A Very Chinese Cookbook

Master Authentic Chinese Cooking at Home

• 100+ Regional Chinese Recipes
• Wok & Stir-Fry Techniques
• Dumpling & Noodle Tutorials
• Step-by-Step Cooking Guidance
• Essential Chinese Pantry Tips
• Kitchen-tested recipes from America’s Test Kitchen

Learn how to confidently cook authentic Chinese dishes at home with a cookbook designed to make regional Chinese cuisine approachable, practical, and deeply flavorful. A Very Chinese Cookbook combines cultural storytelling with the rigorous recipe testing and teaching methodology of America’s Test Kitchen.

Inside, you’ll master foundational techniques like wok cooking, stir-frying, steaming, braising, noodle preparation, dumpling folding, and sauce building while exploring dishes inspired by Sichuan, Cantonese, Northern Chinese, and other regional traditions.

A Very Chinese Cookbook is ideal for beginners learning authentic Chinese cooking, home cooks expanding beyond takeout favorites, wok enthusiasts, dumpling and noodle lovers, fans of regional Chinese cuisine, and experienced cooks seeking reliable technique guidance.

Join the father and son behind the phenomenally popular Hunger Pangs YouTube series from America’s Test Kitchen and celebrate the joys of Chinese cooking. Equally happy cooking American Chinese takeout or Sichuan banquet fare, James Beard Award- winning writer Kevin Pang and his father Jeffrey offer a wide-ranging and affectionately irreverent look at Chinese cooking. In a voice that’s entertaining and encouraging, A Very Chinese Cookbook spotlights more than 100 recipes from weeknight dinners like Clay Pot Chicken Rice and Twice-Cooked Pork to comfort classics like Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup and celebratory fare such as Cantonese Crispy Pork Belly and Ginger-Scallion Lobster. A shopping guide covering dozens of ingredients is included.

"For newbies and experts alike, whether you're seasoning your first wok or ready to earn the 'I folded my first Xiao Long Bao’ merit badge."

— Kevin Pang, Host, Hunger Pangs

Why This Cookbook Works:

Authentic Chinese Cooking Made Approachable

A Very Chinese Cookbook breaks down the techniques, ingredients, and traditions behind Chinese home cooking into clear, achievable steps. Whether you're learning wok cooking for the first time or refining your dumpling-folding skills, every recipe is carefully tested to deliver reliable results in a home kitchen.

100+ Regional Recipes Beyond Takeout Favorites

The book explores a wide range of Chinese dishes—from Sichuan street food and Cantonese classics to American Chinese comfort dishes and noodle-shop staples. You’ll find recipes for dumplings, stir-fries, braises, noodles, soups, and rice dishes that help build both confidence and technique.

Two Generations of Storytelling

Jeffrey recounts a lifelong love of cooking that began in childhood, growing up in Hong Kong, learning to cook at his mother’s side, exploring the street vendors, and wet markets. And Kevin dispenses practical wisdom that brings the recipes to life—why Beef Ho Fun is the mark of a great Cantonese chef, why Shu Mai is the world heavyweight champion of dumplings.

Test Kitchen Techniques

Whether heating and seasoning a wok or folding dumplings (including both basic and advanced methods), careful instructions and abundant photos clarify every step.

Chinatown Shopping Guide

From choosing the right soy sauce or vinegar to buying fresh noodles, seeking out superlative Buddhist-style chickens, and appreciating the wonders of 1,000-year-old eggs, let the Pangs be your trusted guides.