Chinese Takeout Cookbook: From Wontons to Sweet 'n' Sour, Over 70 Recipes to Re-create Your Favorites

While I adore super authentic cookbooks, Fuschia Dunlop, Grace young etc, there is a place in my heart for the kind of food you get in those strip mall Chinese takeout places, the kind with bright shiny pictures on the wall, 2 tables, and you can see the guy cooking behind the curtain. I've had some of the best food from those kind of places. Chinese takeaway by Kwoklyn Wan serves those kind of dishes. I'm not saying they aren't authentic, but they are the kind of recipes that are familiar in takeout and restaurants across America. The majority of recipes have droolworthy photos that inspire me to get out my wok and get cooking. The ingredients are listed, then the directions are given. The directions are clear and easy to follow., if a little brief. Nothing is difficult but a passing knowledge on Chinese cooking might be helpful. One thing to keep in mind is this book is English, not American. While the author, or publisher, does give American measurements and food names, you will find words like prawn for shrimp. I noticed there is another version coming out in a month or so that might be more Americanized, but I don't know as I haven't seen it. sesame seed prawn toast was very easy to make. A few simple ingredients and I had excellent shrimp toast. wonton soup was delicious. Starting with store bought wonton wrappers but using your own filling, then put in a light and lovely broth, totally worth the extra time to mix the filling and fill the wontons. There is a very good section on vegetables that had a recipe for szechuan style crispy tofu with chilli and salt that was spectacular. Chicken yuk sung is chicken in lettuce leaf with some fried rice noodles (optional but super easy and worth doing for the lovely texture and crunch.) the seasoning was spot on and the taste was very very good. you will find recipes like happy family, Black pepper beef with green peppers, roast duck with plum sauce, Shredded crispy chilli beef and many other favorites.

I have bought multiple copies of this book! It makes a great gift! The selection of recipes are great, as well as the recipes themselves. The author's style of writing is easy going and reminiscent of his experiences growing up in his family's restaurant. The colorful stories, and personal meaning behind each dish make you feel part of the author's family, almost, and that by preparing these dishes you help preserve the traditions and associated meanings. I love this book! Really well done.

Buying cookbooks online is very difficult. Sometimes you are looking for a book that has recipes of all the dishes you like and want to learn to cook them at home. I love Chinese food , so the title of this book caught my eye and decided to purchase it. But I was looking for a couple of specific recipes which where not in this book. I wish they would at least list what recipes are in books here on Amazon. Just a picture of table of content should be sufficient. Other than that, the book has easy enough to follow recipes.

This is a great book and the recipes are spot on. Compared to other recipes in other Chinese cookbooks that I have, it seems that some of the ingredients have been simplified. But not to the detriment of the overall dish. there are also some techniques in the preparation that are perhaps Chinese restaurant specific and that are a great find. I bought the “Complete Chinese Takeout Cookbook” with 200 recipes, because I liked this smaller version so well and found that the complete version by this author substantially overlaps this book, but adds many more recipes

Not a great book not the recipes I was looking for. Good just not the classics I hoped for.

Originally purchased for a gift but after pursuing had to try at least one recipe. The problem was the recipe was so good I kept trying more. I kept the book. I hope she liked the restaurant gift certificate

I had borrowed this book via my Libby library app and read it on my Kindle. I liked it and therefore ordered a hard copy of the book on Amazon. But the type size in the hard copy was too small for me. The book itself is delightful (per my Kindle library loan). If you don’t have trouble with a small typeface, go for it! Otherwise stick with Kindle for this one. The older I get, the more cookbooks seem to have this problem 😊

I bought this book for one recipe, so that I could make my beloved beef with green pepper in black bean sauce from back home in the U.K. here in the US, yes I could have looked it up online but I’m never one to miss up a new cookbook purchase. The book is full of easy recipes without crazy ingredients and I will definitely make more that that one recipe. I would definitely recommend for expats who are missing their favourite flavours from home. Nearly every recipe has a picture (I like that in a cookbook).

Totally recommend this book. most cook books have a few good recipes but most of the recipes are great in this book. Easy to follow. Have had great results. Over and over again

I love it. Receipes are easy and delicious. They really taste like the take away. Absolutely recommended 100%

Good recipes & fun

I like it. Kinda wish i bought the larger version with more recipies.

Very easy to follow with clear instructions and informative. The family love the recipes. I intend to try every recipe in this book