Where does Chow Mein come from?

Chow Mein — country of origin: China.

What is Chow Mein made of?

Wheat noodles, chicken, cabbage, bean sprout, spring onion, carrot, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil.

Which allergens does Chow Mein contain?

Contains cereals and gluten-containing products. Contains eggs and egg products. Contains soybeans and soybean products. Contains sesame seeds and sesame products.

How do you pronounce Chow Mein?

炒面 (Chinese) is pronounced /tʂʰau˨˩˦ mjɛn˥˩/.

Chow Mein

炒面Pronunciation (IPA) /tʂʰau˨˩˦ mjɛn˥˩/

Wheat egg noodles stir-fried over high heat with vegetables and usually chicken, pork or prawns — a Cantonese dish that became a fixture of Chinese restaurant menus worldwide.

Also known as: Chǎomiàn · Fried noodles

Allergens & declarations

Contains

Cereals (gluten)

Wheat

Contains cereals and gluten-containing products

Egg

Contains eggs and egg products

Soybeans

Contains soybeans and soybean products

Sesame Seeds

Contains sesame seeds and sesame products

This describes the classic recipe, so you know what to ask about. It is not a declaration for any particular kitchen — recipes and suppliers vary, and only the restaurant can tell you what is in the dish it serves.

In detail

Chow mein is stir-fried wheat noodles — 炒麵, literally "fried noodles". The name is the Cantonese reading, and the dish travelled with Cantonese cooks onto Chinese restaurant menus worldwide.

What it really is

The noodles are wheat and usually made with egg. They are boiled briefly, drained and cooled, then finished in a wok over very high heat: garlic and ginger first, hard vegetables next, softer ones after, and in most versions chicken, pork or prawns. Soy sauce and a little sesame oil go in at the end.

Two families sit under one name. Soft chow mein tosses the drained noodles through the wok until they are coated and lightly browned. Hong Kong style presses them into a cake, fries it until the surface crisps, then ladles the stir-fry over the top.

It is not lo mein: those noodles are boiled and tossed with sauce, never fried hard.

How it is served

Straight from the wok, as a main.
Bean sprouts and spring onion added last, so they stay crisp.
Chilli oil, black vinegar or extra soy sauce at the table.

Name the protein, or write it as vegetable chow mein.
Say whether it is soft or crisp-fried Hong Kong style.
The noodles are wheat and usually contain egg; soy sauce carries soy and often wheat.

Typical ingredients

Put it on your menu with Menuella

Frequently asked questions

What is Chow Mein?: Wheat egg noodles stir-fried over high heat with vegetables and usually chicken, pork or prawns — a Cantonese dish that became a fixture of Chinese restaurant menus worldwide.
Where does Chow Mein come from?: Chow Mein — country of origin: China.
What is Chow Mein made of?: Wheat noodles, chicken, cabbage, bean sprout, spring onion, carrot, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil.
Which allergens does Chow Mein contain?: Contains cereals and gluten-containing products. Contains eggs and egg products. Contains soybeans and soybean products. Contains sesame seeds and sesame products.
What is Chow Mein also known as?: Chǎomiàn, Fried noodles.
How do you pronounce Chow Mein?: 炒面 (Chinese) is pronounced /tʂʰau˨˩˦ mjɛn˥˩/. Select the speaker button next to the dish name to hear it.