National Chinese Takeout Day
Savoring the delicious fusion of Asian flavors and convenience, allowing culinary exploration from the comfort of your home.
Drive November takeout orders and delivery app usage by celebrating the cultural heritage and convenience of Chinese cuisine with exclusive promotions and nostalgia-driven content.
- 'Order in tonight' flash sales tied to Chinese takeout classics (Orange Chicken, General Tso's)
- Behind-the-scenes content on how American-Chinese fusion dishes evolved from Gold Rush-era 'chow-chow houses'
- User-generated content: friends sharing their favorite takeout orders and delivery app experiences
- Partner with delivery platforms (DoorDash, Uber Eats) for exclusive November discounts at Chinese restaurants
Notable campaigns2
- Nice Day (NYC Chinese takeout brand) (2020-2021): Modernized takeout packaging with bold red and white branding, designed with Shanghai agency Related Department. Featured integrity seals and mobile-optimized ordering to create a 'photo-ready' takeout experience that drove social sharing and differentiated their brand.
- Cornell Dining (Okenshields): Highlighted a variety of popular Chinese dishes during National Chinese Takeout Day celebration, including sweet & sour chicken, fried rice, and General Tso tofu, making the day visible in institutional dining.
Campaign ideas7
- Nostalgia Takeout Bundle: Partner with local Chinese restaurants to create 'comfort classics' bundles (orange chicken, lo mein, General Tso) at a promotional price. Feature customer testimonials about their favorite takeout memories.
- Behind-the-Scenes Chef Series: Release short social videos showing chefs hand-pulling noodles, tossing woks, or folding dumplings. Frame it as 'the craft behind your favorite order' to celebrate craft and culture.
- Local Restaurant Spotlight Campaign: Feature 5–10 family-owned Chinese restaurants in your area. Give them free social media promotion, co-branded posts, and direct ordering links. Encourage followers to support local.
- Cultural Immigration Story Series: Partner with restaurants to share owner/chef origin stories and how they brought traditional recipes to the U.S. Post as Instagram Reels or TikTok short-form content.
- Takeout Packaging Design Contest: Invite customers to design limited-edition takeout containers or bags featuring cultural art. Winning design gets printed and used, driving user-generated content and pride.
- Delivery Driver Appreciation Promo: Offer bonus incentives for orders placed through direct restaurant websites (not third-party apps) to thank drivers and direct profits to restaurants. Use #SupportLocal angle.
- 'November 5 Tradition' Email Campaign: Email past customers with subject lines like 'We know what you're doing on November 5' with exclusive meal deals, top-rated dishes, and a reminder of why they love Chinese takeout.
Social angles6
- Comfort-food nostalgia: 'Nothing says November like [favorite dish] in a cardboard container. What's your go-to order? #NationalChineseTakeoutDay #TakeoutMemories'
- Cultural appreciation: 'Today we celebrate the chefs, families, and delivery workers who brought these flavors to our tables. Tag your favorite local spot. #NationalChineseTakeoutDay #SupportLocal'
- Humor & relatability: 'Warning: On November 5, it's scientifically impossible to order just one dish. What's your usual order? #NationalChineseTakeoutDay #GuiltPleasures'
- Recipe inspiration: 'Ever wondered how they make it so fast? Here's a 60-second demo of hand-pulled noodles. Tag someone you're ordering with tonight. #NationalChineseTakeoutDay'
- Community-driven: 'Show us your favorite local Chinese restaurant & why it matters to you. Reply below—we're spotlighting the best ones. #NationalChineseTakeoutDay #CommunityLove'
- Behind-the-counter: 'Meet the team that makes your takeout night happen. Stories from restaurant staff, drivers, and the people who keep traditions alive. #NationalChineseTakeoutDay #ThankYou'
Ad copy starters5
“Get it to gooo 🥡 Order directly from your favorite local spot. Save on fees. Support local. It's National Chinese Takeout Day.”
“From our kitchen to your table. Celebrate the flavors, the stories, and the chefs behind your favorite order. Order now.”
“Cozy nights start here. 🍜 Comfort food, zero guilt, 100% delicious. What's your November 5 order?”
“Why order from apps when you can skip the fees and go straight to the source? Direct ordering + local love = win-win.”
“The only thing better than Chinese takeout? Knowing your order supports a family-run restaurant. Celebrate that tonight.”
Tips4
- DO emphasize support for family-owned restaurants and workers. Avoid framing the day as just a discount-seeking opportunity—make it about community, culture, and gratitude.
- DO use user-generated content. Encourage customers to post their orders and favorite spots. Repost and celebrate their choices to build social proof and engagement.
- DON'T oversell with generic 'sale' messaging. National Chinese Takeout Day is about appreciation and nostalgia. Lead with storytelling, not just price drops.
- DO coordinate with local restaurants early. Offer them free social media support, co-branded posts, and easy promotional assets so they feel like partners, not just vendors.
Due to the gold rush in California, the first Chinese restaurants in the United States began popping up in the mid 1800s with the intention of serving the Cantonese workers. These little hole-in-the-wall restaurants popped up all over and were called “chow-chow houses”, indicated by their triangular flags of yellow silk hung outside.
The authentic Chinese flavors began to evolve into foods that were more palatable to the American people, often making the meats boneless, frying more dishes and making sauces that had more sweetness to them. Eventually, the fortune cookie made its way to the end of Chinese meals in the early 20th century, though the roots of this cookie are probably from Japan.
Often open late at night and providing delivery when other restaurants were less likely to, the option for Chinese takeout became particularly popular throughout the 1970s and beyond. This popularity was fueled by political activities, as the American immigration policy was liberalized in the 1960s and US President Richard Nixon made his famous visit to Beijing, China in 1972. By 1980, Chinese food had become the most popular ethnic food in the United States.
Today, some statistics show that there are three times as many Chinese restaurants in the United States than there are McDonald’s franchises, which means that these restaurants have obviously made an indelible imprint on American culture. With menus that offer a huge range of options that are often affordable and usually quick whether picked up or delivered, Chinese takeout is a tasty (and sometimes healthier) alternative to typical fast food.
National Chinese Takeout Day offers a tasty opportunity to show appreciation for and celebrate this unique blend of cultures and cuisines as it has developed over time.
For other holidays related to Chinese culture and Chinese food, consider observing National Orange Chicken Day in July, National Chop Suey Day in August or Chinese New Year in February.
Order Chinese Takeout
That’s right, it’s time to dig to the bottom of that drawer where the takeout menus have always lived and order up some Chinese food. Or, for the more modern person, get online to look at a menu and then place the order. Celebrate this day with some delicious dishes like Orange Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork or General Tso’s Chicken. And don’t forget to add in some appetizers or side dishes like wonton soup, egg rolls, spring rolls or crab rangoon. Since it’s National Chinese Takeout Day, make a big deal out of it by inviting some friends over and choosing a number of different dishes and flavors that can be shared among the group. It’s a delightful way to enjoy the day – and also to avoid cooking dinner!
Visit a Museum of Chinese History
National Chinese Takeout Day is a great time to not only enjoy some delicious food choices, but also to learn a bit about this culture that the food comes from. A bit of research online or at the library would be great, but even better might be to visit a museum to get up close and personal with various artifacts from Chinese Culture. Of course, the National Museum of China would be an amazing visit, but for those who can’t travel to Beijing, consider some of these in the US: Museum of Chinese in the Americas in New York City San Diego Chinese Historical Museum in CaliforniaChinese American Museum in Washington, DCAmerican Chinese Museum in Philadelphia
Make Some Chinese Food at Home
Don’t have a favorite local Chinese restaurant that offers takeout? Or maybe you’re a person who just really loves to cook? Celebrating National Chinese Takeout Day can also be done by preparing some of this cultural cuisine at home! The internet is filled with different unique options for making some of the most delicious Chinese food dishes that often cook up in a hurry. Pick a recipe, easy or difficult, and get ready to do some chopping – because most Chinese foods contain a slew of chopped vegetables and meats. Try cooking up some fried rice to go on the side and maybe even prepare some egg drop soup, which is easier than it might seem. The family or friends this food is served to will surely be excited to compare this home-cooked cuisine to their favorite Chinese takeout.