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

In The Chinese Way, there is a sausage and cauliflower chow mein that is a winning combination and easy to put together – just as an example of a “nontraditional” chow mein dish.

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

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

When he sits down at the kitchen table and starts attacking his chow mein, I say, “Don’t they feed you at work?”

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King