Ordering a Chinese food takeaway is always a popular meal solution, but how adventurous are you when it comes to picking a dish to eat? If you look down a list of unfamiliar dishes and feel tempted to try something but ultimately decide to stick with a well-known option, you are not alone. Many people find that it is easy to get stuck ordering the same two or three dishes every time they order a Chinese meal. Ordering the same thing feels safe when you ask for egg fried rice or pork balls in batter with BBQ sauce because you can be certain what you will receive. The problem is that this approach is so boring. Chinese food contains an amazing blend of tastes and textures, and you are missing out if you don't reach out and explore. Here are three Chinese food takeaway dishes that you could try next time you feel like ordering a Chinese takeaway.

Hot & sour soup

To someone used to more traditional Western fare, this may not sound like an appetising combination, but no lover of Chinese food should let that dissuade them from trying this dish from Sichuan province. Hot and sour soup is normally based on pork or chicken stock. The heat in the name comes from the added white pepper, while vinegar provides the sour element. Other ingredients you might find in the soup include button mushrooms, egg, bamboo shoots, cloud ear fungus and tofu.

Bang bang pork (or chicken)

Just like the hot and sour soup, this delicious meat salad also originates from Sichuan. When you order bang bang pork from a Chinese food takeaway, you should expect to receive thinly sliced, steamed meat laying on green bean paste and served with a green salad. The meat will be dressed with a chilli and peppercorn sauce, so you can be sure that this will be a hot, spicy dish. The bang bang in the name of the dish comes from the way that the meat is tenderised before it is cooked.

Wonton

If you have never tried wonton from a Chinese food takeaway, then you might be surprised to learn that it is simply boiled dumplings. What makes wonton stand out from other dumplings is the way they are filled with spiced chicken, pork or shrimp that is suitably spiced and seasoned.

If you want to try something new from the Chinese food takeaway then it is always worth asking the staff exactly what a dish contains. They will be happy to help you expand your knowledge of Chinese cuisine and to experiment with new tastes.