About China Decoded

China Decoded is an independent studio project. We build simple, practical tools that help travelers order and enjoy Chinese food with confidence, especially first-time visitors who don't read Chinese.

Why we built it

Ordering food in China is genuinely hard if you don't read Chinese. Menus are often photo-only, dish names rarely have English, and the same dish can look completely different from one restaurant to the next. Add a food allergy and it stops being a curiosity and becomes a real risk.

We wanted one place that answers the simple questions: What is this dish? How do I say it? What's in it? How do I order it? No translator or phrasebook needed.

What's inside

• 400+ dishes: bilingual names (Chinese + pinyin + English), with audio pronunciation so you can say it out loud.
• Allergen and dietary flags: confirmed and possible allergens, plus notes on what to ask your server.
• Cultural context: the story behind a dish, what to expect on the plate, and how locals eat it.
• Menu scanning: photograph a Chinese menu and get dish names matched back to our library.
• Order builder: pick dishes, spice level, and modifications, and get order cards in Chinese to show your server.

How our content is made

We'd rather be upfront about our process than pretend otherwise. Our dish library is built with three inputs:

• AI-assisted drafting: first drafts of dish descriptions, translations, and cultural notes are generated with AI, using real menus and reference material as source.
• Human review: drafts are reviewed and corrected by a human editor for accuracy, tone, and cultural sensitivity before they go live.
• Traveler submissions: readers can submit menu photos and corrections. These are reviewed and folded back into the library, which is how it keeps growing and improving.

No content is published fully automatically. Every entry is meant to be useful to a real person standing in a real restaurant.

Our editorial standards

• Accuracy over volume: we'd rather have fewer, correct entries than a padded catalog.
• We flag uncertainty: recipes vary by restaurant and region. Where we're unsure, we say so instead of guessing.
• We correct mistakes: if you find an error, tell us and we'll fix it.
• Allergen information is guidance, not a guarantee: always confirm with your server. See our Terms & Disclaimer.

Who we are

China Decoded is run by a small independent studio. We're not a restaurant, a booking platform, or a delivery service. We don't take commissions and we don't sell your data. The project is supported by display advertising.

Questions, corrections, or partnership ideas? Get in touch.