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Q: What breakfast is the best one? Chinese or 'western'?
Depending on availability, i vary my breakfast between local (steamed buns) and more conventional 'western' (toast - this depends on if i can source the bread). Which do you think is better for a long mornings work?
I've read that Chinese eat porridge, but never saw anyone eat, all I saw were eating dumplings etc and I'm not crazy for them. Give me perogies or tortellini.
I think good old greasy bacon and eggs breakfast trumps anything for breakfast, fixes hangovers. I'm addicted to a small egg bread loaf with almonds on it. I never had an oven or toaster, so I fried my bread. I'm not sure if that bread is available every where in China, but I found it every where in Guilin. I hope it is every where. addicted. I think the protein in eggs and bacon stays with you longer than buns.
Rin:
What they call porridge is not what we would call porridge.. It is like that congee stuff.
TedDBayer:
I've seen cereals for cooking, they're weird though, like oats and red bean. I usually have date yogurt, bread, fruit and tea in the mornings.
Don't know what's best but have adopted the local trend of eating noodles in some form or other - even soup - in the morning. Sometimes I splurge and get some breakfast at McDonald's: a breakfast McMuffin with egg and ham with some coffee [surprisingly good or, I am just desperate].
cereal, milk add some fruits a glass of orange juice.
Traveler:
Mix in some vodka, a couple of bongs, and it would explain your questions...
Aussie breakfast: bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms, tomato, toast and a beer.
oatmeal with milk
tastes like a glas of glue but nothing beats it. Your body needs energy and the tons of carbs solve that problem
I can go for cereals, yogurt etc, or steamed buns. We always have homemade bread and we have a great steamed bun place. We sometimes go for dim sum in the morning, not my favorite, but OK once in a while (if I can avoid the rice porridge with ginger and liver)
Western food everytime for me. Sure I might have the occasional stuffed steamed bun now and then in China, but a western breakfast, pancakes, toast, eggs and sausage is much much better to me than a crappy bowl of congee and some noodles in the AM. As long as my omelet isn't topped with ketchup, I will gladly eat a western style breakfast if I can find it. Also, if I don't want to spend money or have time for western breakfast, I will buy baked breads from 85c or C Taipei. They have some toast and breakfast bread that is perfect to eat in the morning with a cup of coffee.
dandmcd:
Lot's of great German and Australian food in Guangdong you just got to know where to look! I found excellent sausage in Guangzhou and Dongguan as well.
Breakfast has always been a touch subject for me. More so now because because I have developed diabetes type 2. I like a full on breakfast: egg, cheese, toast,coffee, bacon etc.....
-A true western breakfast. But the guy down the street cooking the egg-pancake/Pita in his coal heated barrel has it's perks. And I can live with that until I'm traveling and staying in a hotel. I judge hotels by their breakfast and how many and how much cheese is served.
If I don't have school I usually can't be bothered to make anything till lunch time.. If I have school I will usually buy something at the gate, the long dough sticks (you tiao) and a sausage. If I am somewhere near a McDs I will get that. I live next to a KFC, but I don't like KFC.
Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day but unfortunately I never really have the time to eat a good one. Like you, my preference varies. I usually eat imported whole-grain cereal for breakfast as its quick and keeps me going until lunch. I actually have so many favourite breakfasts: I love eating yogurt, fruit and crunchy cereal with toast & srambled eggs and a cup of coffee. Or a Chinese "egg burger" with soya milk. Jianbing for breakfast is okay too sometimes though I haven't had one in a long time. When I'm back home, I usually have toast with cheese. I also love pancakes with fruit and maple syrup or French toast with Maple syrup; or a fresh 'pain au chocolat' with a cup of strong, milky coffee. Darn, I'm hungry now! Woops, I got so carried away I forgot to answer your question. While I love Chinese food, I must say I prefer Western breakfasts.
Why is there no Eggs Benedict place right around the corner from where I live. Now there is a breakfast of champions.
The good people at Pizza Hut actually make (defreeze and heat) breakfast, western style(ish) http://www.pizzahut.com.cn/phdi/breakfast.aspx
Rin:
Though the pizzahut website say they do breakfast, the pizzahut here doesn't :(
Scandinavian:
I think it is new. Here they have only done so for a couple of weeks. Of course regional differences might happen.
dom87:
not even the pizza is good at PIZZAhut why should the breakfast be good? :/
Scandinavian:
their coffee is pretty good, cake .... OK for China. I don't see why they couldn't make decent breakfast. just because their pizza sucks donkeys balls
dandmcd:
Their breakfast is truly disappointing. It's small portions, so unless your order a lot, you won't start your day full. It also is very plain, with little flavor. They offer unlimited drinks, but good luck finding a server to go get a refill for you, they have a small staff in the mornings.
Scandinavian:
thanks for the review. I would probably just go for the coffee refill. At one of the Pizza Huts here in town I've made a strategy that works for refills. Sit at the table by the "kitchen" so all staff have to pass you all the time. Tell them each time anyone passes that you are waiting for a refill.
Since you live in Changsha, I'd recommend Wal-Mart's bread for toasting. It's not too bad, and it's not too far from where you live. 912 will take you straight there.
There's also an RT-Mart in Changsha, and they have really good bread there. Highly recommended. They also have good imported milk. 188 万家丽路中段 Furong, Changsha, Hunan, China
The steamed buns outside where you live are great. Don't forget to try the bread with the funny sauce... it's to die for! The crunchy bread -- long, thin strips of strange bread with veggies inside -- is really nice too.
Do try the Laoganma Noodles down the road. They're the best I've had in all of China. Walk outside to the main street where they sell all the food, walk across the street. Continue to walk down the road (it's across the street from the supermarket nearby, not quite to Pala 汉堡), and walk all the way to the first security guard box. There are two restaurants there. You want the last one. Go in and ask for this: 老干妈蛋炒粉 (Lǎo gàn mā dàn chǎo fěn). It's so frigging good. If they ask a question, ask for "miantiao" or 面条. They'll make it with those noodles. I don't like it with rice.
Laoganma + steamed buns (they have a new place across from Pala 汉堡, and it has a lot of steamed buns) = great energy. I could eat 2 or 3 bowls of laoganma. It's about 11-13 RMB per bowl, though.
Rin:
The RT Mart was great in Rugao, Jiangsu. I never saw one in any other city I've been too.
I love breakfast! And to answer your question, I do love western breakfasts, so many options! Lately I'm having oatmeal and honey, and banana and peanut butter most mornings. Nice big meal to set me up for the day 
I'm going for the western breakfast though I've been leaving here for a while. Not to be rude, but honestly, I don't think that soya milk or dumplings is the healthiest breakfast. 
)))
I vary from Chinese food and western food for breakfast, depending on my schedule. seasonal fruit in summer months and MUCH more for breakfast in winter.
I love my bacon and eggs and toast with Nutella, but I also love a Chinese breakfast! Have you ever had a 油条，youtiao, a fried breadstick? How about some steamed bread? And to all those haters of porridge/congee out there - give it a chance! There are tons of delish add-ins for it: pickled vegetables, bamboo shoots, olive paste, tofu paste, preserved eggs, pork floss, the list goes on. It is filling and comforting, and super-easy to prepare, not to mention-- cheap! Variety is the spice of life.
hunkydory13:
hi sorrel, i just boil my rice with a ton of water until it's the right consistency. The add-ins I get from the local supermarket, usually in jars, and I mix them all up - yummy. My husband prefers the bamboo shoots and stinky tofu. Try the red tofu in a jar - the flavor is amazing.
dandmcd:
I gave congee a chance, but al lthe local Cantonese shops around my house do a poor job making it. It is much tastier to make at home, but I don't have the time or patience to do so early in the morning hours.
Also, those deep fried breadsticks are good, but is one of the key reasons Type 2 diabetes is so prevalent here in China. A terrible way to begin your day knowing you just ate cancer and disease on a stick.
I enjoy when Chinese investigative programs on Beijing TV always make comparisons about Chinese-foreign difference, including Chinese vs. Western breakfast.
Sure, porridge/congee/粥 is fine and healthy. However, they even try to say baozi, guotie, youtiao are healthy and even better than a "Western breakfast" (because obviously all Westerners are the same and have the same breakfast, but that is a different topic). Sure, McDonalds/KFC are not health foods by any means, just Western-owned corporations operating for a profit in China. They do serve Western food but also locally adapted items. I am certain they have better quality assurance programs in place than the hole-in-the-wall selling baozi with questionable meat and youtiao cooked in nasty oil. I'll take some OJ, coffee, and a piece of toast, maybe some marmelade too.
well it depends from what point of view: nutritional one, taste? And can you define western breakfast? If is eggs and bacon, well I would rather choose baozi and jiaozi...
I kinda mix them.
Boiled eggs, youtiao and coffee.
I cannot have the corn porridge or bean porridge or sour vegetables they serve in the morning.
While I do enjoy Chinese food, for the most part, breakfast is the only meal I dread here.
Hulk:
I absolutely looooooove breakfast in China! 
Dumplings, Steamed Buns, those bean porridge thingies are okay... and all those breads. I fart violently all day long, but it's worth it. I think...
I just got back to good ole' Murica yesterday. My first stop was Cracker Barrel for breakfast. French toast with butter and warm maple syrup, scrambled eggs + cheese, and bacon (the real deal). Also coffee, water, and service with a smile. Waiting for hell to freeze over and Cracker Barrel to open in China, LOL!
cbrian:
My go - to meal at CB is the sampler plate. My parents home in Boise, Idaho is located 7 miles from the airport and yes CB is at the half way point so we stop there for my first American meal. Customer service and free drink refills are some aspects of America life I miss being overseas.
I think anything with some protein is the best breakfast: eggs, or peanut butter on toast. I've been eating ramen lately for breakfast and it's not doing me too bad! But good ol PB and J for breakfast, lunch or dinner has kept me alive in a pinch lotsa times.
McDonalds breakfast is still my favorite.. But I miss the panake meals.. Sooooo much!
My "Western" breakfast has been veggie shakes during the week. And bacon and eggs on toast with tomatoes for the weekend. Normally they both take about the same time. I feel it depends on weather or not you want something delicious! (bacon) Or something that makes you feel good. I feel way better having a veggie shake rather than bacon and eggs.
Veggie shake includes:
1/2 pear
1 banana
1 large leaf of Kale
2 celery stocks
hemp hearts
pumpkin protein powder
Fill with Coconut Milk in a nutribullet (blender)
Delicious!
Nessquick:
I would stick only with hemp. all week long. good tip. :)
Bread with butter plus anything on top - cucumber, tomato, bell pepper, bacon, eggs...
tea, juice, milk, cornflakes...
when nothing at home, i go for buns or creppe on streets .
Come to think of it, I like them both. I'm done growing, so Chinese breakfasts are fine. If I were still growing, American breakfasts all the way.
