Liked this poll?

Join Tellwut for more!

or

Rewards
Walmart logo
Amazon logo
PayPal logo
Amazon gift card
Take surveys and collect rewards from the industry-leading e-commerce website, Amazon.com, Via "amazon gift cards". The more you take or create survey, larger the amazon gift card you earn.

Results: Exploring The History Of Chinese-American Food & Chinese Take Out

Published on 01/16/2025
By: fsr1kitty
2134
Food & Drink
Soon after the discovery of gold the Chinese colony in the city was large enough to support a couple of restaurants conducted by Cantonese cooks, who catered only to their fellow-exiles from the Middle Kingdom. The white men had heard the usual sailor yarns about what these pigtailed yellow men ate, and one night a crowd of miners decided they would try this strange fare just to see what it was like. They had been told that Chinese ate rats and they wanted to see whether or not it was true. When they got to the restaurant the regular customers had finished their suppers, and the proprietor was ready to close his doors. But the miners demanded food, so he did the best he could to avoid trouble and get them out of the way as soon as possible. He went out into the kitchen, dumped together all the food his Chinese patrons had left in their bowls, put a dash of Chinese sauce on top and served it to his unwelcome guests. As they didn’t understand Cantonese slang they didn’t know what he meant when he told them that they were eating chop suey, or “beggar hash.” At any rate, they liked it so well that they came back for more and in that chance way the great chop suey industry was established.
1.
1.
In 1849, Norman Asing, the self-appointed spokesperson for Chinese Californians, opened an all-you-can-eat buffet called Macao and Woosung, on the corner of Kearny and Commercial streets in San Francisco. The cost of a meal: $1. It's uncertain how long Asing's restaurant lasted, or how it contributed to the appetite for Chinese food among non-Chinese diners, but Macao and Woosung is seen as the birthplace of Chinese restaurant in America. Have you ever eaten Chop Suey?
Yes
52%
1082 votes
No
27%
559 votes
Undecided
8%
173 votes
Not Applicable
14%
286 votes
2.
2.
There are many categories of Chinese Cuisines but these are the most common: Cantonese foods originated in the Guandong, Hong Kong area, they tend to be salty and sweet and include a lot of seafood. Hunan cuisine is known for its sour-hot and chile-hot flavors. Chilies are a dominant ingredient in many dishes, and the condiment duo lajiao, which is chopped chilies pickled in vinegar and salt, is often added to dishes. Sichuan (Szechuan) comes from Western China and is based on the Sichuan Peppercorn that can numb your tongue, many spicy foods. Mandarin Chinese cuisine, also known as Northern Chinese cuisine, is characterized by a number of features, including: Wheat is a staple, and dishes often feature lamb and beef, uses a variety of seasonings and robust flavors, including garlic, vinegar, and soybean paste. Popular Mandarin dishes include Peking duck, Mandarin cuisine originated in the royal courts of China, and is influenced by the harsh climate of the region. The climate of Northern China leads to a cuisine that focuses on hearty dishes with warming flavors, which are ideal for comfort food in the cold seasons. Have you tried...?
Szechuan
34%
705 votes
Hunan
19%
403 votes
Cantonese
34%
717 votes
Mandarin
35%
734 votes
No
17%
357 votes
Undecided
10%
214 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
12 votes
Not Applicable
19%
401 votes
Other Answers Percentage Votes
0.16% 5
many others 0.03% 1
All of it is delicious 0.03% 1
Hakka 0.03% 1
a little of it all 0.03% 1
possibly! 0.03% 1
Northern China 0.03% 1
Fukanese 0.03% 1
3.
3.
General Tso was a 19th Centruy General from the Hunan province. He never tasted his namesake dish. It was created by Chef Peng-Chang-Kuei in Taiwan during the 1950s for a very Special State Dinner. This Chef later opened a restaurant in New York City in the 1970s. It is one of the most popular dishes on the Menu in Chinese Restaurants across America. Have you tried General Tso's Chicken?
Yes
45%
943 votes
No
30%
638 votes
Undecided
8%
168 votes
Not Applicable
17%
351 votes
4.
4.
7 Types of Chinese dumplings in Shanghai; Jiaozi, steamed or boiled, Sheng Jian Bao with a crispy fried bottom and soft top, Guotie (potsticker) they are fried and then steamed, Xiao Long Bao a soup dumpling, Wontons served in soups and fried, Baozi large steamed buns with fillings, Siu Mai, (Shao Mai) stuffed with Rice and meats. Have you ever tried...?
Jiaozi Dumplings
8%
164 votes
Sheng Jian Bao Dumplings
9%
193 votes
Guotie (potsticker) Dumplings
18%
373 votes
Xiao Long Bao Dumplings
8%
176 votes
Wontons
50%
1050 votes
Baozi, larged steamed buns with filling
9%
197 votes
Siu Mai (Shao Mai)
8%
178 votes
No
16%
339 votes
Undecided
6%
122 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
11 votes
Not Applicable
19%
391 votes
Other Answers Percentage Votes
0.14% 4
many more 0.04% 1
All of the above. The question below indicates you never worked as a news reporter or writer 0.04% 1
All dim sum. Is da bomb 0.04% 1
My friend used to make them...have no idea what they were called but they were delicious! 0.04% 1
Plain potstickers 0.04% 1
Soup dumplings 0.04% 1
Probably all of them but forgot the names of those dishes 0.04% 1
5.
5.
According to the National Restaurant Association, Chinese food is the most popular followed by Mexican and Italian. The market size for Chinese restaurants in the US is expected to be $27 billion in 2025. The Chinese restaurant industry has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.3% between 2019 and 2024. Chinese food has been popular in the US since the mid-1800s, when Chinese immigrants began opening restaurants after arriving in California during the Gold Rush. Experts estimate that there are more than 40,000 Chinese restaurants in the US now, a number that outstrips the total number of McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Wendy's locations in the US. Were you aware that Chinese Restaurants are so dominate in the US market?
Yes
31%
645 votes
No
37%
784 votes
Undecided
13%
272 votes
Not Applicable
19%
399 votes

Liked this poll?

Join Tellwut for more!

or
COMMENTS