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Why is chinese food so americanized?
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jonjonsanfru
Golden Member
Ok NOW for the REAL answer:
During the communist revolution there was an extreme shortage of cooking oil. Having cooking oil was a sign of great wealth. Now there is plenty of oil, but there are also plenty of people who remember the shortage. So "authentic" chinese, as you want to call it, gets excessive amounts of oil compared to the "americanized" version because for them it is a sign of good fortune and also it reminds them of when times were much much harder.
There are many variations of Chinese food, mostly regional... but in China and recent immigrants still cook with heavy oil. "Americanized" to you is most likely modified Szechaun or Mandarin, modified means sans heavy oil. Don't dog on peoples cultures, be gracious for the hospitality.
During the communist revolution there was an extreme shortage of cooking oil. Having cooking oil was a sign of great wealth. Now there is plenty of oil, but there are also plenty of people who remember the shortage. So "authentic" chinese, as you want to call it, gets excessive amounts of oil compared to the "americanized" version because for them it is a sign of good fortune and also it reminds them of when times were much much harder.
There are many variations of Chinese food, mostly regional... but in China and recent immigrants still cook with heavy oil. "Americanized" to you is most likely modified Szechaun or Mandarin, modified means sans heavy oil. Don't dog on peoples cultures, be gracious for the hospitality.
ironcrotch
Diamond Member
Teriaki
vegetation
Diamond Member
Negative. Most sushi establishments in the US are hardly worthy of their name. Granted, a lot has to do with getting the fresh ingredients that may not be readily available (for cheap at least). But for the most part, sushi in the US is absolutely nothing like sushi in Japan. FYI, the typical 'California roll' sushi rolled into a seaweed packaging is unheard of in Japan and gets strange looks by Japanese tourists.
cavemanmoron
Lifer
😕
BS... most of the Japanese foods here in NA are Americanized as well... you just don't know it, because you've never had real japanese food.
As for Korean... i grew up eating lots of Korean because i had lots of Korean friends (and currently seeing a Korean), and all the Korean restaurants i've been to (all of 3), were very 'Americanized'. You also have to question why aren't there more Korean restaurants (most Westerners just don't like it... personally, i LOVE korean food).
EDIT: i do remember going to one very authentic Korean restaurant a few years ago... it was quite good, but expensive. About $140 for 2 people.
As for Vietnamese... i'll have to say, most Vietnamese restaurants are quite authentic... but that's probably because it's cuisine has had a hundred years of French influence as well.
Malaysian, never had it before, so i can't tell you.
Thai, i can tell you the Thai places i've been too, have been quite Americanized... infact, probably more so than most Chinese places (aside from places that are so obviously Americanized... such as the ones you see in your Malls).
I find that a little hard to believe... especially since most of the Chinese in NA have never lived in China or experienced the cooking oil shortage of the communist revolution.
More than likely it's because of the way the Chinese use starch to make the sauce... most people think it's a little too oily and thick.
PeeluckyDuckee
Diamond Member
That used to be an accurate tell tale sign. As the times change I've noticed that's not always the case. People's tastes have changed and there's more caucasians in authentic restuarants.
Because real chinese food tastes like crap.
As others have mentioned, Chinese food isn't the only one that's Americanized. It just takes some research to find out what foods were started in America. For example, I've been told by a Japanese friend that inside out sushi rolls started in America. It's on all the sushi menus in almost all sushi places, from bad restaurants to great restaurants, but it's not from Japan.
Edit: I think the same goes for the spicy rolls..
neutralizer
Lifer
No, there are a lot of good authentic chinese restaurants where I live, but most of people who go there are chinese. the food is pretty good, but compared to the homemade chinese food that i eat, it's more oily and salty.
as others have said, there is plenty of americanized japanese food out there. i don't think we can really compare japanese and chinese food to korean food for a couple reasons:
1. there aren't that many korean restaurants to begin with
2. korean businesses tend not to make an effort to serve non-koreans
tRiPpiNxSaV
Senior member
Yes, all Chinese restaurants are Americanized. I'm Chinese and the food I eat at home is much different than the ones in restaurants. On the rare times I do eat at a Chinese restaurant, I can barely stomach the food. The extreme amounts of oil and sauce just makes me want to hurl. I am not ashamed to say that "Chinese American" food is absolutely horrible. As many have already mentioned, the homecook food I eat at home is bland and healthier compared to restaurant food. Perhaps it is my families preference to not pollute our foods with the ridiculous amounts of oil and sauces.
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