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Definition of chow mein
chow mein
• noun
1
A Chinese-style dish consisting of stir-fried noodles, vegetables, and often meat or tofu, typically seasoned with soy sauce.
Example
"We ordered egg rolls, sweet and sour pork, and a large container of chicken chow mein for dinner."
Word Nuance & Usage
In Western Chinese cuisine, chow mein is often distinguished from lo mein by its preparation; chow mein noodles are typically stir-fried until slightly crisp, whereas lo mein noodles are boiled and tossed in sauce.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chow mein. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chow-mein