Chop Suey Vs. Chow Mein: What's the Difference?

Because you'll see both dishes on menus throughout the world, trying to pick which classic Chinese-American dish you want most— chop suey vs. chow mein—can be tough decision. Of course, to end the debate, you have to know what is the difference between chow mein and chop suey, exactly. (Don't worry, we had to look this up, too.)

Read on, and we'll explain the difference, then direct you to some Chinese restaurants where you can taste the difference for yourself.

What is chop suey?

While it has roots in southern China, chop suey (pictured above) is one of the most popular kind of dishes in Americanized Chinese food. While its specific definition can vary from chef to chef, chop suey almost always includes some kind of meat (beef, chicken, pork, or seafood) paired with vegetables and sometimes an egg. After that, there are a few other distinguishing features:

• The Base: It's typically served with rice as its base. You might occassionally see it with steamed noodles.
• The Sauce: It's topped with a thick, starch-based gravy.
• The Variations: There are too many to count—basically, chop suey is a kind of dish, with little differences at every Chinese restaurant you go to.
• Is There a System of a Down Song Named After It? Yes, a 2001 song that was a big hit!

Ok, then, what is chow mein?

Chow mein (pictured above) does share some similarities with chop suey: notably, it's made with meat (chicken, beef, pork, seafood, or tofu), vegetables, and a sauce. Both are Chinese-American staples, but there are a few distinct differences. Here's how to tell if what you're eating is chow mein:

• The Base: It's crispy stir-fried noodles. In fact, this is the easiest way to spot the difference between chow mein and chop suey. If there's rice, it's chop suey. If there are noodles, it's probably chow mein.
• The Sauce: Soy sauce, never thickened.
• The Variations: Sometimes, you'll see this same dish, but with steamed noodles. This is often called lo mein.
• Is There a System of a Down Song Named After It? No, not yet.

Chop Suey vs. Chow Mein: A Summary

So, to review:

	Chop Suey	Chow Mein
Sauce	Thick, gravy	Thin, usually soy sause
Base	Usually rice	Always noodles
Variations	Many	Basically, just one (lo mein)
Song Named After It?	Yes	No

Most Important: Where Can I Try Both?

That's easy! Find a Chinese restaurant nearest you, and decide which is the winner of the "chop suey vs. chow mein" debate. To see deals on Chinese food, click on your metropolitan area below:

New York City	Los Angeles	Chicago	Dallas
Houston	Washington, DC	Miami	Philadelphia
Atlanta	Boston	Phoenix	San Francisco
Detroit	Seattle	Minneapolis	San Diego
Tampa	Denver	Baltimore	St. Louis
Charlotte	Orlando	San Antonio	Portland, OR
Pittsburgh	Sacramento	Las Vegas	Cincinnati
Kansas City	Austin, TX	Columbus, OH	Cleveland
Indianapolis	Nashville	Toronto, ON	Providence
Milwaukee	Jacksonville	Raleigh, NC	New Orleans

 

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