One part of the meal that isn't as much trouble is the dessert: Chinese dessert menus are short compared to their Western counterparts.

　　"Most Chinese like eating fruit after meals," says Liang. It's a healthy local custom to adopt. For those who can't pass up something sweet, a more traditional Chinese dessert option is nan gua bing, a cupcake-like treat made from corn flour and fruit. It's deep-fried, making it a decadent choice, but the cakes are small so one shouldn't hurt, says Liang. She suggests rubbing off any excess oil on a napkin before taking a bite.

　　Ordering Made Easy

　  Steam  蒸

　　Boil  煮

　　Stir-fried  炒

　　Deep-fry  炸

　　Simmer  熬

　　Braise  炖

　　Please use little  请少放

　　Please use a half  请放一半

　　Please do not use  请不要放

　　Oil  油

　　Salt  盐

　　MSG  味精

　　Please steam/boil/stir-fry the vegetables

　 请把蔬菜煮/蒸/炒一下

　　Please stir-fry the vegetables in broth/vinegar

　　请加高汤/醋翻炒

　　Please steam the fish lightly for 6 minutes

　　请把鱼稍微蒸6分钟