Build a better shared-table order

Choose an anchor

Pick one dish everyone is excited about: a roast duck, a fish, a braise or a noodle bowl to share. Let that anchor guide the rest of the order instead of treating each choice in isolation.

For a dish such as Peking duck, ask about advance ordering, portion size and included accompaniments before you settle the rest of the meal.

Add a counterpoint

A rich braise can sit beside a simply cooked vegetable. Crisp pancakes offer contrast to broth. A noodle dish may already fill the role you would otherwise give to rice. These are editorial suggestions, not rules of etiquette.

• One rich or strongly flavored centerpiece.
• Something green or more gently seasoned.
• A starch that suits the sauces and the group.
• One unfamiliar dish if everyone wants to explore.

Ask before assuming

Dish sizes differ widely. Ask the restaurant how many people a portion serves and order another round if needed. For dietary restrictions or allergies, describe the requirement to the kitchen rather than relying on appearance, a translation or a dish name.

Our collection does not label dishes allergen-free, halal, vegetarian or vegan: recipes and kitchen practices vary.

Keep a short list for next time

Saving three dishes you want to try is often more useful than collecting a long list of names. Use the saved list to remember a texture or style you enjoyed, then follow the related-dish links to something new.