America chinese food and China chinese food

Hong Kong
August 8, 2009 1:31am CST
Do any of you guys find American chinese food at take away restaurants so completely different from chinese food served in either Chinatown restuarants or in China?.. I think its worlds apart..the takeout stuff is loaded with MSG isnt it?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
10 Aug 09
I recently returned from a tour of East Asia and Taiwan. I was away for 3 weeks and I became very hungry for some American food. There was very little or no flavor in the noodle soup I was eating 3 times a day. The food generally was very bland. After I returned to America I purposely stayed away from Chinese for about 3 months. When I finally went to a Chinese All-you-can-eat Buffet, I walked in and could smell the sweet flavors of sugar and plum sauce. I knew right then it was the sugar, MSG and plum sauce I was missing in East Asia. I don't like to eat sugar in excess, so now I shun Chinese food no matter what country I am going to dinner in.
• China
10 Aug 09
I think the chinese food you eat is not veritable. we soldem put sugar in the food.only a small part of chinese food is loaded with sugar.we use salt most. if you want to eat veritable chinese,please go to beijing, chengdu or guangzhou.I hope that you can find tasted food there!
• Hong Kong
10 Aug 09
I find the same thing with many of my friends- they actually prefer american chinese food to china chinese food.. and i really think it's the MSG that's making a world of difference. I think everything tastes bland compared to msg in the U.S. and I personally am so used to food here in hong kong i can't stand msg much.. i agree with victor you should try chinese food in different places you might find some you like!
@anna728 (1499)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Yes, I think there is definitely a big difference. I am not at all concerned about MSG though- it's in so much stuff and so many people eat it everyday I just don't think it can be that harmful. Anyway, even though I know that American Chinese food is fake, I still prefer the taste of it to more authentic, real Chinese food.