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== Cultural impact == === Impact on United States === Chinese American cuisine provides an option for Americans to taste Chinese food that is adapted to both Chinese and American flavors. It allows people in America to learn more about Chinese traditional culture. During this process, Chinese Americans have developed a new cuisine which is different from [[Chinese cuisine|traditional Chinese food]], contributing to the food diversity in America. By running their own restaurants or eateries, first-generation Chinese immigrants reduced discrimination against them and gained sufficient income to send the next generations to universities or colleges.<ref name="Ch Six">Ch Six, "The Globalization of Chinese Food: The Early Stages", in J. A. G. Roberts. ''China to Chinatown: Chinese Food in the West'' (London: Reaktion, 2002) {{ISBN|1-86189-133-4}}.</ref> For [[Chinese Americans]], American Chinese cuisine has already become part of their childhood memories and life,<ref name="Liu-2009">{{cite journal |last1=Liu |first1=Yinghua |last2=Jang |first2=SooCheong (Shawn) |date=September 1, 2009 |title=Perceptions of Chinese restaurants in the U.S.: What affects customer satisfaction and behavioral intentions? |journal=International Journal of Hospitality Management |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=338–348 |doi=10.1016/j.ijhm.2008.10.008}}</ref> which also would be a bridge between Chinese and American cultural communications and interactions. For example, [[Panda Express]] and [[P.F. Chang's]], two of the most famous American Chinese restaurants in the United States, have become the symbol of American Chinese cuisine and have gained appreciation from many Americans. Additionally, American Chinese cuisine brought some new ingredients and cooking methods to the United States, such as stir-frying and steaming. Thus, many restaurants in the United States started to combine non-Chinese dishes with traditional Chinese cooking techniques and flavors, which promoted the development of fusion cuisine.<ref name="Smith" /> Introduction of Chinese food also triggered people's curiosity about Asian food, including [[Japanese cuisine|Japanese]], [[Thai cuisine|Thai]] and [[Singaporean cuisine|Singaporean]] food, leading to a prevalence of Asian cuisine. '''Authenticity''' American Chinese food is often criticized for the lack of authenticity or called ‘fake’ Chinese food. The criticism stems from its different characteristics such as taste, ingredients, and preparation of the food. On the on hand of the debate, scholars like Haiming Liu observe that: “Traditions that seem timeless and ancient are in fact being constantly modified and reinvented within any given historical context,” so what may be authentic in a given time may not be in another.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Liu |first=Haiming |date=2009-02-16 |title=Chop Suey as Imagined Authentic Chinese Food: The Culinary Identity of Chinese Restaurants in the United States |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2bc4k55r |journal=Journal of Transnational American Studies |language=en |volume=1 |issue=1 |doi=10.5070/T811006946|doi-access=free }}</ref> However, some argue that it represents a new yet authentic Chinese cuisine. While distinct from traditional [[Chinese regional cuisine|regional Chinese cuisine]], it's a [[Fusion cuisine|fusion]] of American and Chinese flavors as it is a product of [[History of Chinese Americans|Chinese immigrants]] who have “adapted to their social environments, developed new identities, and formed new cultural sensibilities.” What started as a way for Chinese immigrants to eat familiar foods later transformed into a cultural blend of their traditional recipes and their adapted way of life facing the U.S. economy.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Liu |first=Haiming |date=February 16, 2009 |title=Chop Suey as Imagined Authentic Chinese Food: The Culinary Identity of Chinese Restaurants in the United States |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2bc4k55r |journal=Journal of Transnational American Studies |language=en |volume=1 |issue=1 |doi=10.5070/T811006946|doi-access=free }}</ref> '''Authenticity in Restaurants''' Articles have stated that authenticity involves “more than food; music, ambience, and serving style come into play”. Restaurants’ authenticity is often not fixed, but rather based on communication, symbols, and changing ideas. Some argue that ethnic restaurants help immigrants feel connected culturally.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-26 |title=Monterey Park, an Asian cultural hub, shaken by shooting |url=https://apnews.com/article/monterey-park-california-shooting-802a4ad2a515d814264ba6a0f36dcdd3 |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> This suggests that social connections and reputations contribute towards how authenticity is perceived in the culinary context. However, past studies argue that the concept of authenticity is simply a marketing ploy to attract non-Chinese customers rather than a true reflection of the culture. In other words, the concept of authenticity has often been examined from the perspective of the tourist seeking an authentic experience.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Clair |first1=Robin Patric |last2=Kuang |first2=Kai |last3=Long |first3=Ziyu |last4=Tan |first4=Jasmin E. |date=2016 |title=Authenticity, Personal Relationships and the Aura of Home: The Case of the Chinese American Restaurant |url=https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/digest/article/view/27863/33081 |journal=Digest: A Journal of Foodways and Culture |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |issn=2329-4787}}</ref> '''Nutritional Concerns''' The adaptation of Chinese cuisine to American tastes has also shifted its nutritional content. Many have claimed that these modifications have made it less healthy, as the dishes now contain higher levels of sodium, fat, and oil. This has influenced some to perceive the ‘Americanization’ of the cuisine to have contributed to the reduced nutritional value. For example, the [[Orange chicken|Orange Chicken]] at [[Panda Express]] contains 22 grams of fat, exceeding the recommended daily intake of 20 grams. Similarly, the [[Kung Pao Chicken]] contains 21 grams of fat, which also surpasses the dietary guidelines. However, it is possible to customize the meals to fit an individual's nutritional needs. '''MSG Panic''' In the 1980s, a popular food seasoning known as [[monosodium glutamate]] (MSG) became the subject of health concerns leading up to the “MSG panic.” A report from Dr. Robert Ho Man Kwok, in a medical journal describing the symptoms he experienced after dining at a Chinese restaurant contributed to the growing concerns about MSG. Media coverage amplified these concerns which popularized the term “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome,” despite MSG being a widely used seasoning in a range of foods. In response to a heightened public concern, researchers hastily conducted studies that framed the issue towards Chinese cuisine rather than the seasoning MSG, though it has been claimed as the initial linkage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Rotten Science Behind the MSG Scare |url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/the-rotten-science-behind-the-msg-scare/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Science History Institute |language=en-US}}</ref> Sociologist Stanley Cohen defined the fear surrounding MSG as a "[[moral panic]]”,in which “a condition, episode, person, or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests. Some research claims it was influenced by historical [[xenophobia]] toward Chinese Americans and immigrants, contributing to the stigmatization of Chinese cuisine as being of lower quality or unhealthy due to its MSG content.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Ezra's Archives Volume 10, Number 1, Spring 2020 |url=https://ecommons.cornell.edu/collections/a92fc791-8ca5-4550-bf46-0f6ec55f1ad7 |journal=Cornell Historical Society |language=en |archive-url=https://ecommons.cornell.edu/communities/74950321-14ac-4ae2-a1a1-e98faa878105 |archive-date=July 24, 2024 |via=Cornell Historical Society}}</ref> === Impact on China === Although some Chinese people will regard American Chinese food as inauthentic. Since 2018, some American Chinese food restaurants have opened in Chinese cities such as [[Beijing]] and [[Shanghai]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=顾馨 |title=American Chinese diner PF Chang's opens in Shanghai |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201805/23/WS5b0507efa3103f6866eea21f.html |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref><ref name="美式中餐-2023">{{Cite web |language=zh |title="美式中餐"开回中国,卖的只是"情怀"吗? |trans-title="American Chinese food" opens back in China, is it just selling "sentiment"? |url=https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1773209872113443342&wfr=spider&for=pc |date=August 3, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Liu-2015" /> For example, [[P.F. Chang's]], a restaurant chain specialized in American Chinese food, opened a new restaurant in Shanghai, China. The CEO of this chain, Michael Osanloo, revealed his positive attitude towards the future of opening more chain restaurants in China because he believed that Chinese people would like to try something new.<ref name="Chen-2017" /> Many owners of the American Chinese restaurants opened in the cities of China are Chinese Americans. Their primary target customers were people from foreign countries and students who have had study abroad experiences. However, many native Chinese people, especially younger generations have a greater willingness to try American Chinese food. Yinhao Xu, the owner of Americanized Chinese eatery-Bamboo Chinese Fast Food in Beijing, said that he was surprised that some younger generations without overseas experiences have a higher level of acceptance of American-style Chinese cuisine.<ref name="美式中餐-2023" /> The reason for that is cultural impact; many American Chinese cuisines appear in American shows or films, such as ''[[Friends]]'' and ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'', which leads young people in China to want to try American Chinese food.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2018 |title=Will US chain's 'Chinese food for Americans' be a hit in China? |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2145078/will-pf-changs-chinese-food-americans-be-big-bang-hit-china? |access-date=April 2, 2025 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> === Impact to other countries === [[File:Pandara American-Chinese restaurant in Ecopark.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A Chinese American restaurant in the [[Hưng Yên province]], [[Vietnam]]]] ==== South Korea ==== Woktionary, an American Chinese restaurant opened in [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]], provides authentic American Chinese food, such as Chow mein and Mongolian beef. Meanwhile, the head chef Kim also added new flavors to some of the dishes.<ref name="Godoy-2016" /> At the same time, Panda Express also opened a restaurant in Seoul, South Korea. The CEO of the company indicated that many Korean customers were already expecting for this move.<ref name="Grant-2022" /> ==== Japan ==== The first [[Panda Express]] in [[Japan]] was opened in November 2016 in [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa|Kawasaki]]. It is dedicated to providing the original taste of American Chinese food in Japan. It offers similar menus in Japan compared to Panda Express restaurants in the United States, such as [[Orange chicken|Orange Chicken]], Beijing Beef, and [[Fortune cookie]]s. Nevertheless, the restaurant also tries to implement localization by offering a limited dish only in Japan: Sweet and Pungent Shrimp.<ref name="NPR Morning Edition-2007" /> ==== United Kingdom ==== Chinese food and American Chinese cuisine has become a staple food in British Cuisine as early as the 19th century with the first arrivals of Chinese immigrants to the UK. In an 2009 survey, over 80% of participants enjoy Chinese cuisine. British Chinese cuisine can be distinguished by its partnering with the British classic chips. American Chinese characteristics come inspired by the fried dishes like Rangoons and Chop Suey.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Leung |first=G. |date=August 20, 2010 |title=NEWS AND VIEWS: Ethnic foods in the UK: Ethnic foods in the UK |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2010.01840.x |journal=Nutrition Bulletin |language=en |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=226–234 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-3010.2010.01840.x}}</ref>
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