Ordering A Beef Dish From A Chinese Eatery? Here Are Some Details To Check
There are certain foods on a Chinese restaurant menu that are virtually the same, regardless of the eatery that you choose. If you order egg rolls, chicken balls, or wonton soup, you can be almost certain that what you get will be consistent with other meals that you've eaten. This isn't the case with every section of the menu, however. Beef dishes are popular at many Chinese eateries, but there are a number of different beef dishes that are prevalent in Asian cuisine. This means that if you're ordering a beef dish for lunch or dinner, dine-in or take-out, it's a good idea to confirm the following details.
Breaded Vs. Unbreaded
If you're someone who tries to stay away from breaded foods for dietary or overall health reasons, it's important to determine whether the beef in the dish that you're thinking about ordering is breaded. Some dishes have lightly breaded beef, while in others, the beef is simply pan-fried without any breading. The last thing that you want is to order a beef dish that sounds appetizing, only to realize that the meat is breaded — thus making you hesitant to dig in.
Cut Of Beef
If you are familiar with the different cuts of beef, you may also want to determine what type of beef is in the dish that you're thinking of ordering. Different cuts of beef have different amounts of flavor, fat, and tenderness. Some people prefer leaner cuts, while others prefer cuts that are fattier and thus have more flavor. If you're someone who doesn't enjoy chewy beef, you'll want to only order beef dishes that have tender cuts of meat. For example, a beef dish that has sliced sirloin steak will give you a dish that is lean, but that may not have as much flavor as one made with ribeye.
Spice Level
It's always important to determine the level of spiciness that a Chinese dish has before you eat it. This is especially true if you're thinking about ordering something that you haven't previously eaten. The right level of spiciness in your beef dish can make the meal thoroughly satisfying — and something that you look forward to ordering again whenever you return to the restaurant. If it's too spicy for your tastes, you may not enjoy it. Conversely, if it doesn't offer enough spice, you may find that the dish has something of a bland flavor.