Have you made a dinner reservation at your local Chinese takeaway restaurant but are unsure what to order? Chinese cuisine is one of the most widespread cuisines in the world, enjoyed by many people across the globe – and for good reason. Full of delicious flavours, succulent meat and a range of textures, there’s a Chinese dish for everyone. Whether you like roasted duck, fried chicken or just plain rice, there will be something for you to enjoy.
Many people enjoy Chinese food as a comfort meal or as a treat and often opt for the same dishes every time. There’s no problem with this, but we’ve put together this guide to help you learn more about the tasty food on offer at Jimmy’s Express in Edinburgh. So if you’re a new customer or you’re looking to branch out a little, we’re here to help.
Chinese meal etiquette
Much like many other Asian cultures, Chinese food is traditionally shared between everyone at the table. You will have your own individual rice bowl and the middle will be filled with a range of meat and vegetable dishes to be shared. This is a great way to get a taste of lots of different dishes and is what makes Chinese food so enjoyable!
Chinese etiquette for eating is quite different from Western culture. When it comes to using chopsticks you should never use them to point at something, only for taking food and they should not be put in your bowl vertically. When you are done you should balance them horizontally to indicate you are finished eating. You should pass food using two hands to avoid accidents and never double-dip your chopsticks. There should be one pair of chopsticks for serving and one for eating.
While these are typical etiquette rules in China, you can enjoy Chinese food in the UK without offending anyone – at Jimmy’s Express, we just want you to be happy and comfortable
Soups and starters
To begin your culinary journey, we recommend one of our delicious soups or appetisers, or get a few and share them with your table! At Jimmy’s Express, we have a great range of tasty appetisers including Chicken and Cheese Rolls, Chicken Gyoza, Honey Chicken Wings and Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings. Why not try Ribs in Beijing sauce – a rich savoury sauce with a hint of sweetness, blended with soybean paste, Chinese plums and sesame – yum! We also offer some classic appetisers you may have tried before such as Prawn on Toast which is a Cantonese dish from Hong Kong consisting of small triangles of bread coated in a paste made from minced shrimp and cooked by baking or deep frying. Our Vegetable Spring Rolls and Salt & Pepper Tofu are perfect for the vegetarians at the table.
If you want to try a soup as an appetiser or as a side, we have plenty to choose from including Chicken Sweetcorn Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup and Hot and Sour Soup – a soup that’s savoury, spicy and tangy filled with egg ribbons, mushrooms and bamboo shoots. Won Ton Soup is filled with savoury dumplings in a thick tasty broth. A few of our soups can be enjoyed as a main course including the Chicken Fillet and Vegetable Noodle Soup, Pork Chop and Vegetable Noodle Soup and the Char Siu and Vegetable Noodle Soup. Char Siu is a Cantonese–style barbecued pork.
Roast meat dishes
There is a variety of meat to choose from prepared in many different ways. Duck is a very popular meat in Chinese cuisine because it is tasty and has a thick crispy skin. Duck is enjoyed at weddings and New Year celebrations because it symbolises fidelity and represents loyalty and good fortune for those feasting together to celebrate the coming year. At Jimmy’s Express, you can taste Roast Duck Hong Kong Style – a juicy but tender meat that’s well seasoned with Chinese aromatics; namely Chinese five spice powder. You can also choose from Char Siu duck, chicken or pork. Other roast meats we offer include Poached Chicken available in half or whole portions depending on how many are eating and Roast Duck also available in half or whole portions.
Chicken dishes
Chicken is popular because it has a neutral flavour and can work with many different sauces. If you enjoy spice, why not try Chong Qing, Kung Po, Hot and Spicy or Salt & Pepper Chicken? Chong Qing is a traditional spicy dish with chicken and dried chillies. Kung Po Chicken is a spicy, stir-fried Chinese dish made with cubes of chicken, peanuts, vegetables and chilli peppers. Xinjiang Chicken Stew is another favourite dish which consists of aromatic chicken stew and silky hand-pulled noodles. We also offer Stir Fried Chicken with Chestnuts, Lemon Chicken, Chicken with Green pepper and black Bean sauce – each made using traditional Chinese spices by our chefs at Jimmy’s Express.
Seafood dishes
Seafood is a tasty alternative for any pescetarian eaters joining you. Sliced Fish with Chilli Oil or {pickled Cabbage are both stir-fried recipes that will leave you wanting more. You can also enjoy King Prawn with Ginger and Spring Onion, Salt & Pepper Squid or Squid with Green Pepper and Black Bean Sauce. Seafood is complemented well with light flavours but still allows you to enjoy traditional Chinese flavours in unique dishes.
Beef & lamb
Jimmy’s Express offers plenty of beef and lamb options for those meat lovers joining us for dinner. Whether you prefer beef brisket or stir-fried beef, there’s something to suit you. We offer a range of stir-fry dishes including Beef or Lamb Brisket with Cumin, Beef with Ginger and Spring Onion or Beef with Green Pepper and Black Bean Sauce. Or choose succulent beef that melts in your mouth with one of your stewed or soup dishes. We can make Stewed Beef with Potato or Tomato or Sliced Beef in Hot & Spicy Soup or Hot and Sour Soup.
Vegetarian dishes
Even if you don’t eat meat or enjoy meat, there are plenty of dishes to try at Jimmy’s Express! Take your pick from Salt & Pepper Tofu or stir-fried Chinese Leaves with Garlic Sauce. Our Aubergine Yuxiang Style is an umami dish which is a well-balanced, sweet and sour spicy sauce. We also offer a range of other vegetarian side dishes.
Side dishes
Want a little extra on the side? We recommend enjoying a selection of our tasty dishes along with some rice, either boiled rice or egg-fried rice. We know how much the UK loves chips, so you can enjoy plain chips or Salt & Pepper Chips at Jimmy’s Express! Chow Mein is a tasty stir-fried dish made with egg noodles. We offer a plain Chow Mein or a range of other chow mein dishes such as Shredded Chicken Chow Mein, Char Siu Chow Mein, Beef Chow Mein or Singapore Chow Mein.
Sweet treats
The perfect thing to finish off your delicious Chinese meal is a sweet treat. Why not try a range of tasty ice cream or Banana fritters? Chinese Banana Fritters are a sweet dessert of deep-fried bananas covered in icing sugar or honey. Don’t knock it until you try it! Red Bean Ice is also a popular dessert – a drink found in Hong Kong made from adzuki beans, light rock sugar syrup, and evaporated milk.
Jimmy’s Express – Authentic Chinese Food in Edinburgh
Looking for the perfect place for a dinner reservation this weekend? Jimmy’s Express is situated in the centre of Scotland’s capital available for dine-in or takeaway options. Whether you want to enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine at home or in our restaurant Jimmy’s Express is the place to go. Our head chef, Sam Shum has over 45 years of experience and is ready to take you on a delicious journey. We aim to please everyone whether you are vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free! Our menu has lots of variety and there will be dishes for everyone. Book a table today or plan your next night in with a Jimmy’s Express takeaway.
