中華料理 (Japanese-style Chinese food)

中華料理 ('Chinese cuisine') in Japan refers to a localized tradition that grew up in Japan rather than being a transplant from the mainland — dishes like 天津飯, 中華丼, Japanese-style ramen, and 麻婆豆腐 evolved within Japan and are essentially absent from authentic Chinese restaurants. The 中華 prefix is a classical Sinitic name for China ('central flowering'), older and more elevated than 中国.