How much different is authentic Chinese food from Chinese takeout?

Question

I have always loved Chinese takeout, but I know that alot of it has been created to appeal to Westerners. How different is it from the food that Chinese people make for themselves?

Answer 1

the same difference as a rusted out Ugo auto and a new horse. they are completely different with some of the same spices

take out and restaurant Chinese food is American food.

Answer 2

not as greasy

Answer 3

Very, very, VERY different. Real Chinese food, at least in the part of China I'm from, does not have goopy thick sauces, is much less fattening and over-salted, and includes more veggies. Also, less beef and more pork is eaten (unless, of course, you're a veggie) and is you're by the coast seafood is fresh and plentiful. Much of it is steamed. Also, people tend to eat family style with 4 to 5 dishes which everyone share, not just one entry and rice. Oh, and yes, people eat much more rice in China.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Go to a real Chinese restaurant in your city where real Chinese people are eating... the difference is incredible. I LOVE real Chinese food - especially all their delicious steamed buns, dumplings, all kinds of leafy greens,tofu, different kinds of fungus and mushrooms and fermented and pickled wonderful things.

What they do with soy and wheat protein to create mock meat (for vegetarians and Buddhists) is amazing - you wouldn't know half of the time that you were not eating real chicken, pork or fish. That kind of food is so good for you and interesting. If you see this Buddhist food on the menu, you have got to try it. Cheers :)

They may eat some different parts of animals that you wouldn't normally eat, but it's no weirder than the tripe (stomach lining), brains, ox tongue and unimaginable stuff in sausages and burgers that people in western countries eat.

Answer 5

My wonderful former neighbour was a chinese restaurant chef. He had come from mainland China to Australia, but done all his training in China.

He told me that the type of food in Chinese restaurants in Australia is BASED ON 'banquet' or special occasion food served in China, the type of thing you would get if you go to some big formal party or event.

However, because western and Chinese cuisines are very different, the first Chinese restaurant owners modified the food to suit the customers' tastes (very smart), and so started the tradition of 'chinese' style food which would be unknown in China ~ a bit like the Outback Steakhouse food compared with actual Aussie food, or McDonalds compared with what americans really eat (I guess).

Being the chief Aussie taste tester for new dishes he was trying out, I got to hear a lot of information and opinion like that.

BUT, for his own meals and that of his family, they had a very simple diet. Mainly freshly prepared soups with fresh ingredients, fresh meat or fish, fresh veggies and fresh herbs and spices, with rice or noodles.

They were all very slim people, and I think this wholesome but basically simple diet had a lot to do with it. Of course, after being around rich, heavy foods all day at work, he may just have preferred simple meals, but he did say that his family's diet was quite typical of the region of China he came from (the middle, lol).

Other regions have other 'typical' foods, but mostly simple dishes, easy to prepare at home and cost effective, just as anywhere in the world the ordinary home meals would be.

Cheers :-)

Answer 6

it is very different.chinese people often cook with the animals that we'd normally use as pets, cats, dogs, rodents- but since this is america, i do believe it is against the law for them to do that (cook them)in the U.S.but, back where they're from,- it's totally fine for them

Answer 7

Not even close.  Its like comparing the Mona Lisa to a kid's crayon scribbles, hanging on the fridge.

Answer 8

Not that Ive ever been to China to try authentic Chinese cuisine, but I have been to several different countries and their food varies enormously. Like now I'm in Mexico and it seems to cater for the Mexicans tastes like including lots of Chill is.

Answer 9

very

Answer 10

everything, seems like an american trying to get people to eat "chinese", real chinese is something that you won't ever eat, like chicken feet, cow tongues, pig blood, etc

Answer 11

Hugely different.  Get a traditional Chinese cookbook or research it on the web.  They pretty much don't even eat the same Chinese foods we do, our Chinese food is not found in China.