中国真正的深夜食堂 | Seven popular midnight foods in China

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The TV series Midnight Canteen, adapted from hit Japanese manga of the same title, aired on Chinese TV in June but caused a lot of controversy online, criticized by many as copycatting the Japanese TV version and losing Chinese characteristics.

今年六月，由日本漫画改变的同名中国电视剧《深夜食堂》一经播出就饱受争议。不少网友认为，该剧过度搬运日版内容，缺乏了不少中国特色。

The TV drama was rated at only 2.8 points out of 10 on Douban, China's major film and TV review website, overwhelmed by criticism that it's not presenting an authentic Chinese midnight culinary culture.

该剧在豆瓣仅得到2.8的评分。人们对于如此缺乏中国饮食文化的电视剧并不买账。

Here comes the question: What do Chinese eat at midnight? What are their favorites? Here is a list for the foodie in you.

那么问题来了：什么样的食品才是中国的深夜美食？中国人最偏爱什么？今天就让小编给各位筒子做个清点。

🍖  Spicy crayfish 麻辣小龙虾

Spicy crayfish has become a sensational evening snack across China in recent years, originating from central and eastern parts of China, including Hunan, Hubei and Jiangsu provinces.

麻辣小龙虾近些年可谓红遍祖国大江南北，是中国人民深爱的宵夜美食。这道菜发源于中国中部及东部地区，包括湖南、湖北、江苏等省份。

The crustaceans, also known as "little lobsters" in China, have a nickname in Chinese, ma xiao (spicy little lobsters), as they are often served in hot and spicy chili sauce.

这种甲壳纲动物（即小龙虾）在中国有个昵称 — "麻小"。这是因为他们经常和辣椒酱一起烹饪，制成美食。

Beer is a favored beverage to pair with the delicacy.

麻小加啤酒可谓绝配。

China's crayfish market is worth more than 140 billion yuan ($20 billion), according to media reports. Nearly 18,000 restaurants focused on serving crayfish as of August 2016, three times the number of KFCs in the country.

据媒体报道，中国的小龙虾市场市值高达1400亿人民币（约合200亿美元）。从2016年8月算起，全国有近18,000家餐厅供应"麻小"，是中国肯德基餐厅数量的三倍。

🍖  Barbecue 烤串

From lamb, fish and pork to mushrooms, cabbage and corn… almost all foods can be barbecued on grills at late night snack stalls across China.

羊肉、鱼肉、猪肉，蘑菇、圆白菜、玉米……几乎所有食材都可制成烤串，摇身变为各地人民爱好的宵夜。

A wide choice of sauces is offered to add flavor to the barbecued delicacies, no matter if you are a chili lover or a fan of cumin powder.

烤串的调料五花八门，辣椒、孜然，总有一款满足你的口味。

🍖  Hotpot 火锅

Born in Southwest China's Sichuan province and Chongqing, hotpot is now almost everywhere in China.

火锅发源以中国西南部的四川和重庆，如今无论你在哪个城市，都一定会发现火锅的身影。

With plates of meat, vegetables and whatever raw foods that consumers choose served on tables, the strongly-flavored, oily but mouthwatering dish easily cheers people up at late night gatherings regardless of the season.

一盘盘荤菜素菜摆在桌前，选取一种浸入锅中。虽是略显油腻、口味重，却又是令人垂涎三尺、欲罢不能。无论寒冬酷暑，人们总会于深夜聚在一起，一边涮着火锅、一边畅谈欢笑。

🍖  Stir-fried rice noodles with beef 炒牛河

Stir-fried rice noodles with beef is a favored dish in Cantonese cuisine and a popular night meal especially in South China's Guangdong province. 

炒牛河主要流行于广东，是广东人最爱的宵夜之一。

🍖  Grilled cold noodles 烤冷面

Known as kaolengmian in Chinese, the grilled cold noodles were originally a quick street snack in Northeast China, which has now spread to many other places. In the capital city of Beijing, for example, it's not rare to encounter a cart or a street stand selling the noodles.

烤冷面原本是中国东北部城市的街边小吃，如今在其他城市也逐渐流行起来。比如在首都北京，烤冷面的街边小店或小车就很是常见。

The cooking process is simple. A thin, pre-made sheet of dough is placed on a sizzling flat skillet before an egg is cracked and spread over it. It's then sprinkled with scallions, chopped onions and cilantro.

烤冷面的制作方法十分简单。先在热烤盘上放张提前做好的面饼，打个鸡蛋并抹匀，之后撒上香葱、洋葱块、香菜叶即可。

🍖  Hunan rice noodles 湖南米粉

Hunan rice noodles are among the favorites for late night food seekers especially in Central China's Hunan and Hubei provinces. There are usually two types of rice noodles, round and flat, served fried or in soup. Various flavors and toppings are available to add: pork ribs, beef, mushrooms and different spices.

湖南米粉是许多觅食者的最爱的宵夜之一，中国中部的湖南人、湖北人尤其如此。米粉有圆的和平的之分，做法一般是炒或做汤。米粉的浇头种类繁多，大排、牛肉、蘑菇，还有各种调料。

🍖  Malatang 麻辣烫

Malatang literally means numb, spicy and hot in Chinese. In malatang restaurants, or stalls, skewers of meat, vegetables, bean curd products and many other foods are put on shelves to be chosen by consumers. The selected ones are then cooked in boiling soup with fiery sauce. 

麻辣烫，顾名思义，既麻、又辣、还烫。在麻辣烫小馆你会看到肉类、蔬菜、豆制品等各种食材穿成串状放置在货架上供顾客挑选。选好的食物会被投入热汤中煮熟，而这汤往往是放满辣酱的。

What's your own midnight favourite? Share with us.

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