Current Events > What really is American "Chinese" food?

(+) Yeah! (+)

How did it begin?

Stuff like Sesame Chicken, General Tsao, Egg drop soup, hot and sour soup, how'd it all begin?

Just as McDonald's has an origin story so should this as well lol.

American Chinese cuisine is a cuisine derived from Chinese cuisine that was developed by Chinese Americans. The dishes served in many North American Chinese restaurants are adapted to American tastes and often differ significantly from those found in China.

It's all on the wiki.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Chinese_cuisine

Wow very interesting. Read the whole thing. Thanks

Wasabi is Japanese, and it's not really a thing in Chinese food.

I'm sure it varies by restaurant but I wonder which food item in American Chinese restaurants is closest to being the "real deal."

Whether it's the soups or sweet and sour chicken haha probably mostly nothing most of the time? Idk.

I always think it's insulting when people talk about American Chinese food but frame it as being not "real" Chinese food. Sure, it's not dishes that you would likely find in China, but it is full of dishes created by Chinese immigrants with the ingredients they had on hand that worked for the palette of those eating it. Calling it "not real" is really no different than someone from one region of China claiming that the cuisine in another region isn't real Chinese food just because it's a little different.

codey posted...

I always think it's insulting when people talk about American Chinese food but frame it as being not "real" Chinese food.

Why is it insulting, you are not discounting their Americanism if you just call it Chinese food. That is like calling Soul Food African food.

codey posted...

I always think it's insulting when people talk about American Chinese food but frame it as being not "real" Chinese food. Sure, it's not dishes that you would likely find in China, but it is full of dishes created by Chinese immigrants with the ingredients they had on hand that worked for the palette of those eating it. Calling it "not real" is really no different than someone from one region of China claiming that the cuisine in another region isn't real Chinese food just because it's a little different.

Would you consider something like PizzaHut pineapple pizza real Italian food then?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HFFxihgfzI

Should answer all your questions

cjsdowg posted...

Why is it insulting, you are not discounting their Americanism if you just call it Chinese food. That is like calling Soul Food African food.

That's not the same thing, because generally black people were not culturally linked to Africa like Chinese immigrants were linked to China. Soul food is based more on the American palette than the African one.

I have been to China, and I had authentic Chinese cuisine. But it was almost 20 years ago, so I don't really remember how it tasted. I think maybe the main thing is Western Chinese food is sweeter probably

codey posted...

I always think it's insulting when people talk about American Chinese food but frame it as being not "real" Chinese food. Sure, it's not dishes that you would likely find in China, but it is full of dishes created by Chinese immigrants with the ingredients they had on hand that worked for the palette of those eating it. Calling it "not real" is really no different than someone from one region of China claiming that the cuisine in another region isn't real Chinese food just because it's a little different.

People do the same thing with tex mex. It's just a way for people to feel snobby like they know something you don't.

La Choy makes Chniese food....swing American!

codey posted...

I always think it's insulting when people talk about American Chinese food but frame it as being not "real" Chinese food. Sure, it's not dishes that you would likely find in China, but it is full of dishes created by Chinese immigrants with the ingredients they had on hand that worked for the palette of those eating it. Calling it "not real" is really no different than someone from one region of China claiming that the cuisine in another region isn't real Chinese food just because it's a little different.

I don't mind noting the distinction between American Chinese and traditional Chinese food. Ultimately they are two different types of food and despite their shared origin you are going to have people who are fans of one more than the other so the distinction is important to note.

What bothers me is when people dismiss some of the "spin-off" foods as less because they aren't as "authentic". As if their deviations from traditional entries makes them inherently lesser.

Like, yes I'm aware that Tex-Mex isn't "real" Mexican food. But this burrito taste really fucking good so who gives a shit.

Questionmarktarius posted...

Wasabi is Japanese, and it's not really a thing in Chinese food.

Also to add to this, the majority of Sushi wasabi is actually horseradish. Real wasabi is very difficult to grow and keep fresh and goes off days after being picked.

itachi15243 posted...

Would you consider something like PizzaHut pineapple pizza real Italian food then?

The funny thing is that Pizza is more of an American dish than an Italian dish, at least according to Italian food historian Alberto Grandi.

itachi15243 posted...

Would you consider something like PizzaHut pineapple pizza real Italian food then?

It's not really comparable, considering pizza hut is just fast food. Taco Bell is a great example, as there's always people ready to go "actually it's not real Mexican food!" Like no shit, it's fast food. Fast food has never been representative of actual cuisine, unless you think McDonalds is representative of what burgers are normally like.

Dishes like TC mentioned are prepared in actual sit down restaurants by actual chefs, many of whom are immigrants and pretty much invented these dishes based on their culinary experience from China and other places. It's insulting to call this "not real" Chinese food just because they invented them in different places.

One of my old coworkers told me a story about his Thai mother had to use ketchup in her pad Thai in place of tamarind growing up because it wasn't readily available in the Midwest in the 80s. Her family made fun of it, but the fact is she was knowledgeable enough to take a non traditional ingredient like ketchup in a pad thai (or pineapple on pizza) and make it good, because thats what she had.

Ivany2008 posted...

Also to add to this, the majority of Sushi wasabi is actually horseradish. Real wasabi is very difficult to grow and keep fresh and goes off days after being picked. It also tastes a million times better, much milder than its horseradish counterpart. Also to note, the majority of canned/packaged wasabi is also horseradish.

Only in America. It's easy to find real wasabi in Japan.

Compsognathus posted...

I don't mind noting the distinction between American Chinese and traditional Chinese food. Ultimately they are two different types of food and despite their shared origin you are going to have people who are fans of one more than the other so the distinction is important to note.

What bothers me is when people dismiss some of the "spin-off" foods as less because they aren't as "authentic". As if their deviations from traditional entries makes them inherently lesser.

Like, yes I'm aware that Tex-Mex isn't "real" Mexican food. But this burrito taste really fucking good so who gives a shit.

Exactly, and it also ignores that Mexican culture is extremely varied, and the "real" Mexican food they have in mind is likely not even eaten in other parts of the country. My fiances family from Monterey eats closer to Tex Mex cuisine (with more fresh ingredients) than food you'd see in Mexico City.

And that's ignoring the fact that Texas was literally a Mexican state and the people that created Tex Mex cuisine were literally Mexicans.

Being a Chinafolk myself, the real.chinese food my grandparents used to always eat was fucking gross.

They boiled EVERYTHING and it always smelled like poison.

You can get "real" Chinese food (from various regions) in America, but you usually have to go to a fine dining restaurant. Or dim sum.

In canadian Chinese food restaurants yoi can order a dish called ginger beef which was invented in Canada by a Chinese immigrant

Is shrimp fried rice authentic Chinese food. It my fave

I admit I do like having Panda Express for lunch on occasion

Ratchetrockon posted...

Is shrimp fried rice authentic Chinese food. It my fave

It's easy to find authentic fried rice because the recipe is so simple and it's made of things that everyone loves so you don't have to adjust for any weird culture tastes.

Edit: or to quote Uncle Roger, "there's only three ingredients in egg fried rice. egg, fry, and rice."

PenultmateGohan posted...

How did it begin?

Stuff like Sesame Chicken, General Tsao, Egg drop soup, hot and sour soup, how'd it all begin?

Just as McDonald's has an origin story so should this as well lol.

Some are variations on what was made before they came over. Understand there is 7 regional cuisines in china. What they use to use could not be found here. Canton was more prevalent since it's was a port city. So stuff like Chow mein isnt much different than what was made in china just similar vegetables. Bok choy vs cabbage. Both are cabbage but different.

I watched these the other day. Gives you a good idea of what types https://www.tastemade.com/shows/destination-flavour-china

From Chinese owned restaurants making food to sell to non Chinese people.

you can certainly dive deeper into it than that but that's the jist

Panda Express?

vycebrand2 posted...

Understand there is 7 regional cuisines in china.

There is more than 7.

It took 26 post to mention Panda Express? It's the Taco Bell of Chinese food.

Auto_Chrisbot posted...

It took 26 post to mention Panda Express? It's the Taco Bell of Chinese food.

It's mentioned in the video in #9 and it's privately founded and owned by Chinese immigrants. It's not in any way "Taco Bell of Chinese food"

It seems like Uyghur restaurants are the next big thing. I've been seeing more and more of them.

Tyranthraxus posted...

It's mentioned in the video in #9 and it's privately founded and owned by Chinese immigrants. It's not in any way "Taco Bell of Chinese food"

It looks like it duck, it walks like a duck, it quacks like a duck, but it tastes like chicken, then it's Panda Express.

Food like Panda Express is American Chinese food. The Beijing Beef is awesome. It's basically miniature chicken fried steaks smothered in a sweet/hot sauce.

Also, the Chow Mein at Panda Express is technically Lo Mein. I know people knock Panda Express, but the quality of the food is pretty decent (It's Michelin star compared to Taco Bell), and definitely better than your average Chinese takeout place. In many areas there's plenty of Chinese takeout places, but no actual good ones, but there might be a Panda Express.

There used to be a Chao Cajun in the food court at the local mall, and they served bourbon chicken, and it was delicious. That's also American Chinese food, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Good food is good food. I've gone to Chinese buffets that served bourbon chicken, even some on the pricier side, and none of them did it even half as good as Chao Cajun.

Chuy's Tex Mex, it's an example of a cuisine that's become Americanized over traditional Mexican that's also better than what the overwhelming majority of Mexican restaurants serve. The salsa is really good, and so is their creamy jalapeno dip. The tortilla chips are light and crispy, and the actual tortillas are hand made, they got someone in the back pressing them out you can see through a viewing window.

The plates are piping hot at nearly 100% of Mexican restaurants because they spoon out rice, beans and other stuff and just heat the whole plate up in a microwave, it's not cooked to order at all. It's basically Taco Bell. So nobody should really be surprised that many Americans prefer Taco Bell over the slop served at average Mexican restaurants.

American Chinese food would be like fortune cookies and Panda Express.

Im not convinced Panda Express isnt Chinese food? Sure its fast served but you get Chinese dishes with rice or chow mein, people say its bastardized only cuz you get in a line to have it served in a styrofoam container

uberl33tpro posted...

Food like Panda Express is American Chinese food. The Beijing Beef is awesome. It's basically miniature chicken fried steaks smothered in a sweet/hot sauce.

Also, the Chow Mein at Panda Express is technically Lo Mein. I know people knock Panda Express, but the quality of the food is pretty decent (It's Michelin star compared to Taco Bell), and definitely better than your average Chinese takeout place. In many areas there's plenty of Chinese takeout places, but no actual good ones, but there might be a Panda Express.

The honey walnut shrimp is the bomb. Their noodles and fried rice aren't that great.

Lunch.

Lil_Bit83 posted...

The honey walnut shrimp is the bomb. Their noodles and fried rice aren't that great.

They also invented the orange chicken.

Well the American Chinese version of it anyway.

Chinese food is a pretty broad term because there are many different regional styles of cooking along with its own rules depending on which area of China you are in. Similarly American Chinese food is also regional and authentic to the Chinese-American experience. There is so much history behind American Chinese food that it should not be dismissed nor insulted by being called "inauthentic" or "not real" Chinese food.

Has anyone ever had Panamanian-Chinese food?

SaikyoStyle posted...

Has anyone ever had Panamanian-Chinese food?

Nope, but I've had Jamaican-Chinese food and it was incredible. Would love to try Panamanian-Chinese food though.

Tasty. Man I kind of want some now. We used to go with my mom to a Chinese buffet as kids. I haven't been since.

I'm fully aware American Chinese Food is fake garbage but it's better than Real Chinese Food which is like bland stir fry.

royic posted...

I'm fully aware American Chinese Food is fake garbage but it's better than Real Chinese Food which is like bland stir fry.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/6/9/6/AAcrE2AAExGg.jpg

royic posted...

I'm fully aware American Chinese Food is fake garbage but it's better than Real Chinese Food which is like bland stir fry.

very bad take
(im chinese)