chow mein

American  

[chou meyn] / ˌtʃaʊ ˈmeɪn /

noun

1. a Chinese-style dish of steamed or stir-fried vegetables, topped with shredded chicken, shrimp, etc., and served with fried noodles.

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chow mein British  

/ meɪn /

noun

1. a Chinese-American dish, consisting of mushrooms, meat, shrimps, etc, served with fried noodles

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Etymology

Origin of chow mein

1900–05, < Chinese chǎo fry + miàn noodles, or < cognate dial. forms

Example Sentences

To tell that complicated story, Hethington depends on dishes like Guyanese chow mein and Trini-Chinese chicken.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Since 1959, they’ve come for Chinese American classics such as sweet and sour chicken, barbecued pork chow mein, egg rolls, chop suey and shrimp fried rice.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2025

I’ll make chow mein with what I have in the fridge, it’s a pantry meal!

From Salon • Sep. 25, 2024

The rest of the Chinese menu consists of takeout staples like chow mein and Chinese American go-to’s like General Tso’s chicken.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2023

But it wasn’t all soupy like the chow mein Mario had seen at the Automat.

From "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Selden