Chowmein, fried rice and chilli chicken: a guide to Chinese-style favourites
· Food · Bel Piatoo
"Chinese" in Bangladesh means something special: a style of cooking that grew up in our own restaurants over decades, with familiar dishes like Thai soup, chicken fried rice, chowmein and chilli chicken. If you are planning a family dinner or a party, here is a guide to the favourite Chinese dishes in Faridpur (ফরিদপুরে চাইনিজ খাবার) and how to put them together.
Start with soup
A Chinese meal traditionally starts with soup. Thai soup is tangy and lightly spicy; chicken corn soup is mild and creamy, good for children; hot and sour soup is for those who like a kick. A family bowl serves three to four people.
Rice and noodles
Fried rice
Fried rice is cooked rice stir-fried at high heat with egg, vegetables and chicken or prawn. It is mild, so it goes well with spicy dishes. Egg fried rice is the simplest; chicken or mixed fried rice is more filling.
Chowmein
Chowmein is stir-fried noodles with vegetables and meat, cooked with soy sauce and a little chilli. It can be eaten on its own as a quick meal or shared alongside fried rice.
The main dishes
Chilli chicken: crispy chicken pieces tossed with onion, capsicum, green chilli and a savoury sauce. Comes "dry" (as a starter) or with gravy (to go with rice).
Chicken chilli onion: similar, with more onion and a milder sauce — a family favourite.
Mixed vegetable: stir-fried seasonal vegetables that balance the meal.
Prawn or beef dishes: for special occasions; ask about availability.
How to build a balanced Chinese meal
For four people, a reliable order is: one family bowl of soup, one fried rice, one chowmein, one chicken dish, and one vegetable. That gives you something mild, something spicy, something crispy and something fresh. If there are children, ask for the chicken dish to be made less spicy.
Set menus: the easy option
Set menus bundle rice or noodles, a curry, chicken and a drink into one price. They are ideal for a quick lunch or when you don't want to choose dish by dish. For bigger groups, a Chinese feast package for parties works the same way — see planning a party in Faridpur.
Try it at Bel Piatoo
Browse our soups, Chinese rice and noodle dishes on the menu, or call 01767-454443 to order. We are at United Tower, Onath er Mor, Jhiltuli, open 11 am to 11 pm every day. If your group prefers pizza, read our pizza guide too.
Cover photo is illustrative, not of our own food or premises: Gannu03, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
