Why do Chinese Restaurants Have So Many Dishes? (1 Viewer)

[mr roboto]

Went to an awesome Chinese place yesterday. Authentic for sure. 75% of the patrons were Chinese families. 

They had a Chinese section of their menu (more authentic Szcheuan dishes) and an Americanized section. Each section had like 175 choices. 

Go to an American restaurant they may have like 40 dishes and maybe 20-30 sandwiches/salads. 

 

[James Daulton]

Went to an awesome Chinese place yesterday. Authentic for sure. 75% of the patrons were Chinese families. 

They had a Chinese section of their menu (more authentic Szcheuan dishes) and an Americanized section. Each section had like 175 choices. 

Go to an American restaurant they may have like 40 dishes and maybe 20-30 sandwiches/salads. 

175 choices?  WTF?

 

[Doug B]

The various cuisines of China typically feature modularly-assembled dishes. There are many one-off specialities, to be sure. But the everyday meals will be ( a ) a protein, ( b ) a vegetable/vegetable medley, and ( c ) a sauce. Rice (steamed or fried) is virtually de rigeur -- and if not rice, there will be noodles.

Just looking at a menu from one of the better Chinese places locally (but by no means "fancy") ... they take a basic like "fried rice" and come up with this many permutations:

- 'Plain' fried rice (only some seasoning veggies and egg)
- Vegetable fried rice (the above with tons of veggies tossed in)
- Chicken fried rice
- Beef fried rice
- Pork fried rice
- Shrimp fried rice
- Crawfish fried rice (in season)
- House Special fried rice (usually chicken + beef + pork)
- Pineapple fried rice (pork or chicken fried rice with green curry and pineapple chunks)

So, that's nine varieties of a basic dish, and doesn't even get into the various sauces.

 

[need2know]

175 choices?  WTF?

No ####.  It's all rice and meat

 

[Limp Ditka]

Checking my local place, their menu seems larger than it is because they have a section for each type of protein. So Kung Pow is listed about 6 times, once under each protein, when it really doesn't have to be. 

 

[James Daulton]

Checking my local place, their menu seems larger than it is because they have a section for each type of protein. So Kung Pow is listed about 6 times, once under each protein, when it really doesn't have to be. 

I do this with my resume.

 

[lakerstan]

There are mathematically billions of combinations at your local Starbucks, Subway sandwich shop or pizza place.  The just don't put them on the menu.

 

[shadyridr]

Sounds like cheesecake factory menu

 

[otb_lifer]

well, they do have two columns to fill, so there's that. 

 

[The Duff Man]

Because there are a lot of ways to skin a cat 

 

[Nugget]

Sounds like cheesecake factory menu

If you are able to sell advertising in your menu, it may be too big.

 

[Gustavo Fring]

They want to serve you long time.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

No ####.  It's all rice and meat

Rice and meat is my favorite Chinese dish.  

 

[Osaurus]

Making me hungry.  And hungry later too.

 

[Da Guru]

Like Mexican food the basics are the same.  Just swap out veggies and noodles and some sauces.

 

[RokNRole]

Asians love numbers bro. 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

They want to serve you long time.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

2017 is the year of the rooster so keep that in mind when you order.

Not a bad year to go when you consider 2016 was the year of the monkey.

 

[massraider]

Like Mexican food the basics are the same.  Just swap out veggies and noodles and some sauces.

So odd.  Menu descriptions ar Mexican restaunts are hilarious:

Item 1:  Corn torilla, refried beans, rice

Item 2:  Refried beans, corn tortilla, rice

Item 3:  Rice, refried beans, corn tortilla...................cilantro

 

[Chadstroma]

The various cuisines of China typically feature modularly-assembled dishes. There are many one-off specialities, to be sure. But the everyday meals will be ( a ) a protein, ( b ) a vegetable/vegetable medley, and ( c ) a sauce. Rice (steamed or fried) is virtually de rigeur -- and if not rice, there will be noodles.

Just looking at a menu from one of the better Chinese places locally (but by no means "fancy") ... they take a basic like "fried rice" and come up with this many permutations:

- 'Plain' fried rice (only some seasoning veggies and egg)
- Vegetable fried rice (the above with tons of veggies tossed in)
- Chicken fried rice
- Beef fried rice
- Pork fried rice
- Shrimp fried rice
- Crawfish fried rice (in season)
- House Special fried rice (usually chicken + beef + pork)
- Pineapple fried rice (pork or chicken fried rice with green curry and pineapple chunks)

So, that's nine varieties of a basic dish, and doesn't even get into the various sauces.

Exactly. The prep work is not exponentially greater with so many dishes because the basics are are there and it is just some variation on it. The above example of fried rice is a great example. You already have the chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, veggies, etc that are also used in other dishes. You throw in the rice with whatever was ordered and it doesn't complicate life much. Most places these days will have Mongolian Beef..... and Mongolian Chicken and Mongolian Pork... etc. The number of ingredients are not that great and it is more about the combo, style, sauces, etc which do not add work or complicate things. 

 

[Limp Ditka]

Because they have the SUPPLIES! to make that many dishes?

 

[Da Guru]

So odd.  Menu descriptions ar Mexican restaunts are hilarious:

Item 1:  Corn torilla, refried beans, rice

Item 2:  Refried beans, corn tortilla, rice

Item 3:  Rice, refried beans, corn tortilla...................cilantro

My friend sells food for for Sysco and I have been on calls with him a number of times.

At the Mexican restaurants everything in the kitchen is laid out just like a Taco Bell with better ingredients.

Everything except for the fajitas is premade.  Ground beef and chicken, beans, rice, cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, guac, salsa,  from there they just put in on a taco, burrito, tostada, enchilada.  Quite simple and actually their food costs are very low compared to places.

 

[William Munny]

Been all over moo shu lately. Love those pancakes and the plum sauce. 

 

[Leroy Hoard]

2017 is the year of the rooster so keep that in mind when you order.

Not a bad year to go when you consider 2016 was the year of the monkey.

Have to add that 2018 is year of the dog, so hurry in.

 

[jabarony]

I'm guessing because the workers may have limited English skills and are trying to avoid Subway-like discussions of add this, minus that, etc.

Here's 100 options, American Joe.  One of these numbers should work for your lardass.

 

[MarvinTScamper]

I do this with my resume.

I can't imagine how six types of Kung Pow on your resume are going to make a difference, but impressive nonetheless.

 

[wikkidpissah]

I can't imagine how six types of Kung Pow on your resume are going to make a difference, but impressive nonetheless.

Especially if a prospective employer has peanut allergies

 

[EYLive]

As I read this thread, I come to realize how few of you have been to a proper Chinese seafood restaurant. It's not your fault, you only know what you've been exposed to. But so many of you are missing out on some outstanding, complex, varied and delicious cuisine and that's too bad.

 

[Zow]

Sounds like cheesecake factory menu

my first thought as well. 

 

[brun]

Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich...

 

[EYLive]

Went to an awesome Chinese place yesterday. Authentic for sure. 75% of the patrons were Chinese families. 

They had a Chinese section of their menu (more authentic Szcheuan dishes) and an Americanized section. Each section had like 175 choices. 

Go to an American restaurant they may have like 40 dishes and maybe 20-30 sandwiches/salads. 

If you think about the age of Chinese civilization (3500+ years), the size of it country/empire, it's numerous provinces, influences and resources, it's not too surprising how varied the food is. That restaurant might have had a completely different menu for dim sum as well.

 

[MarvinTScamper]

I feel bad for me too.  I want to go to Szechuan province...but alas, it's in China.