Hong Konger (technically Chinese) here. We usually consider it a dish of its own. I myself used to order a fried rice, without any other dishes, as lunch all the time.
But keep in mind Chinese cuisines are traditionally shared by many people. There is little to no concept of entree vs side dish. It’s common to order many dishes, including fried rice, put on a big table and everyone get everything a little bit.
That sounds like a great time. Now I’m hungry. 😆
Having gone out with my Asian in-laws I had to get used to the idea of nobody getting their own dish. Dishes are bought for the entire table and shared. Many Chinese restaurants will even have a lazy susan (a spinning disk in the middle of the table) that makes it easy to move dishes around and keep them accessible.
Do they eat each item like courses, or mixed?
Envision it like “family style” at an Italian restaurant, or how you eat at home. “Pass the potatoes,” etc.
It’s like a customized buffet at your table.
You just pile up what you want on the plate
Accelerator already touched on the side dish/main dish concept being not really a thing for the most part. That being said it is important to note, that traditionally fried rice is basically a leftovers only dish. Like you wouldn’t cook fried rice to cook fried rice. You’d cook fried rice because you had leftover steamed rice from the other night (and you’d use other leftover ingredients too). So, I suppose in a lot of those instances you’d only be eating fried rice, thus making it a main course by technicality (though it doesn’t have to be).
Source: Am part Chinese. Would cook fried rice to cook fried rice and disgrace my ancestors.
This is what I was thinking should be the answer. The Americanized ‘fried rice as an option to steamed,’ seems kinda strange and explains why it is so bland. It pairs better with other dishes that way. I’ve been mostly making fried rice to stretch my budget with leftovers, which seems like its natural purpose. Thanks!
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