The Most Popular Chinese Food in America, Ranked
Voting rules: Choose the food you think is the most popular!
Updated on Apr 27, 2024 06:33
In a melting pot of cultures like America, food is a beautiful bridge between communities, and Chinese cuisine holds a special place in the heart of American dining. With such a plethora of options stemming from various regions in China, it can be intriguing to see which dishes resonate the most with American palates. This curiosity not only satisfies our taste buds but also deepens our appreciation of Chinese culinary arts.
Engaging in this ranking process allows us to celebrate the diversity and richness of Chinese food available across the country. By casting your vote, you contribute to a dynamic snapshot of popular tastes and preferences. It’s an opportunity to voice your choice and see how your favorite dishes stack up against others in real-time.
What Is the Most Popular Chinese Food in America?
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155votes
General Tso's Chicken
General TsoThis dish, made with crispy fried chicken pieces coated in a sweet and spicy sauce, is a favorite at Chinese-American restaurants across the country. Its popularity even inspired a documentary film.General Tso's Chicken is a popular Chinese chicken dish that consists of deep-fried battered chicken pieces coated in a sweet and savory sauce. The dish is known for its bold flavors and crispy texture, making it a favorite among many Chinese food enthusiasts.- Origin: Hunan Province, China
- Type: Chicken dish
- Cooking Method: Deep-fried
- Main Ingredients: Chicken, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, ginger, and hot chili peppers
- Flavor: Sweet and savory with a hint of spiciness
General Tso's Chicken in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular Chinese chicken dish
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244votes
Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0A staple of Chinese cuisine, fried rice is a simple and tasty dish of cooked rice stir-fried with vegetables, meat, and/or eggs. It's a popular side dish or entree at Chinese-American restaurants.Fried rice is a popular Chinese dish made by stir-frying cooked rice with a variety of ingredients. It is typically seasoned with soy sauce, and can include vegetables, meat, or seafood for added flavor and texture.- Main Ingredients: Cooked rice, soy sauce, vegetables, meat or seafood
- Cooking Method: Stir-frying
- Preparation Time: Varies, generally around 15-20 minutes
- Flavor: Savory and aromatic
- Texture: Tender rice with a slightly crispy exterior
Fried Rice in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular Asian dish
- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular dish at PF Chang's
- Position 8 of 10 in Most delicious Chinese food
- Position 10 of 10 in Most delicious food in Nigeria
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322votes
Eric T Gunther · CC BY-SA 3.0This noodle dish is made with wheat flour noodles stir-fried with vegetables, meat, and/or seafood. It's a comfort food that's easy to eat and satisfying.Lo Mein is a popular Chinese dish in America that consists of wheat flour noodles stir-fried with a variety of vegetables, meats, and sauces. It is known for its versatility, as it can be made with different combinations of ingredients according to personal preference.- Noodle Type: Lo Mein noodles are thick and soft wheat flour noodles.
- Ingredients: Lo Mein can be made with a variety of ingredients such as chicken, beef, shrimp, pork, or tofu, along with vegetables like bok choy, carrots, mushrooms, and onions.
- Sauces: Common sauces used in Lo Mein include soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil. These sauces add flavor and moisture to the dish.
- Cooking Method: The noodles are typically boiled or parboiled before being stir-fried with the other ingredients in a wok or frying pan.
- Texture: Lo Mein has a soft and slightly chewy texture due to the noodles and vegetables being cooked quickly over high heat.
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416votesA popular appetizer at Chinese-American restaurants, crab rangoon is made with cream cheese and crab meat wrapped in a wonton skin and deep-fried. It's crispy and savory, with a creamy filling.Crab Rangoon is a popular Chinese-American appetizer consisting of crispy wonton wrappers filled with a mixture of cream cheese, crab meat, garlic, and seasonings. The wontons are typically deep-fried until golden and served hot. The filling has a creamy and savory taste with a hint of sweetness.
- Main ingredients: Cream cheese, crab meat, garlic, wonton wrappers
- Origin: Chinese-American cuisine
- Texture: Crispy outside with a creamy filling
- Taste: Savory, slightly sweet
- Cooking method: Deep-fried
Crab Rangoon in other rankings- Position 7 of 10 in Most popular Hawaiian starter
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517votesAnother classic appetizer, egg rolls are filled with chopped vegetables, meat, and/or noodles, rolled up in a wrapper and deep-fried. They're crispy and flavorful, and often served with sweet and sour sauce.Egg rolls are a popular Chinese American dish consisting of a crispy, cylindrical fried pastry wrapper. They are typically filled with a mixture of finely chopped vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts, along with diced meats such as pork or shrimp. The filling is seasoned with various spices and sauces, and the rolls are deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. Egg rolls are commonly served as appetizers or as a part of a main course in Chinese restaurants in America.
- Wrapper: Crispy, deep-fried pastry
- Filling: Finely chopped vegetables (cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts), diced meats (pork, shrimp)
- Spices & sauces: Seasoned with various spices and sauces
- Shape: Cylindrical
- Texture: Golden brown and crispy exterior, tender filling
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610votes
N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0Kung Pao Chicken
Li ShunqingThis spicy dish features diced chicken stir-fried with peanuts, vegetables, and chili peppers. It's a flavorful and satisfying dish that's often requested at Chinese-American restaurants.Kung Pao Chicken is a popular Chinese dish that originates from the Sichuan province. It is a stir-fry dish made with diced chicken, peanuts, vegetables, and a flavorful sauce. The dish is known for its bold and spicy flavors, balanced with a hint of sweetness.- Main ingredients: Chicken, peanuts, vegetables
- Flavor: Bold, spicy, and slightly sweet
- Cooking method: Stir-fry
- Region of origin: Sichuan province, China
- Heat level: Moderate to high
Kung Pao Chicken in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular Chinese chicken dish
- Position 2 of 10 in Most delicious Chinese food
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular dish at Panda Express
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular dish at PF Chang's
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75votes
Orange Chicken
Panda ExpressSimilar to General Tso's chicken, this dish features crispy fried chicken pieces coated in a sweet and tangy orange sauce. It's a favorite among those who like a little sweetness in their savory dishes.Orange Chicken is a popular Chinese chicken dish where battered and deep-fried chicken is coated in a tangy and sweet orange sauce. The dish is known for its vibrant orange color and the perfect balance of flavors.- Origin: United States
- Main ingredients: Chicken, orange sauce
- Preparation method: Battering and deep-frying chicken, then coating with orange sauce
- Flavor profile: Tangy and sweet
- Texture: Crispy chicken with a smooth and sticky sauce
Orange Chicken in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular dish at Panda Express
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular Chinese chicken dish
- Position 6 of 10 in Most popular dish at PF Chang's
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815votes
Kolumbusjogger · CC BY-SA 3.0A traditional Cantonese cuisine, dim sum is a type of small bite-sized food served in steamer baskets or on small plates. It can include items like dumplings, buns, and rice rolls, and is often served at brunch or as a snack.Dim sum is a style of Chinese cuisine that consists of a variety of bite-sized dishes traditionally served in small steamer baskets or on small plates. It originated in the southern region of China and is now popular worldwide. Dim sum is often enjoyed as a brunch or lunch meal, and it is commonly served in tea houses or Cantonese-style restaurants. The dishes are typically prepared in small portions, allowing diners to enjoy a wide variety of flavors and textures in one sitting.- Steamed Dumplings: Dim sum often includes various types of steamed dumplings, such as siu mai and har gow, which are filled with ingredients like pork, shrimp, or vegetables.
- Steamed Buns: Another popular dim sum item is the steamed bun, known as baozi or bao. These fluffy and filled buns can contain a variety of fillings, such as barbecued pork, custard, or red bean paste.
- Rice Noodle Rolls: Rice noodle rolls, also known as cheong fun, are delicate and silky rolls filled with ingredients like shrimp, beef, or vegetables. They are often served with a flavorful soy-based sauce.
- Sticky Rice: Sticky rice, or lo mai gai, is another common dim sum dish. It consists of glutinous rice stuffed with ingredients like chicken, mushroom, and Chinese sausage, all wrapped in a lotus leaf and steamed.
- Spare Ribs: Dim sum often includes spare ribs, which are marinated in a savory sauce and then steamed to achieve tenderness. They are usually served in small portions for easy sharing.
Dim Sum in other rankings- Position 4 of 10 in Most delicious Chinese food
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92votes
NeoBatfreak · CC BY-SA 4.0A popular soup in Chinese cuisine, hot and sour soup is made with a spicy and sour broth, mushrooms, tofu, and bamboo shoots. It's a flavorful and warming dish that's perfect for cold weather.Hot and Sour Soup is a popular Chinese soup that is known for its spicy and tangy flavors. It is a thick soup packed with various ingredients and is often served as an appetizer. The soup has a rich and complex flavor profile, combining heat from chili peppers, tanginess from vinegar, and a subtle sweetness.- Region of origin: China
- Main ingredients: Mushrooms, tofu, bamboo shoots, eggs, vinegar, chili peppers, soy sauce
- Consistency: Thick and hearty
- Flavor profile: Spicy, tangy, and slightly sweet
- Texture: Smooth with various ingredients adding crunchiness
Hot and Sour Soup in other rankings- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular Chinese soup
- Position 3 of 10 in Most delicious Chinese food
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103votes
Ynotswim at English Wikipedia · Public domainAnother classic Chinese-American dish, moo shu pork features shredded pork stir-fried with vegetables and scrambled eggs, served with thin pancakes and hoisin sauce. It's a tasty and filling entree that's perfect for sharing.Moo Shu Pork is a popular Chinese dish in America characterized by stir-fried pork, scrambled eggs, and various vegetables, all served with Mandarin pancakes and accompanied by hoisin sauce. The name 'Moo Shu' translates to 'wood shavings' in Mandarin, which describes the appearance of the shredded ingredients.- Ingredients: Pork, eggs, wood ear mushrooms, cabbage, carrots, scallions, garlic, ginger
- Cooking Method: Stir-fried
- Accompaniments: Mandarin pancakes, hoisin sauce
- Flavor Profile: Savory and slightly sweet
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes
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Ranking factors for popular food
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PopularityAssess the popularity of the dish by considering how frequently it is ordered, its presence on Chinese restaurant menus, and general public recognition of the dish.
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Cultural authenticityDetermine whether the dish originated in Chinese cuisine or is an adaptation/variation made to cater to American tastes.
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Taste preferencesAnalyze American taste preferences and the appeal of the dish's flavors, textures, and ingredients.
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AvailabilityConsider how widely available the dish is across different regions of the United States and whether there are any regional variations.
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Differences from traditional Chinese dishesEvaluate how much the dish has been adapted for American tastes and how closely it resembles the original Chinese version.
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Media and pop culture representationAssess how frequently the dish is portrayed in media, such as TV shows, movies, and online content, which can help determine its popularity.
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Reviews and ratingsAnalyze user-generated reviews and ratings on food platforms or social media to gauge overall satisfaction with the dish and its popularity.
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Recipe search dataInvestigate search data for popular recipe websites to understand which Chinese dishes Americans are trying to cook at home.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most popular Chinese food in America. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or food is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 3795 views
- 178 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each food once every 24 hours. The rank of each food is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
More information on most popular chinese food in america
Chinese cuisine has been a staple in America for decades, with its diverse range of flavors and dishes captivating the taste buds of many. From traditional dishes like General Tso's chicken and egg rolls to more modern options like bubble tea and bao buns, Chinese food has become deeply ingrained in American culture.
But what is the most popular Chinese food in America? According to a recent StrawPoll survey, the top three most popular Chinese dishes are fried rice, lo mein, and orange chicken. These dishes are widely available at Chinese restaurants and takeout spots across the country, and have become go-to choices for many Americans.
It's worth noting that regional preferences and cultural influences can also play a role in determining the popularity of certain Chinese dishes. For example, Cantonese cuisine is more prevalent on the West Coast, while Sichuan cuisine is more popular in the Northeast.
Regardless of regional differences, one thing is clear: Chinese cuisine has a special place in the hearts (and stomachs) of many Americans.
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