At the table
Let staff remove the casing, leaves, string and other wrappers. Share the chicken and filling, separating meat from bones. Ask how many people a whole bird serves; use any accompanying dip sparingly to taste.
Contains chicken and pork; soy sauce may contain wheat. Some fillings include shrimp. Check the filling and seasonings for allergies or dietary restrictions. Watch for bones and hot juices; cooking with wine does not guarantee an alcohol-free dish.
Fillings vary; other versions add ham, shiitake mushrooms or shrimp. Some kitchens replace clay with dough or foil. Seasonings and any dipping sauce vary too.
GET TO KNOW THE DISH
What goes into it?
Explore some key ingredients below. Preparations may use additional seasonings and ingredients.
Fillings vary; other versions add ham, shiitake mushrooms or shrimp. Some kitchens replace clay with dough or foil. Seasonings and any dipping sauce vary too.
Typical ingredients
In some versions
Recipes vary by restaurant.
How does it taste?
Savory chicken juices, soy sauce and aromatic spices, with a gentle lotus-leaf fragrance.
- Chili heat
- Texture
- Moist, tender chicken and a soft filling; this is not a crisp-skinned roast.
- How it’s made
- The chicken is marinated with soy sauce, rice wine, ginger, scallion, salt, sugar, star anise and sand ginger. Pork and scallion are fried in lard and seasoned, including MSG in this version. Pork caul fat, lotus leaves and a sealed clay casing enclose the bird for slow baking.
Fillings vary; other versions add ham, shiitake mushrooms or shrimp. Some kitchens replace clay with dough or foil. Seasonings and any dipping sauce vary too.
A CONNECTION TO PLACE
Origin & regional roots
Associated with Zhejiang.
Ask if they have it first
请问你们有叫化鸡吗？
Do you have this item?
A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ
Story & history
A sealed parcel at the sharing table
This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.
In Hangzhou, lotus leaves and a sealed outer casing help retain the chicken’s juices and aroma during slow cooking. Opening the parcel reveals a whole bird for sharing; the familiar beggar tale belongs to the dish’s folklore.