Egg Foo Young and Chop Suey are favorites on the menus of restaurants that serve Chinese American dishes  

These dishes are made with a combination of Chinese and American culinary techniques.  

Some people confuse egg foo young for chop suey as they both contain a mix of vegetables and meats, and they are usually served with a flavorful sauce or gravy. 

However, these dishes are distinct. 

In this post, we explore these dishes and find out what sets them apart.

What is Egg Foo Young? 

Egg foo young is a staple in Chinese American cuisine. 

This dish has its origins in traditional Chinese cooking but has been influenced by American culinary techniques. 

Egg foo young typically consists of an omelette base that is mixed with a wide variety of ingredients.  

The additional ingredients include finely chopped vegetables like bell peppers, onions, bean sprouts and celery.

Meats including ham, chicken, beef are also used to make this dish  

These ingredients are combined with the beaten eggs, and the mixture is pan-fried until the egg’s set. 

The fried mixture is usually shaped into patties with a golden-brown hue.

Egg foo young is served together with a flavorful sauce. The sauce is made, broth, soy sauce, and cornstarch as a thickener  

What is chop suey?

Chop suey consists of a mix of vegetables and meats which are stir-fried and served with a flavorful sauce.  

The ingredients vary widely from region to region and from one chef to another.

Chop Suey often includes a mix of cabbage, celery, bean sprouts, and protein sources like pork, chicken, or shrimp. 

This dish is defined by its method of preparation which is by stir-frying  

The stir-frying technique cooks the dish but ensures that each component retains its distinct texture. 

Difference between egg foo young and chop suey 

The difference between Egg Foo Young and Chop Suey involves their ingredients and method of preparation 

Ingredients

Egg foo young is a savory dish that typically consists of an omelet filled with ingredients such as bean sprouts, meats and vegetables 

Egg Foo Young is centered around the egg as its main ingredient while chop suey is not defined by any ingredient in particular and could include a wider variety of ingredients.  

Preparation

Chop Suey is defined by its stir-frying technique. It involves quickly cooking the ingredients together in a wok or skillet, allowing them to retain their individual textures and flavors. 

Egg Foo Young is typically not a stir fry dish, rather the eggs together with the other ingredients are panfried.