The "secret menu" at Chinese restaurants. - Page 6

Truth here. I always try to take a Yellow with me to the local Chinese places. Especially if they know any Mandarin (even if it's very poor). That assures that we get the secret menu.

button mushrooms, baby corn and brined abalone are the only canned chinese staples I can think of right now.

Actually - kinda yes. They'll still use the term 'gaijin' - it's relative to themselves (as Japanese).

It's a secret to everybody.

When I studied abroad in Beijing all the white people ate was Yoshinoya and other things that were American, but transposed into Chinese. This is why Chinese resturants dont give you dumbasses the Chinese menu. Its not because it didn't pass the health code or has some illegal spice as you knowledgeable people suggest.

At my favorite place in chinatown (chicago), I have had multiple mediocre experiences when I have gone there with just another white person. Usually go with more than half asians and find that the spicy dishes are much better when they are around (or when I can convince them to actually make it spicy). I am not aware of this place really having a secret menu, but I know that it has a "secret" lunch menu that has smaller portions at a lower price...they do not give this to everyone for some reason.

I often find that when I am dining with an Asian, at an establishment in China Town, the dish is of higher quality than when I am alone or with fellow Caucasians.

Yoshinoya is Japanese BTW.

it only looks like its japanese...

There's always a menu that contains specials or set course meals that are change often enough and hence aren't in the printed menus with accompanying English. This is why sometimes they are written on the board because it could be fresh seafood and they only have a certain amount in stock. In festive occasions (for example right now during the lunar new year), the entrees have lyrical names to them that are pretty hard to translate to English.

Unless you keep picking chicken balls, I don't see how Chinese places treat people any differently based on their race or language capabilities. Spicy food is another topic altogether.

Looks pretty much the same in Japan as it does in the US.