As descendants of a nation of food lovers, whenever Chinese people talk about their delicious dishes, they must praise them. Shandong, Sichuan, Cantonese, Suzhou, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hunan, and Anhui, in addition to the traditional eight major cuisines, there are dozens of sub-cuisines.
On the other side of the ocean, in America, there are also many fans of Chinese cuisine. So what do they love to eat?
The American food delivery website GrubHub has compiled data from over 30,000 restaurants in more than 800 cities throughout 2015, resulting in a list of the ten most popular Chinese dishes among Americans.
01 General Tso's Chicken
Actually, this dish has nothing to do with General Tso. In the 1970s, one night, Chiang Ching-kuo was working late, and the only thing left in the kitchen was chicken legs. So the chef Peng Chang-kuei created this dish on the spot, claiming it was General Tso's favorite, hence the name "General Tso's Chicken."
Later, Peng Chang-kuei brought "General Tso's Chicken" to the United States, and with the endorsement of then U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, this dish quickly became popular in America after being sweetened and localized. It is not an exaggeration to say it is the backbone of American Chinese cuisine.
02 Crab Rangoon
If General Tso's Chicken has some "Chinese blood," then Crab Rangoon is purely an "American dish."
Crab Rangoon is made by mixing cheese and crab meat with other seasonings, then wrapping it in wonton skin and frying it.
03 Egg Roll
This dish is also something that Americans came up with themselves, usually containing shrimp, pork, chicken, carrots, cabbage, etc., and then deep-fried. But to be honest, it actually tastes quite good.
04 Sesame Chicken
This dish can be understood as General Tso's Chicken with sesame added, not spicy but sweeter. It is usually served with broccoli.
05 Wonton Soup
In terms of appearance and taste, this is one of the dishes on the list that is closer to authentic Chinese cuisine.
06 Fried Rice
Fried rice in American Chinese cuisine tends to have more sauce, such as soy sauce, to enhance the flavor of the food. You can also pair it with various meats and vegetables when ordering.
07 Sweet and Sour Chicken
This dish is probably a sweet and sour version of sweet and sour pork, tailored to American tastes.
08 Orange Chicken
Battered and fried chicken pieces are stir-fried with orange-flavored sauce, resulting in a steaming plate of Orange Chicken, often garnished with a slice or two of orange. This dish can also be considered a cousin of General Tso's Chicken.
09 Hot and Sour Soup
Another dish that is relatively close to authentic Chinese cuisine, but the hot and sour soup in North America tends to be thicker than in China. Because it contains both meat and vegetables, many Americans also consider it a healthy dish.
10 Pot Sticker
The pot stickers here are actually closer to pan-fried dumplings. The skin is thicker, and after frying, it becomes crispy, and when dipped in the sauce favored by Americans, it can be considered a nice appetizer.
In fact, all these dishes can be called "American Chinese food."
The origins of American Chinese food can be traced back to the gold rush era on the West Coast of the United States in the 1800s. A large number of Chinese immigrants from the south came to America, and many of them found it difficult to find suitable jobs, so they turned their attention to the food industry.
To cater to American tastes, Chinese immigrants incorporated many American elements into their dishes and used some ingredients that were not used in traditional Chinese cuisine, which is the origin of American fast food.
Many international students express that they actually reject this kind of Chinese food in their hearts.
In addition to the dishes mentioned above, Beef/Chicken/Shrimp with Broccoli, Chow Mein, and the famous Fortune Cookie are also representative works of American Chinese cuisine.
