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Interestingly, slices of bread were initially paired with noodles to soak up the gravy. One fated day, the restaurant ran out of bread and replaced it with hamburger buns. The Marks chose to stick to the practice. But how did it turn into this delectable sandwich made wholesome with vegetables, shrimp, and pork filling? When the restaurant opened, Fall River was a post-industrial American city sprinkled with factories and immigrants from different countries, including Irish, Polish, French Canadian, and English communities. A Chinese community had already settled down in the area by then. According to food historian and anthropology professor Imogene Lim, who has published a paper on the chow mein sandwich, even though immigrant groups were not familiar with Chinese cuisine, they were likely to recognize a familiar dish like the sandwich. 

The portability of a sandwich was another reason behind it becoming the workers' favorite, as they didn't have the luxury of time and were looking for quick means to satiate their hunger. This is how this delightful sandwich was born at Mee Sum and gradually became all the rage. Around the 20th century, burger joints like McDonald's and Burger King started popping up across the country. Still, the popularity of Mee Sum remained intact primarily due to its affordability. Even today, the price of a chow mein sandwich at Mee Sum remains below $5. To learn more about iconic sandwiches hailing from the region, check out the history of the fluffernutter sandwich or the roast beef sandwich, another New England staple.