How do all the Chinese takeout restaurants have the same menu? Is there some secret “American Chinese food” cookbook that everyone uses?
This is probably because everyone copies the success of another. And as a result, everyone expects all Chinese takeout to have the same dishes. It’s a cycle.
Every Chinese place near me has the exact same egg rolls. I mean like they look and taste EXACTLY the same. Same thing with a few other dishes like lo mein noodles, sesame chicken, etc. I assume there’s some food supplier in the area that they all get their stuff from. Any thoughts on this / how widespread is this?
There are usually 2–3 competing suppliers for every location, but all those suppliers stock the same products and it’s just the price that is different. Now to answer your question: there are premade egg rolls and I am sure places order those egg rolls because they don’t want to make their own. However, I am not sure how widespread it is. Even places that don’t order the premade egg rolls still have to order the vegetables to put in the egg rolls and that is the same regardless of where you go. And because egg rolls are so lightly seasoned and the veggies are usually the same, rolls premade or not usually look and taste the same. There are small differences if you pay close attention, but usually people put such an abundance of extra sauce on it that they can’t even taste the difference anyway.
How much of typical Chinese food is made from scratch vs made from prepackaged ingredients?
Most Chinese food dishes are made from scratch and rarely are they ever prepackaged. The most common thing that is prepackaged is probably dumplings.
Is North American style Chinese cheaper and/or easier to make than something more authentic?
North American Chinese is definitely easier and cheaper to prepare. Most of the prepping can be done in bulk and the final product from the precook stages only takes a couple minutes.
Authentic Chinese food requires more ingredients and a longer cooking process.
Which do you personally prefer to eat?
I prefer authentic Chinese food on a daily basis but I do get cravings for the North American style.
Do you guys cook authentic Chinese food for yourselves in the back? Can I request it?
We do cook authentic Chinese food for ourselves and we do make it by special request to customers!
You just have to know the name and what the dish is like, then ask if they know what you are talking about and if they have the ability to make it! Some authentic dishes require a lot of prep so they won’t be able to.
Can you recommend some authentic dishes?
One of my favorite authentic dishes is Cantonese lobster!
How often, if at all, do you eat at other Chinese restaurants? Can you just enjoy the food or do you compare/critique it?
I actually eat at other Chinese takeouts pretty often when I am out and about.
It’s fun trying out different places and comparing them to your own. So I do critique it but it doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy it when I do.
Most Chinese food places have the stereotype of being unclean. Is there any truth to this? If so, why?
I am not surprised by this stereotype, but it is usually dependent upon the area. I have been to a few places that I felt were not clean, but most are usually sanitary. All stores have health inspectors come by, so they have to meet some sort of standard.
If you live in a nice neighborhood, the store will be clean. If you really want to make sure, just go to the store and ask to use the bathroom.
The reason behind the negative stereotype comes from China. They probably worked in a store in China and what worked over there might not work over here. I don’t have any personal experience with this so I cannot elaborate further.
Is there any way to get on the staff’s good side? I feel like where I go they just want me gone.
That’s a hard one and it depends on the store. I really think the best way is to talk to them, but not about the store. They work in the store 11+ hours a day. Local news or anything interesting helps.
What’s the best seller?
General Tso Chicken and its variations.
What’s the actual way to pronounce Tso? Some people say general so or taos or chows
It’s usually “so’s” or “sao’s.” Please don’t try to sound out the “T.”
Ever see “The Search for General Tso”? It’s a documentary all about how and why that dish got to be so popular.
I haven’t seen it, but I will definitely give it a shot when I have time.
What is used for coating the chicken in dishes like General Tso’s?
It’s lightly seasoned wet batter (water, salt, oil, egg white, flour).
Cooking is about 4 steps:
marinate the chicken in light seasoning
mix in batter
fry in hot oil to lock on the batter
lower the temp of the oil to fully harden the outside and cook the inside
stir fry the chicken with the sauce
I try and try to make Chinese food at home and it’s never as good as the worst Chinese takeout. What’s the secret?
I can guarantee you the main reason is the sauce. The recipes you find online don’t use the same ingredients we have in stores. The sauces in restaurants usually mix a variety of seasonings and sauces together to achieve the correct taste.
Also, the ability to flash-cook in a wok makes a big difference.
What is in the brown sauce used in egg foo young? I typically get roast pork or shrimp egg foo young on occasion.
To be honest, that is probably the hardest sauce in the store to make. So many different ingredients go into that sauce, I actually need my super secret recipe book to make it.
What is in the lobster sauce?
It’s mainly just thickened chicken broth with salt, sugar, MSG, white pepper, and flowered egg whites.
Is there a dish that is ordered rarely but you think is one of the best on the menu?
Probably Mongolian-style dishes and actual chow mi fun noodles (rice noodles).
What is the number one thing you would never order from a Chinese take-out restaurant?
Probably French fries if they offer it. We don’t, but I know some places that do.
Does your place proudly proclaim “no MSG” like some I’ve seen? Because I want the damn MSG!
Don’t believe the places that say no MSG. Their food will have it regardless. Even if they don’t add additional MSG, the sauces will have it.
Two local stores have kids that are always playing around inside… did you have this same experience?
I know exactly what you are talking about. I am one of those kids! The restaurant is a love–hate relationship. It keeps your family close together, but also far apart because they are working 24/7. But it’s a unique experience—you learn about people, personalities, the value of money, and work ethic.
My local Chinese take-out place puts a guy that can barely speak English on the phone but a fluent guy delivers the food. Can you explain the thinking behind this?
There can be a few reasons, but the main reason is probably the driver doesn’t work in the restaurant and is just hired to deliver food.
What’s the worst client you had to deal with?
One time, an individual came in with an already eaten dish—only a couple pieces of vegetables left. He claimed it wasn’t what he ordered, demanded a refund, then threw a fit while the place was packed. He threw the food on the ground and left. We ended up with a mess and a dead-silent waiting room. What an asshole.
Are you offended if someone doesn’t tip for takeout?
Never! No one should be forced to tip. If you like us or the food, tip if you want, but don’t tip because you feel like you have to.
How does it feel to know that Chinese restaurants have become so ingrained in North American culture that it’s almost not even seen as “foreign food”?
I would consider American Chinese food American food! It’s actually quite humbling that American society was so welcoming to it.
What’s your life outside the restaurant like? Do you have a lot of free time?
I am actually a college graduate looking for higher education right now, so I do that in my free time.