nin2 sau2 siu2 coi3撚手小菜捻手小菜

Jyutpingnin2 sau2 siu2 coi3

Yalenín sáu síu choi

Definition

Specialty dishes; a signature dish that a restaurant or cook is exceptionally good at.

colloquialfooddim sum

How it's used

Focuses on the specific expertise of a chef or kitchen rather than just any popular menu item. It implies a sense of pride and mastery, often used to highlight the house specialty that keeps customers coming back. While it can apply to home cooking, it is most frequently encountered in the context of restaurant menus or when asking a waiter for the best options.

Measure word

mei2味méi

Examples

le1呢gaan1間pou3舖tau2頭jau5有me1咩nan2撚sau2手siu2小coi3菜teoi1推gaai3介aa4呀？

What signature dishes do you recommend at this restaurant?

zing1蒸jyu2魚hai6係keoi5佢zeoi3最nan2撚sau2手siu2小coi3菜，jat1一ding6定jiu3要si5試。

Steamed fish is his signature dish, you must try it.

Common phrases

teoi1推gaai3介nan2撚sau2手siu2小coi3菜

recommend signature dishes

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the vulgar slang 撚, which is a common profanity. While 撚手小菜 is a standard and acceptable term for signature dishes, the character 撚 on its own is highly offensive, so ensure you always use the full compound phrase.