Introduction to Chinese Menus

The three Chinese American restaurants in Salem didn't portray what a real Chinese restaurant should be like. If anything, they were the opposite. Using American symbols like Abraham Lincoln, and Liberty Bell they were able to Americanize someone else's culture, so they could be successful in America. Chinese immigrants came to the United States in large numbers in the 19th century in hopes of a better future due to the Gold Rush. They started to open their own restaurants which were successful at first but later on led to negative connotations. Americans complained of the food smelling bad and accused Chinese immigrants of cooking rats, dogs and cats with their food (3).

From Liberty Company to Salem Lowe there was clear racism towards Chinese Americans which resulted in those changes. Looking at history, Americans didn’t even want to try foreign foods due to extreme racism. In the 1950's when the Civil Rights Movement took off it was acceptable to be a Chinese restaurant in America rather than an “American” Chinese restaurant and we see that with China Sails.

The Chinese Exclusion Act took Chinese immigrants out of jobs.  Living under the Chinese exclusion laws, Chinese immigrants began to make a lifestyle out of the restaurant business while maintaining their own culture. However, they also become more Americanized. As the harsh Chinese immigration laws began to increase, Chinese restaurant food became fully Americanized.Even the Chinese dishes we see today have been modified to fit in with American culture and traditions. In later years the cuisine was changed to fit American standards just, so it could be likeable and relatable to its American citizens.

We can see the overlap between the Chinese cooking and American – Chinese cooking in a Chinese immigrant household. In restaurants also, handing out fortune cookies was created by the Americans, so it was never a Chinese tradition. Half of the time they don’t know what chop suey or orange chicken is. This evolution has changed how we see certain cultures because America has made their food into their own, erasing past history and cuisine. Using the three restaurants in the exhibit we are going to able to explore the different levels of Americanization and compare it to today’s changes.

The real question is in what ways did Chinese food in Salem attempt to popularize their food for an American audience?