Why Do Jewish People Eat Chinese Food on Christmas? | NBC Left Field

"Chinese restaurants are open when Jewish people want to eat." Exactly! Plus, the food is delicious!

We have had Chinese food every Christmas Eve since I was in 4th grade, I’m 59 now. My father’s birthday was Christmas Eve, his parent’s wedding anniversary is also the 24th. He was their only child so they spent every Christmas with us. My grandmother had many food allergies and that was the only food she could eat in a restaurant. My daughters have continued the tradition of Chinese on Christmas Eve. It brings so many fond memories of my grandmother in her mink stole and big diamond dinner ring she only wore that night.

My favorite cuisine has always been Chinese, Szechuan, Thai food. and it did start in my childhood, when my family went out every Sunday for Chinese food and on Christmas for Chinese food. I love it and I love the Chinese people.

When I was living in Philadelphia 20 years ago,  I used to go to this popular Chinese restaurant that serves delicious healthy kosher Chinese food,  I was usually the only Chinese person there. I was instantly recognised by the staff there whenever I visit. The place was very popular with Jews.  Now I am back in Singapore.   I miss that restaurant.

I know many Jews eat Chinese food during Xmas cause they wanted to thank and remember the Chinese for saving them during WW2, even though, China was in turmoil! Currently, there are still a lot of Jews living thru out China. The first largest Jews establishment in China was in Kaifeng during the Sony Dynasty and then later in Shanghai during WW2.

The Chinese food in NYC is definitely not American Chinese. You're thinking of what you read about Chinese food in other states. In NYC, at least today, it's authentic Chinese.

Commentors here either hate Jews or Chinese or both,but they can't say that so they say wtf NBC, and give dislikes. So I say long live the friendship between Jewish and Chinese people!! Peace and Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!

As a Jew, we literally just go because it’s good, it’s open, and my best friend who is Chinese usually comes with me and tells me what to order

This is the video I was looking for.

Posibly kosher in it's own kind of way? "Ooh wee this soup has lard, but I guess its kosher in its own kind of way!"

We're Baha'is rather than Jews , and we've adopted this custom as well. See whatever blockbuster movie got released on Christmas and patronize our favorite local Chinese restaurant. We'll, till CoVid, anyway. I guess this year it's Wonder Woman on HBOMax and curbside pick-up!

I saw a lot of comment about using lard and I can assure you that you’re fine. They do do that in south eastern China And northern China but not really in eastern, central and western China. In American Chinese food lard is rarely, if ever used since it is hard to find and most dishes that Americans eat don’t need lard for flavoring. I used to work at a Chinese restaurant and the cook told me that he never served any dish with lard.

2:02 I love that necklake

At 1:57 is when I realised, I have the same bowl at my home.

for years we ate Chinese, one year we said why all the hoopla about cooking on Christmas Day, everyone was always exhausted and no one really wanted to cook. So Chinese became the meal of choice and it was great.

for sum reason I dont know why the menu changed on Christmas so General Tso's chicken, chop suey , crab rangoon and almond chicken were not available and instead we had bo zai fan, Siu mei, Yeung Chow and Congee I have no idea why the menu shifted . Any ideas ?

No one else is open. Its even worse on Thanksgiving. No one is open and everyone closes early.

To counter the new incarnation muhahahahahaha yorkie stomach cramps 😂

They eat chinese food because #1, someone else labored to make it and #2, it is cheaper to eat at the resturant than to have to buy all ingredients and foods to cook it at home. I must admit, she was cute though.

Yeah, it's not kosher, which ever way you look at it 😂 They use the same cooking area to prepare meals with pork.