chinese food qestion?

Question

we asked for chow mein and we just got a bowl of bean sprouts is that what chow mein is? we were hoping for those long skinny noodles that are the same color as friend rice what is that dish called ?

Answer 1

Lo Mein.
:)

Answer 2

Low Mein. Chow Mein has crispy noodles. Another problem is chinese food is made in different ways in the different provinces. So, if one restaurant owner comes from southern China, and the other from the north, you're going to get a big difference. I once ordered chow mein, and got a bunch of bamboo shoots with very little gravy. One thing, tho---they DID give me the noodles.

Answer 3

It is called Lo Mein. Chow Mein is chicken and veggies served over noodles.

Answer 4

Chow mein is usually crispy stir fried noodles, and lo mein is also noodles but usually soft and often comes with vegetables such as bean sprouts.

Answer 5

Lo Mein. Chow mein is chicken and vegetables thickened and served over rice and chow mein noodles.

Answer 6

okay here is your answer !!! Take it from someone who is half chinese !!
make sure it is cantonese chow Mein if you want noodles.
as if not cantonese chow mein you get bean sprouts !!!
Their is many different type of noodles ..egg noodles are my fav ...but you said your speaking about the ones that are the same colour as rice...perhaps your speaking about rice noodles.Go to an asian grocery store ...plenty of them ...

Answer 7

Lo Mein

Answer 8

curious... I thought chow mien was sorta like the casserole dish of Chinese food restaurants... you know, all the leftovers made into a dish. I did think it was a noodle dish as well. Don't know what you got but I don't think it was chow mien.
Is what you were hoping for perhaps Lo Mien? Not sure what that is, but I know it's on the menu.

Answer 9

In Cantonese (a Chinese dialect we use in Hong Kong)

Chow = Stir fry
Lo = mix ( like when you fix salad, you toss the ingredients to combine)

The dish you expected should be a typical Cantonese chow mein. It can be prepared in many ways but the most popular one is

1) boil the egg noodle (dried) in boiling water till soft (but not too soft), put the noodle under running tap water for a few minutes. Drain well.
2) Heat a few tablespoons of peanut oil in a Chinese hot wok over medium heat, fry noodle till crispy and golden but don't brown it too much. Remove from wok and drain oil on paper towel, put noodle on serving plate.
3) Stir fry any kind of marinated meat (cut in to slices) or seafood and any vegetables (boiled broccoli, bean spourts, onions, Chinese cabbages, bok choy, carrot, green bell pepper, etc.) with soy sauce or oyster sauce + 1/2 teaspoon of cornstarch + 1 tablespoon of cooking wine, when done, pour the mixture on the noodle.

Below are some photos of the chow mein (as what I described)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/esthereggy/545311667/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ma-me/277218320/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14881360@N00/110329429/

Other kinds of chow mein from different parts of China may be frying soft wheat noodles (thick ones) and they look very different, below are some examples.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eileen216/539903614/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheboo/66688440/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37996583811@N01/117746721/

Below are some photos of lo mein

Cantonese style wonton lo mein
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eileen216/328502979/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhoran/65927531/
http://www.chinesefooddiy.com/recipes_DanDanNoodle.htm

Therefore, next time when you order a chow mein, make sure you want the noodle to be stir fried or just mixed (similar to pasta dish, you have sauce put on the pasta or just mix the pesto with the cooked pasta).

Answer 10

haha wow chow mein, lo mein, sounds the same to me lol

well anyways maybe next time you should read the description of the dish first. or tell your waiter what your looking for and they can give you your options. =]

Answer 11

you probably went to a old fashion place.
I believe you need to order something under "Lo Mein", which in cantonese means noodles cooked in broth. usually if you order chow mein you get no starch content.