American Dining Culture Draws from Many Sources
Due to its short history, the United States does not have many indigenous culinary traditions. Cooking methods are primarily focused on pan-frying, boiling, roasting, deep-frying, and raw preparation, with ingredients centered on vegetables, poultry, and livestock. The 200-year history of the United States is a history of immigrants' struggles. Immigrants from all walks of life from around the world have brought various cooking methods to the U.S. and improved them, allowing global dining cultures to be fully integrated and refined in America to better suit American tastes. For example, the spiciness of Sichuan or Korean cuisine is not as strong in the U.S., and Northeast Chinese cuisine is also much lighter than it is back home. The combination of these foreign dining cultures with local culture has created the diverse dietary characteristics of the United States. Walking on the streets of major cities like New York or Los Angeles, you can see all kinds of restaurants everywhere: Chinese, Korean, North Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, and French restaurants. From magnificent high-end establishments to small mobile food trucks on the roadside, if you can think of it, you can find it.
Most restaurants are closed in the morning. Americans generally eat breakfast at home, mainly consisting of cereal with milk, bread, juice, fried eggs, salads, fruit, pancakes, and sausages. On the way to work, you can buy McDonald's or donuts. Most restaurants offer lunch specials, which are generous in portion and affordable, generally costing between $7 and $12 per meal. Dinner is considered more important to Americans; many family gatherings or meetings with friends are scheduled for the evening, and most restaurants have daily specials that are quite affordable.
Unique Small Restaurants Everywhere
Here, I would like to recommend a Japanese noodle shop in Los Angeles called Fufutei. It sits quietly like a hidden gem in a residential area on Clark Ave. in the City of Industry, Los Angeles. This is the place my friends and I visit most often, a classic example of a place whose reputation precedes it despite its tucked-away location. Their noodles are truly special; my favorite is the Miso Pork Ramen. The vegetable salad with mango dressing is very refreshing, and they also serve grilled fish and various snacks. A bowl of noodles costs about $8-10, and the dining environment is excellent. I once bumped into Mr. Jiang Kun and his wife here; I was deeply impressed by Mr. Jiang Kun's cultivation and low-key demeanor. Fufutei is just as profound as Mr. Jiang Kun himself.
Another place is the famous American chain restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory. The Beckham family is also a regular at this restaurant. Their cheesecakes, steaks, appetizers, main courses, and desserts are truly fantastic. I am someone who is usually indifferent to steak and desserts, but CCF completely made me fall in love with them. The two restaurants mentioned above often have long queues, so I suggest making a reservation early.
Dining Etiquette in the U.S.
Americans value efficiency and convenience when eating, so you can often see gentlemen and ladies in suits and dresses licking their fingers while eating burgers in fast-food restaurants. However, when dining in high-end restaurants, Americans are also very formal, wearing suits and evening gowns, with dishes served one after another—appetizers, soup, side dishes, main courses, and desserts—all in a strictly orderly fashion.
Americans usually split the bill (AA system), and everyone eats their own portion. In China, a mother and child might share a drink, but in the U.S., everyone has their own portion of food and drink. Nowadays, many young Americans are starting to share due to the influence of foreign cultures, only to realize that paying for one portion to taste two different dishes is actually more cost-effective.
Tipping is required when dining in U.S. restaurants. The tip rate is generally 10%-20%, and most Americans will tip 15% or more. You can give the tip to the waiter separately or leave it on the table. If you pay by card, there will be a "Tips" line on the receipt where you can write the amount before signing. You generally do not tip at fast-food restaurants, but there is often a large box labeled "Tips" at the checkout counter where many customers drop their change.
My biggest takeaway is that eating fast food in the U.S. is more expensive than in China, but eating a grand meal is much cheaper than in China. I often go out for seafood with friends. For 10 people, we can have lobster, king crab, and about a dozen other dishes and soups for around $300, and we are stuffed with plenty left to pack up. In China, you couldn't even buy a single lobster for that price. I think this might be one of the reasons why Chinese people tend to gain weight after moving to the U.S. So, for those who have already arrived in the U.S. or are planning to go, you might want to start your diet in advance.