.00.
Shrimp Fried Rice: $11.00 – $14.00.
House Special Fried Rice: $12.00 – $16.00. Contains pork, chicken, and shrimp.
Vegetable Lo Mein: $8.00 – $10.00.
Beef Chow Fun: $11.00 – $15.00. Wide rice noodles.
Singapore Noodles: $11.00 – $14.00. Curry-flavored with shrimp.

Watch out for the “combo plate” option. Many restaurants offer a lunch special that includes an entree, fried rice, and an egg roll for $1.00 to $3.00 more than the entree alone. That is usually a better deal than ordering a la carte.

Vegetarian And Tofu Options

Vegetarian dishes are often the cheapest entrees on the menu. However, be careful with sauces. Some “vegetarian” dishes use oyster sauce or chicken broth for flavor.

Buddha’s Delight: $10.00 – $14.00. Mixed vegetables in a light sauce.
Ma Po Tofu (Vegetarian): $9.00 – $12.00. Made with mushroom sauce.
Eggplant in Garlic Sauce: $10.00 – $13.00.
Sauteed Snow Peas: $10.00 – $14.00.
Vegetable Spring Rolls: $4.00 – $6.00.

Ask if the dish is truly vegan or just vegetarian. The price does not always reflect the absence of meat, but the complexity of the sauce does.

Combination Plates And Lunch Specials

This is the most budget-friendly part of a China restaurant menu with prices. Lunch specials are typically served from 11 AM to 3 PM on weekdays. They include a main dish, pork fried rice or steamed rice, and an egg roll or soup.

Check the time: Lunch specials are only valid during specific hours.
Compare the protein: Chicken and pork combos are cheapest, usually $7.00 – $9.00.
Look for shrimp combos: These are $9.00 – $12.00.
Ask about the soup: Some places charge $0.50 extra for wonton soup instead of hot and sour.
Check for a drink: A canned soda or tea is often included in the price.

Dinner combination plates are larger and cost $12.00 – $18.00. They often include a larger portion of rice and an extra side like a crab rangoon.

Seafood Market Price Items

Some menus list “Market Price” for live fish, lobster, or crab. This is not a typo. The price changes daily based on what the restaurant paid for the seafood that morning.

Live Lobster: Usually $30.00 – $50.00 per pound.
Whole Fish (Steamed): $25.00 – $40.00 per fish.
Dungeness Crab: $35.00 – $55.00 per pound.

When you see market price, ask the server for the current rate before you order. Also ask how the dish is prepared, because some methods (like deep frying) are cheaper than steaming with ginger and scallions.

Rice, Noodles, And Side Orders

These are the small additions that pad your bill. It is easy to ignore them, but they matter for the total cost.

Steamed Rice (small): $2.00 – $3.00.
Steamed Rice (large): $3.50 – $5.00.
Brown Rice: $3.00 – $4.50.
Egg Roll (single): $2.00 – $3.50.
Crab Rangoon (4 pieces): $5.00 – $7.00.
Extra Sauce (side): $0.50 – $1.00.

If you order a dish that is saucy, like Kung Pao or Mongolian Beef, you might not need extra rice. But for dry dishes like Chow Mein, you will want a side of rice to balance it.

Beverages And Desserts

Drinks and desserts have a high markup. This is where the restaurant makes up for the low price of the lunch specials.

Hot Tea (pot): $1.50 – $3.00 per person.
Soft Drinks (can): $2.00 – $3.00.
Bubble Tea: $5.00 – $7.00.
Fortune Cookies: Usually complimentary.
Fried Ice Cream: $5.00 – $7.00.
Mango Pudding: $4.00 – $6.00.

Hot tea is often the cheapest drink, but it is charged per person. If you have a table of four, the tea pot can cost $8.00 or more. Tap water is always free.

How To Estimate Your Total Bill

To avoid sticker shock, you need to calculate the base price plus tax and tip. Here is a simple way to do it.

Add up your entrees: Include appetizers and sides.
Add 8% to 10% for tax: This varies by state.
Add 15% to 20% for tip: If you dine in.
Check for a service charge: Some groups of 6 or more have an 18% gratuity added automatically.

For example, if your food total is $40.00, expect to pay around $50.00 to $52.00 after tax and a standard tip. If you order takeout, you can skip the tip, but some restaurants add a 5% takeout packaging fee.

Why Prices Vary Between Restaurants

You might see the same dish at one place for $9.00 and at another for $15.00. The difference is not always about quality. It can be about location, rent, and whether they use fresh chicken or frozen.

Authenticity: A restaurant that makes their own noodles will charge more.
Location: Downtown spots have higher rent, so prices are higher.
Ingredients: Free-range chicken or organic vegetables cost more.
Portion size: A $12.00 dish might be twice as large as a $10.00 dish.

Always look at the portion size when comparing prices. A slightly more expensive dish that feeds two people is a better deal than a cheap dish that leaves you hungry.

Tips For Ordering On A Budget

You can eat well at a Chinese restaurant without spending a lot. You just need a strategy.

Go for lunch: The same dish is often $3.00 to $5.00 cheaper.
Share family style: Order two entrees and one appetizer for two people.
Skip the specialty rice: Get plain steamed rice and pour the sauce over it.
Ask for extra vegetables: Some places will add more broccoli or peppers for free.
Check the “Chef’s Special” board: Sometimes there are off-menu deals.

Do not be afraid to ask the server for their opinion on the best value. They usually know which dishes are the most filling for the price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the price of General Tso’s chicken different from Kung Pao chicken?

General Tso’s is usually deep-fried and coated in a thicker sauce, which takes more oil and time. Kung Pao is a quick stir-fry. The preparation method and sauce ingredients affect the cost.

Do Chinese restaurants charge extra for brown rice?

Yes, most do. Brown rice is not as commonly used as white rice, so it costs about $1.00 to $1.50 more per order. Some lunch specials let you upgrade for a small fee.

What does “market price” mean on a China restaurant menu with prices?

It means the cost of the seafood changes daily. The restaurant pays a different rate for live fish or crab each morning, so they adjust the menu price to match their cost.

Is it cheaper to order takeout or dine in?

Takeout is usually cheaper because you do not pay a tip for table service. However, some restaurants have a minimum order for delivery, and they may charge a packaging fee of $0.50 to $1.00 per container.

Can I ask for a half order of a dish?

Some restaurants allow this for appetizers or noodle dishes, but it is rare for entrees. If they do, the half order is usually 60% of the full price, not 50%, because the labor cost is the same.

Understanding the structure of a China restaurant menu with prices takes the guesswork out of your meal. You can now spot the deals, avoid the overpriced extras, and order with confidence. The next time you sit down, you will know exactly why that Szechuan dish costs a little more, and you can decide if the heat is worth the price.