Cross-cultural Cuisine: The Evolution and Cultural Significance of Asian American Food

Chewy tteokbokki drowned in spicy orange sauce. Fragrant flaky scallion pancakes. Crispy savory dosas with flavorful masala potatoes. Many types of Asian food are beloved across the world, both in native and foreign countries. However, Asian-American food is a recent development within this diversity of flavors and traditions. 

In many Asian cultures, food is more than sustenance. Food is a representation of love and community, and it is integral to many traditions. According to a study conducted by Amy Tran, a student at Rutgers, “In Asia, there are a lot of wishes and thoughts conveyed through food” (Tran). In countries such as the United States, Asian families might utilize food as a way to maintain their cultural identity and connect with younger generations despite cultural and lingual barriers with historical customs that have been passed down through time. This is a representation of how, even after migrating and acculturating, Asians have been able to maintain their cultures through the universal language of food. Ever since the first settlers immigrated to the United States, Asians have carried their traditional foods with them as a part of their identity. For example, the first Chinese restaurant, the Canton Restaurant, opened in 1869 on the west coast. At first, these establishments mainly catered to Asian clientele, but throughout the years, customer bases became more diverse and Asian food is now extremely popular. 

However, many dishes have become Americanized over time and are now entirely different than the original foods they might have been based on. Examples include orange chicken, Pad Thai, and fortune cookies. While Americanized Asian food is one type of cuisine, another important  development within the huge variety of Asian food is Asian-American food, an emerging combination of both Asian and western heritage. These dishes are usually created by people who grew up in both Asian and American cultures, such as second or third-generation Asian Americans. The fusion of nostalgic foods that reflect the unique qualities of different cultures forms entirely new creations. Take, for example, Eric Kim, a writer and creator for NYT Cooking, who made a recipe for sheet-pan bibimbap, which had elements of his Korean heritage combined with influences from his American upbringing (Food 52).

Several prominent creators have popularized this genre of cooking, including Eric Kim, Priya Krishna, Andrea Nguyen, and Ariel Lee. Eric Kim, who was previously mentioned, recently released a cookbook titled Korean American which honors both the Korean and American aspects of his childhood. Priya Krishna, an Indian-American author and food journalist for the NY Times, has written cookbooks such as Cooking at Home and Indian-ish, which she wrote with her mother. Andrea Nguyen is a food writer, teacher, and chef, whose blog and cookbooks such Vietnamese Food Any Day have promoted authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Ariel Lee, a popular food blogger, posts Asian-inspired, Asian, and Western recipes. These proponents of Asian American cuisine and others have worked to ensure that it is recognized. 

Asian American cuisine allows Asian Americans to represent the multi-dimensional nature of their cultures and identities. Like the generations who passed down their Asian culture through traditional dishes, by shining a light on Asian American cuisine, Asian Americans can promote awareness, appreciation, and respect for their unique cultural identities through the universal language of food.

works cited

Asian American Food Culture. ABC. (2023, February 27). Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.abc-clio.com/ 

Chopra, S. (2022, May 31). For so many Asian Americans, food is community. Bon Appétit. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.bonappetit.com/story/aanhpi-heritage-month-food-restaurants 

Food for thought: The symbolism behind Asian Food. Rutgers University. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.rutgers.edu/news/food-thought-symbolism-behind-asian-food 

Merchant, S. (2022, March 31). Redefining identity, one Asian American dish at a time. Food52. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://food52.com/blog/27270-what-is-asian-american-food 

Olver, L. (n.d.). FAQs: Asian-American cuisine. The food timeline: History notes--Asian-American cuisine. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.foodtimeline.org/foodasian.html 

Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). We are what we eat: Asian Americans and food. PBS. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.pbs.org/food/features/eat-asian-americans-food/ 

Understanding contemporary asia through food. Association for Asian Studies. (2021, September 17). Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/understanding-contemporary-asia-through-food/

Photo by Foodguide App on Unsplash. (2020). Retrieved 14 March 2023, from https://unsplash.com/photos/UpbLLAB8E78