Ethnic Cuisine in the US?

Question

In the US, we have restaurants that serve foods from many different countries.

The claim is that many restaurants tone down the food for Americans.

Also, I have coworkers from Italy who hate Italian food served here - too much garlic, strong flavors that overpower the real taste of the food. If the chef is Italian and knows my coworkers are from Italy, the chef actually cooks differently than what's on his menu.

Supposedly it's the same with Chinese food. Chinese people get different food vs what's on the menu.

My question... Without making special request of the chef which cuisine served in America is close to what is served in the "old" country? Chinese, Indian, Thai, Mexican, Japanese, etc, etc, etc?

Any opinions?

Answer 1

Indian food is pretty close to home, but it's made less spicier for non-Indians. They definitely tone down the spice. Most of the Indian restaurants I have eaten at were pretty close.

Answer 2

When people moved from their home country to another they often used to have to contend with the ingredients they wanted not being available, so they make compromises by using what is available. So they serve the meal...everyone loves it!! It's: Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Indian etc, etc. So these foods develop a "false" reputation.
Now that nearly any ingredients are available, a restaurant could expand their menu to reflect the changes.......I went to a "Mexican" restaurant in San Antonio that had a dish...(say tamales) that you could order in the "Guatemalan style", "Mountain style" or "Traditional Mexican style". Everyone in my group ordered is different one and we traded bites and they were all wonderful and different.
I think you could reflect the chef's variety by changing the menu. It could create a little friendly rivalry by naming the dishes by who likes them or who made them, IE. Joe's designer pasta, or Mike's favorite pizza. The menu should of course tell it like it is.
Many people will go for example to an Italian restaurant after a trip to Italy and be so disappointed because the food isn't like they remember and wanted.
Philippine food is one of the most unique examples. They have EXTREME food! It is the most wonderful combination of literally ALL ethnic foods, most of which are not made with the original ingredients. DELIGHTFUL! (beside the point)

Answer 3

I definitely do not think its Thai or Chinese food. These food is never authentic to what I make at home.
Mexican food I find it to be the closest especially if you don't go to chain restaurants. Smaller restaurants tend to have more authentic food and the chef usually know its clientele pretty well. They don't change their food to meet the palettes of the mass population.

Answer 4

Japanese restaurants usually go that extra bit to serve fairly authentic Japanese cuisine. Of course, there are China Towns and Mexican sections that also provide authentic fare, but they are invariably in large metropolitan areas or specifically close to the Mexican border. Small towns in the Midwest don't have it.

Answer 5

On my last trip to the US, I tried many different Indian restaurants (Punjabi, South Indian, Chaat...). Some were excellent and some were just okay, but on the whole I was impressed! They tasted pretty authentic, but I think personally that the most authentic Indian restaurants are mainly in NYC or Silicon Valley, SF.

Answer 6

There is really good Thai that is authentic they don't Americanize it unless you ask for it. You just have to keep trying different places to find the actual authentic. But Mexican can also be authentic especially if you go to a "mom and pop" one.

Answer 7

I would say Mexican with the consideration that Taco Bell is not Mexican Food.

Answer 8

I'd say Japanese (the real Japanese places, not the Philadelphia-roll type places). However I don't eat sushi, so I'm just basing this off of my friends' comments.

Answer 9

I would say indian and thai

Answer 10

Yes, I have already lost twenty pounds and walk an hour every day to control my diabetes.