What You Should Know Before Ordering Lo Mein or Chow Mein
Customers often get confused between Chow Mein and Lo Mein. However, both these noodles have subtle differences that are specialties. The below-mentioned guide should offer customers some insight
11th February 2019
Food lovers often get confused when distinguishing Chow Mein from Lo Mein. The physical characteristics are negligible to the average food enthusiast. There are Vietnamese and Cajun restaurants in Texas too. However, Chinese cuisine still has the highest number of takers among customers.
However, not many of them can differentiate Lo Mein from Chow Mein. If customers look up authentic Chinese restaurant near me then they will always find Chow and Lo Mein categorised separately. So, let us find out what distinguishes the two.
A guide to enjoying Lo Mein
To the ordinary eye, Chow Mein and Lo Mein are the same. Both these items are long strings of flour. However, food critics and lovers alike should realise that if you look closely at Lo Mein strings, their thickness and flat shape becomes obvious. Lo Mein resembles spaghetti more than Chow Mein.
Lo Mein’s name is derived from the Chinese phrase ‘Lo’ which means ‘tossed’. Lo Mein noodles are ideally tossed during preparation and not stir-fried. The easiest distinguishing features about Lo Mein noodles are:
i. Lo Mein noodles are usually prepared dry.
ii. The tossed noodles are less greasy than Chow.
iii. Lo Mein is served with light sauces
iv. Shredded and boiled vegetables and meat are familiar with Lo Mein.
Guide to enjoying Chow Mein
Chow Mein is made from the same ingredients as Lo Mein. A lot of Cajun Restaurants in Texas that serve other forms of cuisine often mix up the two. However, Chow has a much different texture than Lo Mein. The word ‘Chow’ comes from the Chinese phrase meaning ‘fried’. Chow Mein is ideally fried in preparation.
Chow Mein is prepared crisp or steamed soft. The crisp Chow Mein is prepared by deep-frying the noodles in oil. Steamed noodle may or may not be fried in oil as per preference. A few distinguishing features of Chow Mein are:
i. Thinner, stringier noodle strands.
ii. A thick, spicy sauce is served with the noodles.
iii. Diced and chopped vegetables are stir-fried and added to the Chow for further frying.
With this information, the Chinese cuisine lovers in Texas will find it easier to order food when they look up ‘Chinese restaurant near me’ on their phone.