Learn how to make your favorite takeout stir-fried noodles at home.


How to Make Chow Mein: Takeout-Style Chicken Chow Mein

Chow mein is a Chinese-American dish that gets its name from *chao mian* (literally "stir-fried noodles"); it contains parboiled egg noodles stir-fried with vegetables and sometimes meat. 
Fried noodles were first introduced to the West Coast of the United States by Cantonese immigrants in 1849, and the dish became famous stateside as early as the 1920s. In the early twentieth century, American-style chow mein egg noodles were typically stir-fried with celery, water chestnuts, green cabbage, and sliced meat. 

Chow mein and lo mein are both Chinese-American noodle dishes—the difference between them has to do with how wheat egg noodles are cooked and served. Traditionally chow mein noodles are served crispy and fried, whereas lo mein noodles are served boiled with sauce.

The terms are not used consistently, though. On the East Coast of the United States, chow mein refers to crispy noodles—also known as Hong Kong-style chow mein, which features noodles that are deep-fried until crunchy. On the West Coast, chow mein refers to a dish made with soft noodles that is known as lo mein on the East Coast.

Learn how to make your favorite takeout stir-fried noodles at home.


Chow mein is a Chinese-American dish that gets its name from chao mian (literally &quot;stir-fried noodles&quot;); it contains parboiled egg noodles stir-fried with vegetables and sometimes meat.

What Is Chow Mein?

Fried noodles were first introduced to the West Coast of the United States by Cantonese immigrants in 1849, and the dish became famous stateside as early as the 1920s. In the early twentieth century, American-style chow mein egg noodles were typically stir-fried with celery, water chestnuts, green cabbage, and sliced meat.

What Is the History of Chow Mein?

Chow mein and lo mein are both Chinese-American noodle dishes—the difference between them has to do with how wheat egg noodles are cooked and served. Traditionally chow mein noodles are served crispy and fried, whereas lo mein noodles are served boiled with sauce.The terms are not used consistently, though. On the East Coast of the United States, chow mein refers to crispy noodles—also known as Hong Kong-style chow mein, which features noodles that are deep-fried until crunchy. On the West Coast, chow mein refers to a dish made with soft noodles that is known as lo mein on the East Coast.

What Is the Difference Between Chow Mein and Lo Mein?

Takeout-Style Chicken Chow Mein Recipe

Learn how to make your favorite takeout stir-fried noodles at home.