How do I book a local dining experience in China?

Browse our Plus 1 Chopsticks hosts, select a profile, and submit a booking request. Your host will confirm availability for your selected date.

How long does a typical home-cooked meal experience last?

Most home dining sessions last 2-3 hours, covering both the meal and local cultural conversation.

What time do lunch and dinner start?

In China, lunch is usually around 12pm and dinner between 6pm and 7pm — earlier than in many Western countries. Your host will confirm the exact time with you after booking, and most are happy to adjust if you're arriving from elsewhere in the city or coming straight from the airport.

What is the cost per person for a guest?

Prices are set by the host, ranging from ¥280 to ¥390 per person. Exact pricing is listed on each individual host profile.

What is your booking cancellation policy?

Cancel up to 7 days before your scheduled meal for a full refund. This ensures our local hosts have adequate preparation time.

Do you have reviews or ratings?

We publish written guest stories rather than star ratings. Every one comes from a guest who completed a booking. We think a number tells you a meal was fine, while someone describing the evening tells you what it was actually like — you can read them on any host's page.

Do I need to speak Chinese to dine with a host?

No. Many +1 Chopsticks hosts are multilingual; you can filter for English-speaking hosts when browsing.

Are the meals and hosts verified for food safety?

Yes. All +1 Chopsticks hosts undergo a verification process for hygiene, food safety, and ingredient quality to ensure a premium experience.

Can hosts accommodate dietary restrictions or allergies?

Yes. Our +1 Chopsticks hosts are local families and professionals who can usually cater to special dietary needs if mentioned during booking.

How do I apply to become a +1 Chopsticks host in China?

Click 'Become a Host' to start our application and verification process. We welcome locals passionate about authentic cooking.

Do you offer partnerships for travel agents?

Yes. We provide special rates for travel agencies and tour operators. Contact plusonechopsticks@gmail.com for partnership details.

Are these dinners suitable for solo travelers in China?

Yes! Many of our hosts are families, couples, and young professionals who enjoy hosting individuals. Most +1 Chopsticks hosts accommodate solo dining, making it a safe and authentic way for solo travelers to experience genuine Chinese hospitality and home-cooked meals.

What makes +1 Chopsticks different from restaurants in China?

Unlike traditional restaurants, +1 Chopsticks offers authentic home-cooked meals prepared by local families in their homes. You get a genuine cultural experience with real Chinese hospitality, family recipes, and meaningful conversations with locals—something you cannot get in a restaurant.

Is home dining in China safe for tourists?

Yes, absolutely. All +1 Chopsticks hosts undergo a thorough verification process including background checks, food safety inspections, and hygiene certifications. We prioritize guest safety and comfort in every experience.

What authentic Chinese dishes can I expect?

Our hosts prepare traditional Shanghainese cuisine including xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), shengjianbao (pan-fried buns), hairy crab, braised pork belly, and other regional specialties passed down through generations. Menus vary by host and season.

Can I find home dining experiences in specific cities or districts?

Yes! We have verified hosts across China including Shanghai (Pudong, Huangpu, Jing'an, Changning, Xuhui, Minhang) and Shenzhen (Nanshan), with more cities coming soon. You can filter by location when browsing our host profiles to find experiences near your hotel or in your preferred area.

What is the best time to book a home dining experience in China?

We recommend booking 1-2 weeks in advance to ensure availability. However, some hosts may accommodate last-minute bookings. Check individual host calendars for real-time availability. Peak seasons (spring and fall) fill up faster.

How do I know if a host is authentic and trustworthy?

All +1 Chopsticks hosts display verification badges, guest reviews, and ratings on their profiles. Read guest testimonials and check their experience level. Our verification process ensures every host meets our high standards for authenticity, safety, and hospitality.

What should I bring or wear to a home dining experience?

Wear comfortable, casual clothing. Remove your shoes when entering the home (hosts will provide slippers). Bring an open mind and appetite! Some guests bring small gifts from their home country, though it's not required. Your host will provide any specific instructions.

Eating (Yiting)

Cuisine: Shanghai & Sichuan

Location: Gubei, Changning

Price: ¥340 per person

Group size: 1–6 guests

Meet Eating (Yiting)

Hear Eating (Yiting)'s story in their own words

Hey there! I'm Yiting — you can call me Eating 😄 I'm passionate about everything food-related, and I love welcoming new friends to my home for a real Shanghai meal. I specialise in both Shanghai cuisine (sweet, delicate, soft southern flavours) and Sichuan cuisine (bold, spicy, and deeply aromatic).

Before I moved into my own place, I went to Jingdezhen to learn ceramic-making and hand-crafted a full set of tableware for my home — so every dish you eat here comes on something I made myself.

These past two years I've also started growing my own food: I rent a vegetable plot in the suburbs of Shanghai, and if you visit at the right time of year, you might taste fresh organic vegetables straight from my garden, served on my own ceramics. I love cooking and exploring gourmet food, and I often invite friends over for home gatherings. I'm always happy to chat about the menu and customise a special dinner just for you!

Optional add-on activities

¥150 per activity, per group — not per person. Your first selected activity is complimentary when you book today; each additional activity is ¥150 per group.

Home cooking participation

Cook with Yiting and learn selected Shanghai or Sichuan techniques in her home kitchen.

¥150 per group

Seasonal vegetable-plot visit

In season, visit Yiting’s vegetable plot and see where some of her home-cooking ingredients begin.

¥150 per group

Local market visit

Visit a local market with Yiting to choose ingredients for your meal and talk through Shanghai food habits.

¥150 per group

Sample menu

Eating (Yiting)'s table bridges two great Chinese culinary traditions.

From Shanghai

creamy potato salad, Yan Du Xian soup (salted pork & fresh pork with bamboo shoots), sweet & sour pork riblets, and home-style braised yellow croaker with rice cakes.

From Sichuan

Maoxuewang spicy pot, silky Mapo Tofu, spicy diced chicken with chili peppers, and twice-cooked pork with garlic scapes.

Seasonal specials rotate with what's growing on her suburban plot — spring bamboo and wild herbs, summer swamp eel and crayfish, autumn hairy crab and taro.

Chat with Eating (Yiting) before your visit to co-design a menu around what's in season. Every dish is served on tableware she hand-threw herself in Jingdezhen.

Vegetarian options are available upon enquiry. Chinese dishes are as tasty in a meat free form!

Getting There

Gubei, Changning

≈ 40 min from the Bund
≈ 30 min from Jing'an Temple
≈ 45 min from Lujiazui

Nearest metro: Longxi Road (Line 10) · Hongxu Road (Line 15) also nearby

Handmade Ceramics, Home-Grown Vegetables & Two Cuisines in One Table

Guest Reviews

Zuzana · friends couples

We enjoyed it very much, thank you for your time, conversation and lovely meal!

Soraya & Leonardo · friends couples

It was lovely, the host was super friendly and the food was great!

Thomas · solo

Thank you for the Amazon Night yesterday. I am so happy about it. You Are a Great Host

Kravetz Nat · families

We had the most marvellous time! Eaty was really friendly, she designed a whole vegan menu, and had all the ingredients ready and a few things prepares to show us when we arrived how she prepares each dish while we chat about our lives. She also invited a friend and her cousin. So we had a lively conversation and most delicious and varied dinner. My parents were really happy too. My mother told her to come visit to Buenos Aires

Book a seat with Eating (Yiting)