Knowing The Difference Between Lo Mein And Chow Mein Might Make You Change Your Go-To Order (2024)

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Knowing The Difference Between Lo Mein And Chow Mein Might Make You Change Your Go-To Order? ›

Chow mein: thin, dried noodles that are parboiled for 5-6 minutes, and fried alongside veggies and meat. Lo mein: fat, chewy noodles that are boiled for a few minutes, then added to stir-fry after veggies and meat is cooked.

The biggest difference between chow mein and lo mein lies in the translations of their names: chow mein is fried, and lo mein is tossed. The experience is somewhat different between the two. Lo mein tends to be saucier and more toothsome, with a texture some describe as “slippery” because of the noodles' softness.

For starters, chow mein is a stir-fried dish whose name comes from the Mandarin word chǎomiàn, which translates to "fried noodles." Lo mein, on the other hand, is called lao mian in Cantonese, which translates to "mixed" or "tossed noodles." That said, the two major differences between these two dishes are the noodles ...

The thickest variety, lo mein is reserved for stir-fried noodle dishes with a heavy or rich sauce. Think sliced beef, like in this stir-fried lo mein with beef and broccoli, or the thick brown gravy you find at food court steam tables.

Crispy chow mein uses fried, flat noodles, while soft chow mein uses long, rounded noodles. Crispy chow mein either has onions and celery in the finished dish or is served "strained", without any vegetables.

Noodles: Chow fun uses chewy wide rice noodles, while chow mein is made with thin, round egg noodles that get a bit crispy when cooked. Sauce: Chow fun can be made wet (more sauce) or dry (less sauce). Chow mein is typically a bit dryer than chow fun.

Steamed Fish and Vegetables

Takeout menus tend to offer a mild-tasting variety of protein-rich white fish, such as sole, and it's paired with mixed vegetables. The veggies add fiber, a key nutrient for digestion and heart health. If you have the chance to choose or add Chinese eggplant as a veggie, go for it.

It's not recommended to reheat lo mein multiple times as it can degrade the quality and raise food safety concerns. Reheat only the amount you'll consume.

If you're someone who likes texture, a Panda Express chow mein may be the best bet for you as it has the crunch from the vegetables and crispy noodles. But if you want a saucy dish with chewy noodles you can slurp, a hot and sour shrimp lo mein will surely satisfy you.

Lo mein (traditional Chinese: 撈麵/撈麪; simplified Chinese: 捞面; Cantonese Yale: lou¹ min⁶; pinyin: lāo miàn) is a Chinese dish with noodles. It often contains vegetables and some type of meat or seafood, usually beef, chicken, pork, or shrimp.

Which is tastier lo mein or chow mein? ›

When it comes to choosing the better Chinese noodle dish, the ultimate factor is personal taste. While some noodle lovers enjoy the crunch of dried egg noodles expertly stir-fried into a delicious chow mein dish, others prefer a heaping bowl of steaming, sauce-soaked lo mein.

"Lo mein would be considered more nutritious because the noodles are not fried and there is less oil used in the cooking," Jaelin says. "Lo mein has less than half the calories and fat found in chow mein. It's also significantly lower in sodium," Horton says.

Adding too much water to cook dry chow mein will make the noodles too soft and prone to deforming.

Typical side dishes like fried rice, lo mein noodles, crab rangoon, and egg rolls are high in calories — and fat. Healthier choices include steamed brown rice, sautéed or steamed vegetables, spring rolls, or soups like egg drop soup or hot and sour soup.

Some may argue that Panda Express chow mein is a LO mein, but looking over these qualifications above, you know that is actually IS a chow mein. Panda got it right. The noodles are stir-fried, they are a little oily, there is little sauce used, and they aren't easy to slurp.

Chow Mein (with beansprouts) is among the most popular of dishes on Chinese takeaway menus, and for good reason. Smokey, charred onions, crispy beansprouts and soft noodles combine with soy sauce & white pepper for a deliciously fragrant dish.