Published by Christiana Max | December 15, 2021

ATASCADERO-When some families gather around the Christmas tree, open gifts and get together with their closest friends, it is also amazing that there is another Christmas family tradition happening at the same time. The Jewish-American tradition of eating Chinese food at Christmas!

This tradition (mainly) began in New York, when Jewish families started going to Chinese restaurants on Christmas Day because they were the only food store that opened. But since then, this tradition has spread throughout the United States.

"Jews eating Chinese food at Christmas may be one of the more cliche things in my childhood, but it may also be my favorite. As a child of a cross-religious family, my parents will take me and my brother on Christmas Eve every year. Go to the movies, and then we will meet my cousins ​​and eat Chinese food. After stuffing ourselves with too much sesame chicken and pork loin noodles, the nine of us will stagger back to my grandma’s house and replace them with our matching Holiday pajamas, carefully hung up our stockings, and settled down on the sofa. Then my dad would read aloud "Christmas Eve" as we chewed on fortune cookies. Although this tradition has passed for several years, they Still my favorite memory, this is my formal petition to my parents to let them bring back the Chinese food for Christmas Eve!" said Kate H. from Connecticut.

For more than 100 years, Jews have been eating fried noodles and orange chicken on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Chinese food at Christmas is not only a good time for family reunion, some Jewish families also use this tradition to celebrate a large number of life events.

Stacey Agdern of New York said: “We do [eat Chinese food for Christmas]. My family associates it with my mother’s birthday, my uncle’s (blessed memory) birthday, and my grandparent’s anniversary. Days are linked together. This is a very good family tradition."

The great thing about Chinese cuisine is that you can find it almost anywhere in the United States, so even if you are traveling on holiday, you can continue this tradition. No matter where you are.

"I'm going to the South for Christmas. Yes, we (my family and I) want to eat Chinese food," said Luana Gerardis, a local in North County.

Christmas is one of the busiest days of the year in many Chinese restaurants in the United States, and you usually need to make a reservation to enjoy egg rolls with your family. Having said that, all Chinese restaurants in Bei County are first-come, first-served. Of course, for locals who want to eat at home, there are always takeaway options. 

See you at the buffet on Christmas Day! I know that my family and I will be there!

List of Chinese restaurants in North County:

It is open from 11:30 am to 9 pm, and offers take-out/delivery/dining buffet. They provide free shipping to Atascadero/Templeton/Santa Margarita.

It is open from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm for dine-in and takeaway. First come first served.

The business hours are from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm, providing dine-in [buffet] and takeaway. First come first served.

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