Fall River’s Secret Chow Mein Sandwich Song Is a Banger

The chow mein sandwich: You either love it or have no idea what the heck it is.

For my money, it's the ultimate comfort food. Is there anything better after a long, stressful day than a takeout container piled high with crispy Fall River-made noodles, gravy, onions and a hamburger bun? No, there is not.

This Massachusetts culinary treasure, featured on NPR and CNN, can fill you up and knock you out. It's serious business for a few well-spent bucks.

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Some people just don't get it. I once worked in New Bedford with a kind Kansas transplant who thought the chow mein sandwich was the most ridiculous food he'd ever heard described. I showed him the Wikipedia entry for the no-frills meal. I told him Fall River's favorite son, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, shared the recipe on Food Network and that must count for something. I Googled mouthwatering images for him and scrolled for days. When all else failed, I told him he was missing out. On my deathbed, one of my biggest regrets might be that I never convinced my pal to take one bite.

Oh, well. I should have played him the song.

"Chow Mein Sandwich" could be Fall River's official anthem, a rockin' tribute to a rockin' dish. It could be the anthem for chow mein sandwich lovers everywhere. It's impossible not to feel a little more hopeful about the world -- or dinner, at least -- after listening to this 1974 toe-tapper.

READ MORE: Fall River’s Chow Mein Sandwich Has a Chop Suey Counterpart in Salem

The little-known tune is by Alika and the Happy Samoans, a band featured at Fall River's beloved China Royal restaurant. The business served plenty of sandwiches during its half-century run on Pleasant Street. It's long gone, having been replaced by a CVS in the early 2000s, but you can still order a hot chow mein sandwich at restaurants around the SouthCoast.

Cheap and simple, it gained steam with Fall River's working class in the 20th century and stuck to the city the way it sometimes sticks to your throat if you don't have a glass of water nearby. It's commonly made with chow mein you can't get anywhere else. The noodles come from downtown's Oriental Chow Mein Company. You've likely seen the company's bright yellow Hoo-Mee brand boxes in grocery stores for those who want to make chow mein at home.

This is a sandwich you can make work for you. You can eat it as is. You can enjoy it with a side of fries, which also go well with the gravy. You can splash some vinegar on it for enhanced taste. 

The chow mein sandwich does not judge.

Alika and the Happy Samoans put out a bunch of catchy songs, including "Oh, Fall River," for an extra dose of SouthCoast pride. Its ode to a special sandwich, however, says it all.

"You like chow mein sandwich, I like chow mein sandwich," the band happily shares.

"Like" might not be a strong enough word for a sandwich that tastes like unconditional love.