Last updated: August 29, 2026
Quick Answer
August 29 Chop Suey Day is an annual culinary observance in the United States that celebrates chop suey, the iconic Chinese-American stir-fry dish made with meat, eggs, vegetables, and a cornstarch-thickened sauce. The date is tied to an 1896 New York City banquet legend involving Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang. It is not a federal holiday but appears widely in food and awareness-day calendars. [1][2][3]
Key Takeaways
- August 29 Chop Suey Day is observed annually on August 29 and falls on Saturday, August 29, 2026 this year.
- The observance is a culinary awareness day, not a public or federal holiday.
- The date traces back to an 1896 legend about a banquet hosted by Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang in New York City.
- “Chop suey” derives from the Cantonese phrase shap sui, meaning “odds and ends” or “broken miscellany.”
- Chop suey is a Chinese-American fusion dish, not a traditional dish from mainland China.
- Classic chop suey includes protein (chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp), bean sprouts, cabbage, celery, eggs, and a savory sauce served over rice or noodles.
- The dish became a symbol of how Chinese immigrant cooks adapted their cuisine for American diners in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
- Celebrations typically involve cooking or ordering chop suey, sharing recipes, and reading about its cultural history.
- Vegetarian versions substitute tofu or extra vegetables for meat with no loss of flavor integrity.
- The holiday is recognized in international food calendars beyond the United States, including German and Dutch event listings.
What Is Chop Suey Day?
August 29 Chop Suey Day is an informal food holiday observed every year on August 29 in the United States. It encourages people to cook, order, or simply learn about chop suey, one of the most recognizable Chinese-American dishes in culinary history. [1][2]
The day appears in major awareness-day and holiday calendars including AwarenessDays, NationalToday, Calendarr, Dayspedia, and Punchbowl, among others. It is not recognized as a public holiday by any state or federal government. Instead, it functions as a lighthearted cultural observance, similar to other food-themed days throughout August. [2][3][8]
Typical ways people mark the day include:
- Cooking a homemade chop suey recipe for family or friends
- Ordering chop suey from a local Chinese-American restaurant
- Sharing photos and recipes on social media
- Reading about the dish’s fascinating immigration history
If you enjoy exploring August food holidays, you might also appreciate August 21 Sweet Tea Day or the ever-popular August 4 Chocolate Chip Cookie Day.
Why Is August 29 Chop Suey Day? The Origin of the Date
The date August 29 is linked to a well-known piece of culinary folklore. According to a widely repeated legend, Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang hosted a banquet in New York City on August 29, 1896. His cooks reportedly improvised a dish combining Chinese stir-fry techniques with American ingredients to satisfy both Chinese and American guests at the table. That dish became known as chop suey. [2][5]
Most food historians treat this story as folklore rather than a firmly documented event. The more broadly supported view is that chop suey developed gradually within Chinese immigrant communities, particularly in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the late 1890s, as cooks adapted stir-fried meat and vegetable dishes to suit American tastes and available ingredients. [9]
Regardless of which origin account is more accurate, the August 29 date has stuck. Holiday calendars now list it consistently for years into the future, including 2026 (Saturday), 2027 (Sunday), and beyond. [2][13]
“National Chop Suey Day is a celebration of one of the most enduring chapters in Chinese-American culinary history.”
History of Chop Suey: From Chinatown to American Menus
Chop suey’s rise in America is one of the more compelling stories in food history. Chinese immigrants arrived in large numbers during the California Gold Rush and the construction of the transcontinental railroad in the mid-1800s. They brought cooking traditions with them, including simple stir-fries made from whatever ingredients were on hand. [9]
By the late 1890s, chop suey had begun appearing on menus in Chinese restaurants across major American cities. The dish was affordable, filling, and adaptable, which made it attractive to a broad range of diners. By the early 1900s, “chop suey houses” had become a fixture in urban American dining culture. [5][9]
The dish’s popularity also had a complicated side. For many Americans, chop suey became their primary idea of what “Chinese food” looked like, even though the dish had no direct equivalent in China. This created a stereotype that Chinese-American restaurant owners often had to navigate carefully. Today, food writers and historians recognize chop suey as a genuine product of the Chinese-American immigrant experience rather than an authentic Chinese dish. [9][12]
Is Chop Suey Actually Chinese?
Chop suey is not a traditional dish from China. It is a Chinese-American creation that emerged from immigrant kitchens in the United States during the late 19th century. No equivalent dish exists in traditional Chinese regional cuisine. [9]
The name comes from the Cantonese phrase shap sui (sometimes written tsap seui), which translates roughly to “odds and ends” or “broken miscellany.” This reflects the dish’s practical origins: it was made from assorted leftover or available ingredients, stir-fried together and bound with a sauce. [1][9]
The distinction matters because it reframes what chop suey actually represents. Rather than being a failed imitation of Chinese cooking, it is a legitimate example of culinary fusion, created by skilled immigrant cooks who blended their techniques with the ingredients and tastes of their new home. [5][9]
Chop Suey vs. Lo Mein: What Is the Difference?
Chop suey and lo mein are both Chinese-American staples, but they are structurally different dishes. Chop suey is a stir-fried mixture of protein and vegetables in a thick, cornstarch-thickened sauce, served over steamed rice or fried noodles on the side. Lo mein is a noodle dish where cooked egg noodles are tossed directly into a soy-based sauce with vegetables and protein. [1]
| Feature | Chop Suey | Lo Mein |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Rice or side noodles | Egg noodles (tossed in) |
| Sauce | Thick, cornstarch-thickened | Soy-based, lighter coat |
| Texture | Saucy, vegetable-forward | Noodle-forward, chewy |
| Origin | Chinese-American (late 1800s) | Chinese-American adaptation |
| Best for | Vegetable and protein variety | Noodle lovers, heartier portions |
Choose chop suey if you want a lighter, vegetable-rich dish with a glossy sauce. Choose lo mein if you prefer a noodle-centric meal with a savory soy glaze.
Traditional Chop Suey Ingredients and Nutrition Facts
Classic chop suey relies on a short list of core ingredients that can be varied widely depending on what is available. [1][5][9]
Core ingredients:
- Protein: Chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, or a combination
- Vegetables: Bean sprouts, cabbage (napa or green), celery, and onion
- Eggs: Scrambled lightly into the stir-fry
- Sauce: Soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken broth, and cornstarch for thickening
- Aromatics: Garlic and ginger
- Serving base: Steamed white rice or crispy chow mein noodles
Nutrition overview (approximate, per standard serving):
A typical chicken chop suey serving (roughly 1.5 cups) contains an estimated 200 to 280 calories, 20 to 25 grams of protein, 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrates, and 8 to 12 grams of fat, depending on the amount of oil and sauce used. Sodium can be significant (600 to 900 mg per serving) due to soy and oyster sauces, so low-sodium versions of those sauces are a practical swap for anyone watching salt intake. These figures are estimates based on standard recipe compositions and will vary by preparation method.
The dish is naturally high in vegetables, making it a reasonable source of fiber and micronutrients like vitamin C and potassium when bean sprouts and cabbage are used generously.
How to Make Chop Suey at Home: Chicken vs. Shrimp
Making chop suey at home takes about 30 minutes and requires no specialized equipment beyond a large skillet or wok. The method is the same whether you use chicken or shrimp; the main difference is cook time. [1][9]
Step-by-step method:
- Prep the sauce. Whisk together 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce, 1/2 cup chicken broth, and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Set aside.
- Slice the protein. For chicken, use thin strips of boneless thigh or breast. For shrimp, use medium peeled and deveined shrimp.
- Stir-fry the protein. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok over high heat. Cook chicken 4 to 5 minutes until cooked through, or shrimp 2 to 3 minutes until pink. Remove and set aside.
- Stir-fry the vegetables. Add another tablespoon of oil. Cook onion, celery, and cabbage for 2 to 3 minutes. Add bean sprouts and garlic, cook 1 more minute.
- Combine and sauce. Return the protein to the wok. Pour in the sauce and toss everything together until the sauce thickens, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately over steamed rice or noodles.
Chicken vs. shrimp: Chicken provides a heartier, meatier texture and absorbs the sauce well. Shrimp cooks faster, has a lighter flavor, and works especially well with a ginger-forward sauce. Both are excellent choices for August 29 Chop Suey Day.
Vegetarian version: Replace the protein with firm tofu (pressed and cubed) or extra mushrooms. Use vegetable broth and swap oyster sauce for hoisin sauce or a vegetarian oyster-style sauce. The cooking steps remain identical.
August is a great month for food exploration. If you want to celebrate the whole month, check out August 17 Eggplant Day, August 18 Fajita Day, August 16 Bratwurst Day, and August 15 Lemon Meringue Pie Day for more seasonal cooking inspiration.
Where to Find Chop Suey and August 29 Chop Suey Day Deals
Finding chop suey near you is straightforward because it remains a menu staple at most Chinese-American restaurants across the United States. [3][8]
How to find chop suey locally:
- Search “chop suey near me” or “Chinese-American restaurant near me” on Google Maps or Yelp
- Look for restaurants that list classic American-Chinese dishes such as egg foo young, fried rice, and lo mein, as these menus almost always include chop suey
- Call ahead on August 29 to ask whether the restaurant is running any specials for the day
Deals and specials on August 29 Chop Suey Day: There is no centrally organized promotion for this food holiday. However, some local Chinese-American restaurants and food bloggers do acknowledge the day with discounts, recipe posts, or social media features. Checking a restaurant’s Instagram or Facebook page on or just before August 29 is the most reliable way to find any active promotions. [1][10]
Common mistake: Do not assume every restaurant labeled “Chinese” will serve chop suey. Restaurants specializing in regional Chinese cuisines (Sichuan, Cantonese dim sum, Shanghainese) may not carry it, as chop suey is specifically a Chinese-American dish rather than a regional Chinese one.
Conclusion
August 29 Chop Suey Day is more than a quirky entry on a food calendar. It marks a genuine chapter in American culinary and immigration history, honoring the ingenuity of Chinese immigrant cooks who built a new dish from the intersection of two food cultures. Whether the Li Hongzhang banquet story is historical fact or well-crafted legend, the dish itself is real, delicious, and worth celebrating.
Actionable next steps for August 29, 2026:
- Cook chop suey at home using the step-by-step method above. It takes 30 minutes and uses ingredients available at any grocery store.
- Order from a local Chinese-American restaurant and ask whether they are marking the day with any specials.
- Share the dish’s history with whoever is at the table. The story of shap sui and its journey from immigrant kitchens to mainstream American menus is genuinely worth knowing.
- Explore other August food holidays to keep the culinary momentum going through the rest of the month.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Chop Suey Day in 2026? August 29 Chop Suey Day falls on Saturday, August 29, 2026. It is observed on August 29 every year.
Is National Chop Suey Day an official holiday? No. It is an informal culinary awareness day that appears in private event and food holiday calendars. It is not recognized as a public, state, or federal holiday.
Who invented chop suey? No single inventor is confirmed. The most popular legend credits the kitchen staff of Chinese diplomat Li Hongzhang during a New York City banquet on August 29, 1896. Most food historians attribute the dish more broadly to Chinese immigrant communities in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the late 1890s.
What does “chop suey” mean? The name derives from the Cantonese phrase shap sui, meaning “odds and ends” or “broken miscellany,” reflecting the dish’s origins as a stir-fry made from assorted available ingredients.
Is chop suey healthy? A standard serving is moderately nutritious, providing lean protein and vegetables. The main nutritional concern is sodium from soy and oyster sauces. Using low-sodium sauce alternatives significantly reduces salt content without changing the dish’s flavor profile.
What is the difference between chop suey and chow mein? Chop suey is served over rice or soft noodles with a thick sauce. Chow mein refers to stir-fried noodles, either soft or crispy, where the noodles are a central component of the dish rather than a side.
Can chop suey be made vegetarian or vegan? Yes. Replace meat with firm tofu, tempeh, or extra mushrooms. Substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth and use hoisin sauce or a vegetarian oyster-style sauce in place of standard oyster sauce.
How long does it take to make chop suey at home? About 25 to 30 minutes from start to finish, including prep time. It is one of the faster weeknight stir-fry dishes to prepare.
Is chop suey popular outside the United States? Chop suey gained popularity in several English-speaking countries and appears in food holiday calendars in Europe, including German and Dutch event listings. Its primary cultural home, however, remains the United States.
What protein works best in chop suey? Chicken and shrimp are the most common choices. Chicken thigh provides the most flavor; shrimp cooks fastest. Pork tenderloin and beef sirloin are also traditional options.
References
[1] Chop Suey Day – https://www.punchbowl.com/holidays/chop-suey-day [2] National Chop Suey Day – https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/national-chop-suey-day/ [3] National Chop Suey Day – https://nationaltoday.com/national-chop-suey-day/ [4] Tag Des Chop Suey – https://www.kuriose-feiertage.de/tag-des-chop-suey/ [5] National Chop Suey Day – https://www.history.co.uk/this-day-in-history/29-august/national-chop-suey-day [6] Dayspedia – https://dayspedia.com/us/calendar/holiday/4973/ [7] Chop Suey Tag – https://www.terminvorschau.de/gedenktag/chop-suey-tag [8] National Chop Suey Day – https://www.calendarr.com/united-states/national-chop-suey-day/ [9] Happy Chop Suey Day: A Brief Guide To A Quintessential Chinese American Dish – https://pearlriver.com/blogs/blog/happy-chop-suey-day-a-brief-guide-to-a-quintessential-chinese-american-dish [10] National Chop Suey Day – https://www.holidaycalendar.io/holiday/national-chop-suey-day
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