12 things you probably didn't know about American-Chinese food

Erin McDowellJun 2, 2020, 01:07 IST

"Chinese takeout containers" were invented in Chicago in the 1970s.Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

American-Chinese food has become its own cuisine, partially due to "Americanized" takes on classic Chinese dishes.
What's now known as "Chinese food" in the US first surfaced in California.
The most popular day of the year to eat Chinese food in the US is Christmas day.
Menu favorites like crab rangoon, chop suey, and General Tso's chicken first originated in America.

You might think you know all about Chinese food based on what's served in your local spot.

However, many dishes Americans refer to as "Chinese food" were actually invented in America, from General Tso's chicken to crab rangoon and fortune cookies.

You may also be surprised to discover the most popular day of the year to eat Chinese food in America, what "chop suey" roughly translates to, and how the iconic Chinese food take-out containers came to be.

Here are 12 things you probably didn't know about American-Chinese food.

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American-Chinese food was first introduced in California in the mid-1800s.

A Chinese food restaurant sign. Seb Oliver/Getty Images

By the 1980s, Chinese food had become the most popular "ethnic" cuisine in the United States.

A waiter filling a takeout box with Chinese food. Sebastian Siebert/Shutterstock

Chop suey was invented in America by Chinese immigrants, and it translates roughly to "leftovers."

Chop suey. Purrpl_Haze/Flickr

Christmas is the most popular day of the year to eat Chinese food in America.

A Chinese food take-out container Christmas ornament. Brittany Olson/Getty Images

Fortune cookies are from Japan but were popularized in America.

Fortune cookies. Shutterstock

Orange chicken was invented by a Panda Express chef in America.

Orange chicken. Elena Veselova/Shutterstock

General Tso was a real war hero.

General Tso's chicken. iStock

Crab rangoon also came from the states.

Crab Rangoon. bhofack2/Getty Images

Egg rolls were likely invented in New York City as an alternative to authentic spring rolls.

Egg rolls. yuliang11/ iStock

"Chinese" or "Asian" salads are an American invention.

Chinese chicken salad. Rick Grant / iStock

"Chinese takeout containers" were invented in Chicago in the 1890s.

A man eating from a Chinese food take-out container. Matelly/Getty Images

Some of the most popular vegetables used in American-Chinese food aren't available in China.

A carrot and broccoli stir-fry. Firdausiah Mamat/Getty Images

I taste tested 6 canned meats and Spam made the best sandwich

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