British Chinese cuisine facts for kids
British Chinese cuisine is a special kind of Chinese food that was created and developed in the United Kingdom. It's a mix of traditional Chinese cooking, often from Hong Kong, and what British people enjoy eating. This style of food is now a big and important part of British cuisine.
How British Chinese Food Began
Chinese food first appeared in cities like London and Liverpool in the early 1880s. Back then, these places were mostly visited by Chinese sailors and students.
In 1884, you could find Chinese food at a "restaurant" during the International Health Exhibition in South Kensington, London.
The very first Chinese restaurant in London opened around 1907 or 1908. But the number of Chinese restaurants really grew a lot after the Second World War. Many people believe this happened because service personnel returning from Hong Kong brought their love for the food with them. These new restaurants were often run by people from Hong Kong who moved to the UK.
In 2011, a group called the Ming-Ai (London) Institute started a project. They wanted to explore and track how Chinese food in the UK changed over time. They got help from the Heritage Lottery Fund for this project.
Around 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, many Chinese restaurants in the UK faced tough times. Some in London's Chinatown had financial difficulties. This was partly due to unfair worries about Chinese takeaways, which the BBC said were "unfounded."
What's on the Menu?
Chinese food is a big part of what people eat in Britain. In 2017, more than 80% of people in London said they had visited a Chinese takeaway.
Some Chinese takeaway restaurants in Britain even created their own unique dishes. One example is jar jow. This is a stir-fried dish with sliced char siu (barbecue pork), bamboo shoots, onions, and green pepper. It's seasoned with chilli powder and tomato paste.
By the late 2010s, older dishes like jar jow became less popular. Instead, American-style Chinese dishes like chop suey and Americanised chow mein became more common in takeaways. However, many other Chinese restaurants across Britain started offering more authentic Chinese dishes.
