Eventually, various styles of Chinese cooking came to be recognized. Beijing, Sichuan or Szechwan, and Cantonese are among the best known in the United States. Many Beijing dishes originated in the imperial kitchens and today some fancy restaurants boast their faithfulness to classical imperial recipes. The meal known as dim sum also has a long tradition in southern China. Usually eaten at breakfast or lunch, and frequently as a family meal on Sunday, dim sum consists of many courses of bite-sized portions.
Waiters push trays loaded with noodle, dumpling, vegetable, and meat dishes.
Diners indicate what they want. Some restaurants may offer as many as 100 different dishes in one day. The Western provinces of Sichuan and Hunan are known for their hot spicy food. Canton Most Chinese in North America came from Southern China. Therefore, Cantonese food is often synonymous with Chinese cuisine.