"American Food" in Asia

[BeTheReds]

I went to a youshoku restaurant yesterday called skylark to get some western food cuz Japanese food every day gets a little boring. I ordered what they called the "plain pizza plate" and "skylark salad". What I got was half a pizza with cheese on only 2 slices and mayo on the other 2, and a tossed salad with a large tuna ball in the center topped with mayonaise and an umeboshi.

Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad really, but definately not what I expected.
It was also very tiny. I miss meeting my homies at TGIF and ordering a $7.99 dinner and not being able to finish it all. Here, I can eat 2 Y2000 meals and still be hungry.

[iris]

In HK, I'm a little weirded out by the Thousand Island dressing on the pizzas at Pizza Hut, instead of tomato sauce. Mickey D's also serves lobster bisque soup, actually kinda good. If you get chicken nuggets there, it comes with sweet & sour, barbeque, wasabi, or plum sauce. hahaha. :lol:

I swear, there is no cheese here. I am having the worse craving for some brie, or camenbert, or gruyere, or or something! Just give me some damn cheese!! The weirdo cheese they have is a very pale white color with no taste.

Everything here has mayonnaise on it. When I get hot dogs (they love hot dogs here), it has mayo instead of ketchup or mustard. :blink:

[babysakura]

we've got California Pizza Kitchen here in KL..i loveee CPK :wub:

MCDs here recently got BBQ sauce..and curry sauce and mustard

TGIF tastes rather different here, but CHILLIs are still on free refills :D

[AliBabaIncorporated]

It's all about Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill. hahahahah ... seriously, whenever I need a western food fix, it almost always ends up being pizza, cuz that's the only thing I can find that's even close to home-style. either that or I end up at the EXP in kowloon tong. Malaysian food? not a chance.

My first week in HK, at the school canteen I ordered something which they called "spicy sausage sandwich" in Chinese (or at least that's how I would have translated it before I wised up on the local defininition of "sausage"). A spicy sausage sandwich sounded really good, I was thinking Subway's style kinda thing ... nope, you got two pieces of white bread with a hot dog (yup, ONE hot dog) between them, slathered in mayo, with some green peppers. gggaaah .... :gross:

[Hanuman]

When I was a kid I went to a fancy restuarant with my aunt. I saw spagetti on the menu and I was all excited (I was really craving some good ole american food). So I order it and out it comes. The pasta was pretty close, but it had a brown sauce with weird chunks of stuff in it, and the biggest insult of all was the copious amounts of grated carrots in the sauce!!!!

I spent some time in Denmark once and I asked for a Pizza. The waiter informed me that I get two toppings with that. I told him "no thank you, just the plain pizza is fine"

So the girl I'm dating (she's danish) goes, "well it's the same whether it's plain or with toppings, so get toppings"

"no thanks, just in the mood for plain cheese pizza'

'well just try it with some corn'

'corn?!?! just plain please'

'then get it with carrots'

"NO! NO fucking Corn, NO fucking carrots, just a plain fucking pizza PLEASE!!!"

I slept on the couch that night, but my pizza was delicious!

[applehead]

Originally posted by Tawee@Nov 27 2002, 05:16 AM
When I was a kid I went to a fancy restuarant with my aunt. I saw spagetti on the menu and I was all excited (I was really craving some good ole american food). So I order it and out it comes. The pasta was pretty close, but it had a brown sauce with weird chunks of stuff in it, and the biggest insult of all was the copious amounts of grated carrots in the sauce!!!!

I spent some time in Denmark once and I asked for a Pizza. The waiter informed me that I get two toppings with that. I told him "no thank you, just the plain pizza is fine"

So the girl I'm dating (she's danish) goes, "well it's the same whether it's plain or with toppings, so get toppings"

"no thanks, just in the mood for plain cheese pizza'

'well just try it with some corn'

'corn?!?! just plain please'

'then get it with carrots'

"NO! NO fucking Corn, NO fucking carrots, just a plain fucking pizza PLEASE!!!"

I slept on the couch that night, but my pizza was delicious!
eeeeeew carrots. gross.

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by isyen@Nov 27 2002, 04:44 AM
In HK, I'm a little weirded out by the Thousand Island dressing on the pizzas at Pizza Hut, instead of tomato sauce. Mickey D's also serves lobster bisque soup, actually kinda good. If you get chicken nuggets there, it comes with sweet & sour, barbeque, wasabi, or plum sauce. hahaha. :lol:

I swear, there is no cheese here. I am having the worse craving for some brie, or camenbert, or gruyere, or or something! Just give me some damn cheese!! The weirdo cheese they have is a very pale white color with no taste.

Everything here has mayonnaise on it. When I get hot dogs (they love hot dogs here), it has mayo instead of ketchup or mustard. :blink:
hey i remember mickey d selling curry chicken burger. i love that shit.
yeah they love their hot dogs but sure don't like any cheese!

damn i miss HK
i miss cha chan tangs

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by AliBabaIncorporated@Nov 27 2002, 06:59 AM
It's all about Dan Ryan's Chicago Grill. hahahahah ... seriously, whenever I need a western food fix, it almost always ends up being pizza, cuz that's the only thing I can find that's even close to home-style. either that or I end up at the EXP in kowloon tong. Malaysian food? not a chance.

My first week in HK, at the school canteen I ordered something which they called "spicy sausage sandwich" in Chinese (or at least that's how I would have translated it before I wised up on the local defininition of "sausage"). A spicy sausage sandwich sounded really good, I was thinking Subway's style kinda thing ... nope, you got two pieces of white bread with a hot dog (yup, ONE hot dog) between them, slathered in mayo, with some green peppers. gggaaah .... :gross:
yeah dan ryan's is one of the only places that does american food right. well i'm pretty sure they've got some excellent restaurant in soho that does it right too, if you're willing to spend the money to eat there.
the only times that i had cravings for american food was when i would crave a greasy burger, and i would go to mickey d. it's funny because i never go to mickey d in the states.

[DaBestSpooner]

Arent you in japan? avoid pizza son!

As far as the closest things to american food theres:

Johnathans
Dennys
Sizzler<--- actually very good in japan
Royal Host
Mos Burger <-- I love mos burger


Theres always korean and italian food

[kimchee63]

Originally posted by BeTheReds@Nov 27 2002, 01:04 AM
I went to a youshoku restaurant yesterday called skylark to get some western food cuz Japanese food every day gets a little boring. I ordered what they called the "plain pizza plate" and "skylark salad". What I got was half a pizza with cheese on only 2 slices and mayo on the other 2, and a tossed salad with a large tuna ball in the center topped with mayonaise and an umeboshi.

Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad really, but definately not what I expected.
It was also very tiny. I miss meeting my homies at TGIF and ordering a $7.99 dinner and not being able to finish it all. Here, I can eat 2 Y2000 meals and still be hungry.
What is it about mayo over there? When I was in Taiwan I had a shrimp dish bathed in mayo. ech.

[kimchee63]

Originally posted by BeTheReds@Nov 27 2002, 01:04 AM
I went to a youshoku restaurant yesterday called skylark to get some western food cuz Japanese food every day gets a little boring. I ordered what they called the "plain pizza plate" and "skylark salad". What I got was half a pizza with cheese on only 2 slices and mayo on the other 2, and a tossed salad with a large tuna ball in the center topped with mayonaise and an umeboshi.

Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't bad really, but definately not what I expected.
It was also very tiny. I miss meeting my homies at TGIF and ordering a $7.99 dinner and not being able to finish it all. Here, I can eat 2 Y2000 meals and still be hungry.
I once watched a normal looking Korean gentleman pour about a tablespoon of sugar on his steak ... this was at a western steak house in Seoul.

[angel nympho]

Originally posted by babysakura@Nov 27 2002, 11:29 AM
we've got California Pizza Kitchen here in KL..i loveee CPK :wub:
:gross:

[Chris]

Originally posted by angel nympho@Nov 27 2002, 10:18 AM
:gross:
:gross: I love Californian cuisine but CPK is generic californian. Bleh!

[Chris]

my god wehn I was in Beijing for a Chinese Conference. We were seperated into 20 groups. We all rotated eating at different restruants everyday. In the 4 days we were in Beijing we got the "famous" dumplings place four fucking times. We were so very sick of dumpling after that. All of us hit McDonald there. I order those spicy chicken wings and a big mac. I was so happy. :D Actually the Hard Rock Cafe in Beijing isnt so shabby either.

[thaite]

Originally posted by isyen@Nov 27 2002, 02:44 AM
In HK, I'm a little weirded out by the Thousand Island dressing on the pizzas at Pizza Hut, instead of tomato sauce.
Yeah, I was kind of weirded out by that too. So then I was gonna eat a slice, and then my cousin hands me a packet of ketchup to put on it. Ketchup? WTH?

It was good, though it took a little getting used to, with the squid and shrimp and stuff for the toppings, but no, I will not put ketchup on my pizza.

And I did the same thing as Tawee with the spaghetti. Sauce was too thin and the meat was too gritty. But I couldn't complain because it was my uncle's restaurant.

[kimtd]

Hey folks... there's all this Asian restaurants (in Asia) bashing here but consider this..

What is the fundamental difference between a white (American) bashing an asian restaurant for its "un-American" taste vs. an asian (American) doing the same?

NONE.

Is there a racial motive here? Perhaps. (well.. maybe even more likely)

This is the "American" or "western" view of the world. That they are the best and that imperfect imitation of its culture and style is WRONG, and even PRIMITIVE.

Come on folks. I know u are all westernized. Does this give u the right to judge what is right or wrong? Let me tell u why this is wrong..

CULTURAL RELATIVITY.

Let me ask you guys this. Does Chinese food in US taste anything like the Chinese food in China? Do Panda Express and Mr.Chau properly and correctly reflect Chinese cuisinie? How about Yoshinoya? Do you think Japanese ppl in Japan really eat stuff like that? How about Taco Bell?

You get my drift. Each culture is going to take the foreign cuisisine and change it to the local native's flavor. Yeah pizza with corn might be funky to u but to the natives, it's HELLA good. For example, when i moved to the states, I HATED pizza. Come on... if u live in Asia for a while, how good does CHEESE sound? i hated cheese.. that stuff smells like FEET. And tomato sauce? Its fundamentally salty and greasy, but that's what the American flavor is...

Im not saying its wrong to judge but you should really look at ... why you are saying such things.

[teaz0r]

tony roma's for ribs in thailand. unless you're willing to spend an insane amount at a hotel.
BK is better than McD.
But at McD's we have uh, sticky rice burgers (sticky rice used as buns and grilled bork in between) and our local papaya salad is used as the McD Salad Shaker.
KFC we can get spicy thai-style salad chicken.

The pizza company is better than pizza hut.

and there's a local dish called "American Fried Rice" which essentially is rice fried in ketchup, with sausages, a sunny side up egg, and a fried chicken drumstick on the side. interesting and yum.

[ism]

Aw man this topic is making me nauseous. I'm headed to the Phillipines this winter and I dread that stuff. The native food is great but I do get a hankering for "American" fare after a week or so. There's spaghetti but they seem to use ketchup instead of tomato sauce. Hamburger cheese tends to be this soupy cheese... sauce. Hotdogs are dyed this unreal red color (it almost glows) that I'm pretty sure causes cancer. About the only way to get a "real" American meal is to go to an American fast food chain; ironic and sad at the same time. Still, there are times I am thankful Kenny Rogers decided to bless the country with his Roasters.

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by kimtd@Nov 27 2002, 03:06 PM
Hey folks... there's all this Asian restaurants (in Asia) bashing here but consider this..

What is the fundamental difference between a white (American) bashing an asian restaurant for its "un-American" taste vs. an asian (American) doing the same?

NONE.

Is there a racial motive here? Perhaps. (well.. maybe even more likely)

This is the "American" or "western" view of the world. That they are the best and that imperfect imitation of its culture and style is WRONG, and even PRIMITIVE.

Come on folks. I know u are all westernized. Does this give u the right to judge what is right or wrong? Let me tell u why this is wrong..

CULTURAL RELATIVITY.

Let me ask you guys this. Does Chinese food in US taste anything like the Chinese food in China? Do Panda Express and Mr.Chau properly and correctly reflect Chinese cuisinie? How about Yoshinoya? Do you think Japanese ppl in Japan really eat stuff like that? How about Taco Bell?

You get my drift. Each culture is going to take the foreign cuisisine and change it to the local native's flavor. Yeah pizza with corn might be funky to u but to the natives, it's HELLA good. For example, when i moved to the states, I HATED pizza. Come on... if u live in Asia for a while, how good does CHEESE sound? i hated cheese.. that stuff smells like FEET. And tomato sauce? Its fundamentally salty and greasy, but that's what the American flavor is...

Im not saying its wrong to judge but you should really look at ... why you are saying such things.
i thought it was pretty much assumed that we were approaching it (of course) from a westernised point of view? :confused:

[Hanuman]

Originally posted by pipSy@Nov 27 2002, 03:10 PM
tony roma's for ribs in thailand. unless you're willing to spend an insane amount at a hotel.
BK is better than McD.
But at McD's we have uh, sticky rice burgers (sticky rice used as buns and grilled bork in between) and our local papaya salad is used as the McD Salad Shaker.
KFC we can get spicy thai-style salad chicken.

The pizza company is better than pizza hut.

and there's a local dish called "American Fried Rice" which essentially is rice fried in ketchup, with sausages, a sunny side up egg, and a fried chicken drumstick on the side. interesting and yum.
Oh man, american fried rice is good. Reminds of a macaroni dish my mom used to make, using ketchup. I was perfectly happy having a childhood not knowing how it was made, but later on I saw my mom make it, I was like 'huh?' Oh well, it tastes good so who cares....

I love how they have that sweet, spicey sauce at the KFC's. My parents have been eating chicken like that for years, and it's odd to see them actually serving it that way at Thai KFC's.

I also noticed that I can't just go into a Thai McDonalds and order a "Bic Mac" they have different Thai names for everything. Thank god for pictures.

[kimchee63]

Originally posted by kimtd@Nov 27 2002, 12:06 PM
Hey folks... there's all this Asian restaurants (in Asia) bashing here but consider this..

What is the fundamental difference between a white (American) bashing an asian restaurant for its "un-American" taste vs. an asian (American) doing the same?

NONE.

Is there a racial motive here? Perhaps. (well.. maybe even more likely)

This is the "American" or "western" view of the world. That they are the best and that imperfect imitation of its culture and style is WRONG, and even PRIMITIVE.

Come on folks. I know u are all westernized. Does this give u the right to judge what is right or wrong? Let me tell u why this is wrong..

CULTURAL RELATIVITY.

Let me ask you guys this. Does Chinese food in US taste anything like the Chinese food in China? Do Panda Express and Mr.Chau properly and correctly reflect Chinese cuisinie? How about Yoshinoya? Do you think Japanese ppl in Japan really eat stuff like that? How about Taco Bell?

You get my drift. Each culture is going to take the foreign cuisisine and change it to the local native's flavor. Yeah pizza with corn might be funky to u but to the natives, it's HELLA good. For example, when i moved to the states, I HATED pizza. Come on... if u live in Asia for a while, how good does CHEESE sound? i hated cheese.. that stuff smells like FEET. And tomato sauce? Its fundamentally salty and greasy, but that's what the American flavor is...

Im not saying its wrong to judge but you should really look at ... why you are saying such things.
There is a difference between simply stating one's culinary tastes and Asia bashing. This list is populated with people of Asian ancestry who are more or less Americanized, and hence different than their relatives back in Asia. My cousin from Seoul may do something that puzzles me or pisses me off, and I may need a place to process and vent. And so I come here.

There *IS* a difference between a white person criticizing an Asian American restaurant for not being "American" enough and an Asian American critiquing a "Western" restaurant in Asia. There's a power differential between the groups doing the griping.

Like it or not, white Americans still holds all the cards and set the rules, and so if they refuse to patronize a Panda Express for not Panda-ring to their tastes, Panda Express goes under. If I go to Seoul and watch a guy pour sugar all over his steak, I process my experience on this forum, but I don't have the power to put the restaurant out of business.

That said, I can see how some of my remarks can be interpreted as my poking fun at our homeboys trying to imitate the US, and I'm sorry if I offended you. The process of cultural borrowing and modification is fascinating and sometimes frustrating, especially if you're a long way from home and craving the food that you grew up with.

[Grass Monkey]

Originally posted by kimchee63@Nov 27 2002, 09:32 PM
Originally posted by kimtd@Nov 27 2002, 12:06 PM
Hey folks... If I go to Seoul and watch a guy pour sugar all over his steak, I process my experience on this forum, but I don't have the power to put the restaurant out of business. &nbsp; &nbsp;


:huh: Sugar.. on steak?

[angel nympho]

Originally posted by Chris@Nov 27 2002, 06:26 PM
:gross: I love Californian cuisine but CPK is generic californian. Bleh!
What is Californian cuisine?

[BeTheReds]

Originally posted by kimtd@Nov 27 2002, 08:06 PM



This is the "American" or "western" view of the world. That they are the best and that imperfect imitation of its culture and style is WRONG, and even PRIMITIVE.

No we are not saying it is wrong. We are saying that it is not what we are used to, and what we are used to is the model that is being imitated.

Let me ask you guys this. Does Chinese food in US taste anything like the Chinese food in China?

Depends on where you go. I tend to not like Panda Express because it is unauthentic and tases like ass. I much prefer places that my fobby chinese friends like.

How about Yoshinoya? Do you think Japanese ppl in Japan really eat stuff like that?
Obviously you have never been to Japan. I've never been to Yoshinoya in the states, but theer is a 24 hour Yoshinoya on almost every corner here in Japan. And yes, plenty of Japanese people go to eat gyudon there. (rice topped with beef in a big bowl).

And taco bell, hell everyone knows that is not authentic. It is obviously made for Americans. And people who crave real mexican food don't go there. That's fine.

In America if you crave the real thing, you can go somewhere to get it.

[kimchee63]

Originally posted by Grass Monkey@Nov 27 2002, 01:52 PM
Originally posted by kimchee63@Nov 27 2002, 09:32 PM
Originally posted by kimtd@Nov 27 2002, 12:06 PM
Hey folks... If I go to Seoul and watch a guy pour sugar all over his steak, I process my experience on this forum, but I don't have the power to put the restaurant out of business.


:huh: Sugar.. on steak?
Yes, about a teaspoon full, all over his steak. Then he ate it.

[AliBabaIncorporated]

man, can't we complain about anything anymore without it turning into some politicized rant about we're all buying into the evil white power structure? gggaaaahhhh :gross: ...

[iris]

Originally posted by Tawee@Nov 27 2002, 08:39 PM

Oh man, american fried rice is good. Reminds of a macaroni dish my mom used to make, using ketchup. I was perfectly happy having a childhood not knowing how it was made, but later on I saw my mom make it, I was like 'huh?' Oh well, it tastes good so who cares....


My mom used to make fried rice with ketchup. So yummmmmy...mmm fried rice.... I can't bring myself to make it because it just looks weird when I dump ketchup onto rice but if anyone else makes it, I'll eat it.


By the way for KimTD:
People wanting Asian food to be more westernized.

People wanting Western food to be more westernized.

Difference.



Plus it's all in fun. Like SWK said, we are looking at it from a western standpoint. :rolleyes: Hell, I'd complain about Cashew Chicken in Chinese restaurants. :lol:

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by AliBabaIncorporated@Nov 27 2002, 10:02 PM
man, can't we complain about anything anymore without it turning into some politicized rant about we're all buying into the evil white power structure? gggaaaahhhh :gross: ...
well this is rant. :)

hey Ali, where do you usually go eat anyway? i hope you're eating at plenty of local restaurants like cha chan tangs before you have to leave HK. :)

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by isyen@Nov 27 2002, 10:12 PM
Plus it's all in fun. Like SWK said, we are looking at it from a western standpoint. :rolleyes: Hell, I'd complain about Cashew Chicken in Chinese restaurants. :lol:
i'm going to have to admit this, but i love general tso's chicken. :lol:

what a paradox! a guy that loves congee, chicken feet, etc etc as well as general tso's chicken! hahhah ok just kidding.

so how about those curry pringles and instant congee at 7-11?! :D

[noriko]

i see the point on both sides. but to me, it makes sense that there will be "westernized" asian food in the U.S., and "asianized" (er, or whatever that word should be) food in asia. I mean, the same happens with many other aspects of culture, as well, and it's a process that can be seen throughout history.

<nerd> if you're interested in this concept, which is sometimes called "contact and exchange", there's a great essay by Catherine Albanese on the topic.</nerd>

having said that: my all-time favorite example of this phenomenon is an "american-style" fast food chain in japan called Freshness Burger. Teriyaki Burger, Lasagna Burger, Yam Soup. Mmmm....I wish american fast food restaurants actually had yam soup, hehe:)

[iris]

Originally posted by SunWuKung@Nov 28 2002, 03:16 AM
i'm going to have to admit this, but i love general tso's chicken. :lol:

what a paradox! a guy that loves congee, chicken feet, etc etc as well as general tso's chicken! hahhah ok just kidding.

so how about those curry pringles and instant congee at 7-11?! :D
Whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant, I get General Tso's Chicken all white meat. Damn you General Tso, why are you so tasty?

[iris]

Originally posted by SunWuKung@Nov 28 2002, 03:16 AM
i'm going to have to admit this, but i love general tso's chicken. &nbsp; &nbsp; :lol:

what a paradox! &nbsp;a guy that loves congee, chicken feet, etc etc as well as general tso's chicken! &nbsp;hahhah ok just kidding.

so how about those curry pringles and instant congee at 7-11?! &nbsp; :D
Whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant, I get General Tso's Chicken all white meat. Damn you General Tso, why are you so tasty?

I don't think you're kidding SWK. :lol: No harm in admitting to liking Americanized processed chicken. I'm addicted. Rehab is for quitters.

[applehead]

Originally posted by isyen@Nov 27 2002, 07:45 PM
i'm going to have to admit this, but i love general tso's
Whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant, I get General Tso's Chicken all white meat. Damn you General Tso, why are you so tasty?

once i heard a guy order general tee-so's chicken.
it was cute!!

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by isyen@Nov 27 2002, 10:45 PM
Originally posted by SunWuKung@Nov 28 2002, 03:16 AM
i'm going to have to admit this, but i love general tso's chicken. :lol:

what a paradox! a guy that loves congee, chicken feet, etc etc as well as general tso's chicken! hahhah ok just kidding.

so how about those curry pringles and instant congee at 7-11?! :D
Whenever I go to a Chinese restaurant, I get General Tso's Chicken all white meat. Damn you General Tso, why are you so tasty?

I don't think you're kidding SWK. :lol: No harm in admitting to liking Americanized processed chicken. I'm addicted. Rehab is for quitters.
hahha yeah i was just saying i was kidding about it being a paradox.
yes damn it! although i'm not abc, i love general tso's chicken and i'm proud of it!

[mike4bmp]

I ordered peperoni pizza in a restaurant in Korea one time and it came out with corn and peas on it..... B)

[applehead]

Originally posted by mike4bmp@Nov 27 2002, 08:25 PM
I ordered peperoni pizza in a restaurant in Korea one time and it came out with corn and peas on it..... B)
umm. yeah and they put a fried egg on virtually everything.
or an egg..

[luv]

I need to travel more...

[SunWuKong]

Originally posted by luv@Nov 27 2002, 11:35 PM
I need to travel more...
don't just travel! relocate! i recommend all asian americans to experience living in asia. especially the american born ones. :)

[BeTheReds]

So do I. Especially the cliquey ones and the ones who tout the Azn Pride horn and complain about how horrible their lives are in the USA.

The most mal-adjusted of the people I have met on the JET program are the AsianAmericans and Asianbrits who don't speak Japanese.