chow mein

American  

[chau mayn] / 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

See Examples For:

chow mein

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

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

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2024

She also sells tostadas topped with chow mein, elote loco and rellenitos — plantains stuffed with refried black beans.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2023

His “CID salad” roams adjacent blocks with a sweet-side miso-sesame vinaigrette embracing bitter chicories and mandarin orange, with tangles of very thin, very crunchy fried chow mein joining in.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 2, 2023

“Do you want me to bring you something to eat? There’s a guy eating chow mein with your brother in the kitchen.”

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali