In terms of recipes, chow mein has a standard one that gives very specific ingredients and steps. As mentioned before, chow mein noodles are often steamed, then fried, and then covered in sauce, making them softer.Ĭhop suey doesn’t have any noodles in its most common form, and the vegetables and meat are stir-fried, then served over steamed rice. Chop suey, though, is Chinese-American in origin, and the original recipe doesn’t exist.Īnother key difference between these two dishes is their preparation method. While some people often assume chow mein and chop suey are the same dishes, they are not equal and neither is their origin.įor starters, chow mein is traditionally Chinese, and it has a specific recipe to follow that has been adapted in other countries. What Are The Key Differences Between Chow Mein and Chop Suey? Some variations may also include broccoli, snow peas, and onions. Normally, chop suey is cooked with bean sprouts, celery, cabbage, and carrots. If you are trying to go for the original dish, then we suggest you try to eat the chop suey prepared with rice, which is also healthier due to the lower fat and higher fiber content in rice.Īs for the meat or vegetables, there is no real difference and the sauce varies. Some chop suey variations include noodles instead of rice, but these are deep-fried and never steamed. Some Asian cuisines, like Indian, Polynesian, and Indonesian, have adapted the dish to their version. Yet, traditionally, the vegetables and meat are served with rice. Since the origins aren’t clear, and neither is a specific recipe, the kinds of chop suey you can find are very different. One serving (170g) has the following nutritional content ( *): However, the vegetables and rice in it offer a variety of micronutrients. Nutritional information for chop suey is a bit complicated since its preparation varies from place to place. However, because the dish was invented to improvise with ingredients at hand, it doesn’t contain any noodles. Because of this, the origins and original recipes are unknown, which makes its preparation a bit more loose than chow mein.įirst, the meat and vegetables are chopped and then stir-fried with the sauce. While it looks similar to chow mein, chop suey was invented by Asian Americans. The fried kind tends to be used as a side dish and can be a bit greasy.

However, many people consider steamed chow mein to have better texture, flavors, and aroma. In terms of which one is best, that depends on taste. Soft chow mein is usually served with either beef, chicken, pork, or tofu. These two are considered the traditional chow mein dishes. Some variations exist depending on the country and restaurant you’re in. Soft chow mein, on the other hand, is served with many vegetables, including onions, celery, cabbage, carrots, and mung bean sprouts. Also, the crispy chow mein is served with onions and celery. The soft chow mein uses longer and rounder noodles, while the crispy kind uses fried and flat noodles. While chow mein is commonly the same across many restaurants and recipes, there are two kinds: steamed chow mein and crispy chow mein, also called Hong Kong-style chow mein. One serving (43g) has the following nutritional content ( *): The noodles in chow mein have a good amount of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The sauce allows the noodles to soften and become chewy, which makes the texture more appealing.

These noodles are covered in a thick, dark sauce, usually made with soy sauce, broth, oyster sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, ginger, and sugar. In English, chow mein means fried noodles, but the noodles are boiled first, then fried, and then the other ingredients are added. This dish is popular in Chinese restaurants but can be found in Indian and Nepalese cuisines. What Is Chow Mein?Ĭhow Mein refers to Chinese stir-fried noodles that come with vegetables, meat, or tofu. Instead of making the mistake of ordering the wrong thing, take a look at this article, and we’ll break down what chow mein and chop suey are and why you should eat either of them. What Are The Key Differences Between Chow Mein and Chop Suey?.

Chicken chop suey nutrition facts