US Chinese Food Authenticity

The cluster centers on debates about the authenticity of Chinese food in the US versus genuine Chinese cuisine, highlighting American-invented dishes like General Tso's chicken, experiences of Chinese visitors unfamiliar with US menus, and tips for finding real Chinese restaurants.

📉 Falling 0.3x Politics & Society
2,493
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#39
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
2
2008
10
2009
15
2010
37
2011
22
2012
28
2013
73
2014
53
2015
124
2016
185
2017
229
2018
241
2019
260
2020
223
2021
250
2022
196
2023
274
2024
130
2025
136
2026
5

Keywords

NY TW US LA WW2 HK ShuMai BTW UK USA chinese food china rice eat japanese dishes restaurants eaten authentic

Sample Comments

epcoa Mar 8, 2025 View on HN

These are super common in Chinatown (pick one) restaurants in the US and they have been for a few years. I thought they were Chinese.

D13Fd Apr 28, 2024 View on HN

Chinese food often delivers too.

tomcam May 2, 2017 View on HN

OTOH try getting a real salad in China

bllguo Aug 4, 2017 View on HN

It's somewhat common, and is sold as an appetizer at many non-Americanized Chinese restaurants I've been to. Unfortunately, not too many of those around if you're in certain areas.

alliao Jun 28, 2021 View on HN

what you're witness isn't actually Chinese food it's the melting pot of multiculturalism in action. Just like curry in UK, General Tso's chicken is now part of the US identity. New comers will bring new forks but the old dare I say classics are here to stay.

teyc Jun 14, 2010 View on HN

No chance. Chinese people are not exotic enough :( , we are as common as Chinese restaurants.

rangibaby Dec 3, 2016 View on HN

> My sister who traveled several times to the mainland said she has never seen it on a menu there. You think that is possibly a slight against Taiwan?I have never seen it in my life and Japanese Wikipedia says that like Chop Suey it is an Americanized dish.In general Chinese food is wildly different depending on where you eat it; there was not much in common between local Chinese food I ate in Beijing, Sichuan, or Kuala Lumpur.

magic_beans Dec 14, 2016 View on HN

There are many other places to eat in China than a street cart.

Mikeb85 Sep 10, 2017 View on HN

Fair, but that's a significant portion of Chinese cuisine in restaurants around here.

Markoff May 3, 2017 View on HN

you never been to real Chinese restaurant, ordering raw cucumbers or tomorrow as one of the dishes is extremely common, I was always amused to see people wasting money on this in China, since there is pretty much zero preparation besides chopping but price is almost on par with main meat course