When having a night in with family and/or friends, many will order a takeaway and, when doing so, it is fair to say that Chinese is one of the most popular cuisines to purchase. Many love the moreish main dishes that a Chinese takeaway menu has to offer and it goes without saying that the majority of people will have go-to dishes when it comes to ordering.
Of course, not only do you have incredible main dishes and side dishes at a Chinese takeaway, but there are lots of delicious starters to order as well. Unlike with other cuisines, such as Indian, many overlook the appetisers section on a Chinese menu, but there is no denying that there are some brilliant dishes to choose from. If you’re unsure what starter to get when ordering a Chinese takeaway, be sure to consider some of the UK’s favourites mentioned below.
Crispy duck with pancakes
When ordering a takeaway, it is fair to say that many here in the UK will choose crispy duck with pancakes as their starter. This dish consists of succulent duck which has been marinated in a variety of spices, it is traditionally shredded and served in pancakes with spring onions, cucumber and hoisin sauce.
Spring rolls
This is another classic option for Brits when ordering a takeaway and you can choose between meat or vegetable spring rolls. Many will dip their spring rolls in soy sauce or sweet and sour sauce before eating. If you like spring rolls, it is worth looking at the ‘mixed hors d’oeuvres’ on a menu too, this often includes seaweed and spare ribs as well as the spring rolls.
Sesame prawn toast
It is likely that you will have had this appetiser as a side dish before and again, it is sometimes part of the mixed hors d’oeuvres on a Chinese menu. It is an incredibly popular choice when purchasing a starter and the dish is fairly self-explanatory. Essentially, it is small triangles of bread that are coated with minced prawns and topped with sesame seeds.
Shredded smoked chicken
You may also see this dish called smoked shredded chicken, but no matter what way round it is listed on the takeaway menu, it is the same dish. This starter is made up of small strips of chicken that have been deep-fried in a light crispy cornflour coating, chillies and spring onion. It really is a brilliant dish for anyone who likes a little bit of spice.
Crispy wontons
Many who enjoy spring rolls will often purchase crispy wontons too and they are another brilliant appetiser dish to try. These won tons can be made with ground pork, but many opt for a prawn or shrimp alternative. The main ingredient is mixed with water chestnut and wrapped in a crispy pastry. Often, they are served with lemon too.
Salt and chilli king prawns
It isn’t uncommon for fish lovers to order salt and chilli king prawns when getting a takeaway too. As the name suggests, this dish is king prawn, that has been pan-fried with chilli, garlic and spring onions. It is fair to say that they are full of flavour and again, another great choice if you like the heat.
Satay chicken skewers
Lastly, satay chicken skewer is an incredibly popular choice amongst people here in the UK. As you’re probably aware, this dish is made up of cubed pieces of chicken on bamboo sticks which are marinated in lightly spiced peanut sauce. Whilst chicken is the first choice for many, you can actually get beef or king prawn alternatives too.
Ordering a takeaway online
Hopefully, this list of the UK’s favourite Chinese starters will help you to choose which dish to go for when you next order a takeaway. It is fair to say that there are some incredible dishes to choose from and many of which work brilliantly as a side order too, so even if you don’t usually have a ‘starter’, it is worth ordering some of these dishes anyway. Once you’ve tried these classic appetisers, you can guarantee that you’ll never order without them again.
When you next want to order a Chinese takeaway or any other cuisine for that matter, be sure to visit the ChefOnline website. We can help you to find all of your local restaurants that offer takeaways and you can even order online via our website too. We pride ourselves on our site being incredibly easy to use. However, if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We will gladly help you in any way required.
