National Chop Suey Day
August 29
About National Chop Suey Day
National Chop Suey Day is observed annually on 29 August. It celebrates one of the most iconic dishes to emerge from the Chinese-American culinary tradition: a hearty stir-fry of meat, egg, vegetables, and thickened sauce, typically served over rice or noodles. The day invites people everywhere to cook, order, or simply learn more about a dish that has shaped the history of food culture across two continents.
What is Chop Suey?
Chop suey is a stir-fried dish combining meat (commonly chicken, beef, pork, or prawns), eggs, and vegetables such as bean sprouts, celery, cabbage, and water chestnuts, all bound in a light, starch-thickened sauce. The name is believed to derive from the Cantonese tsap seui, meaning “miscellaneous pieces” or “odds and ends,” a fitting description for a dish defined by its adaptability. Vegetarian and vegan versions have also become popular in recent years, replacing meat with tofu or additional vegetables.
When is National Chop Suey Day?
National Chop Suey Day falls on 29 August each year. The date is linked to one of the dish’s most enduring origin legends: the dinner party hosted by Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang in New York City on 29 August 1896, at which his cooks allegedly improvised the dish to satisfy both Chinese and American guests. Whether the story is fact or folklore, 29 August has become the annual occasion to honour this celebrated dish.
Why it Matters
Chop suey holds a unique place in food history because it sits at the intersection of immigration, adaptation, and cultural exchange. It is a dish born of necessity, created by Chinese immigrants who blended familiar cooking techniques with locally available American ingredients. For much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, chop suey restaurants were among the first Chinese-owned businesses that mainstream American society engaged with, making the dish a quiet pioneer of multicultural dining. Celebrating National Chop Suey Day is, in part, a recognition of the generations of Chinese-American cooks who shaped the broader food landscape.
How to Get Involved
There are many ways to mark the occasion:
- Cook at home: Try making your own version of chop suey using your preferred protein and whatever vegetables you have to hand. The dish is forgiving and flexible, a perfect midweek meal.
- Visit a local Chinese restaurant: Support a nearby Chinese-American eatery by ordering chop suey or another dish from the menu.
- Explore a cookbook: Pick up a book dedicated to Chinese-American cuisine to deepen your understanding of the culinary tradition.
- Share on social media: Post your meal or recipe using the hashtags below to connect with others celebrating the day.
- Learn the history: Read about the broader story of Chinese immigration to the United States and the role food played in cultural exchange.
History
The true origins of chop suey are contested, and several competing theories exist.
The Taishan theory: Food historian E. N. Anderson has argued that chop suey may be rooted in tsap seui, a dish from Taishan County in Guangdong Province, China, which was the home region of many of the earliest Chinese immigrants to America. Under this theory, the dish travelled with migrants during the California Gold Rush of the 1840s and 1850s.
The railway workers theory: Another account holds that chop suey was developed by Chinese labourers working on the Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s, who combined whatever ingredients were available to create filling, economical meals after long days of work.
The 1896 dinner party legend: Perhaps the most frequently cited story involves Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang visiting New York. According to the tale, when American guests joined his table, his cooks created a dish to please both palates simultaneously. This account has been disputed by historians but remains widely repeated.
By the early 20th century, chop suey was a fixture of American restaurant culture. “Chop suey joints” proliferated across cities from New York to San Francisco, introducing millions of Americans to Chinese flavours, however adapted they may have been. The dish fell somewhat out of fashion in later decades as more regionally specific Chinese cuisines became better known, but it retains deep nostalgic and cultural significance.
Noteworthy Facts
- The Cantonese phrase tsap seui literally means “mixed pieces” or “miscellaneous bits.”
- Li Hongzhang, the diplomat associated with the 1896 dinner legend, was one of the most powerful statesmen of the Qing dynasty.
- By the 1920s, chop suey restaurants were found in virtually every major American city.
- American-style chop suey differs significantly from most Chinese regional cooking in its use of thickened, gravy-like sauces.
- A tinned version of chop suey was once a staple of American supermarket shelves, extending the dish’s reach into domestic kitchens far beyond city centres.
Hashtags
#NationalChopSueyDay #ChopSuey #ChineseAmericanFood #FoodHistory #August29
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