A History of Chinese Food in the United States

While China has no national cuisine and comprises a rich, diverse, and unique array of dishes, Chinese food has taken on several denotations in the United States. Similar to fast food, it is quick, cheap, reliable, ubiquitous and tasty-- nearly every American can name a dish like General Tso’s Chicken or fried rice. However, Chinese food has also been labeled unhealthy or Chinese restaurants called unsanitary, while others decry certain dishes as “fake” Chinese food. These trends are closely linked to histories of anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States. Meanwhile, these dueling perceptions revealing surprising but notable insights about the history of Chinese immigration. Through food, Americans can re-examine the history of Chinese immigrants and their diverse origins, struggles, and triumphs. Everything, from the persistent stigma against Chinese eating habits to the ongoing debates over authenticity, trace back to how Chinese immigrants learned to survive, serve their clientele, and assert their cultural identity and belonging through the ages in Chinese restaurants. <a href="https://casoberlin.medium.com/a-history-of-chinese-food-in-the-united-states-a72d134d0e39">Website</a>