Why do some Chinese restaurants not serve pork?

[Disneyland1084]

I went to Panda Express the other day and got a combo plate. When I asked for sweet and sour pork, they said they don't make any pork. With it being the hectic lunch hour, I didn't ask why. But I do know they're not the only Chinese restaurant that does that.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Is it an unpopular option in your area?

 

[Disneyland1084]

Is it an unpopular option in your area?

Not that I know of. The "fancy" Chinese restaurants here still serve it.

 

[lovesmurfs]

I'd hesitate to call Panda Express a true Chinese restaurant. They have a limited menu that's the same across the country.

 

[BrianL]

I went to Panda Express the other day and got a combo plate. When I asked for sweet and sour pork, they said they don't make any pork. With it being the hectic lunch hour, I didn't ask why. But I do know they're not the only Chinese restaurant that does that.

The reason is that pork prices are more volatile which is why fast-food places rarely serve it. Take the McRib: It's always "back for a limited time" because McDonald's locks in at the cheapest time to buy a certain amount. They can't really serve it all year, at least not at a price that their customers are willing to pay. Panda Express and other "fast food" style Chinese food probably does this for the same reason. This does not seem to apply to cured meats such as bacon or pepperoni, etc. As far as I know that is why.

 

[Disneyland1084]

I'd hesitate to call Panda Express a true Chinese restaurant. They have a limited menu that's the same across the country.

Oh, I know what you mean. The ONLY reason I went there is because I had a strong craving for it, and the "fancy" one was closed.

 

[msjprincess]

I would guess it's because it's more of a fast food place and they have a more limited menu.

 

[shoney]

We have a Chinese restaurant in just about every strip mall in the area. Almost as many as pizzerias. Lol. All serve pork.
I would think this is a fast food thing

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

The reason is that pork prices are more volatile which is why fast-food places rarely serve it. Take the McRib: It's always "back for a limited time" because McDonald's locks in at the cheapest time to buy a certain amount. They can't really serve it all year, at least not at a price that their customers are willing to pay. Panda Express and other "fast food" style Chinese food probably does this for the same reason. This does not seem to apply to cured meats such as bacon or pepperoni, etc. As far as I know that is why.

Pork prices shouldn't affect the McRib.

 

[tvguy]

The reason is that pork prices are more volatile which is why fast-food places rarely serve it. Take the McRib: It's always "back for a limited time" because McDonald's locks in at the cheapest time to buy a certain amount. They can't really serve it all year, at least not at a price that their customers are willing to pay. Panda Express and other "fast food" style Chinese food probably does this for the same reason. This does not seem to apply to cured meats such as bacon or pepperoni, etc. As far as I know that is why.

Around here pork is always inexpensive. The AM PM Mini-Market chain seems to have no problem keeping their 970 stores stocked up with their version of the McRib year round.

 

[BrianL]

Pork prices shouldn't affect the McRib.

Well, okay fair enough. Haha!

 

[BrianL]

Around here pork is always inexpensive. The AM PM Mini-Market chain seems to have no problem keeping their 970 stores stocked up with their version of the McRib year round.

Well, I don't know exactly - it has to do with their supply chain. It just doesn't work, which is why most fast food places don't serve it.

 

[L&Lfan]

I haven’t had a McRib in years. They never seem to come to south Jersey whenever they’re brought back for a “limited time”.

 

[tvguy]

Well, I don't know exactly - it has to do with their supply chain. It just doesn't work, which is why most fast food places don't serve it.

I also have to wonder if it has to do with the religious dietary restrictions that prohibit eating pork, and anything cooking in the same kitchen as pork.

 

[bcla]

I also have to wonder if it has to do with the religious dietary restrictions that prohibit eating pork, and anything cooking in the same kitchen as pork.

Who really does fast food pork other than bacon? I'm looking at what Panda Express has on its current national menu, and there isn't a single pork item. They might have had some in the past, but I'm guessing it doesn't sell well.

I know people from China. And I agree that it's hard to call Panda express "Chinese". I remember a friend originally from China telling me about going to a Panda Express with her parents because they were in a hurry on vacation. They weren't quite sure what it was, and her dad asked if it was Japanese. And sweet and sour pork in that style with the bright red sauce is definitely meant to appeal to American tastes.

But yeah - pork is the most common meat in Chinese cuisine. It's well suited for growing conditions in China. It doesn't take a whole lot of room and they grow quickly to market size. Beef cattle need room to graze.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Pork prices shouldn't affect the McRib.

A Maddox sighting!

 

[DLgal]

Who really does fast food pork other than bacon? I'm looking at what Panda Express has on its current national menu, and there isn't a single pork item. They might have had some in the past, but I'm guessing it doesn't sell well.

I know people from China. And I agree that it's hard to call Panda express "Chinese". I remember a friend originally from China telling me about going to a Panda Express with her parents because they were in a hurry on vacation. They weren't quite sure what it was, and her dad asked if it was Japanese. And sweet and sour pork in that style with the bright red sauce is definitely meant to appeal to American tastes.

But yeah - pork is the most common meat in Chinese cuisine. It's well suited for growing conditions in China. It doesn't take a whole lot of room and they grow quickly to market size. Beef cattle need room to graze.

My city is almost 50% Asian by population. It's not a small city. There are 3 Panda Express locations. They are almost all always FULL of Chinese customers. It may not be authentic Chinese food, but Chinese people sure do love it. We have no shortage of REAL Chinese restaurants here either (the kind that don't even have a menu in english). FWIW, the company was started in Southern CA by a family of first generation Chinese Americans. It started with Panda Inn which was a full service Chinese restaurant and grew from there. They invented Orange chicken to make use of California's most prevalent citrus crop at the time, and purposely created it for American tastes.

 

[bcla]

My city is almost 50% Asian by population. It's not a small city. There are 3 Panda Express locations. They are almost all always FULL of Chinese customers. It may not be authentic Chinese food, but Chinese people sure do love it. We have no shortage of REAL Chinese restaurants here either (the kind that don't even have a menu in english). FWIW, the company was started in Southern CA by a family of first generation Chinese Americans. It started with Panda Inn which was a full service Chinese restaurant and grew from there. They invented Orange chicken to make use of California's most prevalent citrus crop at the time, and purposely created it for American tastes.

Wasn't saying that Chinese people didn't buy from there. I know the history of the business. However, it's like Mexicans eating at Taco Bell or Italians buying a pizza from Domino's. It bears little resemblance to even Americanized food at family owned Chinese restaurants. The midwestern style Chinese food that Andrew Zimmern decried in his Fast Company interview is probably closer in terms of authenticity than Panda Express. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, but it's "kind of Chinese" sort of like how Wienerschnitzel had an ad where they say one could celebrate Oktoberfest there because it was "Kinda German".

And strangely enough, I've had orange chicken in China. It was weird.

 

[disneychrista]

Panda Express is Chinese food like Taco Bell is Mexican food.

 

[bcla]

Panda Express is Chinese food like Taco Bell is Mexican food.

Sure. It's interesting who eats at Taco Bell too. I also wasn't sure about Wienerschnitzel. Turns out it was a completely made up name, and Taco Bell was tangentially involved.

https://www.wienerschnitzel.com/wienerschnitzel-hot-dog-chain-will-start-serving-schnitzel/
Because of course a Wienerschnitzel isn’t a kind of hot dog — Wiener doesn’t mean “hot dog;” it means “from Vienna” — it’s a thin, breaded, fried cutlet traditionally made from veal.

The chain’s name, according to J. R. Galardi, executive vice president of the 330-unit chain and son of founder John Galardi, came from a suggestion at a dinner hosted by Taco Bell founder Glen Bell.

Galardi worked for Bell at the time and was trying to think of a name that would stick in people’s minds, which “John’s Hot Dogs” would not. Bell’s wife was flipping through a cookbook and said, “How about Der Wienerschnitzel?”​