This is a fun sort of cookbook. It covers all the oddly named Chinese dishes, with stories behind the names, as well as how to make the dishes, step by step.
The book covers appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. The author talks either about the history of the dish, or her personal history with the dish, such as Ants Climbing a Tree (it is not made with ants), Old Pockmarked Lady’s Mapo Tofu and Stir-Fried Rooster Eggs with Tomatoes.


The stories are funny. The instructions go step by step, and all the ingredients are listed plainly. The author explains that when she was growing up during the Cultural Revolution, meat was rationed, so some of these dishes use very little meat, such as the Ants Climbing a Tree, where the meat is cut into very tiny bites, almost the size of ants.


A most enjoyable book to not only cook with, but also to learn about the strange names of dishes, and how to make them.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is being published on March 4th, 2025.

What a fun cookbook! Chinese cooking with weird name explanations of the food explained in a story format through the graphic novel style of pictures. The recipes are made user friendly for ones not wanting to use the many times strange ingredients. Interesting concept for a cookbook.

I have read another novel which tells stories about how some of those Chinese dishes got those crazy names, such as the book’s title Buddha Jumps Over a Wall. Full of historical fact or fiction, it makes for a great graphic novel which also includes endearing illustrations to accompany the stories. To add even more flavor (get the pun there?) recipes are included for each dish.

Mind you, I am a Chinese-American and have been to many authentic Chinese restaurants, including those in mainland China and Hong Kong. I have to say that I have not seen many of these dishes with the odd names on the menu. The recipes were rather long and complicated and require quite a menagerie of sauces and ingredients, so being a lazy cook, I think I will just stick with my favorite dishes at Chinese restaurants.

Be forewarned, your mouth will definitely be savoring those tasty dishes. I sure do miss my grandmother’s Cantonese cooking!!

Buddha Jumps Over The Wall is a very cute and informative cookbook that ties together anicent history and mythology along with the more modern recollections of life in communist China. The illustrations are soft and relaxing yet still make me hungry. I would definitely be proud to add this to my graphic cookbook collection.

I really like this illustrated cookbook. It was so fun to learn the stories behind the dishes and to learn how to cook some of my favorite Chinese dishes. The art is fun and cute, and there are lots of different recipes. I also appreciated the information about common ingredients as well as etiquette for chopsticks,tea, and more. Overall this was a really fun book and it made my mouth water thinking about making all these incredible dishes. My only qualm with this book was that the images were a bit blurry. It might be because I read it in the NetGalley app or because it was a proof, but it did make ir difficult to read at times.

Muy buen libro de comida china. Bien redactado y dibujado. Este libro es muy buenos para aquellos que no les gusta un libro de cocina de puras instrucciones, los dibujos ayudan a entender los ingredientes y las historias detrás de los platillos. Definitivamente es un buen libro para todo interesado en la comida china, sea niño o adulto. Es un libro de cocina que te mantiene interesado. No pensé que los libros de cocina pudiesen ser así, esto debe ser el formato de los libros de cocina, fácil de seguir.

The most unusual cookbook I've ever read (in graphic comic book form!) with fantabulous illustrations with easy-to-follow recipes for delicious Chinese food. A perfect gift for the cooks in your life and for you, because you MUST have a copy for yourself!

I'm a sucker for an illustrated cookbook, and this one was great. I loved that it told the origins of the names, and also provided great details on cooking them.

I love this book! This is such a fun, informative story and cookbook. This would make a great family activity, to read the history and then cook the dish together.

Loved the departure from the standard cookbook. The animated history of the dish and instructions was a really nice touch.

Buddha Jumps over the Wall, and Other Curiously Named Classic Chinese Dishes is the most interesting cookbook I have ever read.
Written in story form, beautifully designed, with colorful illustrations on every page and delicious, easy-to-prepare traditional recipes, this book is a must read for cooks of any level who are interested in both the dish and its history.
As a half-Chinese, I have obviously tried some of these dishes, but I had never before learned the origins of their curious names.
It also contains a helpful guide to tea-time etiquette and the use of chopsticks, among other topics.
For all these reasons, I thank the author for writing this work and sharing it with all of us.
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

It's a is a cute and charming read, offering delightful insights into the history behind classic Chinese dish names. However, it feels somewhat short—I would have loved more depth or additional entries. Also, this seems like a book that would shine more in a physical format rather than a digital one, as the reading experience didn’t translate as well online.

I picked this up on a whim, but I adored this and wish I had a copy when I was a child. Very informative, but incredibly accessible--the step-by-step illustrations are not only helpful for adults, but would be a great way to engage children in cooking these dishes. Will absolutely be purchasing a copy; thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the early review copy :)

This book is a summary of stories that the author heard as she was young about various dishes her mother made. They are illustrated in a comic book style that is very cute. This compilation also includes the recipes and drawings showing how the recipes are made.

While there are a lot of recipes, I only found a handful of interest to me; on the other hand, the coverage is good for someone who does not already have their own recipes. I tried a recipe that I already had from my own mother and other sources and it turned out well. The stories are good but may differ from stories that one may have heard from one’s own parents or even can find in the literature. (For example, Amy Tan wrote a children’s novel covering the moon lady and moon festival.) Still, the book is entertaining and well-written.

I loved the artwork. It really complemented the narrative and added another layer of depth to the overall experience. The attention to detail was evident, and it enhanced my connection with the material. I appreciated the author's stories to accompany the art. One small note I wanted to mention is that I found the font slightly challenging to read at times.

I really enjoyed this very cute, illustrated cookbook! The art style is cozy and the recipes look delicious. The only issue I have is that the text is a bit too thick, which makes it hard to read.

"Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and Other Curiously Named Classic Chinese Dishes" by Ying Chang Compestine is a fun new way to share recipes and the stories behind them!

Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is a wonderful graphic cookbook, combining Chinese folklore, recipes, and graphic novel in one delightful volume. Including appetizers, mains, and desserts, this book provides a story about how each recipe got its name as well as a visual, step-by-step preparation instructions. If only all cookbooks would come like this! I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Chinese cuisine, history, or enjoys graphic novels.

This is how I wish all "modern" cookbooks would be presented. Provide interesting and relevant background information (pertaining to the dish) with great illustrations. Provide the recipe with easy to follow step-by-step instructions with graphics and an image of what the final dish should look like. I need a hard copy of this cookbook to add to my library. Chef's kiss!

Ying Chang Compestine presented these 26 dishes in the perfect format and they are easy to understand and the ingredients are easy to find. Well if you have an Asian grocery store in your area or an online service that delivers to your zipcode. The way the recipes are presented makes it easy to identify substitutions for hard to find items. Appetizer, main course and dessert right at my fingertips. She has demystified these Chinese dishes in a fun and cute way. The accompanying stories were very interesting.

All opinions are my own. I received an advanced digital copy of “Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and Other Curiously Named Classic Chinese Dishes" from the author, Chronicle Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute read! I enjoyed the stories behind the names and have made a list of recipes to try. The Lion’s Head Meatballs are good as well as the Dan Dan noodles
After watching the Culinary Wars on Netflix, I’m super curious to try Dongpo pork and Mapo Tofu. Green Tea eggs , Milk custard, and Rock sugar pear are also on the list.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.