Lo mein, with beef
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
Lo mein with beef is a classic Chinese stir-fry dish featuring soft, chewy egg noodles tossed with tender slices of beef and a savory, slightly sweet sauce. The noodles provide a satisfying, springy texture, while the beef adds a rich, umami depth. At 129 kcal per 100g, it's a relatively light yet protein-rich option, with 9.73g of protein helping to promote satiety.
Calorie split: 30% protein · 50% carbs · 19% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore beef lo mein for its perfect harmony of savory, sweet, and umami flavors, and the comforting, slurpable texture of the noodles. It's a beloved staple of Chinese-American cuisine, offering a quick, satisfying, and customizable meal that feels both indulgent and familiar.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The dish can be high in sodium from soy sauce and oyster sauce, and the refined noodles may cause blood-sugar spikes for some. To counteract this, pair it with extra steamed vegetables to boost fiber, use low-sodium sauces, and practice portion control by filling half your plate with non-starchy veggies first.
Key benefits
- Good source of protein for muscle maintenance
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates
- Contains iron from beef, essential for oxygen transport
- Relatively low in fat per serving
- Can be customized with vegetables for added fiber and nutrients
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The term 'lo mein' comes from the Cantonese 'lou min,' which literally means 'stirred noodles,' referring to the final tossing of cooked noodles in the sauce.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 70.0 g |
| Energy | 129 kcal |
| Protein | 9.7 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 2.8 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 16.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.0 g |
| Total Sugars | 2.1 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 20.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 14.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 89.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 160 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 358 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.2 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 14.8 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 1.4 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.05 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.16 mg |
| Niacin | 2.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.21 mg |
| Folate, total | 23.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 23.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 23.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 22.9 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.40 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 8.0 ug |
| Retinol | 1.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 78.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 17.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 2.0 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 90.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.30 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 10.6 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.70 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.45 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.20 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.85 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.03 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.80 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.1 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.96 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.12 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 15.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Restaurant, Chinese, chicken chow mein — USDA does not publish this profile for Lo mein.
| Tryptophan | 0.08 g |
| Threonine | 0.27 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.28 g |
| Leucine | 0.50 g |
| Lysine | 0.47 g |
| Methionine | 0.16 g |
| Cystine | 0.08 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.25 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.22 g |
| Valine | 0.31 g |
| Arginine | 0.42 g |
| Histidine | 0.18 g |
| Alanine | 0.36 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.60 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.4 g |
| Glycine | 0.24 g |
| Proline | 0.35 g |
| Serine | 0.25 g |
FAQ
Is beef lo mein a healthy choice?
It can be part of a balanced diet. It's lower in calories than many takeout options and provides protein. To make it healthier, request less sauce, add extra vegetables, and watch your portion size.
What's the difference between lo mein and chow mein?
Lo mein noodles are tossed with sauce after cooking, resulting in a softer texture. Chow mein noodles are fried, giving them a crispier, chewier bite.
Can I make beef lo mein gluten-free?
Yes, by using gluten-free noodles (like rice noodles) and substituting the soy sauce with tamari or a gluten-free alternative. Always check sauce ingredients for hidden gluten.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 1.29 kcal/g · 30% calories from protein · 1.0 g fiber · 2.1 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 2.24 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.