Meaning:
Both “黑” and “暗” mean “dark,” and “料理” is a word borrowed from Japanese referring to “dishes.” The word originated from a Japanese cartoon “Cooking Master Boy.” The dishes cooked by villains in the cartoon were called “黑暗料理.” Adopted by netizens, the word now indicates the food served in food stalls with low-standard hygiene or the dishes cooked by new, learning-on-the-job cooks with unacceptable appearances or strange flavors.
Example:
A: 我最喜欢的黑暗料理是荔枝蘸酱油。
Wǒ zuì xǐhuān de hēiàn liàolǐ shì lìzhī zhàn jiàngyóu。
My favorite dark dish is litchi with soy sauce.
B: 很多人都说好吃，但我在家尝过，超级难吃！
Hěnduō rén dōu shuō hǎochī, dàn wǒ zaì jiā cháng guò,，chāojí nánchī。
Many netizens have said it is very tasty, but I’ve tried it at home...just terrible!
(First editor: Debra Li)