Chow mein translates into a vague term meaning stir-fried noodles, but to me it is a specific dish ordered from Chinese take away on busy or late nights. Sometimes the noodles are soft and sometimes they are crispy everywhere but where the sauce has hit them – which is my favourite kind.
When you order chow mein from a restaurant they deep fry the noodles but this version is more adaptable to home cooking. Plus, without the added MSG it can be made far healthier since you can add any vegetables you want. Hint: If you are concerned about MSG just carefully watch the labels of your sauces as both soy and oyster sauces can have hidden added MSG in them frequently.