Chinese food in Scotland really isn't chinese

...deleted...

It's probably for the best. 

I wouldn't be bothered at all.  I let it slipped out that when they said there is no jasmine tea I told them they weren't a real chinese restaurant.  My wife got pissed as usual whenever I comment on restaurants there.  I hope they didn't spit on my food or anything, not that I'd be able to tell the difference.

But that's just impolite!   
Honestly... you would really and truly sit your half-Chinese self down in a well-known Chinese restaurant where the local Chinese community regularly eat, and tell them that it's not REALLY Chinese food?      Seriously?!   

But that's just impolite!   
Honestly... you would really and truly sit your half-Chinese self down in a well-known Chinese restaurant where the local Chinese community regularly eat, and tell them that it's not REALLY Chinese food?      Seriously?!   

Um see that might be the problem.  The only chinese person is the one or two staff that I saw.  I was actually in Kilmarnock at the time and I have not seen a single asian person walking around the 5 or so times I've visited.  I suppose it's been tuned for the Scottish folk.  I like to try different ethnic foods but everyone on my wife's side doesn't really do ethnic..

Um see that might be the problem.  The only chinese person is the one or two staff that I saw.  I was actually in Kilmarnock at the time and I have not seen a single asian person walking around the 5 or so times I've visited.  I suppose it's been tuned for the Scottish folk.  I like to try different ethnic foods but everyone on my wife's side doesn't really do ethnic..

OK, so your initial claim that 'Chinese food in Scotland really isn't chinese' is based on maybe 1 or 2 restaurants in Killie.

Not all of Scotland is the same!

Get thee to Glasgow... my favourite Chinese restaurant there is Ho Wong in York Street.   Absolutely drop-dead gorgeous food!   I can't vouch for the authenticity, because I havent seen Chinese people eating in there, but honestly the food is beyond fantastic. 
My 2nd choice for Chinese in Glasgow would be Amber Regent in West Regent Street ---once again, really beautiful food, although i cant remember if i have seen Chinese people eating in there.

The biggie, though... the one that everyone knows, is Loon Fung in Sauchiehall Street.   Always jam-packed with Chinese customers, and they have a special menu that is all in Chinese, which has got the *real* Chinese food (not tailored for Scottish tastes) on it.

Glasgow also has a couple of Chinese supermarkets (Garnethill area) so you can maybe buy stuff to make your own proper Chinese food.

And dont forget, when you come to Scotland, 'Asian' means Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, etc... not Chinese, Korean, etc.

Yeah I agree, you've gone to the wrong restaurant, mate! Try some of Genau's recommendations ... she knows what she's talking about.  But remember most Chinese restaurants in the UK tend towards the Cantonese/Hong Kong style more than the Mandarin which you might be used to, even the places that call themselves Peking this or Mandarin that.

  But remember most Chinese restaurants in the UK tend towards the Cantonese/Hong Kong style more than the Mandarin which you might be used to, even the places that call themselves Peking this or Mandarin that.

That's a good point... i personally dont know the difference between the different styles of Chinese cookery (except for Hunan... i always know Hunan when i taste it!), so i cant really tell you what 'style' any of my restaurant reccys use.  Sorry bout that!

Is it really that shocking that someone who opens a Chinese restaurant in Britain or the US would try to sell food that they think would appeal to the tastes of people in the community where the restaurant is located, rather than to the tastes of people in China?

Is it really that shocking that someone who opens a Chinese restaurant in Britain or the US would try to sell food that they think would appeal to the tastes of people in the community where the restaurant is located, rather than to the tastes of people in China?

Nope, not shocking at all.  My husband is half-Chinese and the foods that his mother cooks are beyond fantastic, in my opinion, but wouldn't appeal to the general British or American populations.  She does like the restaurant sort of food as it is often good, but, she says it isn't close to authentic.   If she wants authentic, she makes it herself.  She has lived her for 40 years and she said she was never shocked to find that Chinese restaurants here weren't authentic.  She accepts that she is in a different country with different tastes.

Keeping it friendly here...sounds like you are being unreasonable and overly critical Nc73.  If you want authentic Chinese food, you must go to China.  If you want authentic Mexican, don't expect to find it in the UK, go to Mexico.  (however if you do find it, tell everyone!!) The folks here are adapting their food to the local tastes, which is what happens to every single cuisine which is cooked in a different country. 

Why don't you try some of the local Scottish foods, they are sure to be authentic 

I bet you couldn't get decent Haggis, Neeps and Tatties in Bejing!


Vicky

Hmmm ... I wonder if you can get authentic haggis in Beijing? 

I bet you couldn't get decent Haggis, Neeps and Tatties in Bejing!


Vicky

Wha about the rest of China though? 

I don't know about Chinese food, but when I've been to Indian restaurants with Indian friends, they've often asked the chef if they can have a dish that isn't on the menu, and we eat that instead.

Oddly enough, Japanese food is often... Japanese.  Cooked by Chinese or Pakistani people (often), but pretty much the same as the original.  I haven't been to any really cheap restaurants, though.  (I did have a laugh at the 'Japanese' stalls in Camden town... they're not even attempting anything Japanese.)  Thai food is often a mess, even with Thai staff.  Went to some award-winning restaurant last week near Kensington, and the Tom Yum had never been near any galangal or lemongrass.. or much of anything else.

I had really great Tom Yum and spicy noodle salad somewhere here.. I wish I could remember where.. but it was about 40 pounds for two people.

There must be great Chinese food here.. it's just a matter of searching and eating your way through.  We've only done takeaway, and I don't have high standards for that..

Oddly enough, Japanese food is often... Japanese.  I haven't been to any really cheap restaurants, though. 

Exactly the reasons that we don't often go to Japanese restaurants here.  I look at the prices and think...good grief, I can make this at home and save loads of cash.   

I am not Chinese, but as a Jew from New York, I am almost Chinese.

I find that Chinese food in the UK is much more authentic than Chinese food in the states. If you go somewhere like Hong Kong, the food is very very similar to the Chinese food in the UK (probably because most of the UK chefs are HK born) I much prefer UK Chinese food to US because it has more flavour and just tastes better to me. Although...NOT ENOUGH BROCCOLI!

The Tai Pan in Manchester has the BEST Chinese food outside of HK imo. Thank goodness I live near by it!!!

I wouldn't know authentic Chinese food if it came up to me and ate me, but I do prefer the Chinese food in the U.K. to Chinese food in New York by a wide margin. They really are quite different aren't they? Even the dishes with the same names like chicken-fried rice are quite different. I've always figured the two countries just had different regional focus, but for all I know neither cuisine has anything to do with authentic Chinese food. Still delicious though.


And I know this is OT, but madeira, can you make some recommendations for good Japanese places? That's one cuisine I really miss and there aren't any places I like around here (Wimbledon and environs)