What's the difference between Chinese, Japanese and Thai food?

Question

obviously spice, flavors and ingredients - otherwise it would be identical. I'm wondering what those are.

Answer 1

japanese often uses (raw) fish

thai is quite spicy/hot

it's like saying what's the difference between american, mexican and canandian food

Answer 2

wow, what a loaded question.

China is huge. Chinese cuisine varies a LOT from region to region, and some of can be a bit similar to Thai food (e.g. the use of spices and curries) due to their respective geographies.

The Chinese food here in anytown USA is generally an Americanized version of (mostly) southern Chinese cuisine, adapted to suit American tastes. If you go to the big coastal cities, you can actually dine in restaurants specializing in Hong Kong cuisine, Shanghainese, Beijing, Szechuan, Taiwainese, etc. You really have to see how varied the cuisine is. It can be as varied as "European" cuisine (try lumping French, Spanish, Italian, Portugese, Greek and Dutch food into a single category!)

Japanese food differs quite a bit from the two above, primarily due to their history of isolation (closing their borders to trade for centuries). Also, the Japanese emphasize presentation of the food, which stems from Zen Buddhist principles. The Japanese diet consists mostly of fish, which only makes sense since Japan is an archipelago.

Answer 3

Besides what countries the foods/dishes originated from, the main differences are:

Chinese is more of an "everyone" type of cuisine, as there's usually something for everyone. The flavors can range from spicy hot to mild, but usually not too sweet (unless you get a "sweet and sour" dish)

Japanese is usually fresh (raw) fish, rice, tempura (vegetables lightly battered and deep fried)

Thai is usually sweet and/or spicy and often has coconut milk and basil as ingredients.

Answer 4

Well Thai uses coconut milk and hot peppers ..... it is wonderful.

When I think of Japanese I think of a wok and more stir fry.

Chinese is the wonton soup and egg rolls and everything else. I must admit I love it all.

Answer 5

Chinese and Japanese usually use different spices and Japanese uses more raw fish than the Chinese do, as for Thai Food, theres is just more spicy as well different spices, and the names are just different to.

Answer 6

location, location, location

Answer 7

Japanese people use a lot of raw fish and tofu were as Thai people use more spices and exotic things [like bugs] and Chinese people use more vegetables.

Answer 8

chinese would use more vegetables but alot of sodium with msg

japanese would use alot of raw fish

thai would use more spicy flavors

japanese would be the healthiest out of all of them

Answer 9

spices, flavor, ingredients.