The UK’s Favourite Chinese Takeaway Dishes (and How to Make Them at Home)

Mar 5, 2026

Chinese takeaway is one of the UK’s most loved comfort foods, and certain dishes show up on menus across the country again and again. This is a list of ten of the most popular Chinese takeaway dishes in the UK, with practical tips for recreating each one at home.

1) Sweet and Sour Chicken

What it is and why it is loved: Crispy chicken with a bright, tangy sauce that hits sweet, sour, and savoury in one bite.

Takeaway ordering tip: Ask for the sauce separately where possible to keep the coating crisp.

Make it at home:

Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and season lightly with salt.
Coat thoroughly in cornflour. For extra crunch, add a small pinch of baking powder.
Fry until golden and crisp, or air fry with a light coating of oil.
Simmer a sauce using ketchup, vinegar, sugar, a small splash of soy sauce, and a little water or pineapple juice.
Toss the chicken in the sauce briefly just before serving, or serve the sauce on the side.

Key ingredients: Chicken, cornflour, baking powder (optional), ketchup, vinegar, sugar, soy sauce.

Serve with: Egg fried rice, prawn crackers, stir-fried greens.

2) Chicken Chow Mein

What it is and why it is loved: Savoury stir-fried noodles with chicken and vegetables that feel like a full meal on their own.

Takeaway ordering tip: If you prefer a drier chow mein, ask for less sauce or request it lightly sauced.

Make it at home:

Cook egg noodles until just tender, then drain well.
Stir-fry chicken on a high heat until just cooked, then set aside.
Stir-fry onion, beansprouts, and spring onion until hot and fragrant.
Add the noodles and chicken back to the pan.
Toss with light soy sauce, oyster sauce or hoisin, and a small pinch of sugar.

Key ingredients: Egg noodles, chicken, beansprouts, spring onion, onion, light soy sauce, oyster sauce or hoisin.

Serve with: Spring rolls, salt and pepper chicken.

3) Egg Fried Rice

What it is and why it is loved: A simple, comforting staple that supports almost any main dish.

Takeaway ordering tip: Choose egg fried rice when your mains are saucy, as it balances the meal well.

Make it at home:

Use cold cooked rice to avoid a mushy texture.
Scramble the eggs in a hot pan and set them aside.
Stir-fry the rice on a high heat and let it toast slightly before stirring.
Add a small amount of soy sauce, return the egg, and finish with spring onion.

Key ingredients: Cold cooked rice, eggs, soy sauce, spring onion, sesame oil as an optional finish.

Serve with: Sweet and sour chicken, black bean beef, mapo tofu.

4) Salt and Pepper Chicken

What it is and why it is loved: Crisp chicken tossed with white pepper, chilli, garlic, and peppers for a punchy, moreish finish.

Takeaway ordering tip: Ask for extra onions and peppers if the option is available, as they add sweetness and crunch.

Make it at home:

Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and season with salt and white pepper.
Coat in cornflour and shake off any excess.
Fry or air fry until crisp and golden.
In a very hot pan, stir-fry garlic, chilli, onion, and peppers briefly.
Toss the chicken through for less than a minute and serve immediately.

Key ingredients: Chicken, cornflour, white pepper, garlic, chilli, onion, peppers.

Serve with: Salt and pepper chips, fried rice, curry sauce on the side.

5) Crispy Shredded Beef in Chilli Sauce

What it is and why it is loved: Thin strips of crisp beef coated in a sticky, sweet, spicy sauce.

Takeaway ordering tip: If you like maximum crunch, ask for the sauce lightly applied or served separately.

Make it at home:

Chill the beef briefly to make thin slicing easier, then slice into fine strips.
Coat the strips in cornflour and fry in batches until crisp.
Drain well and set aside while you make the sauce.
Simmer sweet chilli sauce, ketchup, vinegar, and a small splash of soy sauce until glossy.
Toss the beef through the sauce briefly just before serving.

Key ingredients: Beef, cornflour, sweet chilli sauce, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce.

Serve with: Steamed rice, stir-fried greens.

6) Beef in Black Bean Sauce

What it is and why it is loved: A rich, savoury stir-fry with deep black bean flavour and plenty of vegetables.

Takeaway ordering tip: Choose onions and peppers as your vegetables if you have the option, as they suit the sauce perfectly.

Make it at home:

Slice beef thinly and mix with soy sauce, cornflour, and a little oil for about fifteen minutes.
Sear the beef quickly on a high heat, then remove from the pan.
Stir-fry onion and peppers until just softened.
Add black bean garlic sauce and a small splash of water to loosen it.
Return the beef to coat for less than a minute, then serve straight away.

Key ingredients: Beef, onion, peppers, black bean garlic sauce, soy sauce, cornflour, oil.

Serve with: Boiled rice, chow mein, broccoli.

7) Kung Pao Chicken

What it is and why it is loved: A bold, balanced dish with savoury depth, gentle sweetness, a touch of sourness, and crunch from peanuts.

Takeaway ordering tip: A good choice when you want heat with flavour, as you can usually request mild or spicy.

Make it at home:

Stir-fry chicken until lightly browned, then remove from the pan.
Fry dried chilli briefly for aroma, adding garlic or ginger if you like.
Add a sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and a splash of water.
Return the chicken and simmer briefly until glazed.
Add peanuts at the end so they stay crunchy.

Key ingredients: Chicken, dried chilli or chilli flakes, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, peanuts, garlic or ginger (optional).

Serve with: Jasmine rice, cucumber salad, stir-fried greens.

8) Mapo Tofu

What it is and why it is loved: Soft tofu in a savoury, spicy sauce that is especially satisfying with rice.

Takeaway ordering tip: If you are new to it, consider ordering it mild, as some versions can be quite punchy.

Make it at home:

Brown minced pork or beef with garlic and ginger.
Stir in chilli bean paste, or use chilli oil and soy sauce as a simpler alternative.
Add stock or water, then gently add tofu cubes.
Simmer gently, then thicken with a cornflour slurry.
Finish with spring onion and serve with rice.

Key ingredients: Tofu, minced pork or beef, chilli bean paste or chilli oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, cornflour, spring onion.

Serve with: Steamed rice, a simple vegetable dish.

9) Singapore Fried Rice Noodles

What it is and why it is loved: Thin vermicelli noodles scented with curry seasoning, vegetables, and your choice of protein.

Takeaway ordering tip: A great alternative to chow mein when you want something fragrant and slightly spicy.

Make it at home:

Soak rice vermicelli in hot water until just soft, then drain well.
Stir-fry your protein and set it aside.
Stir-fry onions and peppers, add curry powder, then stir until fragrant.
Add noodles, season with soy sauce and a small pinch of sugar, then toss thoroughly.
Add beansprouts at the end to keep them crisp, then return the protein.

Key ingredients: Rice vermicelli, curry powder, soy sauce, beansprouts, onions, peppers, protein of choice.

Serve with: Spring rolls, hot and sour soup.

10) Spring Rolls

What it is and why it is loved: Crisp, golden parcels that complete a takeaway spread and are perfect for sharing.

Takeaway ordering tip: Order an extra portion, as they tend to disappear quickly once the food arrives.

Make it at home:

For the easiest option, cook frozen spring rolls in an air fryer or oven until very crisp, turning halfway.
For homemade spring rolls, stir-fry shredded cabbage and carrot with spring onion and a little garlic.
Season with soy sauce and a small pinch of sugar, then let the filling cool completely.
Wrap in spring roll wrappers, seal with a paste of flour and water, then fry or air fry until golden.

Key ingredients: Spring roll wrappers or frozen spring rolls, cabbage, carrot, spring onion, garlic, soy sauce.

Serve with: Sweet chilli sauce, or a dipping sauce made with soy sauce and vinegar.

Final Word

These are the dishes that define Chinese takeaway in the UK, from the classics to the spicier favourites. If you want to recreate any of them at home, purchase the correct Chinese ingredients, keep the pan hot, avoid overcrowding it, and finish with the Chinese sauce right at the end to keep everything crisp and glossy.