Pick your allergies, get a one-screen Chinese card to show the kitchen — the single most useful 30 seconds you can spend before any Chinese restaurant.
Critical: Food Allergies in China
- Peanut allergies: Peanut oil is used in many dishes. Restaurants may not disclose it.
- Shellfish allergies: Seafood is common in Chinese cuisine. Cross-contamination is real.
- MSG sensitivity: MSG (味精) is ubiquitous in Chinese restaurants. Most don't ask before using it.
- Spice tolerance: "Mild" (微辣) in China = very spicy. Better to warn them upfront.
This card bypasses language barriers completely. Restaurants WILL read large Chinese text and take warnings seriously.
Select Your Allergies
Check all allergies that apply to you. Your card will be customized accordingly.
How It Works
5 Steps to Safety
- Select allergies that apply to you above
- Preview your card to see how it looks
- Show to restaurant staff before ordering — they WILL take it seriously
Expert Tips
Pro Tips for Using Your Card
- Print it: Better than digital. Hand it to staff when you arrive at a restaurant.
- Multiple copies: Keep 5-10 copies in your bag or hotel. You never know where you'll eat.
- Restaurant quality matters: High-end restaurants are MORE careful. Street vendors might not take it seriously.
- Backup plan: Have the phone number of your hotel concierge saved. They can translate in emergencies.
- Hospital info: Know the location and phone of nearby hospitals. Just in case.
- Embassy contact: Save your embassy's emergency contact info on your phone.
When to Show This Card
Restaurants
Before ordering anything
Street Food Vendors
Essential if you buy from carts
Hotels
Tell front desk about your allergies
Delivery Apps
Add notes to food orders
Tour Guides
Tell them before food-related activities
Hospitals
Immediate identification if needed
Your Safety is Priority
This tool is designed to prevent allergic reactions before they happen. A few seconds showing a restaurant your card could save your life. Don't be shy — Chinese restaurants take allergy warnings very seriously when they're written in their own language.
Common Hidden Allergens in Chinese Cuisine
Chinese cooking uses ingredients that may not be obvious. Even if you tell them "no peanuts," these hidden sources can trigger reactions:
| Allergen | Chinese Name | Hidden In |
|---|---|---|
| 🥜 Peanuts | 花生 / 花生油 | Cooking oil (花生油), cold dishes, kung pao chicken, dan dan noodles, many sauces |
| 🦐 Shellfish | 虾 / 蟹 / 贝类 | Oyster sauce (蚝油 — used in MANY stir-fries), XO sauce, shrimp paste, dried shrimp in soups |
| 🥚 Eggs | 鸡蛋 / 蛋 | Fried rice, egg drop soup, many noodle wrappers, mooncakes, pastries |
| 🌾 Gluten | 面筋 / 小麦 | Soy sauce (酱油), dumpling wrappers, noodles, seitan (面筋), many sauces |
| 🥛 Dairy | 牛奶 / 乳制品 | Bubble tea, bakery items, some hot pot dipping sauces, certain dim sum fillings |
| 🫘 Soy | 大豆 / 酱油 | Almost everything — soy sauce is in 90% of dishes. Tofu, bean curd, edamame, tempeh |
| 🌰 Tree Nuts | 坚果 | Cashew chicken, walnut cakes, pine nuts in cold dishes, almond cookies, moon cakes |
| 🌿 Sesame | 芝麻 / 香油 | Sesame oil (香油 — drizzled on almost everything), cold noodles, dumplings, hotpot dips |
How to Communicate Allergies at Restaurants
Your allergy card is step one. Here's the full protocol for staying safe at Chinese restaurants:
1. Show your card FIRST
Before even looking at the menu, show your allergy card to the server. Say "我有过敏" (wǒ yǒu guòmǐn — I have allergies) and point to the card. Let them read it.
2. Ask about cooking oil
Many Chinese restaurants cook in peanut oil (花生油). Ask: "你们用什么油？" (nǐmen yòng shénme yóu — what oil do you use?). If the answer is 花生油, everything cooked there may trigger peanut allergies.
3. Point to menu items and ask
Point to each dish you want and show the allergy card again. Ask: "这个菜有[allergen]吗？" (zhège cài yǒu [allergen] ma — does this dish contain [allergen]?). Don't assume they remember from your first warning.
4. Avoid buffets and shared cooking
Hotpot, buffets, and shared wok cooking have high cross-contamination risk. If you have severe allergies, stick to restaurants where each dish is individually prepared.
5. Carry your EpiPen and know the hospital
Always have your emergency medication accessible (not in checked luggage). Know the nearest hospital address in Chinese. Call 120 (ambulance) immediately if you have a reaction.
Emergency: Allergic Reaction Protocol
If You Have an Allergic Reaction:
- Use your EpiPen immediately if you carry one
- Call 120 (ambulance — free from any phone)
- Tell them: "我过敏反应，需要急救！" (wǒ guòmǐn fǎnyìng, xūyào jíjiù — allergic reaction, need emergency help)
- Show your allergy card to medical staff when they arrive
- Contact your embassy and travel insurance provider
Save these phrases as screenshots on your phone. In an emergency, you may not be able to type or search.
Safest Food Options for Allergy Sufferers
Safer Choices
- Plain steamed rice (白饭) — allergen-free
- Steamed vegetables (蒸菜) — ask about oil
- Clear soups (清汤) — ask about base
- Grilled meat skewers (烤串) — check seasoning
- Fresh fruit (水果) — naturally safe
- International hotel restaurants — trained in allergy protocols
High-Risk Foods
- Stir-fried dishes (often use peanut/sesame oil)
- Sichuan cuisine (complex sauces, hidden nuts)
- Hotpot (cross-contamination in shared broth)
- Street food (unknown ingredients, shared woks)
- Bakery items (wheat, eggs, dairy, nuts common)
- Dim sum (wheat wrappers, oyster sauce, shrimp)