What do you think of when I say fast food? I’ll bet you a burger that McDonald’s, KFC, and Burger King probably came to your mind instantly. But fast food is so much more than just that, especially here in China – where you can eat anything from cold noodles to grilled frogs – the local fast food options can get wildly more diverse. So ditch the burger and fries and check out these three popular Chinese fast food chains with equally low prices but a much different taste.

庆丰包子铺 (Qing Feng Steamed Stuffed Bun Shop)

This baozi chain has existed for over 70 years, and its long history is a testament to China’s enduring love for the brand. If you want some nice but cheap baozi, then this is the place!

Qing Feng’s baozis all share the characteristics of having thin skin, large juicy fillings, and a fluffy bun. The brand sells at least six different varieties, from its signature pork-and-scallion filling to veggie fennel.

Most importantly, however the price is very “fast food”, with the average person able to get their fill for a mere RMB 20. Although the price of the baozi (six per order) varies across each restaurant, the average is around RMB 10. Cheap and good!

和合谷 (hé hé gu)

In Chinese, 和合 hé hé means reunion. This can certainly be seen at this fast food chain, for it has taken its meaning quite literally – in the form of 盖饭 gài fàn covered rice. This is a form of Chinese food where the cooked food is placed on top of the rice rather than in a separate dish, allowing the customer to eat everything in one big bowl. This is extremely handy when you’re in a hurry or don’t want to make a mess, thus also making it a very convenient form of Chinese fast food.

Hé hé gu offers a large variety of gai fan, with choices ranging from sweet-and-sour chicken – a familiar favorite for many foreigners – to beef curry and spicy tofu. Fair warning: the latter is super addictive after the first bite.

Sweet-and-sour chicken 盖饭

Being a fast food joint, the price is also very cheap, with the average dish costing around RMB 25. Considering that sweet-and-sour-chicken in most restaurants can easily cost RMB 40, dining at hé hé gu is a great way to save money!

真功夫 zhēn gōng fū

This fast food chain’s ethos is that “steamed food makes better nutrition” – an ideal that can be seen in their main menu offering of, well, steamed food!

Zhēn gōng fū has a large variety of steamed dishes, including set meals and 盖饭 gài fàn covered rice, which also includes all kinds of flavors such as the steamed rib set and the mushroom-and-chicken set. They also offer plenty of side dishes such as the simple yet popular steamed egg, or the dish that suits all, aka tomato with scrambled eggs.

The average price per person is RMB 26, with individual dishes costing about RMB 23, and the set meals – depending on the size – can range from RMB 25 to RMB 40.

Now, put down your burger and try out these cheap Chinese fast foods instead!

Do you have a favorite Chinese fast food joint that we missed? Let us know in the comments!

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Images: 大众点评，Caroline He