Cantonese food: roast pork, wonton noodles and steamed buns

Char siu is marinated, roasted pork, usually served sliced. The name refers to the preparation, not a complete meal with guaranteed sides. Check whether your order is a plate of meat or comes with rice or other accompaniments.

Cantonese wonton noodle soup combines thin, springy egg noodles, filled wontons and savory broth. Pork and shrimp are a common filling combination. If you avoid shellfish, the filling and broth both need a question; the dumpling wrapper cannot tell you what is inside.

A custard bun contains a sweet filling made with egg and milk. Other buns may have savory fillings. The white exterior alone is not enough to distinguish them.

Keep the Chinese name of the filling with your saved item. When ordering from a steamer or a picture menu, point to the exact name as well as the image. If you want only a small taste, ask how many buns come in one order.

Guangdong is a natural place to explore these dishes, and Cantonese food is also found elsewhere. Start with a preparation you enjoy, then compare the versions you encounter.

Choose by what you like: roasted meat, springy noodles, filled dumplings or a fluffy sweet bun. Mild-looking food still needs the same ingredient checks as a spicy dish, especially when eggs, milk, pork or shellfish matter to you.