When walking the streets of Hoboken, among the trendy fast-casual eateries popping up around town, you’ll notice several old, no-frills Chinese takeout restaurants. Many of them have been around for more than 20 years and are still busy filling delivery or pick-up orders from locals in the neighborhood every day. If you ask an owner of one of these restaurants what the most popular menu item is, the answer is always “General Tso’s chicken” — an “American” favorite.
General Tso’s chicken has become synonymous with Chinese takeout, but it’s largely an American invention and is not frequently ordered by native Chinese customers, especially the younger ones, according to one of those aforementioned owners. We did a little digging into the history of American Chinese food. It’s a story of immigration, politics, and cultural integration that is still unfolding today. Here’s a brief history of Chinese takeout in town and our top must-order-from spots. Read on for a guide to Chinese takeout in Hoboken + Jersey City and a brief history of the cuisine.
A Brief History
The first wave of Chinese immigrants came to America during the California Gold Rush. The majority of them were impoverished peasants from the Cantonese area on China’s south coast. Many of them ended up in the restaurant business, selling dishes loosely based on traditional Cantonese recipes, but adapted to the tastes of American customers, such as lo mein and egg rolls. The most typical American-Chinese food from that era was chop suey, made of meat and eggs, stir-fried with vegetables, served over rice, and is based on a Cantonese peasant dish made with miscellaneous leftovers. In the 1920s, New York foodies and bohemians started a “chop suey craze” and Chinese food was considered the most exciting ethnic food at that time.
In the 1960s and 1970s, two historical events marked another wave of change in American Chinese food. With the passing of the Immigration Act of 1965 — which repealed restrictions on East Asian immigrants — an influx of Chinese immigrants arrived in America, many of whom came from regions in China other than Guangdong, bringing their hometown flavors to their adopted country. During President Nixon’s “ice-breaking” visit to China in 1972, the state banquet was broadcast live globally, which immediately kindled the public’s curiosity for “authentic” Chinese food.
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It was during this time that General Tso’s chicken came to the food scene. A Taiwanese chef originally from Hunan Province invented the dish in the 1950s, naming it after his hometown hero Zuo Zongtang, a 19th-century general. The dish made its way to New York in the 1970s, just in time for the rekindled Chinese food fervor. Chefs at prominent Chinese restaurants added their own spins to the “original” Taiwanese recipe, crisping the batter and intensifying the flavor, making it more palatable to American tastes. From there, the dish took off.
Chinese Takeout Locally
Today, the food at our typical neighborhood Chinese takeout still echoes the legacy from that era. Yes, stir-fries and fried rice are eaten in China, but the American takeout renderings are sweeter, saltier, boneless, and heavily deep-fried, for example, think of sesame chicken. And many common Chinese-takeout ingredients are not widely consumed in China. Broccoli, for dishes like broccoli with beef, is not native to Asia and only started to appear in Chinese farmers’ markets after the 2000s. Fortune cookies, a Californian invention, are pretty much unheard of in China.
This does not mean Chinese natives have completely renounced Chinese takeout food altogether. On busy weekday nights, at many Hoboken Chinese takeout spots, there is always a small but steady stream of Chinese students from Stevens. “The food is nothing fancy, but sometimes it suffices for a quick and inexpensive dinner, especially when you are starving,” they told The Hoboken Girl.
And the Chinese proprietors of these restaurants have also made changes to meet the evolving market demand. They enlarged and renovated the space and expanded the menu to incorporate Japanese or Thai dishes as well, catering to the taste of a wider clientele. But more changes are still on the way. In the past 10 years, an increasing number of Chinese investors, students, and high-skilled workers have moved to America. With disposable incomes and picky palates, they tend to seek out authentic dining experiences closer to what they had at home. As a result, new restaurants have opened up around town featuring a wide variety of regional cuisines, previously uncommon in America.
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Where to Get Chinese Takeout
Hoboken
Chen’s Kitchen | 301 Jackson Street #2
Must-try Dish: General Tso’s chicken
Green Garden | 1202 Washington Street
Must-try Dish: Wonton soup
Keming | 1006 Washington Street
Must-try Dish: Dim sum
Low-Fatt-Chow | 720 Monroe Street, Suite 103
Must-try Dish: Sweet and sour chicken
Number 1 | 642 Washington Street
Must-try Dish: Chicken and broccoli
Precious Chinese + Japanese Cuisine | 128 Washington Street
Must-try Dish: Sichuan pork
Rice Shop | 304 Washington Street #4842
Must-try Dish: Peking duck
Jersey City
Chef Tan | 558 Washington Boulevard
Must-try Dish: Chongqing-style fried chicken
China Garden | 553 West Side Avenue
Must-try Dish: Kung Pao Chicken
East Flour | 103 Christopher Columbus Drive
Must-try Dish: Wonton and purple rice congee
Garden State Chinese Restaurant | 287 Central Avenue
Must-try Dish: Spring rolls
Great Wall | 426 Grand Street
Must-try Dish: Orange chicken
Hunan House | 382 Summit Avenue
Must-try Dish: Miso soup
Jade House | 586 West Side Avenue
Must-try Dish: Beef Chao
Kay’s Spring Garden | 473 Central Avenue
Must-try Dish: Fried wontons
New Hong Kong | 161 Monticello Avenue
Must-try Dish: Black pepper beef
Old Peking | 746 Montgomery Street
Must-try Dish: Noodles with shrimp
Taste of North China | 75 Montgomery Street
Must-try Dish: Honey garlic chicken
The Waiting Room in Hoboken Just Launched a Valentine’s Day Pop-Up
This article is sponsored by The Waiting Room.
It’s been a long January, but Hoboken and Jersey City locals finally have Galentine’s + Valentine’s Day events filling up our calendars. There’s one event in Hoboken you’ll want to check out. The Waiting Room, located at 72 Hudson Street in Hoboken, is transforming into a Valentine’s Day pop-up experience with over-the-top decorations, an exclusive dinner menu, and craft cocktails. There’s also a mimosa tree brunch, but more on that later. Keep reading to learn more about this Valentine’s Day-themed pop-up experience in Hoboken, which starts today, Friday, January 31st.
Photos courtesy of @sunnysideupsocial
Valentine’s Vibes
During the month of February, The Waiting Room will transform into a one-of-a-kind, romantic rendezvous. With dozens (upon dozens) of red roses hanging from the ceiling and lights twinkling throughout the space, it truly feels like stepping into a Hallmark card. It’s the perfect backdrop for a date with your s/o or your group of girlfriends — and it isn’t only on February 14th.
The Menu
Love is in the air and on the menu. All month long, guests can enjoy an exclusive dinner menu and themed drinks. Tables can be reserved ahead of time but walk-ins are always welcome.
TWR has seriously upped its food game, serving an exclusive menu of small plates like Fried Buratta, French Onion Dip Egg Rolls, and a Charcuterie Board. Valentine’s Day is nothing without a little sweet bite and The Waiting Room is going all-in with indulgent desserts like Cookie Lava Cakes, and churros. The whole experience from start to finish is not to be missed.
As for drinks, there’s a curated menu of seasonal craft cocktails that taste as good as they look. The Waiting Room isn’t the only local business joining in on the fun, either. The team has recruited Hoboken hair salon Salon Gatto for a featured Strawberry Blonde Espresso Martini. It’s delicious, but that’s only half the fun: if you post a photo tagging @twrhoboken + @salongatto, you can receive a luxury hair treatment at your next appointment.
For weekenders, The Waiting Room also launched its new brunch offerings, complete with a mimosa tree tower and other breakfast food items. Brunch is served from 11AM-3:30PM on Saturdays and Sundays.
About the Waiting Room
Despite its name, The Waiting Room is a true Hoboken destination. Formerly the home of Bobbleheads (and before that, The Winston, and before that, The Ugly Irishman), this location has been a downtown hot spot for Hoboken locals. Now, in its newest iteration — thanks to former MLB pitcher–turned–bar mogul Pat Light — The Waiting Room joins the a family of popular Hoboken bars including Green Rock, Texas Arizona, McSwiggan’s, and River Street Garage.
The local bar switches things up seasonally and you can expect holiday-themed decor, events, and other exciting changes as the seasons change. In the past, The Waiting Room was fully decked out for Christmas and even put together a Postcards from Positano experience complete with Italian-inspired cocktails, Vespas, and lots of lemons.
The Waiting Room is located at 72 Hudson Street in Hoboken. Hours are Monday-Thursday from 5PM-2AM, Friday from 1PM-3AM, and Saturday + Sunday from 11AM-3AM.
Make a reservation here via Resy. Inquiries about larger party reservations can be made on the website.
