Chinese keto guide
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408 dishes119 keto as served129 with a photo
Keto friendliness
Adapting Chinese cuisine to keto requires diligent menu navigation and explicit requests for sauce and starch modifications.
Top ingredients
Excellent traditional keto ingredients include various cuts of pork, chicken, beef, duck, seafood, and a wide array of non-starchy vegetables like broccoli, bok choy, and mushrooms.
Danger zones
Watch out for hidden sugars and cornstarch in most sauces, deep-fried battered items, noodles, rice, dumplings, and starchy vegetables often used as fillers.
Best for
This cuisine is best for experienced keto dieters who are comfortable with explicit modifications and enjoy a variety of high-protein, vegetable-rich meals.
What to drink
Drinks you will see at Chinese restaurants, cafés and stalls, rated the same way as the food.
Order these
- KetoJasmine Tea mòlìhuā chá (茉莉花茶) · 0g net carbs as usually served
- KetoPu-erh Tea pǔ'ěr chá (普洱茶) · 0g net carbs as usually served
- Ask firstChrysanthemum Tea júhuā chá (菊花茶) · 10g net carbs as usually servedAsk for it without sugar ('bù jiā táng', 不加糖).
- Ask firstSoy Milk dòujiāng (豆浆) · 15g net carbs as usually servedAsk for it unsweetened ('wú táng', 无糖). Breakfast shops usually have both.
- Ask firstSavory Soy Milk xián dòujiāng (咸豆浆) · 15g net carbs as usually servedAsk for it without the fried dough ('bù yào yóutiáo', 不要油条).
- Ask firstHong Kong Milk Tea gongsik naaicha (港式奶茶) · 25g net carbs as usually servedAsk for 'zau tong' (走糖, no sugar). The evaporated milk still adds about 6g.
- Ask firstCoffee-Tea Mix yuenyeung (鴛鴦) · 25g net carbs as usually servedAsk for 'zau tong' (走糖, no sugar).
- Ask firstHong Kong Lemon Tea dung ling cha (凍檸茶) · 25g net carbs as usually servedAsk for 'zau tim' (走甜, no sweetness).
Skip these
- SkipSour Plum Drink suānméi tāng (酸梅汤) · 30g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order jasmine tea instead.
- SkipWinter Melon Tea dōngguā chá (冬瓜茶) · 30g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order jasmine tea instead.
- SkipGrass Jelly Drink xiāncǎo (仙草) · 30g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order jasmine tea instead.
- SkipHot Cola with Ginger jiāng zhǔ kělè (姜煮可乐) · 40g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order pu-erh tea instead.
- SkipBubble Tea zhēnzhū nǎichá (珍珠奶茶) · 55g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order plain jasmine or oolong tea, 0% sugar, no toppings instead.
31 matching dishes
花胶汤
Fish Maw Soup (Keto Modified)
A traditional and luxurious clear soup featuring rehydrated fish maw, known for its collagen content and delic…
3 net5 total2 fibre20 protein17 fat240 kcal
香煎鱿鱼配椒盐
Pan-Fried Squid with Salt and Pepper (No Coating)
Tender squid rings or pieces pan-fried until slightly crispy, seasoned simply with a salt and pepper spice mix…
3 net4 total1 fibre40 protein35 fat480 kcal
蛋花汤
Egg Drop Soup
A comforting, light chicken broth-based soup with ribbons of whisked egg, often garnished with scallions.…
4 net5 total1 fibre18 protein15 fat250 kcal
姜葱龙虾
Ginger Scallion Lobster (Keto Modified)
Fresh lobster (often wok-fried or steamed and then dressed) served with an aromatic sauce heavily featuring sl…
4 net5 total1 fibre70 protein38 fat650 kcal
姜葱炒虾
Sautéed Prawns with Ginger and Scallions (Keto Modified)
Fresh prawns quickly sautéed or stir-fried with generous amounts of fragrant ginger and crisp green scallions,…
4 net5 total1 fibre50 protein38 fat550 kcal
蒜蓉蒸扇贝
Steamed Scallops with Garlic (No Vermicelli)
Fresh scallops steamed with a generous topping of finely minced garlic, often with a drizzle of soy sauce and …
4 net5 total1 fibre35 protein28 fat420 kcal
清汤牛腩
Beef Brisket Clear Soup (No Noodles/Radish)
Tender beef brisket simmered in a clear, flavorful broth with aromatic spices. A light yet satisfying soup tha…
5 net7 total2 fibre55 protein30 fat520 kcal
卤牛筋
Braised Beef Tendon (Keto Modified)
Tender, flavorful beef tendon, slow-braised in a savory liquid until gelatinous. Typically served cold as an a…
5 net7 total2 fibre30 protein25 fat300 kcal
口水鸡
Saliva Chicken (Sichuan Poached Chicken with Chili Oil)
Tender poached chicken, usually dark meat, served chilled and drenched in a vibrant, spicy, savory, and numbin…
5 net7 total2 fibre48 protein38 fat550 kcal
姜葱鸡
Steamed Chicken with Ginger Scallion Sauce (Keto Modified)
Succulent whole or half chicken gently steamed to retain moisture and flavor, then topped with an aromatic sau…
5 net6 total1 fibre65 protein48 fat700 kcal
豉汁蒸鱼头
Steamed Fish Head with Fermented Black Beans (Keto Modified)
A classic Cantonese dish featuring a fish head steamed to perfection with fermented black beans, ginger, garli…
5 net7 total2 fibre35 protein30 fat380 kcal
芦笋炒牛肉
Stir-fried Beef with Asparagus
Lean beef slices stir-fried with crisp asparagus spears, garlic, and ginger in a light savory sauce, offering …
5 net9 total4 fibre50 protein38 fat580 kcal
KAsoon
白灼螺片
Blanched Sliced Conch with Dipping Sauce
Thinly sliced conch quickly blanched to tenderness, preserving its natural flavor and served with a simple dip…
3 net3 total0 fibre40 protein15 fat320 kcal
KAsoon
椒盐田鸡腿 (无裹粉)
Salt and Pepper Frog Legs (Unbreaded)
Tender frog legs seasoned simply with a classic salt and pepper mixture, then flash-fried or pan-fried without…
3 net3 total0 fibre45 protein35 fat500 kcal
KAsoon
白灼牛肉
Blanched Beef Slices
Thin slices of tender beef, quickly blanched in hot water or broth until just cooked, highlighting the beef's …
4 net5 total1 fibre70 protein35 fat600 kcal
KAsoon
卤鸡胗
Braised Chicken Gizzards (Keto Modified)
Tender and flavorful chicken gizzards slow-braised in a savory master stock with aromatic spices, served chill…
4 net5 total1 fibre65 protein20 fat450 kcal
KAsoon
麻辣牛腱
Spicy Braised Beef Shank (Cold Appetizer)
Sliced beef shank, slow-braised until tender, then chilled and tossed in a spicy and aromatic Sichuan dressing…
4 net5 total1 fibre50 protein30 fat480 kcal
KAsoon
麻辣鸭血
Spicy Braised Duck Blood
Cubes of tender duck blood, often described as having a silky texture, braised in a rich and spicy Sichuan bro…
4 net5 total1 fibre45 protein20 fat400 kcal
KAsoon
姜葱蒸鱼
Steamed Fish with Ginger and Scallion (No Sweet Soy Sauce)
A whole fresh fish (such as sea bass or snapper) delicately steamed and generously topped with abundant fresh …
4 net5 total1 fibre70 protein35 fat600 kcal
KAsoon
蒜蓉蒸排骨
Steamed Pork Ribs with Garlic
Tender pieces of pork ribs marinated with copious amounts of minced garlic, soy sauce, and sometimes fermented…
4 net5 total1 fibre65 protein45 fat700 kcal
KAsoon
炒沙虫
Stir-fried Sea Worms with Chives
A regional delicacy featuring tender, slightly chewy sea worms (peanut worms) stir-fried with fresh chives, ga…
4 net6 total2 fibre55 protein30 fat500 kcal
KAsoon
椒盐猪扒 (Unbreaded)
Salt and Pepper Pork Chop (Unbreaded)
Pan-fried or deep-fried pork chops seasoned with a simple yet irresistible salt and pepper blend, often with g…
4 net5 total1 fibre70 protein70 fat900 kcal
KAsoon
姜葱焗蚝
Baked Oysters with Ginger & Scallion
Fresh oysters baked or broiled (often in their shells) with a fragrant topping of ginger, scallions, and a lig…
5 net6 total1 fibre30 protein28 fat400 kcal
KAsoon
爆炒牛百叶
Quick Stir-fried Beef Omasum Tripe
Tender-crisp beef omasum tripe quickly stir-fried at high heat with aromatics like ginger, garlic, and chili (…
5 net7 total2 fibre60 protein28 fat500 kcal
KAsoon
鲜虾腐皮卷 (无淀粉)
Steamed Shrimp Tofu Skin Rolls (Keto Modified, no starch)
Delicate rolls made from thin tofu skin, generously filled with a flavorful mixture of fresh shrimp and someti…
5 net7 total2 fibre60 protein30 fat550 kcal
KAsoon
姜葱炒牛肚
Stir-fried Beef Tripe with Ginger and Scallion
Tender, pre-cooked beef tripe stir-fried with aromatic ginger and fresh scallions in a light, savory sauce.…
5 net6 total1 fibre45 protein30 fat480 kcal
KAsoon
西洋菜炒牛肉
Stir-fried Beef with Watercress
Tender slices of beef stir-fried quickly with fresh watercress and garlic in a light, savory sauce. Watercress…
5 net8 total3 fibre40 protein35 fat500 kcal
KAsoon
韭菜炒鸭血
Stir-fried Duck Blood with Chives
A hearty and savory stir-fry of tender duck blood cubes with aromatic chives, often seasoned with a touch of s…
5 net7 total2 fibre40 protein35 fat480 kcal
KAsoon
黑椒田鸡腿
Stir-fried Frog Legs with Black Pepper
Tender and succulent frog legs stir-fried with fragrant crushed black pepper, garlic, and a rich, savory sauce…
5 net6 total1 fibre45 protein25 fat400 kcal
KAsoon
爆炒生肠
Stir-fried Pork Uterus
A quick and high-heat stir-fry of crispy pork uterus with aromatics like ginger, garlic, and possibly some chi…
5 net6 total1 fibre40 protein40 fat550 kcal
KAsoon
姜葱炒肚丝
Stir-fried Shredded Pork Tripe with Ginger and Scallion
Tender, thinly shredded pork tripe stir-fried with fragrant ginger and fresh scallions, a delightful textural …
5 net7 total2 fibre55 protein40 fat580 kcal