Why do Chinese people eat sesame chicken?

It's a bit of a misconception that Chinese people eat "sesame chicken" in the way that it's often prepared in Western restaurants. Sesame chicken is a dish that was invented in the United States and is not traditionally eaten in China.

Here's why:

* No "chicken" in Chinese cuisine: The term "chicken" refers to a specific type of bird, and the Chinese don't traditionally separate meat this way. They use different terms based on the part of the bird or how it's prepared.

* No "sesame" in Chinese cuisine: While sesame seeds are used in Chinese cuisine, they're not typically used in a coating or batter like in sesame chicken.

* Different cooking techniques: Sesame chicken is usually deep-fried and coated in a sweet and savory sauce, which is not a common cooking style in traditional Chinese cuisine.

However, there are several Chinese dishes that share similarities with sesame chicken:

* Kung Pao Chicken: This dish features chicken stir-fried with peanuts, chili peppers, and a savory sauce.

* Honey Garlic Chicken: This dish features chicken coated in a sticky honey-garlic glaze.

* Sweet and Sour Chicken: Similar to sesame chicken, this dish involves chicken coated in a sweet and sour sauce.

So, while Chinese people don't eat "sesame chicken" in the exact same way it's prepared in the West, they do have various dishes that share similar flavor profiles and ingredients.