Eating Well
How to order for a table of six
2 May 2026 · 5 min read
Balance, not quantity. A simple way to build a shared meal that works from the first dish to the last.
The most common mistake at a large table is ordering six dishes that everybody likes and discovering they are all fried, all brown and all sweet. A Chinese meal is built the way a piece of music is: contrast holds it together.
Work through the textures
Aim for one crisp dish, one braised or saucy dish, one steamed dish, one plate of greens, and something with real heat. Add rice and one noodle. That is a complete table for six and it will cost less than most people expect.
So: salt and pepper squid to start with, twice-cooked pork belly, steamed sea bass with ginger and spring onion, pak choi with garlic, Sichuan chicken for the ones who want it hot, jasmine rice and a plate of ho fun.
Do not over order
Six mains for six people is too much food. Four mains, plus rice, plus a vegetable, plus a noodle is right for most tables. You can always add another dish halfway through — the kitchen would far rather cook it fresh than watch a full plate go back.
Order the duck first
Aromatic duck takes time to crisp. If you want it, tell us as you sit down and it will arrive while you are still on the starters, which is exactly where it belongs.
Written by the kitchen at Han Chinese, 29 St Mary's Road, Market Harborough.