Chow Mein

Chow mein is a standard Chinese American dish with roots in China. Its name is the Americanization of chao mian, or “fried noodles.” Made from wheat noodles, it probably originated in the wheat-growing districts of northern China. Over the centuries, many regions of China developed variations of chao mian, with a range of toppings and methods of frying. Beginning in 1849, Chinese immigrants from Guangdong province arrived in the United States, bringing their distinctive Cantonese style of cooking, including their noodle dishes.