Chinese Food

[shadowmouse]

In the dim and distant past, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and bungee had hair, Chinese food in the Midwest (USA) was on odd mixture of dishes that had been passed down from the early days of Chinese immigration and often a large dash of what got labeled Polynesian.

Back when I was a student (fewer dinosaurs and less hair), things had started to shift and one could find places that specialized in regional cuisine instead of just generic "Chinese" but it was often heavily adapted to local tastes. I'd read that Chinese restaurants sometimes had a separate menu for Chinese customers, and one day I asked a place that I frequented if the menu on the wall (in Chinese) was the same as their English menu. "No, those are dishes that only Chinese would like." Oops! It is hard for me to avoid the menu version of Russian Roulette -- "I have no idea what that is, I think I'll order it". They said they didn't even know how to translate those things, at which point I just reached over and pointed randomly at one. I was told "but you won't like it, it is Chinese" and after a bit I convinced them it was a risk I was willing to accept. That was years ago and although I can't recall exactly what I got, it certainly wasn't like their regular fare. That was sort of a turning point in my adventures with Chinese food, but I still like to try new things and still play Menu Roulette.

So, where are you, what passes for Chinese food where you are, and do you like it? Are there any regional places? Is there something particular you like?

[Deathknightish]

"Chinese" food in Sweden is quite interesting.



This is the staple of Swedish Chinese food. We call it "Tre små rätter", three small dishes. Deep-fried shrimp in sweet and sour sauce, chicken in some kind of sauce I can't identify as I don't eat this dish, and shredded beef in soy sauce with bamboo shoots. Those three, together with spring rolls combine into the holy square of Chinese here.

However, a lot more authentic restaurants have popped up. Just by my street we had a Cantonese restaurant, that sadly shut down last year so I can't write down their menu other than that they made some insane Peking duck. There's also another one close to me called Hing Wa with an amazing Chinese menu (they have Swedish Chinese food as well, but their speciality is their Chinese menu), with stuff like fish head in stew, char siu and stuff.

With that said, Swedish Chinese food is tasty, especially after a night out.

[Deleted]

This is what people in the Netherlands generally eat when ordering Chinees (takeaway mostly).
Large portions, lot's of Indonesian influences in the "Chinese cuisine too.

[Deathknightish]

I don't know how to answer your question OP. Let me explain. 1. I'm a picky eater I don't try new things and can't stand spicy food. So a lot of Chinese food is out of the question. 2. When I do eat Chinese it's almost always beef or chicken fried rice. Or veggie mei-fun (really thin noodles really good)"with enough soy sauce to cause kidney stones

I may be wrong, but isn't Szechuan the only part of China with spicy food? So if you don't buy anything Szechuan, you should be good to go.

[Lochton]

Sadly for where I live, 'chinese food' is a mix of like, chinese and japanese. Haha.

[Orlong]

There is nothing Chinese about "Chinese" food in 99% of the so called Chinese restaurants in the US. In fact its so far from being authentic Chinese food that it should be illegal to market it as Chinese food. Dishes like General Tsos Chicken and Orange Chicken were invented by a Chinese immigrant in San Francisco over a hundred years ago as he envisioned what Americans would like since he didnt think we would like traditional Chinese food. So he invented what we know as Chinese food and gave the dishes Chinese sounding names to fool Americans into thinking its what Chinese people ate.

[shadowmouse]

isn't Szechuan the only part of China with spicy food?

Spicy food is fairly common in various areas, and even styles that normally avoid spicy seasoning often have a few dishes that have some kick. For example, there is a popular chain of fast food places that do Fujian cuisine. By itself it isn't spicy, but every table will have a spicy sauce to add.

[Happy Shoplifter]

Prefer Korean and Japanese food. Always have a tub of Gochujang at hand.

[belfpala]

Spicy food is fairly common in various areas, and even styles that normally avoid spicy seasoning often have a few dishes that have some kick. For example, there is a popular chain of fast food places that do Fujian cuisine. By itself it isn't spicy, but every table will have a spicy sauce to add.

I hate when people say, "I hate spicy food." I don't know what they mean.

Aren't there something like seven words for "spicy" in Mandarin? We don't have equivalents in English, but it's things like numbing spice, burning spice, fragrant spice, warming spice, etc.

Anyway, as to your original question, places that purport to be Chinese here are mostly crap. Lo mein, fried rice, egg drop soup, wantons. There are some better places, but it's an effort to find them.

We do have excellent Thai/Vietnamese/Cambodian, however.

[Mifuyne]

This is what people in the Netherlands generally eat when ordering Chinees (takeaway mostly).
Large portions, lot's of Indonesian influences in the "Chinese cuisine too.

Can confirm, that is basically what Dutch people eat/order at chinese restaurants.
Whilst it doesn't taste bad, it is a rather bland menu and just plays on tasting "safe" - basically everyone would find this kind of food eatable.
There's a distinct lack of oriental spices and the low cost ingredients don't help either (no fish, duck, etc).

Best bet is to either make actual chinese food yourself or when going to a chinese restaurant - asking if you could have dishes that chinese locals/the owners would eat. Whilst you might pay a extra buck for it, it'll certainly be different kinds of food.

[the game]

i just enjoy the standard chinese buffets. There's a really good one in my town. mmm peanutbutter chicken. outside of buffets I enjoy sesame chicken.

[PACOX]

I dont care if chinese take out isn't "authentic" or "real" chinese food. If I wanted that stuff I would seek it out. Give me you General Tso chickens, your koolaid red spare ribs, mongolians beefs, mei funs, and krab (gotta spell it with a k) rangoons any day.

[Remilia]

Came back from a 3 week stay in Taiwan for relatives and stuff, I want to go back now. Yay jet lag too.
No food really passes as it in Socal, that's for sure. Only like one restaurant here that's fairly decent, but costs a lot.

[Player Twelve]

So, where are you, what passes for Chinese food where you are, and do you like it? Are there any regional places? Is there something particular you like?

In Karlskrona, Sweden. Usually when I've ordered food from the chinese places here it's just food with some neat names and cooked in a bit different way than Swedish people would cook it. Annoys me they use sticky rice at some places though, as if I can eat with chopsticks. It's a pain to eat with normal cutlery.

[Independent voter]

At least on the West Coast of the US you can get authentic Asian food cooked by authentic Asians.

Even then the portions are like 10 times the size.



https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...alifornia.html

[Rustedsaint]

Most Chinese restaurants don’t serve Chinese food, they serve bastardized versions and recipes invented by immigrants.

[Afrospinach]

Most Chinese restaurants don’t serve Chinese food, they serve bastardized versions and recipes invented by immigrants.

Well ducks feet, tripe and steamed bread followed up by plain rice will only draw a couple of people in on any given day.

[Gourmandise]

My girl is from China, so I don't even need to go out to get the OG shit. She's busy with school lately, so we eat out and she brings me to all of the real Chinese places. Some things I like, but spicy food has never been my forte. One of her favorite dishes is pig intestine soup, which I think I'll try. It's actually really cool learning and trying new things with someone from the other side of the world.

[Orlong]

Well ducks feet, tripe and steamed bread followed up by plain rice will only draw a couple of people in on any given day.

Which is fine. Just don't call it Chinese food then if you aren't selling authentic Chinese food

[Afrospinach]

Which is fine. Just don't call it Chinese food then if you aren't selling authentic Chinese food

Yeah, they should call it "chinese inspired" food, just to live up to your expectations lol

It is chinese food. Go and have a cry about it, there is literally no point in doing what you suggest.