The thought is the simple carbs from rice, noodles, and high sugar sauces in a lot of takeout-style Chinese food gets digested quickly, so while one can eat that until they feel stuffed, the body will quickly break it down, and with the volume of fiber and protein in the meal being relatively low to the volume of starches and sugars, your stomach will soon be wanting more due to the low satiety provided. One could eat a smaller amount of, say, steak and broccoli, and remain fuller for much longer, due to the better nutritional balance and higher protein and fiber content which takes the body much longer to digest than starches and sugars.
It is played as a joke since a large number of people experience this overeating, yet soon hungry again situation, and attribute it to the food, although probably not in a way of understanding they’re eating a different kind of junk food than what they’re used to. My understanding is all this stuff is westernized and not really reflective of what Chinese food actually is.
This is also why people talk about Asians getting a “secret menu” at Asian restaurants. It’s not as though Westerners are forbidden to order real Asian dishes, they’re just a completely different taste profile than what a lot of Westerners are accustomed to, whether dishes be too spicy, too salty, or not sweet/saucy/cheesey/etc enough. One time I went fishing in the ocean and got way too many fish. I offered them to the guys in the Chinese takeout place attached to where I was working. They offered me some of what they made for themselves with it but gave me a heads up that I may not exactly enjoy it. I took a bite and it tasted sooooo salty, and I got surprised it still had the soft fish bones in it, and it wasn’t bad but was not what my palette was ready for at the time and I could not finish it, meanwhile they were all grateful and fully enjoying it.
I try to keep things simple, but I also always want to give the most complete answer I can, so I end up being pretty long winded. If someone takes the time to ask a question, I assume they do want the full answer though. I always worry I’m beating things into the ground, but I really want people to know as much as they can. People are always free to tell me to shut my trap. 😄
simple carbs from rice, noodles, and high sugar sauces in a lot of takeout-style Chinese food gets digested quickly
I always thought it was because of the high salt content, and possibly how “spicy” Americanized Chinese food tasted to the palates of whichever decade first made that joke (50s?). With a lot of salt and spice you’re drinking way more water than you normally would, causing you to feel full quicker.
Anecdotally when I eat a big bowl of ramen it’s pretty much all simple carbs and it keeps me feeling full for about two meals’ worth.
Both could be correct, especially since many folks’ diets are much different today than they were that long ago.
I’m far from a nutritionist, and I don’t think I could really explain the GI Index well enough to give the real how and why of eating a ton of simple carbs actually makes you still feel hungry despite eating enough to feed an army.
With the high salt content, people can feel a craving, that is actually for water, but can be misinterpreted as hunger. We know our body needs something, but we don’t always understand what that something is.
My home ramen is too basic, and doesn’t do much to fill me up, but the ramen place in town I find very filling, as the broth has some fat content, there’s meat and egg for protein, and there’s things like mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and other veg to provide that fiber which either takes a long time to digest or is just plain indigestible so it really sticks with you, literally. I can’t be bothered to prep all that at home. 😁
Have you eaten Americanized “Chinese” food? I eat it every on every last Tuesday of the month. I order two meals for myself every time, because without fail, I will be hungry again within less than 2 hours. Yesterday (4/28/2026), I had a pint of General Tso’s Chicken with a pint of beef lo mein. That’s an entire quart of food. If I ate a quart of spag bol for my lunch, I’d be done for the night. I’d be asleep. But after my big ol’ “Chinese” lunch, I was hungry ~90 minutes later, so I ate my pint of Szechuan Chicken and my pint of pork fried rice. Wonton soup was also involved. Yes, I added the fried noodles.
And even after that, I got a large pizza (pepperoni, pineapple, and extra cheese) at 10:30pm, just to cover the late night munchies. I only ate 4 slices out of 8, so I had some left for breakfast today. The stuff we sell as “Chinese food” in the USA is not very filling.
YMMV, I am a large man, and I am very active. I’m 6’4", I lift weights, and I run 6 miles a day. My TDEE is ~3800 calories. If you’re one of those folks who only need 1200-1600 calories a day, a simple lunch from the “Chinese” spot would be a lot of food for you. My wife is small, and she can easily live off 1600-1800 calories a day. Our gf is tiny and lives off of 1200 calories a day most days. A “splurge” day for her is 1500-1600 calories.
please expand on the my wife and our girlfriend aspect of this story…
My wife and I are both in love with another woman. If it was legal, the three of us would all be married. The kids I have with my wife and the kids I have with our gf view each other as siblings, and recognize all three of us as their parents.
You really eat more than them combined?
Yes, a large athletic man eats more than two small mostly sedentary women. I also weigh more than the two of them combined. If I ate much less than I do, I’d be losing mass. Sometimes I eat even more than 3800 calories a day, but that’s in my bulk phases. 3800 is just my maintenance number.
I eat it pretty often, I just haven’t found that to be the case for me. Then again, my breakfast this morning was two big cups of coffee and a single clementine. Im pretty active but not close to what you do, I think 7 miles is my personal best for distance.
Then again, my breakfast this morning was two big cups of coffee and a single clementine.
Damn homie, I honestly love that for you. No sarcasm, no cap. But I need to have what amounts to a full English every morning. And one clementine would honestly just piss me off. I’ve had 6 blood oranges today, and it’s not even 4pm yet. I’ll likely have 2-3 more today, plus a steak sandwich.
I think 7 miles is my personal best for distance
7 miles is a respectable distance, you’re doing great. I just chose 6 a day because then I can plan out my times better, and my dogs love it.
I probably wouldn’t eat until the evening if I had a full English! My goal is to hit a 10k in under 50 mins. I’ve managed to do a sub 53 minute, but shaving off those three minutes has been surprisingly difficult.
American-chinese takeout is all carbs, sodium and sugar. It provides little long term fulfillment, leaving you hungry even though they sell comparatively large servings.
I have never understood this joke
The thought is the simple carbs from rice, noodles, and high sugar sauces in a lot of takeout-style Chinese food gets digested quickly, so while one can eat that until they feel stuffed, the body will quickly break it down, and with the volume of fiber and protein in the meal being relatively low to the volume of starches and sugars, your stomach will soon be wanting more due to the low satiety provided. One could eat a smaller amount of, say, steak and broccoli, and remain fuller for much longer, due to the better nutritional balance and higher protein and fiber content which takes the body much longer to digest than starches and sugars.
It is played as a joke since a large number of people experience this overeating, yet soon hungry again situation, and attribute it to the food, although probably not in a way of understanding they’re eating a different kind of junk food than what they’re used to. My understanding is all this stuff is westernized and not really reflective of what Chinese food actually is.
This is also why people talk about Asians getting a “secret menu” at Asian restaurants. It’s not as though Westerners are forbidden to order real Asian dishes, they’re just a completely different taste profile than what a lot of Westerners are accustomed to, whether dishes be too spicy, too salty, or not sweet/saucy/cheesey/etc enough. One time I went fishing in the ocean and got way too many fish. I offered them to the guys in the Chinese takeout place attached to where I was working. They offered me some of what they made for themselves with it but gave me a heads up that I may not exactly enjoy it. I took a bite and it tasted sooooo salty, and I got surprised it still had the soft fish bones in it, and it wasn’t bad but was not what my palette was ready for at the time and I could not finish it, meanwhile they were all grateful and fully enjoying it.
I have always associated this kind if joke with America fast food, but I guess any fastfood works ofc!
Impressive writeup btw.
I’m a bit surprised how popular this was! I guess this was a question a bunch of people had but didn’t want to ask.
That was one of the most typed out joke explanations I’ve ever seen online, I salute your patience.
I try to keep things simple, but I also always want to give the most complete answer I can, so I end up being pretty long winded. If someone takes the time to ask a question, I assume they do want the full answer though. I always worry I’m beating things into the ground, but I really want people to know as much as they can. People are always free to tell me to shut my trap. 😄
I thank thee.
:)
Thanks Peter.
Due to my chronic meme illiteracy, I had to have knowyourmeme explain this one to me. We all need a little explaining now and then. 😇
I always thought it was because of the high salt content, and possibly how “spicy” Americanized Chinese food tasted to the palates of whichever decade first made that joke (50s?). With a lot of salt and spice you’re drinking way more water than you normally would, causing you to feel full quicker.
Anecdotally when I eat a big bowl of ramen it’s pretty much all simple carbs and it keeps me feeling full for about two meals’ worth.
Both could be correct, especially since many folks’ diets are much different today than they were that long ago.
I’m far from a nutritionist, and I don’t think I could really explain the GI Index well enough to give the real how and why of eating a ton of simple carbs actually makes you still feel hungry despite eating enough to feed an army.
With the high salt content, people can feel a craving, that is actually for water, but can be misinterpreted as hunger. We know our body needs something, but we don’t always understand what that something is.
My home ramen is too basic, and doesn’t do much to fill me up, but the ramen place in town I find very filling, as the broth has some fat content, there’s meat and egg for protein, and there’s things like mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and other veg to provide that fiber which either takes a long time to digest or is just plain indigestible so it really sticks with you, literally. I can’t be bothered to prep all that at home. 😁
They’re implying that you could eat 5 Chinese cars and not be full, unlike when you eat one massive McGMC
Not only did I not understand the joke, I didn’t even know it was a meme.
Have you eaten Americanized “Chinese” food? I eat it every on every last Tuesday of the month. I order two meals for myself every time, because without fail, I will be hungry again within less than 2 hours. Yesterday (4/28/2026), I had a pint of General Tso’s Chicken with a pint of beef lo mein. That’s an entire quart of food. If I ate a quart of spag bol for my lunch, I’d be done for the night. I’d be asleep. But after my big ol’ “Chinese” lunch, I was hungry ~90 minutes later, so I ate my pint of Szechuan Chicken and my pint of pork fried rice. Wonton soup was also involved. Yes, I added the fried noodles.
And even after that, I got a large pizza (pepperoni, pineapple, and extra cheese) at 10:30pm, just to cover the late night munchies. I only ate 4 slices out of 8, so I had some left for breakfast today. The stuff we sell as “Chinese food” in the USA is not very filling.
YMMV, I am a large man, and I am very active. I’m 6’4", I lift weights, and I run 6 miles a day. My TDEE is ~3800 calories. If you’re one of those folks who only need 1200-1600 calories a day, a simple lunch from the “Chinese” spot would be a lot of food for you. My wife is small, and she can easily live off 1600-1800 calories a day. Our gf is tiny and lives off of 1200 calories a day most days. A “splurge” day for her is 1500-1600 calories.
Could you give much more detail please?
I’m happy to answer any questions you have.
Yes, please expand on the my wife and our girlfriend aspect of this story… You really eat more than them combined?
I have no follow-up questions.
My wife and I are both in love with another woman. If it was legal, the three of us would all be married. The kids I have with my wife and the kids I have with our gf view each other as siblings, and recognize all three of us as their parents.
Yes, a large athletic man eats more than two small mostly sedentary women. I also weigh more than the two of them combined. If I ate much less than I do, I’d be losing mass. Sometimes I eat even more than 3800 calories a day, but that’s in my bulk phases. 3800 is just my maintenance number.
I eat it pretty often, I just haven’t found that to be the case for me. Then again, my breakfast this morning was two big cups of coffee and a single clementine. Im pretty active but not close to what you do, I think 7 miles is my personal best for distance.
Damn homie, I honestly love that for you. No sarcasm, no cap. But I need to have what amounts to a full English every morning. And one clementine would honestly just piss me off. I’ve had 6 blood oranges today, and it’s not even 4pm yet. I’ll likely have 2-3 more today, plus a steak sandwich.
7 miles is a respectable distance, you’re doing great. I just chose 6 a day because then I can plan out my times better, and my dogs love it.
I love how different 2 humans can be.
I probably wouldn’t eat until the evening if I had a full English! My goal is to hit a 10k in under 50 mins. I’ve managed to do a sub 53 minute, but shaving off those three minutes has been surprisingly difficult.
American-chinese takeout is all carbs, sodium and sugar. It provides little long term fulfillment, leaving you hungry even though they sell comparatively large servings.