Chinese Catering Menu Ideas For Your Events
What are the best Chinese catering staples for your events?
- Dumplings
- Glutinous rice cake
- Lumpia
- Chinese seafood
- Noodles
- Chinese desserts
Chinese culture is one of the oldest to have ever existed in world history. It originated thousands of years ago and throughout its long existence, it has influenced many other countries across the East Asian region and beyond.
Inarguably, Chinese cuisine is one of the most remarkable of all time. If you’re looking for Chinese catering menu ideas for your events, we’ve prepared a list of Chinese dishes that you can serve for different types of events and all sorts of guests.
Dumplings
Dumplings are a famous Chinese food consisting of meat, fish, vegetables, or other savory stuffings wrapped or enclosed in cooked dough, which can be pleated in different styles and shapes. Savory and satisfying whether they are served as an appetizer or part of the main course, they are an extremely versatile dish to serve. According to Chinese culture, they even bring good luck, especially during lunar eclipses!
Some dumpling variations are Xiao Long Bao, Banh Bot Loc, Guo Tie, shanghai soup, chicken mushroom, pork and chive, and of course, the classic Siomai. If you want to try all these variations, you can start with our Asian Fusion signature plated menu’s Dimsum Platter that has all your favorites.
Glutinous Rice Cake
Glutinous rice cake, traditionally served on Chinese New Year and fondly known as tikoy, is another lucky food in China. It is associated with a higher level of position or job promotion, higher grades in school, and greater height. Simply put, glutinous rice cake is linked to a greater status in any aspect of your life.
Glutinous rice cakes can be served in many different ways. They can be made from a variety of ingredients and presented with many creative ideas. You can definitely add glutinous rice cakes to your menu if you’re going to be celebrating birthdays, weddings, children’s parties, or corporate events.
Lumpia
Loved by many, especially Filipinos, this spring roll should never be missed! Like siomai, lumpia—or Lumpiang Shanghai as it is known among Filipinos—is usually served with minced meat and vegetables like carrots, cabbage, celery, garlic, and green onions that are altogether wrapped in thin flour wrappers or rice papers rolled like sticks. This dish is usually deep fried to achieve crispiness, but can also be air-fried. It goes perfectly with sweet and sour dips to complement its savory taste.
Also called “egg rolls” in Western countries, lumpia can be served for all types of events. This special dish is always one of the most sought-after foods by guests, particularly kids and those with young souls, especially in Asian gatherings.
Chinese Seafood
Chinese seafood is a must among the many Chinese catering menu ideas. Some of the best Chinese seafood are mitten crab, drunken prawn, stir-fried shrimps, phoenix tail shrimp, fried shrimps with Longjing tea, salt-and-pepper squid, red braised fish, steamed whole fish, pan-fried fish, and west lake vinegar fish. Even fish balls, which are a popular street food in the Philippines that originated in China, would be a fun addition to the menu.
Speaking of fish, Chinese people believe that this seafood brings fortune and a surplus of wealth. Thus, fish is traditionally eaten last in the meal, with people leaving some leftovers to invite good luck. Chinese seafood can be served at weddings, corporate events, and other types of celebrations where seafood lovers are present—be mindful of guests with seafood allergies, though.
Our Asian plated menu also features items like Tianjin Soft Shell Crab Salad, Stuffed King Crab Sauce with Five Spice Plum Sauce, and Crab Rangoon in Wonton Cups. Now those are appetizing seafood dishes!
Noodles
When asked to think of Chinese food, noodles are the first things that come to mind for many. In Chinese culture, noodles have a special representation. They symbolize longevity, which is why Chinese people strictly make sure that they are long and not cut into shorter lengths. Furthermore, noodles are believed to bring happiness, making them a hundred percent must-have!
Noodles are best served on birthdays to wish the celebrant a long and healthy life. Chinese beef noodle soup, Biang Biang noodles, beef chow fun, Cantonese wonton noodle soup, Shanghai scallion oil noodles, steamed noodles with green beans, and bacon pan-fried noodles are some of the most worth-it noodles that you can serve.
Chinese Desserts
When it comes to desserts, Chinese cuisine also has a myriad of choices to offer. Desserts are an integral part of every event and meals are definitely not complete without them, so they’re a must-have on the menu!
Chinese walnut cookies, almond cookies, tapioca thousand layer cake, water chestnut cake, Chinese pumpkin cakes, chocolate Chinese five-spice cake, eight-treasure rice pudding, almond jelly, glutinous rice balls, Buchi, Jian Dui, and Chinese red bean paste buns are just some of the desserts that you can add to your list. You can also have that special Chinese delicacy and beautiful dessert, mooncake. Your guests will surely enjoy these meal-enders when you serve them at your event.
Don’t forget our Yangtze River of Sweets when you put together an Asian spread at your next party – it’s a definite scene stealer!
Key Takeaway
Preparing for a catering event is a lot of work, but with an organized menu already in mind, your job is just that much easier. Hopefully, as you read this article, you were filled with the best Chinese catering menu ideas for your event.
For more tips on catering menu preparation, read our tips for choosing your event menu. Also, don’t forget to avail only the best catering packages to make the most of your events. Hint: the Asian Fusion package is just one of them!
Want to book a tasting experience or ask a question? Let us know by sending us a message today!
