Minnesota chow mein is its own thing, a saucy mix of celery, bean sprouts, meat, and gravy that has fed families here for generations, usually with crispy noodles or rice on the side. It rarely gets the spotlight, but plenty of local Chinese-American kitchens still make it the old-school way, in portions big enough to cover lunch tomorrow too.
This list rounds up eight of those spots, from a St. Paul counter with chow mein in its name to a Winona favorite that keeps its crunchy noodles separate so they stay crisp. If you grew up on this dish or you are just curious what the fuss is about, save this one and share it with the person who always picks takeout night.
1. Golden Chow Mein Restaurant, St Paul, MN
Putting chow mein right in your restaurant name is a bold move, and this West 7th Street counter backs it up. Golden Chow Mein is a no-frills, order-at-the-counter stop that serves both quick grab-and-go versions of Chinese classics and dishes cooked to order.
The namesake Golden Chow Mein is the obvious starting point. From there, the menu branches into Shrimp Subgum, an Egg Roll Chow Mein and Fried Rice combo, egg fu yung, and a pork fried rice with a nicely even ratio of pork to rice…