Shenyang - Post Report Question and Answers
What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
Most restaurants ask if anyone has allergies, so they pay attention, but I'm not sure how much I trust it. For example, it's common for vegetarians to order a dish without meat, but it comes sprinkled with pork "for flavor". There's a some cultural disconnects. I would make sure to learn some good Chinese words to make your allergy clear when ordering. - Jun 2024
Cigarette smoke is every where. If you are seriously allergic to a food item, then avoid eating out. - Mar 2019
Besides the air pollution, this part of the country is very arid, so skin lotion in the winter is a must. Some people suffer from dry sinuses as well. The mother of one of my friends has serious food allergies, and when she visited, eating out was a drama. The good thing was that the servers and cooks took them seriously, and worked with them to prepare food that she could eat. Similar situation for vegetarians, which are more common in China. It's not hard to get accommodation for dietary requirements. - Jul 2016
