Ethnic Food

[Asian Elephant]

Please, don't talk about Taco Bell or Pizza Hut in here. That's not ethnic food, that's horrible American knockoffs of ethnic food.

Mostly, I want to talk about food other than the typical fast food, hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken nuggets.

I'll start by saying I love Thai food. There's this awesome Thai place near where I live. The food is great, the atmosphere is nice and it's really cheap too. When my family goes there we'll order a dish each, and then we'll share with each other so we all get to try lots of new stuff. They've got great tofu, among other things.

Ethiopian food is really good too. It's one of the strangest cuisines I've ever tried, though. What they do is take this sour, doughy bread (for those of you who've had Indian food, it's kind of like Naan), and they heap all sorts of saucy meats and vegetables on top of it. Then to eat it, you get more of the bread, you rip off a piece and you pick up some food with it. Then you eat it, bread and all. It's really weird, but it can taste really good. I don't like some of the vegetable parts of the meal, especially the lentils, but it's still awesome overall.

Chinese food is another thing that I really like. If you live in the suburbs and you've had stripmall takeout Chinese food, you should know that that stuff is almost like fastfood Chinese. It's just not the same as genuine Chinese food. Unfortunately, real Chinese food is hard to find, because Westerners seem to prefer their Kung Pow Chicken (which isn't even a real Chinese dish, by the way).

One recommendation related to finding real Chinese food: if you ever see a Dim Sum place, give it a shot. The way it works is that you sit down, and then you can pick small portions of food from the carts that the waiters and waitresses wheel by. This lets you try lots of different kinds of food for not much money, and Dim Sum places tend not to cater to westerners as much as the stripmall Chinese restaurants.

Anyway, that's all I've got right now. If you have any favorite ethnic foods or cuisines, post about them. I'd be really interested to find out what kind of strange stuff the people on these boards like to eat.

 

[Bailey]

Ethiopian food

LOL oxymoron.

No my fav is *** food such as Sushi.

EDIT: Wow J.Ap is censored

 

[Jammer]

EDIT: Wow J.Ap is censored

Have you tried using the much less offensive synonym "Japanese"?

I'll start by saying I love Thai food.

Ethiopian food is really good too.

Chinese food is another thing that I really like.

YES!!
Never had it.
YES!!!!

Chinese food is my favorite kind. I go to this place sometimes, called No. 1 Uncle John's (hehe, typical Chinese restaurant name) where they'll give you a whole fish, eyeball included! I ate the eyeball once, but the Chinese person I was with told me that it's not really good to eat. The cheeks are apparently extremely good, though.

My favorite dish is probably this soup stuff with algae or something.

Sadly, I broke my forefinger a while ago, and it healed a little off, so it's really hard for me to use chopsticks. But I persevere.

I've had Thai food a few times and I totally liked it, but not as much as Chinese food.

I've never had Ethiopian food at a real Ethiopian restaurant, but I have had a few African dishes. I guess I liked them.

I pretty much like all food except traditional British meals. British food is really boring.

 

[Thundermistress]

One recommendation related to finding real Chinese food: if you ever see a Dim Sum place, give it a shot. The way it works is that you sit down, and then you can pick small portions of food from the carts that the waiters and waitresses wheel by. This lets you try lots of different kinds of food for not much money, and Dim Sum places tend not to cater to westerners as much as the stripmall Chinese restaurants.

Anyway, that's all I've got right now. If you have any favorite ethnic foods or cuisines, post about them. I'd be really interested to find out what kind of strange stuff the people on these boards like to eat.

That's what we call Yum Cha, Melbourne's got some great places for it : D The people from Hong Kong also looove their Yum Cha, most will have it for breakfast, taking one or two plates while reading the paper :]
I love beef tendons and tripe :] <3

I work in a Malaysian/Chinese/Asian fusion restaurant :] And I love it. : D Always get food after work and such, hawker/street style food is the best :] Although nothing beats going back to Malaysia or Singapore and getting it from the street stalls n__n My Dad remembers his favourite places in Penang from his childhood that are often still around :]

 

[Adi]

Yeah Ethiopian food is mad good, I had some traditional stuff in the city once. It made my top 3 list behind Indian and in front of Chinese ^^.

 

[Zink]

why does "ethnic food" always wind up being "Asian food" lol.
I htink you shouldn't be so quick to knock American food. If you do your own pizza, it turns out much better than the typical Pizza Hut or whatever. And as for hamburgers, man there's just SO MUCH stuff you can do with them. What a versatile food. You can basically add anything at all to them in any order, kinda like combing with CF.
In fact, all grillied food is awesome. You can personalize it so much, and it turns out so good, it's REDICULOUS. Once you try grilling your own steak, or ribs, or pulled pork... there's no reason to ever cook inside again, except for winter

 

[Volrec]

i like yellow rice

 

[Jammer]

why does "ethnic food" always wind up being "Asian food" lol.
I htink you shouldn't be so quick to knock American food.

So true (although we have been talking about African food a bit).

American food is mostly borrowed from other cultures. Hamburgers definitely aren't an American invention. Neither is pizza.

And I don't know anyone who really likes Native American food. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a restaurant serving Native American food.

 

[pikachun00b7]

Vietnamese dishes is(are?) king of Asian foods. Thank god my aunt is one.
Chinese food is ok, but there isn't any good of those restaurants around here.

 

[Amorasaki]

The past year or so I've gotten pretty hooked on mediterranean and middle eastern food. gyros, schwarma, falafel, hummus. I've made falafel a few times for myself, with a good tahini sauce it's really tasty, especially with some tomato and onion in there to balance out the heavy, warm flavors with something more cool. Switching tahini for yogurt sauce is good for the same purpose as well.

For asian foods, yeah I like thai too. I'm half thai, and my family has started a few successful thai restaurants, including one that is still probably the best in Illinois, 10 years after selling it.

I'm not a big fan of asian restaurants that goopify their food with corn starched sauces and big chunks of vegetable. Mostly chinese restaurants do this, but other oriental places do too. I'm just a big fan of stir-frying small strips and slices of things in high heat, though.

Ironically, the first and only time I've been to china, I was like 10 years old, and the only thing I tolerated was this very westernized place.

 

[Rici]

The past year or so I've gotten pretty hooked on mediterranean and middle eastern food. gyros, schwarma, falafel, hummus. I've made falafel a few times for myself, with a good tahini sauce it's really tasty, especially with some tomato and onion in there to balance out the heavy, warm flavors with something more cool. Switching tahini for yogurt sauce is good for the same purpose as well.

That's what me and my friends always eat when we go out, stuff like shoarma, Turkish pizza(real good) and falafel. Also our own national(I'm from the Netherlands btw) fried fast food which includes fries with mayo(there is not one Dutch person who doesn't like mayo , btw your American mayo sucks, I can see why none of you eat it there), kaassouffle(cheese souffle) kroketten and frikandellen.

I love my country.

 

[SkyeYuki]

I really, really love authentic Mexican, Chinese, and Japanese. Enchilada de mole is definitely one of my favorite dishes of all time. It's so very delicious.


Another favorite dinner item of mine is Bao. They're like...Chinese dumplings with a filling. I really love barbecued pork in mine, but just about any filling is delicious. They're served at Dim Sum restraunts, which basically make a dinner that consists of multiple appetizers. People walk by with a tray and you pick what and how much you want.

Another type of restraunt I love are those Vietnamese ones where you go to a bar and pick your ingredients for a stir-fry. I can't remember what it's called, but it's really good. You can get absolutely anything you want. They usually have a sign that has directions on how to make certain sauces(they usually lay out sugar water, soy sauce, vinegar, etc), and you can choose whatever meats and veggies they have.


I really, really love Hawaiian dishes, but I don't have much experience in that field besides some different kinds of teriyaki and sweet & sour. :/


And to respond to a previous comment...Asian foods are generally more talked about since Asia is so huge, has so many different kinds of food, and is by far the most popular category of ethnic food(not counting typical American food, of course).

 

[Dibs]

I've wanted to go down to mexico and try some authentic dishes over there for the longest time now.

But pretty much.. Vietnamese dishes are what I've fallen in love with. I always go crazy like an itty bitty happy boy when I hear of my friend's mom cooking dinner and inviting me. It's the best.

 

[BZONG]

Korean BBQ. 'Nuff said. It is so good 8)

 

[Pustulio]

Chinese
Mexican
Italian

'nuff said.

 

[Amorasaki]

Korean BBQ. 'Nuff said. It is so good 8)

The first and only time I've had this was in korea, and I didn't know what I was eating. It was pretty good, probably the only thing I really liked over there. We even had a low table with sitting mats and those terrible thin metal chopsticks. They cooked it on those brass domed grills that were set into the table.

Our translator bought us some rice wine as well, but it wasn't like clear sake that I've had before, it was milky and tasted like a sweet beer.

To the guy above me who just listed "chinese, mexican, italian" : At least try to make good posts.

 

[Yukichu]

Korean bbq...? I've never even heard of this. What is it?

 

[spikehappy07]

Korean bbq...? I've never even heard of this. What is it?

The last thing you'll ever eat...it's really good.

Anyways, has anyone had Pork adobo?

 

[Jammer]

The last thing you'll ever eat...it's really good.

So...you're saying it's poisonous?

Sorry.

 

[Uke]

Asian food is the best, but that's probably because I'm Asian.

Korean food - I can't spell any of their dishes in romanized lettering, but their food is pretty awesome. There's more to Korean food than just Kimchee and Korean Barbecue. There's this totally awesome restaurant in Garden Grove (it's like Korea Town over there) that serves some pretty awesome soups and stuff.

Chinese Food - It's hard to find real Chinese food for some reason, like Asian Elephant said. All you ever see are those "Chinese Food" places floating around every other corner.

Japanese Food - I live near a small Japanese Community, and they got a pretty good selection of restaurants over there, and plenty of other things, but I won't go into detail on those. The thing I order most is usually katsudon or some form of soba.

Vietnamese Food - I used to love Vietnamese food, partly because I am a part of the culture. But, when my mom makes a batch, it lasts for a month, and you just get sick of it. Everyone knows your typical Vietnamese dish and such. We eat rice noodles in broth (pho), bowls of rice, and plenty of hand food. Plus, we, for some reason, have some obsession with grilling meat while yelling out random crap at each other.

Mongolian Food - C'mon, they got Tempura, what more can you need? Wait, their beef kicks butt. Aside from this, I can't really say much about Mongolian food.

American Food - You know what I love about this? I like how you can take French Toast, Canadian Bacon, and an English muffin, and call it the All-American Break-fast. But in all seriousness, there is no real "American food," aside from Aboriginal American food. What people think of as "American food" is a nice warm plate that packs a lot of protein and carbs (think Denny's and Norms). But, there's also the whole Fast Food thing America has going on right now. &%$@ing McDonalds...

I could keep going, but not right now. I shall post more when I feel like it.

 

[wisewaters]

I'm a Chinese immigrant, and I eat rice everyday. I still do, as a matter of fact, cause my mom makes it for me. (don't ask me why. I don't know or care.) You're right about Kung Pow chicken not being an authentic Chinese dish, Asian Elephant. And here's something else, fortune cookies aren't Chinese, either. I lived there before. The waitresses there never hand that out. So right there is another example of "American" Chinese food in the America's ever-changing urban pop culture.

 

[Kimosabae]

Too much Asian in this thread; where's the West Indian love?

Jamaican cuisine is all you need.


-SynikaL

 

[CHAOSDRAGON88]

It seems the only representation for american food(That would not get knocked down) would be"Southern food" and just because someone is known for making something it does not mean they invented it (i.e asia and videogames).

 

[CHAOSDRAGON88]

Southern food is the supersaiyan4 gogeta of food divisions. lets discuss?

 

[Frozenserpent]

Asian food is the best, but that's probably because I'm Asian.

Korean food - I can't spell any of their dishes in romanized lettering, but their food is pretty awesome. There's more to Korean food than just Kimchee and Korean Barbecue. There's this totally awesome restaurant in Garden Grove (it's like Korea Town over there) that serves some pretty awesome soups and stuff.

Heh, I just been down to Garden Grove a couple weeks ago for a Korean Barbecue. I just moved down to Socal for school, but up at Norcal my family goes to chinese restaurants pretty often. There's several great Chinese restaurants, or at least decent, but i've always noticed one thing: there are only Chinese ppl there, and American ppl tend to be in the more Americanized restaurants. Some of the restaurants, it'll probably be hard to find, because i'm not even sure if they have an American name.
I don't know about SoCal, but it seems to me at other parts of the country (at least the places i've visited for vacation), there haven't really been any great chinese restaurants. My dad and I went to Hartford, Connecticut, and there was this one restaurant that we waited 2-3 hours for, and we figured must be good, because it was so popular. However, when we tried it out, the food was only ok compared to the restaurants back home. I suppose if you're not leaving near a Chinese community, you won't really find any great Chinese restaurants.

 

[CHAOSDRAGON88]

The chinese food we americans know isnt even authentic food, its just chinese styled dishes of americans favorite foods. And it seems to vary from location to location. Its called adaptation and the idea is great.

 

[Jammer]

The chinese food we americans know isnt even authentic food, its just chinese styled dishes of americans favorite foods. And it seems to vary from location to location. Its called adaptation and the idea is great.

Well, I agree, but we do have authentic Chinese food if you know where to look.

Like at the authentic place I go to, the restaurant which would look and operate the exact same way were it in China, it's always filled with Chinese. When I go, I'm usually the only white guy there. I have a Taiwanese friend who goes there at least 3 times a week--it's like a link back home for her.

And the food is excellent, even if I can't read the menu.

They do actually serve more Americanized Chinese food at that restaurant, but I've never had it.

 

[Yukichu]

I can't stand Southern food. It's waaay too spicey for me to handle. >_<

 

[omfgomfg]

The purpose of sustenance is to sustain life.

EDIT: by the way, I am Chinese and Americanized Chinese food is much better than the food they have in China, even the high class restaurants. But now I hate all restaurants.

 

[MattDel]

im italian, and ive always wanted to go to italy, so i went last year... boy was that food AMAZING...

seriously, american food is like... crap... in comparison...

pirogies are good too (yup im polish too... lol)

 

[lukintosh]

That's what we call Yum Cha, Melbourne's got some great places for it : D The people from Hong Kong also looove their Yum Cha, most will have it for breakfast, taking one or two plates while reading the paper :]
I love beef tendons and tripe :] <3

I work in a Malaysian/Chinese/Asian fusion restaurant :] And I love it. : D Always get food after work and such, hawker/street style food is the best :] Although nothing beats going back to Malaysia or Singapore and getting it from the street stalls n__n My Dad remembers his favourite places in Penang from his childhood that are often still around :]

Dude you've been to Malaysia and Singapore? I live there!

I went to Melbourne recently, I loved it!

Singapore doesn't really have many street stalls compared to Malaysia, lots of urbanized restaurants>

 

[Jazzy Jinx]

I had a taco the other day...

Then I had an ethnic orgasm all over the stereo...

 

[TheFifthMan]

I'm Filipino. I study at Purdue, which is in West Lafayette, Indiana. My family lives in Placentia, California. Distance? 1754 miles/2854 kilometers. In other words... I miss my mother's cooking.

Don't get me wrong, I can cook my own Adobo and Sinigang (na Baboy, or course), but I really miss Dinuguan. Look it up on Wikipedia if you're interested in finding out what it is.

Other than that, there are a lot of Mediterranean restaurants here. I've found myself quite addicted to gyros lately, but my current budget restricts my dining options to cooking at home.

And the restaurants back home kick the *** of anything Lafayette has to offer. I could literally bike three blocks and have access to so many varieties of food. But I really, really miss good sushi, and seafood in general.

 

[adrian Blk]

soul food.

 

[Jammer]

Question: What country invented cheese sticks? Because I'd probably love the rest of their cuisine.

 

[Rici]

I don't know, the French are known for their different cheeses, but we Dutchies are known as "kaaskoppen" (cheese heads).

 

[Kerocola]

You know, if you ask some random person what a French dish is, they can't think of any. Most people would go and say pastries and whatnot.
Yet I hear a lot about French techniques in cooking, and how important they are.

In my life, the majority of food I eat would be Mediterranean/Middle Eastern types of food. It's okay, they like to use rice. And any dish with lamb or goat I don't like, because I just don't like lamb or goat as a meat. It's too juicy and mushy.

I hear gyros mentioned. Those are always yummy. I used to go to a place that served these in their menu, and I loved them. One day I got one and I noticed it tasted different, and sure enough a different cook was there. Same thing, different taste. It was more bitter, which isn't that rare to find in my experience in this type of cuisine...

And then Indian food. Very spicy. I don't like it, but ify ou've got a clogged up stuffy nose, eat away man. I'm growing more and more used to spicy...

 

[LoGikZ]

amorasaki? LOL NICE NAME

 

[Kyu Puff]

Indian is my favorite. I just love the spices, and how well the meal goes together. Also, they've got a huge selection of different chicken dishes because of the lack of beef... I'm not a red meat person, so this is a big plus for me.

Korean BBQ is also amazing. It's like a Hibachi grill, but you get your own private table and the food is more seasoned.

 

[Kerocola]

You better love the spices, that's all you can taste. In my experience, at least. It is overpowering the food itself, and I prefer spices to complement and bring out the food's flavor, not competetion in my plate.
Yet at the same time I love Indian food. It's too much for me, however. I'm a wimp with spicy foods sometimes. I love samosa, but I'm not too sure if it is Indian specifically. It's in that general area.