New York Chinese food is nothing like actual Chinese food found in China. 

For instance, there is no such thing as sweet ‘n sour over there, and fortune cookies were invented after Chinese immigrants came to the United States a little over 100 years ago. 

Arguably, the only real Chinese foods that are crowd-pleasers in this country are Peking Duck and lo mein (although real Cantonese chefs serve it only in soup). 

The simple reason for this is that most authentically-served Chinese food would not be palatable to most Americans. 

Most of the spices would be too strong for American taste buds, and some of the proteins would seem a little odd to anyone except the most hardcore foodie. 

 Real Chinese food has no sugar or starch in it, either. 

Have you ever noticed that the waiters eating lunch in our beloved New York City restaurants are eating some sort of noodle soups or plain Chinese broccoli? Occasionally, you;ll even see a bowl of soup with some sort of fish (with the eyeballs still intact, obviously). 

A far cry from our beloved General Tso's Chicken, right?. 

That being said, here are 10 reasons why Chinese food— the New York City version— is something us New Yorkers cannot live without. 

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1. Hours 

Most of New York City's Chinese restaurants are open all hours of the night-- especially those in Chinatown. 

Many late-night clubbers descend on the Lower East Side for those delectable eats at 3 a.m., and bet your bottom dollar, the food always comes out fast and fresh. 

They also tend to be open on holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, which is perfect for New Yorkers who tend to not celebrate with family or stay in the city alone . 

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2. Price

Chinese food is still the overall cheapest in New York, especially since more and more diners seem to charge $16 for salads and burgers because of their escalating rents. 

You can easily order a ¼ cut chicken or egg-roll appetizer, entrée, and a drink for under $20 (well, unless you are in a super high-end joint).

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3. Window displays

Those hanging, roasted meats in the window— mainly duck, chicken and pork— are still a succulent sight for locals and tourists alike.

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4. Fortune cookies 

They are still served at the end of every meal-- even in the swankiest Asian eateries-- and the message somehow tends to hit close to home. 

And even if it doesn't, it’s always fun to learn how to pronounce that funky Chinese word on the back of the fortune, right? 

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5. Varied veggies

You can have your veggies two ways. 

Above Canal Street, you get more American veggies in your mixed Chinese vegetables. On or below Canal, you get real Chinese broccoli and long, Chinese beans instead of string beans. 

Also, fun fact: Chinese eggplant is soft and tender-- nothing like the traditional large Italian eggplant the average diner is familiar with in this city. 

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6. Strangers

You often get seated with strangers, but that's #NBD in this town. 

It could even make for friendships and/or flings, especially between old-time New Yorkers and folks new to town. #OnlyinNYC 

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7. The portions are HUGE 

Despite the low prices, one classic entrée like Moo Shu Pork or Vegetable Lo Mein is really equal to four to six servings. 

They tend to serve family-style, so it’s great that the portions are big enough to share. 

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8. Leftovers

Chinese food seems to reheat in a microwave better than any other leftovers, amirite? 

Who the hell really knows the reason why, but you know you've become a real New Yorker when you find those leftover paper cartons in your fridge, any day/night of the week. 

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9. Chopsticks 

A real New Yorker cannot resist eating with chopsticks. 

And the reality is, it's actually better for you because it makes you eat slower and digest more easily.

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10. Decor

Come on, admit it. 

Those fun decorations-- like the cat statuettes with the bobbing arm (for good luck)-- are always welcome additions to any meal. 

Check out 9 Quintessential NYC Foods You'll Miss Like Crazy If You Ever Leave This City. 

[Feature Image Courtesy: Img Fave]