My favorite dish ever since I visited China ( for 3 months in the summer), has been Sichuan Ma Po Dou Fu, which has mounds of slivered green onion, Sichuan peppercorn and cilantro.
Also at a Buddhist monastery climbing E Mei Shan, the fermented tofu was amazing. Actually all Buddhist monastery dishes were very remarkable of the ones I visited Some Taoist temples had wonderful food, as well, especially mushroom dishes. Seasonal local greens of any type are not to be passed up.. All dumplings and fresh local fruits.
While in Tibet, I came to really like anything with yak meat,in any form, including yak sausage, Usually yak tastes similar to beef but has a slight wild game taste, Anything yak or Tibetan, especially the yak butter tea.
Beijing had some really wonderful breakfast turnip cakes, handmade chunky noodles and short noodles made from Tofu skin tossed in a sesame sauce. I never had a bad meal or dish in China, except for American or Western dishes there.
Hands down, the best dishes in China were the breakfasts, usually very simple congee or Xi Fan, with sides of pickled vegetables and boiled peanuts, (especially in Sichuan)
