The best examples of 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu

Example of a classic Cantonese banquet menu (wedding or big celebration)

Let’s start with the most traditional of our 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu: the Cantonese-style celebration feast. Think weddings, milestone birthdays, and big family reunions. This is the kind of banquet where dishes come out course after course, people linger over tea, and nobody leaves hungry.

When people search for examples of 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu, this is usually the style they have in mind: luxurious, symbolic, and a little bit over-the-top in the best way.

Structure of this banquet

A classic Cantonese banquet often follows this flow:

• Cold appetizer platter
• Soup
• Seafood course
• Meat and poultry courses
• Vegetable and tofu course
• Noodles or rice
• Dessert and fruit

Instead of treating that like a rigid rule, use it as a backbone. You can scale up or down depending on how many people you’re feeding and how much you want to cook yourself.

Real examples of dishes for a classic Cantonese banquet

Here’s how a full menu might look, with concrete dishes you can mix and match.

Cold appetizer platter
A colorful starter that hits different textures:

• Sliced five-spice beef shank
• Soy-braised chicken or soy-braised pork belly
• Jellyfish salad with sesame and vinegar
• Pickled cucumbers or daikon

If jellyfish is hard to find where you live, swap in sesame cucumber salad or a light seaweed salad from an Asian grocery store.

Soup course
A banquet-style soup is clear, savory, and gently flavored:

• Seafood and winter melon soup
• Crab and sweet corn soup
• Chicken and mushroom soup with goji berries

These soups are lighter than Western cream soups, which helps guests keep going through many courses. If sodium is a concern, you can use low-sodium broth and taste as you go; the NIH has guidance on lowering salt while keeping flavor.

Seafood course
Seafood signals abundance and prosperity in Chinese culture. A classic example of a showstopper dish is:

• Whole steamed fish with ginger, scallions, and light soy sauce

The fish is usually served whole, head and tail included, to symbolize completeness. If a whole fish feels intimidating, you can serve:

• Steamed fish fillets with black bean sauce
• Salt and pepper shrimp, shell-on for extra flavor

Poultry course
Chicken and duck are banquet regulars. Some real examples include:

• Cantonese roast duck or Peking duck with pancakes
• Soy sauce poached chicken, chopped and served with scallion-ginger dipping sauce

If time is tight, many Chinese barbecue shops will sell you a whole roast duck or soy chicken. You can then plate it at home with fresh herbs and sliced cucumbers.

Meat course
For a big celebration, you usually see at least one rich meat dish:

• Red-braised pork belly with eggs
• Beef short ribs in black pepper sauce
• Stir-fried lamb with cumin (more Northern Chinese, but increasingly popular in modern banquets)

These dishes bring depth and that satisfying, glossy sauce everyone chases with rice.

Vegetable and tofu course
Balance all that richness with something green and clean:

• Stir-fried gai lan (Chinese broccoli) with oyster sauce
• Snow pea leaves with garlic
• Braised tofu with mushrooms and baby bok choy

Including a generous vegetable course fits modern health-conscious trends in 2024–2025, as more guests look for lighter options and plant-forward dishes. For general healthy eating guidance, the U.S. Department of Agriculture offers helpful plate-balance visuals you can adapt to Chinese-style meals.

Noodles or rice
In a traditional Cantonese banquet, rice often comes last, as a polite signal that the main feasting is done. Real examples include:

• Yangzhou fried rice with shrimp, barbecue pork, and peas
• E-fu noodles braised in stock with mushrooms and yellow chives

Noodles symbolize longevity, so they’re especially fitting for birthdays and weddings.

Dessert and fruit
Dessert is usually light and not overly sweet:

• Red bean soup with tapioca
• Mango pudding
• Almond tofu (actually a soft jelly) with fruit cocktail
• Fresh orange slices or seasonal fruit

This first menu is a textbook example of a grand celebration feast and one of the best examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu that feels traditional yet doable.

Family-style comfort: another example of 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu

Not every gathering calls for a wedding-level spread. Sometimes you just want a “banquet” that feels cozy, familiar, and friendly to home cooks. This second of our 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu focuses on comfort, budget, and dishes that reheat well.

Think Lunar New Year with friends, a potluck-style birthday, or a Sunday feast where everyone shows up hungry and leaves with leftovers.

How this family-style banquet flows

Instead of strict courses, everything can hit the table within a short window. Guests help themselves family-style. You still want variety:

• One big soup or hotpot-style centerpiece
• Two to three protein dishes
• Two vegetable dishes
• One noodle or rice dish
• One simple dessert

Real examples of family-style comfort dishes

Here are practical, real-world examples of how to build this kind of menu.

Soup or hotpot centerpiece
For a casual banquet, a big pot in the middle of the table is both cozy and interactive:

• Tomato and beef brisket soup
• Pork bone and cabbage soup
• Simple Sichuan-style hotpot with sliced beef, napa cabbage, and tofu

If you go the hotpot route, you can buy ready-made soup bases at Asian markets, then add your own vegetables and sliced meats.

Protein dishes
For this style of menu, think homey rather than fancy:

• Three-cup chicken (soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil)
• Twice-cooked pork with leeks
• Stir-fried shrimp with scrambled eggs
• Mapo tofu (with or without ground pork)

These are the kinds of dishes that taste even better after sitting for a bit, which is perfect when guests are chatting and coming back for seconds.

Vegetable dishes
Give your guests color and crunch:

• Stir-fried green beans with garlic and minced pork
• Napa cabbage with dried shrimp and glass noodles
• Stir-fried broccoli with shiitake mushrooms

These are forgiving dishes that can sit on a warm table without turning soggy too quickly.

Noodles or rice
Here are some real examples of starches that work beautifully for a family-style banquet:

• Cantonese soy sauce chow mein with bean sprouts and scallions
• Fried rice with egg and scallions (simple, kid-friendly, and budget-friendly)
• Claypot rice with Chinese sausage and mushrooms (if you have time)

Dessert
Keep dessert simple and low-stress:

• Store-bought sesame balls (jian dui) warmed in the oven
• Sweet ginger soup with tang yuan (glutinous rice balls)
• Lychees or longans from a can, chilled and served with crushed ice

This second menu might be less formal, but it’s one of the best examples of a Chinese banquet menu that regular home cooks can actually pull off.

Modern and lighter: the third of 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu

Our third menu reflects how people are eating in 2024–2025: more vegetables, less heavy oil, and a mix of regional Chinese flavors. This last of the 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu is perfect when your guest list includes vegetarians, pescatarians, or anyone who likes bold flavors but lighter food.

Modern banquet structure

You can keep the traditional flow but tweak the content:

• Bright, fresh starters
• Light soup
• One seafood dish
• One lean meat or tofu dish
• Two or more vegetable-forward plates
• A lighter noodle or rice dish
• A fruit-forward dessert

Real examples of modern lighter dishes

Here are some concrete ideas that show how flexible a Chinese banquet can be.

Fresh starters
Instead of heavy cold cuts, start with:

• Smacked cucumber salad with garlic, chili oil, and black vinegar
• Silken tofu with soy, scallions, and preserved egg (optional)
• Lightly pickled radish and carrot ribbons

These dishes are vibrant, low in saturated fat, and can be prepped ahead. For guests watching their cholesterol or overall heart health, the American Heart Association has tips you can adapt to Chinese cooking techniques.

Soup course
Go for clear, vegetable-forward broths:

• Seaweed and tofu soup
• Tomato and egg drop soup
• Lotus root and peanut soup with lean pork

These soups are satisfying without being heavy, which fits current interest in lighter, more plant-inclusive meals.

Seafood and lean protein
Some real examples include:

• Steamed cod or halibut with soy, ginger, and scallions
• Stir-fried shrimp with snow peas and snap peas
• Poached chicken with a spicy Sichuan chili oil sauce on the side (guests can control the heat)
• Kung Pao cauliflower as a vegetarian twist on a classic

Vegetable-forward dishes
This is where a modern banquet really shines:

• Stir-fried asparagus with garlic and black bean sauce
• Braised eggplant with tomato, garlic, and a touch of chili
• Stir-fried lotus root with celery and bell peppers for crunch
• Bitter melon with black bean and tofu for adventurous eaters

These are the kinds of dishes that photograph beautifully and play well on social media, which is very much part of the 2024–2025 hosting culture.

Lighter noodles or rice
You don’t have to skip carbs; just keep them balanced:

• Brown rice fried rice with lots of vegetables and egg
• Stir-fried rice noodles with bok choy, mushrooms, and tofu
• Cold sesame noodles with shredded cucumber and carrot

Dessert
End on a clean, fresh note:

• Chilled osmanthus jelly with goji berries
• Fresh fruit platter with dragon fruit, oranges, and grapes
• Light mango sago (tapioca) with coconut milk, using less sugar

This third menu is a clear example of how Chinese banquets are evolving: still generous and celebratory, but more aligned with modern health-conscious trends.

How to mix and match these 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu

Now that you’ve seen these 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu, you don’t have to follow any one of them rigidly. Think of them as templates.

Here are some ways to blend them:

• Use the classic Cantonese structure (appetizer, soup, seafood, meat, vegetables, starch, dessert) but plug in lighter modern dishes.
• Take the family-style comfort approach and drop in one or two luxurious showpieces, like whole steamed fish or roast duck, to elevate the feel.
• Build a mostly modern lighter menu but keep one nostalgic dish—like red-braised pork belly or mapo tofu—to please traditionalists.

As you plan, consider:

• Guest count: Aim for at least one dish per 2–3 people per course. For a table of 10, 8–10 dishes total is a comfortable range.
• Dietary needs: Include at least two vegetarian-friendly dishes and one gluten-light option (plain steamed rice, simple stir-fried greens).
• Spice tolerance: Offer chili oil or chili crisp on the side so guests can customize heat levels.

The best examples of Chinese banquet menus are not about perfection; they’re about generosity, variety, and making your guests feel welcome.

Practical hosting tips inspired by these examples

Once you’ve chosen one of the 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu, timing and logistics matter just as much as the dishes themselves.

Cook ahead where possible
Braised dishes like red-braised pork belly, beef brisket soup, and soy-braised chicken can be made a day ahead and gently reheated. Many Chinese home cooks rely on this strategy to stay sane during holidays.

Lean on restaurants strategically
If you’re short on time, buy one or two centerpiece dishes from a local Chinese restaurant—like roast duck, whole fish, or dim sum-style appetizers—and cook the rest at home. This hybrid approach is one of the best examples of how modern hosts manage big banquets without burning out.

Food safety basics
With large gatherings, keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold to avoid foodborne illness. The CDC has clear guidelines on safe temperatures and holding times that you can easily apply to a Chinese banquet.

FAQ: Real-world questions about Chinese banquet menus

What are some examples of dishes I must have at a Chinese banquet?
Common must-haves include a whole steamed fish, at least one chicken or duck dish, a generous vegetable plate, a noodle or rice dish, and a light dessert with fruit. From our 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu, the whole fish, soy-braised chicken, stir-fried greens, and mango pudding show up again and again.

Can you give an example of a simple beginner-friendly Chinese banquet?
Yes. A very simple menu could be: tomato and egg drop soup, three-cup chicken, stir-fried green beans, soy sauce chow mein, and orange slices for dessert. This draws from the family-style comfort menu and is one of the best examples of a beginner banquet that still feels special.

How many dishes should I serve for 8–10 people?
For 8–10 guests, aim for 7–9 dishes total. Look back at the three menus above: each of those 3 examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu can be slightly trimmed or expanded to hit that range.

Can I make a mostly vegetarian Chinese banquet?
Absolutely. Use the modern lighter menu as a base: smacked cucumber, seaweed and tofu soup, Kung Pao cauliflower, braised eggplant, stir-fried greens, and vegetable fried rice. Add one seafood dish if you want a pescatarian option.

Do Chinese banquets always follow strict courses?
In restaurants, yes, dishes often arrive in a certain order. At home, many hosts serve everything family-style at once. All three of the examples above can be adapted either way, which is why they’re such flexible examples of how to create a Chinese banquet menu for real life.