Lo mein

Lo mein (traditional Chinese: 撈麵/撈麪; simplified Chinese: 捞面; Cantonese Yale: lou1 min6; pinyin: lāo miàn) is a Chinese dish with noodles. When prepared in the Cantonese style, it is often topped with or accompanied by meat (such as char siu or beef brisket), wontons, or vegetables, and may be served with a bowl of broth.

The term lo mein comes from the Cantonese 撈麵, meaning "stirred noodles". The Cantonese use of the character 撈, pronounced lou and meaning "to stir", in its casual form, differs from the character's traditional Han meaning of "to dredge" or "to scoop out of water" in Mandarin, in which case it would be pronounced as laau or lou in Cantonese (lāo in Mandarin). In Mandarin, the dish is called lāo miàn. In its country of origin, it is made of thin flour-and-egg noodles which are notable for their elastic texture.

In Cantonese cuisine, lo mein (撈麵) typically consists of boiled wheat noodles that are tossed in a sauce, such as oyster sauce, or are served with a sauce alongside. It may be accompanied by items such as wontons, char siu, or beef brisket. Unlike chow mein, Cantonese-style lo mein is not traditionally pan-fried or stir-fried.

In American Chinese restaurants, lo mein is a popular take-out food and is sometimes considered synonymous with chow mein. The dish is distinct from both Cantonese lo mein and Cantonese crispy chow mein. U.S. lo mein noodles are usually stir-fried with a sauce made from soy sauce and other seasonings. Vegetables such as bok choy and cabbage can be mixed in and meats like roast pork, beef or chicken are often added. Shrimp lo mein, lobster lo mein, vegetable lo mein, and "house" lo mein (more than one meat) are sometimes available..