Top 10 Most Popular Breakfast Foods in China

Chinese breakfast varies greatly by region, with northern and southern China favoring different ingredients and flavors. However, some breakfast dishes are beloved nationwide. Here are the top 10 most popular Chinese breakfast foods, widely enjoyed across the country.

1. Soybean Milk & Deep-Fried Dough Sticks (豆浆 yóutiáo)

🔹 Taste: Sweet or mild
🔹 Why It’s Popular: Quick, convenient, and filling

This classic breakfast pairing consists of hot soybean milk and crispy deep-fried dough sticks (yóutiáo). Many people dip the dough sticks into the soy milk for extra flavor. Some prefer pairing them with rice congee instead.

2. Steamed Buns (包子 bāozi / 馒头 mántou)

🔹 Taste: Salty or sweet
🔹 Why It’s Popular: Affordable, filling, and available everywhere

Steamed buns are a staple breakfast food in China. Bāozi are stuffed with meat or vegetables, while mántou are plain steamed buns. They are commonly enjoyed with soy milk or porridge.

Popular fillings include:
✔️ Pork and cabbage
✔️ Red bean paste (sweet version)
✔️ Egg and chives

3. Rice Porridge / Congee (粥 zhōu)

🔹 Taste: Salty or sweet
🔹 Why It’s Popular: Light, warm, and easy to digest

Congee is a soft rice porridge, often paired with pickled vegetables, fermented tofu, peanuts, or century eggs. Some versions use red beans and black rice for a naturally sweet flavor.

4. Wontons & Dumplings (馄饨 húntun / 饺子 jiǎozi)

🔹 Taste: Salty
🔹 Why It’s Popular: Hearty and flavorful

Wontons are thin-skinned dumplings filled with pork, shrimp, or vegetables, often served in broth or soup. Dumplings are similar but have a thicker skin and can be steamed, boiled, or pan-fried.

5. Wheat Noodles (面条 miàntiáo)

🔹 Taste: Salty and savory
🔹 Why It’s Popular: A hearty, satisfying meal

Northern China favors wheat-based noodles for breakfast. Wuhan’s hot-and-dry noodles (热干面 rè gān miàn) and Lanzhou’s beef noodles (牛肉面 niúròu miàn) are particularly famous.

6. Rice Noodles (米粉 mǐfěn / 米线 mǐxiàn)

🔹 Taste: Salty and spicy
🔹 Why It’s Popular: Gluten-free and flavorful

More common in southern China, rice noodles are often served in a fragrant broth with various toppings like pickled mustard greens, peanuts, and thinly sliced meats. Guilin rice noodles are a well-known specialty.

7. Chinese Pancakes (煎饼 jiānbǐng)

🔹 Taste: Salty, crispy, and savory
🔹 Why It’s Popular: A quick and tasty street food

Chinese pancakes are thin crepes filled with fried dough sticks, eggs, scallions, mustard pickles, and spicy sauce. They are widely sold as a grab-and-go breakfast in many cities.

8. Sticky Rice Dumplings (粽子 zòngzi)

🔹 Taste: Sweet or salty
🔹 Why It’s Popular: A traditional and festive favorite

Zòngzi are sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves, filled with either savory pork and chestnuts or sweet red bean paste. Though more common during the Dragon Boat Festival, they are also eaten as breakfast.

9. Tofu Pudding (豆花 dòuhuā)

🔹 Taste: Sweet or salty
🔹 Why It’s Popular: Soft, smooth, and nutritious

Tofu pudding is a silky-soft tofu dish. The northern version is savory, served with soy sauce and pickled vegetables, while the southern version is sweet, topped with brown sugar syrup and ginger.

10. Dim Sum (点心 diǎnxīn)

🔹 Taste: Salty or sweet
🔹 Why It’s Popular: A variety of bite-sized options

Dim sum is especially popular in southern China, Hong Kong, and Macau. It includes small dishes like shrimp dumplings, steamed buns, rice rolls, and custard tarts, often enjoyed with tea.

Conclusion

Chinese breakfasts are diverse, delicious, and regionally distinct. Whether you prefer a light congee, hearty noodles, or crispy pancakes, there’s a perfect option for every taste!

🤔 Which of these breakfasts would you like to try? 😊