Difference between Chow Mein and Chop Suey

Chinese food has made its mark all over the world and is perhaps the most famous food that has a wide variety of dishes available to try for those who enjoy different foods. The wide variety of menus still creates confusion among people because there are cases where the food looks similar but has a different name or taste. In any case, the names are so complicated that it is difficult to know which food will contain what once the order is placed. There is no doubt that the food is delicious and two of those items you know as Chow Mein and Chop Suey. There are many differences between them and so are the similarities in some cases. We will see what is different between them. To begin with, Chow Mein is one of the most consumed dishes in the world, while Chop Suey is usually restricted to two places, China and the United States. Another difference between them is that Chop Suey is known as American Chinese Cuisine, while Chow Mein is strictly Chinese. The main difference in them is the recipe, Chow Mein is to prepare noodles in a way that they fry, because when frying them they are harder and can be made of different types such as pancakes, simple noodles, cakes, balls and even kebabs. The Chop Suey, on the other hand, is the one that is prepared with the help of meat eggs that can then be eaten with the help or cooked with vegetables, beans and a typical sauce.Both foods are spicy and use different sauces, but the one that used in Chop Suey it is spicier because the meat is involved. Usually a small portion of meat is available with the first type of food while the quantity of meat, especially chicken, is higher in the second. Another difference between them is that noodles are the main ingredient in Chow Mein, while they are rarely or not used in Chop Suey. There are also some other differences that will be listed at the end, the next two paragraphs will show the basic explanation of both dishes.

Definition of Chow Mein

Chow Mein is one of the most famous dishes of Chinese food and is eaten all over the world, this is because they can be cooked in different ways and are adapted to people living in different parts of the world. The main way to cook this type of noodles is that they are fried, because when frying they are harder and can be made of different types such as pancakes, simple noodles, cakes, balls and even skewers. People prefer them because they have more spices and are easier to eat, which gives it a different flavor. Many things can be added in Chow Mein noodles, such as vegetables and meat and even fruits in some cases. They are less preferred in China because people do not like the use of spices, but in the world, this dish is the best ambassador of Chinese food.

Definition of Chop Suey

This one is not that famous compared to the other one, but it has its importance in some parts of the world. Instead of being more famous everywhere, it is usually eaten in China and the United States and that is due to the ingredients that are used. It is one of the few dishes that uses chicken in large proportions. It is cooked with the help of meat and eggs and then can be eaten with a variety of items such as rice, vegetables, beans, and other products. There is another specialty of this, which is a traditional sauce. It also has its roots in other parts of the world and is now mainly considered a common part of Thai, Indian and Filipino cuisines. This dish did not originate from China and is therefore one of the rare ones that have been added to the Chinese menu over time after originating from abroad.

1. Chow Mein is a dish that originated in China, while Chop Suey is a dish that originated in America.
2. Chow Mein has been on the menu for a long time, while Chop Suey is a new addition.
3. Chow Mein is preferred by traditional Chinese and people around the world, but Chop Suey is more famous in America.
4. Chow Mein has the main ingredient of the noodles in them, while Chop Suey does not use noodles in its preparation.
5. Chow Mein has a smaller portion of meat while it is being prepared, while Chop Suey has a large portion of meat and eggs.
6. Chow Mein takes less time to prepare, while Chop Suey takes longer to prepare.
7. Chow Mein is the most eaten of the two as Chop Suey is restricted to a few areas.
8. Chop Suey is making its mark in other cuisines today, while Chow Mein is already on many menus around the world.
9. There are more calories in Chop Suey, while the calorie count may be less as there is less meat and generally no eggs.

Final Thought

All in all, it can be said that the two terms are very different from each other. There are many cases where two types of food and species are confused with each other because they look similar or taste the same. This article has tried to clear up the misconception between these two without going into too much detail.